Whiteside County IL Archives Biographies.....Thompson, Thomas Benton January 24, 1842 - February 3, 1890
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Wayne Stinde bwstinde@illicom.net April 30, 2010, 6:13 pm

Source: Stinde Family History
Author: Wayne E. Stinde

	Thomas Benton Thompson was born on a farm near Richview in Washington 
County,  Illinois, January 24, 1842.  He was the first son, second child and 
one of eleven children born to William and Lily Jane ( Livesay ) Thompson.  As 
a young lad he helped his father on the family farm.  When he was 20 years old 
our country was in the early stages of the American Civil War. One can only 
speculate about the patriotic atmosphere surrounding the small southern 
Illinois town of Richview, but emotions must have been running high and we do 
know that young Thomas decided to join the fight.  The writer has Muster 
Records of Thomas's Company and the majority are from Richview with the 
remainder from the surrounding area.  Thomas joined for service and was 
enrolled August 12th 1862 by Colonel P. Morriison for a term of three years, 
as a member of Company F, Forty Ninth Infantry Regiment of Illinois 
Volunteers.  His muster records state that he was 5 feet 8 inches tall with 
dark hair, blue eyes and of a light complexion.  
	After enlistment, Thomas's Unit was moved by train to Bethel, 
Tennessee, near Pittsburg Landing where the terrible battle at Shiloh had 
taken place earlier in the year.  At Bethel his unit was assigned to the 
Fourth Brigade.  The Brigade moved into Arkansas and participated in the 
capture and occupation of Little Rock.  From there the Brigade moved into 
Mississippi and was part of the Meridian Campaign around Vicksburg.  Moving 
Further south, the Unit was assigned to the Red River Expedition and captured 
Fort De Russey in Louisiana.  Next was the the battle of Pleasant Hill, 
Louisiana, then the Oxford expedition and finally back to Memphis.  From 
Memphis the Brigade embarked for Jefferson Barracks and engaged the enemy at 
Franklin.  Thomas's Units last fighting was at the battle for Nashville and 
for the last few months of the war his unit was assigned Garrison Duty at 
Paducah Kentucky.  During this time Thomas was promoted to the rank of 
Corporal. Thomas was discharged July 1st, 1865 at Paducah Kentucky, the war 
had finally ended. 
	Thomas returned to Richview, back to the family farm, and to his 
family.  He soon married Adaline Jane Mills, March 6, 1867 in Richview.  The 
couple had 4 children,from 1867 to 1875, all on the little farm near 
Richview.  The war had not been kind to Thomas's health and these issues would 
be with him for the rest of his life.  He died February 3, 1890 only a few 
days after his 47th birthday.  He was buried in the Richview Township 
Cemetery.  Adaline Jane, his wife of less than 23 years, would live as a widow 
for the next 34 years.  She passed away December 31, 1924 in Richview and was 
laid to rest beside her husband. 
	As this short account of Thomas Benton Thompson's life is being 
written, 140 years after the Civil War, we must comment on what a tragedy it 
was for the folks living at that time.  All of the above listed battles and 
campaigns mean little to us but stop for a moment and give this a little 
thought.  Ten of the members of Thomas's Company were still in their teens 
with one being only 15 years old.  Can you imagine sending your 15 year old 
son off to war?  Thomas's Company formed in Illinois and for the next three 
years fought in Missouri, Arkansas, Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi and 
Louisana. Part of the time they were moved by rail or on our waterways, but 
most of the time they just simply walked or as the military called it  
marched.  The Company endured three winters almost exclusively sleeping in 
tents. Imagine being outside in all kinds of weather for over three years. Is 
it any wonder that during the course of the war, more than twice as many men 
died of disease and sickness as died from enemy fire.  All of this took such a 
toll on these young soldier's lives that many of them never regained their 
health and suffered for the rest of their time here on earth. What a debt of 
gratitude we owe to those young men.
	WES - 2005

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