Thomas Cole

Life in the Civil War

By: Jena & Lacey 8-2

Fisher Jr./Sr. High School

 

*In order to complete this project, Jena and Lacey split the tasks. Jena researched the military part of Thomas Cole's life, helped to construct the rough draft, and typed up the final paper. Lacey researched his home and family life and completed the rough draft.*

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Included in this Biography:

-Thomas Cole before the War

-Cole’s Experience in the War

-The War’s Affect on Cole

-Cole’s Help in the War

-Soldier Life in the Civil War

-Bibliography

 

Thomas Cole Before the War:

Thomas Cole turned to war because of problems he had in his home-life. He was born in Ireland the year of 1812. He then met his wife, Elizabeth, there. Soon after their marriage, Elizabeth gave birth to their only son, John Cole. One year later, they had a second child named Ellen. Three years passed, and they soon had their third and final child, Elizabeth. During that year, Thomas had trouble taking care of his wife and three kids. Due to the difficulty they had in Ireland, Thomas decided to immigrate to America.

When the Cole family reached America, they had very little money and no place to live until they met a gracious man named Hezekiah Mead. He gave the Coles property to live on until Thomas had enough money to pay him back. Having no money to keep his family from starving, Thomas decided to sell the property for $16.58. Mead soon sued him for selling property that didn’t belong to him. After being found guilty, Cole had to pay $206.50, putting the family further into debt. Because of this, Cole felt he needed to get away, so he ran to the army and mustered in on April of 1861.

Cole’s Experience In the War:

Soon after Cole joined the war, he was made "Captain of Company C of the 38th Illinois Infantry in replace of Theodore Rodrig." (Behrens 120) Cole helped to fight in only four battles before he was fatally shot. He was shot four times on Sept. 20, 1863, and died 10 days later in a nearby "hospital." We have come to conclude that the "hospital" was an old church.

The War’s Effect on Cole:

During Cole’s limited years in the war, he wasn’t very successful. Because he left his family with nothing, he must have felt guilty, homesick, and worried of what was to become of them. That’s not all that worried him though. He probably went into war scared and unsure of what to do (since he had little military training) and what to expect.

When Cole was placed on his deathbed, he was probably affected both physically and mentally. He may have been depressed as he spent his last 10 days longing to see his family and even unsure of their well beings. He was also a very strong man, for having lived 10 days after being shot four times. Especially during the "Medical Middle-Ages" where doctors knew very little compared to what they know today. (www.civilwarhome.com/civilwarmedicineintro.htm)

 

Cole’s Help in the War:

Cole helped his troop as well as the Union to win the war by fighting in the tiny battles. "Many of these battles, such as the Stone River Battle, the Tullahoma Campaign Battle, and the Battle of Chickamauga, were all fought in Tennessee." (www.rootsweb.com/~ilcivilw/reg_html/038_reg.htm) By fighting these, he helped to gain more land for the Union.

 

Soldier Life in the Civil War:

Life for Thomas Cole had to have been rough. During the war, a numerous amount of diseases were spread from soldier to soldier within a camp. Camps were usually muddy and very uncomfortable. Meats and breads were the only foods usually fed to the soldiers, giving them bowel problems, since it lacked the fruits and vegetables they needed. Weather sometimes made it nearly impossible to march from place to place. Many times men would pass-out while marching because it was so hot. To add to the heat, soldiers marched in big, thick uniforms, and in shoes that may have been wet from rain or tracking through water.

 

 

Bibliography:

Behrens, Robert. "From Salt Fork to Chickamauga." Urbana Free Library. 1988. Pg120.

"38th Illinois Infantry Regiment." IL USGenWeb Project. 1997.

http://www.rootsweb.com/~ilcivilw/reg_html/038_reg.htm

Bock, Brian. "Civil War Medicine." Epicenter Communications, Jan. 7th, 1999. http://www.powerweb.net/bbock/war/

"Civil War Medicine." Shotgun Inc., 1996. http://www.civilwarhome.com/civilwarmedicineintro.htm