As many of you probably do, I was surfing the numerous Civil War blogs, searching for I didn't know what, back in July 2020. There before my eyes was the name of one Pvt. Benjamin F. Boring of Company D, 30th Illinois. It was on a new site called the Western Theater in the Civil War, and in an article by a someone with the name Derrick Lindow. Wow, someone else also knew about guy! My "adopted" guy!
I went on to read about letters Boring had exchanged with a pen-pal, Will Jones, a younger childhood friend from Hutsonville, Illinois, their home before the war. I knew about the letters and much about the William C. Jones and how he would go on after the war to become a distinguished state representative, an elected Judge, and noted author of three books--the most noted one being Birch-Rod Days; and Other Poems.
Ben Boring was 21 years old when he enlisted as a musician and blacksmith, and almost immediately found himself in the early War Battle of Belmont. Here he suffered a slight head wound. During the war he would go on to write numerous letters to the editor of the Crawford County Argus which most were published. He also wrote several items that were printed in the National Tribune.
Following the war, Boring found himself residing at Terre Haute, Indiana where he became a teacher and a principal. One of Boring's many letters published in the Argus is the following:
December 1908-Obit Sgt. Rufus M. Longnecker-Co D, 30th Illinois
A TRIBUTE TO HIS MEMORY by an Old Army Comrade
I fully understand that at the present stage of life and business activity in this beautiful world at the dawn of the Twentieth Century, with congress, society and base ball upon their hands at once, that the editors and publishers of city and daily newspaper, have but very small margins upon which to insert deaths or obituary literature, especially an old soldier. Yet, it is with feeling of regret and reluctance that I see an intimate comrade, along with whom I passed shoulder to shoulder, side by side in the same regiment and company, under the shadow of the same flag, through the fiery furnace of a long and bloody war, one with whom I have faced death, wholesale and retail upon the numerous smokey fields of battle, one with whom I have trudged along sore footed, famished with thirst, pinched with hunger, a sweltering beneath the burning rays of a semi-tropical sun, over the stony turnpike roads or wading the loose, burning sands in the land of Dixie, the dear old Sunny South, one along whom I have so often endured the drenching rains, faced the driving snows, slept under the same blanket or poncho with no bed but mother earth and roof except starry concave or a frowning wintry sky, or with whom I have marched and camped midst floral scenery of fragrant long hedge rows of roses or ornamental trees and groves of fragrant magnolias, establishing in the fraternal ties stronger if possible, than that of brotherhood, I say it is with feelings of sadness that I see such a one laid away in his long and so silent abode without some tribute of respect to the memory of his worthy soldier life. Therefore I would like to say to the patrons and readers of "The Argus" that Rufus M. Longnecker, of Robinson, died Wednesday morning at the home of his son, Edward, here after a lingering illness from general debility. Comrade Longnecker served through the 90 days or three months service preceding the call for three years men, at Cairo, Ill., and at Bird's Point, Mo. Returning home he re-enlisted for the war in Co. D 30th Reg't Ill. Vols., and was a soldier in every sense or meaning of the word. Whether on lonely ticket post, in the dangerous rifle pit, or with the fatal line of battle, he was always cheerful, lively and full of jokes---The cheerful support of those around him. If a bullet whizzed close to his right ear he would say "a little further to the right please" If close to the left ear he would say. "a little closer to the left please." If it pleated the crown of his hat, he would say "a little higher please."
I mention those simply as samples illustrating his actions under the pressure of imminent danger. Our regiment, the 30th Ill. entered the field in Aug. '61, and served through the entire war in the 17th Corps, Army of the Tennessee. With this grand old organization, we faced the foe upon 27 fields of battle. Besides several isolated engagements. We took in the "Shiloh Campaign," "the Vicksburg campaign", "the Atlanta Campaign." or "followed Sherman to the sea," the "march thru the Carolinas, " the closing scenes and farces preceding the final fall of the curtain and the great war drama around Richmond, the fight and downfall of Davis, the collapse of the Confederacy and surrender of its armies.
Our first Captain was Thomas G. Markley of Hutsonville, as brave and good a soldier as ever bore a commission or carried a sword, but had the misfortune to fall at Belmont, Mo., Nov. 7th, '61, battle.
Comrade Longnecker was wounded by a grape shot in the bayonet charge on "the old railroad fence at Champion Hills, Miss., back of Vicksburg, May 16, '63. He was taken prisoner at Britton's Lane, Tenn., Sept. 1st, '62, where the 20th and 30th Ills Regiments were attacked by an overwhelming number of home guards and cotton pickers. He was again taken prisoner in the battle of Atlanta, Ga., July 22nd, '64. The day the brave McPherson fell. Comrade Longnecker was taken from this battlefield to the loathsome confines of "The Andersonville Stockade, "where he with his fellow prisoners all the horrors of hunger, and thirst, scurvy and vermin, for which that hell on was so remarkable. No soldier from Crawford county nor perhaps from any other county saw more service, discharged more hazardous and underwent more hardship, toil and danger for the defense and restoration of the American flag than he did. Besides serving his country as a faithful soldier, he also served his company both as a duty sergeant and as orderly. I never knew R.M. Longnecker as a citizen, only as a soldier. Therefore am not qualified to speak of him along theses lines. Hid death leaves but three or four of the old company still among the living, his brother Ben, W.C. Wilhite, Woodford D. Hand and myself are all that I know of for certain still this side of eternity. I have had the honor of writing many other obituaries, but if there will be one left for me remain to be seen.
Comrade Longnecker was brought to this city from Robinson some months ago by his daughter, Mrs. Daniel Reibold, of South Central St. Mrs. Reibold being called away from home to Dayton, Ohio, her father was conveyed to St. Anthony's hospital. one of the best institution of its kind anywhere to be found. From there he was removed to the home of his son Ed, on South 2nd Street, where he died of general debility, Wednesday morning, Dec. 8th.
B.F. BORING
1107 So 4th St
Terre Haute, Ind.
Old Robinson Cemetery-Robinson, Illinois
NOTE:
Edwin and Mary Longnecker had 6 sons serve in the Civil War:
Addison-Co H 11th Missouri
Benjamin-Co D 30th Illinois
Henry-Co I 21st Illinois-killed Stones River-Dec 30, 1862
Joel-Co F 5th Illinois Cav-State GAR Commander-1890
Michael-Co H 152nd illinois-Died disease 3-15-1865 at Tullahoma, Tennessee
Rufus-Co D 30th Illinois
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