Civil_War

The Sixety- first Illinois Volunteers was organized at Carrollton Illinois by Col. Jacob Fry. Enough Recruits joined to make nine full Companies before March 26,1862 when they embarked for Pittsburg Landing. One of those recruits was Jasper 'Newt' N. Ward who enlisted 5 Febuary1862 Another was William Taylor Ward who enlisted on 7 March 1862. Both of these young men were sons of William and Lucinda Ward of Greene County, Illinois.The Regiment saw it's share of the hard fighting and endless marching and traveled by North Missouri Railroad as far South as Mexico, to capture or disperse a band of Rebels operating in that area.
The regiment chased the Rebels all over Texas and finally back accross the Missouri River where they disbanded. There were several battles that the 61st Illinois Vol Infantry were praised for thier" heroism and It's Gallant Stand" (Gen Prentiss) One of the more harrowing battles occurred on the early Morning hours of 15 December 1864. The 61st Ill was dispatched to guard a provisions Train to Stepenson Alabama and return to Murfreesboro Tn They departed on 12 December 1864 numbering only about 175 men with a small squad of dis-mounted Calvalry, and a company of Michigan Engineers. About 2 a m on the 15th , the Train was attacked by a Rebel force of more than 1500 men, Infantry Calvalry and an Artillery Battery, under the command of Gen Forrest.The Rebels laid down a withering fire of musket and artillery as they had removed the track in front of the train.The rebels then removed the track behind the train, there was no place to go.The 61st and attachments only amounted to about 225 muskets, but was able to hold theTrain untill about 8:00 am when, as amunition was nearly exhausted, and no help forthcomming, they abandoned the train and fought thier way to a block house about 1/2 miles north of the train. There, Maj. J.B. Nulton reformed the troops and after being reinforced by a Battery of Artillery, Marched back and re-captured the train. Several Regiments of Infantry commanded by Gen. Milroy arrived about that time and the Rebels were put to flight.The troops replaced the track and took the still fully loaded train on in to Murfreesboro. During this engagement over half of the Regiment was Killed,Wounded or captured. Considering that the nine full companies , (about 900 men)the 61st Ill vol Infantry were reduced to less than 100 men by late 1864 ,the casualty rates were tremendous. But amasingly enough almost to a man they re-enlisted just prior to the aforementioned action.Jasper 'Newt' Ward and William T Ward reenlisted on 11 March 1864 as Veteran Troops, and thier younger brother Francis 'Frank' Marion Ward enlisted to the 61st Ill Vol Infantry on November 12 ,1864. The unit spent the remainder of the War guarding Prisoners of War at Little Rock Arkansas. Newt ward was mustered out as a Sargent on 8 September 1865 and William T Ward was Mustered out as a Corporal on 8 September 1865, and so was Pvt. Frank M Ward