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A generous
gift of Miss Daisy Tinkham Babb, this federal full dress coat belonged
to Charles Johnston Tinkham, Lt. Col. of the 26th Illinois Volunteers.
Born in Covington, Kentucky, Tinkham graduated from West Point Academy
in 1849, and worked as a civil engineer. He later settled in Homer,
Illinois, until his marriage to Caroline Coffeen on May 14, 1860.
With the
coming of the Civil War, Tinkham helped to organize Company F of
the 26th Illinois Volunteers regiment and was commissioned as Captain
on August 10, 1861 by Governor Richard Yates. After less than a
month of service, Tinkham was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel on
August 31, 1861. Armed only with hickory clubs, the 26th Illinois
began their career with guard duty in Quincy, Illinois. After guarding
the Hannibal and St. Joseph Rail Road, the 26th were assigned to
Brigadier General J. B. Plummer's Brigade on February 19, 1862.
Lt. Col. Tinkham and the 26th Illinois Volunteers engaged confederate
troops at New Madrid, Missouri and took part in the siege of Corinth,
Mississippi. On May 9, 1862, the 26th were engaged in Farmington,
Mississippi where Lt. Col. Tinkham suffered a wound to his right
hand. Though he would stay with the 26th Illinois Volunteers until
Fall, Tinkham resigned his commission on October 7, 1862.
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