YATES PHALANX

Intended for Civil War buffs as well as genealogists this text provides a detailed history of the Illinois ThirtyNinth Union Regiment which named itself Yates Phalanx after the governor of the state Formed in April 1861 the ThirtyNinth Illinois Volunteer Veteran Infantry fought in Civil War campaigns from the winter of 1861 to its musterout on December 6 1865 indeed the ThirtyNinth was the lead regiment that held and then turned Lees forces at Appomattox CourtHouse The book contains an eyewitness account written by a regimental surgeon who supplemented his text with soldiers statements and excerpts from their diaries and letters Biographies of over 1500 soldiers have also been included which relate enlistment and discharge information service history and in many cases personal items such as birth and marriage details Period drawings and photographs enhance the text and appendices include listings of Union and Confederate forces a roster and company histories for the ThirtyNinth and a letter written by the authors greatgreatgrandfather a member of the ThirtyNinth which describes his imprisonment at and eventual escape from Andersonville Prison in Georgia Through soldiers letters and reminiscences the reader is exposed to life during the Civil War This work contains much more than the regiments battlefield exploits there are also the mens ties to communities left behind their experiences in the camps their routines and their distractions Accounts offer uncensored views of social issues soldiers opinions and thoughts on deserters and heroes alike In short You Are There