Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Musician Charles Bartlett Stiles


Musician Charles Bartlett Stiles
 
       From the 1850 Census #107/190
Name - Charles Stiles
Aged - 6 Years
Home in 1850 - Elgin, Kane Co., Ill.

   Attended Elgin High School.

       From the 1860 Census #313/231
Name - Charles Stiles
Aged - 16 Years
Home in 1860 - Elgin, Kane Co., Ill.
Occupation - Clerk

       From the Report of the Adjutant General of the State of Illinois
Elgin Union Grays
   Enlisted Aug. 8, 1861
A Co. 36th Ill. Vol. Inf.
Three Years Service
Fox River Regiment
Steedman's Brigade
Sheridan's Division
Fourth Corps
   Mustered In Sept. 23, 1861 at Camp Hammond in Montgomery, Ill's.
   Home of record listed as Elgin, Ill's.

   Excerpt from Grandfather Was a Drummer Boy, diary of Charles Stiles.
   Oct. 23, 1861
     Maj. Wright's cavalry left today.  I now weigh 119 pounds and am 5 1/2 feet in height.  It is very cold and windy.

   Excerpt from Grandfather Was a Drummer Boy, diary of Charles Stiles.
   Nov. 11, 1861
       My drum stands it better than I expected.  I have gotten a new rope in it and now the lining has given away a little.  Perhaps someone else can tell better than I whether I am improving.  But I certainly know a great deal more about drumming than when I left Camp Hammond.  I can beat anything except double quick and that I can almost.

  Excerpt from Grandfather Was a Drummer Boy, diary of Charles Stiles.
   Nov. 12, 1861
      I have shaved less than a dozen times since I came here.  According to your wishes, I am endeavoring to keep my face as smooth as possible.

  Excerpt from Grandfather Was a Drummer Boy, diary of Charles Stiles.
   Nov. 21, 1861
      I have shave less than a dozen times since I came here.  According to your wishes, I am endeavoring to keep my face as smooth as possible.

  Excerpt from Grandfather Was a Drummer Boy, diary of Charles Stiles.
   Nov. 29, 1861
      I am on guard today at the fort.  It is quite cold here now and it snowed a little this morning.  I am now sitting in a wheelbarrow by a log fire inside the fort.  The wind whistles around as cold as in Elgin.

   Excerpt from Grandfather Was a Drummer Boy, diary of Charles Stiles.
   Dec. 25, 1861
      We arose late, it being about 7 o'clock, and did not get breakfast until nearly 8 o'clock.  After breakfast we employed ourselves reading, talking, and running about until nearly noon when Mrs. Buck sent for us to come to her tent.  We went down and found a bundle for each of us from home.  After taking them to our tents we opened them and found pies, cakes, apples, butter, tippets, and wristlets.  After investigating all the boxes we went into town and bought oysters and cut up generally.  After getting what we wanted, we came back and prepared dinner which consisted of 3 roasted chickens, mashed potatoes, and some apple pies made by Frank Perkins.  After dinner I went out to a shooting match just outside the lines and saw a few chickens shot.  At 9 o'clock we had an oyst4er supper.  While we were eating the taps were beaten but (if the court knows herself and she thinks she do) we did not take much notice of it.  After supper we had some music and lots of fun.  We retired at `11 o'clock.

   Excerpt from Grandfather Was a Drummer Boy, diary of Charles Stiles.
   Nov. 21, 1862
      I presume I shall be obliged to call for a new drum soon as straining mine up so tight warps the shell so.  I expect it will split before long.

   Excerpt from Grandfather Was a Drummer Boy, diary of Charles Stiles.
   Nov. 12, 1861
      We are now living.  We have a new stove in our tent costing $15.  The hearth is some 10 inches high and gthe front part of the stove is about 9 inches above this.  The back part is raised 3 to 4 inches.  The fire goes both above and under the oven.

   Excerpt from Grandfather Was a Drummer Boy, diary of Charles Stiles.
   June 28, 1862
      Quite a number of troops passed here today.  About noon I was taken with a pain in my stomach which lasted all day.  There is a woman over in town who wears a ring made from the bone of a federal killed at Bull Run.

  Excerpt from Grandfather Was a Drummer Boy, diary of Charles Stiles.
   Jan. 9, 1862
      Several days ago we got our second pair of shoes and they are a pretty good article of pegged shoes.  My tippet and wristlets have not yet come into use.  I now weigh 125 pounds and am about 5 1/2 feet tall.  I have not grown up much lately.

   Excerpt from Grandfather Was a Drummer Boy, diary of Charles Stiles.
    June 29, 1862
      The troops that passed here yesterday are going back today.  The pain in my stomach has not ceased.  It continued all night.

   Excerpt from Grandfather Was a Drummer Boy, diary of Charles Stiles.
   June 30, 1862
     I went to the surgeon this morning but do not feel any better yet.

   Excerpt from Grandfather Was a Drummer Boy, diary of Charles Stiles.
   July 1, 1862
      There was quite a fight some 10 miles south of here just beyond Boomerville carried on by the cavalry.  There were quite a few killed on both sides.  Our division is still entrenching here.  It looks as though we will remain here some time.  Company A and several other companies have just finished some brick ovens so that we might have soft bread.  They will be sure to take us away now.  I am a little better today.  Mother, in her letter of May 5, says that Wilber brought home the report that I had been pretty sick and was cared for in quartermasters' tent.  I don't see what made him give any such report for it was wholly false.  I have never been out of our tent to be taken care of. 

   Excerpt from Grandfather Was a Drummer Boy, diary of Charles Stiles.
   Jan. 27, 1862
      Today Frank Perkins and I visited a secesh woman whose husband is a major in the rebel army.  We fixed her daughter's melodeon which had something in two of the reeds.  The girl is a redhead about 13 years old.  Frank loves to play on a melodeon and he had quite a treat.  The girl sang southern dixie and talked secesh up to the handle.  Her little sister, a small babe, is named Jennie Rich Wood.
 
  Excerpt from Grandfather was a Drummer Boy, diary of Charles Stiles.
   Jan. 11, 1864
      I am taken with fever and ague soon after retiring, last night.  The veterans left us this morning and we are turned over to the 88th Ill.  I am in Co. E.  Capt. Holden, the best captain in the regt.

   Authors note;
      Ague was the period term for Malaria.

  Excerpt from Grandfather was a Drummer Boy, diary of Charles Stiles.
   Feb. 11, 1864
      Our convalescents and cooking utensils arrived today.  Nine days from Chattanooga.  The first train of cars from Chattanooga since the Rebels left here came up this P.M.  We have had very pleasant weather since we came here.  Our camp is on a hill so it well not be very muddy at any rate.  My drum came up with the other things so I can practice once more.  I expect my knapsack and everything else I had; shelters, rubber and blanket are gone up.  All the letters I have saved besides fifteen or twenty dollars worth of shell work are among the missing.  They may be found yet but it is a doubtful case.  Had it not been for Loveless and Harpending I should not have recd. that box from home.

  Excerpt from Grandfather was a Drummer Boy, diary of Charles Stiles.
   Feb. 14, 1864
      As i cannot with you-hear the church bells chime-I will send you this--for my Valentine.  I am well and hearty.  The veterans did not care one fig for us or our things after they left.  Braman Loveless and I are erecting a house for ourselves where we shall be apart from the other musicians, most of whom are pretty rough characters.

  Excerpt from Grandfather was a Drummer Boy, diary of Charles Stiles.
   Feb. 19, 1864 - Louden, Tennessee
      This morning was very cold but before night the weather moderated considerable.  Loveless and I went, after dark tonight and got shingles and a door for our shanty.

  Excerpt from Grandfather was a Drummer Boy, diary of Charles Stiles.
   July 24, 1864
      I walked on the field where the enemy charged our Div. and part of Hooker's Corps.  Such sickening sights I hope never to see again.  I saw a dozen or more bodies perfectly black from exposure to the sun and the moths, eyes, and noses full of maggots.  Graves so numerous that I did not try to count them.

   Discharged Sept. 22, 1864.  Reason, expiration of term of enlistment.

   Authors Note;
      See Grandfather Was a Drummer Boy transcribed by John Stiles Castle for a complete diary kept by Charles Stiles during his time in the service.  Excerpts only are used here.

Known Actions;
Leetown, Ark.            March 7, '62
Pea Ridge, Ark.        March 8, '62
Perryville, Ky.          Oct. 8, 1862
Stones River, Tenn. Dec. 31, 1862
Tullahoma, Tenn.      June 24, 1863
Chickamauga, Ga.    Sept. 20, 1863
Missionary Ridge       Nov. 25, 1863
New Hope Church, Ga.  Nov. 27, 1863
Rocky Face Ridge, Ga.   May 7, 1864
Resaca, Ga.               May 13, 1864
Adairsville, Ga.        May 17, 1864
Kennesaw Mt., Ga. June 27, 1864
Peachtree Creek Ga. July 20, 1864
Atlanta, Ga.              Aug. 13, 1864
Jonesboro, Ga.         Aug. 31, 1864

Elgin Registered Voter in 1866.

Member Elgin GAR Post #260.

       From the Post #49 files
Joined Elgin GAR Veteran Post #49 Aug. 13, 1897.

       From the 1900 Census
Name - Charles Stiles
Aged - 55 Years
Born - Illinois
Home in 1900 - Elgin, Kane Co., Ill.
Occupation - Mechanic & Draftsman

   As recorded on the Elgin Sexton's ledger
Died Sept. 10, 1919, 9:00 am at 427 DuPage St.  Aged 75/6/16.  Cause of death listed as Paramystomia.  Undertaker retained, F. T. Norris.  Physician, C. L. Sharp.  Permit #18138.

   Obit; Sept. 11, 1919 issue of The Elgin Daily Courier.
   Charles Bartlett Stiles was born in Elgin, Ill., Feb. 25, 1844, and died at his home here, Sept. 10, 1919, at the age of 75 years.
   His parents, Luther C. Stiles and Sarah Jennie Stiles, were among the very early settlers of the city.  The died some years ago.
   Besides his wife, Nellie M. Stiles, he leaves two daughters, Mrs. Emma Gertrude Nelson and Mrs. F.W. Castle, four grandchildren, two sisters, Mrs. J.L. Palmer of Moline, Mrs. C.W. Cole of Chicago, and one brothers, Albert j. Stiles of Cleveland, O.
   His ancestors were of New England stock and his great grandfather was a Revolutionary war soldier.  His youth was spent in the atmosphere of the pioneer community that developed those traits of self reliance and integrity that were conspicuous in his whole after life.
   His education was obtained in the public school with the addition of two years spent after his war service at the Warring Military Academy of Poughkeepsie, N.Y., where he was instructor and pupil.
   When the call came for the first 800,000 volunteers in 1861, he enlisted in Co. A, 36th Illinois Volunteers as musician.  He was then 17 years old.  He served in that regiment, three years, enduring all the varied obligations and hardships of a soldier's life with conspicuous fidelity.
   In the month of January, 1864, after three years service, while at Blaine's Cross Roads, East Tenn., the 36th Regiment, Illinois Volunteers, he wrote in his diary at that time:  "The veterans enlistment papers were filled out and signed this afternoon.  No rations today.  Two ears of corn were issued to each man."
   Upon his return from the army and his school to civil life, he entered heartily into the movement for the establishment of a Y.M.C.A.  In his home town and gave his best endevor to all other good causes.  He was a faithful member and office bearer of Grace Methodist church for many years, but united with the First Congregational church because of failing health.
   He was one of the first employed gby the Watch Factory before a permanent building was gbuilt and took pleasure in telling of the fact that he drove the first stake in the laying out of that building.
   He worked many years in the machine room here and was for a time draftsman at the Springfield Watch Factory and at lancaster, Pa.  He was nine years a draftsman of A.B. Dick, Chicago.
   He has been long a member of Veteran post 49, GA.R., was commander for one term and filled others important offices in the post and when health permitted was a regular attendant at its meetings.
   He will be greatly missed by the narrowing circle of comrades of the Civil war.
   The funeral will be held from his home Friday at 2 o'clock.

       From the 1956 Kane Co. Honor Roll
Soldier - Mus. Chas. B. Stiles
Unit - Co. A       36th Ill. Inf.
Buried - at Bluff City Cemetery in Elgin, Ill.
Location - Lot 24, Section 1B

Used with permission Dan Mallett
Many members of Post #49 sewed watch faces to their ribbons to show they were from Elgin.

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