Marseilles in LaSalle County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Sgt. James Sanborn

1839-1864

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, December 30, 2023

1. Sgt. James Sanborn Marker

Inscription. When the Civil War began in 1861, while James Sanborn was a farmer near Marseilles. He enlisted in Company K of the 39th Illinois Volunteer Infantry. In 1863 while Sanborn was waiting for the steamer to go home on furlough from South Carolina, his company commander, Captain Joseph Woodruff of Marseilles, was killed by enemy shell fire near Charleston. Sanborn took charge of the captain's remains and brought them home to Marseilles.

On August 16, 1864, at the Battle of Deep Run in Virginia, Sanborn was among 97 men and 7 officers of the 39th who lost their lives. His comrades were unable to recover his body. To this day he rests on that field among the “unknown.” Sanborn was one of over 250,000 Illinois men who served in the Union Army during the Civil War.

Erected by I & M Canal Passage.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. A significant historical date for this entry is August 16, 1864.

Location. 41° 19.747′ N, 88° 42.499′ W. Marker is in Marseilles, Illinois, in LaSalle County. It is on Washington Street east of Main Street (County Route 15), on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 451 Main St, Marseilles IL 61341, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Northern Illinois

and specifically in the Illinois River Valley.

It is also in the American Midwest

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 6 miles

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of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Marseilles Veterans Memorial (here, next to this marker); Marseilles Civil War Memorial (here, next to this marker); Marseilles Veterans Monument (a few steps from this marker); First Marine Division FMF Memorial (approx. ¼ mile away); Mistaken Shoot-out at Marseilles Dam (approx. ¼ mile away); The Death of “Big Steve” Sutton and the Birth of Laborers' Local Union 393 (approx. 0.3 miles away); Waterways that Built Chicago (approx. 5.2 miles away); Landing Ship Tank Memorial (approx. 5½ miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Marseilles.

Sgt. James Sanborn Memorial image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, December 30, 2023

2. Sgt. James Sanborn Memorial

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, December 30, 2023

3. Sgt. James Sanborn Marker

Featured marker is in the center, against the fence.

Credits. This page was last revised on January 14, 2024. It was originally submitted on January 14, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 178 times since then and 25 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on January 14, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.