I highly recommend the book which title serves as the headline of this post. It gives a person a better understanding of the difficulties suffered by both sides during the Civil War, and especially gives a 'sympathy' for the horrible losses endured. It makes one more appreciative of the awful conditions soldiers on both sides had to face, and educates one about daily plantation life at the Richard Watkins farm in the mid-1800s. In this time of continued dis-ease about the Confederate flag, it behooves all of us to make efforts to come to better understanding, even though one should not tolerate continued offense. The editor is Jeff Toalson, ISBN: 978-1-4401-1047-4 (pbk.)
After spending part of Monday with my 91-year-old sister and her daughter and granddaughter, I have decided to follow my niece's suggestion and post family stories that may be of interest to other people in our family, as well as to readers who follow my posts.
So, I will start with the story about my great-grandfather and great-grand uncle who both fought with the Illinois 16th Infantry, Co. K during the Civil War. I will post photos taken on a recent trip to some of the battle sites where these brothers fought, and other pictures I took on that spring trip through some of our southern United States.
There will be stories that continue on later posts since there are letters and tales that will take more space and time than I have at one sitting. To distinguish the Civil War entries and stories about this family in central Illinois, I will use a different type style.
Stories from the Cooper Family
as related by Carol Cooper Rueber
The above photo shows the dirt road and distant tree that stands next to the base of the foundation which once supported the farm house where my Great-great-grandparents Rebecca (Walton) and Joseph Cooper lived and raised their family during the mid-1800s near Pittsfield, Illinois, in Pike County.
Joseph R. Cooper, Jr. was born in Akron, Ohio in 1819, the son of Joseph R. Cooper, Sr. and Mary Ackerman. There were eight children in the family - four boys and four girls. Joseph Jr. married Rebecca Walton, born in Akron, OH, in 1813, one of three daughters and two sons of Joseph Walton and Sarah Bell Wallace. Joseph Cooper and Rebecca Walton were married in 1840 in Ohio, and had four sons and two daughters. They eventually moved to Pike County in Illinois and made their living farming.
Farming in the mid-century was done with teams to pull the plow and other farm machinery. Walking alongside the animals was the norm. When the Civil War began, it was a great loss of labor to have sons enter the war and be away for months and years at a time. And, for the Cooper family, it was exceedingly hard because Joseph Jr. had died at the age of 38 in the spring of 1857. After the enlistment of both Franklin and Wm. Edward, their mother Rebecca was left to try to manage running the farm with help from her two daughters, Mary - aged 9, and Nellie (unknown birth date), and two sons, Jacob Milton and Frances Marion, ages 11 and 13 at the start of the war. Wm. Edward did not enlist until he was 19 years and about 7 months, although military records state that he was 18 years old at the time of his discharge. In any case, entering the war at the time he did allowed him to help with the farming until January of 1864.
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When Franklin J. Cooper enlisted May 25, 1861, he was 19 years and about 7 months of age. The following is an excerpt of record information taken from the Pike Co., Illinois genealogy and history web site:
'Sixteenth Regiment Company K -- was largely, indeed almost altogether, from Pike County. They enlisted May 25, 1861 and served until July 8, 1865. The Company was organized by George D. Stewart, Captain, who served until April 25, 1865 and John Bryant of Pittsfield, was appointed to fill the position. The 1st Lieutenant was James Hedger, and following came French B. Woodall, John Bryant and Franklin J. Cooper. The 2nd Lieutenants were Richard B. Higgins, Joseph E. Haines and Asbury Brown.
The 16th was organized and mustered into service at Quincy, Illinois with Col. Robert A. Smith commanding. In July, 1861 it was removed to Green River as railroad guard, after which the Regiment was scattered along the line of the road as the guard. July 10, Col. Smith's force was attacked at Missionary Station by 1600 mounted rebels, but he held his position until the arrival of reinforcements, when the enemy fled. It participated in the battle of Bird's Point, MO, and New Madrid, where it supported the siege guns. They captured 5000 prisoners and a large amount of artillery, small arms and ammunition at Tiptonville, TN. In January 1862 it participated in the siege of Corinth and Nashville. It was mustered out July 8, 1865.'
The 16th was organized and mustered into service at Quincy, Illinois with Col. Robert A. Smith commanding. In July, 1861 it was removed to Green River as railroad guard, after which the Regiment was scattered along the line of the road as the guard. July 10, Col. Smith's force was attacked at Missionary Station by 1600 mounted rebels, but he held his position until the arrival of reinforcements, when the enemy fled. It participated in the battle of Bird's Point, MO, and New Madrid, where it supported the siege guns. They captured 5000 prisoners and a large amount of artillery, small arms and ammunition at Tiptonville, TN. In January 1862 it participated in the siege of Corinth and Nashville. It was mustered out July 8, 1865.'
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Copy of the Discharge Papers from the 16th Regular Illinois Infantry for Wm. Edward Cooper:
To All Whom It May Concern.
Know ye, That William E. Cooper, a private of Captain John M. Bryant Company (K) 16th Regular of Illinois Infantry, ____ volunteers, who was enrolled on the 22nd day of January, One Thousand Eight Hundred and Sixty Four, to serve three years or during the way, is hereby DISCHARGED from the service of the United States this Eighth day of July 1865, at Louisville, Kentucky by reason of Gen. Order No. 24 Army Tenn., June 28th, 1865 (No objection to his being reenlisted is known to exist.)
Said William E. Cooper was born in Madison Co., in the State of Illinois, is 18 yrs. of age, 5 ft. 5 1/2 inches high, Light Complexion, Hazel eyes, Light hair, and by occupation when enrolled a Farmer. Given at Louisville, Ky., this Eighth day of July, 1865.
R. Pabst
Capt. 10th Mich. Infantry
A.C.M. 2nd Div. 14th A.C.
Chas. D. Kerr
Lieut. Col. Comand'g
16th Ill. Infantry, V.V.
To All Whom It May Concern.
Know ye, That William E. Cooper, a private of Captain John M. Bryant Company (K) 16th Regular of Illinois Infantry, ____ volunteers, who was enrolled on the 22nd day of January, One Thousand Eight Hundred and Sixty Four, to serve three years or during the way, is hereby DISCHARGED from the service of the United States this Eighth day of July 1865, at Louisville, Kentucky by reason of Gen. Order No. 24 Army Tenn., June 28th, 1865 (No objection to his being reenlisted is known to exist.)
Said William E. Cooper was born in Madison Co., in the State of Illinois, is 18 yrs. of age, 5 ft. 5 1/2 inches high, Light Complexion, Hazel eyes, Light hair, and by occupation when enrolled a Farmer. Given at Louisville, Ky., this Eighth day of July, 1865.
R. Pabst
Capt. 10th Mich. Infantry
A.C.M. 2nd Div. 14th A.C.
Chas. D. Kerr
Lieut. Col. Comand'g
16th Ill. Infantry, V.V.
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So began the Civil War soldiering history of this family of Coopers. I will attempt to tell family stories about these two brothers, as they have been told to me. I have little documentation to prove the facts of these stories (with exceptions of those printed above), other than that they were told to me by my father, who was the grandson of Wm. Edward Cooper.
To be continued...
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