Left: Pvt. John N. Best (Nels) was wounded in action at Perryville, KY. A steel plate was placed in his skull, which caused him terrible episodes of mental confusion when exposed to the sun.
Center: 1st Sgt. Solon T. Best (Sol) was forced out of the service due to severe dysentery. He died of stomach cancer at the age of 53.
Right: Cpl. Edward T. Best (Ed) was decorated for heroism following the Battle of Paint Brock Bridge, when his detail of about two dozen men held off a Confederate force roughly ten times their size. After being wounded there and at Perryville, he was taken prisoner at Chickamauga with virtually the entire regiment, when, after two days of heavy fighting, they ran out of ammunition. Gen. Thomas (the "Rock of Chicamauga") had pulled out hours before.

Ed and his regiment were taken from Chickamauga Creek to Libby Prison (above left) in Richmond, then moved to Danville, VA. Neither North or South were prepared to house large numbers of prisoners, like the 8,000 Union men taken at the Battle of Chickamauga. Andersonville Prison, above right, was opened in southern Georgia with the hope that it would provide fresh air and ample space, but in just a little over a year, 34,000 prisoners would call this place home, and nearly 13,000 would die there. At right is the Wisconsin 10th Infantry Colors, now at Madison Wisconsin.