Pvt. William W. Renwick

Pvt. William W. Renwick

   Listed on the 1850 Census #308/317 as aged 1 year living in Elgin, Ill's.

Elgin Continental Militia

   Enlisted April 22, 1861.
   Armed with .69 US Altered Musket taken in the Geneva Raid

A Co. 7th Ill. Vol. Inf.

Fremont Rifles

   Mustered In April 25, 1861 at Camp Yates in Springfield, Ill's.
   Home of record listed as Elgin, Ill's.
   Mustered Out July 25, 1861 at Mound City, Ill.

G Co. 141st Ill. Vol. Inf.

100 Days Service

   Enlisted May 14, 1864
   Mustered In June 16, 1864 at Camp Kane in Elgin.

   Notice: July 6, 1864 issue Elgin's Weekly Gazette.
   FROM THE 141ST.-We learn that the 141st, our pet regiment of "hundreddazers,' has gone into camp at Columbus, Ky., but how long they will remain there is with us a mere matter of conjecture.  On their way down to Cairo, over the Illinois Central railroad, the heat was so oppressive that several of the boys fainted away.  There have been two deaths in the regiment since they left Elgin, one, TIMOTHY HAYES, a private in Capt. Herrington's company, drowned while bathing in the Mississippi river, and the other, a Swede whose name we did not learn of Capt. Beech's company of the tremens.  We hope to hear often from our 141st.

   Notice: Aug. 24, 1864 issue Elgin's Weekly Gazette.
   FROM THE 141ST,-We learn that our regiment of "hundreddazers," the 141st, are likely to smell gunpowder and see a speck of war.  Gen Paine has been getting up an expedition to clear out Johnsons rebel raiders who lately invaded Illinois and took several steamers loaded with cattle, and the 141st were counted in, and left Columbus on Tuesday last to join Gen. Paine at Paducah.  Large numbers of cattle and supplies have been retaken from the rebels by this expedition, and also many horses and mules of resident rebels.  Late news reports that Gen. Paine has returned to Paducah.

   Mustered Out Oct. 10, 1864 at Camp Fry in Chicago, Ill's.

Post war;
   Joined GAR, Harley Wayne Post #169 in Marengo, Ill.
   Died Oct. 29, 1925 in Marengo, Ill.

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