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18th Illinois Infantry
in the American Civil War
Online Books:
18th Illinois Infantry Soldier Roster - Report of the Adjutant
General of the State of Illinois, Volume 2, Revised by Brigadier General J.N.
Reece, Adjutant General, 1900
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Entire Book
| Regimental History |
| Eighteenth Illinois Infantry. — Cols., Michael K. Lawler, Daniel
H. Brush; Lieut.-Cols., Thomas H. Burgess, Daniel H. Brush, Samuel B.
Marks; Majs., Samuel Eaton, Nathan Crews, Daniel H. Brush, Samuel B.
Marks, Henry S. Wilson. This regiment originally rendezvoused at Anna,
Union county, May 16, 1861, for the 9th Congressional district, under
the "Ten Regiment Bill." On May 19 it was mustered into the state
service for 30 days, by Ulysses S. Grant, then state mustering officer,
and was on the 28th of the same month mustered into the U. S. service
for three years. On June 24 it was moved to Bird's Point, Mo., where it
remained, drilling, doing guard duty, working on fortifications,
removing railroad buildings and track to keep the same from falling into
the river, making new road, etc., until Aug. 5, when it was moved into
the swamp 8 miles west on the line of the Chicago & Fulton railroad to
guard it and protect workmen making repairs. On Nov. 3 it formed part of
a force which was sent to Bloomfield, Mo., to rout Jeff. Thompson and
his band, which was accomplished. On Feb. 6, 1862, it was in the advance
in Gen. Oglesby's brigade at the capture of Fort Henry and was one of
the first to enter the fort, but too late to meet the Confederates, who
had flown. At Fort Donelson it occupied the right of Oglesby's brigade,
on the right of the line of battle, and during the second day's fight
lost 200 men in killed and wounded, 50 dying upon the field and 10 soon
afterward. The regiment during the battle bravely and persistently
maintained the position to which it was assigned in the early morning,
and not until its ammunition was spent was the order to retire given.
Its place that eventful morning was one commanding the road from the
fort by which the Confederates essayed to escape, which daring attempt,
however, was most signally frustrated by Oglesby's dauntless brigade.
The regiment became early engaged in the battle of Shiloh, where the
fight was fast and furious. At the commencement of the battle the
regiment had for duty 435 officers and men. The loss on the 6th was 10
killed, 63 wounded and 2 missing, but none were injured on the second
day. The 3 color bearers who carried the flag in the first day's
conflict were all killed while supporting the banner. The regiment was
with the Army of the Tennessee during the advance upon Corinth, serving
in a brigade commanded by Col. Lawler, in McClernand's division. On Nov.
28, 1862, one-half the period for which the regiment was mustered into
service having expired, a statement was made showing that the original
strength of officers and men, with the addition of new recruits,
aggregated 1,166, and the regiment had lost through all causes 456,
leaving a total aggregate on the rolls of 710. On Dec. 20 the regiment,
with other forces, was marched out towards Lexington and Trenton to
intercept the Confederates in a raid then being made against Union
troops guarding the rail-roads, etc., and on Dec. 31 Cos. E and H were
engaged in a fight with the Confederates under Forrest near Lexington,
driving the enemy with considerable loss. On April 1, 1863, the regiment
(250 mounted men) was moved toward Bolivar, Whiteville and beyond on the
hunt of guerrillas and other Confederates said to be infesting the
neighborhood, and a brush was had with a party posted in the road, the
enemy being driven towards Danceyville, the regiment capturing some
prisoners and horses. On April 11 it was ordered to Summerville, Tenn.,
where it investigated the place and surrounding country, routing
guerrillas and securing a few prisoners. On June 4 the aggregate of the
regiment, rank and file, was 369 on hand for duty, not including the
teamsters, men in hospital and those absent on other service, but on
July 27 the aggregate strength of those present and absent was 553, many
of them being sick in hospital. On Aug. 31 the regiment was mustered and
found to be so much reduced by sickness that less than 200 remained for
duty, but on Sept. 11 those who were able advanced with the forces
toward Little Rock, Ark., driving the enemy on both sides of the river
and taking possession of the intrenchments and the city the same day.
Soon after May 28, 1864, when the term of service of those originally
mustered in expired, they were mustered out and the veterans and
recruits were retained in the service until Dec. 16, 1865. |
Footnotes:
Regimental history taken from "The Union Army" by Federal Publishing
Company, 1908 - Volume 3
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