From Official Roster of the Soldiers of the State of Ohio in the War of the Rebellion, 1861-1866: “John N. Bonnett, 22, Co. F, died Dec 31, 1862; buried at Stone River, Tenn. Killed in battle.”

From The History of Union County, Ohio, containing a history of the county; its townships, towns ... military record, 1883: Co. F - “Enlisted June 5, 1861. Died Dec. 31, 1862 at Regt’l Hosp. from gunshot wound received at Stones River, Tenn.” - The Battle of Stones River, also known as the Second Battle of Murfreesboro, left nearly 25,000 killed or wounded.

John Nelson Bonnett was born in Marshall County in 1839, the son of John, Sr. and Ann (Davis) Bonnett, married in Marshall County on May 2, 1832. John Bonnett, Sr. was the son of Lewis Bonnett (1778-1863) and Jane McClain (1780-1839), who had moved to Ohio earlier. Soon after John Nelson Bonnett was born, his parents moved with him to Leesburg, Union County, Ohio. According to a biography of John Nelson’s older brother, Ralpheus (R. C.), the year they moved was 1840. Parents, John Sr. and Ann, are listed in the 1850 census of Leesburg, with their children Ralpheus, 16; Kesiah, 16; John N., 11; Joshua D., 6; Samuel W., 4. The first three listed were born in (W) Virginia; the last two were born in Ohio.

Other members of this Bonnett family lived in close proximity. - John Nelson Bonnett is called “Nelson” in news articles that describe his death at the Battle of Murfreesboro. Soldier W. H. White wrote letters to his father that were published in the Weekly Marysville Tribune. Regarding Nelson Bonnett, he said: “I will mention those killed, wounded and missing out of Company D*. I am sorry to mention poor Nelson Bonnett as among the killed, but I can say he and William Brooks, John Griffith and Grafton Downer died at their post defending their country....” “I was detailed to bury the dead to-day. I helped to bury 18 of our boys, and three rebels which were hauled up with them. I went out to the rebel breastworks and carried in four cartridge boxes, and tore the sides out of them, and made a sort of coffin for Nelson, as good as I could. I did this so he could be handily taken up, should his remains be sent for. We buried all of them in one grave, though he can be taken up just as well as though he had been buried by himself. I could not see where he had been hurt, only a little scratch on the side of his neck, and where the rebels run a bayonet through his foot. - If they should come after him, they will find him about two miles from Murfreesboro, and about one mile from the pike to the left as you go from town towards Nashville. I cut his name on a board, and then burnt it on so as to make it plain.”

John Nelson Bonnett’s brother, Samuel W. Bonnett, born after the family moved from Marshall County to Ohio, enlisted in Company B 187th Ohio Infantry on Feb. 18, 1865 and died of Lung Inflammation at Dalton, Ga. on April 23, 1865. The brothers’ names are inscribed on a single grave marker at Mount Herman Cemetery, New Dover, Union County, Ohio. (*John Nelson Bonnett is listed in the books under Co. “F.” At the time of enlistment, news articles say he and Grafton Downer were in Company “D.”)

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