Part 5 (2/2)
Born in Kendall county, Illinois. Enlisted April, 1861, at the age of twenty years. Killed in battle of Raymond May 12, 1863. Comrade Adams was shot at the very beginning of the battle, as we lay in the woods waiting for the skirmishers to rally in, and before we fired a gun. At the close of the battle he was still living. A comrade paused over him and said--
”Can I do anything for you?”
”No.”
”Ben, you are badly hurt. Won't I stay with you?”
”They are running, are they not?”
”Yes, we have them on the run. Won't I stay with you?”
”No; go on.”
He was taken by an ambulance to the field hospital and died in a few minutes after reaching that place.
HENRY MITCh.e.l.l, Na-au-say Towns.h.i.+p, Kendall County, Illinois.
Born of English parents on Prince Edward's Island January 31, 1836. Came to Kendall county, Illinois, in 1845. Enlisted in Company K May, 1861, at the age of twenty-five years. Killed in the battle of Raymond May 12, 1863.
Henry Mitch.e.l.l was in every sense a large, strong, brave man, and was highly regarded by all such as have regard for what is true and n.o.ble in human life and character. He was scrupulously correct in all his habits.
Never played cards, was never profane in speech, and never had any use for whisky, tobacco or beer. He had five brothers in the Union army, all in Company C of the 7th Illinois Regiment, namely, Anthony, William, George, Robert and Samuel. These five in the 7th Regiment and Henry in the 20th were all in the battle lines at Fort Donelson and s.h.i.+loh. I do not believe that there is in the whole range of history another instance in which six brothers fought in the ranks of any army in the same great battles. I have read of Roman patriotism and Grecian valor, of Spartan mothers sending out their sons to battle with the injunction to come back either victorious or dead, but I have never read of anything that is equal to the case of the six Mitch.e.l.l brothers in patriotism, devotion and valor, all of whom responded at once to their country's first call for volunteers.
Of these six brave brothers only three now survive, namely--Anthony, in Kansas, and Robert and Samuel, in Colorado. George was slain on the second day at s.h.i.+loh. ”We were all within six feet of George when he fell,”
writes Anthony. That is, the other four of the 7th Regiment; and Henry was close by in the 20th Regiment. William contracted disease in the army, came home sick and died.
ROBERT TAYLOR, Lisbon, Illinois.
Born in England. Came to America when a child. Enlisted in Company K, April, 1861, at the age of about twenty-three years. Shot through hip and mortally wounded in battle of Raymond May 12, 1863. Lived a few days after the battle and died in extreme agony. I lay near him in the hospital. His suffering was the most terrible that I have ever witnessed.
WILLIAM READ, Newark, Illinois.
Was a recruit. I think he came to the Company in 1862. Was shot in head and mortally wounded in battle of Raymond, May 12, 1863. Lived a few days after the battle.
JOHN WOODRUFF, Oswego, Illinois.
Enlisted in May, 1861. Shot and mortally wounded in the battle of Raymond, May 12, 1863. Was shot in leg below the knee. Three different amputations were performed, one below the knee and two above, but each was followed by unfavorable results. He and I were in the same hospital, and not very far apart. I witnessed the amputations. The patient in all his suffering exhibited the most incredible fort.i.tude. He lived nearly three weeks and never groaned nor sighed. At last when informed that mortification was advancing and the end was near, he called an attendant, paid him for extra service rendered and then turned over to the attendant his pocket-book and some other personal effects to be sent to his sister at Iowa Falls, Iowa.
This was done with perfect deliberation. He manifested no fear of death. I remember him very distinctly in former battles. He was a very brave soldier.
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