The Civil War
...but one of them would make war rather than let the nation survive,
and the other would accept war rather than let it perish,
and the war came.
Abraham Lincoln 4 March, 1865
This page is dedicated to the memory of my ancestors, both Union and Confederate.
These wore Blue
John Odom Brakebill: 48th Illinois Infantry, Co. A
Enlisted September 1, 1861 at New Liberty, Illinois at the age of 15. The 48th travelled to Cairo, Illinois to Camp Butler for training. They were attached to General U.S. Grant's Army of the Tennessee and sent into active duty in January, 1862. John re-enlisted in January 1864 in the 48th Illinois as a veteran volunteer. He mustered out with the unit at the end of the war. The 48th was involved in the following battles and skirmishes: Fort Henry, Fort Donnelson, Shiloh, Seige of Corinth, Seige of Vicksburg, Big Black River, Jackson, Missionary Ridge, Seige of Knoxville, Reseca, New Hope Church, Dallas, Atlanta, Seige of Atlanta, Jonesboro, Lovejoy Station, Sherman's March to the Sea, Seige of Savannah, Fort McCallister, Luck Creek, South Edisto River, Columbia and Bentonville. The 48th travelled to Washington, D.C. in May, 1865; and marched in the Grand Review for President Andrew Johnson.
John was wounded three times during the war. He was wounded in the left cheek at the Battle of Shiloh; wounded slightly at the Battle of Dallas, Georgia and again wounded, this time in the left leg at the Battle of Atlanta.
Benjamin Chandler Evans: 6th Reg. Provisional Enrolled Missouri Militia
This unit later changed it's designation to the 16th Missouri Calvalry.
John Allen Brown: 42 Indiana Infantry, Co. I
Jacob Reed Garrett: 131st Illinois Infantry, Co. C
Died March 22, 1864 at Natchez, Mississippi of viraloid. The 131st consolidated with the 29th Illinois Infantry on November 14, 1863, due to the overwhelming loss of numbers in the 131st.
John Dougherty: 6th New York Volunteer Infantry, Co. A
William Garner: Missouri Home Guard, Smith's Cavalry
Samuel Dean: Missouri Home Guard, Ozark County
Abraham Fields: 40th Missouri Infantry
The 40th was comprised of refugees from southwest Missouri who had remained neutral at the beginning of the war, only to have their homes and farms destroyed by partisans from both sides. These families walked to Rolla, Missouri to the Union Army headquarters for food and shelter. The men were mustered into the army and the women and children were placed on trains and taken to Jefferson Barracks, Missouri for housing until the end of the war
James Washington Counts: Missouri State Militia, 68th Regiment
These wore Gray
Isaac Polk Henry: Confederate Army
Most likely affiliated with the Missouri State Guard, but I have yet to find where he served.
Jesse Killian: 2nd Mounted Cherokee Rifles, Co. G
Killed at the Battle of Pea Ridge, Arkansas
Links to related Civil War sites
48th Illinois Infantry: Dr. David Stumpf's excellent page.
48th Illinois Infantry: Nice page by Jeffrey Schrerrer
Battle of Pea Ridge, Arkansas: National Park Service site
Vicksburg National Military Park: National Park Service site which also contains information on the Battles of Jackson and Big Black River
The Official Records of The War of the Rebellion: The on-line version of the compilation of the records of both the Union and Confederate Armies. The books have been scanned and an index is available. An excellent resource.
Missouri Volunteer Forces in the Civil War: A nice web site listing brief information on all of the Missouri Union units, including the Home Guard.
The Civil War Trust promotes appreciation and stewardship of historic civil war battlefields.
A great museum next door to the Wilson's Creek Battlefield.
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