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64th Illinois Infantry
in the American Civil War
Online Books:
64th Illinois Infantry Soldier Roster - Report of the Adjutant
General of the State of Illinois, Volume 4, Revised by Brigadier General J.N.
Reece, Adjutant General, 1900
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Entire Book
| Regimental History |
| Sixty-fourth Illinois Infantry.— Col., John Morrill;
Lieut.-Cols., David E. Williams, John Morrill, Michael W. Manning,
Joseph S. Reynolds; Majs., Frederick W. Matteson, George W. Stipp, John
W. Stewart, Samuel B. Thompson, Joseph S. Reynolds. The "First Battalion
of Yates' Sharpshooters" was organized at Camp Butler, Ill., in the
month of Dec, 1861, and consisted of four companies, the last of which
was mustered into the U. S. service on Dec. 16. Two additional companies
were mustered in on Dec. 31, and on Jan. 10, 1862, the battalion was
ordered to Quincy and went into barracks, where it was armed. It moved
to Cairo on Feb. 16 and on March 4 moved via Bird's Point, Charleston,
Bertrand and Sikeston, to New Madrid, where it was assigned to Morgan's
brigade, Paine's division, Pope's army. On the evening of March 12 Cos.
A, D, E and F made a night attack on the enemy's right, driving his
pickets and skirmishing heavily till midnight, drawing the attention of
the enemy from the 10th and 16th Ill., who were planting siege guns on
the enemy's left. The battalion was present at the bombardment of New
Madrid the next day and afterward acted as support to Williams' siege
guns 4 miles below, where Pope effected his crossing. It was engaged in
the siege of Corinth from April 22 till the evacuation, being constantly
on the skirmish and picket line. On May 3 it was heavily engaged at
Chambers' creek, but repulsed the enemy, the loss being 4 killed and 5
wounded. On May 7, in Gen. Paine's reconnoissance, it lost 2 men killed
and 3 wounded. It took the advance in pursuit of the enemy, and came
upon his rear at Tuscumbia creek about dark, when a brisk skirmish
ensued, continuing during the night and the next day. At the battle of
Corinth in October it met the first advance of the enemy and was heavily
engaged during the day, doing efficient and distinguished service and
losing 70 men killed, wounded and missing. The year 1863 was spent on
out-post duty at Glendale, Miss., and on Jan. 15, 1864, over
three-fourths of the battalion having reenlisted, it moved north for
veteran furlough, arriving at Chicago on the 22nd. It was furloughed for
20 days and reassembled at Ottawa on Feb. 14. Four new companies having
been recruited, they were added to the battalion, making a full
regiment. Returning to the front it arrived on May 9 before Resaca, Ga.,
where Cos. F and A deployed and drove the enemy into his works. At
Dallas the same two companies on the skirmish line lost 14 men killed
and wounded, and from the 27th to the 31st the regiment was each day
engaged. It skirmished with the enemy near New Hope church and was also
engaged at Kennesaw mountain, where on June 27 it was in the advance
line of the assaulting forces and was heavily engaged, losing in killed
and wounded 57 men. On July 4 the entire regiment was on the skirmish
line and drove the enemy 2 miles, losing 25 killed and wounded. On the
7th it had a skirmish on the Chattahoochee, and at Nancy's creek the
regiment deployed and drove the enemy a mile and a half. It then marched
toward Decatur and on July 19 engaged the enemy, losing 5 men. On the
22nd it marched to the support of the 17th corps and was heavily
engaged, charging the enemy three times and capturing 40 prisoners and 1
battleflag. It also recaptured the field-glass and papers of Gen.
McPherson, who had been killed by the enemy. The loss of the regiment in
this action was 15 killed, 67 wounded and 7 missing. On the 28th it was
hotly engaged and repulsed several charges of the enemy, and from then
until Aug. 26 it took part in the siege of Atlanta. It joined the march
after Hood and on Oct. 16 was with the skirmish line that advanced on
Snake Creek gap and drove the enemy in confusion. It had a skirmish with
the enemy's cavalry at Cedartown and then returned to Atlanta to begin
the march to the sea. It skirmished with the enemy at Pooler's station
and participated in the operations against Savannah. It then engaged in
the Carolina campaign and at the battle of Bentonville the entire
regiment was on the skirmish line, capturing 12 prisoners, 35 horses and
1 caisson, together with Gen. Johnston's headquarters, losing 13 men
killed and wounded. After the surrender of Johnston it accompanied the
army to Washington, participated in the grand review, and then moved to
Louisville, Ky., where it was mustered out on July 11, 1865. |
Footnotes:
Regimental history taken from "The Union Army" by Federal Publishing
Company, 1908 - Volume 3
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