25 Facts About Achilles Morris

Achilles Morris was an American politician and military officer who served as Abraham Lincoln's commanding officer in 1832 during the Black Hawk War and defeated Lincoln in the Illinois House of Representatives election for Sangamon County the same year.

In 1846, Achilles Morris returned to military service to lead a volunteer company from Sangamon County in the Mexican American War.

Achilles Morris died in Mexico from disease on February 15,1847, and was buried with full military honors.

Achilles Morris's grandparents were William Morris, and Elizabeth "Eliza" Stapp Morris.

Achilles Morris was born in England in 1722, worked alongside George Hume in Orange County, Virginia, who Washington served under as deputy surveyor in 1748.

In 1822, Achilles Morris married his cousin Leah Jarrett and initially moved to Cabell County, Virginia.

In 1827, Achilles Morris commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the US Indian Wars in Illinois's Mounted Riflemen Regiment during the Winnebago War.

In 1831, Achilles Morris was promoted to Captain, and he commanded a volunteer company from Sangamon County in the Sauk and Fox War, which led to the Black Hawk War.

Captain Achilles Morris was present during the signing of the treaty.

In 1832 at the start of the Black Hawk War, Morris served as the captain of his own company under Colonel Samuel M Thompson in the Fourth Regiment, and was elected by his unit as their major.

Four days later, due to a vacancy in the unit, Achilles Morris was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel of the 4th Illinois Regiment of Mounted Volunteers, overseeing the troops from Sangamon County.

Achilles Morris served on two committees: On Public Accounts and Expenditures, and Elections.

Less than a week after taking office, on December 7,1832, Achilles Morris introduced a resolution on the internal improvement to draft a memorial to Congress for Congress to relinquish all fractional parts of land on the Sangamon river for the purpose of removing obstructions in the river.

In 1835 Achilles Morris was elected as a delegate to represent Sangamon County for the 1835 Democratic National Convention.

Achilles Morris, asserting Edwards to be a coward, challenged him to a real fight.

In 1837, Achilles Morris was elected as Secretary of the Democratic Party of Sangamon County for the State of Illinois.

Achilles Morris was nominated and elected in 1837 as a delegate to the Democratic Convention.

In 1840 Achilles Morris was nominated and elected again as delegate for the Democratic Convention.

In 1842 Achilles Morris was the Democratic Nominee for Sangamon County for the Illinois House of Representative, lost by less than 29 votes.

On February 6,1846, Achilles Morris was nominated and elected as a delegate for the Gubernatorial race at the State Democratic Convention for Sangamon County.

Achilles Morris volunteered to raise a volunteer company to fight in the Mexican War in May 1846.

Captain Achilles Morris died on February 15,1847, and was buried with full honors.

Achilles Morris's funeral was described in the journal of his former soldier John Nevin King,.

Achilles Morris had a fine funeral and a very large one.

Achilles Morris had a very nice plain Coffin, and a large Brass Band, the band of the Second Regiment of Artillery.