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11th Illinois Infantry Regiment
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11th Illinois Infantry Regiment
The 11th Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment from Illinois that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. In April 1861, it was formed as a three-month volunteer unit, and in July 1861 it was reorganized as a three-year unit, in which role it served until the end of the war. Two of its commanding officers were promoted to brigadier general and led major units during the war. In its first major action at Fort Donelson the regiment suffered terrible losses. The 11th Illinois also fought at Shiloh, Riggins Hill, Vicksburg, First Yazoo City, Second Yazoo City, and Fort Blakeley. In April 1863, the 109th Illinois Infantry Regiment was disbanded and its enlisted men transferred into the 11th Illinois. The regiment was mustered out of service in July 1865.
The original 11th Illinois Infantry Regiment organized at Springfield, Illinois. It was mustered into three-months' service on 30 April 1861 by Captain John Pope. The regiment traveled to Villa Ridge on 5 May and was stationed in that location until 20 June. Subsequently, the unit moved to Bird's Point, Missouri from which Companies A and B participated in an expedition to Little River on 22–23 June. It remained at Bird's Point until 30 July when it was mustered out of service. During its service 10 men died of disease. Its field officers were Colonel W. H. L. Wallace, Lieutenant Colonel J. Warren Filler of Effingham, and Major Thomas E. G. Ransom of Vandalia. During service, the regiment ranged between 833 and 933 in strength, while 916 men were mustered out.
The reorganized 11th Illinois Infantry Regiment was mustered into Federal service for a three-year enlistment on 30 July 1861, at Cairo. One source stated that the unit organized at Bird's Point between 29 July and 27 October. Only 288 men re-enlisted from the three-month regiment, but by the end of November, recruiting brought the unit's total strength to 801 men. The field officers were Colonel Wallace, Lieutenant Colonel Ransom, and Major Garrett L. Nevius of Rockford. Other regimental staff included 1 adjutant, 1 quartermaster, 1 surgeon, 1 assistant surgeon, 1 chaplain, 5 sergeant majors, 4 quartermaster sergeants, 5 commissary sergeants, 3 hospital stewards, and 3 musicians. In addition, there was a 16-member band, all from Rockford, who were discharged after serving one year.
Colonel Wallace received promotion to brigadier general on 23 March 1862. He was replaced as colonel by Ransom who was promoted brigadier general on 16 March 1863. Ransom was succeeded as colonel by Nevius who was killed in action on 22 May 1863. Nevius was replaced as colonel by James Henry Coates who received a brevet promotion to brigadier general on 13 March 1865. Three of the 11th Illinois' colonels died in the war. Wallace was fatally wounded while commanding a division at the Battle of Shiloh and died a few days later. Ransom was wounded four times and rose to command the Left Wing of the XVI Corps in the Atlanta campaign, but died of poor health on 29 October 1864. When Coates became colonel on 22 May 1863, Lloyd D. Waddell became lieutenant colonel but he resigned on 15 September 1864. On the same day, George C. McKee became major but he mustered out on 30 July 1864. When the regiment mustered out, Coates was colonel, Nathaniel C. Kenyon was lieutenant colonel, and Samuel O. Lewis was major.
A number of officers gained promotion by transferring to other units. Captain John H. Widmer and Second Lieutenant Douglas Hapeman were promoted major and lieutenant colonel, respectively, in the 104th Illinois Infantry Regiment on 4 September 1862. Captain Charles T. Hotchkiss was promoted lieutenant colonel of the 89th Illinois Infantry Regiment on 4 September 1862. First Lieutenant Hurbert A. McCaleb was promoted lieutenant colonel of the 6th U. S. Colored Heavy Artillery on 7 November 1862. First Lieutenant Samuel B. Dean was promoted major of the 58th U. S. Colored Infantry on 31 August 1863. First Lieutenant Cyrus E. Dickey became Captain and Assistant Adjutant General on 8 June 1863. Major Smith D. Atkins resigned on 17 April 1862 and was promoted colonel of the 92nd Illinois Infantry Regiment on 4 September 1862. Atkins received a brevet promotion to brigadier general on 12 January 1865.
The 11th Illinois Infantry Regiment was assigned to W. H. L. Wallace's 3rd Brigade, District of Cairo until February 1862. During this period, the regiment participated in a number of forays into Missouri. These were toward New Madrid on 9–11 September 1861, to Charleston on 6–10 October, to Bloomfield on 3–12 November, and to Sikeston on 25–28 January 1862. The unit also went on a reconnaissance of Columbus, Kentucky on 13–20 January. The 11th Illinois boarded river transports on 2 February and joined the Fort Henry campaign. On 11 February, the regiment began to march toward Fort Donelson which was invested on 12–14 February.
At the Battle of Fort Donelson on 15 February 1862, the 11th Illinois led by Lieutenant Colonel Ransom (who was wounded) was part of Colonel Wallace's 2nd Brigade, Brigadier General John Alexander McClernand's 1st Division, under the overall command of Brigadier General Ulysses S. Grant. That morning, the Confederates attempted to break out of the fort by launching a heavy assault against the 1st Division. After heavy fighting, McClernand's right brigade under Colonel Richard J. Oglesby was forced back and the 11th Illinois on the right flank of Wallace's brigade bore the brunt of the Confederate attacks. The regiment was compelled to retreat though Ransom greatly distinguished himself. At the end of the day, Grant ordered a counterattack which restored the investment; the Confederates surrendered the following day. Out of about 500 effectives, the 11th Illinois suffered 329 casualties, including 72 killed and 182 wounded. On 4–13 March, the regiment moved first to Fort Henry, then to Savannah, Tennessee. On 23–25 March, the unit moved farther up the Tennessee River to Pittsburg Landing, Tennessee.
At the Battle of Shiloh on 6–7 April 1862, the 11th Illinois was attached to Colonel C. Carroll Marsh's 2nd Brigade, McClernand's 1st Division, in Major General Grant's Army of the Tennessee. Both Ransom and Major Nevius were wounded and Captain Waddell took command. On the first day, McClernand ordered Marsh to move his brigade to support Brigadier General William Tecumseh Sherman's division. After first moving to Sherman's right rear, Marsh shifted farther to the left and deployed the 11th, 20th, 45th, and 48th Illinois Infantry Regiments. Ransom wrote that the Confederates came on in, "four ranks and three columns steadily upon us". Marsh's troops were compelled to retreat, during which Captain Coates and his son were both wounded and taken prisoner. While withdrawing, some soldiers stubbornly fought back behind some sacks filled with oats. When Marsh's brigade rallied on a new defense line near Jones Field, a portion of the 70th Ohio Infantry Regiment joined the 11th Illinois and fought with it the rest of the day. At 12:30 pm, Marsh's brigade joined a counterattack by Sherman and McClernand and the 11th and 20th Illinois overran a Confederate Kentucky battery. Ransom was bleeding from a head wound, but continued to lead the regiment until his horse was killed; then he went to the rear. After a two-hour fight, Confederate reinforcements again threw the Union troops back. At Shiloh, the 11th Illinois lost 27 killed and wounded out of 150 total. After the battle, Tommy Newsom erected a monument to the regiment's dead. This became known as the White Post burial place; it was the first monument built on the battlefield.
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11th Illinois Infantry Regiment
The 11th Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment from Illinois that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. In April 1861, it was formed as a three-month volunteer unit, and in July 1861 it was reorganized as a three-year unit, in which role it served until the end of the war. Two of its commanding officers were promoted to brigadier general and led major units during the war. In its first major action at Fort Donelson the regiment suffered terrible losses. The 11th Illinois also fought at Shiloh, Riggins Hill, Vicksburg, First Yazoo City, Second Yazoo City, and Fort Blakeley. In April 1863, the 109th Illinois Infantry Regiment was disbanded and its enlisted men transferred into the 11th Illinois. The regiment was mustered out of service in July 1865.
The original 11th Illinois Infantry Regiment organized at Springfield, Illinois. It was mustered into three-months' service on 30 April 1861 by Captain John Pope. The regiment traveled to Villa Ridge on 5 May and was stationed in that location until 20 June. Subsequently, the unit moved to Bird's Point, Missouri from which Companies A and B participated in an expedition to Little River on 22–23 June. It remained at Bird's Point until 30 July when it was mustered out of service. During its service 10 men died of disease. Its field officers were Colonel W. H. L. Wallace, Lieutenant Colonel J. Warren Filler of Effingham, and Major Thomas E. G. Ransom of Vandalia. During service, the regiment ranged between 833 and 933 in strength, while 916 men were mustered out.
The reorganized 11th Illinois Infantry Regiment was mustered into Federal service for a three-year enlistment on 30 July 1861, at Cairo. One source stated that the unit organized at Bird's Point between 29 July and 27 October. Only 288 men re-enlisted from the three-month regiment, but by the end of November, recruiting brought the unit's total strength to 801 men. The field officers were Colonel Wallace, Lieutenant Colonel Ransom, and Major Garrett L. Nevius of Rockford. Other regimental staff included 1 adjutant, 1 quartermaster, 1 surgeon, 1 assistant surgeon, 1 chaplain, 5 sergeant majors, 4 quartermaster sergeants, 5 commissary sergeants, 3 hospital stewards, and 3 musicians. In addition, there was a 16-member band, all from Rockford, who were discharged after serving one year.
Colonel Wallace received promotion to brigadier general on 23 March 1862. He was replaced as colonel by Ransom who was promoted brigadier general on 16 March 1863. Ransom was succeeded as colonel by Nevius who was killed in action on 22 May 1863. Nevius was replaced as colonel by James Henry Coates who received a brevet promotion to brigadier general on 13 March 1865. Three of the 11th Illinois' colonels died in the war. Wallace was fatally wounded while commanding a division at the Battle of Shiloh and died a few days later. Ransom was wounded four times and rose to command the Left Wing of the XVI Corps in the Atlanta campaign, but died of poor health on 29 October 1864. When Coates became colonel on 22 May 1863, Lloyd D. Waddell became lieutenant colonel but he resigned on 15 September 1864. On the same day, George C. McKee became major but he mustered out on 30 July 1864. When the regiment mustered out, Coates was colonel, Nathaniel C. Kenyon was lieutenant colonel, and Samuel O. Lewis was major.
A number of officers gained promotion by transferring to other units. Captain John H. Widmer and Second Lieutenant Douglas Hapeman were promoted major and lieutenant colonel, respectively, in the 104th Illinois Infantry Regiment on 4 September 1862. Captain Charles T. Hotchkiss was promoted lieutenant colonel of the 89th Illinois Infantry Regiment on 4 September 1862. First Lieutenant Hurbert A. McCaleb was promoted lieutenant colonel of the 6th U. S. Colored Heavy Artillery on 7 November 1862. First Lieutenant Samuel B. Dean was promoted major of the 58th U. S. Colored Infantry on 31 August 1863. First Lieutenant Cyrus E. Dickey became Captain and Assistant Adjutant General on 8 June 1863. Major Smith D. Atkins resigned on 17 April 1862 and was promoted colonel of the 92nd Illinois Infantry Regiment on 4 September 1862. Atkins received a brevet promotion to brigadier general on 12 January 1865.
The 11th Illinois Infantry Regiment was assigned to W. H. L. Wallace's 3rd Brigade, District of Cairo until February 1862. During this period, the regiment participated in a number of forays into Missouri. These were toward New Madrid on 9–11 September 1861, to Charleston on 6–10 October, to Bloomfield on 3–12 November, and to Sikeston on 25–28 January 1862. The unit also went on a reconnaissance of Columbus, Kentucky on 13–20 January. The 11th Illinois boarded river transports on 2 February and joined the Fort Henry campaign. On 11 February, the regiment began to march toward Fort Donelson which was invested on 12–14 February.
At the Battle of Fort Donelson on 15 February 1862, the 11th Illinois led by Lieutenant Colonel Ransom (who was wounded) was part of Colonel Wallace's 2nd Brigade, Brigadier General John Alexander McClernand's 1st Division, under the overall command of Brigadier General Ulysses S. Grant. That morning, the Confederates attempted to break out of the fort by launching a heavy assault against the 1st Division. After heavy fighting, McClernand's right brigade under Colonel Richard J. Oglesby was forced back and the 11th Illinois on the right flank of Wallace's brigade bore the brunt of the Confederate attacks. The regiment was compelled to retreat though Ransom greatly distinguished himself. At the end of the day, Grant ordered a counterattack which restored the investment; the Confederates surrendered the following day. Out of about 500 effectives, the 11th Illinois suffered 329 casualties, including 72 killed and 182 wounded. On 4–13 March, the regiment moved first to Fort Henry, then to Savannah, Tennessee. On 23–25 March, the unit moved farther up the Tennessee River to Pittsburg Landing, Tennessee.
At the Battle of Shiloh on 6–7 April 1862, the 11th Illinois was attached to Colonel C. Carroll Marsh's 2nd Brigade, McClernand's 1st Division, in Major General Grant's Army of the Tennessee. Both Ransom and Major Nevius were wounded and Captain Waddell took command. On the first day, McClernand ordered Marsh to move his brigade to support Brigadier General William Tecumseh Sherman's division. After first moving to Sherman's right rear, Marsh shifted farther to the left and deployed the 11th, 20th, 45th, and 48th Illinois Infantry Regiments. Ransom wrote that the Confederates came on in, "four ranks and three columns steadily upon us". Marsh's troops were compelled to retreat, during which Captain Coates and his son were both wounded and taken prisoner. While withdrawing, some soldiers stubbornly fought back behind some sacks filled with oats. When Marsh's brigade rallied on a new defense line near Jones Field, a portion of the 70th Ohio Infantry Regiment joined the 11th Illinois and fought with it the rest of the day. At 12:30 pm, Marsh's brigade joined a counterattack by Sherman and McClernand and the 11th and 20th Illinois overran a Confederate Kentucky battery. Ransom was bleeding from a head wound, but continued to lead the regiment until his horse was killed; then he went to the rear. After a two-hour fight, Confederate reinforcements again threw the Union troops back. At Shiloh, the 11th Illinois lost 27 killed and wounded out of 150 total. After the battle, Tommy Newsom erected a monument to the regiment's dead. This became known as the White Post burial place; it was the first monument built on the battlefield.
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