In recognition of the 150th anniversary of the Civil War, I hope to chronicle the daily life of my great-great grandfather, William Fleming. He served with the 130th Illinois Infantry. I also have a great-great grandfather, William Henry Ellis, who served with the North Carolina Cavalry. Unfortunately, I do not have much information about his service, but perhaps I'll mix in some of his story in when time allows.
Tuesday, November 11, 1862
After about seven weeks at Camp Butler, the 130th Illinois Infantry Regiment received orders to report to Memphis, Tennessee. It was a cold, rainy evening when the regiment boarded the cars of the Wabash Railway at the front gate of Camp Butler. According to Charles Johnson, it was a cheerless ride.