CIVIL WAR INDEX
Primary Source Material
on the Soldiers and the Battles
Home The Armies The Soldiers The Battles Civilians Articles
 
If this website has been useful to you, please consider making a Donation.

Your support will help keep this website free for everyone, and will allow us to do more research. Thank you for your support!

64th Illinois Infantry
in the American Civil War

Online Books:
64th Illinois Infantry Soldier Roster - Report of the Adjutant General of the State of Illinois, Volume 4, Revised by Brigadier General J.N. Reece, Adjutant General, 1900       View Entire Book

Regimental History
Sixty-fourth Illinois Infantry.— Col., John Morrill; Lieut.-Cols., David E. Williams, John Morrill, Michael W. Manning, Joseph S. Reynolds; Majs., Frederick W. Matteson, George W. Stipp, John W. Stewart, Samuel B. Thompson, Joseph S. Reynolds. The "First Battalion of Yates' Sharpshooters" was organized at Camp Butler, Ill., in the month of Dec, 1861, and consisted of four companies, the last of which was mustered into the U. S. service on Dec. 16. Two additional companies were mustered in on Dec. 31, and on Jan. 10, 1862, the battalion was ordered to Quincy and went into barracks, where it was armed. It moved to Cairo on Feb. 16 and on March 4 moved via Bird's Point, Charleston, Bertrand and Sikeston, to New Madrid, where it was assigned to Morgan's brigade, Paine's division, Pope's army. On the evening of March 12 Cos. A, D, E and F made a night attack on the enemy's right, driving his pickets and skirmishing heavily till midnight, drawing the attention of the enemy from the 10th and 16th Ill., who were planting siege guns on the enemy's left. The battalion was present at the bombardment of New Madrid the next day and afterward acted as support to Williams' siege guns 4 miles below, where Pope effected his crossing. It was engaged in the siege of Corinth from April 22 till the evacuation, being constantly on the skirmish and picket line. On May 3 it was heavily engaged at Chambers' creek, but repulsed the enemy, the loss being 4 killed and 5 wounded. On May 7, in Gen. Paine's reconnoissance, it lost 2 men killed and 3 wounded. It took the advance in pursuit of the enemy, and came upon his rear at Tuscumbia creek about dark, when a brisk skirmish ensued, continuing during the night and the next day. At the battle of Corinth in October it met the first advance of the enemy and was heavily engaged during the day, doing efficient and distinguished service and losing 70 men killed, wounded and missing. The year 1863 was spent on out-post duty at Glendale, Miss., and on Jan. 15, 1864, over three-fourths of the battalion having reenlisted, it moved north for veteran furlough, arriving at Chicago on the 22nd. It was furloughed for 20 days and reassembled at Ottawa on Feb. 14. Four new companies having been recruited, they were added to the battalion, making a full regiment. Returning to the front it arrived on May 9 before Resaca, Ga., where Cos. F and A deployed and drove the enemy into his works. At Dallas the same two companies on the skirmish line lost 14 men killed and wounded, and from the 27th to the 31st the regiment was each day engaged. It skirmished with the enemy near New Hope church and was also engaged at Kennesaw mountain, where on June 27 it was in the advance line of the assaulting forces and was heavily engaged, losing in killed and wounded 57 men. On July 4 the entire regiment was on the skirmish line and drove the enemy 2 miles, losing 25 killed and wounded. On the 7th it had a skirmish on the Chattahoochee, and at Nancy's creek the regiment deployed and drove the enemy a mile and a half. It then marched toward Decatur and on July 19 engaged the enemy, losing 5 men. On the 22nd it marched to the support of the 17th corps and was heavily engaged, charging the enemy three times and capturing 40 prisoners and 1 battleflag. It also recaptured the field-glass and papers of Gen. McPherson, who had been killed by the enemy. The loss of the regiment in this action was 15 killed, 67 wounded and 7 missing. On the 28th it was hotly engaged and repulsed several charges of the enemy, and from then until Aug. 26 it took part in the siege of Atlanta. It joined the march after Hood and on Oct. 16 was with the skirmish line that advanced on Snake Creek gap and drove the enemy in confusion. It had a skirmish with the enemy's cavalry at Cedartown and then returned to Atlanta to begin the march to the sea. It skirmished with the enemy at Pooler's station and participated in the operations against Savannah. It then engaged in the Carolina campaign and at the battle of Bentonville the entire regiment was on the skirmish line, capturing 12 prisoners, 35 horses and 1 caisson, together with Gen. Johnston's headquarters, losing 13 men killed and wounded. After the surrender of Johnston it accompanied the army to Washington, participated in the grand review, and then moved to Louisville, Ky., where it was mustered out on July 11, 1865.

Footnotes:
Regimental history taken from "The Union Army" by Federal Publishing Company, 1908 - Volume 3

Whats New
Bibliography
About Us


 

Copyright 2010 by CivilWarIndex.com
A Division of Pier-Pleasure.com