THORNTON RIGG
Thornton Rigg was born 1 August 1842 in Perry Township, Carroll County, Ohio. He died 15 October 1862 in Bolivar, Tennessee and was buried in the National Cemetery at Corinth, Mississippi.
In Thornton's military records he was descripted as having a light complexion, with Blue eyes, light hair and being 5 feet 8 inches tall. Thornton was named after his father's younger
brother, Thornton F. Rigg. Thornton Rigg of Alaiedon Township, Ingham County, Michigan enlisted in Company G, Twelfth Infantry, February 5, 1862, at Alaiedon, for 3 years. He
mustered in on March 15, 1862. The Command left for St. Louis, Missouri from Niles (Berrien County) Michigan on March 18, 1862. From St. Louis the 12TH Infantry proceeded to the Tennessee River
and reached Pittsburg Landing in time to participate in the memorable Battle of Shiloh on the 6th and 7th of April. Losses were severe. Then they were stationed at Bolivar, Tennessee,
July-August 1862. On the 5th of October the 12th Infantry was engaged at the Battle of Metamora on the Hatchie River. Thornton Rigg died on October 15, 1862 at Bolivar, Tennessee.
He is buried in the National Cemetery at Corinth, Mississippi. His original place of internment was Bolivar, Tennessee.
The 12TH Infantry's losses from April 6th to October 31, 1862,
were as follows:
Killed in
action 26
Wounded in
action 92
Died of
wounds 21
Died of
disease 106
Taken prisoners at Shiloh 106
Discharged 116
Deserted
35
Officers resigned, 13; cashiered 1 14
________
Total 516
This was a most remarkable showing for a so brief a period. Its strength on the 31st of October, 1862, was 452 men.
Thornton Rigg was the third of three brothers to die within five months of each other in the Civil War. Their father, Robert Rigg, would also die within a year. Thornton was named after his uncle Thornton F. Rigg.
information from the Military National Archives, State of Michigan Library Archives, History of Robert Rigg and Family from 1800, and researched by Jacqueline Rohde
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