Orville was born ca. 1838 or 1839 to his parents Luther and Polly (nee Rundall) Powers. He was raised on the family farm near Harmony in Chautauqua County, New York. Having moved to Illinois after 1860, Orville was living in Ottawa in LaSalle County when he joined the army in April 1861. He enlisted as a Sergeant in Co. I of the 11th Illinois (3 months). Young Powers spent this time with his regiment on garrison duty until muster out late July 1861.
In September 1861 Orville was commissioned 1st Lieut. of Co. E of the 37th Illinois. His regiment was heavily engaged at the battle of Pea Ridge, Arkansas, and Lt. Powers was killed in action March 7, 1862 near Sugar Creek at the Pea Ridge battle. He was likely killed while leading his men against Hebert's Confederate forces from Louisiana and Arkansas in the confusion of the action in Morgan's Woods.
A member of his regiment, Solomon Smith, recalled the death of Lt. Powers years later: "Many of Company E were killed and I helped to lay the boys in their shallow resting place, except one, Orville Powers. I helped to make a rude box from the shelves of an old store on Sunday, March 9th...Cut the name of O.H. Powers, Lieut. of the 37th Regt. Ill. Vols. Company E."
(The information regarding his parents' memorials was provided by Dolores Davidson, allowing me to connect Orville's memorial to his family's memorials.)
In September 1861 Orville was commissioned 1st Lieut. of Co. E of the 37th Illinois. His regiment was heavily engaged at the battle of Pea Ridge, Arkansas, and Lt. Powers was killed in action March 7, 1862 near Sugar Creek at the Pea Ridge battle. He was likely killed while leading his men against Hebert's Confederate forces from Louisiana and Arkansas in the confusion of the action in Morgan's Woods.
A member of his regiment, Solomon Smith, recalled the death of Lt. Powers years later: "Many of Company E were killed and I helped to lay the boys in their shallow resting place, except one, Orville Powers. I helped to make a rude box from the shelves of an old store on Sunday, March 9th...Cut the name of O.H. Powers, Lieut. of the 37th Regt. Ill. Vols. Company E."
(The information regarding his parents' memorials was provided by Dolores Davidson, allowing me to connect Orville's memorial to his family's memorials.)
Orville was born ca. 1838 or 1839 to his parents Luther and Polly (nee Rundall) Powers. He was raised on the family farm near Harmony in Chautauqua County, New York. Having moved to Illinois after 1860, Orville was living in Ottawa in LaSalle County when he joined the army in April 1861. He enlisted as a Sergeant in Co. I of the 11th Illinois (3 months). Young Powers spent this time with his regiment on garrison duty until muster out late July 1861.
In September 1861 Orville was commissioned 1st Lieut. of Co. E of the 37th Illinois. His regiment was heavily engaged at the battle of Pea Ridge, Arkansas, and Lt. Powers was killed in action March 7, 1862 near Sugar Creek at the Pea Ridge battle. He was likely killed while leading his men against Hebert's Confederate forces from Louisiana and Arkansas in the confusion of the action in Morgan's Woods.
A member of his regiment, Solomon Smith, recalled the death of Lt. Powers years later: "Many of Company E were killed and I helped to lay the boys in their shallow resting place, except one, Orville Powers. I helped to make a rude box from the shelves of an old store on Sunday, March 9th...Cut the name of O.H. Powers, Lieut. of the 37th Regt. Ill. Vols. Company E."
(The information regarding his parents' memorials was provided by Dolores Davidson, allowing me to connect Orville's memorial to his family's memorials.)
In September 1861 Orville was commissioned 1st Lieut. of Co. E of the 37th Illinois. His regiment was heavily engaged at the battle of Pea Ridge, Arkansas, and Lt. Powers was killed in action March 7, 1862 near Sugar Creek at the Pea Ridge battle. He was likely killed while leading his men against Hebert's Confederate forces from Louisiana and Arkansas in the confusion of the action in Morgan's Woods.
A member of his regiment, Solomon Smith, recalled the death of Lt. Powers years later: "Many of Company E were killed and I helped to lay the boys in their shallow resting place, except one, Orville Powers. I helped to make a rude box from the shelves of an old store on Sunday, March 9th...Cut the name of O.H. Powers, Lieut. of the 37th Regt. Ill. Vols. Company E."
(The information regarding his parents' memorials was provided by Dolores Davidson, allowing me to connect Orville's memorial to his family's memorials.)
Gravesite Details
Lt. Powers was originally buried at Pea Ridge; soldiers buried there were later reinterred at Fayetteville.
Family Members
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