39th Infantry Regiment
From the "History of DeWitt County, Illinois - 1882"
The regiment was organized as soon as the news of the firing on Fort Sumter reached Chicago.
It assumed the name of "Yates' Phalanx" in honor of His Excellency Governor Yates. Austin
Light, of Chicago, was appointed Colonel; and under his direction the organization was
completed, and on the morning of October 13, 1861, it left for the field of action, being
assigned to the army of the Potomac. The regiment received its final payment and discharge
at Springfield on Dec 16, 1865.
Below are the names of those who volunteered from DeWitt County.
THIRTY-NINTH INFANTRY REGIMENT
(THREE YEARS’ SERVICE)
MUSTER ROLL COMPANY B
Corporals
Hill, Elliot B - discharged 8/1/64, disability
MUSTER ROLL COMPANY D
Second Lieutenants
Towner, Austin - resigned 9/4/62
Linn, Gergo W - mustered out as Sergeant 12/6/65
Privates
Bullis, Newman - discharged 8/10/64, term expired
Dresser, Lewis - veteran, killed at Deep Run, VA, 8/16/64
German, Allen - deserted 12/18/61
Griffith, George - died 8/31/62, wounds
Godfrey, Isaac W - veteran, mustered out 7/20/65
Hare, John - discharged 5/31/62, disability
Hummell, Robert N - veteran, killed at Fort Gregg, VA 4/2/65
Hewett, Frank - discharged 6/9/62, disability
Jones, William F - veteran, absent, sick at mustere out of regiment
Lankenaw, Henry - veteran, killed at Deep Run, VA 8/16/64
Lyons, John - veteran, mustered out 12/6/65 as Corp'l
Lucen, Thomas - veteran, mustered out 12/6/65 as Corp'l
McCarnley, Frederick - veteran, mustered out 12/6/65 as Corp'l, wounded
Martin, John - discharged 6/6/62
Miller, John - veteran, discharged 1/15/?, disability
LcLaughin, John - transferred to Bat. B, 5th C. S. artillery 12/5/62
Moore, William - discharged 9/10/65, term expired
Nye, Edward - mustered out 10/12/64
Root, Charles - veteran, killed at Petersburg, VA 9/9/64
Reese, John - veteran, Sergeant, deserted 8/5/65
Smith, Michael - veteran, mustered out 12/6/65
Swain, Royal E - veteran, Sergeant, kiled in VA 8/16/64
Tobias, Nathaniel - died at Richmond, VA 5/21/64
Waite, Maiden C - died 7/2/64, wounds
Wade, William - veteran
Wells, George W - mustered out 12/6/65 as Sergeant
MUSTER ROLL COMPANY H
Corporals
Edminston, Miles B - discharged 10/17/62 disability
Wilson, Elias H - mustered out 5/9/65 as Sergeant, term expired
Privates
Moorley, William R - mustered out 5/9/65
Martin, D J J M M - mustered out 5/9/65
Veterans
Wilson, John S - discharged 7/4/65 as Sergeant, disability
MUSTER ROLL COMPANY I
Captains
Gilmore, Samuel - mustered out to date 1/26/66
First Lieutenants
Waller, Emory I - resigned 6/14/62
Lemon, James D - died 8/20/64
Neal, Joseph W - mustered out 12/6/65
Second Lieutenants
Fellows, Albert W - killed in battle 6/2/64
Sergeants
McMurry, W C - mustered out 3/14/65
Corporals
Bean, John A - veteran, killed near Richmond, VA 10/27/64
Neal, J M - promoted
Johnson, Thomas J - veteran, mustered out 12/6/65 as Sergeant
Privates
Brennan, James - veteran, mustered out 12/6/65 as Sergeant
Berry, John - mustered out 10/18/64
Clark, Lake - discharged 6/28/62, disability
Ford, Newton - wounded, died of starvation 10/15/64 in Andersonville prison
Goodin, Hiram - died of wounds 8/10/64, prisoner
Gesford, William - discharged 7/4/63, disability
Hurley, Lewis - veteran, killed at Drury's Bluff, VA 5/16/64
Hoover, Columbus - veteran, mustered out 12/6/65
Hoover, John - veteran, missing in action since 5/16/64
Halloway, Phillip M - mustered out 9/10/64
Hurst, Edward - killed at Deep Run, VA 8/16/64
Johnson, John S - musician, discharged, disability
Kirbo, John W - veteran, discharged 4/13/65, disability
Poff, Henry M - discharged 7/4/62, disability
Robertson, G P - discharged 11/20/63, disability
Thomas, J M - mustered out 9/10/64
Weedman, John B - mustered out 9/20/64
Weedman, John W - Sergeant, died of starvation 11/15/64 in Andersonville prison
Woodward, Edward - veteran, mustered out 12/6/65 as Corp'l
White, William D - veteran, discharged 1/16/65, disability
Wetzel, Michael - veteran, Sergeant, wounded 4/2/65, disability
Recruits
Blandon, John K - mustered out 5/31/65
Hoover, Theodore - mustered out 12/6/65
Johnson, Joel B - died of wounds 6/2/64
Neal, Amps - mustered out 6/22/61
Weedman, Jacob T - mustered out 5/28/65