The Fathers and Saviors of Our Country: A Presidential Sale

8 1/2 x 7 in. printed broadside. (Old folds.)

A GREAT WESTERN ILLINOIS LINCOLN RARITY: PERHAPS THE FIRST WRITTEN CAMPAIGN SONG FOR LINCOLN.

The first Illinois chapter of the Wide Awakes was established in Atlanta, Illinois, approximately 100 miles from Meredosia. At this time, Benjamin H. Grierson was a music teacher and band leader active in Republican politics, and he was likely among the first to register as a member of the Meredosia Wide-Awakes.

Like many Wide-Awakes, Grierson enlisted in the Union Army shortly after the outbreak of war. On 24 October 1861, he joined the 6th Illinois Cavalry and was promoted to colonel of that regiment in April of the following year. In the spring of 1863, he led what is today remembered as Grierson's Raid. General Ulysses S. Grant would later write, "It was at Port Gibson I first heard through a Southern paper of the complete success of Colonel Grierson, who was making a raid through central Mississippi. He had started from La Grange April 17 with three regiments of about 1,700 men. On the 21st, he had detached Colonel Hatch with one regiment to destroy the railroad between Columbus and Macon and then return to La Grange. Hatch had a sharp fight with the enemy at Columbus and retreated along the railroad, destroying it at Okalona and Tupelo, and arriving in La Grange April 26. Grierson continued his movement with about 1,000 men, breaking the Vicksburg and Meridian railroad and the New Orleans and Jackson railroad, arriving at Baton Rouge on May 2d. This raid was of great importance, for Grierson had attracted the attention of the enemy from the main movement against Vicksburg."

Following the end of the war, Grierson was assigned to command the 10th U.S. Cavalry, one of only two mounted regiments composed of black and white soldiers, also known as the Buffalo Soldiers. His support of those under his command, as well as his respect for Native American tribes, made him extremely unpopular with his superiors, in particular Philip H. Sheridan. He retired from the U.S. Army in 1890, having achieved the rank of Brigadier General.