Submitted by: John and Cindy McCachern
Crawford County Civil War Veterans, Robinson (IL) Argus
The Argus is indebted to Lawrence B. (Tinnie) Harbison of Fort Worth, Texas, for this historic picture. His grandfather, Dickson T. Harbison, is identified in the second row. Readers will find many familiar names among those which appear in the lines above. Should any reader recognize an unidentified veteran, the Argus would apprciate the name.
Tenatively identified, left to right: Top row: John Nelson, (unidentified), John Hudson, R. D. Johnson, W. F. Hughes, Al Parker, William Johnson, ___ Tennyson, J. William Jones, John Walters, James Kirk. Second row: James P. Wilson, (unidentified), Lewis Henry, Dan Kintner, Ed Cox, Jeff Daugherty, Rufus Longnecker, (unidentified), D. T. Harbison, Harlin Wheeler, James P. Emmons, James Ormiston Boatright, (unidentified), John E. Miller, J. N. Laughead, Allen Baker, Gen. Wilder, (unidentified), (unidentified), Aaron Young, J. A. Parker. Third row: George Petrie, John Dean, (unidentified), C. Grubaugh, W. Hope, M. Dick, (unidentified). Bottom row: James Wasson, David Winters, Woodford Hand, Joe Siler, John Kaley, William K. Highsmith, Perry Brimberry, Andrew LaFever, Sol Leonard, John W. Leaverton, D. Z. Condrey or T. N. Muchmore, William McCoy.
The group of Crawford County veterans and thier commander Brigadier-General, John Thomas Wilder, was photographed at the old fair grounds west of Robinson, during a reunion of Wilder's Lightening Brigade.
This brigade was composed of Indianans and Illinois Infantry but differed from other infantry commands, for at the instance of Wilder, it was equipped with the then new model Spencer repeating rifles and its troopers were mounted.
This command throughout the war was noted for its distinguished service. It lead the advance of Rosecran's army to the environs of Chattanooga, and was the first brigade to enter the city. It was with Buell's army in the second day's battle at Shiloh. When Hoover's gap of Cumberland Mountains was held by a strong Confederate force to give time to Bragg's main army to fall back toward Chattanooga, this brigade forced the Gap open and pursued its defenders on their retreat. This engagement earned for the brigade the name, "Wilder's Lightning Brigade."