Full Unit History
138th INDIANA VOLUNTEER INFANTRY
Organized: Spring, 1864 Indianapolis, IN
Mustered In: 5/27/1864 Indianapolis, IN
Mustered Out: 9/22/1864 Indianapolis, IN
Regimental History
REGIMENTAL HISTORY:
During the spring of 1864 Union Gen. U.S. Grant began moving the Army Of The Potomac southward into Virginia. His Overland Campaign would ultimately help bring an end to four years of bloody American civil war.
In order to place as many “experienced” troops into the field as possible, many “seasoned” units were pulled from rear echelon guard and garrison, etc. position. In order to fill the void created by these call-ups states were called upon to create short-term regiments to take over these, primarily non-combat duties. Indiana’s quota of these “100 days” regiments was eight (8). These organizations were numbered consecutively from one hundred thirty two (132) to one hundred thirty nine (139).
As a wester theater regiment, the 138th, as most other, similar organizations, would be utilized for guard and garrison duty as well as any other tasks which might be required of them
immediately following Federal muster the 138th departed Indiana for Tennessee. Upon reaching Nashville they were assigned to railroad guard duty along the lines of the Nashville & Chattanooga, Tennessee & Alabama and Memphis & Charleston railroads. They were kept constantly engaged in that work until the latter part of 8/1864 – beyond the time for which they had enlisted- keeping Union Gen. W.T. Sherman’s lines of communication open for the transportation of supplies to his armies as they moved eastward upon Atlanta, GA.
REGIMENTAL LOSSES:
Officers Killed Or Mortally Wounded: 0 ; Officers Died Of Disease, Accidents, Etc.:0 ; Enlisted Men Killed Or Mortally Wounded: 0 Enlisted Men Died Of Disease, Accidents, Etc.8; Enlisted Men Deserted: 1.
Soldier History
SOLDIER:
Residence: Lake County, IN Age: 19.5 yrs.
Enlisted/Enrolled: 5/27/1864 Rank: Pvt.
Mustered In: 5/27/1864
Mustered Out: 9/30/1864 Indianapolis, IN
Highest Rank: Pvt.
Rank At Discharge: Pvt.
Family History
PERSONAL/FAMILY HISTORY:
Philip Axford Brooks was born 12/3/1844. His place of birth was Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada.
Parenting Phillip were William H. Brooks and Esther (nee Marr/Marcs) Brooks. Information on whether William and Esther produced other children is not available.
Exactly when Philip came to The States is not known. However, he was in Indiana by 5/1864 as that is when he entered the U.S. Army for “100 Days.” Surviving his brief military tenure, he returned to civilian life.
On 1/1/1867, in Crown Point, Lake County, IA. His bride was Medora Aspasia Durkee. Medora had been born 12/28/1851 in Madison County, NY.
During their years together Philip and Medora produced twelve (12) children. Only nine are identified in available documentation. They were: Edgar Carlton Brooks (b. 1/15/1868), Lottie Irene Brooks (b. 9/30/1869), Benjamin Clark/Clark Benjamin Brooks (b. 2/14/1871), Lena Leotta Brooks (b. 11/14/1876), Charles William Brooks (b. 1/1/1880), Laura Trixie Brooks (b. 11/12/1883), Dora Jennie Brooks (b. 12/3/1884), Earl Phillip Brooks (b. 8/22/1886) and Leonard Brooks (b. 1889). All of the nine (9) identified children were birthed in Iowa.
The U.S. Census for 1880 tallied the Brooks family in Sabula Jackson County, IA. At that time Philip noted he was employed in a flour mill.
Circa 1892, Philip, Medora and at least three of their children quitted Iowa and removed to Roeder Precinct in Lynden Whatcom County, WA’s Greenwood District. What had drawn them to this far corner of the Pacific Northwest is not known. A decade later, in 1910, they were still residing in Roeder Precinct.
Philip A. Brooks died 1/3/1916. He was/is buried in Whatcom County’s Greenwood Cemetery.
Dropping back to the 1890s. On 3/14/1892 while still in Iowa Philip had applied for and been granted a U.S. Government disability pension based on his “100 days” of Civil War soldiering. Details, however, of his monthly stipend are not available documents.
Following Philips passing, Medora petitioned to continue receiving at least a portion of his pension. Again, such was granted, but without accessing her widow’s pension file her monthly allotment remains known.
Not long after Phillip’s death Medora moved to Tacoma Pierce County, WA where she lived out her years in the home of son, Earl. She died in Tacoma on 3/11/1930 at the age of 78.2 years. Her remains were then transported to Whatcom Country and were/are buried beside Philip at Greenwood Cemetery.
Posted: 3/25/2024
Updated:
Cemetery
Buried at Greenwood Cemetery Whatcom Co.