Van Tuyl family

Van Tuyl, Lewis, 1836-1868

Rank : Sgt.

Regiment : 10th Illinois Infantry Regiment, Co. E. (1861-1865)

Service : 1861 August 30-1865 July 4

Lewis Van Tuyl was born on January 26, 1836, in Warren County, Ohio, the third of five children born to Isaac Van Tuyl and his first wife, Sarah Ann Williams, who died in 1845. In 1847, his father married widow Elizabeth Davis Shauman, and the couple had several additional children. In the mid-1850s, the family moved to Biggsville, Henderson County, Illinois, where they worked as farmers.

On August 30, 1861, Lewis enlisted as a sergeant with the 10th Illinois Infantry, Company E. His regiment was encamped at Cairo, Illinois, through October, when it was moved to Mound City, Illinois, and then to Bird’s Point, Missouri, in February 1862. Van Tuyl was hospitalized in early March and therefore missed the regiment’s action at New Madrid on March 12-13. After reportedly losing 40 pounds, he left the hospital to rejoin the regiment and fought in the capture of Tiptonville, Tennessee, during the Battle of Island Number Ten on April 8. He later participated in the battles of Rocky Face Ridge, Resaca, Peach Tree Creek, Jonesboro, and Bentonville, as well as the Siege of Atlanta. On June 23, 1862, he was promoted to 2nd lieutenant, and on March 23, 1864, to 1st lieutenant. He was mustered out of service on July 4, 1865, and died in Honey Grove, Texas, on January 9, 1868.

From the guide to the Lewis Van Tuyl papers, Van Tuyl, Lewis papers, 1861-1865, (William L. Clements Library, University of Michigan)