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Turnquist: Remembering Elgin's Civil War veterans

A decade after the Civil War, Elgin dedicated a large memorial containing the names of the 68 veterans who perished during the conflict. Over the years, time obliterated many of the names.

About a decade ago, the city of Elgin had this monument - which sits prominently as the centerpiece of veteran ceremonies at Bluff City Cemetery - re-carved back to its original grandeur. But, these veterans, whose names were probably familiar to many at the time the memorial was dedicated, were still virtually unknown to most.

Local Civil War historian Ken Gough, who has sought to find out more about these Civil War veterans and others from the Elgin area, has agreed to share some of his research for this story. Since 2014 marks the last Veterans Day that falls within the 150th anniversary of events commemorating the Civil War, it provides a fitting time to take a closer look at those who made the ultimate sacrifice for the Union cause.

Prior to joining the war effort, the men whose names appear on the memorial worked as a shoemaker, printer, marble dealer, farmer, laborer and baker. Still others were employed as an attorney, cooper, clerk, saw filer, teamster, carpenter, and carriage maker. Their ages ranged from 15 to 36 years old.

Of those recorded as students, about half came from Elgin High School and the other half from the Elgin Academy. St. Mary's Parish in Elgin was listed as the most common church affiliation by those on the memorial.

Prior to the war, at least five of these men belonged to a local unarmed drill unit called the Continentals. When a supply of muskets arrived at the Kane County Court House during the beginning weeks of the war, both a Geneva Company and this Elgin group claimed possession of the weapons.

The dispute was settled when Elgin men stormed the gun cache and took the weapons back to Elgin. The action was noted on the men's service record as the "Raid on Geneva" and one man's record even indicated that he was "wounded in the head with a fireplace poker" during the incident.

After being mustered into service, most new soldiers were provided with a .577 1857 P-53 Enfield Rifled Musket. Various others were issued a .69 U.S. Altered Musket or a .59 Rifled Musket. A few were even handed an M-1808 and M-1816 Common Musket - an arm that had been rejected by other regiments before and were accepted "only because the battle at Fort Donelson was in progress."

The Elgin area men on the memorial saw service primarily in the 7th, 15th, 36th, 52nd, 58th, 127th, and the 141st Illinois Infantry regiments. They would be involved in over 50 different actions including ones in Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Tennessee and Virginia.

Among the actions involving the greatest number of Elgin men were the 1862 conflicts at the Battle of Fort Donelson, Tennessee; the Battle of Shiloh, Tennessee; and the Battle of Chickasaw Bayou, Mississippi. In 1863, actions involving the greatest number of men included the Battle of Arkansas Post, Arkansas; the Battle of Vicksburg, Mississippi; and the Battle of Milliken's Bend, Louisiana.

By far the greatest number of Elgin men died at Shiloh, Tennessee. Others perished during the war from typhoid fever, gangrene, "lung fever" and even drowning. At least one Elgin soldier was killed by "friendly fire" or being shot by men of his own side.

More Elgin men were buried in Elgin Cemetery on Channing Street than any other single location. When Bluff City Cemetery was opened in 1889, their remains were transferred to the new location - some to the new G.A.R. section where the large memorial is located. Others are interred are Shiloh National Cemetery, Andersonville National Cemetery, and Vicksburg National Cemetery.

Gough, who has assembled his research from various sources including Illinois Militia rolls, Department of the Interior pensions records, and cemetery records, says he has come to appreciate that there is much more to remembering a veteran's life than just the information on their tombstone. He says he hopes his work will help others do the same.

As to the future, Gough says that his research into Civil War veterans will continue all his life.

"There's a lot more to do," he said.

The Civil War memorial at Elgin's Bluff City Cemetery contains the names of 68 area veterans who died during the war. Courtesy of Jerry Turnquist
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