recruit in Company K August 30, 1862. Died at Lake Providence, Louisiana,
March 18, 1863. Was a member of the Protestant Methodist Church. Belonged
to the society organized at Millbrook, Kendall county, Illinois. Was
married, and when he went away to the war left at home a wife and three
boys, whose respective ages were seven, five and about two and one-half
years. His widow, Mrs. Ann Springer, now lives at Firth, Lancaster county,
Nebraska, from whose letters I make the following extracts: "I am glad the
survivors of Company K are hunting up the records of those that never
returned, as well as the records of those who were spared to come back. I
have been weighed down and almost crushed with sorrow and affliction. I
have never re-married, and, of course, draw pension at the rate of twelve
dollars a month. I have lived with my boys, the oldest of whom was taken
away when nearly sixteen years of age. The other two are still spared. I
had four brothers who went out to fight for the dear old flag. Two of them
never returned. One was William Bennett of Company K. He responded to the
first call and enlisted at Newark, Illinois, early in the spring of 1861.
Another brother, who was in the artillery service, was killed in the
battle of Stone River. God bless the soldiers; they did a noble work; they
are the saviors of the country. If the Company K Roster is published I
want a copy."
ALFRED GRISWOLD, Newark, Illinois.
Enlisted April 1861. Died at Berry's Landing, Louisiana, March 20, 1863.
SUMNER COOK, Newark, Illinois.
Enlisted April, 1861. Died at Vicksburg, Mississippi, of typhoid fever,
July 20, 1863.
GEORGE SLEEZER, Newark, Illinois.
Born in Kendall county, Ill. Enlisted as a recruit for Company K September
26, 1864, at the age of eighteen years. Became sick at Camp Butler, near
Springfield, Illinois, and died at that place November 13, 1864, before he
reached the Company.
WALTER LANDON, Fox Township, Kendall County, Illinois.
Volunteered as a recruit for Company K October 3, 1864, and died in a
short time afterward at Camp Butler, Illinois, before reaching the
Company.
GREENBURY LEACH, Lisbon, Illinois.
Born in West Virginia. Enlisted April, 1861. Captured near Atlanta,
Georgia, July 22, 1864. Confined in Confederate prisons from date of
capture until the following spring. Died at Fortress Monroe, Virginia,
April 30, 1865, just after being exchanged and while on his way to the
north. Was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. While in the army
always attended whatever religious service was conducted in camp. Was a
regular attendant and participant at regimental prayer-meetings.
Died Since Date of Discharge.
NELSON DAYTON, Newark, Illinois.
Enlisted April, 1861, at the age of eighteen years. Discharged for
disability November 27, 1861. Died March 4, 1862, at Newark, Illinois.
ROBERT LAWTON.
May 1861-August 17, 1862. Born in Lancashire, England. Came to America in
1852. Died in Kendall county, Illinois, of the disease for which
discharged from the army April 14, 1864, at the age of twenty-five years,
three months and eight days. Robert was a good soldier. I remember him
distinctly on the battlefield of Shiloh. During the terrible fighting of
the first day he turned over his pocket-book to a member of the Company
who retired on account of wounds. He did not want his money to be taken by
the rebels if he were killed in the fight.
Comrade Lawton's remains were interred in the little cemetery at
Plattville. The slab marble which marks his final resting place has fallen
down and is broken. When the flowers of May each year come, let patriot
hands decorate this grave.
GILBERT MORTON, Oswego, Illinois.
Enlisted May, 1861. Mustered out July 16, 1865. Promoted to Quartermaster
Sergeant of the Regiment at the outset and, I think, held that position
during the entire war. After discharge he became a railroad official and
had a highly successful career for about ten years. But evil days came,
and he finally died by his own hand at a hotel in Chicago. This was about
the year 1876.
LONGEN MERKLI.
Born in 1829 at Damsingan, Baden, Germany. Went into German army in his
youth, and was thoroughly trained as a soldier. Participated in active
warfare in 1848-'49. He handled sword and bayonet with great dexterity.
Few men could stand before him with these weapons. After his service in
the German army he spent several years as a student. Was a good latin
scholar, and had a knowledge of the French language. Pursued a course of
study in surgery and medicine in a German University, and, by members of
his profession, was considered an expert anatomist. Had been reared in the
faith of the Catholic church, but became a doubter of the fundamental
doctrines of Christianity. Came to America in 1860 and engaged in the
practice of medicine at Milford and Newark. Was one of the first to enlist
in April, 1861. Served in the ranks of the Company for about a year and a
half. Was in the battles of Fredericktown, Fort Donelson and Shiloh. Was
shot in the foot at Shiloh. Was a remarkably brave and fearless man. About
July, 1862, he was detailed to serve in a hospital at Jackson, Tennessee.
When negro soldiers were enlisted he was offered a commission as assistant
surgeon of a negro Regiment, but declined it. He continued on detailed
duty and served as a medical man in various hospitals until the expiration
of his term of enlistment. Was mustered out in July, 1864. After the war,
located at Bristol, Illinois, and pursued the practice of medicine. In his
best years he was unable to control his appetite for strong drink and, as
time advanced, his appetite steadily increased and he became an abject
slave. He died at Bristol, Illinois, August 20, 1879.
GEORGE WATSON, Newark, Illinois.
I doubt whether any man did as much as George Watson toward getting up
Company K. He was a lawyer at Newark, was a democrat, voted for Bell and
Everett in 1860, and was an enthusiastic Union man. He was a fluent
off-hand speaker and was the main figure at all the war meetings in
Newark. Had been in Pennsylvania militia and Mexican war and was a good
drill master. Was elected First Lieutenant. About the first of June, 1861,
he withdrew from the Company and joined Mulligan's Regiment in Chicago.
Was captured with that command at Lexington, Missouri, in 1861. After this
he served on a gunboat and, still later, had a commission in a
Pennsylvania Cavalry Regiment. He was gifted with talent of a high order,
but an uncontrollable appetite for intoxicating liquor barred all
possibility of success in life. It caused his ruin and downfall and death.
He made many spasmodic attempts at reformation, and at these times was a
successful temperance talker. But all his efforts at reform ended in
failure. From the United States Soldiers' Home at Milwaukee, Wisconsin, I
have received this: "The records show that George W. Watson served in
Company K, 20th Illinois Infantry; Company E, 23d Illinois Infantry;
Company F, 2d Pennsylvania Cavalry, and in U. S. Navy. He was admitted
here December 15, 1877, and was killed by a railroad train in Milwaukee,
Wisconsin, at about 3 o'clock p. m., August 21, 1879."
FAYETTE SCOFIELD, Newark, Illinois.
Born in DuPage county, Illinois, January 25, 1847. Enlisted as a recruit
for Company K February 25, 1864. Discharged July 16, 1865. Killed in a
railroad wreck in Missouri February 17, 1881.
AMON HEACOX, Lisbon, Illinois.
Born in Oneida county, New York, June 6, 1817. Enlisted in Company K, May,
1861, at the age of forty-four years. Mustered out July 14, 1864. Was the
oldest man in the Company. I have been informed that he was slightly
wounded at Britton's Lane, but I have no recollection of it. I remember
him very distinctly at Fort Donelson. He was a good man and a good
soldier. Was a member of M. E. church. Was one of six, many years ago, to
organize a Methodist Episcopal church in Lisbon, Illinois. He died in the
Soldiers' Home at Quincy, Illinois, April 23, 1889, in the seventy-third
year of his age. Is interred in the cemetery at Lisbon.
HENRY HAVENHILL, Newark, Illinois.
Born in LaSalle county, Illinois, June 17, 1842. Enlisted April, 1861.
Discharged for disability April 27, 1862. Died in Chicago, Illinois, of
paralysis, June, 1889.
FRANCIS CROWELL, Newark, Illinois.
Born in Tompkins county, New York. Enlisted April, 1861, at the age of
eighteen years. Was wounded in the Georgia campaign July, 1864. Mustered
out July 16, 1865. Died at Waterman, Illinois, of a complication of
diseases, September 17, 1889. The address of his widow is Mrs. Mary A.
Crowell, Waterman, Illinois.
THOMAS GARNER.
April, 1861-July 14, 1864. Born in England. Had been a British soldier,
and saw active service in the Crimean war. Deserted from the British army.
Captured and branded with letter D. Deserted again in Canada and succeeded
in escaping to the United States.
Thomas Garner was one of the best marchers and fighters in the Union army.
He was always at his post. Never straggled from the ranks and never failed
because of sore feet or anything else. Whenever there was fighting on hand
Tom was in it. His great failing we all know, but, notwithstanding that,
he was the best beloved man in Company K. Some years after the war he went
back to England and, in time, returned again to the United States. Soon
after his return he walked from Buffalo, New York, to Morris, Illinois,
and then came to Newark and Sheridan looking for Company K folks. He found
none and went away very despondent. These facts I learned from his friends
in Morris. I have received a communication from the Pension Agent at
Buffalo, New York, which informs me that Thomas Garner, Company K, 20th
Illinois Regiment, was on the rolls of that agency as a pensioner at the
rate of six dollars a month, and that he died during the year 1892. He
drew pension to July 4 of that year. His address at that time was No. 58
Commercial Street, Buffalo, New York. This is the most definite
information I have succeeded in obtaining.
WILLIAM MINARD, Oswego, Illinois.
Born at Walbrough, Ulster county, New York, September 26, 1840. Enlisted
May, 1861. Became Commissary Sergeant of the Regiment. Mustered out July
14, 1864. Died at Chicago, Illinois, of disease of kidneys, January 10,
1894. Interred at Graceland.
GEORGE CONNELLY.
May, 1861-September 8, 1862. Born in Ireland. Had been a soldier in the
regular army. Was a brave man. Was wounded at Shiloh. Was discharged on
account of wound and pensioned therefor. He is now dead. Date of death not
ascertained.
JAMES HAGARDORN.
Enlisted at Joliet in May, 1861, and, I think, served about a year and a
half. Was discharged for disability and became a pensioner. After the war
lived in State of New York. Is now dead. Date of death not ascertained.
JAMES LORD.
May, 1861-March 5, 1863. Was an actor. Came to Newark, Illinois, in the
spring of 1861 with a theatrical troupe and there enlisted in Company K.
He was a very intelligent man and a good soldier. Was wounded at Fort
Donelson. Was discharged for disability and became a pensioner. He is now
dead. Date of death not ascertained.
RALPH PRATT.
May, 1861-November 27, 1861. Discharged for disability. Became a
pensioner. Is now dead. Date of death not ascertained.
REMARKS.
The names of those who served thirty days with Company K in the State
service but who declined to join the Company for three years in the United
States service do not appear in this roster; neither do the names of
drafted men and substitutes who were assigned to the Company during the
last few months of the war.
The dates after a name indicate the time when the soldier first
volunteered and the time when he was mustered out or discharged. Those who
did not enlist for a second term of three years were nearly all mustered
out July 14, 1864. Those who re-enlisted were mustered out July 16, 1865,
on account of the close of the war. Those discharged at other dates were
discharged for disability resulting from wounds or sickness.
The names of 108 Company K men are herein given; 56 are living, 52 are
dead. 4 are missing; of these four I have not been able to obtain any
information whatever. I know not whether they are living or dead.
Of the 56 men living, 41 receive pensions; 7 receive no pension. In regard
to the others, it is not ascertained whether they are pensioners or not.
32 receive pensions for disabilities incurred in the army; 9 for
disabilities not incurred in the army.
Of the 56 men here reported as living, 23 at least were wounded in battle;
13 draw pension for wounds.
Eight Company K men were buried at Raymond--Shoger, Barrows, Waters and
Mitchell were buried in the same grave with others of the Regiment on the
battlefield, near the rail fence. Adams was buried near the field
hospital. Taylor, Reed and Woodruff were buried in the graveyard near the
town. Crellen and Wann were buried on the battlefield of Shiloh. None of
these graves are now marked or known.
For courtesy, and for information furnished to assist me in tracing lost
members of Company K, I am under special obligations to the Hon. WILLIAM
LOCHREN, Commissioner of Pensions, Washington, D. C. I also acknowledge my
indebtedness to many postmasters, to newspaper editors, to pension agents
and others.
If any Company K man dies or changes his place of residence I desire to be
informed of the fact. In this way we will know where every man of the
Company is located. Remember, please.
A more lengthy sketch is given of some Comrades than of others. The reason
is I have had more information in regard to some than in regard to others.
In many cases what is said about each one of the living is his own letter
to me re-cast and abridged. I have not intentionally slighted or
misrepresented any. I may have made errors. If so, I hope they are few and
not of a grievous nature.
A BIT OF HISTORY.
When the news of the President's first call for volunteers reached Newark
the people were wild with excitement. "That night," writes Dr. Dyer, "I
could not sleep. The next morning I was out very early. I went into
Fowler's drug store and there with pen and ink drew up a company
muster-roll and signed it, and united with others in calling a war meeting
for that evening. I was called to make a long ride in the country and upon
my return found five names on the muster-roll in addition to my own. I
wish I had that paper now." This was the beginning of our Company.
Volunteers continued to come forward and in a few days the requisite
number had signed the roll. April 24, 1861, is on record as the date of
our Company organization. We were not accepted under the President's call
and were sorely disappointed. However, most of the boys continued to meet
in Newark and were drilled by Lieutenants Watson and McKean. On May 11,
1861, our Company left Newark for Joliet and went into camp. The 20th
Illinois Regiment was there organized and the Kendall county boys became
Company K of that organization. After that the history of the Company
became part of the history of the Regiment. June 13, 1861, we were
mustered into the United States service for three years, if not sooner
discharged. About the 17th of June we took the cars for the South. Stopped
three weeks at Alton, Illinois, and drilled constantly. Early in July we
went into camp for a short time in the United States Arsenal at St.
Louis, Missouri, and were here armed with Enfield rifles and received new
blue uniforms. We now had a very extravagant opinion of ourselves, of our
fighting qualities in particular, and did not take the least pains to
conceal that opinion from others. This is what a St. Louis paper said of
us:
ARRIVAL OF COLONEL MARSH'S REGIMENT FROM ALTON.
At 11 o'clock a. m., of Saturday, the steamer, "City of Alton," from
Alton, landed at the Arsenal the Twentieth Illinois Regiment, Colonel
C. C. Marsh commanding. The boat brought also the entire camp
equipage and stores of the Regiment. The spontaneous greeting
tendered by our Missouri soldiers was hearty and enthusiastic. Cheers
upon cheers of welcome rent the air and were responded to by the
Illinoisans in magnificent style. The guests were assigned the
western lawn of the Arsenal grounds for their camping site. Tents
were speedily pitched, baggage distributed, and the newly arrived
volunteers were soon perfectly at home. They are aching for active
service wherever desired, and, we understand, are already under
orders for "a forward movement." Other Regiments in Illinois are also
in eager anticipation of lively "business" in Missouri or Arkansas.
Colonel Marsh's Regiment is evidently in first-class condition and
consists of strikingly vigorous and hardy men. They are brim full of
health and energy and fun. The Regiment numbers nine hundred and
sixty-one men rank and file. Success and joy to them.
We left the Arsenal in a few days and for six months were engaged in
"business" in southeast Missouri. On October 21 we met the Confederates in
force, under Jeff. Thompson, at Fredericktown and succeeded in thoroughly
convincing them that they were whipped.
February 6, 1862, we entered Fort Henry and ten days later marched in
triumph into Fort Donelson. April 6 and 7 we had position in the Union
lines at Shiloh and after that took a hand in the siege of Corinth.
September 1 were engaged in the sharp little battle of Britton's Lane. In
the winter of 1862-3 were in the campaign in the mud in northern
Mississippi. Were at Oxford when General VanDorn took Holly Springs and
burned our supplies. In the spring and summer of 1863 we participated in
all the battles of the Vicksburg campaign and in the siege of that
stronghold.
Were out on the Meridian expedition for twenty-nine days in the month of
February, 1864, without tents or other protection from the elements except
what every man carried on his back.
In the spring and summer of 1864 were in the Georgia campaign and siege of
Atlanta. In the fall went from Atlanta to the sea.
In 1865 was in the campaign in the Carolinas and marched through Virginia
to Washington after the Confederate armies had surrendered.
On the 16th of July, 1865, at Louisville, Kentucky, the Twentieth Regiment
Illinois Volunteer Infantry was mustered out of the United States service
and disbanded, and the boys went home.
INDEX.
PAGE
Adams, Benjamin 44
Adams, George 40
Anderson 6
Ashton 47
Atkins 48
Bacon 6
Barnard 39
Barrows, David 43
Barrows, James 6
Baxter 46
Bennett 48
Bishop 34
Bissell 7
Boyer 4
Bristol 47
Broad 33
Brown 7
Carey 8
Charles 49
Clayton 9
Clifford 9
Connelly 56
Conner, Richard 47
Conner, Anderson 10
Conner, Lambert 38
Constantine 40
Cook 50
Crellen 42
Crowell 55
Crowner 48
Coyle 10
Dann 11
Dayton 51
Dyer 3
Favreau 12
Garner 55
Gay 36
Griswold 50
Gray 12
Hagerdorn 56
Hagerman 13
Hall 39
Hanson 13
Havenhill, Marshall 13
Havenhill, Henry 54
Heacox 54
Hopgood, Thomas 33
Hopgood, George 13
Howes 14
Hutton 14
Jennings, Stephen 47
Jennings, James 16
Kilmer 16
Landon 50
Lawton 51
Leach, Greenbury 51
Leach, John 17
Lehman 47
Littlewood 17
Lord 56
Mallory 48
McKean 47
Merkli 52
Minard 56
Mintz 40
Mitchell 44
Morton, Marcus 43
Morton, Gilbert 52
Mullenix 18
Olin 3
Paxson 48
Pepoon 41
Pierson 18
Pratt 57
Prentice 20
Preston, William 21
Preston, Luman 39
Pruyn 21
Read 46
Remillard 21
Rockwood 22
Scofield 54
Shoger 43
Sleezer 50
Smith 49
Spellman 5
Spencer 22
Springer, Richard 22
Springer, James 38
Springer, Joseph 49
Taylor, Robert 45
Taylor, John 23
Todd 24
Trenter 26
Vreeland 26
Wallace 26
Wann 42
Waters 43
Watson 53
West 27
White 28
Wilcox 49
Wilsey 28
Wilson, Andrew 41
Wilson, DeWitt 29
Wilson, George 30
Woodruff 46
Wright 31
Preface 2
Remarks 57
A Bit of History 59
Transcriber's Notes:
Passages in italics are indicated by _underscore_.
The following misprints have been corrected:
"accompauied" corrected to "accompanied" (page 16)
"doctor's" corrected to "doctors" (page 24)
"religous" corrected to "religious" (page 29)
"Novembe" corrected to "November" (page 50)
"Pennsylania" corrected to "Pennsylvania" (page 53)
Some of the dates seem obviously incorrect; however, they are presented
in this text as they appear in the original.