William Henry Tooker (1841-1862)
He enlisted as a Private at Harvard, Illinois on 6 Aug 1862 for three years. He was mustered in to Company C, 95th Illinois Infantry at Camp Fuller, Rockford, Illinois on 4 Sep 1862. He died of typhoid pneumonia on 18 Nov 1862 in a hospital at Jackson, Tennessee.95th Regiment, Illinois Infantry (3 years)
Organized at Camp Fuller, Rockford, Illinois and was mustered into the U.S. service 4 Sep 1862. It was recruited from the counties of McHenry and Boone, three companies from the latter and seven from the former. Regimental officers: Colonel Lawrence S. Church; Lieutenant Colonel Thomas W. Humphrey; Major Leander Blanden. It moved from camp on 4 Nov 1862 and proceeded via Cairo and Columbus to Jackson, Tennessee. Colonel Church being compelled by feeble health to return home from Columbus, Lieutenant Colonel Humphrey was in command of the Regiment.
Smith Benedict Tooker (1844-1917)
He enlisted as a Private at Harvard, Illinois on 8 Aug 1862 for three years. He was mustered in to Company C, 95th Illinois Infantry at Camp Fuller, Rockford, Illinois on 4 Sep 1862. He served until his discharge on 27 Sep 1864 to join the 47th U.S. Colored Infantry as a First Sergeant.95th Regiment, Illinois Infantry (3 years)
This regiment was organized at Camp Fuller, Rockford, Illinois, and was mustered into the U.S. service 4 Sep 1862. It was recruited from the counties of McHenry and Boone, three companies from the latter and seven from the former. It moved from camp on 4 Nov 1862, proceeded via Cairo and Columbus to Jackson, Tennessee, and afterward to Grand Junction, where it was assigned to Gen. McArthur's division, Army of the Tennessee. It held an important position in its brigade during the charge of 19 May 1863 on the works at Vicksburg and lost in the engagement 7 killed and 54 wounded. During the assault of 22 May 1863 it gained an advanced position on the crest of the ridge near the enemy's works and encountered one of the most sweeping and destructive fires to which troops were ever exposed. The total loss to the regiment in these two charges was 25 killed, 124 wounded and 10 missing. During the summer of 1864 a detachment of the regiment, 100 men, participated in the battles of Kennesaw Mountain, Chattahoochee River, Atlanta, Ezra Church, Jonesboro and Lovejoy's Station.
Battles Fought:
Fought on 1 May 1863 at Port Gibson, Mississippi
Fought on 12 May 1863 at Raymond, Mississippi
Fought on 14 May 1863 at Jackson, Mississippi
Fought on 16 May 1863 at Champion Hill, Mississippi
Fought on 17 May 1863 at Big Black River Bridge, Mississippi
Fought on 19 May 1863 at Vicksburg, Mississippi
Fought on 22 May 1863 at Vicksburg, Mississippi
Fought on 25 Jun 1863 at Vicksburg, Mississippi
Fought on 28 Sep 1863
Fought on 27 Jun 1864 at Kennesaw Mountain, Georgia
Fought on 22 Jul 1864 at Atlanta, Georgia
Fought on 28 Jul 1864 at Ezra Church, Georgia
Fought on 31 Aug-1 Sep 1864 at Jonesboro, Georgia
Smith served as First Sergeant in Company E, 47th U.S. Colored Infantry.
47th Regiment, United States Colored Infantry
Organized 11 Mar 1864, from 8th Louisiana Infantry, African Descent. Attached to 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, US Colored Troops, District of Vicksburg, Miss. to Oct 1864. 2nd Brigade, 4th Division, 16th Corps to Nov 1864. 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, US Colored Troops, District of Vicksburg, Miss. to Feb 1865. 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, US Colored Troops, Military Division West Mississippi to Jun 1865. Dept. of the Gulf to Jan 1866.
SERVICE: Post and garrison duty at Vicksburg, Mississippi till Oct 1864. Moved to mouth of White River, Arkansas, 15 Oct 1864. Duty there and at Vicksburg, Mississippi till Feb 1865. Ordered to Algiers, Louisiana, 26 Feb 1865, thence to Barrancas, Florida. March from Pensacola, Florida to Blakely, Alabama, 20 Mar-1 Apr 1865. Siege of Fort Blakely 1-9 Apr 1865. Assault and capture of Fort Blakely, 9 Apr 1865. African American forces played a major role in the successful Union assault. Occupation of Mobile 12 Apr 1865. March to Montgomery 13-25 Apr 1865. Return to Mobile and duty there till Jun 1865. Moved to New Orleans, Louisiana, thence to Texas, and duty on the Rio Grande and at various points in Texas till Jan 1866. Mustered out 5 Jan 1866.
Battles Fought:
Fought on 3 Apr 1865
Fought on 9 Apr 1865 at Fort Blakely, Alabama
African American Civil War Memorial
His service with this unit has been recognized by the listing of his name on the Wall of Honor (plaque # C-60) of the African American Civil War Memorial in Washington, DC.
George Washington Tooker (1849-1926)
He enlisted as a Private at Marengo, Illinois on 12 Feb 1865 (at the age of 15) for one year. He was mustered in to Company B, 153rd Illinois Infantry at Camp Fry, Chicago, Illinois on 27 Feb 1865. He was absent (sick in hospital at Nashville) when his Company was mustered out at Memphis on 15 Sep 1865. He received his discharge on 21 Sep 1865 at Nashville, Tennessee.153rd Regiment, Illinois Infantry (1 year, 1865)
Organized at Camp Fry, Chicago, Illinois and mustered in 27 Feb 1865 for one year. Regimental officers: Colonel Stephen Bronson; Lieutenant Colonel Louis Schaffner; Major John A. Wilson. On 4 Mar 1865, moved by rail via Louisville and Nashville, reporting to Major General Millroy at Tullahoma, Tennessee, and was assigned to the 2nd Brigade (Brevet Brigadier General Dudley commanding), Defenses of the Nashville & Chattanooga Railroad, Dept. of the Cumberland to Apr 1865. Attached to 2nd Brigade, 1st Sub-District, District of Middle Tennessee to Jul 1865. 1st Infantry Brigade, District of West Tennessee to Sep 1865.
SERVICE: Assigned to guard duty on Nashville & Chattanooga Railroad till Jul 1865. In the latter part of Mar 1865, Major Wilson, with three companies, went on a campaign into Alabama and returned. On 1 Jul 1865, the regiment moved, via Nashville and Louisville to Memphis, Tennessee, and was assigned to the command of Brevet Major General A. L. Chetlain. Duty at Memphis till Sep 1865. Mustered out at Memphis 15 Sep 1865, and returned to Springfield, Illinois, where, on 24 Sep 1865, it received final pay and discharge.
Regiment lost during service 1 Officer and 36 Enlisted men by disease or accident. Total 37.
Grand Army of the Republic (GAR)
George was a member of the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) Edgar Post No. 16, which was organized on 20 Feb 1883 in Edgar, Clay Co, Nebraska, USA.
After the Civil War, Union soldiers and sailors decided to form a fraternal organization to preserve the friendship and memories of Union veterans. This organization, the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR), was established on the 6th of April 1866. It was the oldest veterans organization in the United States until it was disbanded upon the death of the last Union veteran, Albert Woolson in 1956 at the age of 109 years.
