William R. Ussery, 1847-1863

William R. Ussery, my 3rd Great GrandUncle, was born 178 years ago on March 25, 1847.  And he died 162 years ago, about March 10, 1863.  William was the 10th of 11 known children of Sylvester and Mary (Barnett) Ussery.  He was born in rural Johnson County, Illinois.  His parents and older siblings had come to Illinois from Maury County, TN between 1840-1845.  William was the 2nd child in the family to be born in IL.  He grew up just north of Vienna, no doubt running and playing in the forests and fields.  I am sure he also did his share of chores on the farm.  His father, Sylvester, was 54 when William was born… and his mother was 42.  

1860 census, Johnson County IL

When William was 15 years old, he enlisted in the Union Army at Vienna on August 14, 1862.  According to a newspaper article at the time, you had to be at least 18 years old to enlist… and even then, needed permission from your parents.  William must have been convincing, as he would have had to lie about his age at the enlistment table.  He is recorded as being 5’6” tall, light complexion, with dark hair and blue eyes.  I wish we could know what he was thinking about that day, as he became a Private in Company C, 120th Illinois Infantry.

from the Jonesboro Gazette, 1862

After 2 months in training camp at Vienna, William and his comrades boarded a train at Dongola and went north to Camp Butler (near Springfield IL).  Two weeks later they were mustered into service on October 28, 1862, and sent to “Jimtown” (now known as Riverton IL) to guard the railroad bridge (the bridge doesn’t exist anymore).  About ten days later, the Regiment was sent to Alton, IL, where they boarded the steamer Stephen Decatur and went to St. Louis. Five days later they arrived at Memphis.  According to William’s records, he received his last payment from the army on October 31st.

from the Jonesboro Gazette, October 1862

Camp Butler, 1862

Once in Memphis, William and his fellow soldiers were given orders to help guard Fort Pickering (on the south side of the city).  That previous Summer, the Battle of Memphis had left the city to be occupied by the Union.  Their first order of business was to impose martial law.  History says that the Union army “hoped to be able to win over the city’s citizens, but found them to remain hostile and defiant.  The army were forced to adopt a harsher policy, including the seizure and destruction of private property, imprisonment or banishment of those who refused to take an oath of allegiance to the Union, and the forcible emancipation of slaves.” A new fort was built after the June battle, and I assume that is where William was stationed.  It became one of the greatest supply and staging areas in the West.

hand drawn map of Fort Pickering, Memphis TN

Unfortunately, at this same time, William’s regiment dealt with smallpox, measles, pneumonia and other diseases.  At this point, William became sick and remained in Memphis, even when his regiment was sent elsewhere.  On January 1, 1863, he was transferred to Company K.  On February 9, 1863, he was admitted to Jefferson Hospital in Memphis.  A month later, on March 7th, William was officially discharged from the Union Army.  His papers state that he had done “no duty whatever for the past four months”, and was diagnosed with having Stage 2 of “phthisis pulmonalis.”  Google says that’s an old medical term for tuberculosis.  He was sent home to Union County (his parents had moved there after 1860), IL.  

Jefferson Hospital in Memphis TN

William's discharge certificate, 1863

A friend and fellow soldier gave a statement in 1882, for the military pension William’s mother was applying for (William’s father had been disabled for several years and was unable to do any kind of work).  Jacob McCuan said that William had died after being discharged, but before arriving home.  He died somewhere between Memphis, TN and Anna, IL. He was still only 15 years old.  He is buried in the Anna City Cemetery, in the Civil War Veterans section, next to his brother John.

Jacob McCuan statement, 1882

William's grave stone in Anna City Cemetery, IL