Address to 97th ILL Vol. by Victor Fivquain, Colonel 87th Ill. dated August, 1865, Springfield, Ill.
[Contributed by Mary Lou (Guyette) Wardlaw granddaughter of Charles Titus (16 Mar 1844 Dresden, Muskingum Co OH-24 Jan 1927 Mattoon, Coles Co IL). Her Grandfather, Charles Titus, joined the 97th Vol. Inf. under Col. Victor Vifquain in Coles Co IL. Charles Titus' son, Victor Vifquain Titus, was named after his commanding officer. ]

"Farewell men of the 97th Illinois! Peace has broken the ties that for three long years have united us together. The moment to separate has arrived. Our task is done. The honor of our country is vindicated. Our glorious Union has been preserved intact and the struggle is ended. Of all that is dear to our hearts, a soldier's friendship, contracted in continual campaigns and maintained in the fearful uproar of battle and in the solemn quiet by the vivouac fire, is the dearest and most devoted of friendships. It is so, for God has made it so, as a compensation for the many trials that you have endured. It is so because a soldier's heart is a noble heart. It is useless for me to enumerate the deeds you have done; every one of you has them engraved in your heart, and men more able than I have eulogized your bravery and devotion. My last words to you are most affecting to my heart. To think that I never more will see you in line of battle with the Stars and Stripes waving their glorious folds over you; to think that the 97th will never more be together on the march, in camp or in battle; to think that I will never more have the right to say; 'Fall in 97th;' to think that I never more will have the honor to lead you in battle, is for me a very sad thought. Still I am happy to return you to your homes; happy to think that your wives and children, your parents and your friends will soon press you to their bosoms and hear from your own lips the terrible 'History of the Rebellion.' I am grieved to part with you, and still I am happy to return to your Prairie State four hundred of the nine hundred braves who left their homes and all that was dear to them to fight the battles of their country. Only four hundred! Five hundred comrades left behind, sleeping the sleep that knows no waking. Dear friends! Gallant soldiers! Glorious martyrs! Fitting sacrifices offered upon the altar of their country! 'May their memory grow green with the years and flourish with the lapse of ages.'

Farewell again 97th Illinois! Farewell boys, - boys who upon a word from me were all willing to sacrifice your lives, - farewell. My heart desires to tell you things that my hand is not strong enough to write, but it is my desire to be remembered by you. I shall ever remember the 97th Illinois, and the honors you have won for me will ever be an object of my most sincere gratitude. May you all be happy and prosperous in all your undertakings. Farewell, God bless you.'


Soldiers found in the Civil War Database:

ADAMS, TIMOTHY R B	PVT	B	97	IL US INF	CUMBERLAND CO
ADKINS, HENRY	PVT	D	97	IL US INF	CUMBERLAND CO
ALLEN, CHARLES J	PVT	B	97	IL US INF	CUMBERLAND CO
ALLEN, GEORGE W	PVT	B	97	IL US INF	CUMBERLAND CO
ALLEN, JAMES F	CPL	B	97	IL US INF	CUMBERLAND CO
ALLISON, SAMUEL	REC		97	IL US INF	WOODBURY
ARBOGAST, JACOB	WAG	D	97	IL US INF	CUMBERLAND CO
ARMSTRONG, GEORGE D	CPT	B	97	IL US INF	CUMBERLAND CO
BARNETT, GEORGE H	PVT	G	97	IL US INF	NEOGA
BARRETT, ANDREW J	REC	D	97	IL US INF	CUMBERLAND CO
BARTHOLOW, SAMUEL E	REC	B	97	IL US INF	GREENUP
BATSON, HARBIN J	PVT	B	97	IL US INF	CUMBERLAND CO
BENIFIELD, FRANCIS M	PVT	B	97	IL US INF	CUMBERLAND CO
BENIFIELD, JOHN S	PVT	B	97	IL US INF	CUMBERLAND CO
BERRY, ANDREW	PVT	B	97	IL US INF	CUMBERLAND CO
BERRY, JOSEPH S	PVT	B	97	IL US INF	CUMBERLAND CO
BOON, HENRY D	PVT	B	97	IL US INF	CUMBERLAND CO
BRADMAN, CHRISTOPHER	2LT	B	97	IL US INF	CUMBERLAND CO
BRANNAN, J W	PVT	B	97	IL US INF	CUMBERLAND CO
BROWN, BRANSON	PVT	B	97	IL US INF	CUMBERLAND CO
BUCHANAN, JAMES G	CPT	B	97	IL US INF	CUMBERLAND CO
BUCHANAN, JAMES G	MAJ	HQ	97	IL US INF	NIOGA
BURCHFIELD, WILLIAM	PVT	B	97	IL US INF	CUMBERLAND CO
CAMPBELL, CHARLES H	PVT	B	97	IL US INF	CUMBERLAND CO
CANFIELD, DAVID	PVT	D	97	IL US INF	WOODBURY
CATLIN, REUBEN T	REC	B	97	IL US INF	GREENUP
COLE, SIMON	PVT	B	97	IL US INF	CUMBERLAND CO
COLWELL, ANDERSON	PVT	D	97	IL US INF	CUMBERLAND CO
CROOKSHANKS, J C	PVT	B	97	IL US INF	CUMBERLAND CO
CROOKSHANKS, NATHANIEL	CPL	B	97	IL US INF	CUMBERLAND CO
CROSS, THOMAS Q	PVT	D	97	IL US INF	CUMBERLAND CO
DARLING, GEORGE	PVT	B	97	IL US INF	CUMBERLAND CO
DAVIS, ELEAZER	PVT	B	97	IL US INF	CUMBERLAND CO
DELP, PETER	PVT	B	97	IL US INF	CUMBERLAND CO
DOVE, DAVID	PVT	B	97	IL US INF	CUMBERLAND CO
DUNBAR, DAVID	PVT	D	97	IL US INF	CUMBERLAND CO
DUNBAR, JASPER	REC	D	97	IL US INF	CUMBERLAND CO
ELLIOTT, JOSIAH	PVT	D	97	IL US INF	CUMBERLAND CO
ELLIOTT, PETER W	PVT	B	97	IL US INF	CUMBERLAND CO
ESTES, HENRY J	PVT	B	97	IL US INF	CUMBERLAND CO
ESTES, JOSEPH H	PVT	B	97	IL US INF	CUMBERLAND CO
EVELAND, WILLIAM B	REC	B	97	IL US INF	GREENUP
EWING, GEORGE F	REC	B	97	IL US INF	NEOGA
FARMER, SAMUEL	SGT	D	97	IL US INF	CUMBERLAND CO
FELTNER, PHILIP	PVT	B	97	IL US INF	CUMBERLAND CO
FITTS, JOHN	PVT	B	97	IL US INF	CUMBERLAND CO
FITTS, ZILMAN W	PVT	B	97	IL US INF	CUMBERLAND CO
FLOOD, MICHAEL	PVT	D	97	IL US INF	CUMBERLAND CO
GARRETT, LEMUEL G	PVT	D	97	IL US INF	CUMBERLAND CO
GLESENER, GEORGE	PVT	D	97	IL US INF	CUMBERLAND CO
GLESENER, JOHN S	PVT	D	97	IL US INF	CUMBERLAND CO
GOOD, WASHINGTON L	PVT	D	97	IL US INF	CUMBERLAND CO
GOODELL, JAMES A	1LT	B	97	IL US INF	CUMBERLAND CO
GRANT, WILLIAM	PVT	D	97	IL US INF	CUMBERLAND CO
GREESON, DAVID C	REC	B	97	IL US INF	GREENUP
GREESON, HENRY D	REC	B	97	IL US INF	GREENUP
GROSS, JOHN W	PVT	B	97	IL US INF	CUMBERLAND CO
HANCOCK, THOMAS R	PVT	B	97	IL US INF	CUMBERLAND CO
HARRIS, D L	PVT	B	97	IL US INF	CUMBERLAND CO
HART, ZEPHANIAH E	PVT	B	97	IL US INF	CUMBERLAND CO
HARTLEY, JAMES D	PVT	B	97	IL US INF	CUMBERLAND CO
HARTLEY, JOHN R	WAG	B	97	IL US INF	CUMBERLAND CO
HARTLEY, SAMUEL	MUS	G	97	IL US INF	NEOGA
HARTLEY, WILLIAM C	PVT	B	97	IL US INF	CUMBERLAND CO
HIDDLEBAUGH, ELI	REC	B	97	IL US INF	GREENUP
HOLLAND, THOMAS	MUS	G	97	IL US INF	NEOGA
HOLMS, JOHN J	SGT	B	97	IL US INF	CUMBERLAND CO
HOUSE, JAMES W	PVT	B	97	IL US INF	CUMBERLAND CO
HOUSER, JOHN	PVT	B	97	IL US INF	CUMBERLAND CO
HOWSER, JABEZ M	PVT	B	97	IL US INF	CUMBERLAND CO
HUFFMAN, PHILIP	PVT	B	97	IL US INF	CUMBERLAND CO
INGLE, MARTIN	PVT	D	97	IL US INF	CUMBERLAND CO
INGRIM, JOHN	PVT	D	97	IL US INF	CUMBERLAND CO
JAY, SAMPSON H	PVT	B	97	IL US INF	CUMBERLAND CO
JOHNSON, FRANCIS M	PVT	B	97	IL US INF	CUMBERLAND CO
JOSEPH, ALLEN	PVT	B	97	IL US INF	CUMBERLAND CO
JOSLIN, WILLIAM P	PVT	B	97	IL US INF	CUMBERLAND CO
KILLGORE, JAMES H	PVT	B	97	IL US INF	CUMBERLAND CO
KILLGORE, JOHN A	PVT	B	97	IL US INF	CUMBERLAND CO
KIMERY, JOHN H	PVT	B	97	IL US INF	CUMBERLAND CO
KINGERY, FULTON	REC	D	97	IL US INF	WOODBURY
KINGRY, JOHN	PVT	D	97	IL US INF	WOODBURY
KINNEY, JOHN	REC		97	IL US INF	NEOGA
KINSEL, JAMES M	CPL	B	97	IL US INF	CUMBERLAND CO
LARUE, JOHN W	PVT	B	97	IL US INF	CUMBERLAND CO
LEE, JAMES W	PVT	D	97	IL US INF	CUMBERLAND CO
LEMAR, JAMES C	PVT	B	97	IL US INF	CUMBERLAND CO
MARKEE, DANIEL H	PVT	B	97	IL US INF	CUMBERLAND CO
MILLER, ALFRED	1LT	B	97	IL US INF	CUMBERLAND CO
MILLER, WILLIAM	PVT	D	97	IL US INF	CUMBERLAND CO
MORTON, AARON D	PVT	D	97	IL US INF	CUMBERLAND CO
MURRAY, JACOB	PVT	B	97	IL US INF	CUMBERLAND CO
NEES, JEREMIAH N	PVT	B	97	IL US INF	CUMBERLAND CO
NICHOLAS, SILAS H	PVT	B	97	IL US INF	CUMBERLAND CO
NICHOLSON, JAMES W	PVT	B	97	IL US INF	CUMBERLAND CO
NICUM, STEPHEN	PVT	B	97	IL US INF	CUMBERLAND CO
NORTHWAY, FRANCIS M	PVT	B	97	IL US INF	CUMBERLAND CO
ORR, J H	SGT	B	97	IL US INF	CUMBERLAND CO
ORR, JOHN C	MUS	B	97	IL US INF	CUMBERLAND CO
OWENS, WILLIAM	PVT	D	97	IL US INF	CUMBERLAND CO
PILES, THOMAS J	PVT	B	97	IL US INF	CUMBERLAND CO
PITTS, JOHN W	PVT	D	97	IL US INF	CUMBERLAND CO
PRIDEMORE, THEODORE	CPL	B	97	IL US INF	CUMBERLAND CO
PURSELL, SAMUEL	PVT	B	97	IL US INF	CUMBERLAND CO
RAWLINGS, JAMES A	1LT	B	97	IL US INF	CUMBERLAND CO
REYNOLDS, JOHN F	PVT	B	97	IL US INF	CUMBERLAND CO
REYNOLDS, R G	PVT	B	97	IL US INF	CUMBERLAND CO
REYNOLDS, SAMUEL S	PVT	B	97	IL US INF	CUMBERLAND CO
RILEY, JOHN W D	PVT	D	97	IL US INF	CUMBERLAND CO
SAWYER, CHARLES M	PVT	B	97	IL US INF	CUMBERLAND CO
SCOTT, BENJAMIN E	PVT	B	97	IL US INF	CUMBERLAND CO
SELLARS, PETER	CPL	B	97	IL US INF	CUMBERLAND CO
SHEPHERD, DANIEL J	REC		97	IL US INF	GREENUP
SHULL, JONATHAN W	PVT	B	97	IL US INF	CUMBERLAND CO
SHULL, ROBERT B	PVT	B	97	IL US INF	CUMBERLAND CO
SMITH, THOMAS H	PVT	D	97	IL US INF	CUMBERLAND CO
SMITH, THOMAS J	PVT	B	97	IL US INF	CUMBERLAND CO
SPARKS, OTHO	PVT	B	97	IL US INF	CUMBERLAND CO
SPOON, JACOB L	PVT	D	97	IL US INF	CUMBERLAND CO
STAINBROOK, HIRAM	PVT	D	97	IL US INF	CUMBERLAND CO
STRONG, JOHN	REC		97	IL US INF	GREENUP
TATE, JESSE	PVT	D	97	IL US INF	CUMBERLAND CO
TEENELIN, ANDREW	REC		97	IL US INF	GREENUP
THORP, JACOB B	PVT	B	97	IL US INF	CUMBERLAND CO
TITUS, HARVEY S	2LT	D	97	IL US INF	CUMBERLAND CO
TRIGG, JOHN	PVT	B	97	IL US INF	CUMBERLAND CO
TROWBRIDGE, CHARLES	PVT	B	97	IL US INF	CUMBERLAND CO
TURNER, ABRAM	PVT	D	97	IL US INF	CUMBERLAND CO
TURNER, WILLIAM	PVT	D	97	IL US INF	CUMBERLAND CO
VANDERCOOK, THOMAS H	PVT	B	97	IL US INF	CUMBERLAND CO
VANHANTAN, IRA	PVT	B	97	IL US INF	CUMBERLAND CO
WADE, JOSEPH A	PVT	B	97	IL US INF	CUMBERLAND CO
WADE, WILLIAM R	PVT	B	97	IL US INF	CUMBERLAND CO
WALKER, JOHN D	REC	B	97	IL US INF	GREENUP
WETHERS, CHARLES	PVT	D	97	IL US INF	CUMBERLAND CO
WILCOX, CHARLES W	CPL	B	97	IL US INF	CUMBERLAND CO
WILLIAMS, JAMES A	PVT	B	97	IL US INF	CUMBERLAND CO
WILLIAMS, JOHN WILLIAM	PVT	D	97	IL US INF	CUMBERLAND CO
WILSON, JOHN B	PVT	B	97	IL US INF	CUMBERLAND CO
WISNER, JAMES W	CPT	D	97	IL US INF	WOODBURY
WOODROW, JACKSON D	MUS	D	97	IL US INF	CUMBERLAND CO
YEWING, CYRUS K	PVT	B	97	IL US INF	CUMBERLAND CO

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