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97th Illinois Infantry
in the American Civil War
Online Books:
97th 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 |
| Ninety-seventh Infantry. — Cols., Friend S. Rutherford,
Lewis D. Martin; Lieut.-Cols., Lewis D. Martin, Victor Vifquain; Majs.,
Stephen W. Horton, Victor Vifquain, James G. Buchanan. This regiment was
organized at Camp Butler in Aug. and Sept., 1862. During its stay there
the men as they came in were put to an almost constant drill, and the
regiment was mustered in on Sept. 16. About Oct. 1 it was ordered to the
field and proceeded to Covington, Ky., where it was incorporated in the
army that marched from that place southward to the relief of a Federal
column at Cumberland gap. It became a part of the forces operating
against Vicksburg and bore its full share of the spirited engagement at
Port Gibson. At the fierce battle of Champion's hill the regiment had
the not very pleasant duty of being the target for the Confederate
artillery for at least 2 hours, at a distance of not over 800 yards. The
next morning with the rest of the army it moved on to the Black river
and took part in the fight at that place. It took part in the early
charges at Vicksburg, never failing to go as far as any other
organization, and as a rule much farther. In short, from May 19 to July
4 the 97th accomplished its full share of the great work and for 45
consecutive days remained by day and by night exposed to the most
destructive fire. It then took part in the contest at Jackson and
distinguished itself sufficiently to be praised by Maj.-Gen. W. T.
Sherman, commanding the expeditionary army. The remainder of its term of
service was spent in Louisiana, doing guard duty, etc., and it took a
prominent part in the siege of Fort Blakely, where it led the charge
which resulted in the capture of the fort, but in doing so suffered a
loss of 80 killed and wounded. From Mobile the regiment was sent to
Galveston, Tex., where on July 29, 1865, it was mustered out and
proceeded homeward by the way of New Orleans and the Mississippi river
to East St. Louis, which place was reached on the morning of Aug. 19. |
Footnotes:
Regimental history taken from "The Union Army" by Federal Publishing
Company, 1908 - Volume 3
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