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13th Illinois Infantry
in the American Civil War
Online Books:
13th Illinois Infantry Soldier Roster - Report of the Adjutant
General of the State of Illinois, Volume 1, Revised by Brigadier General J.N.
Reece, Adjutant General, 1900
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Entire Book
| Regimental History |
| Thirteenth Illinois Infantry. — Cols., John B. Wyman, Adam B. Gorgas; Lieut.-Cols., Benjamin F. Parks, Adam B. Gorgas, Frederick W.
Partridge; Majs., Frederick W. Partridge, Douglas R. Bushnell, James M.
Beardsley. The 13th infantry was one of the regiments organized under
the act known as the "Ten Regiment Bill." It was composed of companies
as follows : I from Cook county, H from Kane county, K from Du Page
county, E and F from DeKalb county, A and C from Lee county, B and G
from Whiteside county, and D from Rock Island county. The regiment was
mustered into the state service on April 21, and into the U. S. service
on May 24, 1861, at Camp Dement, Dixon, Ill., for three years or during
the war. It was the first regiment organized from the then 2nd
Congressional district of the state and was composed of as good citizens
as northern Illinois contained, many that enlisted as privates rising to
field officers in later regiments. Its colonel, John B. Wyman, organized
and commanded the "Chicago Light Guards," the first crack corps the
Garden City ever had, and he soon brought the 13th to a degree in
proficiency in drill and soldierly deportment that was never excelled by
any regiment with which it was afterward associated. On June 16 it was
ordered to Caseyville, Ill., 10 miles east of St. Louis, and on July 5
it passed through St. Louis to Rolla, Mo., where it remained until the
spring of 1862. It was a part of Gen. Sherman's army in his attack upon
Chickasaw bluffs and from that time on was a part of the noted 15th army
corps, commanded so long by Gen. Sherman in person. In the second day's
fight at Chickasaw bluffs the regiment was a part of Gen. F. P. Blair's
brigade that distinguished itself by approaching nearer to the
Confederate works than any other command in that part of the field. The
losses to the regiment on that day were 183 in killed and wounded. It
was present at the capture of Arkansas Post, after which it returned to
Young's point opposite Vicksburg. While there, Gen. Steele's division,
of which the 13th was a part, made a very successful raid to Greenville,
Miss., and up Deer creek, driving the Confederates out of that region
and destroying an immense quantity of corn intended for the Confederate
garrison at Vicksburg. It was with Gen. Grant's army that crossed the
Mississippi at Grand Gulf below Vicksburg, participated in several of
the battles in the rear of Vicksburg and in the capture of Jackson, and
was with Gen. Sherman's corps on the right of the army during the siege
of Vicksburg. It was with Gen. Steele's division in the fruitless
assault on the Confederate works in May, when it suffered severely. It
was present at the second capture of Jackson and moved still further
east to Brandon, where the pursuit of Gen. Johnston ended, when with the
remainder of the command the regiment returned to the Black river and
went into camp. It marched from Memphis to Chattanooga, the journey
being a continuous light, as the Confederates tried every way in their
power to prevent Sherman from joining Grant's army. It was with Gen.
Osterhaus' division, temporarily attached to Gen. Hooker's command at
the battle of Missionary ridge, where the regiment captured 2,500
prisoners, then followed the retreating forces to Rossville, where the
enemy was overtaken and a severe skirmish ensued. From there the
Confederates were driven to Ringgold gap, where they massed their
batteries to protect their retreat. Osterhaus' division formed in line
of battle, the 13th being directly in front of the gap and the masked
batteries. The regiment and division held their ground till their
ammunition gave out, and were finally relieved by the 14th army corps.
The losses of the regiment in this battle were 67. The term of
enlistment being so nearly expired it was not taken on the march to the
sea, but was left to guard the communications in the rear. On June 18,
1864, it was mustered out at Springfield, Ill., having served three
years and two months. |
Footnotes:
Regimental history taken from "The Union Army" by Federal Publishing
Company, 1908 - Volume 3
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