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12th Illinois Infantry (3 years)
in the American Civil War
Online Books:
12th Illinois Infantry (3
years) Soldier Roster - Report of the Adjutant
General of the State of Illinois, Volume 1, Revised by Brigadier General J.N.
Reece, Adjutant General, 1900
View
Entire Book
| Regimental History |
| Twelfth Illinois Infantry. — Cols., John McArthur, Augustus L. Chetlain ; Lieut. -Cols., Augustus L. Chetlain, Arthur C. Ducat, Henry
Van Sellar; Majs., William D. Williams, Arthur C. Ducat, James R.
Hugunin, Wheelock S. Merriman. The 12th infantry was mustered into the
U. S. service for three years on Aug. 1, 1861. The regiment remained at
Cairo, where it was organized, until Sept. 5, 1861, when with the 9th
Ill. infantry it moved up to and occupied Paducah, being the first Union
troops there. Four companies of the 12th occupied Smithland, Ky., until
Jan. 25, 1862, and were engaged in the demonstration against Columbus,
46 miles from Paducah, during the Belmont battle. The regiment endured
the cold, snow, hunger and fatigue of the movement against Fort Donelson,
forming with the 9th and 41st Ill. McArthur's brigade, which suffered so
terribly, but fought so nobly on Feb. 15. The loss of the regiment in
that engagement was 19 killed, 58 wounded and 10 missing. It took part
in the terrible battle of Shiloh, being engaged nearly all of the two
days, with a loss of 109 killed and wounded and 7 missing. It moved with
the army on Corinth and was engaged in the siege of that place, doing
its share of picket and fatigue duty, extending saps, etc. After the
evacuation the regiment was sent with Gen. Pope in pursuit of the enemy.
It was engaged in the battle of Corinth the following October and took a
very conspicuous and brilliant part. Supported by a small part of the
50th and 52nd Ill. infantry it drove the enemy from the works, captured
a stand of colors, and turned the guns of a captured battery upon the
enemy. The division of which it was a part lost more than half of the
men that were lost during the day, the regiment losing 17 killed, 80
wounded, and 15 missing. In April, 1863, the enemy attacked Glendale, an
outpost 12 miles from Corinth, and the regiment 225 strong, was ordered
as reinforcement, but the attack was repulsed before it reached the
field and it returned to Corinth. On Jan. 16, 1864, the members of the
regiment reenlisted as veterans and two days later started for Camp
Butler, Ill., on a 30-day furlough. Returning to the field, the regiment
started on the Atlanta campaign early in May, and from that time till
the fall of Atlanta was actively engaged. In October it was in the
battle of Allatoona, losing 57 in killed and wounded out of 161 muskets
taken into action. On Nov. 11 it left Rome, Ga., and started on the
"march to the sea," passing through Kingston, Cartersville, Cassville,
Allatoona, Acworth, Big Shanty and Marietta, arriving at Atlanta Nov.
15. The next day it resumed the march through Jonesboro, McDonough and
Jackson, crossed the Ocmulgee river at Seven Islands cotton factory,
then passed through Monticello, Hillsboro and Clinton, having 1 man
captured at the latter place by Wheeler's cavalry, and encamped near
Gordon on the 24th. On the 25th it passed through Irwinton, crossed the
Oconee river, where some opposition was offered by the enemy, on via
Irwin's cross-roads, Wrightsville, the head waters of the Ohoopee river,
through Summerville, camping on Scull's creek, 4 miles from Millen, on
Dec. 2. It marched to the Ogeechee canal on the 9th and found the enemy
in force 4 miles from the canal, but he was soon flanked out of his
position, leaving a "Blakesley gun" of English manufacture in possession
of the regiment. It participated in the Carolina campaign and was
engaged in the battle of Bentonville, losing 2 men wounded, and on March
22, moved into the enemy's works. After the surrender of Johnston it
marched up through Virginia, passed in the grand review at Washington,
and was mustered out at Louisville, Ky., July 10, 1865. |
Footnotes:
Regimental history taken from "The Union Army" by Federal Publishing
Company, 1908 - Volume 3
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