Full Unit History
29th ILLINOIS VOLUNTEER INFANTRY
Organized: Summer, 1861 Camp Butler Springfield, IL
Mustered In: 8/19/1861 Camp Butler Springfield, IL
Mustered Out: 11/6/1865
Regimental History
REGIMENTAL HISTORY:
The 29th was a three year infantry regiment. During the American Civil War (ACW) it served and fought in the Western Theater of operations.
In early 9/1861 the regiment was ordered to Cairo, IL. From there, during 1/1862, it moved into Kentucky before proceeding to forts Henry and Donelson in Tennessee. During the battle for the latter place (2/11 - 16) the 29th suffered one hundred (100) killed and wounded. Of those men thirty (30) were killed on the field.
During the battle for Shiloh/Pittsburg Landing, TN (4/6 – 7/1862) the 29th fielded four hundred (400) men. Of those, one hundred (100) were killed or wounded. Additional actions in Tennessee and Mississippi completed the calendar year of ’62.
Perhaps the most significant action of late 1862 was the Union surrender of Holly Springs, MS. That debacle saw eight (8) companies of the 29th captured. Those men were not returned to duty until mid-1863.
Late 1863 found the 29th in Natchez, MS. There, the unit was assigned to garrison duty.
1/1864 re-enlistments veteranized the 29th. Furloughs home followed.
Upon returning to the field the regiment, again, found itself in Tennessee. Near the end of ’64 the 29th returned anew to Kentucky.
New Orleans, LA is where the 29th found itself during the opening months of 1865. Actions around Mobile, AL followed. During the campaign to capture Spanish Fort (3/27 – 4/8) and Fort Blakely (4/2 - 9) the regiment lost twenty six (26) killed and wounded.
The shooting war ended; in 6/1865 the 29th was ordered into Texas. It remained there until final muster.
REGIMENTAL LOSSES:
Officers Killed Or Mortally Wounded: 5; Officers Died Of Disease, Accidents, Etc.: 3 ; Enlisted Men Killed Or Mortally Wounded: 70; Enlisted Men Died Of Disease, Accidents, Etc.:222 .
Soldier History
SOLDIER:
Residence: Jefferson County, IL Age: ca. 27 yrs.
Enlisted/Enrolled: 8/281861 Roland, IL Rank: Cprl.
Mustered In: 8/28/1861
Mustered Out: 8/18/1864
Highest Rank: Cprl.
Rank At Discharge: Cprl.
Family History
PERSONAL/FAMILY HISTORY:
George W. Dawson was reportedly born during 6/1834. No specific birth date is known.
Although one source noted his place of birth as Indiana and, another Illinois, it appears more likely he was birthed in England.
All that is known about George’s nuclear family are the names of his parents. His father was John Dawson. His mother was (Nancy) “Nannie” (nee Langley) Dawson.
By the time George came to America in 1855, he was a husband and a father. All we know about his wife is that her name was Mary and she had been born in England ca. 1834. His child, a son named William had been birthed around 1851 in England.
Where the Dawsons initially settled in The States is not documented. However, the U.S. Census for 1860 noted that a second child – daughter Mary Ann – had been born ca. 1857 in Pennsylvania.
That 1860 U.S. Census tallied the Dawson family in Rock Island, Moline County, IL. By then George and Mary Ann had a third child – son John, Jr. aged four (4) months – who^ was listed as entering this world in Illinois. George’s occupation as of 1860 was listed as “coal digger.”
In 1861 George enlisted in the U.S. Army. At that time we gain a glimpse of George Dawson the physical being. He was said to be six foot, three quarters of an inch (6’3/4”) in height with a fair complexion, light hair and blue eyes.
As noted at the beginning of this profile, Corporal Dawson’s unit was the 29th Illinois Infantry. Beyond his rank all we can say about his enlistment tenure without accessing his military service records, is that he survived the trials and tribulations of war and returned to his family.
1870. That year’s U.S. Census enumerated George and family as having quitted Illinois and residing in Village Van Buren County, IA. At that time George’s occupation was listed as “laborer.”
Another decade. Another census. The population tally for 1880 found the Dawsons – George and sons John and George - back in Illinois with their community of residence being Richland Grove located in Mercer County. Both George and son John were noted as “coal miners.” Mary is not listed in the household.
Mary is not noted in the census for 1880. On 9/5/1880 in Rock Island County, IL George married Ellen Sutcliffe. Ellen had been born during 7/1844 (loc. unk.). Although it is not documented, it appears Ellen had children from a previous marriage.
By 8/12/1889 George and family had removed from Illinois to Washington Territory/State. What had drawn them here and exactly when they may have arrived in Whatcom County are unknowns. The date shown is when George applied for a U.S. Government disability pension based on his days of Civil War soldiering. Although a pension was granted, details of the monthly stipend will remain unknown until if, and when, pension documents are obtained from the National Archives in the other Washington.
At the dawn of the twentieth century the Dawson’s address was New Whatcom (Bellingham) Whatcom County, WA. In 1900 George’s occupation was “day laborer.” By that time George was a naturalized U.S. citizen.
Following an illness of “several months” Ellen Sutcliffe Dawson died at the family home - 1606 F. St. Bellingham, WA - on 12/19/1915. She was/is buried in that city’s community mausoleum located in the Bayview Cemetery.
George Dawson died in Seattle King County, WA. 3/12/1923. His remains were returned to Whatcom County and were/are interred in the Bayview Cemetery.
Posted: 11/19/2024
Updated:
Cemetery
Buried at Bay View Cemetery in Bellingham