History of the 85th Illinois Volunteers
Illinois Volunteer Infantry
by
Henry J. Aten
1901

CHAPTER XXXVI.
Pages 482 - 497

SEBASTIAN G. BLUMENSHINE was born in Washington, Tazewell county, Illinois, June 17, 1843, and was a farmer when he enlisted from his native town, December 12, 1863. He served until the close of the war, and when the Eighty-fifth was mustered out he was transferred to Company C, Sixteenth Illinois, where he served until July 8, 1865, when he was mustered out with that regiment. He is farming near Clearwater, in Sedgwick county, Kansas.

Company K was enrolled by Dr. Robert G. Rider at Topeka, in Mason county, between July 18 and August 17, 1862. The men were mostly farmers from Mason county, although Iroquois, McDonough, Peoria, Stephenson, Tazewell, and Will counties were represented in its ranks. At the organization of the company the following commissioned officers were elected: Dr. Robert G. Rider, captain; Samuel Yates, first lieutenant, and Isaac C. Short, second lieutenant.

Of the 89 officers and men of which this company was composed, 22 were hit with shot or shell, 4 of whom were killed in action, while 18 lived to be discharged or mustered out, 1 officer resigned, 29 men died of disease, 14 were discharged for disability incident to their hard service, 5 were transferred to other organizations, and 45 were present at the final muster out.

From first to last, the company was ably commanded, and being one of the skirmish companies was well drilled in that special drill in addition to the usual drill of the others. The men were above the average in intelligence, and the surviving members of the company may justly feel proud of the part it bore in its three years' service, and all may rejoice in the fact that they did their full share in the overthrow of the slave-holders' rebellion.