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Bassett, Hoffman, Page and Marshall all participated in the siege of Vicksburg

Vicksburg – July 4, 1863

The end of the siege of Vicksburg. Lieutenant Mark M. Bassett, Company E, 53rd Illinois, wouldn’t consider the irony of his situation until over a year later. “The negotiations were going on slowly. During the 2d and 3d of July we would get up on the works three or four times a day when the white flags were up and visit,” scribbled Private Ranstead of Company D, 53rd Illinois in his diary.  The men in blue and the men and… Read More »Vicksburg – July 4, 1863

Lieutenant Mark M. Bassett; 53rd Illinois. Cropped from the photograph taken January 2, 1865 by Theodore M. Schleier in Knoxville, TN. From the book "Captured Freedom".

Mark Bassett; 53rd Illinois

All indications pointed to a man who live in Peoria, Illinois after the war as the source for the copy photographs found at the Library of Congress, Chicago History Museum and Peoria Public Library. His name was Mark M. Bassett and he was a lieutenant in the 53rd Illinois. Promoted to Captain at the end of the war but never mustered. Bassett’s name is found with either the rank of Captain and Lieutenant attached to it in later years. Lieutenant… Read More »Mark Bassett; 53rd Illinois