Sgt. James O'Donnell

Sgt. James O’Donnell

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.

   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.

Post war;
   Joined GAR, Gen. George A. Custer Post #40 in Chicago.

   Obit; Feb. 17, 1910 issue of The Elgin Daily News.
      James O'Connell, who had been engaged in the iron and steel business in Chicago for thirty years, died Tuesday at his residence, 3044 Jackson boulevard, aged 67 years.
      He served in the Seventh Illinois regiment throughout the civil war, losing his right eye at the battle of Altoona pass, and was appointd by Gov. Deneen to the board of trustees for the soldiers home at Quincy.  He is survived by a widow and five children.
      The funeral was held today at 9:30 o'clock a.m. from the Church of Our Lady of Sorrows.  Interment was at Mount Carmel cemetery.
      Mr. O'Connell was formerly a resident of Gilberts and was well known in this locality.

   Buried at Mount Carmel Cemetery in Cook County, Ill.

From the collection of Ken Gough

US Altered Musket

Model 1816 Springfield / dated 1827

Used with permission Elgin Area Hist. Soc.

Elgin Continentals wearing 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.