Pvt. William C. Schaffer

Pvt. William C. Schaffer

   Attended the Elgin Academy.

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's. April 25, 1861.
   Home of record listed as Elgin, Ill's.
   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 Mound City, Ill's. July 25, 1861
   Mustered in for 3 years at Mound City, Ill's. July 25, 1861.
   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

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.

Used with permission Elgin Area Hist. Soc.