Company K, Twentieth Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry Roster and Record

Excerpt

ROSTER AND RECORD.

REUBEN F. DYER, M. D., Ottawa, Ill.

Born at Strong, Franklin county, Maine. Volunteered at Newark, Ill., April 15, 1861. Was elected Captain. Commanded Company at Fredericktown, Fort Henry and Fort Donelson. Resigned commission as Captain of Company K March 13, 1862, at Pittsburg Landing, Tennessee, with view of obtaining a position in the line of his profession. August 25, 1862, was commissioned Surgeon, 104th Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry, which commission he held till close of war, and, at close was acting Medical Director 14th Army Corps, General Jefferson C. Davis commanding. Has practiced medicine at Ottawa since 1865. For a number of years a member of U. S. Board Examining Surgeons. Is not a pensioner. A republican. A Methodist.

BENJAMIN OLIN, Joliet, Ill.

Born in State of New York. Volunteered at Newark, Ill., in April, 1861. Elected Orderly Sergeant of Company. May, 1861, commissioned First Lieutenant. Served with Company in Missouri till November, 1861, when he resigned on account of ill health. Has been in the practice of law since 1862. At present County Judge of Will county, Ill. Is not a pensioner. Has never applied for a pension. A liberal democrat. A Methodist.

JOHN N. BOYER, Normal, Ill.

Born in Centre county, Pennsylvania. Volunteered May 10, 1861, at Newark, Ill. Discharged February 15, 1864, on account of wound received at Vicksburg. Was appointed Orderly Sergeant June 13, 1861. Commissioned 2d Lieutenant January 22, 1862; Captain March 13, 1862.

AT SHILOH.

On April 6, 1862, had mumps very badly, and had neck wrapped with red flannel. Nevertheless, went out in command of the Company. Had sword struck by a missile and bent nearly double, and received two slight wounds in the face. At noon was compelled to retire from the Company. When going, several of the boys turned over their pocket-books to him for safe keeping. Joined us, and took command of the Company, at daylight the next morning and was in all the second day’s fighting.

AT BRITTON’S LANE.

On September 1, 1862, was indisposed and was riding in an ambulance with Assistant Surgeon Bailey and Chaplain Button. When first shots were heard at Britton’s Lane he jumped out, buckled on his sword and asked Dr. Bailey to give him a strong dose of whisky and quinine and then went forward on a run to take charge of the Company. This is a true story, because Chaplain Button tells it.

AT VICKSBURG.

On May 22, 1863, while in command of the Company at Vicksburg he was shot in the foot. On this occasion he lost his sword that had been battered at Shiloh; also, most of his other personal effects. He was discharged on account of this wound and receives pension therefor at the rate of twenty dollars a month.

A MAN OF PEACE.

Since war has been teacher, farmer, business man and cattle man in the West. Is broken in health. Rheumatism and other debilities. Says he can’t work much. We understand he does not have to. In one sense of the word it is supposed he is well-heeled, although in another sense it is certain he is very badly heeled....