Pvt. Hiram Peterson

Pvt. Hiram Peterson

   Listed on the 1860 Federal Census as a 21 year old Farm Laborer from New York living in Hampshire, Ill's.

Elgin Continentals

   Enlisted April 22, 1861

A Co. 7th Ill. Vol. Inf.

Fremont Rifles

   Armed with .69 US Altered musket taken in the Geneva Raid
   Mustered In for 3 months service at Camp Yates in Springfield, Ill. April 25, 1861.
   Home of record listed as Elgin, Ill's.
   Mustered Out at Mound City, Ill. July 25, 1861.
   Mustered in for 3 years at Mound City, Ill. July 25, 1861.

   Notice: Oct. 22, 1862 issue Elgin's Weekly Gazette.
   The 7th and 52d-Both these regiments were in the fight at Corinth.  The 52d was badly cut up, not so bad however, as some of the others.  Lieut., Col. John S. Wilcox was in command and we learn that he conducted himself with great coolness and bravery.
   The 7th took a hand in when the bayonet charge was made upon the rebels after they had gained the inside of our breastworks.  We do not learn that any of Capt. lawyer's company from this town were wounded.
-Aurora Beacon.

   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.
   Mustered Out at Louisville, Ky. June 8, 1865.
   Received Finial Pay and Discharged at Springfield, Ill. July 11, 1865.

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            Sept. 30, 1863
Butler’s Creek             Aug. 1, 1864
Allatoona Pass, Ga. Oct. 5, 1864
Wippy Swamp               Feb. 8, 1865
Neuse’s Bridge, NC         March 19, 1865
Bentonville, NC         March 19, 1865

Used with permission Dan Mallett

Elgin Continentals in their grey Illinois style uniforms made for them by the ladies of Elgin just before mustering in as A Co. 7th Ill.  Photo taken at either Camp Yates in Springfield or Camp DuBois in Alton.

From the collection of Ken Gough

US Altered Musket

Model 1816 Springfield / dated 1827

Used with permission Elgin Area Hist. Soc.