| 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! |
120th Illinois Infantry
in the American Civil War
Online Books:
120th 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
View
Entire Book
| Regimental History |
| One Hundred and Twentieth Illinois Infantry. — Col., George W. McKeaig; Lieut.-Cols., John G. Hardy, Spencer B. Floyd; Majs., Spencer
B. Floyd, John M. Raum. This regiment was organized at a time when there
was an immediate demand for soldiers in the field, and was mustered into
the U. S. service on Oct. 28, 1862. The first order received for actual
duty was from Col. Fonda, which was to guard the railroad bridge at "Jimtown,"
and that duty was performed until Nov. 9, when the regiment left for
Alton, thence moved to St. Louis on the steamer Stephen Decatur and
reported to Gen. Halleck, from whom orders were received to report
without delay to Gen. Sherman at Memphis. In Jan., 1863, with other
regiments, it was transported to Hopesdale, Ark., whence they marched
about 15 miles and struck a Confederate recruiting camp near Marion,
capturing a lieutenant and 20 men on picket. A brisk skirmish followed
in which the enemy was soon routed. The time of the regiment was
variously employed in scouting and guard duty until June, 1864, when at
the battle of Guntown, Miss., it participated in its first and only
serious engagement. It maintained perfect discipline and after 6 hours
of hard fighting contested every foot of ground with the Confederate
advance from Guntown to Ripley. On Oct 21 the regiment was placed on
provost duty in Memphis, in which service it remained until it was
mustered out on Sept. 7, 1865, when it was ordered to Camp Butler, where
it received final payment and discharge, Sept. 10. |
Footnotes:
Regimental history taken from "The Union Army" by Federal Publishing
Company, 1908 - Volume 3
|
Whats New
Bibliography
About Us
|