Mark Carr was born in Indianapolis and moved with his family to Dixon, Illinois. He worked as a farmer and day laborer before responding to Lincoln's call for volunteers and enlisted in the 34th Illinois Regiment, Company I at Mt. Carroll< September 7, 1861. The regiment was known as the Red River Rifles and was organized at Camp Butler in Springfield.
He re-enlisted December 3, 1863. According to his military records, he was a loyal and committed soldier, never taking sick days.
The little that remains of him, along with buttons and brass from his uniform were found in 1938 at the base of the Confederate assault trenches by the Civilian Conservation Corps who were doing battlefield repairs.
A year later, officials placed a veterans headstone over his remains and put a small split rail fence around it. Over the years, visitors to the park have often placed flags on the grave.
A Brave Illinoisan. --Old B-R'er
The Battle of Fort Fisher, N.C.
