Overview
The 45th Illinois Infantry (Union) was an infantry regiment organized in Illinois for service in the Western Theater of the American Civil War. The regiment was mustered into United States service at Camp Douglas, Chicago, on December 25, 1861, and served until July 12, 1865. Known for its participation in major campaigns under General Grant, the regiment was also referred to as the “Washburne Lead Mine Regiment,” reflecting its origins in Jo Daviess County near Galena, Illinois.
The 45th Illinois Infantry was armed with short Enfield rifles and was attached to various brigades and divisions throughout its service, including Logan’s Division. The regiment saw action in several significant battles and campaigns, including Fort Donelson, Shiloh, the Vicksburg Campaign, the Atlanta Campaign, and the Carolinas Campaign.
Organization & Service
The 45th Illinois Infantry began organizing at the Jo Daviess County fairgrounds near Galena, Illinois, at a camp named Camp Washburne. Initially, seven companies assembled at Galena, and the regiment was completed at Camp Douglas, Chicago, where it was mustered into federal service on December 25, 1861. The regiment was equipped with short Enfield rifles.
On January 12, 1862, the regiment left Camp Douglas for Cairo, Illinois, and was assigned to the 2nd Brigade, 1st Division. It moved with General Grant’s army to the Tennessee River, encamping at Camp Halleck near Fort Henry. The regiment’s first major engagement was at Fort Donelson, where it supported the 49th Illinois Infantry and sustained its initial casualties. At the Battle of Shiloh, the 45th Illinois fought in the front line throughout both days, suffering significant losses.
During the summer of 1862, the regiment was stationed at Jackson, Tennessee, with detachments at Medon, Treager’s, and Toon’s. Company C was captured at Treager’s, and the regiment saw further action at Medon. The 45th Illinois participated in all major operations of the Vicksburg Campaign, including several assaults on the Confederate works. After the fall of Vicksburg, the regiment served as provost guard until October 1863, then took part in the Canton Raid and skirmished at Bogue Chitto Creek.
Nearly the entire regiment reenlisted as veterans in late 1863 and early 1864. It participated in the Meridian Raid in early 1864, including a skirmish at Chunky Station. After a veteran furlough, the regiment joined the Atlanta Campaign and continued through the March to the Sea and the Carolinas Campaign, including action at Pocotaligo, South Carolina. The 45th Illinois Infantry participated in the Grand Review in Washington, D.C., and was mustered out at Louisville, Kentucky, on July 12, 1865.
Research This Regiment Further
If you’d like to explore this unit’s history in more depth, regimental histories and Civil War reference works offer valuable detail.
Engagements & Campaigns
- Fort Donelson (February 1862)
- Battle of Shiloh (April 1862)
- Jackson, Tennessee (Summer 1862)
- Medon Station and Treager’s (August 1862)
- Vicksburg Campaign (May–July 1863), including assaults on Confederate works
- Canton Raid and Bogue Chitto Creek (October 1863)
- Meridian Raid, including Chunky Station (February–March 1864)
- Atlanta Campaign (June–September 1864)
- March to the Sea (November–December 1864)
- Carolinas Campaign, including Pocotaligo, South Carolina (January–April 1865)
- Grand Review, Washington, D.C. (May 1865)
Casualties
- Fort Donelson: 2 killed, 26 wounded
- Shiloh: 26 killed, 199 wounded and missing
- Medon Station: 3 killed, 13 wounded, 43 captured
- Vicksburg assaults (May–June 1863): 83 killed and wounded in the final assault
Comprehensive totals for the regiment’s entire service are not fully detailed in all sources. Fox’s Regimental Losses and Illinois Adjutant General’s reports may provide additional figures.
Field Officers & Commanders
- Colonel John Eugene Smith
- Colonel Jasper A. Maltby
- Lieutenant Colonel Charles C. Campbell
- Lieutenant Colonel Jasper A. Maltby
- Lieutenant Colonel Melancthon Smith
- Lieutenant Colonel Robert P. Sealy
- Lieutenant Colonel John O. Duer
- Major Melancthon Smith
- Major Luther H. Cowan
- Major Leander B. Fisk
- Major John O. Duer
- Major James J. Palmer
Regimental Roster
The full roster of the 45th Illinois Infantry, including officers and enlisted men, is available on the regiment’s dedicated roster page. This resource provides names, ranks, and additional service details valuable for genealogical and historical research.
To view the complete roster, visit the 45th Illinois Infantry Regimental Roster page.
Sources & References
- Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volumes 7, 10, 17, 24, 32, 39
- Report of the Adjutant General of the State of Illinois, 1861–1866
- Dyer, Frederick H. “A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion”
- Fox, William F. “Regimental Losses in the American Civil War”
- Contemporary regimental and state histories