Charles W. LESAN, son of Charles I. & Mehitable (PRATT) LESAN, was born September 18, 1841. He enlisted as a Private on June 17, 1861, from Stark County, Illinois, and was assigned to Company B of the 19th Illinois Infantry.

After General Braxton BRAGG was defeated at Perryville, Kentucky, on October 8th of 1862, he led his Confederate Army to Murfreesboro, Tennessee, where the men prepared to go into winter quarters. Major General William S. ROSECRAN led his Union troop of about 45,000 into an advance upon BRAGG. ROSECRAN found BRAGG's encampment on December 29th and settled down for the night. At dawn on the 31st of December, BRAGG's troop attacked the Union's right flank, drivng the Union line back to the Nashville Pike by 10:00 a.m. Here, the Union held their line, bolstered by Union reinforcements that had newly arrived to join ranks.

During the morning skirmishes on December 31st, 1862, Private Charles W. LESAN was fatally wounded. He was interred at Sweet Home Cemetery, Lesanville, Ringgold County, Iowa.

Submission by Sharon R. Becker, December of 2009