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Nashville, Tenn

Dec 6th, 1864

Dear Wife,

I seat myself to fulfill my promise in my last [letter]. I told you I would write the first

opportunity. Thies [sic] few lines leave us well and I hope to find all of you the same. We

have moved our position to the left and thrown up breastworks waitign an attact.

Skirmishing is kept us all the while night and day by the picket. Shelling is quite common

all along the line. I suppose Hood is going to seige us out of here as he dont advance only

at night. They have thrown up [breast]works every night and still getting closer. Their

line and ours are one mile of each other. Hood sent in a flag of truce [end page 1]

yesterday wanting to exchange prisoners that were taken in the late battle [Battle of

Franklin]. I suppose he is short of supplies and dont wish to feed men that are not

fighting for him.

The prisoners say they dont get fourth rations and if they dont take this place before long

they will be without any as they are so far from base of supplies and no railroad to ship

on. It is rumored round camp that Rosecrans is commencing with reinforcements for us. I

dont credit the report though I would like for some good General to get in the rear of

them and close in so they would have to get up dust. I see in yesterdays paper that

Sherman had got through to the coast. I would be pleased to know he had released our

prisoners at Antietam.

[end page 2]

I hear that Don Morrison has gone to France as he couldnt stand for the Stars and Stripes

to float over him.

Olive, I have been tempted to ask a favor of you for some time past and I fear you will

not be so free to grant it. I will make all fair promises imaginable. I wish your

photograph. I will pray for a half dozen and I promise to return it if you you should call

for it. Tell me at once if I can have it.

I must close for the present.

I reamin as ever your affectionate friend

Thomas Whiteside

PS

Our Co is on picket tonight. I Guess we may have a good time with the Rebs.

___________________________________________

Source: The Kraig W. McNutt Civil War Collection, Franklin, TN

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Thomas A. Whitesides, 117th ILL

Residence Belleville IL;

Enlisted on 8/12/1862 as a Corporal.

On 9/19/1862 he mustered into "H" Co. IL 117th Infantry

He was Mustered Out on 8/5/1865 at Camp Butler, Springfield, IL

Promotions:

* Sergt

Other Information:

Member of GAR Post # 587 (Colonel Raith) in O'Fallon, IL

died 10/27/1919

____________

History of 117th Illinois Infantry

117th Illinois Infantry

Dyer's Regimental History

Source - "A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion" by Frederick H. Dyer

http://files.usgwarchives.org/il/statewide/military/civilwar/other/117inf.txt

Moved from St. Louis to Nashville, Tenn.,

November 21 -

December 1. Battle of Nashville December

15-16. Pursuit of Hood to the

Tennessee River December 17-28.

_________

Roster listing

http://civilwar.ilgenweb.net/r155/117-i-

in.html

WHITESIDES, Thomas A Corporal

Belleville Sep 19, 1862 MO Aug 5, 1865

as Serg't. Company I.

Belleview, ILL is in St. Clair County, ILL. It

is in the Metr-East region of St. Louis,

Missouri.

3

St. Clair County Genealogical Society

PO Box 431

Belleville, IL 62222-0431

Belleville Public Library

121 E. Washington St.

Belleville, IL 62220

618.234.0441

Archivist: Dana

618-234-0441 ex 22

danaprusacki@lcls.org

Dana told me via phone 1/20/09:

The Monroe County Illinois Genealogical Society has a copy of a Civil

War diary of a pvt Lewis Hucke. Hucke was in Company H with

Whitesides. The dates in the diary cover Feb 64 – July 65.

There is also a Regimental History by Edwin G. Gerling (reprint). The

McKendree Regiment (117th

ILL). Covers 1862-1865.

Monroe County Genealogical Society P.O. Box 381

Columbia, IL 62236

http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ilmcghs/

Jan Wenk is President: janwenk@sbcglobal.net

The Civil War Diary of Louis Huch/Hucke,

A Private In The 117th Regiment Of The Illinois Infantry, Capt. Robert A.

Halbert, February 1864 to July 1865. This is a journal kept by a Union soldier as

he traveled with the troops throughout the south, including his mustering out at

Camp Butler in Springfield, IL. A fascinating read! Original (German) journal

pages and translation are provided. $23 + $3 shipping. Softbound. Transcribed

and translated by Karl Mandl, edited and indexed by Janet Flynn.

To order books from MCGS send check or money order to:

MCGS, P.O. Box 381, Columbia, IL 62236.

St. Clair County (Illinois) Civil War Descendant Project

http://www.stclair-ilgs.org/stcw.htm

Whitesides is listed on this page:

http://www.stclair-ilgs.org/cwst-7.htm

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Historical Data Systems info (retrieved 1/20/09)

Regimental Experience

9

ILLINOIS

117TH INFANTRY

(Three Years)

One Hundred and Seventeenth Infantry.-Col., Risden M.

Moore; Lieut.-Col., Jonathan Merriam; Majs., Thomas J.

Newsham, Robert McWilliams, William P. Olden. This regiment

was organized at Camp Butler and was mustered in Sept. 19,

1862. It moved from Camp Butler on Nov. 11, and arrived at

Memphis, Tenn., on the 17th. Its first participation in

actual hostilities was in Dec., 1863, when it was sent after

Forrest in western Tennessee, and lost 3 men killed in a

skirmish at LaFayette. On Feb. 5, 1864, it was again engaged

in a skirmish, losing 2 killed and 5 wounded. On the Red

River expedition it assisted in the capture of Fort De Russy

and was engaged in the battle of Pleasant Hill. On April 14,

it was sent to the relief of the gunboats and transports at

Campti, La., being engaged at Cloutierville, Cane river, Bayou

Rapides, Moore's plantation and Bayou Robert. It then

continued on the return march to the Mississippi river,

skirmishing daily. It participated in the battle of Yellow

bayou, arrived at the Mississippi river on May 20, and at

Vicksburg on the 27th. It took part in driving Marmaduke from

Lake Chicot and Columbia, Ark., arrived at Memphis on June

10; was engaged at Tupelo and at Old Town creek in July; at

Hurricane creek in August; and returned to Memphis on Aug. 30.

It was engaged at Franklin, and participated in the battle at

Nashville, capturing a Confederate battery on the first day of

the fight and turning the guns upon the retreating enemy. It

then moved south and was engaged at Spanish Fort from March

27, till April 2, and at Fort Blakely until the 9th, taking

part in its capture. It then marched to Montgomery, and then

returned to Camp Butler, where it was mustered out on Aug. 5,

1865.

Source: The Union Army, vol. 3

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

Nashville, TN after battle report:

No. 171.

Report of Lieut. Col. Jonathan Merriam, One hundred and seventeenth

Illinois Infantry, of operations December 15-16, 1864.

HDQRS. 117TH REGT. ILLINOIS INFANTRY,

In the Field, Tenn., December 22, 1864.

LIEUT.: I have the honor to submit the following report of the part

taken by my command in the battle of Nashville on the 15th and 16th of

December:

Early in the morning of the 15th the Third Brigade, having been massed in

front of our works, with the right resting on the Hardin pike, I was ordered

by the colonel commanding brigade to move forward, deploy skirmishers,

and support them with the regiment; also to conform the movements of the

skirmish line with that of the First Brigade, on the left, with which it was

to connect. Acting under these instructions the command was moved forward

until a dense canebrake had been passed and an advance of nearly a mile had

been gained, when an order reached me from the brigade commander to halt

the regiment until the rest of the brigade could come up, but to continue the

advance of the skirmish line. After the rest of the brigade had come up I

moved (by order of the colonel commanding brigade) to the left to connect

with the troops of the First Brigade. Meanwhile the skirmishers had become

engaged with the enemy. From this time the regiment held the left of the

brigade and advanced with the general line, but the several movements of the

brigade to the left threw the skirmishers (who did not conform to the

movements of the brigade, but moved forward in a nearly direct line) in the

front of Gen. McArthur's division. When the final movement was made

upon the enemy's works, the skirmishers charged gallantly and captured 3

Rodman guns and over 40 prisoners. Lieut. Potter, commanding

Company B of the skirmishers, turned one of the guns upon the enemy, but

could not fire it for lack of fuses. When the next advance was made the guns

and prisoners were left in the hands of the troops who were coming up

behind the skirmish line.

I will here mention that the Companies A and B and their officers-Capt.

H. W. Wood and Second Lieut. G. W. Brown, of the first, and First

Lieut. G. W. Potter, commanding the latter company--composing the

skirmish line, behaved with great gallantry during the entire day.

In the action of the 16th the regiment did not become engaged until the

general charge was ordered at 4 p.m. In this movement the regiment was on

the left of the brigade and was exposed to a severe fire from a rebel

battery, from which it suffered considerably, but did not falter. In this

charge the regiment captured (as reported by the officer in charge of

prisoners) 100 prisoners, also 2 guns. Private Wilbur F. Moore,* Company C,

captured one battery flag, and was far in advance of the line when he did so.

There were other instances of individual bravery and coolness, but when all

behaved so gallantly I refrain from particular mention.

Inclosed is the surgeon's list of casualties.+

I have the honor to be, lieutenant, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

J. MERRIAM,

Lieut.-Col., Cmdg.

Lieut. J. D. COBINE,

Acting Assistant Adjutant-Gen.

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Source: Official Records

CHAP. LVII.] CAMPAIGN IN NORTH ALA. AND MIDDLE TENN. PAGE 494-93

[Series I. Vol. 45. Part I, Reports, Correspondence, Etc. Serial No. 93.]

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

Whitesides_117th ILL_Nashville 12.06.64 letter.doc

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