Civil War Veterans - 85th Illinois Infantry

History of the 85th Illinois Volunteers
Illinois Volunteer Infantry
by
Henry J. Aten

Biographies - D

SAMUEL DANAWAIN, aged twenty-one, enlisted August 20, 1862, and died at Louisville, Ky., November 28, 1862. (Company B, Chapter 28, page 369)

JOHN R. DANIELS was born in Tazewell county, Illinois, in 1841, and was a farmer when he enlisted from his native county. He served with his company until his health failed, and he was transferred to the invalid corps on February 15, 1864. (Company A, Chapter 27, page 353)

CHARLES D. DARE was born in Highland county, Ohio, May 3, 1839, removed with his parents to Illinois in 1844, and enlisted August 4, 1862. He served with the company until knocked down and captured at the battle of Peach Tree creek, Georgia, July 19, 1864, and was exchanged in October following. Returning to duty he was mounted as a scout in the campaign through the Carolinas and was again captured near Goldsboro, N. C. He was held in Saulsbury, Danville and Libby prisons until the close of the war, and was honorably discharged July 18, 1865. He resides at Duncan's Mills, Fulton county, Illinois. (Company B, Chapter 28, page 369)

DANIEL DAUGHERTY, aged twenty-five, born in Adams county, Ohio, was single and a farmer when he enlisted from Mason county, Illinois. He served with his company until severely wounded in the assault on Kennesaw Mountain, Georgia, June 27, 1864; was sent to the hospital at Chattanooga, Tenn., where he died on August 24, following. Is buried at No. 2090, in the national cemetery on Orchard Knob. (Company C, Chapter 29, page 384)

MUSICIAN GEORGE W. DEITRICH, aged twenty, born in Selin’s Grove, Snyder county, Pennsylvania, removed with his parents to Illinois, and was a shoemaker when he enlisted form Mason county. He served through the Kentucky campaign and was discharged for disability February 19, 1863. Is supposed to be living in St. Joseph, Mo. (Company C, Chapter 29, page 382)

JEREMIAH DEITRICH, aged thirty-one, born at Selin’s Grove, Snyder county, Pennsylvania; removed to Illinois and was a married shoemaker when he enlisted from Mason county. He served with his company until severely wounded at the assault on Kennesaw Mountain, Georgia, June 27, 1864; was removed to the hospital at Nashville, Tenn., where he died on July 13, following. Is buried at No. 9709, in the national cemetery near that city. (Company C, Chapter 29, page 384)

SAMUEL DERWENT, aged thirty-five, born in Yorkshire county, England; emigrated to Illinois; was single and a farmer when he enlisted from Mason county. He served with his company through the Kentucky campaign; was sent to the hospital at Nashville, Tenn., where he died December 19, 1862. Is buried at No. 4451, in the national cemetery near that city. (Company C, Chapter 29, page 384)

    SURGEON PHILIP L. DIEFFENBACHER was born in Columbia county, Pennsylvania, February 6, 1830. His father, Daniel Dieffenbacher, descended from German ancestors, who settled in eastern Pennsylvania. His mother was Catherine (Long) Dieffenbacher, whose parental ancestors were German, and settled in Virginia. Her maternal ancestors, named Springer, came from Stockholm, Sweden, and settled in Wilmington, Del., at an early date.
     He removed with his parents to Illinois in 1837 and settled on a farm in Tazewell (now Mason) county, and while helping his father improve and cultivate the farm, the subject of this sketch availed himself of every opportunity to gain an education. In the fall of 1849 he returned to Pennsylvania and entered the academy at Newville, in Columbia county, where he pursued his studies until the summer of 1851, when he returned to Illinois. He taught the first school ever held in the Dieffenbacher school house, six miles east of Havana, during the winter of 1851-2. Returning to Pennsylvania in the autumn of 1852, he entered the office of his maternal uncle, Dr. Philip H. Long, at Mechanicsburg, where he read medicine until September, 1853, when he entered Jefferson Medical College at Philadelphia, Pa., and graduated in the degree of doctor in medicine in March, 1855. After taking a course of one year in Blockley hospital, West Philadelphia, Pa., he opened his first office for practice in Mount Joy, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. In the spring of 1856 he returned to Illinois and located in Havana, where he has since resided and practiced his profession, except three years' service in the army.
     In July, 1862, he was appointed assistant post surgeon to the military camp at Peoria, Ill., and at the organization of the Eighty-fifth he was commissioned first assistant surgeon of the regiment. He was promoted to be surgeon with the rank of major at Nashville, Tenn., June 14, 1863, and served in that capacity to the close of the war, and was mustered out with the regiment. Returning to Havana at the close of his service, he resumed the practice of his profession, and soon after his return was appointed United States examining surgeon of pensions, holding the office until 1893, when he resigned.
     He is a member of the following societies: The American Medical Association, the International Association of Railway Surgeons, the Illinois State Medical Society, the Illinois State Historical Society, the Army and Navy Surgeons' Association (a charter member), the Brainard District Medical Association (one of the organizers and president in 1880-1), the Dan McCook Brigade Association, the Regimental Association (one of the organizers and president until 1889), and was president of the board of education for nine years.
     On May 17, 1874, he married Miss Martha M. Mitchell, whose parental and maternal ancestors served in the War of the Revolution. Their living children are: Martha M., Edith L. and Philip D. Three others died in infancy, namely, Robert, Morton and Mable. (Chapter 26, pages 339-340)

     COLONEL CALEB J. DILWORTH was born near Mount Pleasant, Jefferson county, Ohio, April 8, 1827. His parents, Abram Rankin Dilworth and Martha Stanton Judkins, were of old Quaker stock. They removed to Indiana, and soon after to Illinois. They were living near Canton, in Fulton county, at the time of the Black Hawk war, and took refuge with friends in Canton when there was an Indian alarm. An elder brother, Rankin, graduated from the military academy at West Point in the class of 1844, and died from wounds received at the battle of Monterey in the war with Mexico. A half-brother, William H. Evans, was quartermaster of the Eighty-fifth during the last year of its service.
     Colonel Dilworth read law with General Leonard F. Ross, of Lewistown, and was admitted to the bar in 1848. In the fall of 1853 he married Miss Emily Phelps, daughter of William and Caroline Phelps, of Lewistown, Ill., the only issue of such marriage being a son, William A., now practicing law in Omaha, Neb. In 1862 the subject of this sketch was practicing law in Havana, Ill., and assisted in recruiting the Eighty-fifth, and at the organization of the regiment was commissioned lieutenant colonel. He served in that capacity until Colonel Moore resigned, when he was promoted to be colonel. He commanded the regiment from June 14, 1863, until June 27, 1864, when, in the midst of the indescribable turmoil of battle at Kennesaw mountain, Georgia, the command of the brigade devolved upon him through the death of his seniors. It was his plucky decision that held the ground wrested from the enemy, although his corps and army commanders doubted its possibility. At Peach Tree creek his brigade forced a crossing of that stream, although defended by largely superior numbers, fighting the battle out alone with the Third brigade, and winning for himself and his command the highest commendations of his superiors. He continued in command of the brigade until wounded by a gun shot at the battle of Jonesboro, Ga., the ball passing entirely through his neck. Recovering from his wound, he was hastening to the front to rejoin his command when, upon his arrival at Chattanooga, he found that communication with Sherman's army had been severed. He reported to General Thomas for duty and was appointed to the command of the post at Cleveland, Tenn., a position which he held with credit to himself until the post was discontinued. He was then assigned to command at Covington, Ky., where he remained until the close of the war. He was commissioned brevet brigadier general March 13, and was mustered out of the service June 5, 1865.
     After returning to Illinois he practiced law at Lewistown until the autumn of 1870, when he removed to Lincoln, Neb., where he resumed the practice of his profession. He was elected state's attorney in 1874 and served two terms. In 1878 he was elected attorney general, holding the office for two terms, and in 1892 he was elected department commander of the Grand Army of the Republic of Nebraska and served one term.
     As a soldier he was enterprising and fearless; he won merited distinction at the bar. He had retired from active professional life and was residing in Omaha, where he died on Saturday, February 3, 1900. His remains were taken to Lincoln and buried in Wyuka cemetery on the Monday following, past department commanders acting as pall-bearers, while department officers conducted the services. (Chapter 26, pages 333-334)

PETER DOLCATER, aged twenty-five, born in Dornburg, Germany, emigrated to Illinois, was married and a farmer when he enlisted from Mason county. He served with his company until near the close of the war, when he was sent to the hospital. He was honorably discharged from the general hospital at Springfield, Ill., January 26, 1865. (Company C, Chapter 29, page 384)

SAMUEL A. DRAY, aged twenty-three, born in Steubenville, Jefferson county, Ohio, removed to Illinois and was single and a farmer when he enlisted from Mason county. He served with his company to the close of the war and was mustered out with the regiment. Resides at Canton, Fulton county, Illinois. (Company C, Chapter 29, page 384)

PRINCIPAL MUSICIAN JAMES B. DURDY was born in Hagerstown, Washington county, Maryland, in 1838, removed to Illinois, was single, and a printer when he enlisted in Company K from Bath. He was promoted principal musician, served to the close of the war, and was mustered out with the regiment. At the peace he returned to Illinois and followed his trade in Havana, but finally died an inmate of the Mason county poor house. (Chapter 26, page 343)

PRINCIPAL MUSICIAN ROBERT L. DURDY was born in Hagerstown, Washington county, Maryland, in 1827, removed to Illinois, was a printer, and enlisted from Bath. He was promoted principal musician from Company K, but his health failed in the Kentucky campaign, and he was discharged for disability at New Market, Ky., December 27, 1862. He returned to Illinois, and worked at his trade in Havana, where he died many years ago. (Chapter 26, page 343)

QUARTERMASTER SERGEANT EDWIN M. DURHAM was born in Greenville, Mercer county, Pennsylvania, December 19, 1841, and removed to Illinois in 1859. He enlisted as a private from Bath, in Mason county, and served through the Kentucky campaign in Company D. He was promoted to be quartermaster sergeant in 1863, served in that capacity to the close of the war, and was mustered out with the regiment. He first settled at Vicksburg, Miss., where he was a salesman, but removed to Missouri in 1869, and is at present a breeder of fine poultry at La Plata, Macon county, Missouri. (Chapter 26, page 342)

JOSEPH DUNN was born in New York City, in 1844, removed to Illinois, was a farmer and enlisted from Peoria county. He served with his company until killed at the battle of Buzzard Roost, Georgia, February 25, 1864. His remains are buried at No. 10155, in the national cemetery at Chattanooga, Tenn. (Company C, Chapter 29, page 392)

FIRST SERGEANT JOHN H. DUVALL was born in Fleming county, Kentucky, in 1833, removed to Illinois and was married and a school teacher when he enlisted from Mason City. He was chosen third sergeant at the organization of the company, served through the Kentucky campaign, receiving a slight wound at the battle of Perryville, Ky. He was promoted first sergeant and served with his company in all the campaigns and actions in which the regiment was engaged until killed at the assault on Kennesaw Mountain, Georgia, June 27, 1864. His remains are buried at No. 8726 in the national cemetery at Marietta, Ga. (Company C, Chapter 29, page 377)

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