Porter S. (John Porter) Little
During the summer of 1864, Generals Grant and Sherman being actively engaged with large armies against the enemy, the governors of the northwestern states proposed to the authorities of the war department to send into the field a considerable number of troops for a short term of service, who might relieve others on guard and garrison duty at the rear, and thus be the means of adding largely to the force of drilled and disciplined men at the front. This proposition was after a time, accepted, and the term of service was established at 100 days. The governor of Illinois accordingly issued a proclamation calling for the requisite number of these troops. Porter S. Little, born July 21, 1846 on the farm south of Vermont, IL, was too young to enlist in the regular army. He traveled to Bushnell, IL and using the name John Porter Little, he volunteered to join Company I of The One Hundred Thirty-Seventh Infantry Illinois Volunteers on May 14, 1864.
The unit was then organized at Camp Wood, Quincy, IL, by Colonel John Wood, and was mustered into the service of the United States June 5, 1864 for one hundred days. On July 9, 1864, the regiment left Quincy and proceeded to Memphis, Tennessee where it was assigned to The Forth Brigade, district of Memphis, Colonel E. L. Baltwick, of the 39th Wisconsin Infantry, Commanding. On July 9th it was reassigned to the Third Brigade, which was placed under the Command of Colonel John Wood. The 137th Infantry Illinois Volunteers (100 days) was stationed on the Hernando Road south of Memphis on picket duty. At 3:00 a.m. on the morning of August 21, 1864, Confederate General Nathan B. Forrest with three brigades of his command, numbering from 2500 to 3000 men conducted a surprise attack on the garrison at Memphis. While the bulk of his forces engaged Union forces outside the city, a detachment of around 400 Rebels moved on Memphis by way of Hernando Road and drove in the pickets on the road and easily broke their lines and entered the city. After causing general mayhem but failing to capture Brig. Gen. Ralph P. Buckland, U. S. Army, commanding District of Memphis, the Rebels were forced to withdraw after about six hours in the city. During the engagement, the 137th Illinois had three men killed, four men wounded and twenty men including John Porter Little were taken prisoner. The prisoners were held captive at Libby Prison near Vicksburg, MS until their release at the end of the war in May of 1865. John P. Little was mustered out of service May 23, 1865 at Springfield, IL. His grand-daughter, Arla Jean (Little) Cruzen has a certificate of Thanks for Honorable Service which was issued to John Porter Little on December 15, 1864. It is signed by Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States, and Edward M. Stanton, Secretary of State.
John Porter (Port) married Annabelle Hays October 26, 1873. Annabelle was born June 9, 1849 at Ripley, IL. Annabelle, a seamstress, had two brothers, James III and Robert, and a sister Betsy, who married Sam Miller. Her mother was Harriet Owens, born in Delaware, and her father was James Hays Jr. James Hays Jr. was the son of James Hays and Isabel (Ibbie) Crail who ran the first dry goods store in Vermont and a tavern/Inn called the Hays House. John P. and Annabelle had seven children, all born in Ipava, IL. Two little girls, Edna and Mary, died in infancy and are buried in Vermont Cemetery in Vermont, IL.