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8th Illinois Infantry (3 years)
in the American Civil War
Online Books:
8th 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 |
| Eighth Illinois Infantry (Three Years' Service). — Cols.,
Richard J. Oglesby, Frank L. Rhodes, John P. Post, Josiah A. Sheetz;
Lieut. -Cols., Frank L. Rhodes, John P. Post, Robert H. Sturgess, Josiah
A. Sheetz, Lloyd Wheaton ; Majs., John P. Post, Robert H. Sturgess,
Herman Leib, Josiah A. Sheetz, Lloyd Wheaton, Noah W. Dennison. On July
25, 1861, this regiment was reorganized and mustered in for three years'
service. It remained at Cairo until October, when it was ordered to
Bird's Point, Mo. With other troops it made expeditions to Cape
Girardeau, Commerce, Bloomfield and Norfolk, Mo., Paducah and Blandville,
Ky., and joined the feint on Columbus in January. On Feb. 2, 1862, it
was taken up the Tennessee river to a point near Fort Henry and on the
5th it reconnoitered the enemy's position, approaching near enough to
attack and drive in his outpost. It was among the first to enter the
fort after its reduction by the gunboats. In the movement on Fort
Donelson it was in the advance of the column, where it met a strong
outpost of the enemy about noon, but a few volleys dislodged and drove
them toward their intrenchments. On Feb. 14 the regiment was in position
near the Dover road, with pickets thrown well to the front in constant
action with those of the enemy. The ensuing night was one of intense
cold, with sleet and snow, and at early dawn on the 15th the enemy
attacked. The men were quickly in line, and although stiffened and
suffering with the cold, they met the first onset and stood their ground
for about 3 hours, when, ammunition exhausted and the brigade to the
right giving way, they were forced to retire, losing in this battle 57
killed, 191 wounded and 10 missing. When called into line for the
impending battle of Shiloh, 25 officers and 453 enlisted men responded.
At once they received a fierce attack from the enemy, but held their
ground. The fight became furious and the regiment was forced back, but
recovering and reforming, it drove the enemy back over the ground it had
lost. It was in the front lines that moved against the enemy early the
next morning and performed its share in the battle of the day. Near the
close of the second day's fight the regiment, with the 18th Ill.,
charged upon and captured a Confederate battery which was pouring a
destructive fire into the Union lines, some of the gunners being killed
at their posts. The regiment lost at Shiloh 26 killed, 95 wounded and 11
missing. In the movement against Corinth it experienced the fatigues of
the approach, following closely the advanced troops and being often
thrown far out to cover the right of the line. On April 25, 1863, it
marched out through Richmond and to Perkins' landing, thence to De
Shroon's landing, crossed the river to Bruinsburg, and took part in the
stubborn battle of Port Gibson. It was in line of battle at Raymond and
won great distinction by charging the enemy and relieving the center,
which was hard pressed. In this engagement it lost 6 killed and 15
wounded. It took part in the capture of Jackson and the bloody battle of
Champion's hill. In this battle the brigade in which was the 8th was
moved to the extreme right of the line and it charged up the hill on the
northern slope, capturing a battery of 6 guns with horses and caissons.
The regiment took part in the general assaults on the enemy's works at
Vicksburg, did its share of the work incident to the approach on Fort
hill, and was in the trenches on June 25, when the mine was fired under
the fort, ready to push through the opening and enter the Confederate
lines. After the surrender the regiment, being in Logan's division
nearest the enemy's works, was among the first troops to enter the town.
In October it moved with the 17th army corps towards Canton, Miss., and
in an engagement near Brownsville lost 2 men wounded. Picket guard and
patrol duty and drill occupied the time until Feb. 3, 1864, when it
moved with Gen. Sherman to Meridian, Miss., having several encounters
with small bands of the enemy on the march and doing its share of
foraging on the country. On March 24 the regiment reenlisted as a
veteran organization and was sent on furlough to Camp Butler, Ill.
Returning to the field, it formed part of the expedition to Jackson,
Miss., and occupied that place in July. Returning towards Vicksburg, it
found the enemy in considerable force in position to dispute the march
and skirmished until dark. At daylight the following morning it charged
upon the Confederates and drove them from their position, opening the
road and permitting the safe passage of the wagon train. In this
spirited action the casualties were 3 killed, 21 wounded and 2 missing.
On March 26, 1865, the regiment reached the vicinity of Spanish Fort,
where it intrenched and for 4 days worked in the approaches to the fort,
having frequent engagements with the enemy and losing a number of men in
killed and wounded. It took part in the grand assault on the fort, doing
gallant service and planting its colors first on the earthworks, its
loss in this charge being 10 killed and 54 wounded. On April 12 it was
sent across the bay, and marching on the shell road was the first to
enter the city of Mobile. The regiment spent the following summer in
Texas engaged in guard duty, and late in the fall was ordered to
Alexandria, La., where it remained until the spring of 1866, and was
then ordered to Baton Rouge, where on May 4, 1866, it was mustered out
and sent to Springfield, Ill. |
Footnotes:
Regimental history taken from "The Union Army" by Federal Publishing
Company, 1908 - Volume 3
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