The Story of a Common Soldier of Army Life in the Civil War, 1861-1865 [Illustrated]

Leander Stillwell (1843-1934) was not yet eighteen years of age when the Civil war broke out. His life up to that time had been spent on his father's farm and his educational advantages away from home had been confined to the common schools. From January 7, 1862, the date of his enlistment, until September 8, 1865, when his regiment was mustered out, he was with the Union army in the field, and participated in the battle of Shiloh, the siege of Vicksburg, and several minor engagements. A brief statement of his "military and medical record" has been furnished by the adjutant general's office of the war department under a recent date. That record is as follows:

"Leander Stillwell was enrolled January 7, 1862, at Carrollton, Illinois, and was mustered into service February 5, 1862, at Carrollton, Illinois, as a private of Company D, Sixty-first Regiment, Illinois Infantry Volunteers, to serve three years. He was appointed Corporal about February, 1862; Sergeant, August 20, 1862, and First Sergeant, September or October, 1863, and was mustered out as such at Little Rock, Arkansas, to date January 31, 1864, by reason of his re-enlistment as a veteran volunteer. He re-enlisted February 1, 1864, at Little Rock, Arkansas, to serve an additional term of three years, and was mustered into service to date February 1, 1864. He was commissioned Second Lieutenant, same company and regiment, and was mustered in as such July 18, 1865, and was mustered out of service of the company as Second Lieutenant September 8, 1865, at Nashville, Tennessee.

"Under the provisions of the act of Congress approved July 3, 1884, this officer has been recognized by the war department as First Lieutenant, Company D, Sixty-first Illinois Volunteers from August 21, 1865. During the entire period of his service this officer was accounted for on the bi-monthly muster rolls of his company as present for duty except that on October 31, 1863, it was stated that he was absent on furlough from October 16, 1863. The medical records show that he was treated from August 11, 1863, to a date not stated, for intermittent fever, and from September 2, 1863, to a date not stated, for remittent fever."