Lt. Benjamin 'Bent' D. C. Roland (Rowland)

Lt. Benjamin 'Bent' D. C. Roland (Rowland)

   Attended the Elgin Academy.

1861 Dundee Class II Reserve Militia

   Signed the roll July 31, 1861.

Elgin Union Grays

   Enlisted Aug. 18, 1861

A Co. 36th Ill. Vol. Inf.

Three Years Service

Fox River Regiment

Steedman's Brigade

Sheridan's Division

Fourth Corps

   Mustered In Sept. 23, 1861 as a Sgt.
   Home of record listed as Elgin, Ill's.
   Issued .577 1857 P-53 Enfield Rifled musket.
   Wounded in Action at Stone's River.

   Excerpt from Grandfather was a Drummer Boy, diary of Charles Stiles.
   April 25, 1863 - Camp Schaefer
      I sent home a few trinkets by A. Robertson.  The drum snares I took from a drum thrown away in the stampede at Stone River.  The package directed to Mr. T. Rowland contains an English bullet that Lodged against Bent's account book after going through 3 thicknesses of his overcoat, once through his jacket and an envelope of salt.

   Excerpt from Grandfather was a Drummer Boy, diary of Charles Stiles.
   Aug. 8, 1863 
      Our diversion here is fishing and swimming.  Night before last, I went fishing with 3 others.  We fished all night but "nary a bite" except when Jep Denison caught a turtle.  Some of the boys have caught large ones.  Bent Rowland caught one and it took 2 boys to pull it to shore.

  Excerpt from Grandfather was a Drummer Boy, diary of Charles Stiles.

   March 9, 1863 - Louden, Tennessee
      Poor Bent!  He has had a tough time of it.  He was unwell when his commission came to him and then to be poisoned as soon as he got well was spreading it pretty thick.  I recd. a letter night before last from Jennie stating that Bent was poisoned but he was not at home when it was written.  She also said that the Sherman Hall steps broke down, injuring several solders.

   Discharged June 17, 1864 for promotion to Lt. in the 16th USCT.

? Co.      16th US Colored Troops

  Excerpt from Grandfather was a Drummer Boy, diary of Charles Stiles.

   June 23, 1864
      After dinner we loaded our wounded on the train and at 1/2 past two were ready to start.  We arrived at Kingston just before dark.  This side of Chattanooga the trains have to run by telegraph on acct. of guerrillas tearing up the track.  We stayed at Kingston all night and went to Dalton next morning.  Two bridges were burned the night before only a short distance ahead, so we had to stay there till midnight.  We then started and arrived in Chattanooga about daylight the next morning.  Put our wounded into hospitals and reported for dinner to the "Soldiers Home" I went to the field hospital in the afternoon and Sunday morning I went to the camp of the 16th U.S. Colored Regt.  Found Bent Rowland in good health and well suited with his position.  I stayed with him that day and night and Monday morn. got transportation to the front.
      The "gentlemen of color" go through with inspection and dress parade first rate.  On the way up to Kingston we passed a locomotive and two trains completely burned up.

Known Actions;
Leetown, Ark.           March 7, '62
Pea Ridge, Ark.        March 8, '62
Perryville, Ky.           Oct. 8, 1862
Stones River, Tenn. Dec. 31, 1862
Tullahoma, Tenn.      June 24, 1863
Chickamauga, Ga.    Sept. 20, 1863
Missionary Ridge       Nov. 25, 1863
New Hope Church, Ga.  Nov. 27, 1863
Rocky Face Ridge, Ga.   May 7, 1864
Resaca, Ga.              May 13, 1864
Adairsville, Ga.               May 17, 1864

Post war;

   Captain of the Elgin Zouaves formed in 1868 until 1869 when he left Elgin.

   Member Elgin GAR Post #260.