Civil War Veterans Buried In Washington State - James Brewster

18^th ILLINOIS VOLUNTEER INFANTRY
Organized: May 16, 1861 Anna Union County, IL
Mustered In: Anna Union County, IL
5/19/1861 – State
5/28/1861 - Federal
Mustered Out: 12/16/1865 Little Rock, AR

MISSISSIPPI VOLUNTEER MARINE BRIGADE / RAM FLEET
Organized: 11/1862
Disbanded: 8/1864

REGIMENTAL HISTORY:  (18^th )

Rendezvoused at Anna Union County, IL on 5/19/186, the 18^th , an infantry organization,   was mustered into State service for thirty (30) days by Ulysses S. Grant. Shortly thereafter, it was taken into Federal service for three (3) years. During its period of existence it served in the western theater of the American Civil War (ACW).

In late June the regiment moved into Missouri. In August, with half the command sick with malaria, it returned to Illinois to recuperate.

January, 1862 saw the 18^th march into Kentucky and Tennessee with Union General Grant as he moved to capture forts Henry (2/6) and Donaldson (2/11 – 16). At the latter place the unit lost two hundred (200) men killed and wounded; fifty (50) died on the field and ten (10) soon afterwards.

Next came a march to Corinth, MS. Upon the Rebel evacuation of that location the 18^th moved back into Tennessee before starting on an expedition into Kentucky. As the year 1862 moved towards its end Co. “K” left the regiment for Memphis, TN, orders having been received for it to report to the Mississippi Marine Brigade / Ram Fleet. Within that organization the company was assigned to U.S.S. Monarch. (See Below).

Early January, 1863 saw the 18^th trekking one hundred and twenty-five (125) miles to Jackson, MS. This tramp was undertaken in snow, rain, mud and through ice-cold streams. The unit remained in Jackson until March when it began scouring the regional countryside for Rebs.

June found the 18^th at Vicksburg, MS. Not long after that citadel surrendered (7/3) a regimental muster found that sickness left less than two hundred (200) men fit for duty. Even so, the unit moved into Arkansas where it participated in numerous campaigns and expeditions.

Soon after 5/28/1864 when the term of service for those originally mustered in expired, they were mustered out. The 18^th then continued on composed of re-enlisted veterans and new recruits.

On 12/16/1865 the 18^th was mustered out at Little Rock, AR.  By the end of that month, and the year, it arrived at Camp Butler in Springfield, IL for final payment and discharge.

REGIMENTAL LOSSES:
Officers Killed Or Mortally Wounded: 6; Officers Died Of Disease, Accidents, Etc.: 7; Enlisted Men Killed Or Mortally Wounded: 99; Enlisted Men Died Of Disease, Accidents, Etc.: 282.


UNIT/VESSEL HISTORY: (Miss Mar Brig. / Ram. Flt:  U.S.S. Monarch)

The Mississippi Marine Brigade (M.M.B.) was a 350-man, Union amphibious unit which included the U.S. Ram Fleet. This “brown-water navy” organization was established to act swiftly against Confederate land and naval forces operating along the Mississippi River and its tributaries.

 The M.M.B. was raised by the Federal Government and, thus, fell into the category of US Volunteers. Despite its name, it was never part of the U.S. Marine Corps, was independent of both the Union Army and Navy and reported directly to Secretary of War, Edwin M. Stanton. During its latter days of operation it was also known as the 1^st Mississippi Marine Brigade (1^st M.M.B.)

U.S.S. MONARCH

The Monarch was a 180 foot, wooden, side-wheel tow boat, paddle steamer. She was built in Fulton Ohio and launched in 1853. In 1861, she sank in the Ohio River at Louisville, KY, but was raised, and repaired.

. In April, 1862 the U.S. Army purchased Monarch, gave her a heavily reinforced bow and commissioned her as a ram. She would then for serve in conjunction with the western flotilla ram fleet on the Mississippi River.

As a military vessel the U.S.S. Monarch had a crew of 120 U.S. Army officers and men. Her armament was 1 thirty-pounder cannon and 3 12-pounder howitzers.

On 6/6/l862 U.S.S. Monarch joined her sister ships in destroying the Confederate River Defense fleet at Memphis, TN. This action cleared the upper Mississippi River of Rebel forts and naval craft.

After the capture of Memphis, the Monarch turned her attentions upon Vicksburg, MS. Actions along the Yazoo and Arkansas rivers followed as did support functions in the Tennessee Valley.

With the fall of Vicksburg on 7/4/1863 and the collapse of Confederate naval forces on the western rivers. , Monarch’s mission was accomplished. She was laid up in storage below St. Louis and dropped from the U.S. naval list in 1864. 

Sunk by ice during 12/1864, Monarch was refloated and taken to Mound City, IL. There, in 7/1865 she was dismantled and scrapped.

RAM FLEET/U.S.S. MONARCH LOSSES:
No Loss Numbers Available.

SOLDIER: (18^th)
Residence: Carbondale Jackson County IL   Age: 21 yrs.
Enlisted/Enrolled: 5/2/1861   Rank: Pvt.
Mustered In: 5/28/1861 Anna, IL
Transferred Out: 12/1862
Transferred In: 1863/’64
Mustered Out: 1864 or 1865
Highest Rank: Pvt.
Rank At Discharge: Pvt.

SOLDIER:  (M.M.B. / Ram Flt.)
Residence: Carbondale Jackson County, IL   Age: Infor. Not Available
Transferred In: 12/11/1862   Rank: Pvt.
Transferred Out: 1863/’64
Highest Rank: Pvt.

PERSONAL/FAMILY HISTORY:

John “James” Brewster was born 10/19/1940. It is surmised the nickname James was given him by his parents after they also named their third child and second son, John. His place of birth was Vinton, OH.

Parenting James were Jeremiah Brewster (b. 1815 KY – d/ 4/18/1877 Jackson County, IL) and Mary Ellen (nee Hagler b. 6/20/1820 Pomona Jackson County, IL – d. 3/3/1899 Duquoin Perry County, IL) Brewster.

 The Brewsters were farmers. 'As best as can be determined, Jeremiah and Mary produced at least nine (9) children, with James being the first. If, in fact, he was born in Ohio, his parents subsequently moved to Illinois. 

James’  younger siblings were: Mary Ann Brewster (b. 11/5/1842 Jackson County, IL) John A. Brewster (b. 1844 Jackson County, IL), William Harrison Brewster ( b. 8/11/1846 Jackson County, IL), Hannah Brewster (b. 3/9/1849 Jackson County, IL), Martha Jane Brewster (b. 12/19/1853), Lawrence Brewster (b. 1854 Jackson County, IL), Laura Lucretia Brewster (b. 7/28/1858 Jackson County, IL) and Cora May Brewster (b. 7/13/1863 Jackson County, IL).

Beyond his birth, the first we learn of James comes from 1861 when he enlisted in the U.S. Army. At that point in time he was physically described as being five feet, eight inches (5’8”) in height, having light hair, light eyes and a light complexion.

 Interestingly, as a single young man enlisting in the military he noted his occupation as “medical student.” That, combined with the fact that his community of residence at enlistment was Carbondale, IL, makes it possible that he was studying at – what is today - Southern Illinois University. 

Within the 18^th Private Brewster was a member of Co. “K.” In December, 1862 Co. “K” was detached from the 18^th and assigned to the Mississippi Marine Brigade / Ram Fleet. It appears that while in the M.M.B. – at least for a time – he served aboard the ram U.S.S. Monarch before being transferred back to the 18^th. Surviving The War, he returned to Illinois and became a medical doctor.

On 2/4/1867 in Jackson County, IL, Dr. James Brewster married. His bride was Sophia Cochran. Sophia had been born in Ohio 5/23/1843.

During their years together James and Sophia produced three children. They were: Etta “Ettie” May Brewster (b. 5/1862 Jackson County, IL), Carrie S. Brewster (b. 11/1868 Jackson County, IL) and James Rollie Brewster (b. 10/20/1874 Jackson County, IL). As noted by the birth locations of their children, after marrying James and Sophia set up house – and his medical practice – in Jackson County, IL.

By 1880 the Brewsters had quitted Illinois and removed to Van Buren, IA. From there, as of 1900, the dawn of the twentieth century they had migrated westward to Seattle King County, WA. What had drawn them to the Puget Sound region of the Pacific Northwest and exactly when they had arrived here are unknowns.

Dr. James Brewster, retired, died in Seattle on 5/5/1911. The cause of his passing at age 70.6 years of age was ascribed to myocarditis (heart disease) from which he had suffered for “several years.” Burial was in Seattle’s Mt. Pleasant Cemetery.

Dropping back a decade, on 5/7/1901 Dr. Brewster had applied for and been granted a U.S. Government disability pension based on his days of Civil War soldiering. Without accessing his pension files, however, the size of his monthly stipend remains unknown.

Following her husband’s death, on 5/20/1911 Sophia petitioned to continue receiving at least a portion of his pension funds. The request was granted, but, again, without accessing her widow file the amount of her allotment remains shrouded.

Sophia died in Seattle on 9/29/1926. She was/is buried with James in the Mt. Pleasant Cemetery.
__________________________________________________________________________________

* This is the d.o.d. on the death certificate. Another source gives 5/11/1911.

Posted: 1/8/2024
Updated: 

Buried at Mt Pleasant Cemetery AKA Free Methodist & Seattle IOOF