USA > Illinois > Woodford County > The Past and present of Woodford County, Illinois : containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, &c.; a directory of its tax-payers; war record of its volunteers in the late rebellion; portraits of early settlers and prominent men; general and local statistics etc > Part 46
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Van Arsdale, J. W., e. Aug. 11, 1862; m. o. July 10, 1865. Worthington, W. S., e. Aug. 2, 1862; kld. May 22, 1863, at Vicksburg.
Wilson, F. P., e. Aug. 6, 1862; kld. May 22, 1863, at Vicks- burg.
Wilkes, L. M., e. Ang. 9, 1862; died Feb. 2, 1863.
Williams, J. H., c. Aug. 9, 1862; absent, sick, at m. o. of regt. Allen, Wm., e. March 24, 1864; rect .; trans. to 130th Inf. Hall, C. E., e. Dec. 26, 1863; rect .; trans, to 130th Inf.
EIGHTY-SIXTH INFANTRY.
The Eighty-sixth Infantry Illinois Volun- teers was organized at Peoria, Ill., in August, 1862, by Col. David D. Irons, and mustered in Aug. 27th. Moved for Louisville, and camped
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WAR HISTORY AND RECORD.
at Jo Holt, on the Indiana side, Sept. 10, 1862. Was assigned to Thirty-sixth Brigade, Col. D. McCook, with Fifty-second Ohio and Eighty- fifth Illinois. and One Hundred and Twenty- fifth Illinois, Eleventh Division, Brig. Gen. P. H. Sheridan commanding. Marched from camp Oct. Ist, and, on the 8th, was engaged in the battle of Perryville, losing I killed and 14 wounded. Moved thence to Crab Orchard and to Nashville, arriving Nov. 7th. Soon after. moved to Milk Creek. Returned to Nashville Dec. 10th. Moved to Brentwood, April 8th, 1863. Returned to Nashville, June 3d. On the 30th, moved to Murfreesboro. Returned July 19th. Marched, August 20th, via Frank- lin and Columbia, to Huntsville, Ala., and, on the 4th of September, marched to Chattanooga. The Eighty-sixth was here assigned to the Re- serve Corps, under Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger.
Engaged in the battle of Chickamauga, Sept. 19th, 20th and 2Ist. Brigade assigned to Sec- ond Division, Fourteenth Army Corps. Moved into Lookout Valley, Oct. 29th. In the night of Nov. 23d, crossed the river on a pontoon, and camped at the foot of Missionary Ridge. Pursued the enemy, on the 26th, to Ringgold, and was then ordered to Knoxville, Tenn. Marched as far as Little Tennessee River, and returned to Chattanooga, Dec. 18th, after a most severe march. Was engaged in the rc- connoissance to Buzzard Roost Gap, near Dal- ton, Feb. 24, 1864, fighting the enemy two days. Lost I man killed and 7 wounded. March 6th, moved to Lee and Gordon's Mills, and, May 3d, joined Gen. Sherman'a army at Ring- gold, Ga. Was engaged at Buzzard's Roost, May 9th, 10th and 11th ; Resaca, May 14th and 15th; Rome, 17th-6 killed and 11 wounded ; Dallas, from May 27th to June 5th ; Kenesaw Mountain, from June IIth to 27th-losing 110 killed and wounded.
It again engaged the enemy, on the banks of the Chattahoochie, on the 18th of July ; at Peach Tree Creek on the 19th, and, near At- lanta, 20th and 22d. Engaged in the siege of Atlanta, Col. Dillsworth commanding Brigade, Brig. Gen. J. D. Morgan commanding Divis- ion, and Brevet Maj. Gen. Jeff. C. Davis com- manding Corps. Was engaged at Jonesboro, Sept. Ist. Sept. 29th, moved, by rail, to Athens, Ala., and marched to Florence, driving Forrest across the Tennessee. Moved to Chattanooga, and thence to Galesville, Ala., Kingston, and to Atlanta, arriving Nov. 15th.
Commenced the " March to the Sea" Nov. 16th. Arrived at Savannah Dec. 2Ist. Moved, Jan. 20, 1865, on the campaign of the Caro- linas-Brevet Brig. Gen. B. D. Fearing com- manding hrigade. Engaged in the battle of Averysboro, March 16th, and of Bentonville, 19th and 20th, and arrived at Goldsboro on March 23d. Marched to Raleigh, April 10th.
After the surrender of Johnston, marched, via Richmond, to Washington City, at which place was mustered out of service, June 6th, 1865, by Lieut. George Scroggs, A. C. M., and
ordered to Chicago, Ill., where it received final pay and discharge.
Died, killed and wounded, 346. Marched, 3,500 miles ; by rail, 2,000 miles.
Company A.
Capt. W. S. Magarity, e. Aug. 27, 1862; resd. Oct. 7, 1863. Capt. Jos. Major, e. Aug. 27, 1862, as First Lieut .; prmtd. to Capt. Oct 7, 1863 ; m. o. June 6, 1865.
First Lieut. S. T. Rogers, e. Aug. 27, 1862, as Second Lieut .; prmtd. te First Lieut. Oct. 7, 1863 ; hon. disd. Oct. 25, 1864.
First Lieut. J. J. Jones, e. Aug. 8, 1862, as First Sergt .;
prmtd. to First Lieut. Oct. 25, 1864; m. e. June 6, '65. Second Lieut. A. W. Stewart, e. Aug. 3, 1862, as Sergt .; prmtd. to Second Lieut. June 12, 1865; m. o. June 6, 1865.
Sergt. J. L. Radford, e. Aug. 7, 1862; kld. June 27, 1862. Sergt. A. Q. Wilson, e. Ang. 7, 1862; disd. Jan. 20, 1863, disab.
Sergt. S. E. Brooks, e. Aug. 7, 1862; m. e. June 6, 1865. Corp. J. G. Stivers, e. Aug. 3, 1862 ; died Dec. 10, 1862.
Corp. J. R. Kinear, e. Aug. 7, 1862; m. o. June 6, 1865, as Sergt.
Corp. W. M. Bain, e. Aug. 3, 1862; klā. June 27, 1864. Corp. Eber Hotchkin, e. Aug. 6, 1862; died in rebel prison Feb. 20, 1865.
Corp. Frank Hern, e. July 29, 1862; died in rebel prison Nov. 18, 1864.
Corp. J. H. Blubecker, e. Ang. 10, 1862; m. o. June 6, '65. Corp. I. S. Guest, e. July 26, 1862; m. o. June 6, 1865. Corp. C. A. Chenoweth, e. Aug. 7, 1862 ; kld. June 27, '64. Allison, J. A., e. Aug. 9, 1862; trans. to V. R. C. Sept. 1, 1863.
Adams, J. W., e. Ang. 9, 1862 ; disd. Jan. 28, 1863, disab. Armstrong, J. C., e. Aug. 8, 1862; died at Nashville Nov. 18, 1862.
Armstrong, G. E., e. Aug. 7, 1862; died at Nashville Dec. 27, 1862.
Armstrong, W. G., e. Aug. 8, 1862; died at Nashville Nov. 30, 1862.
Brown, Henry, e. Aug. 11, 1862; trans. to Miss. M. Brig. May 27, 1863.
Brown, J. T., e. Aug. 11, 1862; m. o. June 6, 1805.
Bullingten, A. C., e. Aug. 11, 1862 ; m. o. June 6, 1865, as Corp.
Baker, H. C., e. July 26, 1862; m. e. June 6, 1865.
Brubacker, Peter, e. Aug. 7, 1862; disd. Jan. 14, 1863, disab.
Cbilds, E. A., e. Ang. 7, 1862; m. o. June 13, 1865, prisr. of war.
Carnahan, H. E., e. July 26, 1862; m. o. June 22, 1865. Clark, E. R., e. Aug. 9, 1862; died at Nashville, Jan. 9, 1863,
Chapman, Jas., e. Aug. 7, 1862; m. o. June 22, 1865; was prisr.
Chittick, Rebt., e. Aug. 11, 1862; died at Eureka, Ill., April 6, 1865.
Carr, J. A., e. Aug. 11, 1862 ; m. o. June 6, 1865, as Corp. Cramer, Levi, e. Aug. 11, 1862 ; m. o. June 6, 1865.
Cable, S. P., e. Aug. 8, 1862; m. o June 6, 1865; was prisr.
Dougherty, Thos., e. Ang. 7, 1862; kld. at Kenesaw Mountain, Ga., June 27, 1864.
Dixen, Wm., e. Aug. 7, 1802; m. e. June 6, 1865.
Dial, Richard, e. Aug. 7, 1862; trans. to Miss. M. Brig. May 27, 1863.
Dial, Philip, e. Aug. 7, 1862; kld. in action June 27, 1864. Dehm, Jno., e. Aug. 6, 1862 ; disd. March 8, 1863, disab. Davenport, J. L., e. July 26, 1862; m. o. June 6, 1865.
Egbert, Wm., e. Aug. 7, 1862; died at Nashville March 2, 1863.
Flam, Michael, e. Aug. 9, 1862; m. o. June 6, 1805.
Fletcher, Irwin, e. Aug. 3, 1862; trans. te Eng. Corps June 15, 1864.
Foley, Thos., e. Aug. 11, 1862; m. e. June 29, 1865, wd. Foote, Chas., e. July 26, 1862; trans. to V. R. C. Nov. 1, 1863.
Graham, L. D., e. Aug. 7, 1862; disd. Jan. 20, 1863, disab. Grice, S. W., e. Aug. 7, 1862; died at Bowling Green, Ky., Nev. 5, 1862.
Hallam, W. W., e. July 25, 1862 ; m. o. June 6, 1865.
Howell, W. H., e. Aug. 7, 1862; kld. at Keneaaw Moun- tain June 27, 1864.
Haines, N. S., e. Aug. 7, 1862; disd. Jan. 20, 1863, disab. Herrick, E. M., e. Aug. 7, 1862; Corp; died at N. Y. City March 6, 1865.
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WAR HISTORY AND RECORD.
Ifolmes, Robt., e. Ang. 5, 1862; m. o. June 6, 1865, as Corp.
Hein, Jno., e. July 20, 1862; trans. to V. R. C. July 1, '63. King, Rufus, e. Ang. 3, 1862; disd. Oct. 9, 1864, as Corp., wds. King, J. B., e. July 26, 1862 ; m. o. June 6, 1865.
Longfellow, W. J., e. July 26, 1862 ; prmtd. to Com. Sergt. Longfellow, J. C., e. July 26, 1862; disd. Nov. 26, 1863, disab.
Long, IIardin, e. Aug, 7, 1862 ; m. o. June 16, 1865.
Lelunan, Jno., e. Aug. 7, 1862; died at Nashville June 15, 1863,
Lowery, J. E., e. Aug. 7, 1862; disd. Jan. 27, 1863, disab. Mohr, David, e. Ang. 7, 1862; died at Nashville Nov. 18, 1863.
Mohr. Abram, e. Aug. 9, 1862; trans, to V. R. C. Feb. 11, 1864.
Martin, J. T., e. Aug. 6, 1862; m. o. June 6, 1865, as Corp. Martin, W. F., e. Aug. 7, 1862; died July 16, 1864.
McPeak, E. E., e. Ang. 9, 1862; m. o. June 6, 1865. Mecarta, F. C., e. Ang. 7, 1862; disd. Jan. 27, 1863, disab. Mohr, J. F., e. Aug. 7, 1862; m. o. June 6, 1865. Miller, J. B., e. Aug. 9, 1862; disd. Jan. 27, 1863, disab. Manning, Miles, e. Aug. 7, 1862; died. April II, 1865, disab.
Oer, Benj., e. Ang. 7, 1862; trans. to V. R. C. Sept. 1, 1863. Payne, R. F., e. July 26, 1862; m. o. June 6, 1865.
Payne, J. E., e. Ang. 7, 1862; disd. Jan. 27, 1863, disab. Pepper, J. S., e. Ang. 11, 1862 ; m. o. May 26, 1865. Perrin, D. R., e. Aug. 7, 1862; m. o. June 6, 1865. Ralston, II. J., e. Ang. 3, 1862; disd. Jan. 27, 1863, disab. Radford, W. L., e. Aug. 7, 1862; kld. June 27, 1864. Rodebush, G. W., e. Ang. 7, 1862; m. o. June 6, 1865. Robeson, J. E., e. Aug. II, 1862; m. o. June 6, 1865.
Sutton, Fenton, e. Aug. 5, 1862; kld. at Kenesaw Monn- tain, Ga., June 27, 1864.
Stowell, L. E., e. Ang. 7, 1862; m. o. June 6, 1865. Snyder, Morgan, e Aug. 7, 1862; died Nov. 28, 1862. Sannders, Joseph, e. Aug. 3, 1862; deserted Nov. 22, 1862. Sisson, Saml., e. Ang. 7, 1862; disd. Jan. 20, 1865; disab. Summers, A. II., e. Ang. 7, 1862; m. o. June 6, 1865.
Stewart, E. E., e. Ang 20, 1862 ; died at Annapolis, Md., Dec. 18, 1864.
States, Daniel, e. Ang. 7, 1862; kld, at Kenesaw Mountain, Ga., June 27, 1864.
Tandy, J. W., e. July 26, 1862; disd. Jan. 27, 1863 ; disab. This, Johan, e. Ang. 7, 1862; m. o. June 6, 1865.
This, Frank, e. Ang. 7, 1862; m. o. June 6, 1865, as Corp. This, Charles, e. Ang. 7, 1862 ; kld. at Kenesaw Mountain, June 27, 1864.
Trunnell, W. II., e. Ang. 7, 1862; died April 28, 1863. Tomb, Closier, e. Ang. 3, 1862; died Nov. 29, 1862.
Tomb, John, e. Aug. 3, 1862; m. o. June 10, 1865, as Corp. Watson, J. H., e. Ang. 7, 1862 ; m. o. June 6, 1865. Warble, J. R., e. Ang. 8, 1862 ; m. o. June 6, 1865.
Darst, H. R., e. Dec. 10, 1863; rect .; trans. to Co. G, 34th Inf., May 18, 1865.
Grady, J. W., e. Ang. 7, 1862; rect. ; kid. at Kenesaw Mountain, June 27, 1864.
Howard, J. W., e. Jan. 18, 1865; unassigned ; rect.
ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTH INFANTRY.
The One Hundred and Eighth Illinois Vol- unteer Infantry was organized and rendez- voused at Camp Peoria. The first company of the regiment was recruited at Pekin, Ill., by Charles Turner, and arrived in camp on the 14th day of August, 1862. The regiment was organized on the 27th of August, and mustered into the service of the United States, Aug. 28, 1862. Oct. 6th, the regiment left Camp Peo- ria, by rail, for Covington, Ky., via Logans- port, Indianapolis and Cincinnati, arriving in Covington on the morning of the 8th. In the organization of the troops, at Covington, Ky., the One Hundred and Eighth Regiment was assigned to the First Brigade, Third Division, Army of Kentucky-Col. John Coburn, Thirty- third Indiana Infantry, commanding the Bri- gade; Brig. Gen. A. Baird, commanding the
Division; Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger com- manding the Army. The regiment here drew the necessary transportation and camp equip- age, and, on the 17th, marched with the division into the interior of the State, follow- ing the retreating enemy. The regiment passed through Falmouth, Cynthiana, Paris and Lexington, to Nicholasville, where a halt was made, and the troops went into camp, Nov. 1st, and remained until the 14th.
At Lexington, the troops were reorganized, and the One Hundred and Eighth was assigned to the Second Brigade, First Division, Army of Kentucky-Col. W. G. Landram, of Nine- teenth Kentucky, commanding Brigade, and Brig. Gen. A. J. Smith commanding Division.
Nov. 14th, the regiment marched, with the Division, for Louisville, via Versailles, Frank- fort and Shelbyville. Reached Louisville on the 19th, and, on the 21st embarked on board transports for Memphis, Tenn., where it ar- rived on the 26th and went into camp near the city. The troops were here organized for a Winter campaign, and Gen. A. J. Smith's Di- vision was designated as the First Division, Right Wing, Army of the Tennessee. The regiment remained at Memphis, performing picket and such other duty as was required of it, until the 20th of December, when it em- barked on board the "City of Alton," and proceeded with the expedition, under Maj. Gen. W. T. Sherman, against Vicksburg. There were crowded upon this boat the Brigade Com- mander and his staff, with their horses and other necessary equipage and transportation, the One Hundred and Eighth Regiment Illi- nois Volunteer Infantry and the Forty-eighth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, together with the transportation, horses, mules and equipage belonging to both regiments. The expedition proceeded down the Mississippi River to the mouth of the Yazoo, and up that river to Johnson's Landing, near Chickasaw Bluff, where, on the evening of the 28th, the regiment disembarked and bivouacked for the night. On the morning of the 29th, the regi- ment moved, with the Division, upon the enemy, who was found strongly fortified upon the bluffs running northeast from the city of Vicksburg. Ilere, in the engagement of Chick- asaw Bayou, the One Hundred and Eighth first met the enemy. In this engagement, the regi- ment occupied the extreme right of the Union line, its right resting on the Mississippi River. There was no heavy fighting on this part of the line, but some sharp skirmishing. The regi- ment began skirmishing with the enemy on the afternoon of the 29th, and quite a rapid fire was kept up until dark, when, in compliance with orders, the line was withdrawn about three hundred yards, and held during the night. On the morning of the 30th, the line was again advanced to re-take the former posi- tion, which, it was found, had been occupied by the enemy. A lively skirmish here took place, which lasted about half an hour, and resulted in the enemy being compelled to re-
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WAR HISTORY AND RECORD.
tire, with considerable confusion, with the loss of 7 killed and 4 prisoners captured by the regiment. The orders to the regiment were to retake and hold its former position, and, hav- ing done this, no attempt was made to do more. About noon, the regiment was relieved and al- lowed to fall back and rest, and make coffee.
On the 1st of January, 1863, the One Hun- dred and Eighth was again ordered to the front, where it remained, on the skirmish line, until midnight, when, just as the clock on the court house in Vicksburg told the hour of I, in compliance with orders received early in the night, the regiment silently withdrew, and, with one section of the Chicago Mercantile Battery, covered the retreat of Gen. Sherman's army. The regiment reached Johnson's Landing before daylight, on the morning of the 2d, and immediately re-embarked on board the steamer "City of Alton." Al- though the lines of the two armies were so close to each other that the men could dis- tinctly hear the voices of their opponents, yet the plans for the retreat were so well laid and executed that the enemy did not discover it until the whole fleet was steaming down the Yazoo.
The fleet proceeded down the Yazoo River to the Mississippi. Thence, up that river, to the mouth of the White River, and up that river, and through a cut-off, into the Arkansas, to Ar- kansas Post, where, on the afternoon of the 10th of January, the regiment disembarked and participated in the investment of that fort, and, on the following day, bore an active part in that most brilliant and successful engage- ment. In a report, afterward made by the regimental commander, he says :
"At If P. M., we were ordered to advance, through a narrow strip of timber and across an open field, within short range of the enemy's guns, to within pistol shot of the fort. The engagement at this part of the line was terrific. From the time the order to advance was given, the officers and men, without a single excep- tion, displayed a coolness and courage which, taking into consideration the fact of its being the first time the regiment was ever under a heavy fire, deserves, in my humble opinion, special commendation."
The casualties in the One Hundred and Eighth, during this engagement, were 13 men wounded. On the 17th of January, the fleet was again moving down stream and proceeded to Young's Point, La., nearly opposite to Vicksburg, where, on the 24th of January, 1863, the regiment disembarked and went into camp. The long confinement on the trans- ports and want of pure air and sanitary con- veniences, during this expedition, cost the - regiment more lives than all other causes dur- ing its term of service-one officer, Philo W. Hill, First Lieutenant Company A, and 134 men, died during the months of February and March, 1863.
Maj. Gen. J. A. McClernand assumed com- mand of the expedition before the engagement
at Arkansas Post, and the title of the army was. changed to "The Army of the Mississippi." The organization of the Division remained the same as before, and the Division was desig- nated as the Tenth Division, Thirteenth Army Corps. The regiment remained in camp at Young's Point, performing picket duty and working on the famous canal, until the 10th of March, when it embarked on board the " Spread Eagle" for Milliken's Bend, La .. where it again went into camp. April 15th, the regiment broke camp and marched with the Corps and Division across the country, via Richmond, Smith's Plantation and along Lake St. Joseph to Hard Times, landing on the Mississippi River nearly opposite to Grand Gulf, Miss .; thence down along the levee, about two miles, to Brandenburg, arriving- there on the night of the 29th of April. On the afternoon of the next day, the regiment crossed the Mississippi River on board the iron-clad gunboat " Lafayette," which had run the bat- teries of both Vicksburg and Grand Gulf. On the morning of May Ist, at 1 o'clock, the regi- ment was on the march. After marching rap- idly until about 8 o'clock A. M., it arrived upon the battle field of Port Gibson, sometimes called the battle of Magnolia Ridge, near Port Gibson, Miss. Fighting had begun before the regiment arrived, and there was no time given for rest ; but it immediately moved into position. The- fighting on that part of the line occupied by the One Hundred and Eighth was not very heavy, but the manœuvering was very fatiguing. The day was excessively hot, with scarcely a cloud to break the piercing rays of the sun, and the regiment was kept almost constantly in motion, marching and counter-marching over steep and rugged hills, until nearly sunset, and there had been no time for rest since midnight.
After a very circuituous march, the Thir- teenth Army Corps and with it the One Hun- dred and Eighth Illinois Volunteers, reached Champion Hills on the 16th of May, where the enemy were again met, and driven from the field. The regiment performed its part in this bloody battle, after which it was detached from its Brigade and Division, and assigned to the duty of guarding prisoners of war. On the 17th, the regiment moved, with the prisoners, to Black River Bridge, where it was joined by the Twenty-third Iowa Infantry, with another- large lot of prisoners. The number which both regiments then had in charge was about four thousand five hundred. On the night of the 19th, it reached the landing at Haines' Bluff, on the Yazoo River, and on the 20th embarked, with a portion of the prisoners, on board the " Fanny Bullitt," and procceded to Young's Point, and went into camp near the same ground occupied by the regiment five months before. On the 25th, the regiment embarked, with the prisoners, on board the steamer "Gladiator," and proceeded to Memphis, Tenn., where its charge was transferred to the com- mand there, and the One Hundred and Eighth returned to Young's Point, on board the
1
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WAR IIISTORY AND RECORD.
steamer " Emerald." On the passage down, the boat was several times fired into by guer- rillas from the shore, and one man, Peter C. Farner, of Company K, was severely wounded in the leg.
The regiment remained at Young's Point, performing various kinds of duty, until after the surrender of Vicksburg. They assisted in keeping up a line of pickets across the point of land immediately opposite the city of Vicks- burg. This line, together with the gunboats, above and below the city, formed, with the lines on the east side of the river, a complete circuit around Vicksburg. Large details of men from the One Hundred and Eighth as- sisted in working the heavy mortars upon the mortar boats, above the city, and several men were permanently injured by the concussion of their discharge. On the 18th of July, the regiment crossed over into the city, and re- ported to Maj. Gen. McPherson, commanding Seventeenth Army Corps, and went into camp. July 26th, the regiment embarked and went to Memphis, and reported Maj. Gen. Hurlbut on the 29th; and on the 5th of August it proceeded, by rail, to La Grange, Tenn. The regiment, upon it arrival at La Grange, was assigned to the First Brigade, Second Division, Sixteenth Army Corps.
Oct. 28, 1863, the regiment broke camp and marched to Pocahontas, Tenn., and garrisoned that post until the 9th of November-its Col- onel, Charles Turner, commanding the post.
On the evening of the 9th of November, the regiment proceeded, by rail, to Corinth, Miss., where it remained on duty until that place was evacuated by our troops, on the 25th of Janu- ary, 1864, when it proceeded, by rail, to Mem- phis, and went into camp just outside the southern part of the city. Here they were assigned to the Second Brigade, District of Memphis, Sixteenth Army Corps.
On the 2d of June, 1864, about one hundred and thirty men and officers from all the com- panies of the regiment marched with the expe- dition under Brig. Gen. Sturgis, which left Memphis at that time to attack the enemy un- der Gen. Forrest. The weather was bad, and the roads became almost impassable in many places. It rained every day for the first nine days that the expedition was out. On the 10th of June, the cavalry engaged the enemy, and the infantry were hurried forward as rapidly as possible, and went into the fight without rest, and by regiments, as they came up.
Aug. 21, 1864, when Forrest made his noted raid into the city of Memphis, the One Hun- dred and Eighth did good service in compelling him to make a hasty retreat.
Feb. 28, 1865, the regiment broke camp at Memphis, and embarked for New Orleans, La., where it joined the Sixteenth Army Corps, un- der Maj. Gen. A. J. Smith, and was assigned to the Third Brigade, Third Division, and its Colonel, Charles Turner, assigned to command the Brigade. March 12th, embarked on board the ocean steamer, " Guiding Star," for Fort
Gaines, on Dauphine Island. The steamer grounded on the bar at the mouth of the Mis- sissippi River, and did not reach Dauphine Island until the 16th, when the regiment dis- embarked and bivouacked. Here, Col. J. L. Geddes, of the Eighth Iowa Infantry, being the senior officer, assumed command of the Brigade. On the 21st of March, the regiment embarked and proceeded up Mobile Bay and Fish River to Danley's Mills, about twenty- five miles from its mouth, and bivouacked un- til the morning of the 25th, when it marched with the Corps in the direction of Mobile. Early on the morning of the 27th, the enemy was met and driven within his works, at Span- ish Fort, the strongest of Mobile's defenses. Heavy fighting was kept up all day, and in the night siege works were begun. The One Hundred and Eighth Illinois occupied the ex- treme right of the Union lines, which, in this siege, was a most important position, for it was expected that the enemy would attempt to turn this flank. The works of the regiment were pushed to within one hundred yards of the enemy, the men working both night and day, and under a constant fire from the sharp- shooters stationed behind the enemy's works. The siege of this stronghold lasted thirteen days, and was brought to a close on the night of the 8th of April, when the Third Brigade, Third Di- vision, Sixteenth Army Corps, to which this regiment belonged, charged the enemy's works from the works constructed by this regiment, and which they had pushed about two hundred yards nearer to those of the enemy than any other point on the line. The casualties in the One Hundred and Eighth, during the siege and assault, were 3 men killed, and 1 officer, Capt. W. M. Bullock, Company E., severely wounded, and 10 men wounded.
April 9th, the regiment marched with the Sixteenth Corps in the direction of Montgom- ery, Ala., where it arrived on the 25th. Here it remained until the 18th of July, performing provost duty. While here, Col. Geddes re- signed and Col. Turner succeeded to the com- mand of the Brigade, and also to the post of Montgomery.
July 18th, the regiment again broke camp, this time for the pleasing and happy purpose of returning to the homes from which they had been absent for three long and bloody years of war. The regiment moved, by boat, to Selma ; thence, by rail, to Jackson, Miss., via Demop- olis and Meridian. From Jackson, the regi- ment marched to Black River, and thence proceeded, by rail, to Vicksburg.
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