Higgins, Samuel C

Samuel C Higgins

NPS Photo

Quick Facts

Significance:

Company D, 19th Illinois Infantry (Regulars)

Place of Death:

Murfreesboro, TN

Date of Death:

12/31/1862

Place of Burial:

Murfreesboro, TN

Cemetery Name:

Stones River National Cemetery

Samuel C Higgins enlisted into the 19th Illinois infantry in company D as a private. This unit was one part of the greater U.S. Regular brigade, which was well known at the battle of Stones River for their valiant fighting.

Brigadier General Stanley and his men were positioned along the Wilkinson Pike and McFadden Road, waiting for the Confederate forces to draw near. They had been pushing back Union forces to the area since 6 in the morning on December 31st, 1862. Confederate forces finally made contact with the Union men lined along the Wilkinson Pike at 10am. In a three hour struggle for the area, the men in grey forced the 19th Illinois and other units in the area into a V-shaped position that couldn't be held much longer. Eventually this position forced the union into retreat, but without this struggle, General Rosecrans would not have been able to adequately prepare his line along the Nashville Pike and railroad tracks. It was during this intense fighting on December 31st, 1862 that private Higgins lost his life.

Samuel C Higgins is laid to rest in plot C-1027 in the Stones River National Cemetery.