Franklin McDonald (1840-1926) enlisted in the union army - D company, 13th Infantry.
13th Illinois
Infantry “Fremont’s
Grey Hounds”
The Thirteenth Illinois Infantry was composed of volunteers from Lee,
Whiteside, Rock Island, De Kalb, Stephenson, Cook and Kane
counties. The Regiment was mustered in for three years service April 21,
1861 at Camp Dement,
Dixon, Illinois.
In July it was sent to Rolla,
Missouri where it remained until
spring, 1862. While stationed in Rolla, it was engaged in
guarding supply trains and was part of General Fremont’s force. The
Regiment was given the name “Fremont’s
Grey Hounds” by Fremont himself because of the Regiments exemplary march of 42
miles in a single day. In late 1862 and early 1863 the Thirteenth was
part of Sherman’s
Yazoo Expedition and fought at Chickasaw Bayou and was present at the capture
of Arkansas Post. Next it fought at Grand
Gulf, Vicksburg
and Jackson. It
was at Chickasaw Bayou that the Regiment lost a stand of colors.(1) The
Thirteenth moved with Sherman to Chattanooga and fought there, at Lookout
Mountain and at Missionary
Ridge where they captured the flag of the 18th Alabama
Infantry. First Lieutenant Simeon Joselyn of Amboy was awarded the Medal of
Honor for his actions at Missionary Ridge
--“While commanding his company, deployed as skirmishers, came upon a large
body of the enemy, taking a number of them prisoners. Lt. Joselyn himself
shot their color bearer seized the colors and brought them back to his
regiment.” (2,3) The Regiment moved to Ringgold Gap and it was at Ringgold
Gap that Color Bearer Riley was killed. This Regiment did not march to
the sea but was left to guard communications in the rear. The Regiment
mustered out June 18, 1864.(4)
Military History and
Reminiscences of the Thirteenth Regiment of Illinois
Volunteer Infantry in the Civil War in the United States, 1861-1865
(Woman's Temperance Publishing Association, Chicago, 1892) pp 281-282
Flag from the 13th
Illinois Infantry