Last updated: January 8, 2026
Person
Pease, Ira Austin
NPS Photo
Quick Facts
Significance:
Company A, 19th Illinois Infantry Regiment (Regulars)
Place of Birth:
Fairfax Franklin County, Virginia
Date of Birth:
1841
Place of Death:
Murfreesboro, TN
Date of Death:
1/2/1863
Place of Burial:
Murfreesboro, TN
Cemetery Name:
Stones River National Cemetery
Ira Austin Pease was born in 1841 in Fairfax, Franklin County, Vermont. He enlisted at the age of 20 into company A of the 19th Illinois infantry unit on June 17th, 1861 in Chicago, IL. The 19th Illinois were under the command of Brigadier General Stanely and Division General Negley. When he fought at the battle of Stones River, he was ranked corporal.
The 19th Illinois was part of the Regular Brigade, which were instrumental in the battle of Stones River. On the 31st of December, they were caught in the most deadly fighting of the battle located in an area that they named the "Slaughter Pen." The Confederate Army of Tennessee had performed a J-shaped maneauver with the hopes of collapsing the Union's right flank. At 10am, they made contact with the 19th Illinois along Wilkinson Pike and McFadden road. The 19th Illinois was caught in the middle of this fighting, where they lost hundreds of men. They were pushed into a V-shaped position and eventually they had to collapse into a retreat for fear of losing their lives. The broken divisions of both Sheridan and Negley had to abandon 14 cannons in this area. They could only hope that General Rosecrans had completed his objective along the Nashville Pike.
Stanley's brigade ended up on the Nashville Pike after their retreat, and at around 3:30pm, they repositioned futher down the Nashville Pike to guard the Union trains. They remained in this defensive position until the end of the battle of Stones River.
Corporal Pease died on January 2nd, 1863 at the age of 22 years. Ira Austin Pease is buried in an unknown grave in the Stones River National Cemetery. His page is represented by a photo of the Regular Brigade monument located in the National Cemetery commemorating the valiant efforts of the Reuglar Brigade at the battle of Stones River.