8th Illinois Regiment History
History of 8th Illinois Regiment, 1861-1866
Col. R.J. Oglesby's Regiment
Adjutant General's Report
On the 25th day of April, 1861, the Regiment was
organized at Springfield, and mustered in for three
months' service. Richard J. Oglesby, of Decatur, was
appointed Colonel. The regiment was immediately sent to
Cairo. Companies A and D, in command of Capt. Isaac Pugh,
were sent to Big Muddy river, to guard the railroad
bridge, as there was danger of its destruction by rebel
sympathizers, to prevent the transportation of troops and
supplies. Relieved by other troops, these companies
rejoined the regiment at Cairo. The regiment remained at
Cairo during its term of service, when it was mustered
out.
[Frank
Reed joined the regiment on July 25, 1861.]
July 25th, 1861, the regiment reorganized and was
mustered in for three years' service. It remained at
Cairo until October, 1861, when it was ordered at Bird's
Point, Mo. During this time it received a thorough drill,
and attained a high state of discipline. With other
troops it made expeditions to Cape Girardeau, Commerce,
Bloomfield, and Norfolk, Mo., and Paducah and Blandville,
Ky., and joined in the feint on Columbus, Ky., in January
1862.
The move to Bloomfield is fixed in the memory of the
soldiers of the Eighth by the raid on the rebel Colonel
Hunter's well stocked farm, and the rapid return march
from Bloomfield to Cape Girardeau. In November 1862, the
regiment constructed at Bird's Point extensive and
comfortable quarters for the winter.
February 2d, 1862, it was taken up the Tennessee river to
a point near Fort Henry. 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.
February 11th, 1862, the movement on Fort Donelson began.
The next day, under command of Lieut. Col. Frank L.
Rhoads (Colonel Oglesby commanding the Brigade), it was
in the advance of the column, where it met a strong
outpost of the enemy about noon, and after a few volleys
dislodged and drove them toward their entrenchment. The
regiment was moved towards the Cumberland river, on a
ridge overlooking, in places, the enemy's defenses. On
the 13th moved further to the right, gaining a position
still nearer the enemy. During this night the weather
became extremely cold, and the men suffered greatly-
being so near the rebel picket line no fires could be
had. A driving snow-storm set in, adding to the
discomforts of the situation. Many were severely
frost-bitten. On the 14th the regiment was in position
near the Dover road, with pickets thrown well to the
front, and in constant action with those of the enemy.
Another night of intense cold, with sleet and snow was
experienced, and at early dawn on the 15th the enemy came
out in massed columns and attacked us. Our men were
quickly in line, and although stiffened and suffering
with the cold, they met the first onset and stood their
ground for about three hours, when, ammunition exhausted
and the brigade to the right giving away, if was forced
to retire. The regiment lost in this battle 57 killed,
191 wounded, and 10 missing. Major John P. Post was
captured. Among the killed were Capt. Joseph M. Hanna and
Lieut. Daniel A. Sheetz, F. Co., and Lieut. Henry Y.
Marsh, B. Co., and Lieut. Joseph G. Howell, K Co., acting
adjutant.
On the 6th of March 1862 the regiment embarked for
Savannah on the Tennessee river, and a few days after for
Pittsburg Landing. Here it was in McClernand's Division,
and brigaded with the 18th Illinois, the 11th and 13th
Iowa Regiments. The camping ground was excellent for
drill, and the time was well occupied with that and other
camp duties.
Sunday morning, April 6, 1862, when called into line for
the impending battle of Shiloh, there were 25 officers
and 453 enlisted men. The regiment was in command of
Captain James M. Ashmore, C Co.; Lieutenant-Colonel
Rhoads being absent sick, and Major Post a prisoner of
war. The regiment was moved rapidly to a position of left
of Sherman's Division, and not far from Shiloh Church. At
once it received a fierce attack from the enemy, but held
its ground. Captain Ashmore was wounded and left the
field. Captain William M. Harvey, K Co., next in rank,
took command and nobly lead the regiment until about 10
o'clock A.M., when he received a shot through his body
and died instantly. The fight at this time was furious
and the regiment was forced back, but recovering and
reforming, it drove the enemy back over the ground it had
lost. Captain Robert H. Sturges, H Co., next in rank,
took command, and led the regiment with steady courage
throughout the great battle. At night the regiment lay on
the field exposed to the storm of rain that fell, and
ready for the conflict of the succeeding day. It was in
the front lines that early moved against the enemy on
Monday 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 Illinois, under the immediate
orders of General McClernand, charged upon and captured a
rebel battery, which was pouring a destructive fire upon
our lines; some of the gunners were killed at their
posts. The regiment lost at Shiloh 26 killed, 95 wounded
and 11 missing. Among those wounded were Captain Loyd
Wheaton, E Co, Lieutenant Geo. S. Durfee, A Co., and
Adjutant Monroe.
When the movement against Corinth began the regiment was
in a brigade under the command of General John A. Logan,
and in McClernand's reserve division. It experienced the
fatigues of the approach, followed closely by the
advanced troops, and often thrown far out to cover the
right of the advancing lines.
After the evacuation of Corinth, the regiment marched to
Bethel, Tenn., and thence to Jackson. Here it was
brigaded with the 7th Mo., 63d and 81st Ill., Colonel
John D. Stevenson, of the 7th Mo., commanding the
brigade, in General Logan's Third Division. During the
summer it took part in various movements to neighboring
points, and as often as possible pursued its company and
battalion drills. The movement to Bolivar by railroad,
and the march thence to Brownsville, was a picnic, and
the boys will remember the old white horse which was so
generously offered to Colonel Rhoads by the colonel
commanding the column.
Returning to Jackson, the regiment was sent down the
railroad to Toones and Medon stations. The two companies
at Medon were under command of Captain Herman Lieb, B
Co., and under his direction put the depot building in
splendid condition against attack.
October 2, 1862, the regiment formed a part of a column
of troops hastily organized and marched rapidly to the
relief of the army at Corinth. General Oglesby, the first
colonel of the Eighth, was severely wounded in the battle
of Corinth, being in command of his brigade at the time.
November 10, 1862, the regiment was ordered to LaGrange,
Tenn., and was in General Logan's Division in the 17th
Army Corps, under General McPherson. It took part in
General Grant's movement down the line of the Miss.
Central R.R. The regiment marched as far south at Oxford,
Miss. Very little fighting ocurred, as the enemy fell
back as Grant's army advanced. The cutting of the line of
communication between Columbus and Jackson, and the
capture of Holly Springs and destruction of supplies
there collected, caused Grant to fall back to the
Tallahatchie river, and finally to Memphis. The regiment
camped at Tallahatchie about ten days, subsisting upon
such supplies as could be foraged from the country --corn
and molassas being the chief reliance.
January 4, 1863, the regiment broke camp and marched to
Grand Junction, Tenn., arriving on the 9th. There was
almost continual rain and the roads were in terrible
condition. On the 12th started for Memphis/ Reached
Lafayette in the midst of a heavy rain storm and went
into camp. The weather turned very cold and everything
was frozen for a day or two, occasioning much suffering.
Here Col. John P. Post joined the regiment, having been a
prisoner, part of the time in Libby, since the battle of
Donelson. January 19th, 1863, the regiment marched to
Memphis and camped on the Hernando Road just out the city
limits.
[February 21, 1863, was the last day Frank Reed was
with the regiment.]
February 22, 1863, embarked on steamer for Lake
Providence, La. Soon after in consequence of high water,
the regiment moved camp to Berry's anding. It performed
its share of the ardous work of cutting a channel throuh
Byou Baxter. It went on foraging expeditions to points on
the Mississippi river. When Gen. Grant determined to run
past the rebel batteries at Vicksburg, the transports
selected for the purpose were all but one abandoned by
their crews, and volunteers were called from the army to
man them. Lieuts. William P Sitton, G Co., and Thomas J.
McClung, K Co., and 12 men of the Eighth were among those
selected out of the hundreds that promptly offered their
services for the dangerous undertaking. They were in the
"Moderator," and passed through the storm of
shot and shell with but few casualties.
April 12th the regiment went to Milliken's Bend, the
rendezvous of most of the troops which were to make the
memorial movement down the river, cross it and attack
Vicksburg from the rear.
On the 25th it marched out through Richmond and to
Perkins' Landing, and thence to DeShroon's Landing, and
crossed the river to Bruinsburg, and took part in the
stubborn battle of Port Gibson and the fight at Thompson
Hill, in which Captain Elihu Jones, G Co., was severely
wounded. With its brigade the regiment forded Bayou
Pierre, waist deep in water, and pushed on through Willow
Springs and Rocky Springs to Utica. At Raymond the enemy
made a determined stand. They were strongly posted on a
hill to the left of the road and in the deep ravine in
front. About 11 o'clock A.M. of May 12th, Logan's
Division attacked them, and a furious battle ensured. The
Eighth was moved up the road, the wagon train being
turned aside, and was soon in line of battle, and won
great distinction by charging the enemy and relieving the
center, which was hard pressed. In this engagement it
lost one of its bravest officers, Captain Frank Leeper, A
Co., killed. The other losses were 5 killed and 15
wounded.
May 14th it took part in the capture of Jackson, and on
the 16th the bloody battle of Champion Hill. In this
battle the brigade in which was the Eighth, commanded by
Col. John D. Stevenson, was moved to the extreme right of
the line, and, under the immediate orders of Gen'l Logan,
it charged up the hill on its northern slope and captured
a battery of six guns, horses, caissons and all.
On the night of the 17th, aided in constructing a bridge
near Big Black River, and on the next day crossed and
pushed on to Vicksburg. On the 19th gained a position
very near Fort Hill, on the main Jackson road. On the
following day took part in the general assault which had
been ordered by General Grant at 10 o'clock A.M. The
regiment 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 it was expected to make and enter the
rebel lines. The interview between Grant and Pemberton
was just in front of the regiment's position. After the
surrender on the 4th of July, the regiment being in
Logan's Division, which had approached nearest to the
enemy's works, was among the first of the troops to enter
the town. July 4 the regiment was posted on the Jackson
road at Fort Hill, and acted as guard as the paroled
rebel troops passed out.
August 21, 1863, the regiment, under Lieutenant Colonel
Josiah A. Sheetz, formed a part of the expedition to
Monroe, La., returning September 2.
October 12, moved with the 17th Army Corps, under General
McPherson, towards Canton, Miss. Near Brownsville, in an
engagement, lost two men wounded.
On the 18th, returned to camp at Vicksburg. Picket guard
and patrol duty and drill occupied the time until
February 3, 1864, when it moved, with the army under
General Sherman, to Meridian, Miss. On the march had
several encounters with small bands of the enemy, and did
its share of foraging on the country.
March 24, 1864, the regiment re-enlisted as a veteran
organization, and was sent on furlough to Camp Butler,
Ill. Teturning to Vicksburg, the veterans of the 17th
Ill. Regiment were consolidated with it, adding to its
strength and efficiency.
July 1, formed part of the expedition to Jackson, Miss.,
under command of General Elias S. Dennis. Occupied
Jackson on the 5th. Returning towards Vicksburg on the
6th towards night, found the enemy in considerable force
in position to dispute the march, and skirmished until
dark. At daylight the following morning, charged upon the
rebels 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.
From 29th July to September 3, engaged in the Morganzia
expedition. Embarked for mouth of White river, arriving
on the 8th. Remained in camp here until October 18, when
the regiment embarked for Memphis, Tenn. Camped at Fort
Pickering until the 29th, and was ordered again to White
river.
November 9, proceeded to Du Vall's Bluff, and remained
there till the 28th, when it was again ordered to
Memphis.
On the 29th of December, marched to Moscow, returning to
Memphis on the 21st.
January 1, 1865, left Memphis for New Orleans, arriving
on the 4th, and camped in the mud at Kennersville.
February 4, moved to Lakeport, and embarked on Lake
Pontchartrain to Dauphin Island at Mobil Bay, being part
of the army under General E.R.S. Canby, organized for the
campaign against Mobile.
While here the regiment received a large number of
recruits, making its ranks full. These new men assigned
to the different companies soon learned from the veterans
the duties of the soldier, and made the regiment one of
the largest and most effective in the service. March 17th
the regiment crossed the bay to Navy Cove, and moved with
the army on Mobile. On the 26th reached the vicinity of
Spanish Fort and entrenched. For four days worked in the
approaches to the fort, having frequent engagements with
the enemy, and a number of our men were killed and
wounded. On the 30th was ordered towards Blakely, Ala.
The following day camped within four miles of the regimen
and worked in the trenches and extended saps until on the
9th it occupied a position close up to the rebel works.
At 5 o'clock P.M. of the 9th the regiment took part in
the grand assault on the fort, doing gallant service and
planting its colors first on the earthworks. The loss in
this charge was Simonson, E Co. On the 12th of April the
regiment was sent across the bay, and marching on the
shell road was the first to enter the city of Mobile.
Here it remained, performing patrol and guard duty and
undergoing a thorough company and battalion drill, until
May 27th, when it embarked again for Lakeport.
On the 29th camped on the race course just out the city
of New Orleans. May 31st left the city and proceeded up
the Mississippi and Red rivers to Shreveport, La.,
arriving on the 9th. On the 16th was ordered to Marshall,
Texas, where it remained in camp, engaged in guard duty
and occasional expeditions for the protection of
government property and officials, until late in fall of
1865, when it was ordered to Alexandria, La. Here it
remained until the spring of 1866.
The regiment was finally ordered to Baton Rouge, Miss.,
where on May 4, 1866, it was mustered out and sent to
Springfield, Ill. Arriving at Springfield May 13th, it
received its final pay and was honorably discharged,
after a service of five years' duration.
Also at this
site:
Co. K; 8th IL Regiment Roster
The story of one
soldier: Frank Reed, a.k.a. Tom Doyle
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