Creation Date

July 15 1897
October 1898

Description

After the firing at Fort Sumter and the subsequent declaration of war against the Southern States, Joseph Stephenson volunteered for service in the 36th Regiment of the Indiana Volunteer Infantry on September 1, 1861 while he still lived in Wayne County, Indiana. He was mustered into the service on September 16, 1861 at Richmond as a private in Company F. His enlistment was to last for three years or during the war in the Army of the Cumberland. The army took part in many of the well-known engagements of the Western Theater of the Civil War. These battles included Shiloh or Pittsburg Landing; the Siege of Corinth, Mississippi; Murfreesboro or Stone River, Tennessee; Chickamauga, Georgia; Rocky Face Ridge, Georgia; Resaca, Georgia; Adairsville; Cassville; Dallas or New Hope Church; Kenesaw; Nickayack Creek; Peach Tree Creek' Siege of Atlanta, Georgia; Jonesboro; Lovejoy Station; and Nashville. After Nashville the regiment was transferred to New Orleans, Louisiana and later to Texas.

Joseph's story ended on October 2, 1862 when he was honorably discharged at Evansville, Indiana due to the surgeons certificate of disability. This certificate details his service and the history of his unit throughout the war. However, This certificate was composed upon Joseph and his wife, Emma's, application to have his service recorded in a monument to pass on to his children on July 15, 1897. It was designed as a national monument "dedicated to the Grand Army of the Republic and kindred societies by the Easel Monument Association and by them to be erected to the Rank and File of the Union Army October A. D. 1898." 

The paper shows statues of men in the Union army uniform standing on the top pillars flanked by Lady Columbia and Lady History. Below that is the American Eagle and a depiction of a discharge paper. Below that is the body of text surrounded by depctions of what the American people went through during the Civil War. Underneath this monument, are a few people looking up at the carved columns. In the background is the layout of a town with numerous people walking in a park, driving carriages, or riding bicycles. 

The paper is held in a simple wooden frame which has grooves cut into it.