Co. I, 12th Illinois Infantry
Abel Hensel was born, October 23rd, 1833 in Tuscarawas County, Ohio.
On April 12th, 1861, Fort Sumter, in the harbor of Charleston, South Carolina, was bombarded by rebel forces, thus initiating the American Civil War.
Two days later, President Lincoln called for 75,000 volunteers to put down the rebellion.
Abel Hensel was among the first to answer his President's call, enlisting on April 20th as a Private in Company I, 12th Illinois Infantry, a three-month regiment.
On January 16, 1864, Abel Hensel was among the 311 soldiers that chose to re-enlist as veteran volunteers.
On July 22, 1864, during the battle of Atlanta, Abel was wounded by a bullet that entered his right breast and traveled through his right arm. This wound later impaired the strength and motion of the arm and made it difficult to raise above his head. Hensel soon recovered enough from these wounds to return to full duty with his regiment.
However, he was again wounded at the battle of Allatoona, Georgia on October 5, 1864. This time a musket ball hit him in the right hip and left groin, fracturing his femur and dislocating his hip. The wound was so severe that he was initially left for dead on the battlefield.
Hensel never fully recovered from this latter wound, which left his leg shorter and approximately half as functional. He was discharged for disability at Columbus, Ohio on March 14, 1865.
Abel Hensel died in Maysville, Missouri on June 20, 1902 at the age of 89 years
Co. I, 12th Illinois Infantry
Abel Hensel was born, October 23rd, 1833 in Tuscarawas County, Ohio.
On April 12th, 1861, Fort Sumter, in the harbor of Charleston, South Carolina, was bombarded by rebel forces, thus initiating the American Civil War.
Two days later, President Lincoln called for 75,000 volunteers to put down the rebellion.
Abel Hensel was among the first to answer his President's call, enlisting on April 20th as a Private in Company I, 12th Illinois Infantry, a three-month regiment.
On January 16, 1864, Abel Hensel was among the 311 soldiers that chose to re-enlist as veteran volunteers.
On July 22, 1864, during the battle of Atlanta, Abel was wounded by a bullet that entered his right breast and traveled through his right arm. This wound later impaired the strength and motion of the arm and made it difficult to raise above his head. Hensel soon recovered enough from these wounds to return to full duty with his regiment.
However, he was again wounded at the battle of Allatoona, Georgia on October 5, 1864. This time a musket ball hit him in the right hip and left groin, fracturing his femur and dislocating his hip. The wound was so severe that he was initially left for dead on the battlefield.
Hensel never fully recovered from this latter wound, which left his leg shorter and approximately half as functional. He was discharged for disability at Columbus, Ohio on March 14, 1865.
Abel Hensel died in Maysville, Missouri on June 20, 1902 at the age of 89 years
Family Members
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Josiah Hensel
1825–1919
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Eliza Anne Hensel Frease
1828–1890
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Susan Hensel Buchanan
1830–1903
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Levi Hensel
1832–1911
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Ellen Hensel Shifflett
1835–1909
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Enos Barton Hensel
1837–1909
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Emily Hensel Eldridge
1838–1886
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Alvin R. Hensel
1840–1920
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Abigail "Abbie" Hensel Forney
1842–1924
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Elisha Hensel
1844–1919
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Harvey Hensel
1846–1912
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