The Edward Kittoe House in Galena, Illinois, Is a B&B Now

Is located at 105 South High Street.

It is now Miss Murphy's B&B.   Rooms rent from $175 to $225.

Edward Kittoe was good friends with U.S. Grant, who rented a house a few doors away before the Civil War.

The original part of the house was constructed 1845-1850 and additions have been made  in 1861 and 1870.

Dr. Kittoe was  recorded as a physician practicing on Main Street in Galena in 1854 in the City of Galena Directory and listed as living at this home.

His obituary describes him as  "a very modest man who shunned notoriety...  No man living had a kinder or more sympathetic heart.  He despised falsehood, hypocrisy and sham, and was incapable of amean or despicable act."

When Dr. Kittoe died in  September of 1887, his funeral procession  was reported as being oneof the largest ever seen in Galena.  After the service at Grace Episcopal Church, of which he was a member  for over 30 years, he was buried  in Greenwood Cemetery.

Stay in Some History.  --Old Secesh

Edward Kittoe Inspects Chicago's Camp Douglas Prison in 1864-- Part 3

"The barracks and grounds in the northwest square, occupied by Morgan's men (John Hunt Morgan), were pre-eminently  filthy."

Things are also bad in the center square.  "The old privies have been removed, and the sinks have been but imperfectly covered, so that the filth is seeping up through the ground.  When there is a rain the grounds are flooded with an infusuion of this poisonous matter...."

The hospitals are in good order and a new one is being built.

When Edward Kittoe was there, the prison held 5,616 Confederates of whom 225 were sick in the hospital.  The previous month, December 1863, there was a total of 2,011 with 57 deaths. Most prevalent camp disease is diarrhea, arising from poorly cooked food and conditions.

--Old Secesh

Edward Kittoe Inspects Camp Douglas in Chicago-- Part 2

Continued from February 6, 2023.

The part of Camp Douglas where the Union guards were quartered were by and large very good.  However, when it came to the Confederate prisoners being held there, it was quite another story.

The prisoners stayed in quarters built in 1861, when Camp Douglas was used for traing Union troops.  The floors were not raised to allow the flow of  of air beneath.  The floorboards were taken out to prevent tunneling and as a result floors were a "mass of mud and filth."

The buildings were 100 feet by 30 feet and into which 125 to 150 men were crammed, "who are mostly in a filthy and disgusting state and swarming with vermin."

They are supplied with ample rations, but arrangements for cooking are poor and food improperly prepared, resulting in much waste.  There is a great "neglect of police duty"to the grounds.

--Old Secesh

Edward Kittoe Inspected Camp Douglas Prison in Chicago in 1864

From Official Records War of the Rebellion.

Report of inspection made by Edward Kittoe by order of  Cpl. R.C.  Wood, Assistant Surgeon General , U.S. Army,  on January 18, 1864.

He reported that the site was not very good  because of drainage and proximity to Lake Michigan and exposure to cold, damp winds.  "Marshy character of the soil" perfect for fostering diseases.  Plus, at time of inspection ground covered by frost and snow.

As far as prisoners, the soil is excellent for tunneling for escape.  Plus, proximity to large city pf Chicago makes it hard to guard against southern sympathizers.

Barracks and latrines of guards in very good shape.

However, this can not be said for the conditions of the prisoners.

--Old Secesh

Surgeon Edward Kittoe-- Part 5: On Grant's Personal Staff

**  Promoted to Surgeon U.S. Volunteers, December 1862.

**  Promoted to successive ranks of Major and Lieutenant Colonel.

**  Placed on the personal staff of U.S. Grant, October 1863.

**  Appointed Medical Inspector for the Department of the Cumberland, February 1864, and Medical Inspector U.S. Army, April 1864.

**  Medical Director Army of  the Tennessee during Sherman's Georgia Campaign.

**  Brevetted Colonel for "faithful and meritorious" services, June 1867.

**  Died in Galena, September 29, 1887; buried in Galena.

--Old Secesh

Surgeon Edward Kittoe-- Part 4: Born in England

Same source as previous post.

EDWARD DOMINICUS KITTOE

**  Born June 20, 1814.    Woolwich, Kent, England

**  Emigrated to U.S. at age 18.

**  Graduated Pennsylvania Medical College.

**  Moved to Galena to practice medicine in 1851.

**  Appoined Regimental Surgeon of the 45th Illinois Infantry,  August 1861.

--Old Secesh

Surgeon Edward D. Kittoe-- Part 3

From Galena and US Grant Museum.

Dr. Edward Kittoe is not one of Galena's nine generals but his importance to the overall Union war effort was far greater than some of those nine generals.

He served on U.S. Grant's personal staff and later in Sherman's  Georgia campaign.  It was Kittoe who worked to institute more sanitary conditions and better medical procedures during the war.  His efforts probably saved  thousands of lives.

Dr. Kittoe quietly returned to Galena, Illinois, after the war, continuing to serve his town as a beloved family physician until his death in 1887.

--Old Secesh

Surgeon Edward Kittoe of Galena-- Part 2

Civil War Union Army surgeon.

He was commissioned as  Chief Surgeon of the 45th Illinois Volunteer Infantry on August 10, 1861.

Served on that duty until November 7, 1862,  when he was appointed an Assistant Surgeon in the U.S. Volunteers.    Promoted to  full Surgeon  on December  14, 1862, he was  promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and Medical Inspector on March 30, 1864.

He served until  honorably mustered out on October  31, 1865, having been brevetted to Colonel, US Volunteers on September 30, 1865, "for faithful and meritorious service."

*****************************

His son, William Kirby Kittoe (1843-1927) served as a Private in the 45th Illinois Volunteer Infantry.

--Old Secesh

Surgeon Edward D. Kittoe of Galena

From Find-A-Grave.

DR. EDWARD DOMINICUS KITTOE

BIRTH:   23 June 1814, Kent, England

DEATH:  25 September 1887 (aged 73)

BURIAL: Greenwood Cemetery, Galena, Illinois.

He was the father of Maria Fiester Kittoe who married Alfred Smith, the son of John E. Smith.

--Old Secesh

John E. Smith's Son, Alfred Smith, Also Union Officer

I have been writing about Galena, Illinois, General John E. Smith earlier this month.  He had a son who was also a Union officer and as a cenotaph at the same cemetery as his father.

From Find-A-Grave.

CAPT. ALFRED THEOPHILUS SMITH

BIRTH: 29 May 1838, St. Louis, Missouri

DEATH:  23 May 1905, Buffalo, New York

BURIAL:  Cremated there.   Cenotaph at Greenwood Cemetery, Galena, Illinois.

Alfred Smith was the son of John E. Smith.

In 1862, he married Maria Fiester Kittoe (1841- 1878).  She was the daughter of Union surgeon  Dr. Edward Dominicus Kittoe of Galena, Illinois.

--Old Secesh

Many of the Galena Nine Buried at Greenwood Cemetery

From Find-A-Grave.

Five of the Galena Nine are buried at Galena's Greenwood Cemetery, including John E. Smith.

The other four:

Augustus Louis Chetlain

Jasper Adalmorn  Maltby

Willima Reuben  Rowley

John Corson Smith

In addition, a very important politician who helped Grant's career immensely, Elihu  Benjamin Washburne is buried there.  Also, Edward Kittoe, a Union surgeon.

--Old Secesh