I'm researching an ancestor named Private James Harvey Wylie of the Wisconsin 2nd Infantry.
James was born in August 14th, 1864 in McHenry County, Illinois. Before the war he was living in Woodstock, Illinois, but apparently he moved to Walworth County, Wisconsin prior to enlisting in Company B of the Wisconsin 2nd on March 20, 1862 at age 15.
As I'm sure people here are aware of, what was left of the 2nd Wisconsin was eventually merged into the 6th Wisconsin in 1864. James' records say that he transferred to the 6th Wisconsin, Company H, on November 30th, 1864.
I thought that by researching the 2nd/6th Wisconsin I'd have a pretty complete view of what James' war experiences were like. It now seems much more complicated than that.
I was researching James' family in McHenry County Illinois recently when I came across the name "James H. Wylie" on a
recently updated list of Prisoners of War from McHenry County.
This was somewhat shocking to me...I'd never seen anything indicating that James was a P.O.W.
This
McHenry County James Wylie was of the same age (18 now) and appearance as mine, but had joined Company A of the 15th Illinois Infantry on April 6th, 1864. July 20th he became part of company E of the combined 14th/15th Illinois Veteran Battery. Transferred to Company E, Illinois 15th Infantry Regiment on 24 Mar 1865.Mustered out on 15 Jun 1865.
In this
McHenry veteran's index, it lists James Wylie, and says he died 3/15/1926. This is the
exact date of death of my James Harvey Wylie. I believe the 15th Illinois James Wylie is the same person as the 2nd/6th Wisconsin James Wylie.
In the Andersonville Prison Database, it says that James was captured at Allatoona on October 5th, 1864. Most of the 15th was taken prisoner at either Big Shanty or Acworth in the events leading up to the battle of Allatoona Pass, but it appears that James was part of the detachment that fought at Allatoona, and was captured there along with nearly about 50 others from Company E.
ecord_id: 42439
Name: WYLIE, JAMES
Year born: 1846
Rank: PRIVATE
Company: E
Arm: Infantry
Regiment number: 15th Illinois Infantry
Date captured: 10/5/1864
Location captured: Altoona, Georgia
Fate: Sent to Camp Lawton, Millen, Georgia, November 11, 1864. Mustered out June 15, 1865.
Remarks: SENT TO MILLEN: NOV 11, 1864
My question is: If this is the same person, how would this kind of unit change have worked, and why would his Wisconsin war records not mention any of this? Also, how do I go about proving that this is the same person?
In the 15th Illinois, the companies he fought in were McHenry County-specific companies, filled with people from his hometown of Woodstock. Maybe it's possible that he was somehow offered a chance to fight for his hometown unit?
The 2nd Wisconsin detached from it's brigade on May 11, 1864, which is around the time that James would have mustered into the 15th Illinois.
Are we looking at two different men ?
- Roster of Wisconsin Volunteers: War of the Rebellion:
Kames Wylie
Residence was not listed;
Enlisted as a Private (date unknown).
On 11/30/1864 he transferred into "H" Co.
WI 6th Infantry
He was Mustered Out on 5/19/1865
He also had service in:
"B" Co. WI 2nd Infantry
......................................................................................................
James Wylie
Residence was not listed;
Enlisted on 3/20/1862 as a Private.
On 3/20/1862 he mustered into "B" Co.
WI 2nd Infantry
He was transferred out on 11/30/1864
On 11/30/1864 he transferred into "H" Co. WI 6th Infantry
(date and method of discharge not given)
Sources used by Historical Data Systems, Inc.:
...................................................................................................
- Illinois: Roster of Officers and Enlisted Men
James Wylie
Residence
Woodstock IL;
Enlisted on 4/6/1864 as a Private.
On 4/6/1864 he mustered into "A" Co.
IL 15th Infantry
He was transferred out on 7/20/1864
On 7/20/1864 he transferred into "E" Co.
IL Vet Battn
He was transferred out on 3/24/1865
On 3/24/1865 he transferred into "E" Co.
IL 15th Infantry
He was Mustered Out on 6/15/1865
..............................................................................................................
ILLINOIS
FIFTEENTH INFANTRY.
(Three Years)
The Fifteenth Regiment of Illinois Volunteer Infantry was
raised under the "Ten Regiment Act" in the First Congressional
District. Company A was from McHenry county; Company B,
Winnebago county; Company C, Boone county, Company D, McHenry
county; Company G, Stephenson county; Company H, Ogle county,
Company I, .Lake county; and Company K, from Carroll county.
The Regiment was organized at Freeport, Illinois, and mustered
into the.United States service on the 24th day of May, 1861,
being one of the first regiments from the State sworn into the
United States service, for the three years' service. After
electing officers organizing and drilling for some time, the
Regiment proceeded to Alton, Illinois, remaining there six
weeks for instruction. In July the Regiment left Alton by
steamboat for St. Charles, Missouri, thence by rail to Mexico,
Missouri, where it remained for a time in company with the
Twenty-first Illinois Infantry, commanded by Colonel U. S.
Grant. A part of the Regiment marched from Mexico to Fulton,
and thence to the Missouri river, and thence by steamer to
Jefferson Barracks, the other part of the Regiment marched to
Hannibal, Mo., and thence by steamer to Jefferson Barracks.
The Regiment then moved by rail to Rolla, Mo., where it
arrived in time to cover General Sigel's retreat from Wilson's
Creek. After building one or two forts, the Regiment was
ordered to Tipton, Mo., and thence became attached to General
Fremont's army, and marched under General Hunter to
Springfield, Mo.; after remaining there a short time, the
Regiment returned to Tipton, then went to Sedalia. It
assisted in the capture of 1,300 rebels a few miles from the
latter place. The Regiment then marched to Otterville, Mo.,
and went into winter quarters December 26, 1861. The winter
was cold and the snow deep, and the first winter's experience
in tents was a severe one.
February 1,1862, the Regiment marched to Jefferson City,
thence by rail to St. Louis, where it embarked on transports
for Fort Donelson, and arrived to take part in the surrender.
The Regiment was then assigned to General S. A. Hurlburt's
"Fighting Fourth Division" and marched to Fort Henry, then
went by boat to Pittsburg Landing, being one of the first
regiments that landed on that historic battle ground. At the
battle of Shiloh, on the 6th of April, the Regiment was in the
first line of battle, formed by Hurlburt's Division, and was
in the Brigade commanded by General C. Veach. Hardly had the
Brigade taken position when a Confederate column, massed three
lines deep, deployed from the woods on the left and front, and
with rebel yell that echoed through the surrounding forest,
charged on in double quick. The Fifteenth was flanked by the
Fifty third Ohio, on the right. At the first fire of the
enemy the Buckeyes broke and ran, and the enemy were not only
in front of the Fifteenth Regiment, but on both flanks in a
very short time. For more than one hour the Regiment held its
position, and fought as gallantly as any troops could fight in
the terrible struggle, called by the Confederates the
"Hornet's Nest" and disputed inch by inch the advance and the
incessant attacks of the best troops in the Confederate
service. Owing to the want of support, the Regiment was
compelled to withdraw and take up a new position. In five
minutes after the Regiment formed its first line, the field
officers, Lieutenant Colonel E. F. W. Ellis and Major Wm. R.
Goddard, Captains Holden Brownell and Harley Wayne, and
Lieutenant John W. Peterbaugh were killed, and Captain Adam
Nase lost a leg and was taken prisoner. Captain Thos. J.
Turner was absent and the command of the Regiment devolved
upon Captains L. D. Kelly and George C. Rogers, assisted by
Adjutant Charles F. Barber. As soon as a new line was formed
(the Fourteenth Illinois on the left of the Fifteenth), when
the enemy had approached sufficiently near these two
Regiments, acting as one man, rose and delivered a rapid, well
aimed and awfully destructive fire, full into the massed ranks
of the enemy. The enemy was soon convinced this was not the
way to the landing. At the second attack these two Regiments
received the first shock, and for three hours were in that
awful gap, without giving ground, where the Confederates
sacrificed more than two thousand as brave men as ever trod
the battle-field, in the unavailing effort to drive them from
their position. This baptism of blood cemented the two
Regiments, and they were always afterwards brigaded and served
together during the remainder of the war, and discharged at
the same time and place. The Fifteenth Regiment was in the
hottest of the fight both days of the bloody battle, and not a
man faltered in his duty or failed to perform all that was
required of him. The two Regiments that were in the final
charge on the 7th, led by General Grant in person, were the
Fourteenth and Fifteenth Illinois, the Fourteenth commanded by
Colonel Cyrus Hall, and the Fifteenth by Captain George C.
Rogers. This detachment moved forward, and when within range
delivered their fire, and with fixed bayonets charged at
double quick. The raking fire, however, had done its work.
The Confederate army had fled. The Fifteenth Regiment lost in
this engagement 250 men, killed and wounded and there are more
of the "known dead', of this Regiment buried in the National
Cemetery at Pittsburg Landing, than of any other Regiment, and
many died of wounds in hospitals at home.
Captain George C. Rogers was promoted Lieutenant Colonel
by Governor Yates for meritorious conduct on the battle-field
at Shiloh, and took command of the Regiment. The Regiment
participated in the siege of Corinth, Miss., losing a number
of men killed and wounded.
After the evacuation of Corinth the Regiment marched to
Grand Junction, thence to Holly Springs, then back to Grand
Junction, thence to Lagrange, thence to Memphis, arriving
there July 21, 1862,where it remained till September 6th.
After recruiting, drilling, procuring new uniforms and "seeing
the sights", the Regiment marched to Bolivar, Tenn., and from
there the 4th Division was ordered by General Grant to
"relieve Rosecrans at Corinth, or perish". At the Hatchie
river on the morning of October 4, 1862, the division met the
enemy on Metamora Hill; the Fifteenth Regiment was on the
extreme left and forced the enemy from their position and in
connection with other troops charged the enemy, routing and
scattering their formation in the wildest confusion, and
driving them to the river bank, the Fifteenth capturing one
four-gun battery and about three hundred men at this point;
many jumped into the river and were drowned. The Fifteenth
charged across the Hatchie bridge on a run, and formed the
first line on the left of the road; the Fourteenth formed on
the right of the Fifteenth. The two regiments charged the
enemy in the timber, driving them from their strong position,
capturing another battery crowning the crest of the hill, and
soon the enemy was in full flight, looking for a new place to
retreat across the Hatchie. Torn and bleeding the Fifteenth
laid on the ground that night, covered with new and
everlasting honors. The Fifteenth was commanded on that day
by Lieutenant Colonel G. C. Rogers, and lost over fifty men in
killed and wounded. The Regiment then returned to Bolivar,
from thence to Lagrange, thence with General Grant down
through Mississippi to Coffeeville, returning to Lagrange and
Memphis, thence to Vicksburg taking an active part in all the
movements during the siege of that place, losing many in
killed and wounded. After the surrender of Vicksburg, marched
with Sherman to Jackson, Miss., then returned to Vicksburg,
and embarked on a boat for Natchez, marched thence to
Kingston, returned to Natchez, then to Harrisonburg, La.,
capturing Fort Beauregard on the Wachita river; returned to
Natchez, remained there until November 10,1863, then proceeded
by boat to Vicksburg, and went into winter quarters. Here the
Regiment reenlisted as veterans, remaining until February
1,1864, when it moved with General Sherman through
Mississippi. On Champion Hills had a severe engagement with a
body of rebels, charged them several times during the day
and each time drove them from their position. Marched to
Meridian and Enterprise, and assisted in destroying about
fifty miles of railroad; thence back to Vicksburg.
In March, 1864, went home on Veteran furlough. On
expiration of furlough joined Seventeenth Army Corps, and
proceeded up Tennessee river to Clifton , thence to
Huntsville, Ala.; thence to Decatur and Rome, Ga., thence to
Kingston, and joined General Sherman's army, moving on
Atlanta. At Allatoona Pass the Fifteenth Regiment was, with
the other regiments belonging to the 2d Brigade, 4th Division,
17th Corps, commanded by Colonel George C Rogers, ordered to
fortify that place. The forts at Allatoona, where General
Corse, with 2,100 men, defeated Hood,s whole army, were built
by this brigade. Here the Fifteenth and Fourteenth Infantry
were consolidated, and the gallant and brave McPherson knowing
the honorable record of these regiments, and that neither
might lose its identity, acceded to the request of Colonel
Rogers and had the organization made and known as "The Veteran
Battalion Fourteenth and Fifteenth Infantry Volunteers". The
organization numbered 625 men. The organization was stationed
at Ackworth, Big Shanty and Marietta for some time. The rebel
General Hood struck the organization at Big Shanty and
Ackworth, when he moved north, capturing quite a number of the
command. The remainder fell back, some to Allatoona, and
fought under Gen. Corse, where many were killed and wounded;
the balance fell back to Marietta, and were mounted and acted
as scouts for General Vandever. They were afterwards
transferred to General F. P. Blair, and marched with General
Sherman to the sea.
After the capture of Savannah, the Regiment proceeded to
Beaufort, SC; thence to Salkahatchie river, participating in
the various skirmishes in that vicinity--Columbia, SC,
Fayetteville, NC, battle of Bentonville--losing a number
wounded; thence to Goldsboro and Raleigh. At Raleigh,
recruits sufficient to fill up both regiments were received,
and the organization of the Veteran Battalion discontinued,
and the Fifteenth reorganized. The campaign of General
Sherman ended with the surrender of General Johnston. The
Regiment then marched with the army to Washington, D. C., via
Richmond and Fredericksburg, and participated in the grand
review at Washington, May 24, 1865; remained there two weeks.
Proceeded by rail and steamboat to Louisville, KY.; remained
at Louisville two weeks. The Regiment was then detached from
the 4th Division, 17th Army Corps, and proceeded by steamer to
St. Louis; from thence to Fort Leavenworth, KS, arriving there
July 1, 1865. Joined the army serving on the plains. Arrived
at Fort Kearney August 14; then ordered to return to Fort
Leavenworth, September 1, 1865, where the Regiment was
mustered out of service and placed en route for Springfield,
IL., for final payment and discharge--having served four years
and four months.
Number of miles marched 4,299
Number of miles by rail 2,403
Number of miles by steamer 4,310
Number of men joined from organization 1,963
Number of men at date of muster-out 640