Outman, George W

George W Outman

NPS Photo

Quick Facts

Significance:

Company K, 73rd Illinois Infantry

Place of Birth:

Auburn, Cayuga County, New York

Date of Birth:

1829

Place of Death:

Murfreesboro, TN

Date of Death:

December 31st, 1862

Place of Burial:

Murfreesboro, TN

Cemetery Name:

Stones River National Cemetery

George W Outman was born in 1829 in Auburn, Cayuga County, New York. He later moved to Vergenness, Jackson County, Illinois where he worked as a school teacher. After working there, he met Amelia Corbet who he would later marry on January 30th, 1851 in Williamson, Illinois.

On August 1st, 1862, he entered service at the age of 33 in Jackson County, Illinois. He mustered in 20 days later in Camp Butler, Illinois into Company K of the 73rd Illinois Infantry regiment. He was a corporal upon enlistment. The Illinois Civil War descriptive rolls describe him as having been 5' 9 1/4" with a light complexion, brown hair, and blue eyes.

The 73rd Illinois was part of Schafer's brigade at the battle of Stones River. They were in Nashville in December 1862, and headed south for Murfreesboro on the 26th. They arrived in the Murfreesboro area on the 30th and were positioned just east of Gresham Lane. Their main purpose for this battle was to function as reserves, however on the morning of December 31st, they were quickly called to the front for aid. The charges led by the Confederates against them in the area were heavy, and the 73rd was eventually backed into a V-shaped position along the Wilkinson Pike and McFadden Road. They were under continual, heavy fire and eventually had to break into a retreat through the woods. Corporal Outman lost his life in the front lines during this phase of fighting at the battle of Stones River.

Geroge W Outman is laid to rest in the Stones River National Cemetery in plot K-4271.