When Lorenzo Taylor volunteered for the 99^th Illinois Infantry in the Civil War, his mother gave him a silver dollar for luck. He married his sweetheart, Hannah Walker, and a week later joined his unit which marched nearly six thousand miles and fought in several major battles, including the ferocious siege of Vicksburg. The 99^th also accepted the surrender of Stand Watie in Indian Teritory, the last rebel general to surrender.  After three years at war, Lorenzo returned home with the silver dollar in his pocket and not a scratch on him.