This article describes the participation of the four Chaney brothers in the "Regulators" concerning the Driscoll gang: "The frontier is always the prey of the banditti. From 1837 to 1845 the Rock river valley was infested with a notorious gang of outlaws. Among the leaders of this band were: John Driscoll, William and David Driscoll, his sons...In April about fifteen citizens met at a log schoolhouse at White Rock and organized a company known as the Ogle County Regulators. By-laws and rules were adopted and the membership increased to hundreds in Ogle and Winnebago Counties. The late Ralph Chaney was an active member of this organization; and to him the writer is indebted for information of those stirring experiences...Soon after their organization John Campbell was chosen captain of the Regulators. A short time after they had begun their work of extermination, Mr. Campbell received an epistle from William Driscoll, in which he offered battle. The Regulators were challenged to meet him Tuesday, June 22nd, at his home in South Grove. Mr. Campbell was generally recognized as the right man to lead such an organization. He was a devout Scotch Presbyterian, who had come from Canada. At the appointed time one hundred and ninety-six men, armed with rifles and muskets responded to the challenge. They were mounted on good horses; with the stars and stripes unfurled to the breeze and a bugle, they formed in line, two abreast, and began the march to the field of battle. When they arrived at South Grove they found seventeen members of the gang in a log house, barricaded for defense, armed with fifty-four guns of different kinds. The Regulators halted just outside of gunshot and held a council of war. Before making an attack it was resolved to send a messenger to the house to ascertain the plans of the inmates. Osborn Chaney volunteered to heard the lions in their den. When within forty rods of the house the men broke through the door, and ran away; and Mr. Chaney did not get an opportunity to speak with anyone of them. Soon after Mr. Chaney returned to the company he was followed by a man named Bowman, who said he had a message from John Driscoll, to the effect that if the Regulators wished to confer with him, he would receive the message from Bowman, and from no one else. William Driscoll also sent word by the same messenger that he had three hundred allies at Sycamore, and that they would meet the Regulators on the prairie two hours later. The latter repaired to a level piece of ground, examined their guns, and awaited developments. In due time Driscoll arrived, with the sheriff of DeKalb county and two other officials, who wished to know the meaning of the demonstration. Captain Campbell stood in a wagon, and in a vigorous speech gave them the desired information. Meanwhile Driscoll sat on his horse about four feet distant. He was silent, but in a terrible rage. Mr. Chaney says he heard the grating of his teeth, and believes that then and there Campbell received his death sentence from Driscoll. The officials from DeKalb county expressed their sympathy with the Regulators, and the Driscolls promised to leave the state within twenty days. The Regulators disbanded for the day, and went home. The Driscolls did not keep their word. On the contrary, a meeting of the desperadoes was held on the following Saturday night at the house of William Bridge, at Washington Grove, where the murder of Campbell was planned. On Saturday, June 27th, David and Taylor Driscoll, who had been chosen to murder Campbell, accomplished their purpose. Mr. and Mrs. Campbell had just returned from church at the log schoolhouse at White Rock. While going from the house to the barn about twilight, he was shot through the heart by David Driscoll. Ralph Chaney was making his home with his brother Phineas about three-quarters of a mile distant. He heard the report of the gun and the cries of the family. He and Phineas immediately went to the assistance of the Campbell family. Mr. Campbell walked about forty feet, and fell dead. News of the tragedy spread quickly to Rockford and other towns. Mrs. Campbell was a witness of the murder, and there was no doubt aobut the identity of the assassins. On Monday the sheriff of Ogle County and a posse arrested John Driscoll at the home of his son David, near Lynnville. Mr. Chaney gives this incident of the arrest: 'When he was arrested he said: "I always calculate to hold myself in subjection to the laws of my country." A daughter who was stopping there, a woman grown, large and strong, when the Sheriff announced that he was a prisoner, turned and faced her father, and their eyes met, and there was that kind of a look I can hardly describe, passed between them, and as she held his eye she nodded her head to him. Nothing said, but such a look I never saw in the world.' The sheriff and his posse then went to South Grove in search of William Driscoll. The elder Driscoll was seated in a wagon between two guards. A company from Winnebago County had preceded them, and had arrested William and his younger brother Pierce. The sheriff took his prisoner to Oregon and lodged him in jail. About nine o'clock Tuesday morning a party went to the jail, and with heavy timbers battered down the door. They took John Driscoll from his cell, put a rope around his neck, and dragged him to the river as rapidly as possible. The sheriff pursued, but before he could overtake them, they had entered a boat with their prisoner and were soon on the other side of the river. There they met a man from Washington Grove, who told them there was a party at that place who had taken the two sons, William and Pierce. They then proceeded with John Driscoll to Washington Grove, where they met the Rockford division....John and William Driscoll were then told that David and Taylor had been identified as the murderers of Campbell; also that the evidence had proved them to be accessories in the plot at Bridge's house on the preceding Saturday evening. After further deliberation, Mr. Leland called for an expression of opinion upon the guilt of the prisoners, by the uplifted right hand. The decision was almost unanimous against them. The vote upon their punishment was equally decisive that they should be hung, then and there; and they were given one hour in which to prepare for death. The condemned men implored their executioners to change the method of death from hanging to shooting. This request was granted by a unanimous vote. The senior Driscoll had stood in the meantime with the rope around his neck, and he asked Mr. Chaney to remove it...When the hour for execution arrived, about one hundred and twenty men were drawn up in a line, in single file. This line was divided in the center. John Driscoll was led out by Captain Pitcher, in full view of the executioners. He was made to kneel ten paces in front of the west half of the line. His eyes were blindfolded, and his arms pinioned behind him. At the signal, every gun, save one, was fired in a single volley. John Driscoll fell forward on his face without a struggle or groan, or the apparent movement of a muscle. William Driscoll was then brought out and placed at the same distance before the center of the other half of the line. He was blindfolded, pinioned, and made to kneel upon the ground. As Judge Leland counted three, the volley of more than fifty guns was as the sound of one. William Driscoll was dead. The father and son fell about forty feet apart. A grave was dug between them, about two and one-half feet deep, and four feet wide. The old man was first taken and placed in the grave, without coffin or shroud; and then the son was laid by his side. Their caps were drawn over their faces; and thus they were buried, without the presence of a mourning friend. Mr. Chaney assisted in carrying the elder Driscoll to the grave and discovered that the bones of his head were literally broken to pieces, and the region of the heart perforated with bullets. In William Driscoll's vest front were found forty bullet-holes. After their execution one of their guard stated that William Driscoll in his prayer confessed he had committed five murders, and prayed to be forgiven...A reward of five hundred dollars was offered in August, 1841, for the capture of David and Taylor Driscoll, by a committee of the citizens of Ogle county. David Driscoll never returned. It was reported that about two years after the murder of Campbell, he was shot dead in Iowa by a sheriff who was attempting to arrest him. Taylor Driscoll was indicted for the murder of Campbell, and kept in different jails nearly two years; and by changes of venue and confusion of witnesses, he was at length given his liberty...Some months after the execution of the Driscolls, the matter was brought before the attention of the grand jury of Ogle County. Judge Ford then resided at Oregon, and it is said this action was taken at his suggestion. At the September term of the circuit court, indictments were found against one hundred and twleve citizens. Among these were four Chaney brothers, Richard, Phineas, Osborn and Ralph, three of whom became residents of Rockford...The case was called for trial at the same term of court. Judge Ford presided, and Seth B. Farwell appeared for the people. Some of the jurors were under indictment for complicity in the affair. Several witnesses were called, and pleas made; and without leaving their seats the jury returned a verdict of 'not guilty.' No one expected a conviction; but it was considered desirable to have the matter settled according to the regular form of law. Thus closed the trial of the largest number of defendants ever indicted under one charge at one session of a grand jury known to the judicial history of this section." [History of Rockford and Winnebago County Illinois, 1900, by Charles A. Church] Roger Cramer Peoria, Arizona Roger and Sue Cramer's Genealogy Site http://members.aol.com/rogercubs/index.html Ogle Co., IL Genealogy Site http://www.rootsweb.com/~ilogle/