ILMASSAC-L Archives

Archiver > ILMASSAC > 2005-01 > 1106516012


From: Bill <>
Subject: Little Egypt Heritage, 23 January 2005, Vol 4 #04
Date: Sun, 23 Jan 2005 16:33:32 -0500


Little Egypt Heritage Articles
Stories of Southern Illinois
© Bill Oliver

23 January 2005
Vol 4 Issue: #04
ISBN: pending

Osiyo, Good Evening Ladies and Gentlemen of Little Egypt,

One never knows what will turn up in a book. Never judge the contents by
the cover. Someone said that sometime somewhere. [grin] While
researching a small local community bi-centennial booklet, a picture of
a grizzlie face stared back at me. The picture was of five Civil War
Veterans. The grizzlie faced one was my grandchildren’s 3rd Great
Grandfather, Oliver Perry DRAKE. O.P. or Perry as he was more commonly
known was wounded in that War and carried a steel plate in his head for
the remainder of his life. He used to offer the grandchildren and great
grandchildren an opportunity to “knock” on his head to hear it according
to family tradition. O.P. served in the 21st Ohio Infantry. His copy of
the Regimental History has been passed on to me. It is old and it is
beginning to deteriate.

There were ancestral cousins on both sides of that War in my family.
However, two of my 2nd Great Grandfathers died as a result of fighting
for the Union. They both served in the same regiment, though in
different companies. They both left their families at home that included
very young children. And they both lived long enough to be involved in
battles with one of my heros of the Confederacy [during my teen years my
education was from the southern schools of North Carolina and Virginia].

One Grandfather, Lewis TURNER of Cache township, Johnson county,
contracted measles after the regiment was assigned to Memphis. He died
as a result of that epidemic. His resting place is yet unknown to me.

The other Grandfather, Charles B BENSON of Tunnel Hill township in
Johnson county, had to endure a wound in the leg and arm, eventually
losing 2/3rds of his right arm, being captured, imprisoned, parolled and
dying in the military hospital in Annapolis, Maryland.

The 120th ILL Inf does not have a Regimental History book. Its history
is scattered in the Illinois State Archives and pieces of it can be
located on the “web”. There must be thousands of books written about the
Civil War and none that can be found about the 120th ILL Inf.

A distant cousin, Bert HAHS/Hass, recently wrote a book titled, “We Lost
Everything”. Having a copy, it is already “dog-eared” from reading it so
much. It is primarily the story of one particular battle in which the
120th Illinois Volunteer Infantry participated. It is about the battle
in which my 2nd Great Grandfather participated and was wounded, captured
and imprisoned. Cousin Bert doesn’t mention my Grandfather by name, nor
his company. The HAHS brothers that served in that regiment are
mentioned several times. Cousin Bert’s writing style brings the reader
into the events. He does this by adding conversation and possible
thoughts of key players.

Though I served my time during the Korean Conflict, War is not my
pleasure. However, it is history and certainly it is a part of
everyone’s family history. So, it has come to my mind that a “history”,
a Regimental History, of the 120th Illinois Infantry is an appropriate
project.

To this end, some rather stanch Civil War Buff friends have been giving
me some of their guidance. A collection of resource material is being
located for study and/or inclusion. It looks to be a huge undertaking.
To do as thorough a “job” as possible I encourage anyone to send the
title and author/publisher of any works that reflect on the 120th ILL
Inf Regiment; as well as, any stories or knowledge of any of the members
of that regiment to me for evaluation and inclusion.

The project has already broadened my knowledge of relationships, for one
of the Civil War Buffs in my acquaintance had an ancestor who served in
the 31st Ohio Infantry and that Unit fought alongside the 120th at
Kennesaw Mountain during the campaign to “March to the Sea”.

Per usual in any research. More questions arise from readings than are
answered. The first assignment for the 120th ILL Regiment was to guard a
bridge at “Jimtown”. This has to be a collocquial name. Jamestown?
Desease affected the unit as much or more than did actual bullets. Early
in their service many died from rapidly spreading desease such as
measles. The statistics are surprising to a none “buff” such as myself.

Another point that comes to the mind of any serious researcher – there
is no neutrality. Everyone and every account of any action in the Civil
War is highly charged, very personal and extremely emotional. It is so
depressing to see how humans can treat each other and be related. It
isn’t Hatfields vs McCoys; it is Parents vs Offspring, Siblings vs
Siblings, Cousins vs. Cousins, Neighbors vs Neighbors.

e-la-di-e-das-di ha-wi nv-wa-do-hi-ya nv-wa-to-hi-ya-da.
(May you walk in peace and harmony)

Wado,


Bill
-=-


PostScript:

= = = =
http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/index/SOIL
http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/index/ILMASSAC
http://www.usgennet.org/usa/ne/state/BillsArticles/LittleEgypt/intro.html



This thread: