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27th Illinois Infantry
in the American Civil War
Online Books:
27th 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 |
| Twenty-seventh Illinois Infantry. — Cols., Napoleon B. Buford, Fazillo A. Harrington, Jonathan R. Miles, William A. Schmitt ;
Lieut.-Cols., Fazillo A. Harrington, Jonathan R. Miles, William A.
Schmitt; Majs., Hall Wilson, Jonathan R. Miles, William A. Schmitt,
Henry A. Rust. This regiment was organized with only seven companies at
Camp Butler, Ill., Aug. 10, 1861, and was ordered to go into camp at
Jacksonville, Ill., as part of Brig.-Gen. John A. McClernand's brigade.
On Sept. 1 it was ordered to Cairo, where its organization was completed
by the addition of three more companies. At the battle of Belmont, Mo.,
it received its baptism of fire, when it formed the right wing of the
attacking force. Under the inspiration of its brave colonel it advanced
in the midst of a perfect hail of bullets and canister and drove the
enemy from his camp in utter rout, capturing 2 brass field pieces which
it immediately manned and turned upon the retreating Confederates. It
lost severely in the engagement and was the last regiment to leave the
field after the enemy had been reinforced from Columbus. In March, 1862,
it formed a part of the "Mississippi Flotilla," and started down the
Mississippi river, taking an active part in the siege of Island No. 10.
It left its moorings above the island and proceeded to Hickman, Ky.,
where it disembarked and in company with the 15th Wis. infantry, three
companies of the 2nd Ill. cavalry, and 3 pieces of Houghtaling's
battery, made a forced march to near Union City, Tenn., where at
daylight on the morning of Mar. 31 it attacked a Confederate force that
was being concentrated there, capturing and burning the enemy's entire
camp and garrison equipage. On May 3 it advanced to near Farmington,
Miss., and skirmished for several hours with the enemy with but few
casualties, and on the 9th it engaged the enemy in force at Farmington
in a pitched battle, losing heavily. On May 17 it again encountered the
enemy, drove him from his position and occupied Farmington. In October
it took part in a skirmish at Lavergne, Tenn., where quite a Confederate
force was routed, part of it captured, with a large supply train, and
about a month later it took a prominent part in repulsing Gen. Forrest's
attack upon Nashville. In the movement toward Murfreesboro the regiment
was deployed as skirmishers and took the advance of the brigade on the
"Nolensville pike." Upon discovering the enemy it pushed forward so
steadily in the midst of a drenching rain that the enemy was soon in
full retreat toward Nolensville, from which place he was also quickly
driven, falling back toward Murfreesboro. On Dec. 30 it marched in line
of battle, supporting the 22nd and 42nd Ill. as skirmishers, the enemy
giving way slowly and reluctantly. The next morning heavy fighting
commenced away to the right of the regiment, followed by the driving in
of the picket line in front, and soon the whole regiment was under fire.
The enemy, flushed with success, advanced rapidly, when the 27th opened
and gave him volley after volley which sent him reeling back. Three
times he rallied and advanced only to be repulsed by the terrible fire
which the 27th and 22nd were pouring into his ranks. The regiment
suffered terrible losses, being in a position where it drew the fire of
two Confederate batteries, besides the fire of the advancing infantry
columns. About noon the regiment was ordered to fall back, and coming
out on the Murfreesboro & Nashville pike near Gen. Rosecrans'
headquarters, was at once ordered into line of battle to check the
Confederate advance. Facing about, the regiment fixed bayonets and
rushed upon the foe with a most unearthly yell, driving him back,
capturing a large number of prisoners, and saving the day to the Union
forces. About 1 p. m. on the following day the enemy approached where
the regiment had thrown up breastworks and the latter, withholding its
fire till the Confederates were within short range, opened a most
murderous fire, compelling them to retreat on the double-quick, leaving
their dead and wounded, besides nearly 200 prisoners, this was the last
of the hard fighting by the regiment at Stone's river, and it soon went
into camp beyond Murfreesboro, where it performed picket duty with an
occasional skirmish until June 24, 1863, when it moved with the army as
part of the 20th army corps against Shelbyville, Tullahoma and
Stevenson; thence to Bridgeport, Ala., where it was stationed for some
time. From there it moved to Chickamauga, where soon after 4 o'clock on
the first day of the battle it was suddenly hurled into action on the
left front, and was soon in a desperate encounter with the Confederate
forces under Gen. Longstreet. Advancing under a murderous fire, it
retook 2 pieces of the 11th Ind. battery, which had just been captured,
held the ground gained notwithstanding the enemy made several attempts
to retake it, and lost heavily in the short engagement. It held the
position until near daylight the following morning, when it was ordered
to the rear for breakfast and a little needed rest. By 11 o'clock on the
morning of the 20th it was again called into line of battle and went
immediately into action, but was unable to check the advance of the
enemy, who was moving forward with a line six or eight columns deep.
After suffering great loss from the enemy's fire, the line was broken,
but the regiment moved in good order to the rear, where it served as
train guard until ordered into camp at Chattanooga. It was in that city
during its investment, was engaged in storming Missionary ridge, as a
part of Marker's brigade, Sheridan's division, Thomas' corps, and was
particularly noticed for its good conduct. It moved with the army of the
Cumberland on the Atlanta campaign, during which there was scarcely a
day that the 27th or some part of it was not under fire more or less
severe. It occupied the summit in the engagement at Rocky Face ridge,
where during the nights spent upon it with no shelter, the men had to
lash themselves with withes to the saplings growing among the rocks for
fear of rolling down the ridge. It was engaged at Resaca, near Calhoun,
Adairsville, Dallas, Pine mountain and Muddy creek. In the assault on
Kennesaw mountain Harker's brigade made the center assault. The regiment
went into this action with 17 officers, coming out with only 7, and the
loss of men was in about the same proportion. It skirmished around the
vicinity of the Chattahoochee river, was in the battle of Peachtree
creek, and took part in the investment of and skirmishes about Atlanta.
It was relieved from duty on Aug. 25 and went to Nashville ; was
conveyed from there by steamer down the Cumberland river and up the
Mississippi to Alton, Ill. ; thence by rail to Camp Butler, near
Springfield, where it was mustered out Sept. 20, 1864, after three
years' and three months' constant service at the front. During its term
of service the regiment lost 102 killed or died of wounds ; 80 died of
disease ; 328 wounded ; 209 discharged for disability and resignation ;
and 39 transferred. Its veterans and recruits were consolidated with the
9th Ill. infantry. |
Footnotes:
Regimental history taken from "The Union Army" by Federal Publishing
Company, 1908 - Volume 3
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