Illinois was a hotbed of anti-slave ideals and St. Charles was
no exception. General Farnsworth started a training camp for
troops and cavalry (horse) units in 1861 on property which he
owned along the east bank of the Fox River. Camp Kane (now
Langum Park) trained over 1000 men. Two of the units to come out
of Camp Kane included the 8th Illinois and 17th Illinois Cavalry
Regiments, both instrumental in the Northern victory. Marcellus
Jones of the 8th Illinois Cavalry is reputed by some historians
to have fired the first shot at the Battle of Gettysburg.
Despite its size, St. Charles gave one of the largest quotas of
troops in all of Kane County. St. Charles residents such as
General Farnsworth, Captain Elliott, Major Van Patten, Major
John Waite, Captain Beach, Captain McGuire, Colonel Gillett,
Major (Judge) Barry, Lieutenant Durant, and Dr. Crawford all
aided in the war effort. In addition, at least three women from
St. Charles also served in the war, including Ophelia Amigh,
Lucy Whipple Campbell Kaiser, a