
Milan Dunham Jeffers

Milan Dunham Jeffers was born on March 6, 1841, in Rose, Wayne County, New York. He was the second of ten children of James Wyley Jeffers, and Betsey C. Dunham. James was a Shoemaker, and Farmer. Due to improved Transportation routes, and the opening of government lands, the Jeffers decided to uproot and move to the relatively new state of Wisconsin. These opportunities were the direct result of government coercion of Indian Tribal lands, and the forced removal of some Indian populations west of the Mississippi. In 1852, or early 1853, the whole family packed up and travelled by boat on the Erie Canal to a port city on Lake Huron and boarded a ship which took them to Milwaukee. From Milwaukee the family took wagons hauled by oxen, which carried their possessions. Part of the time, some of the women and younger children rode, but the men and older boys walked. It took two to three weeks, to cover the 200 miles to Wild Rose, Wisconsin site of their new home.
On June 5, 1856, James Jeffers purchased 40 acres of land near Wild Rose. Over the next few years Milan helped his father and brothers develop their land into an efficient working farm. Not long after Abraham Lincoln was elected on November 6, 1860, seven southern states seceded from the union in protest. And on April 12, 1861, Confederate General Pierre Beauregard ​ordered his artillery to
open fire on Fort Sumter, located in
Charleston, South Carolina's harbor. These
were the opening shots in the American
Civil War. On April 15, Lincoln issued a
proclamation calling up 75,000 militiamen,
and a special session ​of congress on July 4.
By the end of May, four more states had
seceded from the union bringing the Confederated States total to eleven. At the special session on July 4, Congress authorized the calling up of 500,000 men to help fill the meager ranks of the U.S. Army. On July 21, 1861, twenty-five miles southwest of Washington, the Battle of Bull Run took place. The result was a resounding defeat of Union forces. Local citizens had gathered in almost a carnival atmosphere to witness what they thought would be a heroic spectacle of Northern supremacy in battle. Instead, they were horrified by the carnage of war, and the unorganized retreat of their army. A retreat in which they soon found they were unwilling participants.
Throughout this period, news filtered back to the Jeffers family through word of mouth, and local newspapers. News travelled quicker than it ever had due to the local expansion of the telegraph, and Western Unions cross-country line completed in 1861. No doubt many young men were filled with patriotic fervor, and on October 25, 1861, Milan went to Wautoma, Wisconsin, and signed up for a three-year hitch in the U.S. Army. He was assigned to Company A, of the 16th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry. His cousin John Jeffers signed up at the same time, and on November 25 they were mustered into the Army.
The 16th was organized and trained at Camp Randall, in Madison, Wisconsin. By January 31, 1862, the regiment was finally brought to full strength. Training continued until March 13 when they boarded boats, and travelled to St. Louis, Missouri, arriving early in the morning of March 15. They were immediately assigned to General Ulysses Grant. On the 16th, they boarded transports, and travelled down the Tennessee River to Pittsburg Landing, about nine miles north of Shiloh, Tennessee. They disembarked there on the 20th and reported to General Grant. At the time Grant was concentrating his forces at Shiloh. The 16th was assigned to the Sixth Division under General Prentiss on the extreme left of Grants lines. Immediately, the men fell into a regular routine of camp duties, and drilling. On April 1, Milan came down with a case of diarrhea, and a lung ailment. He was treated and was soon back to duty, though still suffering from his symptoms.
Saturday evening, April 5, Company A,
and three other companies from the 16th,
along with two companies from the 20th
Missouri was sent out on picket duty. They
went out about a mile from camp and
remained there until five the next morning.
About this time the Missouri companies were
attacked by Confederate forces and driven
back. They regrouped, and with the help of
the 16th Wisconsin, launched a vicious
counterattack. Milan now suffering from
dysentery picked up his rifle and joined his
company. This counterattack took place in
the vicinity of the Hornet's Nest and Peach
Orchard, both locations of the heaviest
fighting that took place at Shiloh. They
advanced up a slight rise to Confederate defenses situated behind a log fence suffering heavy casualties. Company A lost their commanding officer Captain Edward Saxe. The 16th remained in constant combat from five that morning until relieved around three that afternoon, having been attacked before breakfast they fought all day with no food or water. Under these conditions, and dealing with a high fever and diarrhea, Milan was close to collapse. The battle continued until dark, then started up again the next day, ending in a costly Union victory on April 7. During the Battle of Shiloh, Union forces suffered a little over 13,000 casualties and the Confederates around 10,000.
The 16th was allowed some time to recover and refit after Shiloh. But on May 1st they were on the move again, this time the Sixth Division was with General Halleck's troops. Halleck was extremely cautious, and as a result the confederates were given ample opportunity to organize themselves and stage a masterful retreat from the Union's superior numbers. The Union advance was so cautious that it took them 29 days to cover the 24 miles to Corinth, Mississippi. By the time they arrived, the Confederates had already pulled out completely.
On June 6, the 16th moved a short distance south of town, set up camp, and
built fortifications. Sometime in late June or early July, Milan became very ill.
On July 17, 1862, he was sent down the Tennessee and Mississippi River to
Jefferson Barracks Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri. He ended up staying there
for two months. A man from Milan's hometown, Nathaniel Milliken was at the
hospital, visiting his sick brother Joseph. Joseph died on August 8th. After
going home, Nathaniel informed Betsey Jeffers that her son was very sick and
emaciated, and it would probably be a good idea if she went to be with him.
Betsey wasted no time and left Wild Rose to take care of her son. After her
arrival the military doctors evaluated Milan's condition and determined that he
had Phthisis Pulmonalis. (Most definitions say that this means tuberculosis.)
On September 27, Milan was given a medical discharge from the Army. Milan
was being sent home to die. When he joined the Army, he weighed around
175lbs. By the time he arrived home, he weighed a little under 100lbs.
As it turned out, Milan did not die. In fact, he spent the next year
recovering his health, and on November 28, 1863, he reenlisted. This time he
was assigned to Company C, of the 35th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry. By
February 24, 1864, the entire regiment was finally mustered in at Camp
Washburn, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. They left the state on April 18, 1864,
travelling 85 miles from Milwaukee to Chicago by rail. From Chicago they
continued by train for 290 more miles to St. Louis, Missouri. In St. Louis they
boarded a river boat travelling 1,200 miles to New Orleans, Louisiana. The 35th then travelled for 165 more miles by river boat to Port Hudson, Louisiana, arriving there on May 7, 1864. They remained in Port Hudson engaged in guard and picket duty until June 26. Then they were ordered to leave Port Hudson, 52 more miles by boat to Morganza, Louisiana. Here they were assigned to the 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, of the 19th Army Corps, commanded by Brigadier General A. L. Lee. The regiment was ordered to St. Charles, Arkansas. Leaving Morganza, they travelled by boat to St. Charles, a distance of 540 miles. It's possible they were sent there as possible reinforcements because of Confederate General Sterling Price's invasion of Missouri, and the threat of attacks being made by General John Magruder. They engaged in scouting expeditions, and guard duty. On August 7 they started the 540 miles back to Morganza by boat. On October 1, they left Morganza, the 35th went on a scouting mission, marching 60 miles to Atchafalaya, Louisiana. Along the way and after they arrived, they participated in several skirmishes. They marched back the 60 miles to Morganza, boarded a boat and travelled the 630 miles to Duvall's Bluff, Arkansas, landing there on October 18. On November 9 the 35th was ordered to march 60 miles to Brownsville, Arkansas. They remained there until December 1, when they were ordered to march the 60 miles back to Devall's Bluff. From November 1864, up to February 1865 they were engaged in building winter quarters and pulling guard and picket duty. On December 14 the 35th Wisconsin was assigned to the 4th Brigade, Reserve Corps, Military Division of West Mississippi, and remained deployed in the Devall's Bluff area. DeVall's Bluff was a major White River port, and the head of the Memphis and Little Rock Railroads was there. Union forces took control of DeVall's Bluff on January 13, 1865, and for the rest of the war Confederate forces contested that control. On January 31st the 35th Wisconsin was involved in fighting there. On February 7 the 35th left to assume their responsibilities in the upcoming Mobile, Alabama campaign. They took river boats for 820 miles to New Orleans, Louisiana. From New Orleans they travelled 180 miles by lake boat, then 5 miles by railroad to Navy Cove, Alabama. They marched 4 miles from Navy Cove to Fort Morgan, Alabama, arriving on February 26. Here they were assigned to 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, of the 13th Corps. From
Fort Morgan the 35th started marching the 65
miles to Spanish Fort, Alabama. The weather was
horrendous. They were pulling 200 wagons in axle
deep mud due to all of the rain. The 35th ended up
building miles of corduroy road. (Cut logs lain
across muddy ground.) After their arrival in
Spanish Fort, from March 23 to April 6 they were
under fire. On April 8, Spanish Fort was captured,
a few days later on April 12, the Confederate army
abandoned Mobile, and Union troops occupied the
town. On the 13th the 35th was transported 4
miles across the bay by boat, then marched 11
miles to Mobile. From Mobile they were ordered to McIntosh Bluff, Alabama. They marched and scouted for 94 miles. After a short stay they received news of the surrender of all Confederate Armies east of the Mississippi and were ordered back to Mobile. The 35th was transported by boat for 70 miles down the Tombigbee River to Mobile. Upon arrival the 35th refitted and boarded a Steamer bound for Brazos, Texas. It was an 8-day journey in bad weather. From Brazos they marched 9 miles to Clarksville, Texas, they rested there for a few weeks, and then were finally stationed in Brownsville, Texas. They marched the 30 miles from Clarksville to Brownsville. There they pulled guard duty in town, and on
government steamers going up and down the Rio Grande. Finally, on March 15, 1866, they were mustered out. They eventually arrived home on April 10. On April 16 they received their final pay and were disbanded so they could return to their civilian lives. 276 men were lost to this regiment during service. Two were killed in action. Three officers, and 271 enlisted men died from disease. Milan enlisted as a Private and ended the war as his company's Sergeant Major.
​ Milan experienced a lot during the war. he was involved in several hotly
contested engagements, endured a lot of sometimes brutal travel, battled hunger, thirst,
spartan camp amenities and survived life-threatening illness. Coming home was
certainly, an adjustment. But from all accounts he hit the ground running and got right
back into the swing of things. For the next six years he worked hard, side by side with
his father and brothers. Eventually he saved enough money, and on February 1, 1873,
he purchased 160 acres through the Homestead Act. Right around this time he started
keeping a diary. Most days he kept an account of what he did, who he was with, how
long he worked, and what the weather was like. He was a hard-working man, but he
did find time for extracurricular activities. Every Sunday, weather permitting, Milan
would go to a church service somewhere, and either stop by his family's or neighbors
place neighbors. Occasionally during the week, he would visit with someone, while
going to town for supplies. He spent quite a bit of his free time on Sunday's, escorting
various single women around to different social functions. He even took the
opportunity once to volunteer for jury duty. Around April 1876, he started hiring
himself out to paint for people. In the pursuit of this new endeavor, he found himself
travelling around the countryside and meeting new people. One of these new people was Betsey Christiance Merriam, of Berlin, Wisconsin. She was the daughter of Herschel Park and Betsey Towle Merriam. After meeting Betsey, he was seen less and less frequently with other young ladies. He also seemed to find just about any excuse to travel to Berlin or contrive some way that Betsey could stay with mutual friends in Wild Rose. Berlin was 38 miles away, so frequent travel between the two towns was far from convenient. Eventually the inevitable happened, and Milan and Betsey were married on November 7, 1878, in Berlin, Wisconsin. The new bride immediately moved into Milan's home in Wild Rose.
Milan was a hard worker but did suffer from residual effects of the harsh illness that he almost died from during the war. The government had passed legislation which entitled veterans with lingering ailments from the war to receive a pension. Various applications, medical exams, and affidavits offered by appropriate witnesses were necessary to fulfill established requirements before a pension could be granted. Milan started the process in March of 1879. He claimed disability due to diarrhea, disease of the lungs, and varicose veins. And soon after he was awarded a pension of $4.oo a month.
Milan and Betsey's first child was born
the following year on March 29, her name was
Betsey. August 28, 1881, Arthur was born,
Nora on October 15, 1883, then Merriam on
December 9, 1886, and finally Floyd, born on
August 2, 1890.
​ March 5, 1886, Milan filed for an
increase in his pension. He was rewarded
with a $2.00 increase to $6.00 a month on
May 2, 1886. Later, on August 1, 1890, his
pension was raised to $12.00 a month.
Milan came from a church going family
and attended church regularly before the war,
and according to his diaries did so afterwards.
But it wasn't until September 22, 1901, that he
joined one. That was the Wild Rose
Methodist Church, and on April 6, 1902, he was baptized.
On August 15, 1904, Milan was working on eliminating a nest of bees which had been making a nuisance of themselves. In trying to burn the bees out he accidentally started a small fire. While fighting to put out the fire he suffered several bee stings and then collapsed. He died later that day from heart failure. He was buried in a plot he had purchased almost five years before, in Mount Pleasant Cemetery, just outside of Wild Rose, Wisconsin.
​ About a month after Milan's death, Betsey filed paperwork to receive a Widow's Pension, and on October 3, 1904, she started receiving $8.00 a month. She received an additional $2.00 a month for her son Floyd until he reached the age of 16 in 1906. Betsey passed away on May 5, 1938.
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