Service: Civil War, Private, 87th Regiment, Company E
William was born 1846 to 1848 in Fulton county Indiana, the son of Andrew
Eslinger Dukes and Mary Troutman.
He claimed to be eighteen years of age February 23, 1864 when he enlisted
into Company E 87th Indiana Volunteer Infantry, following his father Andrew
and uncle James Dukes footsteps, as well as his maternal uncles James H.,
John Greenup, and Darius Troutman. According to his enlistment he was 5ft
7in tall, with grey eyes and black hair. He enlisted from Pleasant Grove
(Kewanna), and by March 8, 1864 was leaving Indianapolis to join the
regiment.
On or about May 24, 1864 while on duty at Snake Gap, Georgia, William was
disabled by diarrhea and taken to the hospitol at Lookout Mountain, Georgia.
Chronic diarrhea as they called it, lasted until June 28, 1864. He was
ordered for medical examination July 7, 1864 resulting in ³no diagnosis² and
returned to duty. December 28, 1864 William was again stricken with diarrhea
and this time accompanied with fever, and did not return to duty until
February 4, 1865. While in the hospitol the 87th reported William as asbent
without leave Jan/Feb 1865.
April 22, 1865 William came down with tonsilitis and was transferred from
Lookout Mountain, Georgia to the hospitol in Louisville, Kentucky. From the
hospitol in Louisville he was able to secure a thirty day convalescent
furlough to return to his home in Fulton county, Indiana. During this time
he is listed ³in charge of Sgt. Bragdon Co. E 17th Regt. V.R.C.². At the
expiration of his furlough, he reported to the goverment hospitol in
Indianapolis and from there was sent to the soldiers home. He then made
application to General Carrington for transportation to join his regiment.
Transportation was granted but was cutoff at Chattanooga, Tennessee. He was
then put on detail service as a guard on the train from Chattanooga to
Knoxville. He fell from the train and claimed injury to both shoulders
³without any fault or improper conduct on his part and said injury not due
to any vicious habits². William worked (or walked) through his injury.
June 1865 he was transferred to Company E 42nd Regiment Indiana Volunterr
Infantry and honarably discharged in Indianapolis August 1865.
William E. Dukes married Francis Anne Burns of Missouri February 23, 1881
in the city of Decatur, Macon county, Illinois by S.W. Needermeyer. Francis
Burns of unknown parts Missouri, was born June 10, 1861.
September 6, 1890 William made application for pension. On this
application, he says since leaving service has resided in Indiana,
California, and currently the state of Illinois. Had never recieved or
applied for pension. Was previously married to Mary J. Robinson in Iowa, and
Mary died January 22, 1869. He was then married to Adelia Philbert of
Logansport, Indiana, which ended in divorce proceedings. At this time was 43
years old and resident of Easton, Mason county, Illinois. It seems that he
tried very hard to obtain pension, starting September 6, 1890 and not
receiving any payment until August 11, 1896. Pension was ten dollars per
month, paid quarterly. Several affidavit filed by William¹s friends and
neighbors claim that he suffered severe pain or rheumatism to the shoulders
and was only able to do 1/4 the work of an able bodied man with said
disability increasing each year.
William E. Dukes died March 3, 1902 near Easton, Mason county Illinois.
Francis¹ Declaration for Widow¹s Pension April 1902 lists three children.
Andrew Edward Dukes born July 20, 1886.
Mary E. Dukes born November 9, 1887.
Sadie B. Dukes born November 8, 1890. Sadie said to be ³ mentally and
physically helpless². Family tradition is that Sadie may have been struck by
lightening as a young girl.
Francis Dukes (Burns) married Joshua Griffith, June 1904, in Mason City,
Illinois.
bdukes(a)mac.com
Brian L. Dukes, P.O.Box 427, Rock Falls, IL 61071-0427
Source of information was William's Service Record and Pension File
Any additional information greatly appreciated.