The Saga of Ezra 1862 -1865

The year was 1862 when my Great grandfather Ezra raised his hand
“joining up” for the cause he said, got to fight to free all men
That was  the 12th of August in the summer  of 62
Company K ,102 Illinois Vol. Infantry  Regiment
Mustered in at Knoxville,Il.01 September 1862.

He soon changed his overalls to put on the Union blue
Leaving behind a young wife and a two year old toddler
found  himself marching hundreds of miles from his small farm in Eliza
down through Kentucky, Tennessee, and Georgia
north to S. Carolina ,N. Carolina to Virginia an finally... Washington D.C.

Battles he remembered  began in Kentucky with their pursuit of General  Bragg
on to Gallatin ,Tennessee until June 6, of 1863 where he lost a cousin
then on to Woodsbury,  Laverne ,and Stewart’s Creek guarding the trains
across the Wauhatchie Valley all the while in the state of Tennessee.

Now into Georgia where the fighting  became more fierce
Lookout Valley to Deer Head Cove... the beginning of the Atlanta campaign
a skirmish in Dalton, on to Rocky Faced Ridge to the Battle of Resaca which was bad,
then Cassville on to Dallas, and a place called Pumpkin Vine Creek.

New Hope Church, Allatoona Hills, Big Shanty and Marietta near Kenesaw Mts.
Pine Hill to Lost Mountain and Golgatha Church then across Muddy Creek
down to Noyes Creek resting a day at Kolb’s farm before pressing on
to the Assault on Kenesaw, Ruff’s Station, Smyrna Camp Ground, 4 July 1864
forging the Chattahoochie River, stopping at Peach Tree Creek for a while.

Then on to the siege of Atlanta from July through August of ‘64
followed by it’s surrender and occupation in September of that year
staying until November when their Regiment  picked up the pace
marching with Sherman’s men all the way to the sea.

Turning north to Milledgeville across the Ogeechee River the end of November
to begin another siege, this time all of  December at Savannah
soon to begin the Carolina’s campaign in January ' 65
Hardeeville  to Laytonville on to Rockingham  then on to Fayetteville.

Resistance at Averysboro, Taylors Hole Creek an the Battle at Bentonville
on to Moccasin Creek, and the occupation of Goldsboro in March of  '65
advancing upon Raleigh in April then taking over on the fourteenth
Bennett’s House came next then the surrender of General Johnston and his Army.

The war was drawing to a close when they found themselves marching north
from Richmond in Virginia to the Unions Capitol  in Washington D.C.
he was among those present during the Grand Review 24 May 1865
Their long fought battles were now behind them... except for the bad dreams.
All were heros especially those that  paid the ultimate sacrifice.

As in most wars a friend soon becomes more like a brother in every way
losing  one who stood shoulder to shoulder in every battle was a reality for him
as 119  men gave all of their tomorrows so we might enjoy our todays
all were proud soldiers of the 102 Illinois Vol.Inf. Regiment, Company K .

This Regiment mustered out from Chicago  6 June 1865
Discharged With Honor 14 June 1865.