(NOTE: David Burkett/Birkett probably never sat for a portrait prior to the outbreak of the Civil War. However, during the 10 months that he was with the 86th in and around Nashville in the winter of 1862/63 and the spring and summer of 1863, David, like most of the boys, almost certainly took the time to sit for a portrait, at the very least, to send home to the loved ones they left behind. Those pictures would have come in one of two forms. There were the older styled cased pictures, known as "Tin types", and then there was a new fangled paper picture, which was called a "Carte de vista" or "CDV" for short. The CDV's, unlike the Tin type, could be printed over and over and over, so the boys could, inexpensively, purchase multiple copies, not only to send home to their loved ones, may of whom they were away from for the first time in their lives, but also to swap among their messmates and tentmates.
Sadly, David Burkett did not survive the war, so if he did sit for a picture in Nashville, it was probably the only picture he ever sat for. If such a picture was made, there may be copies in the hands of descendants of the family, as well as in the hands of descendants of his messmates, tentmates and friends he served with in the 86th. If anyone reading this, has a copy of a photograph of David Burkett, I would dearly love to see it scanned and added to his Find A Grave Memorial for the benefit of descendants, the Washington Historical Society and for all with an interest in seeing the face of this veteran of the Civil War. Can you help in this matter? Thanks, Baxter)

Corporal DAVID BIRKETT, Co. G, 86th Illinois

David Birkett was born about 1843 in Washington, Tazewell County, Illinois, the oldest of twelve children born to William Birkett and Mary Jane (Kyes) Birkett. William Birkett was born on January 26, 1818 in Ferrisburg, Addison County, Vermont and died on September 14, 1890 in Washington, Tazewell County, Illinois, while Mary Jane (Kyes) Birkett was born on January 18, 1823 in Erie, Erie County, Pennsylvania and died on September 08, 1903 in Washington, Tazewell County, Illinois.
William Birkett and Mary Jane Kyes were married on May 12, 1842 in Washington, Tazewell County, Illinois. William and Mary owned and operated a farm and dairy, so well known as
Birkett's Dairy, which was located just southwest of Washington, Illinois in Tazewell County.
The children of William Birkett and Mary Jane (Kyes) Birkett were;
1. David Birkett, born on __________ __, 184_ (c. 1843) in Washington, Tazewell County, Illinois; died on April 12, 1864 in New Bern, Pitt County, North Carolina; Buried in the New Bern National Cemetery in New Bern, North Carolina.

2. Clara Jane Birkett, born on June 04, 1844 Washington, Tazewell County, Illinois d: November 29, 1929 in Morton, Tazewell County, Illinois; Buried in Glendale Cemetery in Washington, Tazewell County, Illinois.

3. Anna Eliza Birkett, born October 02, 1846 Washington, Tazewell County, Illinois; Married to Jacob Minch, veteran of the 47th Illinois; Anna Eliza died on February 26, 1928 in Washington, Tazewell County, Illinois; buried in Glendale Cemetery, Washington, Tazewell County, Illinois

4. Charles Laban Birkett, born March 25, 1848 Washington, Tazewell County, Illinois; died February 26, 1928 in Washington, Tazewell County, Illinois; Buried in Glendale Cemetery, Washington, Tazewell County, Illinois

5. Lafayette Birkett, born March 23, 1850 Washington, Tazewell County, Illinois; died February 21, 1919 in Washington, Tazewell County, Illinois; Buried in Glendale Cemetery, Washington, Tazewell County, Illinois

6. George C. Birkett, born March 23, 1852 Washington, Tazewell County, Illinois d: July 03, 1930 in Washington, Tazewell County, Illinois; Buried in Glendale Cemetery, Washington, Tazewell County, Illinois.

7. Mary C. Birkett, born January 28, 1854 in Washington, Tazewell County, Illinois; died on February 8, 1855 in Washington, Tazewell County, Illinois; Buried in the Old City Cemetery, Washington, Tazewell County, Illinois.

8. William B. Birkett, born November __, 1855 Washington, Tazewell County, Illinois d: September 28, 1928 in Peoria, Peoria County, Illinois; Buried in Springdale Cemetery in Peoria, Peoria County, Illinois.

9. Ella B. Birkett, born January __, 1860 Washington, Tazewell County, Illinois; Ella was married to William D. Cooper on December 30, 1879; Ella died on December 24, 1889 in Washington, Tazewell County, Illinois. Her mortal remains were laid to rest in the Glendale Cemetery, Washington, Tazewell County, Illinois. (FAG# 40681934).

10. Perry Alexander Birkett, born August 22, 1861 Washington, Tazewell County, Illinois d: January 09, 1941 in Peoria, Peoria County, Illinois; Buried in Glendale Cemetery, Washington, Tazewell County, Illinois

11. Hattie Birkett, born September 14, 1861 Washington, Tazewell County, Illinois; Married to Joseph Morris; Hattie died on June 24, 1958; Buried in Glendale Cemetery, Washington, Tazewell County, Illinois.

12. Lester Pattee Birkett, born September 11, 1866 Washington, Tazewell County, Illinois; died on May 08, 1939 in Washington, Tazewell County, Illinois; Buried in Glendale Cemetery, Washington, Tazewell County, Illinois

David Birkett volunteered on August 9, 1862 at Washington, Illinois to serve in a company which was being raised in the Washington/Deer Creek/Morton area of Tazewell County by a Washington Photographer by the name of William B. Bogardus for service in the Union Army.

ILLINOIS STATE ARCHIVES
Illinois Civil War Detail Report

Name BIRKETT, DAVID Rank PVT
Company G Unit 86 IL US INF

Personal Characteristics
Residence WASHINGTON, TAZEWELL CO, IL
Age 19 Height 5' 7 1/2 Hair LIGHT Eyes BLUE
Complexion FAIR Marital Status SINGLE
Occupation FARMER Nativity IL

Service Record
Joined When AUG 9, 1862 Joined Where WASHINGTON, IL
Joined By Whom W B BOGARDUS Period 3 YRS
Muster In AUG 27, 1862 Muster In Where CAMP PEORIA, IL
Muster In By Whom _____ Muster Out _____
Muster Out Where _____ Muster Out By Whom _____
Remarks PROMOTED CORPORAL JUN 23, 1863
DIED IN HOSPITAL AT NEWBERNE NC APR 12, 1865
FROM WOUND PVTD IN ACTION MAR 19 NEAR BENTONVILLE NC

When Bogardus had about 90 volunteers he led the Washington/Deer Creek/Morton volunteers into Peoria where they went into camp at Camp Lyon, near present day Glen Oak Park. On August 27, 1862, Bogardus and 87 of his volunteers were mustered into service as Co. G of the 86th Regiment of Illinois Volunteer Infantry. Bogardus was elected Captain of Co. G by the men of the Washington/Deer Creek/Morton company. John T. Gibson was elected to fill the position of 2nd Corporal.
On September 7, 1862, the men of the 86th Illinois marched out the gates of Camp Lyon, through the streets of Peoria, with much fanfare, and boarded a train bound for Camp Joe Holt, Jeffersonville, Indiana. Three weeks later, the men of the 86th were in the field in Kentucky as part of Col. Daniel McCook's Brigade, in pursuit of Confederate troops in Kentucky. On Oct. 8, 1862, the men of McCook's Brigade were engaged with those troops in the Battle of Perryville, Kentucky, the 86th Illinois suffering their first casualties. There would be many more to come.
After the Battle of Perryville, the Confederate troops withdrew from Kentucky, while the men of McCook's Brigade marched on to Nashville, Tennessee, where they would go into winter camp. The men of McCook's Brigade remained in Nashville and the Nashville are for the next nine months or so. On June 23, 1863, while the men of McCook's Brigade were in Nashville, the men of Co. G elected Private David Birkett to fill a vacancy among the Corporal positions in Co. G.
During the next twenty months, Corporal David Birkett served faithfully in Co. G as the men of the 86th served in Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina and North Carolina. During this time, David was witness to and a participant in numerous battles and skirmishes, some of the bloodiest fighting in the Western Theatre of the war, including the Battles of Chickamauga, Georgia; Resaca, Georgia; Rome, Georgia, Kennesaw Mountain, Georgia; Peach Tree Creek, Georgia; Jonesboro, Georgia, Averasboro, North Carolina and Bentonville, North Carolina to name a few and marched with Sherman to the Sea.
During the Battle of Bentonville, in what proved to be the last battle of the war for the men of McCook's Brigade, 23 men from the 86th Illinois were killed or wounded. One third of these men were from Co. G. Private James Hodgeson, of Co. G was Killed in Action. Among the wounded from Co. G were Captain William B. Bogardus, Private Thomas Everhart and Corporal David Birkett. Captain Bogardus was seriously wounded in the right hip. Though the wound was not considered life threatening, he died of his wounds several weeks later. Private Thomas Everhart's was seriously wounded in the head and he died shortly afterward. Corporal David Birkett was seriously wounded in the pelvic area. He was sent to a hospital in New Bern, North Carolina where he suffered from his wounds for three weeks, finally, sadly, succumbing from his wounds on April 12, 1865. His mortal remains were laid to rest in what is today the New Bern National Cemetery in New Bern, North Carolina.

by Baxter B. Fite III

(Baxter would love to hear from anyone, especially descendants of the Birkett family, who might be able to add to the biographical material that we have on David Birkett and the Birkett family. Baxter would also love to see a copy of any photograph of David Birkett, that may have survived the years, added to his Find A Grave site for all to see.)