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104th Illinois Infantry
in the American Civil War
Online Books:
104th Illinois Infantry Soldier Roster - Report of the Adjutant
General of the State of Illinois, Volume 5, Revised by Brigadier General J.N.
Reece, Adjutant General, 1900
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Entire Book
| Regimental History |
| One Hundred and Fourth Illinois Infantry. — Col., Absalom B.
Moore; Lieut. -Col., Douglas Hapeman; Maj., John H. Widmer. This
regiment was organized at Ottawa in Aug., 1862, and was composed almost
entirely of La Salle county men. Before being uniformed or armed it
received orders to report at Louisville, Ky., where it remained for some
time, and in the reorganization of Gen. Buell's army was assigned to
Gen. Dumont's division. When Gen. Buell commenced his march in pursuit
of Gen. Bragg the 104th was on the left of the army, going first to
Frankfort, Ky., where it remained until Oct. 26, then marched via
Bowling Green, Glasgow and Tompkinsville, and on Dec. 1 reached
Hartsville, Tenn., where an attack was made by the enemy on the Federals
Dec. 7, seven companies of the regiment being in line, the other three
being absent on guard duty. The battle lasted 1 hour and 15 minutes,
during which time the regiment lost 44 men killed and about 150 wounded,
and then being completely surrounded was obliged to surrender. It was
exchanged in the spring of 1863, and sent to Murfreesboro, where it
remained until the advance of the army on Tullahoma, when it marched
through Hoover's gap, skirmishing with the enemy with slight loss, then
passed through Manchester, again skirmishing at Elk river. When Gen.
Bragg crossed the Tennessee river it went into camp at Decherd, Tenn.,
where it remained until Aug. 15, when it marched to Stevenson, Ala., and
remained there until the army made the advance which ended in the battle
of Chickamauga and the occupation of Chattanooga. On Sept. 10 it moved
forward to Davis' cross-roads and on the following day developed the
Confederate army at Dug gap, in Pigeon mountain. After a severe
skirmish, with some loss, it fell back again to McLemore's cove, where
it remained until the 16th, when the movement towards Chattanooga was
commenced. On the night of the 18th it marched all night, taking a
position in front of Crawfish springs, where it was engaged during the
19th, exposed most of the time to a terrific artillery fire and
suffering a severe loss. On the evening of the 19th it moved to the
extreme left of the army and on the 20th was engaged, suffering a heavy
loss, falling back in the evening to Rossville. On the 21st it remained
at Rossville, skirmishing with the enemy, losing several men, and at
night fell back to Chattanooga, being the rear-guard in the movement,
reaching the works at Chattanooga about daylight on the morning of Sept.
22. The loss suffered by the regiment in the campaign was severe, as it
was engaged in several hard skirmishes besides the two days of the
battle. It fought at Lookout mountain, near the White house, when the
1st brigade, 1st division, 14th army corps, repulsed an attack made by
the Confederates, about 9 p. m. of Nov. 24, to regain possession of the
ground. It was engaged in the capture of Missionary ridge and captured a
number of prisoners. It joined the march toward Atlanta on May 7, 1864,
and on the 9th was in front of Buzzard Roost gap, where it remained
skirmishing until the 12th, when it marched to the right, passing Snake
Creek gap. It was engaged in the battle of Resaca, losing 1 man killed
and 9 wounded. It marched to Dallas and remained there until it moved to
the front of Kennesaw mountain, where it was engaged, skirmishing nearly
all the time until the enemy left the mountain. At the battle of
Peachtree creek the regiment fought nobly and the loss was heavy — 16
killed, 29 wounded and 5 missing. It was engaged at Utoy creek, losing 5
killed and 18 wounded, and it also fought in the battle of Jonesboro.
The regiment marched with Sherman to the sea and on the campaign of the
Carolinas, being engaged at the battle of Bentonville and in several
skirmishes, with small loss. It commenced the march from Raleigh to
Washington on April 30, arrived at the latter place on May 19, and
participated in the grand review. The regiment was mustered out on June
6, 1865. |
Footnotes:
Regimental history taken from "The Union Army" by Federal Publishing
Company, 1908 - Volume 3
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