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10th Illinois Cavalry
in the American Civil War
| Regimental History |
| Tenth Cavalry. — Cols., James A. Barrett, Dudley
Wickersham, James Stuart; Lieut.-Cols., Dudley Wickersham, James Stuart,
Samuel N. Hitt; Majs., Joseph S. Smith, Marshall L. Stephenson, Elvis P.
Shaw, Samuel N. Hitt, George Snelling, Joseph S. McCartney, David H.
Wilson. This regiment was organized at Camp Butler in the latter part of
Sept., 1861, and was mustered into the U. S. service on Nov. 25, for
three years. In the latter part of Jan., 1862, it moved to Quincy, where
it was occupied in drill and learning the duties of soldiers until March
13, when it moved to Benton barracks. Early in July a detachment was at
Cane Hill, Ark., where it engaged a very superior force, killing 1 and
taking many prisoners. In October Lieut. -Col. James Stuart, with 105
men, attacked a camp of 300 Confederates near Marshfield, Mo., killing
4, wounding many and capturing a captain with 26 men, totally dispersing
the remainder, with a loss of 1 killed and 1 wounded. In November about
70 men of Cos. C and M were attacked by a force of about 1,200, at
Clark's mills, Mo., and after a fight of several hours acceded to a
demand for surrender, the officers and men being immediately paroled.
The 3d battalion of the regiment remained at Fayetteville and was
occupied in scouting the country, detachments making several expeditions
south of the Boston mountains, defeating the enemy in skirmishes at Van
Buren, Frog bayou and other places. The 1st battalion was assigned to
the 3d brigade, 1st division, participated in the engagement at Cotton
Plant, Ark., in July, and arrived at Helena on July 12. This battalion
participated in two lengthy expeditions, the capture of Arkansas Post,
the Yazoo Pass expedition to Fort Pemberton, besides smaller scouts, and
was in the engagement at Richmond, La., in June, 1862, where it lost 2
killed and 1 lieutenant with 21 men prisoners. The companies of the
battalion were separated much of the time as escorts to various
generals. The regiment participated in the engagement at Bayou Meto,
being on the right of the line of battle, and lost 1 lieutenant and 1
private killed. In Sept., 1863, it took an active and honorable part in
the engagement at Bayou Fourche and the capture of Little Rock, Ark.;
was with the column that pursued the enemy and returned to Little Rock.
The regiment having reenlisted, it was sent home for furlough, arriving
at Camp Butler Feb. 28, 1864. The non-veterans of the regiment
accompanied the expedition under Gen. Steele, to cooperate with Gen.
Banks' Red River campaign, and actively participated in its various
engagements. On July 14, at Bayou Des Arc, near Searcy, Ark., 225 men
were surrounded and attacked by about 1,200 Confederates, but they cut
their way out with a loss of 2 killed and 20 prisoners, a number of the
latter being wounded. Successful skirmishes were had by detachments at
Cypress bayou, Austin, Cotton Plant, Springfield, West Point and other
places. On Jan. 27, 1865, the veterans and recruits of the regiment were
consolidated into nine companies, those of the 15th Ill. cavalry into
three companies, and all were reorganized into the 10th Ill. veteran
volunteer cavalry. |
Footnotes:
Regimental history taken from "The Union Army" by Federal Publishing
Company, 1908 - Volume 3
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