Hello all,
Seeing the last post on the 50th Regiment leads me to my request for help.
My g-g grandfather, Erasmus B. Collins was mustered into the 51st Regiment,
Indiana Infantry, as the Regimental Surgeon. His pension file identifies him
as a Major. He stated in his pension record that he resided at Kentland
Newton County at the time he was mustered in and that he had resided there or
at Brownstown for the 5 years preceeding his being mustered in, in 1861. He
became very ill in 1862, with Typhoid fever, nearly died, was mustered out
for medical reasons in 1863, and a year later, after recovering some, was
voluntarily mustered back in. He was finally mustered out in Dec 1865.
Erasmus was also the Secretary of State for Indiana between 1855-57. Erasmus
died in 1886 and is buried in Illinois. From his pension file, I have much
correspondence between Erasmus and the Governor of Indiana. I wonder if
anyone on this list might know if there might have been photos taken of the
Secretaries of State during that time frame, or of the 51st Regiment of
Indiana during the Civil War. I would LOVE to have a photo of Erasmus! Any
guidance would be greatly appreciated!
Best,
Jilly
~*~ Open your heart, and your mind, and the rest will follow ~*~
In a message dated 11/10/02 1:01:10 PM, Nd2gether(a)aol.com writes:
<<I also have 2 ancestors that were mustered into the 50th Regiment---
Milton Charles and his son, Wm. Riley Charles.
That was 1861 in Seymour.
I found a photo in a book at the Jackson Co. Genealogical Society labeled
"The last GAR encampment of Civil War Veterans, at Brownstown in 1910." A
photo without names, but I recognized Wm. Riley Charles from a previous
photo. Unfortunately, I don't remember the book right now, but I did copy
the photo. It shows two rows of elderly men, sitting and standing, many with
beards and canes.
The photo credit said, "Courtesy of Blanche Dickmeyer"
It's a long shot, but I wonder if any photos were taken at Seymour when they
were mustered.
The father, Milton Charles, died the following Jan. in KY at Camp Wickliffe
of disease. So many died there that they may be buried in unmarked graves.
Sure would like to know. >>