Co. G; 103rd IL Inf; Civil War
Abraham was the son of James HUFFORD and Martha SPENCER. He was the grandson of George HUFFORD and Mary "Polly" VEST.
He was the oldest of ten children. His siblings were Isaac Wesley, Jasper, Preston, Mary, Martha, Permelia Jane, Jackson, Dorcas Ophelia, and John W.
By 1860, his family had moved to Fulton County, Illinois, and it was in Fulton County, Illinois, where Abraham enlisted into the Union Army. On October 2, 1862, he was enlisted into Co. G, Illinois 103rd Infantry Regiment.
By the time Abraham enlisted, his own father had been serving in Co. D., Illinois 55th Infantry Regiment for almost a year. His father's service continued for more than a year after Abraham's combat death.
Abraham died in the Battle of Dallas during the Atlanta Campaign.
.....
Abraham's final day is described in Reminiscences of the Civil War From Diaries of the 103rd Illinois Volunteer Infantry, published in 1904 and transcribed by Dorene Fox-Sprague. The excerpt below is found in pages 61 - 70. It was written by an officer, but it is not clear who the officer was.
May 27th. 8 A. M. Near Dallas, Ga.:
There has been some very heavy fighting on our left this morning, and everywhere along the line. We have been moving in line since 6 o'clock, supporting skirmishers and the 3rd Brig. Have driven the Rebs about ¾ mile. The 14th Corps must have had a severe fight about 6 and ½. The bullets have whistled pretty thick this A. M. Skirmish line 11 A. M. Osterhaus and Smith (I think) have just had a big fight on our left. At 8 and ½, I was ordered to take Cos. E., K., B., and G., deploy them and relieve the 3rd Brig. skirmishers. Deployed and moved forward over ½ mile through the very densest brush—couldn't see 6 feet, expecting every minute to find the 3rd Brig. skirmishers, but they had been drawn in, and we were right into the Rebs before we saw them. Three of my Co. were wounded in an instant, and 3 of K's taken prisoner, but our boys made the Rebs skedaddle, and all of them got away. Twenty-one Rebs came up in rear of Capt. Smith and 2 of his men. Private Benson shot one of them, and Smith roared out for the rest to surrender, which they did. They (the Rebs) said they would not have been taken if the Ga. Brig. had not fallen back. I think that is doing pretty well for 4 Cos. of our Reg't running a whole Brig. Firing is very heavy all around us. 12½ M. A chunk of Reb shell just lit 15 feet from me. Lively artillery firing right over our heads. 4 P. M. At 2¼ after firing a few shells the Rebs set up a yell along our whole front. I knew a charge was coming. At 2½, another yell was much nearer. My men then commenced firing on them, but they came on yelling pretty well, but not as heartily as I have heard. They came jumping along through the brush more then, making the bullets rain among us. I think they could not fly much thicker. My men did nobly, but they were too many for us, and we had to fall back. I heard their officers halloo to them, "to yell and stand steady, " and they were right amongst us before we left. Our line of battle checked them and made them run. I lost A. Huffard—killed. Seth Williams—died in two hours. Wm. Gustine—severely wounded. E. Suydam—do. S. Hudson, do. H. Stearns, slight wound. J. H. Craig, do. F. Cary, do. W. Roberts, do. W. G. Dunblazier, captured. 7 P. M. I tell you this was exciting. My men all stood like heroes (save one), and some of them did not fall back when I wanted them to. The bush was so thick that we could hardly get through in any kind of line. Gustine and Suydam were about 20 feet on my left when they were shot, but I couldn't see them. The Rebs were not 15 feet from them. I had 31 men on the line, and 9 killed and wounded, and one prisoner, is considerable of a loss. They took 6 more of Co. K. prisoners, but 3 of them got off. I don't think any one can imagine how exciting such a fracas as that is in thick brush. As quick as our line started the Rebs running, I went back on the ground, and found a lot of dead and wounded Rebs. Every prisoner of the 20th Ga. had whiskey in his canteen, and all said they had all issued to them that they wanted. I never saw such a dirty, greasy set of mortals. They have had no rest since they left Dalton. On account of my skirmishers losing so heavily, we have been relieved from the line, and are now in rifle pits, and are supporting those who relieved us.
Abraham was the son of James HUFFORD and Martha SPENCER. He was the grandson of George HUFFORD and Mary "Polly" VEST.
He was the oldest of ten children. His siblings were Isaac Wesley, Jasper, Preston, Mary, Martha, Permelia Jane, Jackson, Dorcas Ophelia, and John W.
By 1860, his family had moved to Fulton County, Illinois, and it was in Fulton County, Illinois, where Abraham enlisted into the Union Army. On October 2, 1862, he was enlisted into Co. G, Illinois 103rd Infantry Regiment.
By the time Abraham enlisted, his own father had been serving in Co. D., Illinois 55th Infantry Regiment for almost a year. His father's service continued for more than a year after Abraham's combat death.
Abraham died in the Battle of Dallas during the Atlanta Campaign.
.....
Abraham's final day is described in Reminiscences of the Civil War From Diaries of the 103rd Illinois Volunteer Infantry, published in 1904 and transcribed by Dorene Fox-Sprague. The excerpt below is found in pages 61 - 70. It was written by an officer, but it is not clear who the officer was.
May 27th. 8 A. M. Near Dallas, Ga.:
There has been some very heavy fighting on our left this morning, and everywhere along the line. We have been moving in line since 6 o'clock, supporting skirmishers and the 3rd Brig. Have driven the Rebs about ¾ mile. The 14th Corps must have had a severe fight about 6 and ½. The bullets have whistled pretty thick this A. M. Skirmish line 11 A. M. Osterhaus and Smith (I think) have just had a big fight on our left. At 8 and ½, I was ordered to take Cos. E., K., B., and G., deploy them and relieve the 3rd Brig. skirmishers. Deployed and moved forward over ½ mile through the very densest brush—couldn't see 6 feet, expecting every minute to find the 3rd Brig. skirmishers, but they had been drawn in, and we were right into the Rebs before we saw them. Three of my Co. were wounded in an instant, and 3 of K's taken prisoner, but our boys made the Rebs skedaddle, and all of them got away. Twenty-one Rebs came up in rear of Capt. Smith and 2 of his men. Private Benson shot one of them, and Smith roared out for the rest to surrender, which they did. They (the Rebs) said they would not have been taken if the Ga. Brig. had not fallen back. I think that is doing pretty well for 4 Cos. of our Reg't running a whole Brig. Firing is very heavy all around us. 12½ M. A chunk of Reb shell just lit 15 feet from me. Lively artillery firing right over our heads. 4 P. M. At 2¼ after firing a few shells the Rebs set up a yell along our whole front. I knew a charge was coming. At 2½, another yell was much nearer. My men then commenced firing on them, but they came on yelling pretty well, but not as heartily as I have heard. They came jumping along through the brush more then, making the bullets rain among us. I think they could not fly much thicker. My men did nobly, but they were too many for us, and we had to fall back. I heard their officers halloo to them, "to yell and stand steady, " and they were right amongst us before we left. Our line of battle checked them and made them run. I lost A. Huffard—killed. Seth Williams—died in two hours. Wm. Gustine—severely wounded. E. Suydam—do. S. Hudson, do. H. Stearns, slight wound. J. H. Craig, do. F. Cary, do. W. Roberts, do. W. G. Dunblazier, captured. 7 P. M. I tell you this was exciting. My men all stood like heroes (save one), and some of them did not fall back when I wanted them to. The bush was so thick that we could hardly get through in any kind of line. Gustine and Suydam were about 20 feet on my left when they were shot, but I couldn't see them. The Rebs were not 15 feet from them. I had 31 men on the line, and 9 killed and wounded, and one prisoner, is considerable of a loss. They took 6 more of Co. K. prisoners, but 3 of them got off. I don't think any one can imagine how exciting such a fracas as that is in thick brush. As quick as our line started the Rebs running, I went back on the ground, and found a lot of dead and wounded Rebs. Every prisoner of the 20th Ga. had whiskey in his canteen, and all said they had all issued to them that they wanted. I never saw such a dirty, greasy set of mortals. They have had no rest since they left Dalton. On account of my skirmishers losing so heavily, we have been relieved from the line, and are now in rifle pits, and are supporting those who relieved us.
Co. G; 103rd IL Inf; Civil War
Abraham was the son of James HUFFORD and Martha SPENCER. He was the grandson of George HUFFORD and Mary "Polly" VEST.
He was the oldest of ten children. His siblings were Isaac Wesley, Jasper, Preston, Mary, Martha, Permelia Jane, Jackson, Dorcas Ophelia, and John W.
By 1860, his family had moved to Fulton County, Illinois, and it was in Fulton County, Illinois, where Abraham enlisted into the Union Army. On October 2, 1862, he was enlisted into Co. G, Illinois 103rd Infantry Regiment.
By the time Abraham enlisted, his own father had been serving in Co. D., Illinois 55th Infantry Regiment for almost a year. His father's service continued for more than a year after Abraham's combat death.
Abraham died in the Battle of Dallas during the Atlanta Campaign.
.....
Abraham's final day is described in Reminiscences of the Civil War From Diaries of the 103rd Illinois Volunteer Infantry, published in 1904 and transcribed by Dorene Fox-Sprague. The excerpt below is found in pages 61 - 70. It was written by an officer, but it is not clear who the officer was.
May 27th. 8 A. M. Near Dallas, Ga.:
There has been some very heavy fighting on our left this morning, and everywhere along the line. We have been moving in line since 6 o'clock, supporting skirmishers and the 3rd Brig. Have driven the Rebs about ¾ mile. The 14th Corps must have had a severe fight about 6 and ½. The bullets have whistled pretty thick this A. M. Skirmish line 11 A. M. Osterhaus and Smith (I think) have just had a big fight on our left. At 8 and ½, I was ordered to take Cos. E., K., B., and G., deploy them and relieve the 3rd Brig. skirmishers. Deployed and moved forward over ½ mile through the very densest brush—couldn't see 6 feet, expecting every minute to find the 3rd Brig. skirmishers, but they had been drawn in, and we were right into the Rebs before we saw them. Three of my Co. were wounded in an instant, and 3 of K's taken prisoner, but our boys made the Rebs skedaddle, and all of them got away. Twenty-one Rebs came up in rear of Capt. Smith and 2 of his men. Private Benson shot one of them, and Smith roared out for the rest to surrender, which they did. They (the Rebs) said they would not have been taken if the Ga. Brig. had not fallen back. I think that is doing pretty well for 4 Cos. of our Reg't running a whole Brig. Firing is very heavy all around us. 12½ M. A chunk of Reb shell just lit 15 feet from me. Lively artillery firing right over our heads. 4 P. M. At 2¼ after firing a few shells the Rebs set up a yell along our whole front. I knew a charge was coming. At 2½, another yell was much nearer. My men then commenced firing on them, but they came on yelling pretty well, but not as heartily as I have heard. They came jumping along through the brush more then, making the bullets rain among us. I think they could not fly much thicker. My men did nobly, but they were too many for us, and we had to fall back. I heard their officers halloo to them, "to yell and stand steady, " and they were right amongst us before we left. Our line of battle checked them and made them run. I lost A. Huffard—killed. Seth Williams—died in two hours. Wm. Gustine—severely wounded. E. Suydam—do. S. Hudson, do. H. Stearns, slight wound. J. H. Craig, do. F. Cary, do. W. Roberts, do. W. G. Dunblazier, captured. 7 P. M. I tell you this was exciting. My men all stood like heroes (save one), and some of them did not fall back when I wanted them to. The bush was so thick that we could hardly get through in any kind of line. Gustine and Suydam were about 20 feet on my left when they were shot, but I couldn't see them. The Rebs were not 15 feet from them. I had 31 men on the line, and 9 killed and wounded, and one prisoner, is considerable of a loss. They took 6 more of Co. K. prisoners, but 3 of them got off. I don't think any one can imagine how exciting such a fracas as that is in thick brush. As quick as our line started the Rebs running, I went back on the ground, and found a lot of dead and wounded Rebs. Every prisoner of the 20th Ga. had whiskey in his canteen, and all said they had all issued to them that they wanted. I never saw such a dirty, greasy set of mortals. They have had no rest since they left Dalton. On account of my skirmishers losing so heavily, we have been relieved from the line, and are now in rifle pits, and are supporting those who relieved us.
Abraham was the son of James HUFFORD and Martha SPENCER. He was the grandson of George HUFFORD and Mary "Polly" VEST.
He was the oldest of ten children. His siblings were Isaac Wesley, Jasper, Preston, Mary, Martha, Permelia Jane, Jackson, Dorcas Ophelia, and John W.
By 1860, his family had moved to Fulton County, Illinois, and it was in Fulton County, Illinois, where Abraham enlisted into the Union Army. On October 2, 1862, he was enlisted into Co. G, Illinois 103rd Infantry Regiment.
By the time Abraham enlisted, his own father had been serving in Co. D., Illinois 55th Infantry Regiment for almost a year. His father's service continued for more than a year after Abraham's combat death.
Abraham died in the Battle of Dallas during the Atlanta Campaign.
.....
Abraham's final day is described in Reminiscences of the Civil War From Diaries of the 103rd Illinois Volunteer Infantry, published in 1904 and transcribed by Dorene Fox-Sprague. The excerpt below is found in pages 61 - 70. It was written by an officer, but it is not clear who the officer was.
May 27th. 8 A. M. Near Dallas, Ga.:
There has been some very heavy fighting on our left this morning, and everywhere along the line. We have been moving in line since 6 o'clock, supporting skirmishers and the 3rd Brig. Have driven the Rebs about ¾ mile. The 14th Corps must have had a severe fight about 6 and ½. The bullets have whistled pretty thick this A. M. Skirmish line 11 A. M. Osterhaus and Smith (I think) have just had a big fight on our left. At 8 and ½, I was ordered to take Cos. E., K., B., and G., deploy them and relieve the 3rd Brig. skirmishers. Deployed and moved forward over ½ mile through the very densest brush—couldn't see 6 feet, expecting every minute to find the 3rd Brig. skirmishers, but they had been drawn in, and we were right into the Rebs before we saw them. Three of my Co. were wounded in an instant, and 3 of K's taken prisoner, but our boys made the Rebs skedaddle, and all of them got away. Twenty-one Rebs came up in rear of Capt. Smith and 2 of his men. Private Benson shot one of them, and Smith roared out for the rest to surrender, which they did. They (the Rebs) said they would not have been taken if the Ga. Brig. had not fallen back. I think that is doing pretty well for 4 Cos. of our Reg't running a whole Brig. Firing is very heavy all around us. 12½ M. A chunk of Reb shell just lit 15 feet from me. Lively artillery firing right over our heads. 4 P. M. At 2¼ after firing a few shells the Rebs set up a yell along our whole front. I knew a charge was coming. At 2½, another yell was much nearer. My men then commenced firing on them, but they came on yelling pretty well, but not as heartily as I have heard. They came jumping along through the brush more then, making the bullets rain among us. I think they could not fly much thicker. My men did nobly, but they were too many for us, and we had to fall back. I heard their officers halloo to them, "to yell and stand steady, " and they were right amongst us before we left. Our line of battle checked them and made them run. I lost A. Huffard—killed. Seth Williams—died in two hours. Wm. Gustine—severely wounded. E. Suydam—do. S. Hudson, do. H. Stearns, slight wound. J. H. Craig, do. F. Cary, do. W. Roberts, do. W. G. Dunblazier, captured. 7 P. M. I tell you this was exciting. My men all stood like heroes (save one), and some of them did not fall back when I wanted them to. The bush was so thick that we could hardly get through in any kind of line. Gustine and Suydam were about 20 feet on my left when they were shot, but I couldn't see them. The Rebs were not 15 feet from them. I had 31 men on the line, and 9 killed and wounded, and one prisoner, is considerable of a loss. They took 6 more of Co. K. prisoners, but 3 of them got off. I don't think any one can imagine how exciting such a fracas as that is in thick brush. As quick as our line started the Rebs running, I went back on the ground, and found a lot of dead and wounded Rebs. Every prisoner of the 20th Ga. had whiskey in his canteen, and all said they had all issued to them that they wanted. I never saw such a dirty, greasy set of mortals. They have had no rest since they left Dalton. On account of my skirmishers losing so heavily, we have been relieved from the line, and are now in rifle pits, and are supporting those who relieved us.
