General Notes

Volunteered at Greensburg, Kentucky on September 1, 1862 at the age of 38.
Mustered in October 31, 1862 at Louisville, Kentucky was paid at $25. bounty and $4 premium pay. Listed as AWOL since February 13, 1863. Shown as present and "in arrest" in the September/October company muster roll. Died December 02, 1863 of chronic diarrhea in the hospital at Knoxville, Tenn. Discharge by reason of death issued Januaary 6, 1865. LT. Jesse DeSpain of Company H provideda statement in support of the pension request of Elijah Skaggs' widow, Harriet Skaggs. In the statement, Lt. DeSpain noted that Elijah Skaggs died of typhoid fever in Knoxville and was "buried decently at Knoxville". He futher stated that when the 13th Regiment left Kentucky for Knoxville, "this man Skaggs and some others obrtained leaves of absence on furlough with directions to come on and report to the Regiment at Knoxville" Elijah Skaggs did report, "but not in the time required " and was pput under arrest for AWOL pending a trial. However, he died before being bought to trial. Lt. DeSpain stated that "the reason offered by Skaggs for his absence as we learned from him and others was regarded as good and resaonable and if he had been tried he would have been acquitted and restored".  The cause of his failure to report on time was the obstruction of the road by armed bands of Rebels and Guerrillas which prevented him from passing. He came however voluntarily as soon as he could do so with safety."