SUBJECT:
JOSEPH KIMMEL, (Illinois, Jackson County) Company A, 1st MMB
(Mississippi Marine Brigade, Union) 1864-1865
Born 3-30-1844, died 9-20-1921
Member of the Grand Army of the Republic, Murphysboro IL Worthen Chapter, #128

Two excerpts from emails that explain where Great-Grandfather was finally found!

September 2000

Have had one dickens of a time, locating information on a great-grandfather who served during the civil war. Finally hit pay dirt. You do not list his name on your roster links. But his name appears on the ILLINOIS VETERANS COMMISSION HONOR ROLL, 1955-56.

He was JOSEPH KIMMEL, died 9/20/1921, served as a Private from Jackson County, Murphysboro, IL, (Somerset Twp.), buried Zion Lutheran Cemetery there. Served in Company E, 81st IL Infantry.

RETRACTION AND CORRECTION FOLLOWS:
July 23, 2001

You may be interested to learn, my great-grandfather, JOSEPH KIMMEL, served in the most obscure unit of the war, the MMB or MISSISSIPPI MARINE BRIGADE. A kind soul searched the National Archives for me since I absolutely could not document anywhere that he had served in the Illinois 81st. He discovered my great grandfather's records. He was not a volunteer in a State of Illinois regiment, but served as a "river soldier" in a unit raised directly by the U.S. Government.

My great grandfather was born, raised and died in Jackson County, Illinois, so we had spent countless hours looking for his military service from Illinois. He signed up in Carbondale, IL to serve three years in the MMB.

You've never heard of it? Join the crowd. It is so obscure that it does not even appear in the standard Civil War reference work from the Union, "Dyer's Compendium". I would never have found it without the help of a complete stranger I met on the internet, who searches as a hobby. He has sent me copies of 46 pages, i.e. the pension file and military record for my grandfather.

I have emailed countless people, anyone and everyone that I have ever corresponded with, whether regarding the Civil War or not, getting the word out about this unit. Many "experts" have not heard of the MMB, The Mississippi Marine Brigade.

Originally, it was called ELLET'S RAM FLEET, as that was their objective. The Union boats would "ram" the Confederate boats and back off to let them sink, as the Union was experiencing losses from the Confederate boats. The soldiers became land based in Vicksburg summer of 1864 when the river quieted down and the War drew to a close. At that time, the name changed to include Company A, 1st MMB.

My cause now is to try and get a designation, at least at the Illinois Archives and various websites, for IL soldiers who fought in the war, but were NOT in an IL regiment. Perhaps you could help. Their story needs to be told as well. They must be honored along with their comrades whose names do appear on State Regimental rosters.

The way I understand it, there was the regular army. He was not in it. Then there were the state regiments. He was not there. It is a category not covered A N Y W H E R E officially! IT SHOULD BE.

Any suggestions? I would appreciate your help. Thanks.


Contributed by: Carol Kimmel Allsup