Jacob Pieter Eernisse

Background

Jacob's family immigrated into the U.S. in 1847, when he was about 16 years old. The family settled in Sheboygan County, Wisconsin. He married and had a daughter, but the daughter is not known to have had any children. Little is known about his life in Town Holland before he enlisted in the Civil War at age 31.

Civil War

Jacob died in the Civil War, perishing from disease in Helena, Arkansas. He is the only Eernisse listed on the Sheboygan County Civil War Veterans Memorial.

Name: Jacob Eernisse
Residence: Holland, Wisconsin
Enlistment Date: 21 Aug 1862 Side Served: Union State Served: Wisconsin Service Record: Enlisted as a Private on 21 August 1862. Enlisted in Company F, 27th Infantry Regiment Wisconsin on 21 Aug 1862. Died of disease Company F, 27th Infantry Regiment Wisconsin on 17 Aug 1863 at Helena, AR.

The Sept. 11, 1862 issue of the Evergreen City Times (Sheboygan) recognized the Eernisse family for the 13 members, all of Town Holland, who joined to fight for the Union in the Civil War. Reference: Knipping, Mark H. / A history of the 27th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment in the War of the Rebellion, 1862-1865 (2001) ("A patriotic family? - Who can beat it?").

Although he died in Arkansas, Jacob is buried in Tennessee:

U.S. Veterans Gravesites

Name: Jacob Eernisse Service Info.: PVT US ARMY CIVIL WAR Death Date: 17 Aug 1863 Cemetery: Memphis National Cemetery Cemetery Address: 3568 Townes Avenue Memphis, TN 38122 Buried At: Section C Site 3285

27th Regiment Infantry

Organized at Milwaukee, Wis., and mustered in March 7, 1863. Left State for Columbus, Ky., March 16. Attached to District of Columbus, Ky., 6th Division, 16th Army Corps, Dept. of the Tennessee, to May, 1863. 3rd Brigade, Kimball's Provisional Division, 16th Army Corps, to July, 1863. 3rd Brigade, Kimball's Division, District of Eastern Arkansas, to August, 1863. 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, Arkansas Expedition, to January, 1864. 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, 7th Army Corps, Dept. of Arkansas, to April, 1864. 3rd Brigade, 3rd Division, 7th Army Corps, to May, 1864. 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, 7th Army Corps, to February, 1865. 3rd Brigade, 3rd Division, Reserve Corps, Military Division West Mississippi. February, 1865. 3rd Brigade, 3rd Division, 13th Army Corps, Military Division West Mississippi, to August, 1865.

The 27th Wisconsin Infantry was organized at Camp Sigel in Milwaukee and mustered into service on March 7, 1863. The regiment left Wisconsin for Columbus, Kentucky, on March 16, 1863.

From Kentucky it traveled through Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas, Alabama, and briefly to Texas. The 27th Wisconsin Infantry participated in the Siege of Vicksburg, the capture of Little Rock (in 1864 companies A, D, E, and "H were assigned to guard duty along the Little Rock & Memphis Railroad for a short time), the campaign against Mobile and its defenses, the Siege of Spanish Fort, and the assault and capture of Fort Blakely.

The regiment was mustered out on August 5, 1865, and was discharged and disbanded on August 29, 1865. The regiment lost 259 men during service. Twenty-two enlisted men were killed. Five officers and 232 enlisted men died from disease.

SERVICE.--Duty at Columbus, Ky., until May 30, 1863. Moved to Young's Point, La., May 30-June 3. Moved to Haines' Bluff June 11, thence to Snyder's Bluff June 16, and duty there until July 25. Siege of Vicksburg, Miss., June 4-July 4. Ordered to Helena, Ark., July 25, and duty there until August. Steele's Expedition against Little Rock, Ark., August 10-September 10. Bayou Fourche and capture of Little. Rock September 10. Duty at Little Rock until March 23, 1864. Steele's Expedition to Camden March 23-May 3. Okolona April 2-3. Prairie D'Ann April 9-12. Occupation of Camden April 16. Evacuation of Camden April 26. Jenkins' Ferry, Saline River, April 30. Duty at Little Rock and Pine Bluff until February 7, 1865. Pine Bluff June 21, 1864. (Cos. "A," "D," "E" and "H" on guard duty along Little Rock & Memphis Railroad west of Brownsville.) Ordered to New Orleans, La., February 7, 1865, thence to Navy Cave, Mobile Bay. Campaign against Mobile and its defenses March 17-April 12. Siege of Spanish Fort and Fort Blakely March 26-April 8. Assault and capture of Fort Blakely April 9. Occupation of Mobile April 12. Expedition to Manna Hubba Bluff April 19-25. Moved to Mcintosh Bluff, and duty there until May 9. Moved to Mobile, thence to Brazos Santiago, Texas, June 1-6. Moved to Brownsville August 2 and there mustered out August 5, 1865. Discharged August 29, 1865.

Regiment lost during service 22 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 5 Officers and 232 Enlisted men by disease. Total 259.