Double Honor: The Story of John and William Black and the Medal of Honor

Abstract

When John and William Black marched away from the Chicago Board of Trade building on September 19, 1861, with the patriotic speeches still ringing in their ears, they most likely did not understand they were stepping off into history. Their regiment mustered into the service with great fanfare and patriotism along South Water Street. The newly minted 37th Illinois Infantry, or the Fremont Rifles, as some called the unit, deployed first to St. Louis and eventually into central Missouri to begin the process of becoming a fighting unit.1 The Blacks served as officers in the 37th Illinois infantry. John, the eldest brother, was the regiment's major, and Wlliam was elected to a captain's position in Company K, known as the Vermillion County Zouaves. On the battle line William Black's company anchored the left flank. While the regiment, nearly one-thousand strong, marched through central Missouri, they received their first disappointment when they met General John C. Fremont, whose name was boldly emblazoned on their flag. The men became crestfallen when they learned the Pathfinder had been relieved of duty and was leaving the theater of operations. The 37th Illinois cased their colors and never flew the Fremont Rifles flag again.2 The Black brothers shared a special bond as they penetrated the in late 1861 marching toward the Wire Road to rendezvous with General Samuel R. Curtis's Army of the Frontier who led a winter campaign across the desolate Ozark plateau. The brothers, born in Mississippi and Kentucky respectively, moved to Danville, Illinois, when their mother married a second time. The young men attended Wabash College in the Hoosier State when the guns of Fort Sumter interrupted their education. Both brothers initially enlisted in the 11th Indiana infantry, led by Colonel Lew Wallace, the future author oi Ben Hur. John demonstrated charisma and solid management skills by rising from private to sergeant major of the unit. The Blacks gained a bit of combat experience in the Romney, West Virginia, Campaign during January 1862.3 John, or Charlie as his friends called him, wore his raven colored hair at shoulder length while a full mustache covered his upper lip. He stood six feet tall, while younger brother William stood just an inch shorter. William, or Willie as he was popularly known, had boyish good looks including a full head of black hair worn at what folks referred to as normal length. The regiment dreamed of the war on the East Coast, but now as winter blanketed the Ozark Plateau, the brothers discovered themselves marching toward the enemy in Springfield, Missouri. A few days later, on February 10, 1862, General Sterling Price, the commander of the pro-Southern Missouri State Guard, failed to contest the town of eight-hundred and the Blacks regiment filed into Springfield's main square. Perhaps as they pitched their tents they tasted the captured gingerbread and beer before bivouacking at the edge of town.4 Captain Black wrote home he was, awed and inspired by the rugged terrain of the Ozarks as their regiment pressed Price's State Guardsmen across the Arkansas-Missouri state line toward Fayetteville, Arkansas. According to Major Charlie Black the Missourian's retreated in disorder leaving behind, broken wagons, (and) camp furniture as well as horses, mules and other equipage.5 In Richmond, Virginia, the southern command system reacted to the collapsing military situation in Arkansas by appointing General Earl Van Dorn, a West Pointer with solid cavalry skills but a rookie at handling infantry, to lead a counter attack against the Federals. His newly formed Army of the West consisted of sixteen-thousand soldiers, including Indians, Missouri State Guardsmen, and Confederate infantry and cavalry.6 Van Dorn ordered an immediate advance on the Federals who occupied a set of low hills along Little Sugar Creek and the Wire Road. The Federals, led by General Samuel R. …