Pictures courtesy of Dr. Ric Martis
who purchased this replica of the Henry rifle that was used by
this unit during the Civil War.
7th Color Gaurd Soliders posing with Henry's.
The tombstone of Jesse JEWELL(My Great Grand Father)
in Cove cemetery, Enterprise Oregon.
Capt. Henry W. Allen, Co. G, 7th Ill. Inf. He was
wounded at Shiloh, April 6, 1862 and killed Feb 3 1863 by Sgt Myers.
In the Adjutant Generals report,I find that a private John Meyer
was "Hanged at Pulaski, TN.
Information and Photo courtesy of Mike Hargrave.
Picture from James R. Holden
Clifford W. Holden, Born May 9, 1830, Woburn, Ma. Information contained
in Pension Records of the US that I requested from the archives:
Enlisted in Co. H, 7th Illinois Infantry Volunteers, 25 April, 1861
commanded by Colonel A. J. Babcock. Honorably discharged November 14,
1862. "While in the 7th Illinois on or about the 19th of February, 1862
he contracted chronic diarrhea caused by exposure during the seige of
Fort Henry and Ford Donelson, Tenn., having poor food and being
imperfectly sheltered during the severe weather at that time."
Subsequently, Capt Holden enlisted as Adjutant in the 135th Regiment,
Illinois Volunteers on June 16, 1864 and was mustered out September 28,
1864 and returned to Greenville, Bond County, Illinois where he was
employed variously as a shoemaker and a peace officer.
Captain Holden subsequently was in the cattle business in Kansas and in
Oklahoma territory, being a member of "Payne's Oklahoma Colony", an
organization that attempted to settle Indian Territory prior to the 1889
opening, and were prevented from participating in the "run" by the
federal government. Capt. Holden died December 16, 1897 in Seward,
Oklahoma Territory (near Guthrie, Oklahoma). His widow, Malvina R.
Holden collected his $12 monthly civil war pension until her death June
4, 1915.
William Holden (Capt C. W. Holden's father) was born on Mar 5, 1795 in
Stoneham, Ma. According to the "Certificate of Disablity for Discharge"
I received from the Archives: William Holden, Principal Musician was
enlisted in Co. H., 7th Infantry, Illinois Volunteers on July 25, 1861
(certificate actually says 1862, but is obviously a mistake!), by Capt
C. W. Holden. William Holden is described at 5 feet, 9 inches, and 67
years of age and had been a "Cordwainer" by occupation. Musician Holden
was discharged on April 24, 1862 at Pittsburg Landing, due to "chronic
diarrhea caused from exposure at the battle of Ft. Donelson and has been
unable for duty all the time since. I further delcare my belief that he
will never be able to perform the duties of a soldier."
Mr. Holden (my great-great grandfather) died May 22, 1862 in Greenville,
Ill as result of his service in the Army. According to an interview for
a 1922 Holden genealogy, his son, Capt C. W. Holden was quoted as saying
that Mr. Holden originally was with the 7th Regiment during formation,
as he was the only musician that could beat the correct drum music, and
had never intended to remain with them for active service.
After Mr. Holden's death, his widow, Catherine T. Holden apparently
(from the paperwork) had much trouble applying for a pension - as the
paperwork showing his enlistment was incomplete. I suspect that when he
decided to stay with the 7th Regiment he was never formally enlisted.
However, the paperwork does seem to have been corrected and Catherine T.
Holden continued to collect his pension until her death March 16, 1873
in Greenville, Ill.
According to family legend, Mr. Holden had been a "drummer boy" in the
War of 1812, where he learned all the military drum music. I have been
unable to confirm this from official records.
times.
