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2nd Illinois Cavalry
in the American Civil War
Online Books:
2nd Illinois Cavalry Soldier Roster - Report of the Adjutant
General of the State of Illinois, Volume 7, Revised by Brigadier General J.N.
Reece, Adjutant General, 1900
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Entire Book
| Regimental History |
| Second Illinois Cavalry. — Cols., Silas Noble, John J.
Mudd, Daniel B. Bush, Jr., Benjamin F. Marsh, Jr.; Lieut. -Cols., Harvey
Hogg, Quincy McNeil, John J. Mudd, Daniel B. Bush, Jr., Benjamin F.
Marsh, Jr.; Majs., Louis H. Waters, Quincy McNeil, John J. Mudd, Daniel
B. Bush, Jr., Hugh Fullerton, Benjamin F. Marsh, Jr., Thomas J. Larrison,
John R. Hotaling, Franklin B. Moore, Thomas W. Jones. This regiment was
organized at Camp Butler, was mustered into service Aug. 12, 1861, for
three years, and with Co. M, which joined the regiment some months
later, numbered 47 commissioned officers and 1,040 enlisted men. This
number was increased by recruits and reenlistments, during its four and
a half years' term of service, to 2,236 enlisted men and 145
commissioned officers. Deducting 12 commissions upon which the holders
were not mustered, and counting only the highest grade in which each
officer served, gives a total of 96 different persons who held
commissions in the regiment. Of these, 6 were killed in battle, 2 died
of wounds and 3 died of disease while in service, making a total of 11.
The regiment left Camp Butler on Sept. 15, and encamped for brief
periods at Carbondale, Du Quoin and Fort Massac, and about Oct. 1
arrived at Cairo. During the battle of Belmont, Mo., Nov. 7, Capt.
Bowman with his company formed a line of couriers to the battle field
and promptly transported a report of the battle. In December the
regiment crossed over to Bird's Point, and did considerable scouting
after Jeff Thompson, captured 6 of his men at Bertrand, and had its
first man killed there by a Confederate bullet. The regiment then became
considerably scattered. Seven companies were stationed at Columbus, Ky.
; A and B were with Grant in Tennessee, participating in the battles of
Fort Henry, Fort Donelson and Shiloh; D and L at Cairo, and C at
Caledonia, Ill. In Nov., 1862, six companies moved to La Grange, Tenn.,
and in December was a part of the garrison at Holly Springs, Miss.,
which was attacked by Van Dorn, and besides the killed and wounded, the
companies lost 61 prisoners, about 150 horses, all camp and garrison
equipage, books and records, in fact everything except what the men had
on their horses. About Jan. 1, 1863, the regiment arrived at Memphis and
while there dispersed a battalion of Confederates. On March 30 it took
the advance in the Vicksburg campaign, with almost daily skirmishes
until May 3, when the last of Grant's army crossed the Mississippi below
Grand Gulf. After crossing the river it again took the advance with
parts of the 3d Ill. and 6th Mo., and had almost constant skirmishing
until the army invested Vicksburg on May 18. During the siege of
Vicksburg the regiment was stationed on the Black river and had frequent
skirmishes with Johnston's scouts. After the fall of Vicksburg, with
parts of the 3d Ill. and 6th Mo., it again took the advance towards
Jackson, fighting all the way to that place. In August it embarked for
the Department of the Gulf, and in September started through
southwestern Louisiana, going as far as Opelousas, having the advance as
usual and skirmishing almost daily. On Nov. 7 Co. I charged into
Vermillionville, killing and capturing several of the enemy. On an
expedition sent out from New Iberia, Cos. H and F, numbering 60 men,
made a dash upon over 100 Texas rangers, killed and captured about 70
without the loss of a man. While at New Iberia 150 men of these six
companies reenlisted and in Feb., 1864, went home on a 30 days'
furlough. The non-veterans left New Orleans, March 13 and took the
advance of Banks' Red River campaign; again met the Texas cavalry and
had frequent skirmishes with them; and in the battle of Mansfield the
regiment lost several killed. In March, 1865, it started towards Fort
Blakely, captured a train of cars with a Confederate paymaster, drove
the enemy inside the works at Blakely on April 1, captured a battle flag
and held position until the infantry invested the place. In June it went
by steamer up Red river to Shreveport, where on June 23 the regiment was
consolidated into six companies and the surplus officers and
non-commissioned officers were mustered out. |
Footnotes:
Regimental history taken from "The Union Army" by Federal Publishing
Company, 1908 - Volume 3
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