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118th Illinois Infantry
in the American Civil War
Online Books:
118th Illinois Infantry Soldier Roster - Report of the Adjutant
General of the State of Illinois, Volume 6, Revised by Brigadier General J.N.
Reece, Adjutant General, 1900
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Entire Book
| Regimental History |
| One Hundred and Eighteenth Illinois Infantry. — Col., John G.
Fonda; Lieut.-Cols., John G. Fonda, Thomas Logan; Maj., Robert W. McClaughry. The troops composing this regiment enlisted under the call
of the president of July 2, 1862, and the companies were formed during
August from the following places and counties: Co. A, Fountain Green; B,
Carthage; C, Hamilton; E, Warsaw, and H, Basco, all in Hancock county;
D, Quincy; F, Richfield, and K, Mendon, Adams county; G, Terre Haute,
Henderson county; and Co. I, Gallatin county. The companies rendezvoused
at Camp Butler during the month of September, were respectively sworn
into the service and organized into a regiment, which remained on duty
in charge of the post and guarding Confederate prisoners until December.
It was mustered into the U. S. service on Nov. 7, for three years, with
a total of 820 men and officers. On Nov. 21 it was armed with Enfield
rifles and on Dec. 1 left by the Chicago & Alton railroad for Alton.
From there it moved by boat to St. Louis and below until it arrived at
Memphis, Tenn., and went into camp on Wolf river. While there it
received its first tents, first watery beds, first "powder and ball"
cartridges, its first scare, first "turn out for firing on the pickets,"
and first introduction to Confederates, in a night and day skirmish. It
reached Milliken's bend Dec. 25, and the following day proceeded up the
Yazoo river and participated in the attack upon Chickasaw bluffs. From
there it proceeded with the force under Gen. McClernand to Arkansas Post
and took part in the two days' fight. In April, 1863, it moved out in
the expedition against Vicksburg, crossed the Mississippi river at
Bruinsburg and took part in the battles of Port Gibson, Champion's hill,
Black River bridge, and the assaults upon Vicksburg in May suffering in
the first two and the last severely in killed and wounded. In the battle
of Black River bridge a whole Confederate regiment was captured by and
surrendered to Co. D. On May 24 it moved with Gen. Osterhaus' division
to Black River bridge and remained there until the surrender of
Vicksburg, holding the rear against Gen. Johnston's forces, having
frequent skirmishes with them. On July 6 it started with the force under
Gen. Sherman to Jackson, Miss., and took part in the fighting and siege.
A mounted battalion of the regiment went on a raid to Brookhaven, having
frequent skirmishes, tore up the railroad and burned the rolling stock
and depot buildings. The regiment was then transferred to the Department
of the Gulf and in November participated in the battle of Carrion Crow
bayou, or as it is sometimes called, Grand Coteau, and in a battle near
Vermillionville, in which it lost severely. The entire regiment having
been mounted, it remained in Louisiana and the Gulf region throughout
the rest of its term of service, engaged in scouting, foraging,
skirmishing, etc. On Oct. 1, 1865, it was mustered out. The regiment was
mustered into the service with 820 men and officers, received 283
recruits, making a total of 1,103, and mustered out 523. The losses were
as follows: 267 resigned and discharged for disability; 176 died; 63
missing; 17 killed in battle; 1 dishonorably discharged; 2 accidentally
killed; 1 lost at sea; 2 drowned; 1 committed suicide; 7 absent at
muster; 3 discharged by the president; 1 dismissed the service, and 25
transferred to other branches of the service, leaving 14 unaccounted
for. |
Footnotes:
Regimental history taken from "The Union Army" by Federal Publishing
Company, 1908 - Volume 3
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