Tillotson

Tillotson M. Neaves (Neves)

Dedicated to a Civil War soldier who is probably buried in my home town.

A summary of the research.

With many thanks to Vicki Baker and Tim Beckman for their assistance.
Thanks to Tom for scanning the letter.

Why I started looking for him

Bill Tabor, who works at Rose Hill cemetery in Rifle, Colorado, called me to ask if I could find some information about someone buried in the cemetery. He'd unearthed a simple marble unmarked stone, but the cemetery index only said that a Mr. Neave, Confederate soldier, was buried there.

Research Process

The first place I looked for additional information was the Colorado State Archives, because of the Colorado Veterans' Grave Registrations list for veterans who were buried in Colorado between 1862 and 1949. (<http://www.colorado.gov/dpa/doit/archives/military/graves/index.html>)

This is the entry from the index for Tillotson:

Last Name First Name County Cemetery Birthdate Birthplace
Neaves	Tillotson M	Garfield	Rosehill	'1834	IN

I asked for information they used to prove Tillotson was buried in Rifle, and they sent me

a) a map of the cemetery marking the plot
b) the information from the card which says the sources were a burial permit, the cemetery records, and the GAR roster.

I have copied the (so far as I can find) only existing roster for our local GAR chapter, which was published in the 1916 Rifle Telegram, and Tillotson is listed as "Mr. Neave" with no other information. Sometimes I think he came to Rifle just to die and be buried here. Minnie Morgan is listed as the owner of his cemetery plot and she also owns the plot of Ura Pinkney Morgan, who died in 1907 and is buried next to him. Ura has a relatively new stone, probably purchased within the last 20 years.

The Civil War Soldiers and Sailors Registration System lists the following information for Tillotson:
<http://www.itd.nps.gov/cwss/soldiers.htm>

Tillotson M. Neaves (First_Last)
Regiment Name 42 Indiana Infantry
Side Union
Company K
Soldier's Rank_In Pvt.
Soldier's Rank_Out Capt.
Alternate Name Tillotson M./Neves
Notes
Film Number M540 roll 55

Just for the heck of it, I typed Tillotson's name into a search engine, and pulled up this webpage, which has a photograph of him:

42nd Indiana Officers Picture

Tillotson is the good-looking one who is numbered "9".

I sent for Tillotson's Civil War pension record at the National Archives, but they were unable to find anything. I did, however, receive his service record. Here is a summary of his service, provided in conjunction with the history of the 42nd Indiana from Dyer's Compendium. Additional histories of the 42nd Indiana can be found on Tim Beckman's 42nd Indiana page. (http://freepages.history.rootsweb.com/~indiana42nd/History_Home.htm)

Note the variations of Tillotson's name (the weirdest one is Piletson M. Neves , from The History of Company K, 42nd Indiana Volunteers, from Tim Beckman's page. Source: History of Warrick County, by Edwin Adams, 1868. Pages 61-65.)

Service Record Dyer's Compendium
Tolotson N. Neves Pvt. Age 21 years. Muster-in near Evansville, Ind., Oct. 30, 1861 Joined for duty and enrolled: Sept. 20, 1861 Warrick Co. Period -- during the war	Organized at Evansville, Ind., and mustered in October 9, 1861. Ordered to Kentucky, and duty at Henderson, Calhoun and Owensboro, Ky., till February, 1862.
Dec. 31, 1861 present as Corp. Tilotson M. Neves.
Jan & Feb. 1862 not stated	Advance on Nashville, Tenn., February 10-25, 1862.
Feb. 1862 Absent sick at Evansville
Mar. 1862, absent sick at Evansville, G.H.	Occupation of Shelbyville and Fayetteville and advance on Huntsville, Ala., March 28-April 11.
Apr. 30, 1862 present [Corp.]	Action at Wartrace April 11. Advance on and capture of Decatur, Ala., April 11-14. Action at West Bridge near Bridgeport, Ala., April 29.
May 31 - Aug. 31, 1862 present [2nd Sgt. ]
May 14/62, Promoted 2 Sgt
Aug. 31 to Dec. 31, 1862 present [1st Sgt.	Duty at Huntsville, Ala., till August. March to Nashville, Tenn., thence to Louisville, Ky., in pursuit of Bragg, August 27-September 26. Pursuit of Bragg into Kentucky October 1-15. Battle of Perryville, Ky., October 8. March to Nashville, Tenn., October 16-November 7, and duty there till December 26. Advance on Murfreesboro December 26-30.
In battle Chaplain Hills Oct. 18/62 Brave--in battle Stone River Dec 31/62 Jan 1, 2, & 3/62 gallant	Battle of Stone's River December 30-31, 1862, and January 1-3, 1863. National Park Service Battle Summaries ~ Stone's River
Promoted to 1 Sgt. Nov. 9/62, In skirmish Wartrace Tenn.
Promoted from 2nd Sgt. Vice Emory Johnson, promoted to 2 lt., Nov. 9/62	Duty at Murfreesboro till June [1863]
Jan. & Feb. 1863 Present [1 Sgt.]
Dated Mar. 10, 1863 present [1 Sgt.]	Reconnaissance to Versailles March 9-14. 1863
March & Apr. 1863 present [1 Sgt.]
May & June 1863 present [1 Sgt.]	Middle Tennessee or Tullahoma Campaign June 23-July 7. Elm River June 29. National Park Service Battle Summary--Hoover's Gap, TN
July & Aug. 1863 present [1 Sgt.]	Occupation of Middle Tennessee till August 16. Passage of the Cumberland Mountains and Tennessee River and Chickamauga (Ga.) Campaign August 16-September 22.
In battle Chickamauga Ga. Sept. 19 20 & 21 1863 distinguished himself.	Davis Cross Roads or Dug Gap September 11. Battle of Chickamauga September 19-21. Rossville Gap September 21. National Park Service Battle Summary Chickamauga & Chatanooga National Military Park
Sept. & Oct. 1863 present [1 Sgt.]
Nov. & Dec. 1863 absent detached on recruiting service Ind. since Nov. 14, 1863 [1 Sgt.]	Siege of Chattanooga, Tenn., September 24-November 23. Chattanooga-Ringgold Campaign November 23-27. Lookout Mountain November 23-24. Mission Ridge November 25. Pea Vine Creek and Graysville November 26. Ringgold Gap, Taylor's Ridge November 27.
Tillotson M. Neves Sgt. & Capt. , Co. K, 42nd Reg't Indiana Infantry Appears on Returns as follows: Nov. & Dec. 1863, absent in Ind. recruiting since Nov. 14/63
April 30, 1864 present [1st Sgt.] Enrolled February 19 '64 at Princeton Indiana, and mustered into service March 15 '64 at Indianapolis for 3 years. (as Vet. Vol.)	Regiment reenlisted January 1, 1864.
May & June 1864, Absent Hosptl. Nashville, Tenn. since May 15/64.	Atlanta (Ga.) Campaign May 1-September 8, 1864. Demonstrations on Rocky Faced Ridge May 8-11. Buzzard's Roost Gap May 8-9. Battle of Resaca May 14-15. Advance on Dallas May 18-25. Operations on Pumpkin Vine Creek and battles about Dallas, New Hope Church and Allatoona Hills May 25-June 5. Pickett's Mill May 27. National Park Service Battle Summary ~ Rocky Face Ridge National Park Service Battle Summary ~ Resaca National Park Service Battle Summary ~ Dallas National Park Service Battle Summary ~ New Hope Church National Park Service Battle Summary ~ Marietta National Park Service Battle Summary ~ Pickett's Mill Operations about Marietta and against Kenesaw Mountain June 10-July 2. Pine Hill June 11-14. Lost Mountain June 15-17. Assault on Kenesaw June 27.
July & Aug. 1864 present [1st Sgt.]	Ruff's Station, Smyrna Camp Ground, July 4. Chattahoochie River July 5-17, Buckhead, Nancy's Creek, July 18. Peach Tree Creek July 19-20. Siege of Atlanta July 22-August 25. Utoy Creek August 5-7. Flank movement on Jonesboro August 25-30. Near Red Oak August 29. Battle of Jonesboro August 31-September 1. National Park Service Battle Summary ~ Peachtree Creek National Park Service Battle Summary ~ Siege of Atlanta National Park Service Battle Summary ~ Utoy Creek National Park Service Battle Summary ~ Jonesborough
Sept. & Oct. 1864 Present Veteran [1st Sgt.]	Operations against Hood in North Georgia and North Alabama September 29-November 3.
Nov. & Dec., 1864 present [1st Sgt.]	March to the sea November 15-December 10. Siege of Savannah December 10-21.
April 30, 1865 1st Sgt. present	Campaign of the Carolinas January to April, 1865. Averysboro, N. C., March 16. Battle of Bentonville March 19-21. Occupation of Goldsborg March 24. Advance on Raleigh April 10-14. Occupation of Raleigh April 14. Bennett's House April 26. Surrender of Johnston and his army. March to Washington, D.C., via Richmond, Va., April 29-May 19 National Park Service Battle Summary ~ Rivers' Bridge National Park Service Battle Summary ~ Wyse Fork National Park Service Battle Summary ~ Monroe's Cross-Roads National Park Service Battle Summary ~ Averasborough National Park Service Battle Summary ~ Bentonville
May 1865, (Capt.), Present Comdg., Co. K., from May 23/65.	Grand Review May 24.
May & June 1865 Capt. Promoted from 1 sergt. to Capt. May 23/65.	Moved to Louisville, Ky., June and there mustered out July 21, 1865.
Appears also as T.M. Neves on return for May 1865

Miscellaneous information from Muster Rolls
Tilotson M. Neves Co. M 42 Reg't. 22 years 5'9 1/2" Complexion dark Eyes: blue Hair: black Born: Warrick, Mo.	Casualty sheet L.M. Neeves Sergt. Co. K Regt. 42nd Inf. Indiana Place of casualty - Murfreesboro, Tenn. Nature of casualty - Wounded (Nature and location of wound not stated) Date of wound - Dec. 31, 1862
Sept. 20, 186_ Boonville J.H. Masters; term war Promoted 2 Sgt. May 14/62, Promoted to 1 sgt. Nov. 9/62, In skirmish Wartrace Tenn. in battle Chaplain Hills Oct. 8/62 brave In battle Stone River Dec. 31/62 Jan 1, 2, & 3/63 gallant.	Wounded 1st Brigade, 3rd Div., 14th Corps, dated Jan. 10, 1863. Report of Genl. Rosecrans. Page 67. In battle Chickamauga, Ga. Sept. 19, 20, & 21 1863 distinguished.
Casualty sheet T.M. Neaves Sergeant Co. K Reg. 42 Infantry Indiana Place of casualty: Before Murfreesboro, Ten. Nature of casualty: wounded Date of casualty: not stated	2 Brigade, 1 Division, 14 Corps, Engagements before Murfreesboro Forwarded Jany. 13 1863 by Cal. I.C. Starkweather, Cmdg. 1 Div. "Centre" No. 16 Index 60
Tillotson M. Neves Sergt. Co. K 42 Regt. Age 21 years Muster-out roll	Roll dated Indianpolis, Ind. Mch. 15, 1864 Muster-out to date Feb. 18, 1864 Last paid to Oct. 31, 1863 Clothing account Last settled Dec. 31, 1862 Amt. for cloth'g in kind or money adv'd $25.35
due $100.00 Remarks: Was on recruiting serve in Ind. by General Order No. 105 War Dept. Discharged by reason of reenlistment as a Veteran Volunteer under Gen. Order No. 191 over N.P. M & D. Roll as Vet. Vol. on file Capt., Co. K Age 24 years. Muster-out Roll Louisville Ky July 21, 1865 Muster-out to date July 21, 1865	Tillotson M. Neaves. Capt. Co. K 42 Regt. Age 23 years. Individual Muster-In Roll Roll dated Near Alexandria, Va. May 25, 1865 Muster-in May 23, 1865 Joined for duty and enrolled: May 23, 1865 Near Alexandria Va. Period 3 years. Remarks: Disched as 1st Sgt. Co. K to date May 22, 1865 to accept appointment as Capt. Co. K Vice Masters disch'd. Bookmark: 8226 V.S. - 84 - over M/in accepted to take effect May 1 1865 Vice James H. Masters resigned
Capt. Co. K Age 24 years. Muster-out roll Louisville KY July 21, 1865 Muster-out to date July 21, 1865 Last paid to Apr. 30, 1865 Last settled Dec. 31, 1864; drawn since $25.75 due U.S. $4.39 Enrolled as Priv., Feb. 28 64 at Indianapolis, Ind. Promoted to 1st Serg. March 15 '64 at Chattanooga, Tenn. Promoted to Cap. May 23 '65 Washington D.C.

Camp 42nd Ind. V___Vol. Inft.
Near Louisville "K.Y." June 21, 65

Lt. A.C. McClung
A.A. General and Chief of Staff
Sir
     I have the honor to ask a leave of absence for 15 days to go to to my home in Montgomery Ohio for the following reasons.
     1st I have been in the Army with my company and Regt. for three years and nine month having never received my Veteran Furlough and that there are Thirty (30) Officers present in the Regt. for duty and one competent officer to take comd. of the company.
     Verry [sic] respectfully
           Your obedient servt.
                  Tillotson M. Neves
                         Capt. Former Co. "K" 42nd
                                             Ind.   AR RW

P. O. Address
Montgomery Ohio

Link to PDF file of letter (Tillotson's handwritten letter and signature)

Incidental information

Tillotson can be found on the 1850 Jefferson County, Indiana census with his family. Unfortunately, we have been unable to locate him after this, perhaps because of the numerous variations in the spelling of his name. (In this particular census, he is indexed as " Silatoon" which is sort of what his name looks like below).

1850 Indiana Census
Monroe Township, Jefferson County
October 31, 1850
Page #291

John, Eliza, Tilatson, Mary S., Ferdinand, and Reson Neves

John Neves family in the 1860 Warrick County, Indiana census

John, Mary S., Duncan F. (Ferdinand), Franklin R. (Reson) and Thomas S.

John Neves family in the 1870 Warrick County, Indiana census

John and Thomas S. (Franklin lives nearby).

1870census

Variations of Reason/Reson Neaves/Neves name can be found at www.familysearch.org, with greatly conflicting information and name spellings, and no further information on other family members.

Places I still need to look

a) Is there an obituary in *any* of the local newspapers?

Places I struck out

1) Census records.
2) Civil War pension file -- but I should try again with the information from his service record. Maybe it will help them find him.
3) City of Rifle. They say that Tillotson doesn't have a burial permit. Burial permits are apparently not separate items. They are the numbers, assigned in chronological order, to each person buried in the cemetery. Tillotson doesn't have a number, and therefore he doesn't have a permit. In the one book, where burials are listed by plot, he doesn't have a number. City personnel indicated that no other information is available. But I'm wondering where the information by plot is from.
4) Unable to borrow book on interlibrary loan that has Colorado GAR rosters. Will apparently have to visit libraries in Denver or Colorado Springs in person.

Tillotson's Tombstone Decorated for Memorial Day.
Photo taken May 29, 2007.

Things to add

Get the list of items the Colorado State Archives said they used.

Scan the cemetery map from the Colorado Archives

If you have any information about Tillotson, please contact me here

Tillotson M. Neaves (Neves)

Advance on Nashville, Tenn., February 10-25, 1862.

Occupation of Shelbyville and Fayetteville and advance on Huntsville, Ala., March 28-April 11.

Action at Wartrace April 11. Advance on and capture of Decatur, Ala., April 11-14. Action at West Bridge near Bridgeport, Ala., April 29.

Battle of Stone's River December 30-31, 1862, and January 1-3, 1863.

Duty at Murfreesboro till June [1863]

Reconnaissance to Versailles March 9-14. 1863

Middle Tennessee or Tullahoma Campaign June 23-July 7. Elm River June 29.

National Park Service Battle Summary--Hoover's Gap, TN

Occupation of Middle Tennessee till August 16. Passage of the Cumberland Mountains and Tennessee River and Chickamauga (Ga.) Campaign August 16-September 22.

Davis Cross Roads or Dug Gap September 11. Battle of Chickamauga September 19-21. Rossville Gap September 21.

Siege of Chattanooga, Tenn., September 24-November 23. Chattanooga-Ringgold Campaign November 23-27. Lookout Mountain November 23-24. Mission Ridge November 25. Pea Vine Creek and Graysville November 26. Ringgold Gap, Taylor's Ridge November 27.

Regiment reenlisted January 1, 1864.

Operations against Hood in North Georgia and North Alabama September 29-November 3.

March to the sea November 15-December 10. Siege of Savannah December 10-21.

Grand Review May 24.

Moved to Louisville, Ky., June and there mustered out July 21, 1865.