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82nd Illinois Infantry
in the American Civil War
Online Books:
82nd 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 |
| Eighty-second Infantry. — Col., Frederick Hecker;
Lieut.-Col., Edward S. Solomon; Maj., Ferdinand H. Rolshausen. This
regiment, named "Second Hecker Regiment" in honor of Col. Frederick
Hecker, was almost exclusively composed of Germans and was a Chicago
organization. One company was an Israelitish company and Co. I was
composed of Scandinavians. The regiment was organized at Camp Butler,
Springfield, Sept. 26, 1862, and was mustered into the U. S. service at
the same place on Oct. 23. On Nov. 3 it left Camp Butler, 1,000 strong,
under orders to join the Army of the Potomac. It arrived at Arlington
Heights Nov. 9, was attached to Gen. Franz Sigel's corps and marched to
Fairfax Court House. Its first engagement was at Chancellorsville, where
with a New York regiment it held the enemy in check until a new line was
formed in their rear, when it fell back a short distance, leaving 70
killed and wounded on the ground it had occupied. The loss of the
regiment, before it rejoined the brigade, was 156 killed or wounded,
including 7 commissioned officers. After the engagement it returned to
camp at Stafford Court House, where it had a much needed rest until June
12, when it moved on the Gettysburg campaign. During the three days'
fighting at Gettysburg its losses were 131 killed, wounded and missing.
On the night of Oct. 28 the regiment had an engagement with Law's
brigade of Longstreet's corps and afterward joined the main army in
Lookout valley. It remained there until Nov. 22, when it joined Grant's
forces at Chattanooga and participated in the attack on the enemy near
Orchard knob. At the battle of Resaca the regiment came upon the field
at an opportune time and by a spirited charge drove the enemy back to
the woods, saving Simonson's famous 5th Ind. battery and the left wing
of Sherman's army. The regiment occupied the field for the night, and on
the following day was in an assault on the enemy's main line. On May 25,
with the 1st division, it became engaged with the enemy soon after
crossing the bridge over Pumpkin Vine creek, about half way between
Burnt Hickory and Dallas. The loss to the regiment in the advance toward
Dallas was 11 killed and 69 wounded out of a total of 245 in the ranks.
In the forward movement of Sherman's army the 82nd took part in the
various skirmishes which finally dislodged the enemy from his position
on Lost mountain west of Marietta. On June 15 it participated in an
assault on the enemy's main line of works near Pine mountain, losing 5
killed, and again on the 17th it lost 1 killed and 3 wounded in an
attack on the enemy's intrenched position south of Nose's creek. In the
battles around Atlanta the regiment performed its part worthily with the
rest, on July 20 each man firing from 130 to 140 rounds of ammunition
during the 3 hours' engagement. The regiment moved from Atlanta on the
famous march to the sea, and then up through the Carolinas. It was on
the front line at Averasboro, being under fire from noon until dark and
losing about 15 men. In the action at Bentonville it lost 5 men. On
April 20 it broke camp and proceeded to Richmond, where it was received
by Gen. Grant, and then it took up the line of march for Washington,
arriving at Alexandria May 20. After participating in the grand review
it was mustered out at Washington June 9, 1865, and returned to Chicago,
arriving June 16, having marched, during its term of service, 2,503
miles and participated in many severe engagements, with honor to itself
and the city which sent it to the field. The regiment returned with 300
men. |
Footnotes:
Regimental history taken from "The Union Army" by Federal Publishing
Company, 1908 - Volume 3
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