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40th Illinois Infantry
in the American Civil War
Online Books:
40th Illinois Infantry Soldier Roster - Report of the Adjutant
General of the State of Illinois, Volume 3, Revised by Brigadier General J.N.
Reece, Adjutant General, 1900
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Entire Book
| Regimental History |
| Fortieth Illinois Infantry. — Col., Stephen G. Hicks ; Lieut.
-Cols., James W. Boothe, Rigdon S. Barnhill, Hiram W. Hall; Majs., John
B. Smith, Rigdon S. Barnhill, Hiram W. Hall. This regiment was enlisted
from the counties of Franklin, Hamilton, Wayne, White, Wabash, Marion,
Clay and Fayette. With ten companies it reported at Springfield, Ill,
and on Aug. 10, 1861, was mustered into the U. S. service for three
years. It moved to Jefferson barracks, Mo., on Aug. 13. and remained
there until the 30th of the same month, when the regiment was moved to
Bird's Point, and thence to Paducah, Ky. It was engaged in the battle of
Shiloh, where it lost 1 commissioned officer killed and 3 wounded, 42
men killed and 148 wounded. After the battle it was moved to Corinth and
there participated in the engagements of the siege until the fall of
that city. After the fall of Vicksburg it went with Sherman's command to
Jackson, Miss., in pursuit of Johnston's army, skirmishing all the way.
It was engaged in the battle of Jackson and the officers and men of the
regiment were complimented in public orders for bravery and gallant
conduct. It participated in the battle of Missionary ridge, where at
daylight on Nov. 24 it crossed at the mouth of Chickamauga creek,
captured a high hill, driving back the enemy, then placed a battery in
position and supported it through the night. At daylight on the morning
of the 25th the regiment was deployed and under fire led the assaulting
column upon the enemy's works on Missionary ridge, drove in the pickets
and scaled his works, losing several men inside. The enemy was then
strongly reinforced in front and the regiment being unsupported it was
compelled to fall back under cover of the hill. The Confederates, with
heavy reinforcements, charged upon the regiment, but the battery the
latter had supported during the night poured a deadly fire into the
enemy's ranks and checked his advance, although at the same time it made
sad work in the ranks of the regiment, killing and wounding its own men.
Again the 40th was deployed and assaulted the enemy's works, supported
in the charge by the brigade. Gen. Corse was wounded, the brigade fell
back, but the regiment lay down in the enemy's front, and by picking off
his gunners silenced the batteries and kept them quiet until a heavy
assault on the right engaged the forces of the enemy and the regiment
was enabled to withdraw. Of the five companies engaged, numbering 130
men, 7 were killed and 44 wounded, many of the latter mortally. On the
26th the regiment pursued the retreating enemy, skirmishing in the rain
all day and capturing many prisoners. On Jan. 1, 1864, the 40th was
mustered as a veteran regiment, and at that date its aggregate strength
was 443. During the two years and five months' service it had lost by
deaths, 261; other casualties, 196; discharged, 17; transferred to other
commands, 6; missing in action and desertion, 17. In March the veterans
of the regiment took their 30 days' furlough, after which they started
on the great Atlanta campaign. At the assault on Kennesaw mountain the
regiment led a column to the enemy's works, but the charge was a failure
and the regiment suffered severely. It was actively engaged in all the
marches, skirmishes and battles which finally resulted in the capture of
Atlanta. On July 22 it was attacked in the rear and before it had
entirely checked the enemy it was assaulted in front. It fought on both
sides of its works, first driving back Hardee and then jumping the
parapets to receive the attack of Stewart, holding its position until
dark, when the enemy fell back, leaving many of his killed and wounded.
On July 28 the 40th Ill. and 6th Ia. moved at a double-quick into a
breach that had been made in the ranks and checked the enemy, driving
him back as often as six times, in each instance with great slaughter.
The struggle was severe and the loss of the regiments heavy, but they
held their position until the enemy gave up the fight. At Jonesboro the
regiment was again warmly engaged, holding its position for 2 hours
during heavy fighting until the enemy was repulsed, leaving his killed
and wounded on the field. On the march to the sea the regiment, in
advance of Walcutt's brigade, met the Georgia militia at Griswoldville,
where the brigade repulsed the enemy twice and drove him back in the
direction of Macon. On the march through the Carolinas, on Feb. 13,
1865, the regiment, being in the advance, met the enemy's cavalry early
in the morning and drove them all day until they fell back into their
works in the evening, when artillery opened upon the regiment, and
caused it to halt. At Bentonville, N. C, where the enemy made a stubborn
resistance, the regiment was also hotly engaged. It then marched in the
direction of Raleigh, skirmishing on the way. It took part in the grand
review at Washington, where it was highly complimented for its gallant
services. It remained in camp near the city a few days, then moved by
rail to Parkersburg, W. Va., and from there by steamboat to Louisville,
Ky., where it was mustered out on July 24, 1865, and sent to
Springfield, Ill., to be paid off. The aggregate loss of the regiment
during its four years' service is set down at 395. |
Footnotes:
Regimental history taken from "The Union Army" by Federal Publishing
Company, 1908 - Volume 3
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