Submitted by: Marilee Wilkins DittrichJames Knox Polk Wilkins was born December 27, 1845 when James Knox Polk was president and was named after him. James' father, John Wilkins, died when he was young and his mother married again to Thomas Griffith. So James and his older brother Willoby had several half and step brothers and sisters. James most likely never went to school, or at least not enough to learn how to read or write or even sign his name. We have several letters from him to his parents which were written during the Civil War; but they were written for him by others.
A month before his 16th birthday, James enlisted in the army. This was November 15, 1861 at McLeansboro, IL. Several of his friends and neighbors went with him to enlist. There were four young men who served with him in the same company who would later be his brothers-in-law. They were Robert and Andrew Evans (brothers of James' future wife Agnes) and Jasper Fitzgerolds (who was married to Agnes' sister Ann Evans) and James H. Duncan (who would later marry Agnes' sister Jerusia). The Evans farm was near the Griffith place in Pope County.
The 56th Illinois Infantry was organized and mustered-in at Shawneetown, IL on February 27, 1862. James is described on his enlistment papers as being 5 foot 5 inches tall with blond hair and blue eyes. His regiment participated in nearly all the great campaigns of the Western Army in the Civil War. "It never turned its back upon the enemy; it never was driven from a position, and was never engaged in an unsuccessful battle."
The following is a history of James' war time service in the 56th IL Regt. This was compiled from personal letters, U. S. Army records from the National Archives, and Illinois Regimental Histories and from a "Report of the Adjutant General of the State of Illinois", Vol. IV, page 30-34.
1862
Feb. 27 - April 20: Duty in Paducah, KY
April 20-25: Moved to Hamburg Landing, TN (When Gen. Halleck moved upon Corinth, MS, the 56th, like many other regiments went up the Tenn. River on steamboats, and from Hamburg Landing marched out to join in the seige of Corinth.)
April 29 - May 30: Advance on and siege of Corinth, Miss. The regiment participated in the pursuit of Beauregard's army after he abandoned Corinth. The regiment was under the command of Lieut. Col. Green Berry Raum who was from Harrisburg, IL.
May 31 - June 12: Pursuit to Booneville. During the summer of 1862 the principal camp for the army occupying northern Mississippi was in the hills of Clear Creek, near Corinth, from which place a number of long and exhaustive marches were made to Holly Springs and other points in the heat and dust of an exceedingly hot, dry summer. It was at Camp Clear Creek at this time that James became sick. He sends a letter home dated July 12 from Corinth, Mississippi saying,
"I am not in good helth at this time. I have had bad helth ever since I have ben here. All our company is sickly. Ther is but few able for duty. I want to see you all bad. I want you to rite to me as often as you can.You rote to me that my things was sold(?) that I cent to you by J M Hancock and you want me to send what I cent - 1 blue mixt over coat that I payed 12 dollars for it. 1 black jeans coat. 1 brownish jeans pants. 1 pair of white cotton drawers. 3 sharts - 1 hackery, 1 white, 1 yarn sharit. 1 belt. 1 oil cloth with a hole cut in the middel of it to put over my head. That is all that I cent to you by J M Hancock I want you to git them and ceap them for me tel I come home if I liv I will need them right soon. So nothing more only remain your truly Your son until death"
July - December: James is listed as absent on the Company Muster Roll. He spent much of this time at Jefferson Barracks, MO in a hospital. In another letter dated December 23, he says,
"I would be glad to hear from you as I have not had but two letters since I left Jefferson Beirracks well I have no yet much to rite this time but as soon as I get to the regiment I will rite to you again and let you no where I am .... I hope the time will soon come that we can all come home and see the pleasure that we once enjoyed I was not paid off yet but as soon as we get paid I will send my money all home for if I keep it here I will spend it all foolishly and if I never get home it will do you some good if not me .... I still remain your son until death."1863
January - March 1: Guard Memphis & Charleston R. R.
March 1 - April 5: Yazoo Pass Expedition. On March 22 the regiment was at Fort Pemberton.
April 13: Moved to Milliken's Bend, LA
April 25 - May 13: In the latter part of April, the regiment with the Div. joined the main army under Gen. Grant at Young's Point, and immediately marched with the column which soon crossed the Mississippi River below Grand Gulf. When Gen. Grant crossed the river, Col. Raum, with the 56th Regiment was directed to occupy a position opposite Grand Gulf, and as soon as the enemy was compelled to evacuate that place to cross the river and take possession of it, which they did on Sunday morning, May 2. Grand Gulf was immediately made a base of supplies for the Army. This duty was exacting and laborious both day and night. The regiment was relieved in time to join the main army at Champion Hills.
May 19 - August: Vicksburg Campaign - - The regiment was engaged in the assult on Vicksburg May 22 and was with the 7th Div. when it reinforced Gen. McClernand on the left. On the 12th of June during the siege, Co. Raum was assigned to the command of the 2nd Brigade, 7th Div., 17th Army Corp. On the 25th of June the regiment was sent to reinforce Gen. John A. Logan when he blew up and assulted Fort Hill. The regiment occupied the crater during a portion of the night and lost heavily in both killed and wounded during the conflict. A letter from James dated June 9 states,
"....Well father we has bin a fiten [i.e.fighting] a little down here we had a fite at Grand Gulf, Port Gibson, Jackson, Black River and then run them in side of ther fort and we has bin a fiten here 20 days and I dont no how long we will fite here tho I dont think we will fite much longer for I think we will soon take Vicksburg tho I may be mistakin.Well Mother I will send you a ring I want you to take and wair it and when you see it remember your loven son and I want you wair it untill I come home if I should live to git home and I hope that I will...."
On July 4, the Confederates surrendered at Vicksburg. James sends another letter home dated August 23:
".... Well father and mother we air her in Vicksburg as yet and we has a fine time we has plenty to eat and to wair and that is all that a soldier should want whilt in the army...."September 26: Letter from Camp Helena, Arkansas:
"I got a letter from my Brother senc I have bin heare and he was sick. He was at Corrinth Missippia in the horspital he rote that he had the consumption and he didnt think that he could git well unless he could git a discharge and come home and the helth of the boys up theare is bad all of them is sick in his company and rigment...."After the fall of Vicksburg, the 7th Div. was incorporated into the 15th A.C. as the 3rd Div. under Gen. Sherman, where it remained during the war.
September 20 - November 23: To Memphis, Tennessee and then march to Chattanooga.
November 23-27: Chattanooga-Ringgold Campaign. A letter from James, dated Dec. 6, from Bridgeport, Alabama discusses the Chattanooga campaign:
"I ws detailed to stay here and guard the things while the regt went to Chattanooga to fight.... well father we drew our money today and I sent you 25 dollars by Colonel G. B. Raum you can go and get it and loan it out on intrust if you dont need it. Well Mother you dont know how bad I want to see you and the children but I cannot for a while for furloughs has played out here well I kneed not trouble you any more with my nonsence...."In the battle at Missionary Ridge at Chattanooga on November 25, the regiment lost quite a number of officers and men, among them was Col. Raum who was seriously wounded in the left thigh. Col. Raum was on his way back home to Harrisburg, IL after being wounded when he took James' money for him. Raum returned to duty in February, 1864 and participated in the Atlanta campaign.
At the end of the war, Green Berry Raum became a general. After the war, he built and was president of the Cairo and Vincennes Railroad, was a member of the 40th Congress, commissioner of Internal Revenue, practiced law, and served as pension commissioner. He died in Chicago in 1909 and is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
November 26-27: After the battle at Missionary Ridge, the 15th Army Corps marched to Huntsville, Alabama and was stretched out in various directions occupying the railroad and country.
Undated letter to parents:
"....we drawed some money yesterday two months pay I did not draw any on the account of drawing up the river so I could not send you any money write and tell me exactly my age I dont know it exactly well I believe that is all I can think of at present so I will proceed to close by subscribing myself your affectionate Son until death." James Wilkins1864
January 1: James re-enlisted in Huntsville, Alabama, and was mustered in at Boyd Station, Ala. The 56th IL was assigned to guard the railroad and also to garrison Whitesburg on the Tennessee River, the steamboat landing for Huntsville.
A letter home in February: "They is a heap of talk of pease hear and think it will soon close myself for they are a giving up ever day. The boys here are in good health they are in the best health that I ever saw them. We grind our meal on a water mill and we get a plenty of coarn bread to eat...."March 6: Letter from Whitesburg, Alabama:
"....there is not much news astir here in camp. We are stationed here on the bank of the Tennessee River and the Rebels is on the other side in plain view of us. We have a fine time in this part of the country though. We have a power of duty to do but we have as fine weather here as I ever saw in my life. Health is good in the Regiment now as I ever saw and all seems in fine spirits...."May - September: Atlanta, Georgia campaign with Gen. Sherman's army. On the first of May, the great Atlanta campaign began and from that time until November, the 3rd Div. was engaged in protecting the line of communication in the rear of the army. At Mud Creek, GA the regiment built a block house for the defense of the railroad bridge. About the 1st of July the regiment was stationed at Calhoun, GA on the Chattanooga and Atlanta Railroad. The regiment held Calhoun and Adairsville and several smaller stations along the line of the road and successfully repelled every attack made upon the road.
October: While stationed near Adairsville, GA, James was "Attacked with sore eyes at which time his eyes were so diseased as to render him almost totally blind". He had recurring problems with his eyesight for the rest of his life. On the 12th of October troops from the 56th IL were part of a group of reinforcements sent by train to Resaca to hold the place. The troops on this occasion acted with great heroism and kept at bay an army of more than 5 times their number. Whether James Wilkins participated in this skirmish is not known.
November 15 - December 10: This regiment was part of Sherman's march to the sea from Atlanta to Savannah, Georgia. When Gen. Sherman issued his orders for the "March to the Sea", his army occupied the country from Chattanooga to Atlanta. The great march began on November 15th. The 56th IL was part of the rear-guard of the right wing commanded by Gen. Howard. About noon the rear-guard moved and marched until nearly midnight before drawing up to the encampment of the advance. Behind them they could see the red light from the fires of Atlanta.
December 10-21: Siege of Savannah. This regiment entered Savannah with the rest of the army on the 23rd of Dec.
1865
January - April: Campaign of the Carolinas. On the 18th of January the movement began with Gen. Raum's Brigade in advance. They had crossed the Savannah River on pontoon bridges and had moved across the adjacent rice plantations with their artillery and baggage train when a tremendous rain storm set in. The rice fields were flooded and the pontoon bridge was damaged which prevented the passage of the other troops who found a crossing higher up the river. The 56th IL marched to Pocotaligo, the place of rendezvous. From this point the Army started upon one of the most momentous movements of the war.
February 2-5: Salkehatchie Swamp, S.C.
February 6: The regiment was at Fishburn's Plantation, near Lane's Bridge, Salkehatchie River.
February 9: South Edisto River
February 11-12: North Edisto River
February 15-17: Columbia, S.C. Gen. Sherman's army raised the Union flag over the old state-house in the city.
February 19-20: Neuse River, Cox's Bridge
March 20-21: Battle of Bentonville, N.C.
March 24: Occupation of Goldsboro
March 31: Two hundred men from the 56th Illinois regiment died on this day when the Steamship General Lyon went down off Cape Hatteras, N.C. Among these was James' friend (and brother of his future wife) Robert Evans. Robert was among a group of 12 officers and 193 enlisted men from his regiment who were on their way home to be mustered-out. The ship encountered a storm and caught fire. About 500 persons met their death in the flames or the sea. Only 28 persons were saved, 5 from this regiment.
April 10-14: Advance on Raleigh, N.C.
April 14: Occupation of Raleigh
April 26: Gen. Johnson surrendered to Gen. Sherman at the farmhouse of Daniel Bennett near Durham, N.C.
April 29 - May 19: James, along with the rest of the regiment, marched to Washington, D.C. via Richmond, VA.
May 24: Grand Review in Washington, D.C. - The 56th Illinois regiment took part in the parade through the nation's capitol. It was a real thrill for James. In a letter written from Washington, D.C. written May 28, he says:
"....we arrived here in the neighborhood of Washington, D.C. on the 19th of May and the Grand Review taken place on the 23 and 24 it was one of the grandest sights I ever saw they was a powerful sight of people there we was reviewed by the President and Liut. Gen. Grant we was welcomly received by the citizens of the city we was greated with shouts and cheer from a many a mouth, we was cheerd from the time we entered the city until we got through the city was full of little flags and wavering handkerchieves.we are know in camp on the north side of the city. I have bin in town since we came to this place and went to the capital of the United States and saw monuments of former presidents it was the beautiful seen I ever beheld. They is just any kind of a picture you want to see I was also in the halls of congress that is a tolerble big word for me to say I all but felt like a Congressman I cant have it pend down as I could tell it to you and I think it wont be very long untel I will be at home and then I will tell you how all of these things lookt...."
June: Moved to Louisville, KY
July - August: Little Rock, Arkansas. James was mustered out on August 12th.
James Knox Polk Wilkins' Life After the War
On January 27, 1866, James' step-father, Thomas Griffith gave him a deed to 40 acres of land in Pope Co., IL. In December of that year, he married Agnes Evans. In June of 1883 James bought 40 acres (also in Pope Co., IL) from Charles and Mary Durfee for the sum of $500. He bought 40 acres more in January of 1891 from Lavada M. Shadowens, his half-sister, and Mary A. Griffith for $250.
In June of 1880, James applied for an Invalid Pension from the Federal Government, complaining of back pain, severe pain in the neck and back of the head and weak and inflamed eyes. He had had problems with his eyes since the Civil War. According to a statement made in 1888 by Uriah Morgan, who treated James during war and examined him afterward, "at times [his eyes] seemed to get better but in a short time would get worse again." He eventually lost almost all of the use of his left eye and a portion of the time he was totally blind. In 1888 James began receiving $17.00 a month pension from the U.S. Government.
On April 26, 1895 James Knox Polk Wilkins died at the age of 49. He is buried at the Little Saline Cemetery in Saline Co., IL near Stonefort. His wife was left with 6 children still living at home: Idella, age 15; Cordelia, age 13; Anna, age 10; Andrew, age 8; Hiram, age 4; & George, age 3. The other children were: William who was 28 at the time his father died, James Wesley who was 22, & Julia was 18 years old at the time. His daughter Mary died the year before at the age of 24. One infant died at birth in 1875.
References:
Personal letters from James to his parents, Mary Ann & Thomas Griffith,
in the possession of Marilee Wilkins Dittrich
Muster rolls, affidavits, and pension records from the National Archives
"History of the 56th Regiment", Report of the Adjutant General of the State of Illinois, Vol. IV, page 30-34
1850 U.S. Census, Massac Co.,IL, #69 69
1860 U.S. Census, Pope Co., IL, Twp.11S, R5E, #631 620
1870 U.S. Census, Pope Co., IL, Twp.11S, R5E, Eddyville, #37 37
