42nd Illinois soldier enlists in mid October 1864 and sees action at Franklin

Levi Greathouse, Co H, 42nd Illinois Infantry mustered in on October 18, 1864. hardly six weeks later he saw his first action at Franklin, then at Nashville two weeks later. He was apparently severely wounded during this action as he died of his wounds February 12, 1865 in Huntsville.

From Major Atwater’s official report after Franklin:

After dark the Forty-second Illinois was placed on picket and I was detailed as officer
of the day, and before daylight of the 30th, the army all having passed, I
withdrew the pickets an rejoined my brigade, and arrived at Franklin at
noon, where we were soon placed in position on the left of the Columbia
pike, with orders to throw up works and to hold them. Not having many told
we could not built very good works, and consequently could not hold them
long after the enemy came upon us, although we did not leave them until the
right and left both gave away, and we were obliged to fall back over a level
ground a distance of at least 600 yards and the enemy in very strong force
closely following us and continually firing upon us; upon arriving at a main
and strong line of works in our rear I halted and formed the regiment and
fought as well as possible until long after dark, with a loss of 55 killed,
wounded, and missing. During the fight of the 30th one of my recruits shot
down a rebel color-bearer and took his flag from him, but was soon ordered
by a colonel in the Twenty-third Corps to turn it over to him, which he
did and during the night two more of my regiment went out in front of the
works and found three rebel flags, which they brought in with one of
the rebel soldiers, who was on picket, as a prisoner, but as soon as they
came into our lines an officer of the Twenty-third Corps ordered them to
give him the colors, and like good soldiers they obeyed the order.

So far as the conduct of the officers and, men of the regiment is concerned
I have only to speak of it in the highest terms.

About midnight of the 30th we quietly retired from Franklin to Nashville,
where we arrived at 10 a. m., very nearly tired out.

I have the honor to be, sir, your very obedient servant,

F. A. ATWATER,
Maj. Forty-second Illinois, Cmdg. Regt.

Presentation cane to Union General W.C. Whitaker, fought at Franklin

eBay is selling an 1864 dated GOLD Presentation Cane from 96th Illinois Infantry Regiment to Brigadier General WALTER CHILES WHITAKER.

The gold cane top is engraved: “Presented to Brig. Genl. W. C. WHITTAKER by the Enlisted Men of the 96th Regt. Ill Vol. Infy. Dec. 25, 1864″

The sides are engraved with Battle Honors of his commands:

Kenesaw Mountain, Atlanta and Nashville; New Hope Church, Franklin; Lookout Mountain, Resaca; Chickamauga, Rocky Face Ridge.

Returning from post duty

I love reading original letters from Civil War soldiers. Time and time again you will read that a soldier has just returned from post duty.  Perhaps a monotonous and routine task for a common soldier.

May 30, 1863 “Went on Out Post this morning we have to go on every other day while we stay out letter from Sarah”

EXCERPT from the Civil War diary of William R. Townsend, 42nd Illinois Infantry, Co. E

Artist Forbes, Edwin, 1839-1895, helps us imagine a scene in this pencil drawing. Access to the LOC gallery of Forbes images can be found here.

Notes:

• “A scene in winter camp. A squad of troops have just returned from the picket line and are seeking their quarters.” on mount.
• Part of “Life studies of the great army.” Plate 15.
• Gift, J.P. Morgan, 1919 (DLC/PP-1919:R1.1.309)
• Forms part of: Morgan collection of Civil War drawings.

129th Illinois soldier recounts the dark days of December 1864, Hood skedaddles

Raleigh, North Carolina,
April 20, 1865,

Nov. the 28 we was ordered to Nashville to defend the place agains Rebel Gen. Hood. December 1 we got there and dug trenches 2 days and 1 night. Dec. the 4 & 5 considerable skirmishing. The 6 & 7 considerable firing on picket with a little fight. We lost several….the 15 Thomas went for them and it was a hard fight with a loss to the Rebs of 12 hundred prisoners 18 pieces of cannon 8 battle flags which we got. The 16th the fight gets harder our loss 1000 killed and wounded. Rebs loss 600 hundred killed & wounded. We captured 5000 prisoners 30 canon and several battle flags. The 17th Hood has left our front and skedaddled. Thomas after him. The 19th we was ordered to move we marched to Murfreesboro 2 days….went 9 miles the other side of Huntsville, Alabama the track being torn up. We had to march the rest of the way. The 27th we crossed the Tenn. River on transports and run the rebs out of Decatur . Our cavalry captured 4 canon then we started after Hoods pontoon train but hearing that he had made a crossing below we lay at Cortland a few days…April the 3 we started for Goldsborough where Sherman lay…the 10 we started for Raleigh…the 13 encamped for to make peace for Johnston has promised to surrender the papers has been sent to Washington to be signed…

129th Illinois Infantry, Co. I.

Source: Nate Sanders auction

 

75th Illinois, Company K, soldier – Hunt – saw action at Franklin in Kimball’s Division

Here’s a CDV of an Illinois officer – Isaac L. Hunt – who served in Company K, 75th Illinois. He would have seen action at Franklin in Grouse’s Brigade, Kimball’s Division. The CDV was recently offered in an online auction with Cowan’s.