History is often something we view through the lens of textbooks and weathered monuments, yet for some, it is tucked away in the quiet corners of an old family home. The journey to uncover the story of the 87th Illinois Infantry did not begin in a library or a battlefield, but in a small, brown leather-bound notebook found in a dresser drawer shortly after a father’s funeral. This “daybook,” written by Josiah VanFossan, serves as a portal into a world of 165 years ago, documenting the lived experiences of three brothers, Josiah, David, and Absalom, who left their quiet lives to fight for the Union.
The story starts at a family farm in Mount Erie, Illinois, where a T-shaped, two-story farmhouse has stood for over 160 years. Built by Josiah himself upon his return from the war, this house was the anchor for a family that had already faced significant tragedy, including the death of the family patriarch, David Senior, in 1854. When the war erupted in 1861, the political chaos of the nation became a personal reckoning for the VanFossan brothers. They were third or fourth generation Americans who felt a deep responsibility to preserve the Union and end the institution of slavery. In the autumn of 1862, roughly one year after the war began, the brothers joined the 87th Infantry Regiment. This unit drew its strength from the resilient counties of Wayne, White, and Hamilton in southern Illinois. This region, known as “Little Egypt” for its southern abundance during northern droughts, was a land of complex identities. While Illinois was a free state, the proximity to the Ohio River and the presence of places like the Crenshaw House, once known as “the old slave house”, highlighted the deep-rooted presence of enslaved labor in the area.
The mobilization began at Old Shawneetown, a strategic gateway on the Ohio River that served as a staging ground for troop organization. What takes a modern traveler only ninety minutes to drive was once a day long journey by train and wagon for the young volunteers. For Josiah and his brothers, this first step was more than just a physical journey; it was a crossing from a life of personal dreams to one of national service. They entered the service as privates, the very foundation of the fighting force, motivated by duty, legacy, and the hope of returning to the soil they loved. The reality of the Civil War for the 87th Illinois Infantry was not just defined by the smoke of battle, but by the grueling conditions of life on the move. In January 1863, the regiment departed from Illinois by steamer, headed for Memphis, Tennessee. Their time in Memphis was tragically short and disastrous, not because of Confederate fire, but because of a widespread illness that claimed many members of the regiment before they could ever see combat. This loss underscored the brutal nature of the war, where disease was often as lethal as the bullet.