Charles O. Eaton
Graduating
Class of 1859
Served in
The
American Civil War
Private
Charles O. Eaton
Army
23rd Infantry Division
Company A
Hometown
Madison, WI
Date of Birth
Location of Death
Milliken's Bend, LA
Date of Death
Location of Burial
Baton Rouge National Cemetery, Baton Rouge, LA
More About Private Eaton
Charles O. Eaton was born in 1842 to Isaac Eaton of Madison. Charles enlisted into the 23rd Wisconsin Infantry Regiment on Aug.14, 1862, heeding the pleas of Lincoln for more men. The regiment was mustered into federal service on Aug. 30, 1862, at Camp Randall. The 23rd moved to Kentucky. Then, through Tennessee, came to Louisiana. While in Louisiana, Charles Eaton died of disease on March 19, 1865.
Charles' company was under the command of Captain William F. Vilas. Vilas was a philanthropist and the namesake of both Vilas Hall on the UW Campus and Vilas County, Wisconsin. When Charles died, Captain Vilas wrote his family a condolence letter:
"Charles was a boy of such excellent qualities of both head and heart, that he is universally lamented and bewept by all who knew him in the regiment. Through all the harsh intercourse of a soldier's life, he made not an enemy but gained from all who knew him, sentiments of respect and friendship, for his kindly disposition and genial qualities. I tender you for myself and company, our sincere condolence and sympathy in your affliction, which has deprived you of a noble son, and us a comrade in arms whom we all loved as a friend."
Charles is buried at Vicksburg National Cemetery in Vicksburg, Mississippi.