Back on April 17th, I was writing about an article by Ron Ingram in the Decatur Herald & Review based on the research of local historian Dayle Irwin.
Continuing with it.
GUSTAVUS A. SMITH
He ran a carriage business in Decatur before the war and did much business with the South. When those states seceded, he lost a lot of money on unpaid bills.
He was elected colonel of the 35th Illinois in May, 1861. On March 7, 1862, the regiment was at the battle of Elkhorn Tavern in Pea Ridge where Smith's horse was shot out from under him. Also, his sword was reported shot out of his hand, wounded in the left shoulder, struck on the right side of his head by a cannon ball fragment that fractured his skull. A silver plate, the size of a dollar coin was put in his head, from which he got the name "Old Tin Top." The wounds never fully healed until 1868.
Obviously, he was no longer fit for duty, but he raised an independent brigade and was assigned to administrative duties. In September, 1862, he was promoted to brigadier general and was discharged a brevet brigadier-general in January, 1866.
"When the 7th Illinois Cavalry was in the area of Cortland and Decatur, Alabama, they found livery stables and many plantations had fine carriages marked on the rear axle 'Gustavus A. Smith, Decatur, Illinois." They decided the carriages were not paid for and liberated them."
JESSE C. MOORE
Was a Methodist Episcopal minister who was known as "The Fighting Preacher." He was born in 1817 and president of Quincy College. In 1862, he was living in Decatur and commissioned colonel of the 115th Illinois, which consisted of men from eight central Illinois counties and better known as the 2nd Methodist regiment.
The regiment was with the Army of Kentucky at the Battle of Chickamauga and Moore repeatedly led attacks against Confederates on Snodgrass Hill where his horse was killed under him. When they ran out of bullets, Moore ordered a bayonet charge that dislodged the enemy.
He was promoted to brigadier general in April, 1865, after commanding the Iron Brigade (US-12 in Illinois is called the Iron Brigade Highway) at the Battle of Nashville. He served in Congress and was appointed US consul to Peru when he died July 11, 1883. His body was returned to Decatur where he was interred in Greenwood Cemetery.
Never Knew Decatur Had So Many generals. --Old B-Runner
The Battle of Fort Fisher, N.C.
