Pvt. Edward Orton

Pvt. Edward Orton

   Listed on the 1860 Census #361/2672 as a 20 year old Farm Laborer from England living in Elgin, Ill's.

A Co. 7th Ill. Vol. Inf.

Fremont Rifles

   21 year old Farm laborer.
   Mustered in for 3 years at Mound City, Ill's. July 25, 1861.
   Home of record listed as Elgin, Ill's.
   Issued .69 US Altered Musket
   Wounded in Action in the foot at Shiloh.
   Spring 1863 and again in 1864 the Regiment was  mounted on mules making them mounted infantry.
   Re-enlisted as a Veteran and paid a $300 Veterans Bounty, then sent home on 30 days Veterans Furlough.
   During their Veterans Furlough the regiment bought at their own expense 16 shot Henry Rifles.
   Discharged July 29, 1864, reason not listed.

Known Actions;
Fort Henry, Tenn.      Feb. 6, 1862
Fort Donelson, Tenn.      Feb. 11, 1862
Shiloh, Tenn.                 April 6, 1862
Corinth,, Miss.            Oct. 3, 1862
Town Creek                   May 26, 1863
Swallow’s Bluff, Tenn.    Sept. 30, 1863

Post war;
   Moved to 501 South Kansas St., Hastings, Neb.
   Died March 2, 1923 of a Carcinoma complicated by Exhaustion..

From the collection of Ken Gough

US Altered Musket

Model 1816 Springfield / dated 1827

Used with permission Elgin Area Hist. Soc.