Private Thomas N. Dickson, from Blueville and Company D deserted today. His desertion was likely related to the large group that left 3 days earlier.
Also today, two more men from the 130th died: Private Elijah Gardner, Company B, from Sangamon County and Corporal John H. Covert, Company G, from Fuller’s Point.
Monday, January 26, 1863
Company E Musician John H. Beanblossom died today at Memphis.
Also today there were five desertions, all Company D. Corporal William T. Hill, Blueville; Private Rufus D. Langley, Blueville; Wagoneer Rufus D. Langley, Blueville; Private Isaac Bishop, Taylorville; and Private Charles Hildebrand, from Buckhart. The first four were from Christian County, while Buckhart is in adjacent Sangamon County. However, Buckhart and Blueville are only about 8 miles apart.
Wednesday, January 21, 1863
Private Eliphas Prater from Blueville, died at Memphis today. He was part of Company D.
Tuesday, January 20, 1863
Two soldiers from Company B died today in Memphis. Private William H. Hickman and Private Frederick Rutenberg. They were both from Sangamon County.
Friday, January 16, 1863
Two more soldiers from the 130th Illinois Infantry died today in Memphis: Corporal William J. Sapp (Co. F) from Greenville, and Private Francis M. Kessell (Co. G) from Milton Station.
Thursday, January 15, 1863
Two soldiers from Company H died today in Memphis: Private Benjamin W. Bunn from Richland, and Private Philip Winters from Claremont.
Wednesday, January 14, 1863
Private John A. Davis (Co. D) from Blueville died today at Memphis.
Also, 1st Lieutenant Charles Ives (Co. F) from Upper Alton died today.
Charles Johnson described the sicknesses and disease faced by the soldiers
Erysipelas prevailed as an epidemic, and many suffered terribly from this disease. When it attacked the face, its favorite site, the features were horribly swollen and distorted, the eyes closed, and when all was painted over with iodine, a frequent local remedy, the sufferer's countenance was as inhuman-like as can be imagined.
Erysipelas, measles, rheumatism, typhoid fever, dysentery and other fatal troubles carried off many men during the winter. For a time scarce a day passed but one or more men died at our regimental hospital. As one poor fellow after another was carried out in his pine coffin I remember thinking of the sad news the next outgoing mail would convey to friends away up North. Some wife, mother or sister; would, for a time, lead a sadder life and carry a heavier heart. Before death, in the great majority of cases, the sufferer seemed to pass into a listless condition, wherein indifference was manifested for everything about him; the past and the future seemed alike to be ignored. The mind appeared, in all cases, to fail with the body, and sensation became blunted, so that the so-called "agony of death" was never seen.
Also, 1st Lieutenant Charles Ives (Co. F) from Upper Alton died today.
Charles Johnson described the sicknesses and disease faced by the soldiers
Erysipelas prevailed as an epidemic, and many suffered terribly from this disease. When it attacked the face, its favorite site, the features were horribly swollen and distorted, the eyes closed, and when all was painted over with iodine, a frequent local remedy, the sufferer's countenance was as inhuman-like as can be imagined.
Erysipelas, measles, rheumatism, typhoid fever, dysentery and other fatal troubles carried off many men during the winter. For a time scarce a day passed but one or more men died at our regimental hospital. As one poor fellow after another was carried out in his pine coffin I remember thinking of the sad news the next outgoing mail would convey to friends away up North. Some wife, mother or sister; would, for a time, lead a sadder life and carry a heavier heart. Before death, in the great majority of cases, the sufferer seemed to pass into a listless condition, wherein indifference was manifested for everything about him; the past and the future seemed alike to be ignored. The mind appeared, in all cases, to fail with the body, and sensation became blunted, so that the so-called "agony of death" was never seen.
Tuesday, January 13, 1863
Two soldiers from Company F died today. Private Thomas Franklin and Private Nathaniel C. Jones were both from Bond County and died today in Memphis.
The regimental hospital was on one of the main streets in Memphis. Through the front window, several times each day, could be seen a slow-moving ambulance carrying a pine coffin containing the dead body of a soldier. Ahead of the ambulance was a small military band playing a dirge, and behind the ambulance was a squad of soldiers with reversed arms.
The parade ended out in the suburbs, where there was a soldier's cemetery.
The regimental hospital was on one of the main streets in Memphis. Through the front window, several times each day, could be seen a slow-moving ambulance carrying a pine coffin containing the dead body of a soldier. Ahead of the ambulance was a small military band playing a dirge, and behind the ambulance was a squad of soldiers with reversed arms.
The parade ended out in the suburbs, where there was a soldier's cemetery.
Monday, January 12, 1863
Private John W. Edwards (Co. D) from Taylorville died at Memphis today.
Charles Johnson describes the fate of one of his friends about this time:
A comrade of mine, a warm friend, was taken seriously sick and had to be removed to our regimental hospital. That he might have special care and be made as comfortable as possible, I accompanied him thither and remained with him some weeks, till his friends came from the North and took him home to die.
Charles Johnson describes the fate of one of his friends about this time:
A comrade of mine, a warm friend, was taken seriously sick and had to be removed to our regimental hospital. That he might have special care and be made as comfortable as possible, I accompanied him thither and remained with him some weeks, till his friends came from the North and took him home to die.
Sunday, January 11, 1863
Private William R. Higgins (Company F) from Greenville died today in Memphis.
It wasn't just the soldiers in Memphis who were dying from disease. An unusual amount of serious illness spread throughout all the armies that winter. One reason was the great amount of rainfall, particularly in the western and southwestern theaters of operations.
Another was the very large build-up of new troops. Charles Johnson looked at it this way:
For six months after enlistment a new regiment has to pass through a sort of winnowing process, in which the chaff, so to speak, is separated from the wheat; when the weaklings, the soft, tender, susceptible ones, either die, or, becoming unfit for duty, are discharged, leaving the command with a lot of tried men, as it were a veritable "survival of the fittest."
It wasn't just the soldiers in Memphis who were dying from disease. An unusual amount of serious illness spread throughout all the armies that winter. One reason was the great amount of rainfall, particularly in the western and southwestern theaters of operations.
Another was the very large build-up of new troops. Charles Johnson looked at it this way:
For six months after enlistment a new regiment has to pass through a sort of winnowing process, in which the chaff, so to speak, is separated from the wheat; when the weaklings, the soft, tender, susceptible ones, either die, or, becoming unfit for duty, are discharged, leaving the command with a lot of tried men, as it were a veritable "survival of the fittest."
Thursday, January 8, 1863
Private John R. Halford (Co. D) from Blueville died today in Memphis.
The winter of 1862-63 was discouraging to the Union effort. Besides soldiers succumbing to disease, the battles had not gone their way. The Army of the Potomac, under General Burnside, met with terrible disaster on the battlefield at Fredericksburg, Virginia in December. That same month, General Sherman was turned away and suffered great losses at Vicksburg.
On January 1, 1863 the bloody battle of Stone's River, or Murfreesboro, was fought between the Union forces under General Rosecrans and the Confederates under General Bragg. Both sides lost eight to ten thousand men in killed and wounded, and neither could claim a decisive victory.
The winter of 1862-63 was discouraging to the Union effort. Besides soldiers succumbing to disease, the battles had not gone their way. The Army of the Potomac, under General Burnside, met with terrible disaster on the battlefield at Fredericksburg, Virginia in December. That same month, General Sherman was turned away and suffered great losses at Vicksburg.
On January 1, 1863 the bloody battle of Stone's River, or Murfreesboro, was fought between the Union forces under General Rosecrans and the Confederates under General Bragg. Both sides lost eight to ten thousand men in killed and wounded, and neither could claim a decisive victory.
Tuesday, January 6, 1863
Corporal Jacob Berlin from Claremont died today in Memphis. He was assigned to Company H.
There was much sickness and many deaths in Memphis this winter. All of the regiments were affected, not just the 130th Illinois Infantry.
The most fatal disease was measles. A large percentage of the newly enlisted men had never had measles. Given the close quarters, the winter weather, and the lack of immunity, the disease spread quickly and easily. Many young, strong, healthy soldiers were brought down by the disease.
Some died, and others became permanently disabled and were discharged. A few lost their voices or suffered damaged eyesight or hearing.
There was much sickness and many deaths in Memphis this winter. All of the regiments were affected, not just the 130th Illinois Infantry.
The most fatal disease was measles. A large percentage of the newly enlisted men had never had measles. Given the close quarters, the winter weather, and the lack of immunity, the disease spread quickly and easily. Many young, strong, healthy soldiers were brought down by the disease.
Some died, and others became permanently disabled and were discharged. A few lost their voices or suffered damaged eyesight or hearing.
Sunday, January 4, 1863
Private John Morgan (Co. C) died in Memphis today. He was from Cairo and assigned to Company C. Also today there was another desertion, Corporal George P. Nation (Co. G) from Mattoon.
Friday, January 2, 1863
While the men of the 130th had not yet seen battle, they continued to lose men. Today Private William W. Burton (Co H) from Mt. Carmel died at
Memphis.
Thursday, January 1, 1863
Three soldiers deserted the 130th Illinois Infantry today. Private Orrin P. Baker (Co. G) from Baldwinsville, Private Patrick Fitzgerald (Co. C) from Cairo, and Private Alexander Havens, also from Cairo and Company C.
These were not the first deserters. At least two men deserted from Camp Butler and were never mustered in. But these were the first desertions from the ranks for the 130th since their arrival in Memphis. They would not be the last.
Given the conditions the soldiers faced, it should not be a surprise that desertion was fairly common throughout the entire Union army - even more extensive than in the Confederate ranks.
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