John Iles nickname "Drummie" came from his playing the drums in the Civil War. He was a Drummer Boy. He enlisted at Sale Creek, TN and was mustered in on February 20, 1862 at Cumberland Ford along with his two brothers into Co. I, 2nd Regiment. The three boys became ill from food poisoning at Flat Lick, KY. Within two months after mustering in both of his brothers were dead. War Department records show that John deserted August 1862 in Cumberland Gap, Tenn. Request Nov 26, 1883 to the war department to remove the charge of desertion and for an honorable discharge was denied.
John Iles statement of the incident is recorded in his pension application: Pension Application of Apr-14-1880 (#357962)
On or about the first of March 1862, he was taken sick with fever originating from exposure, the regiment being all the while marching and filing we was out of reach any hospital and I was treated first at Barbourville, KY. I was next treated at Cumberland Gap by Regiment Surgeon and in August 1862 the federal General Morgan evacuated the gap and being unable to march and no facilities to carry the sick I was left subject to capture. I crept out of the place before the Rebels came and slipped through Kentucky Mountains home. The fever and exposure settled in my jaw and took out one half my upper jaw. He was treated in hospitals as follows: by hospital steward at Barboursville, Kentucky next at Cumberland Gap next at Cumberland Ford and next there in Knox County, Kentucky by citizen Dr by the name of Gooden, who took out my jaw bone upper jaw. That he has not been employed in the military or naval service otherwise as stated above and I was never able for doing any more during the war and at the time of discharging was unable to go to Nashville and therefore was never discharged or received pay or bounty. This application appears to be in his handwriting since the signature and the writing in the statement look the same. John Iles tried from 1879 to 1902 to get his dishonorable discharge corrected. There are numerous affidavits in his pension file signed and written by fellow soldiers and friends.
He signed an affidavit for his brother in law Martin Van Buren Elsea in his pension application made in Texas.
1860 Census Hamilton Co, TN, Sale Creek, H2080, p 91 John and Sarah Iles with Tennessee 3 and Alexander 1, living next door to father James
1870 Census Hamilton Co, TN, 11th District, page no 18 written, p 613, Long Savannah PO, spelled "Eyles"
1880 Census Hamilton Co, TN, District 11, family 139, p 96A & B
1891 Voters List Hamilton County, Tennessee, Dist. 11 - male Voters
1900 Hamilton County census ED 50, Sheet 16 Line 9, 11TH District, page 243A
lists John Iles and wife Sarah along with daughter, Nancy P. Iles 18 yrs of age. Farm schedule # 131 - 11 children 8 living not employed own home free and clear reads, writes and speaks English. Nancy is listed as "idiot". She was retarded.
1910 Census Hamilton County, Tennessee, 3rd Civil District, p 141, family 158
No death certificate and no will found in Hamilton County.
