Illinois' Militia in the Civil War

---

---

With the start of hostilities at Fort Sumter on April 12, 1861, President Abraham Lincoln called for troops to put down the rebellion and preserve the union. Speaking from Washington D. C. on April 15, 1861, Lincoln called for 75, 000 troops.

WHEREAS, The laws of the United States have been and are opposed in several States by combinations too powerful to be suppressed in the ordinary way, I therefore call for the militia of the several States of the Union, to the aggregate number of 75,000, to uppress said combination and execute the laws. I appeal to all loyal citizens to facilitate and aid this effort, and maintain the laws and integrity of the National Union and the perpetuity of popular government, and redress wrongs long endured. The first service assigned will probably be to repossess the forts, places and property which have been seized from the Union. The utmost care will be taken, consistent with the object, to avoid devastation, destruction or interference of peaceful citizens in any part of the country; and I hereby command the persons composing the aforesaid combinations to disperse within twenty days from this date. I hereby convene both Houses of Congress for the 4th of July next, to determine upon such measures as the public safety and interest may demand.

Responding to the President’s call for troops, Governor Richard Yates of Illinois issued a proclamation on April 16, 1861 in which he convened the General Assembly and initialized the called for troops and money to support the federal campaign.

I, Richard Yates, Governor of the State of Illinois, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution, hereby convene the Legislature of said State, and the members of the 22d session of the General Assembly are hereby required to be and appear in their respective places, at the Capitol, in the city of Springfield, on Tuesday, the 23d day of April, A. D. 1861, for the purpose of enacting such laws and adopting such measures as may be deemed necessary upon the following subjects, to-wit: The more perfect organization and equipment of the militia of this State, and placing the same upon the best footing; and to render efficient assistance to the General Government in preserving the Union, enforcing the laws, and protecting the property and rights of the people. Also, to raise such money and other means as may be required to carry out the foregoing objects, and also to provide for the expenses of such session.

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I hereunto set my hand and have caused the great seal of the State to be hereunto affixed. At the city of Springfield, this 15th day of April, A. D. 1861.

By the Governor: RICHARD YATES.

In response, the Illinois General Assembly authorized six regiments consisting of 125 officers and 4,458 soldiers. As excitement spread around the state, many militia units were formed. Illinois soon exceeded her initial requirements for six units due to the popularity of enlisting. Ten more units were added to help alleviate the pressure imposed on the state by men who wanted to volunteer.

Regiments consisted of 845 to 1,025 men. Each of the 10 companies were divided by job duties. There were 82 privates, one waggoner, 2 musicians, 8 corporals, 4 sergeants, o first sergeant, 1 Second Sergeants, 1 2^nd Lieutenant, 1 1^st Lieutenant and one captain. The staff consisted of two musicians, one host steward, on quarter master sergeant, o Sergeant Major, 1 Chaplain, 2 assistant surgeons, on e surgeon, one Quartermaster, one major, one lieutenant Colonel and one colonel.

Units were accepted quickly. The 7^th through the 12^th formed, leaving the designation 1^st –6th Volunteer Infantry to honor the veterans Mexican American War. The first enlistments were for 100 days or three months of service. The President and many others believed that this would be a short conflict put down by an early show of force. The government and the states were not prepared for the long conflict that would follow. They lacked supplies, food, uniforms, weapons and military training.

Illinois population in 1860 was 1,711,961. The state was divided between northern abolitionists and down state pro-slavery supporters. Southern Illinois contained a mixed population with roots to Kentucky and Virginia (Viii ) Many supported slavery but were unwilling to sacrifice the union to do so. As volunteers assembled, many companies formed out of close knit communities, which included common background, ethnicity and religion (xvi).

After the July and August battles of Bull Run and Wilson’s Creek, it was clear to the nation that this war would be longer and more complicated that was expected. There was no end insight to the conflict that some assumed would be over in a matter of weeks. Lincoln issued a call for 500,000 troops ?. 1861)

In order to ready all of these troops for battle, instill some organization, and train troops, military camps sprang up around the state. In Chicago, Camp Douglas, Camp Long, Camp Mather, and Camp Blum served as muster stations. In Peoria, Camp Mather and Springfield Camp Yates, Camp Taylor and Camp Butler. Quincy, Carrollton and Aurora also placed waiting troops in local camps.

Cairo served as a supply depot, camp, and hospital for troops in the Mississippi Valley. This was an important point for moving troops and supplies into Mississippi. A large contingent of troops helped to protect Illinois and prevent any internal hostilities.

Illinois’ commitment to the war continued to grow. By 1865, she had committed over 255,000 men to the war. This consisted of 150 infantry regiments, 17 cavalry units, 2 regiments of light artillery, and 8 independent batteries. This number was also supplemented with special units, colored troops and sailors. The 29^th U.S. Colored Infantry was formed at this time.(4-5)

Besides the regular infantry volunteers, many independent companies came about. The Chicago Board of Trade Independent Battery Light Artillery, the Chicago Mercantile Independent Battery Light Artillery, William Cogswell’s Battery of light Artillery, Colvin’s Independent battery Light Artillery, Henshaw's Independent Battery Light Artillery, Renwick’s Elgin Independent battery Light Artillery and Springfield Illinois Light Artillery, Sturgis Rifles.

List of major battles and campaigns that Illinois regiments participated in:

Chancellorsville
Drury’s Bluff Virginia.
Bentonville North Carolina.,
Petersburg
Belmont
Ft. Donelson
Pea Ridge
Shiloh
Corinth
Hatchie Bridge
Harlsville
Chickasaw Bayou
Stone’s River
Raymond
Champion’s Hill
Vicksburg
Jackson
Chickamauga
Knoxville
Missionary Ridge
Renagold
Kenesaw Mountain
Peach Tree Creek
Atlanta
Ezra Church
Allatoona Pass
Franklin
Nashville
Fort Blakely

*The names in bold are spellings that unable to be found in the index to cross reference with the spelling listed on Noel’s notes

Besides giving troops to battle, Illinois was also the site of several prison camps throughout the war. Large numbers of prisoners were held at Camp Douglas, Chicago,

Rock Island Prison, Alton Penitentiary and at Camp Butler, Springfield. Camp Butler has over 850 Confederate soldiers buried there. (Illinois Camps, Posts, and Prisons www.outfitters.com/illiois/history/civil/cwprisons.html

Major Camps in Illinois: Camp Douglas, Camp Young, Camp Blum, Camp Mather, Camp Yates, Camp Taylor, Camp Butler

List of Regiment Compositions:

1^st and 2^nd Artillery
1^st through 17^th Cavalry
7^th through 156^th Infantry
*29^th Regiment was a special all African American Infantry regiment

May 3, 1861-

September 9, 1861- Battle of Lexington, 23^rd Irish Brigade

September 9-12, 1861- Under the command of U.S. Grant, captured Paducah, Ky. 9^th and 12th

December 1861-34^th small fighting with Germans near Munford, Kentucky

February 2, 1862-Ft. henry, Tennessee- 4th Il. With Grant and McClernand

February 14-16, 1862- Capture of Ft. Donelson. Illinois units: 7, 9, 11, 12, 17, 18, 20, 29, 31, 32, 41, 45, 46, 48, 49, 50, 57, 58, 66, 74

March 7, 1862- Battle of Pea Ridge- Illinois units: 35, 59, 36, 37, 44

April 6, 1862- Battle of Shiloh Fought under U.S. Grant, General McClernand was in command of the 1^st division which consisted of 10 Illinois Regiments. Units: 9, 11, 28, 43, 50, 55, 8, 7, 12, 14, 40, 61, 52, 53, 40, 20, 18, 45, 15, 14, 58, 28, 32, 41, 46, 34, 17

May 3, 1862- Battle of Farmington Tn. Illinois Regiments: 8, 10, 16, 22, 27, 26, 42, 47, 51

May 24, 1862- Battle of Corinth- Illinois Regiments: 32, 52, 10

October 8, 1862- Battle of Perryville Illinois Regiments involved: 35, 85, 86, 125, 36, 88, 34, 88, 80, 89, 123, 19, 24, 39, 154, 59, 74, 75, 59, 21, 25, 35, 38, 42, 58, 73

November 1, 1862- Illinois had 125 infantry regiments, 16 cavalry regiments, 30 batteries of artillery, and an excess of 20,000 men

November 7, 1862- battle of Belmont, Missouri- McClernand’s Brigade with the 27^th, 30^th, 31^st, 22^nd.

December 27, 1862- Battle of the Chickasaw Bayou Illinois Regiments: 13, 16, 55, 77, 97, 108, 131

December 31, 1862- Battle of Stone River Illinois Regiments: 7^th Cav, 89, 79, 34, 59, 74, 75, 21, 38, 25, 35, 36, 88, 73, 22, 27, 42, 51, 19, 84, 10, 100, 44

1863- 29^th U.S. Colored infantry formed

(beginning of my notes)

January 11, 1863- Capture of Fort Hindman, on the Arkansas River. Illinois Regiments: 13, 55, 77, 97, 113, 116, 118, 131, 97 the Union forces were under the command of Illinois General McClernand

April 30, 1863- Vicksburg Campaign

May 1, 1863- Battle of Port Gibson, Both Generals U.S. Grant, and McClernand were present. Illinois Regiments: 20, 33, 45, 99

May 12, 1863- Battle of Raymond, Generals Grant, McClernand, and Logoan participated. Illionois Regiments 8, 20, 45, 81

May 16, 1863- Battle of Champion’s Hill, Generals Grant and Logan participated. Illinois regiments: 20, 56, 93

*Vicksburg fell on July 4, 1863, Illinois regiments: 8, 20, 45, 81 were marched through the streets of Vicksburg and the 45^th Regiment, who got to the courthouse first was able to hang its regimental flag on the courthouse. Generals Grant, Logan, McClernand and Ransm were the Illinois Generals to take part in the campaign

September 18, 1863 to September 20, 1863- Battle of Chickamauga Creek Illinois Regiments: 89, 36, 88, 44, 73, 22, 27, 42, 51, 84, 100, 110, 21, 25, 35, 38, 79, 34, 92, 98, 123, 24, 104, 19, 115, 96, 78

October 20, 1863- raising the siege of Chatanoga Under the Command of U.S. Grant. Illinois Regiments: 13, 59, 75, 84, 104, 123, 34, 26, 90, 56, 63, 93, 103, 40, 55, 16, 127, 73, 104, 36, 44, 74, 88, 25, 33, 89, 100, 22, 27, 42, 51, 79, 19, 27 (the siege was raised November 25, 1863

May 7, 1864- Sherman’s invasion of Georgia Illinois Regiments: 75, 80, 84, 36, 127, 111, 75, 59, 82, 42, 44, 59, 73, 79, 88, 107, 48, 52, 66, 100, 34, 123, 103, 10, 74, 79, 104, 85, 86, 125, 78, 55, 116, 10, 36, 105, 64, 20, 31, 75, 92, 95, 7, 12, 50, 57, 93

June 27, 1864- Battle of Kennesaw: Illinois Regiments: 85, 86, 125, 78, 55, 116, 127, 111, 10, 36, 75, 59, 103

July 20, 1864- Battle of Atlanta (Peach Tree Creek)

Illinois Regiments- 74, 79, 82, 104, 55, 64, 20, 31

*Colonel Anson McCook Earned the Medal of Honor in the battle

July 25, 1864- Battle of Ezra Church, Illinois regiments: 9, 12, 66, 127, 59, 75, 80, 84, 20, 52

August 20, 1864- Battle of Jonesboro, Illinois regiments: 92, 123 mounted infantry, and the 78^th infantry

*Atlanta fell September 1, 1864

October 5, 1864 Battle of Allotoona Pass- Illinois Regiments: 7, 12, 50, 57, 93

November 4 and 6, 1864- Battle of Overall’s Creek and the Battle of Wilkinson Pike Illinois Regiments: 61

November 15, 1864: Battle of Griswoldville Illinois Regiments 40, 103

November 15, 1864: Battle of Nashville, Illinois Regiments: 12, 114, 49, 58, 117, 119, 122, 72, 81, 95, 9, 2, 3, 6, 7, 107, 59, 96, 75, 80, 84

November 29, 1864- Battle of Spring Hill, Illinois Regiments: 42, 51, 79, 100

November 30, 1864- Battle of Franklin, Illinois Regiments: 21, 38, 75, 80, 84, 96, 115, 107, 72, 65, 112, 100

March 22, 1865- beginning of Sherman’s march to the sea

Illinois men made up 16% of the total number of Union troops. The war took a devistating toll on them. By the end of the war, Illinois lost 34,834 men, 1,700 of those died in Confederate prison camps. One in Twenty died from battle or wounds, 1 in 11.2 died from disease (23).

Lost in Confederate Prison Camps: 1,700 dead

1 out of every 7.3 died in service to their country, 1 out of every 20 died in battle due to wounds, 1 out of every 11.2 died from disease.

Most Illinois Units were stationed in the Western theater of war due to their proximity to Illinois and the ease of transportation. The Before mentioned battles are primarily battles with the Union armies of the Cumberland, Sherman’s Army and the Army of the Western Mississippi. However, on a smaller scale, Illinois soldiers took part in the battles of Fredricksberg, Chancellorsville, Getysburg, Appomatix, The Peninsular Campaign, Antietam, Mechanicsville, Petersburg, and the Mobile campaign.