Zink, Peter H

Unknown Marker

NPS Photo

Quick Facts

Significance:

Company H, 79th Illinois Infantry

Place of Birth:

Edgar County, Illinois

Date of Birth:

1839

Place of Death:

Murfreesboro, Tennessee

Date of Death:

December 31, 1862

Place of Burial:

Murfreesboro, Tennessee

Cemetery Name:

Stones River National Cemetery

Peter H Zink was born in 1839 in Edgar County, Illinois. In his adult life he worked as a farmer in Grandview, Edgar County, Illinois. On August 8, 1862, at the age of 23, Zink enlisted with the Union Army in Kansas, Illinois. He mustered into Company H of the 79th Illinois Infantry as a private on August 28, 1862, at Camp Terry, Illinois. The Illinois descriptive muster rolls describe him as having been 5’10” with light hair, blue eyes, and a light complexion. 

The 79th Illinois Infantry regiment was organized in Mattoon Illinois at Camp Terry. Shortly after its organization, they were sent to Kentucky in pursuit of General Bragg. There, they participated in the battle of Perryville, Kentucky on October 8, 1862. After Perryville, they were sent to Nashville, Tennessee where they remained until December 26th. On December 26th, they were sent to advance on Murfreesboro, Tennessee. They arrived there on December 30th and began to plan for the looming battle. 

The 79th Illinois was positioned on Gresham Lane and quickly became the first line of defense at the start of the battle of Stones River. Confederate forces quickly swept around their right flank and pushed the 79th Illinois north towards Wilkinson Pike at 9am and eventually Asbury Lane at 10am. It was during these first maneuvers of the battle of Stones River that Private Zink lost his life on December 31, 1862.

Peter H Zink is buried in an unknown grave in the Stones River National Cemetery.  

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