Nelson Alexander Eller

In 1860 he was the 16 year old son of a day laborer in Iredell County, NC. He enlisted as a Private in Company K of the 4th North Carolina Infantry on 30 May 1861 at Smithville, Brunswick County, NC.

He was captured in action at Sharpsburg on 17 September 1862.

He was briefly a prisoner at Fort Delaware until sent to Aiken's Landing, VA on 2 October for exchange. He was formally exchanged on 10 November. He was wounded by a gunshot to his right side or neck and captured at Chancellorsville, VA on 3 May 1863, and in a Washington, DC hospital by 5 May. He was sent to the Old Capitol Prison in Washington on 16 June, paroled there on the 25th, and exchanged at City Point, VA on 30 June 1863. He was afterward in a hospital in Petersburg, VA and returned to duty on 3 August. He was captured for the third time, at Spotsylvania Court House, VA on 19 May 1864, back in the Old Capitol Prison by the 22nd, and transferred to Fort Delaware on 15 June 1864. He was released on 19 June 1865 after taking an oath of allegiance.

By 1900 he was a farmer in Hurricane Township, Fayette County, IL. In 1910 he was had retired and lived in Decatur, Macon County, IL with his daughter Mattie. He and Mattie were back in South Hurricane in 1930.

His service from his Compiled Service Records,1 via fold3, and the Roster.2. Personal details from family genealogists, source also of a c.1890 family portrait, and the US Census of 1860, 1900, 1910, and 1930. His gravesite is on Findagrave.

He married Nancy Caroline McLain (1841-1905) in December 1875 in Montgomery County, IL and they had 5 children.

08/04/1841; Iredell County, NC

07/25/1930; Bayle City, IL; burial in Liberty Cemetery, Bingham, IL