I've had an interest in the Civil War most of my life and have always enjoyed researching, reading and learning about this period in our history. I have a particular interest in the units of Illinois and Kentucky because I have relatives who participated in the "sectional war" and were forced to make the decision to "side with," and remain loyal to, the region in which their homes were located. In the case of those from Illinois, though they were originally from Kentucky, they chose to enlist in the Illinois regiments. The relatives who still lived in Kentucky had a far more difficult choice to make. As Kentucky was a border state there were some of my relatives who chose to enlist with the regiments who were loyal to the Union and others chose to enlist with regiments loyal to the Confederacy. Within my own family there were truly instances of members of the same family in opposing camps.
My Greatgrandfather, Sgt. L. B. Cochran, enlisted in Company D of the 16th Regiment Illinois Infantry during the conflict and was transferred to the 60th Regiment 1 January, 1864. I have in my possession the bible he carried in his haversack the four years he served.
In the margins of the bible I've found many notes he wrote to be of interest when compared with the 16th and 60th Regimental Histories. There are passages he underlined and in the margins he dated them and indicated who read the passage if it were someone other than he. These marginal notes were written either prior to, or following, engagements in which the 16th or 60th participated while he was serving.
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