Pvt. Joseph Over

Pvt. Joseph Over

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.

   Notice: July ?, 1861 issue Elgin's Weekly Gazette.

FROM CAIRO.

(Correspondence of the Chicago Times.)

Cairo, Ill., June 29,

   If the troops of this brigade are not paid off before the expiration of the three months for which they enlisted, a very large number of them will refuse to be sworn in for further service.  A considerable number of them will go home anyhow, but the per cent will be largely increased by further neglect in the matter in question.  Few of them, indeed, can communicate with their families or friends for want of three cents wherewith to buy a postage stamp.
   At Camp Joslyn yesterday, Col. Cook's regiment, I learn, stacked their arms and declared that they would neither drill nor parade again until they got their money.  Their wants, in a thousand ways, are exceedingly pressing, but not a single dollar have they to relieve them.  The men became satisfied with fair promises however, and reconsidered their rather hasty determination.

   Mustered Out at Mound City, Ill. July 25, 1861

From the collection of Ken Gough

US Altered Musket

1816 Springfield / dated 1827

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.