Perkins, Addison

Civil War Soldier

Birth: 1832, Trumbull County, Ohio
Death: October 13, 1862, Louisville, Jefferson County, Kentucky
Burial: Cave Hill Cemetery, Louisville, Jefferson County, Kentucky
Find a Grave memorial

Military Service: Enlisted as a private on August 21, 1862, in 105th Regiment, Company B, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and mustered out on October 15, 1862.

Born in Fowler sometime in 1832, Addison Perkins had moved to Vienna by 1850. He was listed in the Federal Census of that year as living with the George Smith family. He married Sarah Maria Leet (1833-1911) on December 6, 1854.

Sarah's brother James Warren Leet also served in the Civil War, and her sister Rachel Harriett Leet married another Civil War veteran, Thomas B. Brannon.

Twenty-one Vienna men served in the 105th Ohio Volunteer Infantry: Edward O. Bartholomew, Erastus W. Bartholomew, Hugh Mackey Boys, James Culver, Merritt Emerson, Joel Hawley, Jasper P. Kingsley, Charles E. Miller, William W. Miller, Alucius W. Mills, Ashley Moore, Charles E. Moser, Lemuel Moser, Addison Perkins, Noah H. Pound, Stephen Pruden, Samuel K. Raub, Horace Bassett Scoville, James A. Stewart, Robert J. Stewart, Albert P. Tuttle, and Osman B. Tuttle.

A Soldier's Death in the Civil War

Like many soldiers, Addison Perkins died not of battle wounds, but of typhoid fever, one of the many camp diseases soldiers endured during the Civil War. (More soldiers died of disease than of battle wounds.)

The letter certifying Perkins' death reads:

General Hospital No. 10, Louisville, Ky. June 10th 1863 This is to certify that Addison Perkins, a private of Company B. 105th Regt. Ohio Vol. Infantry, died in the hospital October 13th, 1862, of disease (Typhoid Fever) contracted while in the line of duty and in the service of the United States. I certify on honor that the above is a correct transcript from the Records of General Hospital No. 10, Louisville, Kentucky. E. O. Brown, A. A. Surgeon U.S.A. In Charge.

Perkins' widow never remarried, and raised their four children in Vienna. As so many grieving family members did during the War she inquired into the particulars of her husband's death. She received a letter from the captain of her husband's company, over seven months after his death.

The transcript reads:

Camp near Murfreesboro, Tennessee
May 28, 1863

Mrs. Maria Perkins

Dear Madam:

Your letter has just been rec[eive]d. I hasten to do all I can in the way of information, though, I am sorry to say that in the case of your husband, I cannot give as much information as I would like to. Of the date of his death we have in certain knowledge the surgeon in charge of the hospital never having sent any report to the Co[mpany]. Else if sent it never came to hand. He was taken sick while on the march toward Perryville on or about October 30, 1862 and was sent back to Louisville. He was a pioneer [Regimental pioneer]. He had not been sick previous to that time, and was detailed as pioneer on account of his health and activity. His disease was, I think, fever. The surgeons of the Reg[imen]t know nothing of his illness as he was not under their treatment being sent back by their recommendation the day he was taken ill. I know nothing of the case further. He was a good, cheerful soldier, always well and for duty and willing to do his duty. We regretted his death though at the time we had many good men to regret who lost their lives at Perryville. Yet this is nothing from the merits of your husband. He did his duty equally well and laid down his life for his country as much as it had been in battle. And you should receive from Gov[ernmen]t whatever is allowed to the families of deceased soldiers. I am willing to do anything I can for you in this case hoping you may succeed in obtaining what is justly yours.

I remain

Respectfully yours,

A. D. Braden, Capt.
Co. B, 105th Regiment, O.V.
2nd Brigade, 5th Division, 14 Army Corp.
Army of Cumberland

Regimental History, 105th Ohio Volunteer Infantry

Overview: Organized at Cleveland, Ohio, and mustered in August 20, 1862. Ordered to Covington, Ky., August 21, 1862; thence to Lexington, Ky., August 25. March to relief of Nelson August 30. Retreat to Louisville, Ky., September 1-15. Attached to 33rd Brigade, 10th Division, Army of the Ohio, to September, 1862. 33rd Brigade, 10th Division, 2nd Corps, Army of the Ohio, to November, 1862. 1st Brigade, 5th Division (Centre), 14th Army Corps, Army of the Cumberland, to January, 1863. 1st Brigade, 5th Division, 14th Army Corps, Army of the Cumberland, to June, 1863. 2nd Brigade, 4th Division, 14th Army Corps, to October, 1863. 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, 14th Army Corps, to July, 1865.

Service: Pursuit of Bragg into Kentucky October 1-12. Battle of Perryville, Ky., October 8. March to Munfordsville, Ky., October 12, and duty there till November 30. Expedition to Cave City October 31 and November 26. Moved to Bledsoe Creek November 30. Operations against Morgan December 22, 1862, to January 2, 1863. March to Nashville, Tenn., thence to Murfreesboro January 3-11, and duty there till June. Expedition to Auburn, Liberty and Alexandria February 3-5. Expedition to Woodbury March 3-8. Vaught's Hill, near Milton, March 20. Expedition to McMinnville April 20-30. Middle Tennessee (or Tullahoma) Campaign June 23-July 7. Hoover's Gap June 24-26. Occupation of Middle Tennessee till August 16. Passage of the Cumberland Mountains and Tennessee River and Chickamauga (Ga.) Campaign August 16-September 22. Shellmound August 21. Reconnoissance toward Chattanooga August 30-31. Battle of Chickamauga September 19-21. Siege of Chattanooga, Tenn., September 24-November 23. Chattanooga-Ringgold Campaign November 23-27. Orchard Knob November 23-24. Mission Ridge November 25. Demonstrations on Dalton, Ga., February 22-27, 1864. Tunnel Hill, Buzzard's Roost Gap and Rocky Faced Ridge February 23-25. Reconnoissance from Ringgold toward Tunnel Hill April 29. Atlanta (Ga.) Campaign May 1 to September 8. Demonstrations on Rocky Faced Ridge May 8-11. Battle of Resaca May 14-15. Advance on Dallas May 18-25. Operations on line of Pumpkin Vine Creek and battles about Dallas, New Hope Church and Allatoona Hills May 25-June 5. Operations about Marietta and against Kenesaw June 10-July 2. Pine Hill June 11-14. Lost Mountain June 15-17. Assault on Kenesaw June 27. Ruff's Station July 4. Chattahoochie River July 5-17. Peach Tree Creek July 19-20. Siege of Atlanta July 22-August 25. Utoy Creek August 5-7. Flank movement on Jonesboro August 25-30. Battle of Jonesboro August 31-September 1. Operations against Hood in North Georgia and North Alabama September 29-November 3. March to the sea November 15-December 10. Siege of Savannah December 10-15. Campaign of the Carolinas January to April, 1865. Fayetteville, N. C., March 11. Battle of Bentonville March 19-21. Occupation of Goldsboro March 24. Advance on Raleigh April 10-14. Occupation of Raleigh April 14. Bennett's House April 26. Surrender of Johnston and his army. March to Washington, D. C., via Richmond, Va., April 29-May 20. Grand Review May 24. Mustered out June 3, 1865. 

Regiment lost during service 3 Officers and 104 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 7 Officers and 126 Enlisted men by disease. Total 240.