Civil War

7th Illinois Infantry Illinois having sent six regiments to the Mexican war, by courtesy the numbering of the regiments which took part in the war for the Union began with number seven. A number of regiments which responded to the first call of the President for troops claimed to be the first regiment in the field, but the honor of being the first was finally accorded to Col. John Cook, and hence his regiment was numbered seven. The Seventh regiment was recruited as follows: Company A from Elgin and vicinity; Company B, Mattoon and vicinity; Company C, Aurora and vicinity; […]

24th Illinois Infantry The TWENTY-FOURTH INFANTRY OF ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS, known as the First Hecker Regiment (the Eighty-second being the Second), was organized at Chicago, with two companies, to-wit: the Union Cadets and the Lincoln Rifles, from the three months service in June 1861, and mustered in July 8, 1861, by Captain T. G. Pitcher. It left Chicago early in July, under orders to report at Alton, Ill., whence it moved to St. Charles, Mo., and thence to Mexico, Mo. It remained at Mexico until the 28th of July, when it was ordered to Ironton, Mo., where it joined Gen. Prentiss’

25th Illinois Infantry The TWENTY-FIFTH INFANTRY was composed of volunteers from the counties of Kankakee, Iroquois, Ford, Vermilion, Douglas, Coles, Champaign and Edgar. At the organization W. N. Coler, of Urbana, Illinois, was commissioned Colonel, J. S. McClelland, of Vermilion county, Lieutenant Colonel, and R. H. Nodine, of Urbana, Major. The Regiment rendezvoused at the U.S. Arsenal Park, St. Louis, Mo., August 2, 1861, and was mustered into the service for three years August 4, 1861. August 23, left St. Louis for Jefferson City. September 25, left Jefferson City marching via Otterville and Sedalia, crossing the LaMine, Osage and Pomme

23rd Illinois Infantry The organization of the TWENTY-THIRD INFANTRY ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS commenced under the popular name of the “Irish Brigade”, at Chicago, immediately upon the opening of hostilities at Sumter. It served until the war had fully closed, and among the officers whom it compelled to mourn as lost in battle was its illustrious Colonel, James A. Mulligan, of Chicago, who fell while commanding a division of the Army of West Virginia at Kernstown, in Shenandoah Valley, July 24, 1864, and perished while in the hands of the enemy, July 26, of three desperate wounds, received while at head of

22nd Illinois Infantry The TWENTY-SECOND INFANTRY ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS was organized at Belleville, Illinois, May 11, 1861, and was mustered into the United States service, for three years, at Caseyville, Illinois, June 25, 1861, by Captain T. G. Pitcher, U.S.A. On July 11, the Regiment moved to Bird’s Point, Mo. November 7, seven companies engaged in the battle of Belmont-three being left to guard transports. Loss, 144, killed, wound and missing. January 14, 1862, made a reconnoisance, under General Grant, into Kentucky, in the rear of Columbus. The Twenty-second was on detached duty a great deal of the time, and not

21st Illinois Infantry This Regiment was called into the State service under the “Ten Regiment Bill”. It rendezvoused at Mattoon on the 9th day of May 1861. On the 15th day of May it was mustered into the State service for thirty days by Captain U. S. Grant, and was known during that period of service as the Seventh Congressional District Regiment. It was composed of companies from the following counties: Company A from Macon, B from Cumberland, C from Piatt, D from Douglas, E from Moultrie, F from Edgar, G from Clay, H from Clark, I from Crawford and

19th Illinois Infantry The act of the Legislature of the State of Illinois, passed May 2d, 1861, authorizing the acceptance for State service of ten regiments of infantry, one regiment of cavalry and one battalion of light artillery, provided that one of such regiments might be raised out of volunteer companies then at Springfield, as the regiment from the State at large, and one regiment from each of the nine congressional districts. That regiment from the State at large, consisting then only of four Chicago companies, commanded by Colonel Joseph R. Scott, was mustered into the State service May 4,

20th Illinois Infantry May 14, 1861, organized and went into camp at Joliet, Illinois. June 13, 1861, mustered into the service of the United States at Joliet, Illinois, for a term of three years. June 18, 1861, moved by rail from Joliet to Camp Pope near Alton, Illinois, and went into camp. July 6, 1861, moved by boat from Camp Pope to St. Louis Arsenal, St. Louis, Mo. July 10, 1861, moved by boat from St. Louis Arsenal to Cape Girardeau, Mo. July 10 to Sept. 12, 1861, made a number of marches to Jackson, Benton, Commerce, Hamburgh, Round Pond

18th Illinois Infantry This Regiment originally rendezvoused at Anna, Union county, Ill., May 16, 1861, for the Ninth Congressional District, under the “Ten Regiment Bill”. May 19 was mustered into the State service for thirty days, by Ulysses S. Grant, then State Mustering Officer, and was on the 28th of the same month, by Captain Pitcher, U.S.A, mustered into the service of the United States for three years-Michael K. Lawler, Colonel; Thomas H. Burgess, Lieutenant Colonel, and Samuel Eaton, Major. June 24, 1861, the Regiment was moved to Bird’s Point, Mo., where it remained, drilling, doing guard duty, working on

17th Illinois Infantry The SEVENTEENTH REGIMENT OF ILLINOIS INFANTRY VOLUNTEERS was mustered into the United States service at Peoria, Ill., on the 24th day of May 1861. Left camp on the 17th of June, for Alton, Ill., for the purpose of more fully completing its organization and arming. Late in July it proceeded from Alton to St. Charles, Mo., remaining but one day; thence went to Warrenton, Mo., where it remained in camp about two weeks-Company “A” being detailed as body guard to General John Pope, with headquarters at St. Charles. The Regiment left Warrenton for St. Louis, and embarked