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

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-iin.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.

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 3

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

Regimental Experience

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.]

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Whitesides_117th ILL_Nashville 12.06.64 letter.doc

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Purchase info From eBay on January 2, 2009 $253.97 21 bids Seller: paleostamp http://shop.ebay.com/merchant/paleostamp

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