Graves Decorated of Other Illinois Regiments in Woodstock 1903

Earlier this month I posted about Union veteran graves decorated in 1903 for Decoration Day in Woodstock, Illinois, of the 15th and 95th regiments, two units made up of many McHenry County residents.

I did not write down the names of the men in other Illinois units whose graves were also decorated  because of lack of time, but made a quick list of the unit numbers.

Here they are  (all units Illinois):

5th Artillery  (4 men)

153rd

36th (two men)

Dragoons

137th

124th (two men)

5th Battalion

92nd

53rd

1st Artillery

9th Cavalry

88th

8th Cavalry

17th Cavalry

--Old Secesh

So, Should Sherman's Army Have Been Called the Army of the Illinois?

From the McHenry County Civil War Round Table (Illinois) discussion group for February 26, 2022.

I went through Sherman's Union Order of Battle for his march through the Carolinas and counted the number of Illinois units.  I came up with 41.  That is a huge number of regiments and one battalion.  Now, granted, that late in the war, none or very few of these had the predetermined 1,000 soldiers considered a regiment at full strength.  But, even so, that was a lot of troops.

Here are the Illinois regiments:

7, 10, 12, 16, 20, 26, 30, 31, 32, 34, 40, 45, 48, 50, 52, 53, 55, 56, 57, 60, 63, 64, 65, 78, 82, 85, 86, 90, 93, 101, 102, 104,  105, 111, 112, 116, 125, 127, 129

Also, there was a 14/15 Battalion.

That's sure a lot of Illinois boys.

Army of the Illinois since Union Armies named after rivers.

--Old Secesh

"Heart's Blood:" Flag Saved By Him Needs Saving-- Part 3

Whether the flag became a Confederate trophy or if he had been able to keep it from them is not known.  The flag was returned to Illinois and put on display with others in the Capitol Building.

In the 1920s, the flags were removed to the Centennial Building where they remained on display until 2003.  Now, they are stored in a climate controlled facility at Camp Lincoln in Springfield, Illinois.

Funds between $15,000 and $20,000 are needed for restoration.

Save That Old Flag.  --Old Secesh

"Heart's Blood:" Flag Saved By Him Needs Saving-- Part 2

When news of his wounding and capture reached Grand Ridge, his father Richard and brother Samuel headed south in a wagon.  The Confederates let them through their lines only to find that George had died.

They returned with the body and buried him with his brother in the Grand Ridge Cemetery, north of the town on the east side of today's Route 23.

On June 20, 1885, the New York Times reported the flag had been found at the War Department in Washington, DC.  Poundstone had been left in Jackson when the Confederates abandoned it and Union forces took the body to Vicksburg where he died July 23rd.  This conflicts with what I wrote in the first paragraph.

More to Come.  --Old Secesh

"Heart's Blood:" Flag Saved By Him Needs Saving-- Part 1

From the May 25, 2012, Times by Charles Stanley.

Sgt. George Poundstone of Grand Ridge, Illinois, was mortally wounded but focused on saving his country's flag.  He stuffed it into his tunic to keep it from capture.

Today, that flag, stained with his blood, is stored flat in a cabinet in Springfield, Illinois, along with hundreds of other similar banners and awaiting funds for restoration.

Poundstone was in the 53rd Illinois Infantry regiment, organized in Ottawa in 1861-1862.  He was 32 and single when he joined in November '61.  On July 12, 1863, outside of Jackson, Mississippi, the 53rd was ordered to charge Confederate fortifications.  In just 40 minutes, half of the regiment had become casualties.

The 53rd commenced the attack with 250 officers and enlisted men and finished with just 66.  The eight members of Poundstone's color guard were all killed or wounded.  After the battle, the Confederates brought 3 flags and 200 prisoners into Jackson, including Poundstone who had been shot in the thigh, left eye and heart.

One Brave Man.  --Old Secesh