Overview
The 93rd Illinois Infantry was an infantry regiment organized in Illinois for Federal service during the American Civil War. Mustered in at Chicago in September and October 1862, the regiment served in the Western Theater as part of the Union Army. The 93rd Illinois participated in several major campaigns and engagements, including the Vicksburg Campaign, the Chattanooga Campaign, the Atlanta Campaign, Sherman’s March to the Sea, and the Carolinas Campaign.
The regiment was noted for its heavy combat losses and active participation in key battles. It remained in service until June 1865, when it was mustered out following the end of hostilities.
Organization & Service
The 93rd Illinois Infantry was organized at Chicago in September 1862 and mustered into Federal service on October 13, 1862. The regiment, numbering 998 men, departed for Memphis, Tennessee, on November 9 and arrived on November 14. It joined General Ulysses S. Grant’s army for the northern Mississippi campaign, advancing to Yocona Creek and then returning to Memphis by December 30, 1862.
The regiment saw its first combat at the battle of Jackson, Mississippi, in May 1863, suffering several casualties. Two days later, it was heavily engaged at the battle of Champion’s Hill, incurring significant losses. The 93rd Illinois participated in the assault on the Confederate works at Vicksburg on May 22, 1863, and later took part in the charge that afternoon, again sustaining casualties.
In November 1863, the regiment crossed the Tennessee River, constructed defensive works, and was engaged at Missionary Ridge, where it experienced further losses. On October 5, 1864, the 93rd Illinois was among the Union forces at the battle of Allatoona, where it played a role in repelling Confederate attacks. The regiment then marched with General Sherman to the sea, skirmishing at Ogeechee Canal in December 1864, and continued through the Carolinas Campaign. After the war’s conclusion, the regiment participated in the Grand Review at Washington, D.C., moved to Louisville, Kentucky, and was mustered out on June 23, 1865, returning to Chicago two days later.
Research This Regiment Further
If you’d like to explore this unit’s history in more depth, regimental histories and Civil War reference works offer valuable detail.
Engagements & Campaigns
- Northern Mississippi Campaign (1862)
- Battle of Jackson, Mississippi (May 1863)
- Battle of Champion’s Hill (May 1863)
- Siege and Assaults on Vicksburg (May 1863)
- Chattanooga Campaign – Missionary Ridge (November 1863)
- Battle of Allatoona (October 1864)
- March to the Sea (November–December 1864)
- Skirmish at Ogeechee Canal (December 1864)
- Campaign of the Carolinas (1865)
Casualties
During its service, the 93rd Illinois Infantry suffered the following losses in battle and by accident:
- Battle casualties: 446
- Accidentally wounded: 1 officer and 31 men
Detailed breakdowns of deaths from disease or other causes are not specified in available primary sources.
Field Officers & Commanders
- Colonel Holden Putnam
- Lieutenant Colonel Nicholas C. Buswell
- Major James M. Fisher
Regimental Roster
The full roster of the 93rd Illinois Infantry, including officers and enlisted men who served during its term, is available for genealogical and historical research. This roster provides names, ranks, and additional service details where available.
To view the complete roster, visit the 93rd Illinois Infantry Regimental Roster page.
Sources & References
- Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volumes 17, 24, 30, 38, 39
- Report of the Adjutant General of the State of Illinois
- Dyer, Frederick H., A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion
- Fox, William F., Regimental Losses in the American Civil War
- Contemporary reports and returns from the 93rd Illinois Infantry