Pratt, Archibald M

Archibald M Pratt

NPS Photo

Quick Facts

Significance:

Company F, 34th Illinois Infantry

Place of Birth:

Peoria County, IL

Date of Birth:

1836

Place of Death:

Murfreesboro, TN

Date of Death:

12/31/1862

Place of Burial:

Murfreesboro, TN

Cemetery Name:

Stones River National Cemetery

Archibald M Pratt was born in 1836 in Peoria County, Ilinois. He worked as a farmer in Taylor, Ogle County, Illinois until the war broke out. On Semptember 7th, 1861 at the age of 25, he enlisted at Camp Butler, IL to serve in the Union. His records describe him as being 5'5" with light hair, a light complexion, and blue eyes. Pratt enlisted as a private in Company F of the 34th Illinois Infantry. The 34th Illinois was led by Brigadier General Kirk, Division General Johnson, and Corps Commander McCook.

Prior to the battle of Stones River, the 34th had been involved in fighting in Kentucky, Alabama, and Tennessee. At the end of 1862, they ended up in Nashville, TN awaiting orders for where they would go next. On December 27th, 1862, the 34th IL infantry left Nashville with plans to stop in Murfreesboro and fight for the area. They faced many roadblocks on the way to Murfreesboro, one being that they made contact with Confederate forces and drove them back to town. They were also having trouble with the terrain, as it was unforgiving and was extremely difficult to move cannons through the area. On the 30th of December, they finally arrived to Murfreesboro and moved to the extreme right position of the Union frontline, preparing for the battle of Stones River to commence.

The initial strategy of the Confederate Army of Tennessee was to create a J-shape around the Union Army of the Cumberland's right flank and cause them to collapse in on themselves. At 6am on December 31st, 1862, the Confederate soldiers in the area made contact with the Union. The 34th Illinois was the first line of defense in the area and took the attack head on. After four hours, the men were pushed back from their starting position by Gresham Lane north towards Asbury Lane. At this point, the 34th's Brigadier General Kirk had been mortally wounded and was replaced by General Dodge. The brigade took heavy losses and the scattered remnants fell to the main Union line while the fighting moved to another part of the battlefield. This engagement marked the start of the Battle of Stones River and gave a foreshadowing for how bloody it would be.

On this day of fighting, the 34th Illinois had 21 losses, 93 wounded, and 66 missing. Of those losses, Private Pratt was one of those to lose his life on December 31st, 1862.

Archibald M Pratt is laid to rest in the Stones River National Cemetery in plot D-1634.