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39th Illinois Infantry
in the American Civil War
Online Books:
39th Illinois Infantry Soldier Roster - Report of the Adjutant
General of the State of Illinois, Volume 3, Revised by Brigadier General J.N.
Reece, Adjutant General, 1900
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Entire Book
| Regimental History |
| Thirty-ninth Illinois Infantry. — Cols., Austin Light, Thomas O.
Osborn; Lieut. -Cols.. Thomas O. Osborn, Orrin L. Mann; Majs., Orrin L.
Mann, Sylvester W. Munn, Samuel S. Linton, Homer A. Plimpton. The
organization of this regiment was commenced as soon as the news of the
firing on Fort Sumter reached Chicago. Gen. T. O. Osborn was one of its
contemplated field officers and labored zealously to get it accepted
under the first call for troops, but did not accomplish his object. The
state having filled its quota without this regiment, efforts were made
to get it accepted into the state service of Missouri, but without
success. The regiment had already assumed the name of the governor of
Illinois and was known as the "Yates Phalanx." Gov. Yates manifested an
earnest desire to see it brought into service and sent Gen. O. L. Mann
to Washington, with strong commendatory letters to the president and
secretary of war, urging the acceptance of the regiment, which had at
that time over 800 men on the rolls. The regiment was accepted on the
day succeeding the first Bull Run disaster, and the organization was
completed and left Camp Mather, Chicago, on the morning of Oct. 13,
1861. The day previous to the departure a beautiful stand of colors was
presented to the regiment by Miss Helen Arion, daughter of Col. Arion.
It had also won a handsome flag at a prize drill under the auspices of
the Illinois agricultural society, then in session at Chicago. On
leaving Chicago the regiment reported to Brig.-Gen. Curtis, at Camp
Benton, St. Louis, Mo., but very soon thereafter was transferred to
Williamsport, Md., where it was armed and equipped. On Jan. 3, 1862, the
advance of a Confederate force 15,000 strong attacked Cos. D, I and K,
near Bath, Va., and, after a brisk little fight, were repulsed. Then,
with 2 pieces of artillery and a liberal display of strategy and
courage, the enemy was held in check for nearly 24 hours. Co. G was also
attacked at Great Cacapon bridge, but repulsed the enemy with
considerable loss. The remaining portion of the regiment was
simultaneously attacked at Alpine Station, where Cos. C and F drew into
ambush about 500 of Ashby's cavalry, and after killing and wounding 30
routed the remainder. In March the regiment participated in a
reconnoissance from Martinsburg to Strasburg, and on its return took
part in the brilliant fight at Winchester, that resulted in the utter
defeat of "Stonewall" Jackson's forces. The regiment suffered but little
during the engagement, owing to its position, which was on the extreme
left. Four companies met a small cavalry force at Columbia bridge, and
after a brisk skirmish dislodged it, patting out the fire which had been
applied to the structure and capturing 30 prisoners. The regiment was
ordered to Alexandria, Va., and immediately embarked on transports for
the James river, reaching Harrison's landing in time to take part in the
closing scenes of Gen. McClellan's Seven Days' fight. While at
Harrison's landing the regiment was kept at the front on picket duty and
had a series of unimportant skirmishes until about the middle of August,
when it participated in the second Malvern hill fight, but without
material injury. On Sept. 1 it was sent to Suffolk, Va., where it
remained for the space of three months, fortifying the place and making
frequent expeditions to the Blackwater, where heavy skirmishes
frequently occurred. On one occasion it participated in the capture of 2
pieces of artillery and 40 prisoners. The regiment was then transferred
to South Carolina, participated in the siege of Fort Wagner, and after
assisting in strengthening and remodeling the defenses on Morris island
returned to Folly island. It next embarked for Hilton Head, where it
remained for several weeks, and there reenlisted, being the first
organization in the entire department to accept veteran honors and
responsibilities. It left Hilton Head on veteran furlough for Chicago,
Ill., via New York, on Jan. 1, 1864, amid great enthusiasm. Returning to
the front in Virginia the regiment was located on the extreme left of
Gen. Butler's command in May, when the entire force under Butler was
attacked and driven back. The regiment was at one time completely
surrounded by the enemy, but succeeded in cutting it way out after great
loss. Its entire loss in that engagement, including killed, wounded and
missing, reached nearly 200. The regiment was again ordered out on May
20, to dislodge the enemy from some temporary works near Ware Bottom
Church, which was accomplished in a most gallant manner, with a loss of
40 in killed and wounded. It captured in this charge a large number of
prisoners, including Gen. Walker, who was seriously wounded. On June 2
the regiment was again called into action on nearly the same ground, and
in the engagement it lost in killed, wounded and missing some 40 men.
About the middle of June it came in contact with Gen. Longstreet's corps
near the Petersburg and Richmond pike and fought him night and day for 3
days, losing about 35 men in killed and wounded. On Aug. 16 the brigade
to which the 39th was attached was ordered to charge the works of the
enemy at Deep run, during the performance of which the enemy's lines
were broken and a large number of prisoners captured. In this battle the
regiment lost 104 men in killed, wounded and missing. In the latter part
of August it was ordered to the trenches in front of Petersburg, where
it was almost constantly on duty and under fire both night and day. In
the latter part of September the 10th and 18th corps moved over to the
north side of the James river again and on Oct. 7 the regiment met the
enemy near Chaffin's farm, where three desperate charges were made by
the Confederates upon the hastily constructed works behind which the
Federals were stationed. A few days later the regiment took part in a
charge upon the enemy's works near Darlington road, 7 miles from
Richmond, and out of about 250 men who went into that charge, 60 fell,
struck by the enemy. On Oct. 27 the regiment took part in a
reconnoissance near the same place and had a brisk engagement with the
enemy. During the winter it had frequent skirmishes but no regular
engagements. It crossed to the left of the Army of the Potomac and on
April 2 took part in the charge upon Fort Gregg, the key to the works
about Petersburg and Richmond. It fell to the lot of the 1st brigade to
charge and take the fort, the 39th was the first regiment to gain the
ditch, and the first to plant its flag upon the structure. Out of 9 of
the color-guard 7 were shot down, and out of 150 members who went into
that fight 16 were shot dead and 45 severely wounded, many of whom died
from their wounds. After this affair the regiment took the advance of
the Army of the James in the pursuit of Gen. Lee, and succeeded in
heading off his army after forced marches and frequent skirmishes. At
Appomattox Court House after a brisk engagement on April 9, 1865, in
which the regiment had several men wounded, it had the proud
satisfaction of witnessing the surrender of Gen. Robert E. Lee, with the
remnant of his great Army of Northern Virginia. The regiment remained on
duty at Norfolk until Dec. 5, 1865, at which time General Order No. 131
was issued from the headquarters of the Department of Virginia, ordering
its muster-out of service, and on the afternoon of the 7th the regiment
started for Springfield, Ill., via Chicago, for its muster out and
payment, where it arrived on the afternoon of Dec. 10. |
Footnotes:
Regimental history taken from "The Union Army" by Federal Publishing
Company, 1908 - Volume 3
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