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![]() Private Nathan FlandersReport of the Posthumous Sale of His Possessions
The military service of Nathan N. Flanders was all too brief. He enlisted in the Thirty-Third Iowa Volunteer Infantry on January 14, 1864, and within a month illness had confined him to the hospital. The official regimental roster describes it succinctly: "died of disease February 18, 1864, Cairo, Illinois. Buried in National Cemetery, Mound City, Illinois." However, Stroud's Civil War News Emporium has come across a fascinating evidence of his life which provides a rare glimpse into one sad aspect of the War Between the States… the disposal of the property of men who died in the ranks. The image above is the outside title page of the detailed document. It reads: Presumably, following the sale of the soldier's meager possessions, the proceeds would be returned to his family. The actual document provides a simple checklist for the officers overseeing the sale, and Nathan's possession were, indeed, modest: one forage cap one blouse one pair of trowsers two pairs of cotton drawers two flannel shirts one pair of boots four pairs of socks one blanket one canteen one haversack one knapsack One of what must have been the least pleasant duties of military officers on garrison duty was to administrate in cases such as this. To prevent the temptation to take advantage of this trusted position, the Union required that three officers see to the disposition of the items. In this case, the three officers were members of the Forty-Second Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry. The Forty-second had a brief period of service, and never saw actual combat, but provided an invaluable service on the home front. The Wisconsin 42nd Volunteer Infantry website offers a fascinating account of their duty, including a particularly interesting description of their Provost duty. The three officers who signed Nathan's final official military document, with a brief summary of their military service, were: Captain George M. Humphrey
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