Civil War Union veteran; 19th Indiana Infantry, Company C. He was a native of Randolph County and enlisted on July 29, 1861. The 19th Indiana Infantry was part of the famed Iron Brigade of the West, also known as the Black Hat Brigade. The brigade was noted for its strong discipline, its unique uniform appearance, and its tenacious fighting ability. Proportionately, they suffered the most casualties of any brigade in the Civil War. During September, 1861, illness raged in the regiment's camp By September 21, 289 soldiers were sick with dysentery or fevers at Camp Kalorama or in Washington area hospitals. Among the soldiers afflicted with typhoid fever was Pvt. Abernathy. A large hall in the Patent Office at Washington, D.C. had been converted to a hospital, and he was taken there to be cared for in about mid-September. He succumbed to his illness about 3 weeks later. His friend and comrade, Joseph Slack, recorded the news of his death in a letter that he sent home to Indiana:
"Eli Abernathy brethed his last at the pattent office hospital on the 5th inst. his disease was the typhoid fever. he was sick about 4 weeks and he was over there about 3 weeks. we never got to go and see him at all. wee tried to get a pass to go and see him but we could not. wee heard the night before he died that he was not expected to live through the night and next morning the boys tried to get a pass to go and see him but they could not get 1. there is 1 of our Co just come here that saw him die. he says he died very easy.
-Joseph Slack, Company C
"Eli Abernathy brethed his last at the pattent office hospital on the 5th inst. his disease was the typhoid fever. he was sick about 4 weeks and he was over there about 3 weeks. we never got to go and see him at all. wee tried to get a pass to go and see him but we could not. wee heard the night before he died that he was not expected to live through the night and next morning the boys tried to get a pass to go and see him but they could not get 1. there is 1 of our Co just come here that saw him die. he says he died very easy.
-Joseph Slack, Company C
Civil War Union veteran; 19th Indiana Infantry, Company C. He was a native of Randolph County and enlisted on July 29, 1861. The 19th Indiana Infantry was part of the famed Iron Brigade of the West, also known as the Black Hat Brigade. The brigade was noted for its strong discipline, its unique uniform appearance, and its tenacious fighting ability. Proportionately, they suffered the most casualties of any brigade in the Civil War. During September, 1861, illness raged in the regiment's camp By September 21, 289 soldiers were sick with dysentery or fevers at Camp Kalorama or in Washington area hospitals. Among the soldiers afflicted with typhoid fever was Pvt. Abernathy. A large hall in the Patent Office at Washington, D.C. had been converted to a hospital, and he was taken there to be cared for in about mid-September. He succumbed to his illness about 3 weeks later. His friend and comrade, Joseph Slack, recorded the news of his death in a letter that he sent home to Indiana:
"Eli Abernathy brethed his last at the pattent office hospital on the 5th inst. his disease was the typhoid fever. he was sick about 4 weeks and he was over there about 3 weeks. we never got to go and see him at all. wee tried to get a pass to go and see him but we could not. wee heard the night before he died that he was not expected to live through the night and next morning the boys tried to get a pass to go and see him but they could not get 1. there is 1 of our Co just come here that saw him die. he says he died very easy.
-Joseph Slack, Company C
"Eli Abernathy brethed his last at the pattent office hospital on the 5th inst. his disease was the typhoid fever. he was sick about 4 weeks and he was over there about 3 weeks. we never got to go and see him at all. wee tried to get a pass to go and see him but we could not. wee heard the night before he died that he was not expected to live through the night and next morning the boys tried to get a pass to go and see him but they could not get 1. there is 1 of our Co just come here that saw him die. he says he died very easy.
-Joseph Slack, Company C
Advertisement
Advertisement
