History of 14th Illinois Infantry 14th Illinois Infantry Regiment History Adjutant General's Report The Fourteenth Illinois Infantry was one of the regiments raised under the "Ten Regiment Bill," which anticipated the requirements of the General Government by organizing, equipping and drilling a regiment in each Congressional District in the State for thirty days, unless sooner required for service by the United States. The companies were enlisted as follows: "A" by Captain Thompson, Cass county; "B" by Captain Hall, Shelby county; "C" by Captain Corman, Macoupin county; "D" by Captain Bryant, Greene county; "E" by Captain Johnson, Menard county; "F" by Captain Littlefield, Jersey county; "G" by Captain Reiner, Sangamon county; "H" by Captain Simpson, Christian county; "I" by Captain Morris, Morgan county; "K" by Captain Cam, Scott county. This gave one company from each county in what was then the Sixth Congressional District. Captains Johnson and Morris were chosen as field officers and relinquished the command of their companies to Captains Meade of "E" and Meacham of "I." The companies met at Camp Duncan, Jacksonville, on the 11th day of May, 1861, and were mustered into State service by Adjutant General Mather. On the 25th of the same month the Regiment was mustered into the United States service, for three years, by Captain Pitcher, U.S.A. The field officers were elected by ballot, officers and soldiers all voting. John M. Palmer, of Carlinville was chosen Colonel; Amory K. Johnson, of Petersburg, Lieutenant Colonel; Jonathan Morris, of Waverly, Major; First Lieutenant Scott, of Company F was appointed Adjutant; First Lieutenant Noble, of Company A, Quartermaster; Dr. Benjamin F. Stephenson, Surgeon and Doctor, Head Assistant Surgeon. As the commissions of the officers were expected to be of the same date, the rank of Captains was settled by lot, the only change made after the drawing, being the voluntary exchange on the part of Captain The colors, which came out of this bloody conflict with forty-two bullet holes through them, fully attest the gallantry of the command in that memorable struggle. In the grand charge, on the evening of April 7th, which was the consummation of that splendid victory over the hosts of rebellion, the Fourteenth Illinois was in the advance and was led by Colonel Hall. In the official report of General Veatch, commander of the Brigade to which the Fourteenth was attached, the following language is employed: "Colonel Hall, of the Fourteenth Illinois, led, with his Regiment, that gallant charge on Monday evening which drove the enemy beyond our lines and closed the struggle of that memorable day." The Regiment took an active part in the siege of Corinth. After the evacuation it proceeded to Memphis, and thence to Bolivar, Tenn. October 4, 1862, the Fourth Division, under General Hurlbut, was ordered to proceed to Corinth, as a forlorn hope, to relieve the beleaguered garrison of that place; but the gallant Rosecrans, before Corinth was reached, had already severely punished the enemy, and the "forlorn hope' met the retreating rebels at the village of Metamora, on Hatchie river. In the glorious victory that followed eight hours' hard fighting, the Fourteenth Illinois well sustained its reputation earned at Shiloh. The Regiment constututed a part of the right wing of Grant's army in the march into Northern Mississippi, through Holly Springs to Yacona Patalfa, under the immediate command of the lamented McPherson. Van Dorn having captured Holly Springs, and General Sherman being unable to effect a dislodgment of the rebels from Vicksburg, Grant's army was obliged to retreat, and on January 18, 1863, the Fourteenth Illinois went into winter quarters at LaFayette Tenn. Early in the spring the command was ordered to Vicksburg, where it took part in the siege of that stronghold until its final fall, July 4, 1863. Also accompanied the expedition to Jackson, Mississippi, taking part in the siege until its evacuation. In August, proceeded to Natchez and formed part of the force which marched across the swamps of northeastern Louisiana to Harrisonburg, on Wachita river, and captured Fort Beauregard, where, the spring before, the ram "Quenn of the West" had been sunk; it accompanied General Sherman on his Meridian raid. After the return of the Regiment a large portion re-enlisted as veterans, though its time would have expired in a few months. Returning from the north, where it had been on veteran furlough, it formed a part of the army in the advance on Atlanta. Here the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Illinois, ever together since the fall of 1862, sharers of each others' sorrows and joys, weary marches and honorably earned laurels, were consolidated in the "Fourteenth and Fifteenth Illinois Veteran Battalion." The Battalion was detailed to guard railfoad communications at and near Ackworth, Georgia, a most important and dangerous duty, as it was the only route by which General Sherman could supply his immense army with subsistence, etc. In the month of October, 1864, when the rebel General Hood made his demonstration against Sherman's rear, a large number of the battalion were killed and the major part of the balance were taken prisoners and sent to Andersonville prison. Those who escaped capture were mounted, and on the Grand March to the Sea, acted as scouts, and were continually in the advance, being the first to drive the rebel pickets into Savannah, Georgia. During the long and weary march through North and South Carolina, the battalion was on duty day and night, being constantly in the presence of the enemy, gaining notoriety as skirmishers. The battalion was the first to enter Cheraw, South Carolina, Fayetteville, North Carolina, and also took part in the battle of Bentonville. At Goldsborough, North Carolina, in the spring of 1865, the battalion organization was discontinued, a sufficient number of organized companies of recruits having arrived by way of New York and Morehead City, North Carolina, to fill up the two regiments, Colonel Hall again being assigned to the command of the Fourteenth. After the capitulation of Johnson, the Regiment marched to Washington, D.C., where, on the 24th of May, it took part in the grand review of Sherman's army. It afterwards proceeded by rail and river, to Louisville, Kentucky; thence, by river, to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas; thence marched to Fort Kearney, N.T., and back. Mustered out at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, September 16, 1865; arriving at Springfield, Illinois, September 22, 1865, where the regiment received final payment and discharge. The aggregate number of men who belonged to this organization was 1,980, and the aggregate mustered out at Fort Leavenworth was 480. During the four years and four months of arduous service, the Regiment marched 4,490 miles, traveled by rail 2,330 miles, and by river 4,490 miles--making anaggregate of 11, 670 miles. -------------------- ORDER OF CONSOLIDATION. -------------------- HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT AND ARMY OF THE TENNESSEE. Near Kenesaw Mountain, GA., July 1, 1864 Special Field Orders. No 56 IV> The Fourteenth and Fifteenth Illinois Infantry Volunteers not being veteran regiment, having re-enlisted less than three-fourths of their number, the veterans and all recruits of each, who have joined the regiment since the date of it original muster-in, will, in accordance with provisions of Circular No. 36, War Department, A.G.O., May 2, 1864, be consolidated and organized into as many companies of the legal maximum standard as the number of men will allow. The proper number of officers for these companies will be selected from the veterans, and reported to these headquarters for assignment; and all officers in excess of such organization will be reported for muster-out of the service. The companies thus organized and remaining men of each regiment will then be consolidated, and will be known and reported as the Veteran Battalion of the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Illinois Infantry. The requisite number of field and staff officers will be retained in accordance with existing orders. By order of Major General James B. McPherson. William T. Clark, A.A.G. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT AND ARMY OF THE TENNESSEE Near Decatur, Ga., July 20, 1864 Special Field Orders, No 73. The Fourteenth and Fifteenth Regiment Illinois Infantry Volunteers, having in accordance with special field orders No. 56, from these headquarters, been organized each into one or more companies of the legal maximum standard and consolidated together, making six (6) companies, designated and reported as the Veteran Battalion of the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Illinois Infantry Volunteers, the following named officers, according to provisions of Circular, No. 36, War Department, current series, are assigned to the new organization, and will be mustered under their present commissions: First Lieutenant Alonzo Gillespie, Fourteenth Illinois Infantry, to Company A. Second Lieutenant David S. Finney, Fourteenth Illinois Infantry, to Comapny A. Captain Lemuel O. Gilman, Fifteenth Illinois Infantry, to Company B. First Lieutenant Joseph Develin, Fifteenth Illinois Infantry, to Company B. Captain Phineas D. Kenyon, Fifteenth Illinois Infantry, to Company C. First Lieutenant George A. Austin, Fifteenth Illinois Infantry, to Company C. Captain Carlos C. Cox, Fourteenth Illinois Infantry, to Comapny D. Second Lieutenant John H. Henderson, Fourteenth Illinois Infantry, to Comapny D. Captain John W. Luke, Fifteenth Illinois Infantry, to Company E. First Lieutenant Allen T. Barnes, Fifteenth Illinois Infantry, to Company E. First Lieutenant Thomas A. Weisner, Fourteenth Illinois Infantry, to Company F. Chaplain B.F. Rogers, Fifteenth Illinois Infantry. Assistant Surgeon N.F. Chafer, Fourteenth Illinois Infantry. Assistant Surgeon Moses C. Drake, Fifteenth Illinois Infantry. The remaining officers of the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Illinois Infantry, not herein assigned, wil be mustered out of the service. By order of Major General James B. McPherson. William T. Clark, A.A.G. --------------------------------------------------------------------- UGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Pat Hageman