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Pvt. Charles H. Osborn (1843-1929) - Co. B, 76th IL Infantry
 
 
 
Headstone of Charles H. Osborn (1843-1929)
REGIMENT: Co. B, 76 IL Inf. MUSTER-IN: Feb. 22, 1864
RANK: Private WHERE: Camp Butler, IL
AGE: 18 MUSTER-OUT: May 15, 1866
HAIR: Brown WHERE: Houston, TX
EYES: Blue BIRTH: Feb. 20, 1843
COMPLEXION: Florid DEATH: March 23, 1929
HEIGHT: 5' 6" BURIAL: March 25, 1929
OCCUPATION: Farmer SECTION: E
NATIVITY: Champaign, IL LOT: 98
RESIDENCE: Urbana, IL GRAVE: S ½
ENLISTED: Jan. 26, 1864 MARKER: GHS
WHERE: Urbana, IL CONDITION: New
PERIOD: 3 Years  
 
Local resident fought to preserve the Union
Private Charles H. Osborn Company B 76th Illinois Infantry

by Gene Beals © 2009

Charles. H. Osborn was born at Springfield, Summit County, Ohio on February 20, 1843.He was of English ancestry and the first child of three born to Albert and Mary Osborn.

He came to Collinsville at the age of 14 to live with his aunt and uncle following the death of his parents in 1857. He moved with them to Urbana, Illinois around 1860. He enlisted as a private in Company B, 76th Illinois Volunteer Infantry on January 25, 1864 at Urbana and was mustered into the service on January 28 at Springfield, Illinois. The muster roll states he was 18 years old ( actually 20 ), 5 foot 6 inches high, brown hair, blue eyes, florid complexion and occupation farmer.

Charles and his fellow recruits arrived at Camp Hebron, Mississippi in late March where they remained until April 5, 1864. His regiment embarked for the Big Black River Bridge at this time. The unit remained there for two days and packed up on April 27 and proceeded to Vicksburg, Mississippi and set up camp.

The 76th moved out again on May 4, 1864 as part of an expedition commanded by General John McArthur to Yazoo City and engaged the Confederate forces in battles at Benton, Vaughn’s Station, Deasonville and routed the remaining elements of a Confederate contingent at Yazoo City on May 13, 1864. The unit remained at Yazoo City after its capture until May 17, 1864. They put to fire a large section of the city before leaving and returned to Vicksburg on May 21, 1864 and remained there until June 26, 1864.From May 21, 1864 to June 28, 1864 the regiment went on an expedition to Mt. Albans, the Big Black River and finally returning to Vicksburg.

On July 1, 1864 Charles and his unit were on the move again as part of an expedition force of three thousand men to Jackson Mississippi under the command of General Henry Slocum. On July 2, 1864 they engaged the Confederate forces under Gen. Stephen D. Lee at Jackson. The Confederate forces had superior numbers on Slocum’s contingent. The hotly contested battle lasted for two days with both sides retiring from the field. The 76th played a major role in this engagement. The unit was cut off from the main body during the heavy fighting, but managed to regroup and fight their way back to join the main body of the Union forces. The 76 suffered the loss of one hundred and two men including sixteen dead and eighty-six wounded or missing in action. Following the engagement the unit rendered service in July and August at Morganza, Port Hudson and returned to Morganza.

In September the regiment continued their service by taking a steamer to the White River area and encamped there until mid October. They set out for Memphis in late October only to remain there for a short period before returning to the White River area. They set up winter quarters there and remained until late December and returned to Memphis to await orders

The regiment upon receiving orders embarked for Mobile ( Alabama ) on February 12, 1865 to capture Spanish Fort and Fort Blakely. The unit arrived at Mobile Bay on March 20. The 76th was part of General Frederick Steele’s 1st Division, 2nd Brigade, XIII Corps commanded by General R.S. Canby. They reached Fort Blakely on April 1, 1865 following an arduous march through rough terrain leading to the fort. The unit engaged the enemy on April 2, 1865 and pushed the enemy inside the fort. On April 8, 1865 the 76th made a massive attack on Fort Blakely. They captured all the defenders of the fort and planted their colors on top of the enemy’s breastworks. This was the last engagement of the war for Charles’s unit.

Charles was transferred to Company K 37th Illinois Volunteer Infantry on July 19, 1865. He joined his new unit at Houston, Texas. They performed railroad guard duty in the area until being mustered out on May 15, 1866. The unit moved on to Springfield, Illinois where they received their final pay & discharge on May 31, 1866.

He returned to uncle’s farm in Urbana following his discharge. He remained in Urbana until the early 1870’s. He then moved back to Collinsville and began working in the mines. . Charles married Julia Stumpf on April 21, 1881. Three children were born from this union, William, Alonzo and Henry. He was very active in the local Odd Fellows lodge and received a 50 year diamond jewel in February 1929. The following month his health began to fail and he died at his residence on 412 Brown Avenue on March 23, 1929. He was laid to rest in the Glenwood Cemetery at Collinsville.

The Col. Friederich Hecker Camp # 443, Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, erected a new marble government marker at his final resting place in 1999. A ceremony honoring Charles and the other Union soldiers buried at Glenwood was held May 15, 1999.The ceremony attracted over 300 attendees complete with artillery firing and a 21 gun salute.

 
Collinsville Herald - March 29, 1929
C.H. OSBORN 86 YEARS OLD, DIES SATURDAY
Just Received 50-Year Diamond Jewel from Odd Fellows Lodge Last Month
Charles H. Osborn, a veteran of the Civil War, and a well known resident of this city for many years, died at the home of his son William Osborn, 400 Wadsworth Avenue, Saturday morning at 1:15 o'clock at the age of 86 years, 1 month and 3 days. Death was caused from old age.

Mr. Osborn was born February 20, 1843, in Champaign, Illinois, but came to this city when he was about fourteen years old.

Last month Mr. Osborn celebrated his eighty-sixth birthday and a few days later was presented with the fifty-year jewel pin by the local Odd Fellows Lodge. Shortly after that he took ill and has been confined to his bed for the past few weeks.

He is survived by three sons, William, Alonzo and Henry Osborn, seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Funeral services were held Monday afternoon at 2 o'clock from the family residence. The Odd Fellows had charge of the services and six of their number acted as pallbearers. Rev. C. H. Kuhlman officiated. Burial was made in the Glenwood cemetery.

 
 
Photo of Charles H. Osborn
Index of Civil War Veterans
U.S. Civil War Soldiers & Sailors System (Outside Link)
76th Illinois Infantry - Dyer's Compendium (Outside Link)
Sons of the Union Veterans of the Civil War (Outside Link)
The Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States (Outside Link)
 
 


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