Woods, Washington L

Washington L Woods

NPS Photo

Quick Facts

Significance:

Company C, 75th Illinois Infantry

Place of Birth:

Genesee Grove, Whiteside County, Illinois

Date of Birth:

1844

Place of Death:

Murfreesboro, Tennessee

Date of Death:

December 31, 1862

Place of Burial:

Murfreesboro, Tennessee

Cemetery Name:

Stones River National Cemetery

Washington L Woods was born in Genesee Grove, Whiteside County, Illinois in 1844. He lived there into his adulthood and worked as a farmer. At the age of 18, Woods enlisted with the Union army on August 7, 1862 in Genesee Grove, IL. He mustered in with Company C of the 75th Illinois Infantry as a private on September 2, 1862, at Dixon, Illinois. The Illinois Descriptive Muster Rolls describe him as having been 5’ 4 ¼" with light hair, blue eyes, and a light complexion. 

The 75th Illinois Infantry was established in September 1862 and pursued Bragg through Kentucky. They fought at the battle of Perryville on October 8, 1862, before marching to Nashville, Tennessee. They remained in Nashville, Tennessee until December 26th, when they received orders to march south towards Murfreesboro, Tennessee in pursuit of General Bragg. 

The 75th Illinois arrived in Murfreesboro on December 30th and began to prepare for a looming battle. The 75th Illinois was positioned on Gresham Lane at the start of the battle. Bragg’s Confederate forces began their attack on the area at 6am on December 31st, and the 75th Illinois was front and center to the attack. 

They held their line on Gresham Lane briefly before being pushed northward along the road. Eventually, Confederate forces conducted a J-shaped maneuver therefore pushing the 75th Illinois and other Union troops further north towards Asbury Lane. Eventually, the fragmented remains of the 75th IL reformed on the Nashville & Chattanooga Railroad track where other Union troops had been stationed. They remained in this area until the conclusion of the battle of Stones River. 

Private Woods lost his life on the first day of fighting at the battle of Stones River, December 31, 1862. He was one of the 94 enlisted men that the regiment lost during battle or due to mortal wounds. 

Washington L Woods is buried in the Stones River National Cemetery in plot N-5453.  

Tags: stones river national battlefield, stones river national cemetery, american civil war