My Ancestors at Vicksburg

My son, J. William A. Harner, and I traveled to Vicksburg, Mississippi in March of 1995 and gathered the information you see below at that time. For clarity, Vandalia is in boldface where it appears below as are the names of our ancestors.

William H. Harner and John M. Morton are my Great-Great Grandfathers. To the best of my knowledge, I am the first direct descendant of both men. Reese Morton is the brother of John M. and I assume that Jacob Harner is the brother of William Henry Harner.

Both my Great-Great Grandfathers survived the war and are buried in Fayette County, Illinois. Mr. John M. Morton is buried in Morton Cemetery in Otego Township, Fayette Co. I have not visited there and base this information on old family records.

Mr. William H. Harner was first buried in Sidener Cemetery and later moved to Griffith Cemetery. My Father, William E. Harner, and my Grandfather, J. W. Vane Harner, were present for the reburial.
-W.A. Harner

From "Illinois At Vicksburg"
The Blakely Printing Co.
126 Market St
Chicago

Copy at Vicksburg National Park rubber stamped 5/22/1947

Listing shows:

Harner, Jacob H. Corp, Comapny E, 32nd, Vandalia  
Harner, William H. Priv Company E, 32nd, Vandalia

Morton, John M., Co. E, 32nd IL, Vandalia
Morton, Reese R. Corp, Co. I, 97th IL, Vandalia

Selected names and the soldier’s hometown from the Illinois Memorial:

32d Illinois Infantry

Colonel John Logan, Carlinville
Lt. Col. William Hunter, Cairo
Major George H. English, Greenfield
Adjt. Alex Van Winkle, Franklin
Qr. Mr. John S. Phelps, Lincoln
Surgn William S. Edgar, Jacksonville
Asst. Surgn John J. Gilmer, Carrollton
Chap Edward McMillan, Carlinville
Sgt Major John Madden, Virginia
QM Sgt John Keck, Alton
Com Sgt Nathan C. Ayers, Moweaqua  
Hosp St'rd William H. H. King, Jacksonville
Principal Musicians (blank)

"Served during campaign from about May 15, on investment line from about June 11, and at Warrenton from June 27th, 1863 with 3rd Brigade, 4th Div, 16th Corps."

Company E.

Captain Alfred C. Campbell, Moweaqua
1st Lt. John P. Campbell, Moweaqua
2nd Lt. John W. Lee, Carrollton

Sergeants:
Wm. H. Middleton, Moweaqua  
Jeremiah Campbell, Moweaqua
Daniel Ready, Carrollton
Dennis Mc Mahan, Moweaqua

Corporals:
James A. Stevenson (Book has middle initial as M. in Co. D) Vandalia
John B. Hedrick, Carrollton
Edward Williams, Carrollton
Henry Sykes, Moweaqua
Jacob H. Harner, Vandalia
Anderson Reaugher, Carrollton

Privates:
Atwood, Charles, Carrollton  
Barrett, Elisha, Carrollton
Bowling, Michael, Carrollton
Cather, Robert, Carrollton
Crooks, James H., Moweaqua
Doolen, Daniel J., Moweaqua
Downs, Eli A., (nothing listed)
Edwards, Wm J., Vandalia
Harner, Wm H., Vandalia
Hollingshead Leander, Vandalia
Holmes, Issac, Carrollton
Huffman, Henry B., Carrollton
Jones, Adolphus, Vandalia
Laville, John, Vandalia
Mc Carty, Samuel, Moweaqua
Morton, John H., Vandalia
Nichols, David D., Moweaqua
O'Brien, Michael, Moweaqua
Schwab, Jacob, Moweaqua
Smith, Isri, Vandalia
Smith, Robert I., Moweaqua
Stevens, Henry V., Vandalia
Watts, Theophilus M., Carrollton
Wills, Thomas F., Carrollton
Woodman, Edwin, Carrollton

97th
Col Fred S. Rutherford, Alton
Lt Col Lewis D Martin, Shelbyville
Maj Victor Vifquain, Fort Kearney
Capt Wm Achenbach, Alton 1st Lt Wilson Campbell, Vandalia
Corp Reese R. Morton, Vandalia

Monument Location:

Monument located on Halls Ferry Road at Illinois Circle midway between Confederate Avenue and I-20. The unit was commanded by Col. John Logan and Lt. Wm Hunter and was a part of the 3rd Brigade of Col. George E. Bryant and Col Amory K. Johnson who assumed command on June 4, 1863, and of Lauman's 4th Division of Washburn's 16th Army Corps.

The unit entered the campaign at Young's Point, LA. about May 15, 1863, moved to Grand Gulf, MS. on May 18, marched from there about June 11, to take position on the Vicksburg investment line. On or about June 27 the 32nd Illinois marched to Warrenton, MS and remained there to the end of the siege.

97th Illinois Infantry Marker Monument located on Union Ave 300 yards south of the Minnesota Monument. Also a marker designating assault of May 22nd 400' east of Confederate Avenue southeast of Railroad redoubt and a marker designating sharpshooter's line in mowed bay running north and south 400 yards west-southwest from the Minnesota Memorial. Commanded by Col. F. S. Rutherford and Lt Col Lewis D. Martin and was attached to Landrum's Brigade of A.J. Smiths Division of the 13th Army corps.

32nd Illinois Infantry Marker The monument for the 32nd is not located on the grounds of the National Park. The weather and our schedules did not allow us time to visit this marker. The Park Service officers can provide directions to the marker from a file they have at the Visitor’s Center.