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On 23 July 1862 (at about the age
of 19) Xavier enlisted in Company D of the 76th Illinois Infantry.
He was enrolled by the Company commander, Captain F. Sequin.
The 76th Infantry Illinois Volunteers was organized at Kankakee,
Illinois, by Colonel A. W. Mack, and was mustered-in (including
Private Xavier Arpin) on August 22nd, 1862. It was ordered to
Columbus, Kentucky, (a Mississippi River port) immediately after
its muster, arriving there on 29 Aug 1862. The Regiment was soon
after armed with Enfield Rifle Muskets. It remained at Columbus,
drilling and doing fatigue and picket duty, until October 4th
when the Regiment was ordered to Bolivar, Tennessee. They traveled
by rail, arrived on 5 Oct 1862, and camped near the city.
On 3 Nov 1862, the Regiment along with
other troops was moved to La Grange, Tennessee. It remained there
until 28 Nov 1862, when the Regiment (including Xavier) was sent
with General Grant on his campaign along the Mississippi Central
railroad. Private Xavier Arpin and his Regiment were at Holly
Springs MS on 29 Nov 1862 and at Waterford MS on 30 Nov 1862,
doing their part in driving Price's army southwest.
The Fourth Division of the thirteenth
Army Corps, to which the 76th belonged, remained near Waterford
"contending with fierce storms and fathomless mud"
until 11 Dec 1862, when it continued its march southward, crossing
the Tallahachie River, passing through Abbyville and Oxford,
and halting near Springdale MS until 22 Dec 1862. Then information
was received that the Rebel General VanDorn had captured Holly
Springs in the rear of the Union Army, destroyed a large quantity
of supplies, and cut off all communication with the North.
The entire command was about faced and
proceeded northward, living off the country "and at times
on extremely short rations". After several days slow marching
and much speculation in the entire absence of northern news as
to what was to become of the Regiment and the army and the country,
Holly Springs was recaptured on 5 Jan 1863. Xavier and the 76th
stayed there until 10 Jan 1863, "witnessing many extensive
conflagrations". The 76th was the last regiment to leave
the city; it marched out about sunset. The Rebels, "hovering
around in the vicinity", occupied the city immediately upon
the exit of the 76th Illinois. The Regiment arrived at Moscow
TN (about 35 miles east of Memphis TN) on the evening of 11 Jan
1863 and remained there until 5 Feb 1863, on full rations.
While at Moscow TN, the Regiment received
official information of the resignation of (on 6 January 1863)
of Col. Mack, who was at that time absent from the Regiment.
On 11 May 1863, Lt. Col. Busby was promoted to Colonel.
On 5 Feb 1863, the camp of the Regiment
was moved, through snow and mud, about ten miles, to the village
of Lafayette TN (not the modern city of Lafayette in northern
TN). It remained there until 13 May 1863, when it embarked with
other troops on a fleet of steamers and moved down the Mississippi
River
Xavier, however, "took sick at Moscow,
Tenn." On 13 May 1863, he was "left sick" at Memphis
while the Regiment proceeded to Vicksburg, Mississippi.
On 14 November 1863, Private Xavier Arpin
was discharged at Memphis, Tenn. because of a disability. The
Certificate of Disability for Discharge included the following
statements.
...is nineteen years of age, 5 ft 9 inches
high, dark complexion, dark eyes, dark hair, and by occupation
when enlisted a Farmer.
CERTIFY that I have carefully examined
said Xavier Arpin of Captain Sequin's Company, and find him incapable
of performing the duties of a soldier because of Chronic inflammation
of liver & spleen and an asarra [sp?] "impairing his
General Health to such a degree as to leave no reasonable doubt
of the man's incapacity for military service". Unsuitable
for Invalid Corps. Degree of disability: «
Daniel Stahl
Surgeon 7th Ill. Cav
in charge of Provl Encampment
The place where the soldier desires to
be addressed;
Town: Bourbonnais Grove Co.: Kankakee State: Illinois |
