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15th Illinois Infantry
in the American Civil War
Online Books:
15th Illinois Infantry 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 |
| Fifteenth Illinois Infantry. — Cols., Thomas J. Turner, George
C. Rogers; Lieut.-Cols., Edward F. Ellis, George C. Rogers, James Rany;
Majs., William R. Goddard, James Rany, Adam Nase, Rufus C. McEathron.
The 15th was raised under the "Ten Regiment Act," in the 1st
Congressional district. Co. A was from McHenry county, B, Winnebago
county, C, Boone county, D, McHenry county, G, Stephenson county, H,
Ogle county, I, Lake county, and K, from Carroll county. The regiment
was organized at Freeport and mustered into the U. S. service on May 24,
1861, being one of the first regiments from the state sworn into that
service for the three years' term. After electing officers, organizing
and drilling for some time, the regiment proceeded to Alton, Ill.,
remaining there six weeks for instruction. In July it left Alton by
steamboat for St. Charles, Mo., thence by rail to Mexico, Mo., where it
remained for a time in company with the 21st Ill. infantry, commanded by
Col. U. S. Grant. It went to Jefferson barracks, and thence by rail to
Rolla, Mo., where it arrived in time to cover Gen. Sigel's retreat from
Wilson's creek. It also assisted in the capture of 1,300 Confederates a
few miles from Sedalia. On Feb. 1, 1862, the regiment marched to
Jefferson City, moved thence by rail to St. Louis, where it embarked on
transports for Fort Donelson and arrived in time to take part in the
surrender. At the battle of Shiloh it was in Veatch's brigade, Hurlbut's
division, the first line of battle. Hardly had the brigade taken
position when a Confederate column, massed three lines deep, deployed
from the woods on the left and front, and with the "rebel yell" that
echoed through the surrounding forest, charged on in double-quick. For
more than one hour the regiment held its position, fighting as gallantly
as any troops could fight in the terrible struggle, called by the
Confederates the "Hornet's Nest," and disputed inch by inch the advance
and the incessant attacks of the best troops in the Confederate service.
Owing to the want of support, the regiment was compelled to withdraw and
take up a new position. As soon as a new line was formed (the 14th Ill.
on the left of the 15th), and when the enemy had approached sufficiently
near, these two regiments, acting as one man, rose and delivered a
rapid, well-aimed and destructive fire, full into the massed ranks of
the enemy, soon convincing the latter that that was not the way to the
landing. At the second attack these two regiments received the first
shock and for 3 hours were in that awful gap, without giving ground,
where the Confederates sacrificed more than 2,000 as brave men as ever
trod the battle-field in the unavailing effort to drive them from their
position. This baptism of blood cemented the two regiments which were
always afterward brigaded and served together during the remainder of
the war, and were discharged at the same time and place. The 15th was in
the hottest of the fight both days of the bloody battle, but not a man
faltered in his duty or failed to perform all that was required of him.
The two regiments that were led by Gen. Grant in person in the final
charge on the 7th, were the 14th and 15th Ill. This detachment moved
forward and when within range delivered its fire, then with fixed
bayonets charged at the double-quick. The raking fire, however, had done
its work and the Confederate army had fled. The 15th lost in this
engagement 250 men, killed and wounded; there are more of the "known
dead" of this regiment buried in the national cemetery at Pittsburg
landing, than of any other regiment, and many died of wounds in
hospitals at home. The regiment participated in the siege of Corinth,
Miss., losing a number of men killed and wounded; was on the extreme
left at the engagement on the Hatchie river in October; forced the enemy
from his position on Aletamora hill; charged the enemy in connection
with other troops, routing and scattering his formation in the wildest
confusion, and driving him to the river bank, the 15th capturing one
4-gun battery and about 300 men at this point, while many jumped into
the river and were drowned. The 15th charged across the Hatchie bridge
on a run, and formed the first line on the left of the road, the 14th
forming on the right of the 15th. The two regiments charged the enemy in
the timber, driving him from a strong position, capturing another
battery crowning the crest of the hill, and soon the enemy was in full
flight, looking for a new place to retreat across the Hatchie. The 15th
lost on that day over 50 men in killed and wounded. It then returned to
Bolivar, thence to Lagrange, thence with Gen. Grant down through
Mississippi to Coffeeville, returning to Lagrange and Memphis. At
Vicksburg it took an active part in all the movements during the siege
of that place, losing many in killed and wounded. After the surrender of
Vicksburg it marched with Sherman to Jackson, Miss., then returned to
Vicksburg and embarked on a boat for Natchez, marched thence to
Kingston, returned to Natchez, then to Harrisonburg, La., capturing Fort
Beauregard on the Wachita river, and later went into winter quarters at
Vicksburg. There the regiment reenlisted as veterans, remaining until
Feb. 1, 1864, when it moved with Gen. Sherman through Mississippi. At
Champion's hill it had a severe engagement with a body of Confederates,
charged them several times during the day, and each time drove them from
their position. In March the reenlisted portion of the regiment went
home on veteran furlough and upon returning to the field joined Gen.
Sherman's army in the movement toward Atlanta, during which the 15th and
14th Ill. regiments were consolidated. |
Footnotes:
Regimental history taken from "The Union Army" by Federal Publishing
Company, 1908 - Volume 3
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