McCray, John C

John C McCray

NPS Photo

Quick Facts

Significance:

Company S, 25th Illinois Infantry

Place of Birth:

Rockbridge County, Virginia

Date of Birth:

1826

Place of Death:

Murfreesboro, TN

Date of Death:

12/31/1862

Place of Burial:

Murfreesboro, TN

Cemetery Name:

Stones River National Battlefield

John C McCray was born in 1826 in Rockbridge County, Virginia. By the time the war broke out, he had moved to Dallas, Vermilion County, Illinois and worked as a carpenter and had not yet married. At the age of 25, he chose to enlist into the Union army on June 1st, 1861 in Dallas, Illinois.

He mustered in on August 4th, 1861 with Company D of the 25th Illinois Infantry regiment as a Corporal. His enlistment records describe him as being 5'11" with light hair, blue eyes, and a fair complexion. Between his time of enlistment and the battle of Stones River, he had transferred to company S of the same regiment and been promoted to Sergeant Major on September 1st, 1862.

The 25th Illinois Infantry was led by Brigadier General Woodruff, Division General Davis, and Corps Commander McCook. On the 30th of December, 1862, they took a position on Gresham Lane and waited for fighting to begin on the next moirning. Early the next morning, Confederate forces made contact with Union troops to Woodruff's right, beginning their plan of attack. Facing against Confederate General Vaughan's Brigade, Woodruff's gave multiple counterattacks. By 10am though, Woodruff's brigade had been pushed all the way to Asbury Lane while fighting commenced along the Wilkinson Pike. Sergeant Major McCray was killed in action in the perilous fighting in the early hours of the Battle of Stones River. This engagement marked the beginning of the loss that was to come from the 3-day battle.

John C McCray is buried in plot K-4448 in the Stones River National Cemetery. He is also listed in the internment records as SGT MJ J.M. Grey.