My Genealogy Hound

JAMES R. COVEY, farmer; P. O. Le Roy; born in McLean Co., Ill., Feb. 18, 1842; he is a son of C. Covey, whose sketch also appears in this work; he attended school and assisted his father in farming until Sept. 19, 1861, when he enlisted in the 39th Regt. I. V. I.; was first sent to Chicago, then Benton Barracks, Mo., then to Maryland, and was in the battle at Alpine Station, Va., Jan. 4, 1862; they were incorporated in the famous division of Gen. Shields, engaged in the battle of Winchester, Va., March 23, 1862, remaining with Shields during the Valley campaign; was then in the Peninsular campaign, then to Suffolk, Va.; from there to North Carolina, then to Port Royal, where he saw the naval engagement between the iron-clads and Ft. Sumter; was engaged in the siege of Morris Island, S. C., which resulted in the occupation of Fts. Wagner and Gregg by the 39th, Sept. 7, 1863; they afterward engaged in the battles of Drury’s Bluff, Bermuda Hundred, Deep Bottom and Deep Run; before Petersburg Aug. 24 to Sept. 24 1864; Chapin Farm, Oct 7, 1864; Darbytown Road, Oct. 13 to 27, 1864, and, during the entire fall, was engaged in continual fighting; in April, 1865, the 39th was engaged in the gallant charge upon the rebel works at Petersburg, which was the direct cause of the evacuation of Richmond the following night; they then followed the retreating rebels, and succeeded in obtaining a position between Lee and Johnson, and, after severe fighting one day, Lee surrendered at Appomatox Court House; he was then mustered out of service, and received his discharge Dec. 6, 1865, having served in the Union army upward of four years; he enlisted as private; was promoted to Corporal Oct. 31, 1863, and to Sergeant Aug. 27, 1864; he re-enlisted as veteran at Hilton Head, S. C., Jan. 1, 1864; was wounded by a piece of shell at Morris Island, S. C., Sept. 14, 1863. Upon receiving his discharge, he returned home, attended the Wesleyan University at Bloomington one term, taught school one winter, and, the spring of 1868, commenced farming for himself, which business he has since successfully followed; he located upon his present place in 1875, where he has eighty acres, with good buildings. His marriage with Lizzie Jones was celebrated Oct. 8, 1868; she was born in Kentucky March 25, 1851; three children were the fruit of this union, of whom two died in infancy; the living — Hyatt E was born Sept. 1, 1875.