Sergeant JOSIAH J. ALGER, Co. H, 86th Illinois
Josiah J. Alger was born about 1835 in Orange County, New York. He may very well have been the son of William T. Alger who is found in the 1830 and 1840 census records in Monroe, Orange County, New York. William T. Alger may have died in the 1840's in Orange County, New York.
Josiah J. Alger is almost certainly the Josiah Alger found residing in the Ashel Smith family in Monroe, Orange County, New York in the 1850 census;
Ashel Smith M 49 New York
Elizabeth Smith F 28 New York
Stephen Smith M 21 New York
Josiah Alger M 14 New York
Hester Hemfry F 25 New York
Sometime before 1862, Josiah J. Alger came west to Illinois, where he settled in Peoria, Peoria County, Illinois. He can not be located in the 1860 census, however. He was working in Peoria as a Plasterer at the time he volunteered to serve in the Union army.
ILLINOIS CIVIL WAR DETAIL REPORT
Name ALGER, JOSIAH J
Rank PVT Company H Unit 86 IL US INF
Personal Characteristics
Residence PEORIA, PEORIA CO, IL Age 27 Height 5' 10 Hair BROWN
Eyes HAZEL Complexion LIGHT Marital Status SINGLE Occupation PLASTERER
Nativity ORANGE CO, NY
Service Record
Joined When AUG 11, 1862 Joined Where PEORIA, IL
Joined By Whom D H MAGEE Period 3 YRS
Muster In AUG 27, 1862 Muster In Where PEORIA, IL
Muster In By Whom N/A Muster Out N/A
Muster Out Where N/A Muster Out By Whom N/A
Remarks KILLED IN ACTION JUL 20, 1864 AT PEACH TREE CREEK GA SERGEANT
Sergeant Josiah J. Alger was Killed in Action during the Battle of Peach Tree Creek on July 20, 1864. In the days leading up to the battle, Col. Allen L. Fahnestock had a strange dream that later he felt was a premonition of his death or of someone's death. On the 19th of July, 1864, McCook's Brigade was heavily engaged in the fighting at Peach Tree Creek. Though the 86th was not heavily engaged in the days fighting, Col. Fahnestock's regiment had lost 2 men killed and 5 wounded. In his diary of the some of the events of the 19th and the days leading up to it, Fahnestock wrote, I had a dream three nights in succession and felt uneasy about it as it did not seem to be a dream but a reality. I dreamed that I was in a beautiful orchard, tall waving grass, quietly sauntering about all alone, when I came to a double peach tree. Here I saw a fine tall man, with a long white beard, appeared in front of me, and with his right had and a graceful gesture pointed up to the double peach tree and when I looked up and then turned my eyes to see him he had vanished. The third time I came to the same place and the same tree and the same noble looking man, white hair and beard, and I thought when he motioned his hand for me to look up I would keep an eye on him and see where he went, but as I looked at the tree he vanished. Now this was before we came to Peachtree Creek and we did not know there was such a place, or that we would get into a battle here, but tomorrow will solve my dream."
On the morning of the 20th of July, 1864, the Confederate troops got the fighting started early and the 86th, though again not heavily engaged lost 2 more men killed and one more man wounded. The two killed were Private Orson Morgan, of Co. B, and Sergeant Josiah J. Alger, of Co. H. On July 20, 1864, Colonel Allen L. Fahnestock wrote the following in his diary. "The rebels have been busy during the night in strengthening their works. They commenced the ball early. I took my field glass and was looking to see how their works was constructed when some of my men gathered around me. When the bullets came at us fast, I ordered the men down, then took my glass to see what they were doing. When Sergeant Alger of Company H put his right hand on my shoulder and as he done so, something compelled me to move a little to my right, the Sergeant put his head close to mine and pointed with his left hand and said look there. As he made the remark a Minie ball struck him in the right temple, he fell on his back and lay as much as a minute before he commenced struggling. The blood flowed from the wound and he lived about half an hour. He was brave soldier and it has always occurred to me from my dream that he took my place. Had I remained standing and not moved one step to my right he would have been saved and I would have received the bullet."
by Baxter B. Fite III
Josiah J. Alger was born about 1835 in Orange County, New York. He may very well have been the son of William T. Alger who is found in the 1830 and 1840 census records in Monroe, Orange County, New York. William T. Alger may have died in the 1840's in Orange County, New York.
Josiah J. Alger is almost certainly the Josiah Alger found residing in the Ashel Smith family in Monroe, Orange County, New York in the 1850 census;
Ashel Smith M 49 New York
Elizabeth Smith F 28 New York
Stephen Smith M 21 New York
Josiah Alger M 14 New York
Hester Hemfry F 25 New York
Sometime before 1862, Josiah J. Alger came west to Illinois, where he settled in Peoria, Peoria County, Illinois. He can not be located in the 1860 census, however. He was working in Peoria as a Plasterer at the time he volunteered to serve in the Union army.
ILLINOIS CIVIL WAR DETAIL REPORT
Name ALGER, JOSIAH J
Rank PVT Company H Unit 86 IL US INF
Personal Characteristics
Residence PEORIA, PEORIA CO, IL Age 27 Height 5' 10 Hair BROWN
Eyes HAZEL Complexion LIGHT Marital Status SINGLE Occupation PLASTERER
Nativity ORANGE CO, NY
Service Record
Joined When AUG 11, 1862 Joined Where PEORIA, IL
Joined By Whom D H MAGEE Period 3 YRS
Muster In AUG 27, 1862 Muster In Where PEORIA, IL
Muster In By Whom N/A Muster Out N/A
Muster Out Where N/A Muster Out By Whom N/A
Remarks KILLED IN ACTION JUL 20, 1864 AT PEACH TREE CREEK GA SERGEANT
Sergeant Josiah J. Alger was Killed in Action during the Battle of Peach Tree Creek on July 20, 1864. In the days leading up to the battle, Col. Allen L. Fahnestock had a strange dream that later he felt was a premonition of his death or of someone's death. On the 19th of July, 1864, McCook's Brigade was heavily engaged in the fighting at Peach Tree Creek. Though the 86th was not heavily engaged in the days fighting, Col. Fahnestock's regiment had lost 2 men killed and 5 wounded. In his diary of the some of the events of the 19th and the days leading up to it, Fahnestock wrote, I had a dream three nights in succession and felt uneasy about it as it did not seem to be a dream but a reality. I dreamed that I was in a beautiful orchard, tall waving grass, quietly sauntering about all alone, when I came to a double peach tree. Here I saw a fine tall man, with a long white beard, appeared in front of me, and with his right had and a graceful gesture pointed up to the double peach tree and when I looked up and then turned my eyes to see him he had vanished. The third time I came to the same place and the same tree and the same noble looking man, white hair and beard, and I thought when he motioned his hand for me to look up I would keep an eye on him and see where he went, but as I looked at the tree he vanished. Now this was before we came to Peachtree Creek and we did not know there was such a place, or that we would get into a battle here, but tomorrow will solve my dream."
On the morning of the 20th of July, 1864, the Confederate troops got the fighting started early and the 86th, though again not heavily engaged lost 2 more men killed and one more man wounded. The two killed were Private Orson Morgan, of Co. B, and Sergeant Josiah J. Alger, of Co. H. On July 20, 1864, Colonel Allen L. Fahnestock wrote the following in his diary. "The rebels have been busy during the night in strengthening their works. They commenced the ball early. I took my field glass and was looking to see how their works was constructed when some of my men gathered around me. When the bullets came at us fast, I ordered the men down, then took my glass to see what they were doing. When Sergeant Alger of Company H put his right hand on my shoulder and as he done so, something compelled me to move a little to my right, the Sergeant put his head close to mine and pointed with his left hand and said look there. As he made the remark a Minie ball struck him in the right temple, he fell on his back and lay as much as a minute before he commenced struggling. The blood flowed from the wound and he lived about half an hour. He was brave soldier and it has always occurred to me from my dream that he took my place. Had I remained standing and not moved one step to my right he would have been saved and I would have received the bullet."
by Baxter B. Fite III
Sergeant JOSIAH J. ALGER, Co. H, 86th Illinois
Josiah J. Alger was born about 1835 in Orange County, New York. He may very well have been the son of William T. Alger who is found in the 1830 and 1840 census records in Monroe, Orange County, New York. William T. Alger may have died in the 1840's in Orange County, New York.
Josiah J. Alger is almost certainly the Josiah Alger found residing in the Ashel Smith family in Monroe, Orange County, New York in the 1850 census;
Ashel Smith M 49 New York
Elizabeth Smith F 28 New York
Stephen Smith M 21 New York
Josiah Alger M 14 New York
Hester Hemfry F 25 New York
Sometime before 1862, Josiah J. Alger came west to Illinois, where he settled in Peoria, Peoria County, Illinois. He can not be located in the 1860 census, however. He was working in Peoria as a Plasterer at the time he volunteered to serve in the Union army.
ILLINOIS CIVIL WAR DETAIL REPORT
Name ALGER, JOSIAH J
Rank PVT Company H Unit 86 IL US INF
Personal Characteristics
Residence PEORIA, PEORIA CO, IL Age 27 Height 5' 10 Hair BROWN
Eyes HAZEL Complexion LIGHT Marital Status SINGLE Occupation PLASTERER
Nativity ORANGE CO, NY
Service Record
Joined When AUG 11, 1862 Joined Where PEORIA, IL
Joined By Whom D H MAGEE Period 3 YRS
Muster In AUG 27, 1862 Muster In Where PEORIA, IL
Muster In By Whom N/A Muster Out N/A
Muster Out Where N/A Muster Out By Whom N/A
Remarks KILLED IN ACTION JUL 20, 1864 AT PEACH TREE CREEK GA SERGEANT
Sergeant Josiah J. Alger was Killed in Action during the Battle of Peach Tree Creek on July 20, 1864. In the days leading up to the battle, Col. Allen L. Fahnestock had a strange dream that later he felt was a premonition of his death or of someone's death. On the 19th of July, 1864, McCook's Brigade was heavily engaged in the fighting at Peach Tree Creek. Though the 86th was not heavily engaged in the days fighting, Col. Fahnestock's regiment had lost 2 men killed and 5 wounded. In his diary of the some of the events of the 19th and the days leading up to it, Fahnestock wrote, I had a dream three nights in succession and felt uneasy about it as it did not seem to be a dream but a reality. I dreamed that I was in a beautiful orchard, tall waving grass, quietly sauntering about all alone, when I came to a double peach tree. Here I saw a fine tall man, with a long white beard, appeared in front of me, and with his right had and a graceful gesture pointed up to the double peach tree and when I looked up and then turned my eyes to see him he had vanished. The third time I came to the same place and the same tree and the same noble looking man, white hair and beard, and I thought when he motioned his hand for me to look up I would keep an eye on him and see where he went, but as I looked at the tree he vanished. Now this was before we came to Peachtree Creek and we did not know there was such a place, or that we would get into a battle here, but tomorrow will solve my dream."
On the morning of the 20th of July, 1864, the Confederate troops got the fighting started early and the 86th, though again not heavily engaged lost 2 more men killed and one more man wounded. The two killed were Private Orson Morgan, of Co. B, and Sergeant Josiah J. Alger, of Co. H. On July 20, 1864, Colonel Allen L. Fahnestock wrote the following in his diary. "The rebels have been busy during the night in strengthening their works. They commenced the ball early. I took my field glass and was looking to see how their works was constructed when some of my men gathered around me. When the bullets came at us fast, I ordered the men down, then took my glass to see what they were doing. When Sergeant Alger of Company H put his right hand on my shoulder and as he done so, something compelled me to move a little to my right, the Sergeant put his head close to mine and pointed with his left hand and said look there. As he made the remark a Minie ball struck him in the right temple, he fell on his back and lay as much as a minute before he commenced struggling. The blood flowed from the wound and he lived about half an hour. He was brave soldier and it has always occurred to me from my dream that he took my place. Had I remained standing and not moved one step to my right he would have been saved and I would have received the bullet."
by Baxter B. Fite III
Josiah J. Alger was born about 1835 in Orange County, New York. He may very well have been the son of William T. Alger who is found in the 1830 and 1840 census records in Monroe, Orange County, New York. William T. Alger may have died in the 1840's in Orange County, New York.
Josiah J. Alger is almost certainly the Josiah Alger found residing in the Ashel Smith family in Monroe, Orange County, New York in the 1850 census;
Ashel Smith M 49 New York
Elizabeth Smith F 28 New York
Stephen Smith M 21 New York
Josiah Alger M 14 New York
Hester Hemfry F 25 New York
Sometime before 1862, Josiah J. Alger came west to Illinois, where he settled in Peoria, Peoria County, Illinois. He can not be located in the 1860 census, however. He was working in Peoria as a Plasterer at the time he volunteered to serve in the Union army.
ILLINOIS CIVIL WAR DETAIL REPORT
Name ALGER, JOSIAH J
Rank PVT Company H Unit 86 IL US INF
Personal Characteristics
Residence PEORIA, PEORIA CO, IL Age 27 Height 5' 10 Hair BROWN
Eyes HAZEL Complexion LIGHT Marital Status SINGLE Occupation PLASTERER
Nativity ORANGE CO, NY
Service Record
Joined When AUG 11, 1862 Joined Where PEORIA, IL
Joined By Whom D H MAGEE Period 3 YRS
Muster In AUG 27, 1862 Muster In Where PEORIA, IL
Muster In By Whom N/A Muster Out N/A
Muster Out Where N/A Muster Out By Whom N/A
Remarks KILLED IN ACTION JUL 20, 1864 AT PEACH TREE CREEK GA SERGEANT
Sergeant Josiah J. Alger was Killed in Action during the Battle of Peach Tree Creek on July 20, 1864. In the days leading up to the battle, Col. Allen L. Fahnestock had a strange dream that later he felt was a premonition of his death or of someone's death. On the 19th of July, 1864, McCook's Brigade was heavily engaged in the fighting at Peach Tree Creek. Though the 86th was not heavily engaged in the days fighting, Col. Fahnestock's regiment had lost 2 men killed and 5 wounded. In his diary of the some of the events of the 19th and the days leading up to it, Fahnestock wrote, I had a dream three nights in succession and felt uneasy about it as it did not seem to be a dream but a reality. I dreamed that I was in a beautiful orchard, tall waving grass, quietly sauntering about all alone, when I came to a double peach tree. Here I saw a fine tall man, with a long white beard, appeared in front of me, and with his right had and a graceful gesture pointed up to the double peach tree and when I looked up and then turned my eyes to see him he had vanished. The third time I came to the same place and the same tree and the same noble looking man, white hair and beard, and I thought when he motioned his hand for me to look up I would keep an eye on him and see where he went, but as I looked at the tree he vanished. Now this was before we came to Peachtree Creek and we did not know there was such a place, or that we would get into a battle here, but tomorrow will solve my dream."
On the morning of the 20th of July, 1864, the Confederate troops got the fighting started early and the 86th, though again not heavily engaged lost 2 more men killed and one more man wounded. The two killed were Private Orson Morgan, of Co. B, and Sergeant Josiah J. Alger, of Co. H. On July 20, 1864, Colonel Allen L. Fahnestock wrote the following in his diary. "The rebels have been busy during the night in strengthening their works. They commenced the ball early. I took my field glass and was looking to see how their works was constructed when some of my men gathered around me. When the bullets came at us fast, I ordered the men down, then took my glass to see what they were doing. When Sergeant Alger of Company H put his right hand on my shoulder and as he done so, something compelled me to move a little to my right, the Sergeant put his head close to mine and pointed with his left hand and said look there. As he made the remark a Minie ball struck him in the right temple, he fell on his back and lay as much as a minute before he commenced struggling. The blood flowed from the wound and he lived about half an hour. He was brave soldier and it has always occurred to me from my dream that he took my place. Had I remained standing and not moved one step to my right he would have been saved and I would have received the bullet."
by Baxter B. Fite III
Advertisement
Records on Ancestry
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
