Overview
The 49th Illinois Infantry (Three Years’ Service) was an infantry regiment organized in Illinois for service in the Union Army during the American Civil War. The regiment was mustered in at Camp Butler on December 31, 1861, and served primarily in the Western Theater. It participated in several major campaigns and battles, including Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Corinth, Little Rock, the Red River expedition, Tupelo, and Nashville. The regiment was mustered out of service on September 9, 1865, at Paducah, Kentucky.
Organization & Service
The 49th Illinois Infantry (Three Years’ Service) was organized at Camp Butler, Illinois, under the command of Colonel William R. Morrison. The regiment was mustered into Federal service on December 31, 1861. On February 3, 1862, it was ordered to Cairo, Illinois, and shortly thereafter moved to Fort Henry, Tennessee, where it was assigned to the 3rd Brigade, McClernand’s Division.
The regiment saw its first major action at the battle of Fort Donelson in February 1862, suffering significant casualties, including Colonel Morrison, who was wounded while commanding the brigade. The 49th Illinois participated in the battle of Shiloh in April 1862, again incurring heavy losses. Following Shiloh, the regiment took part in the siege of Corinth and was subsequently assigned to Brigadier General John A. Logan’s 1st Division, District of Jackson, under Major General John A. McClernand.
In November 1863, the regiment participated in the capture of Little Rock, Arkansas. On January 15, 1864, a majority of the regiment reenlisted and was mustered as veteran volunteers. The 49th Illinois was then assigned to the Red River expedition, where it took part in the capture of Fort De Russy, Louisiana, and fought at Pleasant Hill. In June 1864, the regiment returned to Illinois for veteran furlough, while non-veteran members participated in the battle of Tupelo, Mississippi. Upon returning to the field, the regiment moved to Franklin, Missouri, and later participated in the battle of Nashville. The remainder of its service was spent on garrison duty. The regiment was mustered out on September 9, 1865, at Paducah, Kentucky, and returned to Camp Butler for final payment and discharge on September 15, 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)
- Shiloh (April 1862)
- Siege of Corinth (April–May 1862)
- Capture of Little Rock, Arkansas (November 1863)
- Red River Expedition (March–May 1864)
- Capture of Fort De Russy, Louisiana (March 1864)
- Pleasant Hill (April 1864)
- Tupelo, Mississippi (July 1864, non-veteran detachment)
- Franklin, Missouri (late 1864)
- Nashville (December 1864)
Casualties
At Fort Donelson, the regiment lost 14 killed and 37 wounded. At Shiloh, losses were 17 killed and 99 wounded. Comprehensive casualty figures for the entire service period are not fully detailed in all sources. Fox’s Regimental Losses and Illinois Adjutant General reports should be consulted for further breakdowns.
Field Officers & Commanders
- Colonel William R. Morrison
- Colonel Phineas Pease
- Lieutenant Colonel Thomas G. Allen
- Lieutenant Colonel Phineas Pease
- Lieutenant Colonel William W. Bishop
- Lieutenant Colonel William P. Moore
- Major John B. Hay
- Major William W. Bishop
- Major Thomas W. Morgan
- Major William P. Moore
- Major Jacob E. Gauen
Regimental Roster
The full roster of the 49th Illinois Infantry (Three Years’ Service), including officers and enlisted men, is available for genealogical and historical research. The roster provides names, ranks, and additional service details when available.
To view the complete roster, visit the 49th Illinois Infantry (Three Years’ Service) Roster page.
Sources & References
- Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volumes VII, X, XXIV, XXXIV
- Report of the Adjutant General of the State of Illinois
- Dyer, Frederick H. “A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion”
- Fox, William F. “Regimental Losses in the American Civil War”
- Contemporary reports and regimental histories as cited in state records