Today we begin what was the original inspiration for the whole trip -- following my Great-Great-Great-Great Grandpa's Civil War journey. I am quite excited!
I thought I would share the biographical sketch of JB that I created from my research:
Composite Biography of John Bannister STANDERFER
My 4th Great Grandfather
John Bannister STANDERFER was born on Christmas Eve, December 24th, 1830, in Hamilton County, Illinois, the son of Job STANDERFER and Mary E DAILY. JB's father & grandfather were among the earliest settlers in what became Hamilton County, Illinois. JB, himself, was active in county affairs throughout his life, holding the posts of County Treasurer, County Assessor, Sheriff, and Postmaster at one time or another. Foremost, JB was a farmer. He had a good farm in the county and raised a large family there. JB was described as being just shy of 6' tall with a fair complexion, light hair and dark eyes. When he was 20, he married Elizabeth SHIRLEY on January 15th, 1851, in Hamilton County, Illinois. By time the Civil War broke out, they had five children -- the second born being Wilburn. Wilburn was just shy of 9 years old and Elizabeth was pregnant with their sixth child when JB enlisted with the Union for 3 years of service with the 87th Illinois Volunteer Infantry, Company A, on August 13th, 1862. The same day that President Lincoln announced the Emancipation Proclamation, September 22nd, 1862, JBS mustered into service as a Private at Camp Logan situated along the Ohio River in (Old) Shawneetown, Illinois. JB's Civil War service would turn out to be entwined with the rivers. The regiment remained there for some time, conducting raids across the river into Kentucky and guarding their post in Illinois. It was reported that some companies of the regiment were near mutiny by the end of the year for having not received any pay. On January 31st, 1863, the regiment finally broke camp and embarked on the 4-day journey down river to Memphis, Tennessee, aboard the two transports: Freestone & May Duke. With inclement weather and undoubtedly close quarters on the boats, measles broke out and cost the regiment 250 men either dead or disabled. They encamped 3 miles southeast of the city, where they remained in duty until May. While there, the regiment took part in a raid on Hernando, Mississippi in a move against Confederate Colonel Bligh. On May 9th, they embarked on the 2-day journey down river to Young's Point, Louisiana (near present-day Helena) aboard the steamer, Crescent City. There they were engaged in repairing the corduroy road and active picket and fatigue duty. The situation around Vicksburg, Mississippi, had been intensifying and on the night of May 21st, JB, along with the rest of the regiment, crossed the Mississippi River at Warrenton and went into bivouac in the hills above the town. The next morning, the regiment, in the Brigade Command of Colonel McCown, was assigned to General McArthur's Division on the left line of battle. The Adjutant General's report stated, "Here they closed up the gap on the extreme left of the line of investment and remained for six hours under a steady fire of shot and shell from the enemy's works." Two days later, on May 23rd, the regiment was ordered to the right center, to report to General Logan, and placed under the command of Colonel Whiting. The Siege of Vicksburg had begun. They remained there for several days before being detached to garrison duty at Warrenton. The regiment remained in duty at Warrenton for a few weeks until, on June 23rd, the regiment moved back to the battle trenches, assigned to General McClernand, and remained entrenched until the capture of the city. At 3 o'clock in the afternoon on July 3rd, with the white flags raised, Confederate Lieutenant General John C Pemberton and Union Major General Ulysses S Grant met between the lines but did not come to an immediate agreement. Finally, the surrender of Vicksburg took place on the 4th of July; over 29,000 Confederates surrendered. It has been said that for such an important hold as Vicksburg to be surrendered on that meaningful day was a particularly hard blow to southern morale and an equally strong boost in the north. Confederate General Johnston had 30,000 soldiers coming to the aid of Vicksburg and, upon the surrender, Grant ordered Sherman to deal with the threat. That night, Union General William T Sherman led the regiment on an expedition to clear Confederate General Johnston's troops from the area, engaging the enemy and pursuing them in extreme heat for 5 days to Jackson, Mississippi. The Siege of Jackson lasted until July 16th when Confederate forces withdrew and Union forces occupied the city. The regiment marched back to Vicksburg on July 20th. The victory at Vicksburg had opened up the river to the Union and JB, along with his regiment, were among the first northern troops to make the descent of the mighty Mississippi. On July 25th, they embarked for Natchez, Mississippi, where they made an excursion to Kingston and captured a supply of Confederate cotton. On August 10th, they set-off down river, again, embarking for New Orleans. On August 12th, they disembarked at Carrollton, Louisiana (a neighborhood of present-day New Orleans) and encamped. While here, it seems that JB's health condition worsened. The rest of the regiment moved out on September 13th, however JB was unfit for duty. On October 7th, 1863, just over a year into his three years of service, John Bannister STANDERFER was discharged on a Certificate of Disability stating that he had contracted rheumatism while in the line of duty and it had persisted for months. Medical terminology during the Civil War could be vague but it is likely that he had contracted Rheumatic Fever and possibly suffered from Chronic Rheumatism from then on. We can only wonder if JB felt relieved to be discharged but, even if he felt pangs of guilt or disappointment, he surely would have been glad to be reunited with his family and meet his son that had been born back in February. He settled back into family life and farming. JB certainly saw his share of hard times and death in his time as a soldier. Unfortunately, more tragedy lie ahead. Less than two years after his return home, his wife, Elizabeth, died on October 3rd, 1865. In 1866, JB married again. Nancy DEITZ-DAILY brought two children with her. She had lost her husband during the war -- he had been in the same company as JB and died of Typhoid Fever at Vicksburg. Together, JB & Nancy had seven more children, the youngest of which was just shy of a year old when Nancy then passed away in 1884. JB remarried again in 1885 and had two more children before his third wife and both of those children all died in the same year, 1888. In 1889, at 58 years old, JB married again. In 1897, he and his 4th wife, Hattie, along with his youngest son, moved to Washington County, Florida. There were likely other family members already there. They lived on 8th Street in Chipley. Unfortunately, in 1902, after 13 years of marriage, Hattie passed away. In all, JB had to bury 4 wives and at least 5 of his children -- including Wilburn, who passed away in 1904. JB moved back to Hamilton County, Illinois. He spent his last years living with one of his daughters and her family until he died on September 1st, 1914, at nearly 84 years of age. He was buried at Blooming Grove Cemetery in Crouch, Hamilton County, Illinois.
Composite Biography story compiled from various sources by Elizabeth JOYCE
per her research as of 01 Jul 2017. The Family History is always a work-in-progress.