Illinois 11th Infantry Regiment
HISTORICAL NOTES:
The 11th Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry 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 Blakely. 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 Regiment lost during service 7 Officers and 179 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 1 Officer and 284 Enlisted men by disease. Total 471.
OFFICERS:
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.
ASSIGNMENTS:
Organized at Cairo, Ill., July 30, 1861. Attached to W. H. L. Wallace's 3rd Brigade, District of Cairo, to February, 1862. 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, District of Cairo, February, 1862. 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, District of West Tennessee, and Army of the Tennessee, to July, 1862. 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, District of Jackson, Tenn., to August, 1862. District of Cairo, Ill., to November, 1862. 2nd Brigade, 6th Division, Left Wing 13th Army Corps (Old), Dept. of the Tennessee, to December, 1862. 2nd Brigade, 6th Division, 16th Army Corps, to January, 1863. 2nd Brigade, 6th Division, 17th Army Corps, to September, 1863. 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, 17th Army Corps, to August, 1864. 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, 19th Army Corps, Dept. of the Gulf, to December, 1864. 2nd Brigade, Reserve Division, Military Division West Mississippi, to February, 1865. 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, Reserve Corps, M.D. W. M, February, 1865. 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, 13th Army Corps (New), M.D. W. M., to July, 1865.
SERVICE:
Expedition to Charleston, Mo., October 2, 1861. Expedition against Thompson's forces November 2-12. Skirmish at Charleston January 8, 1862. Reconnaissance of Columbus, Ky., under Gen. Grant January 25-28. Operations against Fort Henry February 2-6. Capture of Fort Henry February 6. Investment and capture of Fort Donelson, Tenn., February 12-16. Assault on Fort Donelson February 15. Moved to Fort Henry March 4-5, thence to Savannah, Tenn., March 5-13, and to Pittsburg Landing March 23-25. Battle of Shiloh, Tenn., April 6-7. Advance on and siege of Corinth, Miss., April 29-May 30. Moved to Jackson, Tenn., and duty there until August 2. Ordered to Cairo, Ill., August 2, and to Paducah, Ky., August 23. Expedition from Fort Donelson to Clarksville September 5-10. Riggin's Hill, Clarksville, September 7. Duty at Paducah, Ky., until November 20. Expeditions to Hopkinsville, Ky., October 31 to November 13. Moved to Lagrange, Tenn., November 20-24. Grant's Central Mississippi Campaign. Operations on Mississippi Central R. R. November 24, 1862, to January 10, 1863. Moved to Memphis, Tenn., January 12, 1863, thence to Young's Point, La., January 17-24, and to Lake Providence, La., February 11. Expedition to American Bend March 17-28. Passage of Vicksburg and Warrenton Batteries April 22 (Detachment). Movement on Bruinsburg and turning Grand Gulf April 25-30. Battle of Port Gibson May 1. Battles of Raymond May 12; Jackson, Miss., May 14; Champion's Hill May 16. Siege of Vicksburg, Miss., May 18-July 4. Assaults on Vicksburg May 19 and 22. Expedition from Haines' Bluff to Mechanicsburg May 26-June 4. Action at Mechanicsburg May 29. Surrender of Vicksburg July 4. Expedition to Natchez July 12-13. Occupation of Natchez July 13-October 12. Moved to Vicksburg, Miss., October 12, and duty there until July 29, 1864. Yazoo Expedition February 1-March 8. Liverpool Heights February 4. Capture of Yazoo City February 4. Satartia February 7. Occupation of Yazoo City until March 6. Action at Yazoo City March 5. At Black River Bridge until April 28. Expedition to Yazoo City May 4-21. Benton May 7-9. Vaughan May 12. Vaughan Station May 14. Expedition to Pearl River July 2-10. Jackson July 7. Clinton July 7. Moved to Morganza, La., July 29, and duty there until September 3. Expedition to Clinton, La., August 23-29. Moved to mouth of White River September 3, thence to Memphis, Tenn., October 8. Return to White River October 27. Expedition to Gaines' Landing November 6-7. Moved to Duvall's Bluff, Ark., November 8, thence to Memphis, Tenn., November 30-December 4. Expedition to Moscow, Tenn., December 20-31. Moved to Kenner, La., January 1-5, 1865. To Dauphin Island, Ala., February 4-7. Operations against le, Ala., and its defenses February 17-April 12. Siege of Spanish Fort and Fort Blakely March 26-April 8. Assault and capture of Fort Blakely April 9. Occupation of le April 12. Duty there until May 27. Moved to New Orleans, thence to Alexandria. Moved to Baton Rouge, La., June 22. Mustered out July 14, 1865.
ROSTERS:
The roster of this regiment contains the names of 2987 men.
Company A - Stephenson County
Company B - Marshall County
Company C - Marion County
Company D - Winnebago County
Company E - Effingham County (Formerly Company K, 109th Regiment)
Company F - Effingham County
Company G - Effingham County
Company H - LaSalle County and Union County
Company I - Marshall County and Union County
Company K - LaSalle County and Union County
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
REFERENCES:
REF: Wikipedia
Dyer, Frederick H., A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion
The Regiment lost during service 7 Officers and 179 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 1 Officer and 284 Enlisted men by disease. Total 471.
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.
Dyer, Frederick H., A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion