Company K, Twentieth Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry Part 1

Company K, Twentieth Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry.

by Andrew Brown.

PREFACE.

At the last annual reunion of the a.s.sociation of the survivors of the 20th Illinois Regiment, held in Chicago September 8, 1893, I was a.s.signed the duty of preparing a roster of Company K. This little publication is the result of my efforts to perform that duty. It is intended for the surviving members of the Company and their descendants, for relatives and friends of deceased members and for all others into whose hands it may chance to come, who are interested in learning about the men who fought and won battles that secured to America liberty and union.

ANDREW BROWN.

NEWARK, ILLINOIS, June, 1894.

ROSTER AND RECORD.

REUBEN F. DYER, M. D., Ottawa, Ill.

Born at Strong, Franklin county, Maine. Volunteered at Newark, Ill., April 15, 1861. Was elected Captain. Commanded Company at Fredericktown, Fort Henry and Fort Donelson. Resigned commission as Captain of Company K March 13, 1862, at Pittsburg Landing, Tennessee, with view of obtaining a position in the line of his profession. August 25, 1862, was commissioned Surgeon, 104th Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry, which commission he held till close of war, and, at close was acting Medical Director 14th Army Corps, General Jefferson C. Davis commanding. Has practiced medicine at Ottawa since 1865. For a number of years a member of U. S. Board Examining Surgeons. Is not a pensioner. A republican. A Methodist.

BENJAMIN OLIN, Joliet, Ill.

Born in State of New York. Volunteered at Newark, Ill., in April, 1861.

Elected Orderly Sergeant of Company. May, 1861, commissioned First Lieutenant. Served with Company in Missouri till November, 1861, when he resigned on account of ill health. Has been in the practice of law since 1862. At present County Judge of Will county, Ill. Is not a pensioner. Has never applied for a pension. A liberal democrat. A Methodist.

JOHN N. BOYER, Normal, Ill.

Born in Centre county, Pennsylvania. Volunteered May 10, 1861, at Newark, Ill. Discharged February 15, 1864, on account of wound received at Vicksburg. Was appointed Orderly Sergeant June 13, 1861. Commissioned 2d Lieutenant January 22, 1862; Captain March 13, 1862.

AT SHILOH.

On April 6, 1862, had mumps very badly, and had neck wrapped with red flannel. Nevertheless, went out in command of the Company. Had sword struck by a missile and bent nearly double, and received two slight wounds in the face. At noon was compelled to retire from the Company. When going, several of the boys turned over their pocket-books to him for safe keeping. Joined us, and took command of the Company, at daylight the next morning and was in all the second day's fighting.

AT BRITTON'S LANE.

On September 1, 1862, was indisposed and was riding in an ambulance with a.s.sistant Surgeon Bailey and Chaplain b.u.t.ton. When first shots were heard at Britton's Lane he jumped out, buckled on his sword and asked Dr. Bailey to give him a strong dose of whisky and quinine and then went forward on a run to take charge of the Company. This is a true story, because Chaplain b.u.t.ton tells it.

AT VICKSBURG.

On May 22, 1863, while in command of the Company at Vicksburg he was shot in the foot. On this occasion he lost his sword that had been battered at Shiloh; also, most of his other personal effects. He was discharged on account of this wound and receives pension therefor at the rate of twenty dollars a month.

A MAN OF PEACE.

Since war has been teacher, farmer, business man and cattle man in the West. Is broken in health. Rheumatism and other debilities. Says he can't work much. We understand he does not have to. In one sense of the word it is supposed he is well-heeled, although in another sense it is certain he is very badly heeled. In religion a Methodist; in politics a radical republican.

PERRY W. SPELLMAN, Fellowship, Florida.

Born in Pittsford, Monroe county, New York. Volunteered April 24, 1861, at Newark, Ill. Mustered out July 16, 1865, by reason of close of war. Was appointed Sergeant in May, 1861. Detailed on recruiting service from December, 1861, to June, 1862. Was Orderly Sergeant for a few months, then reduced to the ranks and detailed as acting Hospital Steward and dispenser of medicine. Was commissioned First Lieutenant March 2, 1863, and Captain February 23, 1865.

On May 12, 1863, during our desperate struggle behind the rail fence at Raymond, Comrade Spellman had the command of the Company. Near the close of that battle, when our lines were advancing through the woods, he was. .h.i.t in the side by a bullet and disabled for a time. From May 22, 1865, he commanded the Company during the siege of Vicksburg, and continued in command till the latter part of the siege of Atlanta. Was on detached service as acting a.s.sistant Quartermaster 3d Division 17th Army Corps, from October, 1864, till final muster out.

Since the war has mostly followed business pursuits. Has lived in Illinois, in South Dakota, and is now in Florida. On December 25, 1893, he wrote thus: "I came to Florida in January, 1890, and will probably spend the remainder of my days here. The climate is much more agreeable to me than that of the chilly North. Roses in full bloom and fresh vegetables for the table all winter." Pensioned for disability incurred in the army.

FAAGUST ANDERSON, Westport, Brown County, South Dakota.

May, 1861-August 1, 1862. Born in Sweden. Came to America in 1852. Twenty years old when enlisted. Was shot in wrist at Shiloh and discharged because of wound. Enlisted in another regiment in August, 1863, and mustered out in December, 1865, on account of close of war. Is pensioned at rate of ten dollars a month for wound received at Shiloh, and other disabilities. Has been farming since the war. Is a republican, but not a church member.

CHARLES BACON, Clinton, Oneida County, New York.

April, 1861-July, 1865. Born in Paris, Oneida county, New York.

Thirty-three years old when enlisted. Pensioned at rate of eight dollars a month for disability incurred in army. Pension granted December, 1893.

Votes the republican ticket as often as he has a chance to do so, but in religion is not very particular. Just goes to whatever church is handiest.

JAMES BARROWS, Newark, Ill.

April, 1861-July 24, 1862. Born in Perry, Wyoming county, New York. Was twenty-six years old when enlisted. Pensioned at twelve dollars a month.

Is a painter. A member of Baptist church. A republican. Was in the ranks of Company K at Fredericktown, Fort Henry, Fort Donelson and Shiloh.

MARTIN BISSELL, Plano, Ill.

May, 1861-October 3, 1862. Born in Addison county, Vermont. Twenty-one years old when enlisted. Slightly wounded at Fort Donelson. At Shiloh was struck with fragment of bursting sh.e.l.l Sunday morning, in region of hip, while regiment was executing a retreat after first engagement with the enemy. Soon afterwards was struck in thigh with spent ball, and later in the battle had part of right thumb nail knocked off and bayonet scabbard cut by another ball. At Britton's Lane was shot in right shoulder; was discharged because of this wound, and draws pension therefor at the rate of eight dollars a month. Since discharged has been engaged in agricultural and mechanical pursuits. A republican. A Methodist.

ANDREW BROWN, Newark, Illinois.

April, 1861-July 14, 1864. Born of Irish parents, in Kendall county, Ill.

Seventeen years old when enlisted. Did not go with Company from Newark to Joliet on Sat.u.r.day, May 11, 1861, because, on that morning, clothes and other necessaries were missing, but the next day, being fairly equipped, he started on foot for Camp Goodell, east of Joliet, at 10 o'clock a. m.

and reached destination at 4 p. m. Was farther away from home then than he had ever been before in his life. Had made a march of nearly thirty miles in six hours, but was in very "light marching order." Was not enc.u.mbered with a single superfluous article. When he reported in camp, Lieutenant Watson ordered the Company to form ranks and then called for three cheers for the boy they left behind them. From the day he left home till he returned, a period of more than three years, this volunteer never slept in a bed nor sat at a table to eat a meal of victuals. Was never on detailed duty, never straggled from the ranks and, while a soldier, never missed a march, campaign, skirmish or battle, except when wounded and a prisoner in the hands of the enemy. When long roll was beat Sunday morning at Shiloh, he had his gun off the stock and was swabbing out the barrel in a pail of water. Was under arrest and in guard house once only. Charges preferred were "committing depredations on private property." The "depredation"

consisted of milking a cow in canteen. Read the New Testament through three times in the army. Has the little volume yet which Chaplain b.u.t.ton presented in May, 1861. It has been out in many a storm and is badly soaked and soiled. Was slightly wounded at Britton's Lane. Was shot twice through leg at Raymond and captured by the enemy. A prisoner for two months. Since discharged has been student, teacher, lawyer, farmer. Has never been greenbacker, free-silver man nor protective tariff man. Is a democrat, but has much regard and respect for prohibitionists. In religion liberal. Catholic rather than Protestant.

JOHN CAREY, Blackstone, Ill.

May, 1861-July 16, 1865. Born in Limerick, Ireland. Came to America in November, 1860. Was twenty-one years old when enlisted.

The preliminary skirmishing of an impending battle always acted like a tonic on this comrade, and he was never known to be out of condition whenever a battle was on. Was as good a soldier as ever fought under the Stars and Stripes.

Captured July 22, 1864, near Atlanta, and confined in Confederate prisons for nearly seven months. Finally escaped and reached Union lines near Wilmington, N. C., February 22, 1865. Pensioned at rate of twenty dollars a month for disabilities incurred in Andersonville Prison. Is a bachelor--to me it is an utterly unaccountable fact that so congenial a soul as John Carey should choose to live alone in life. Some girl may capture him yet. His widow would probably receive a nice pension when John is gone. Comrade Carey claims that he votes the republican ticket, although he is a true Irishman and a good Catholic. He did not reply to my letter of inquiry.

CHARLES CLAYTON, 26 Union St., Wakefield Road, Stalysbridge, Lancashire, England, Europe.