HISTORICAL NOTES:
The 8th Regiment, Illinois Infantry was reorganized from the 90 days regiment with 3-year enlistees at Cairo, Illinois, on July 25, 1861. The 8th Illinois saw action at the Battle of Fort Henry, the Battle of Fort Donelson, the Battle of Shiloh, the Siege of Corinth, the Vicksburg Campaign, and the Mobile Campaign.
The regiment was mustered out of service on May 4, 1866, at Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Among the notables that served in the regiment was Major Hermann Lieb, who later commanded the Union forces at the Battle of Milliken's Bend.
The battery suffered 6 officers and 160 enlisted men killed in action or died of wounds and 155 enlisted men who died of disease, for a total of 321 fatalities.
OFFICERS:
Colonel Richard J. Oglesby - promoted to brigadier general April 1, 1862
Colonel Frank L. Rhoades - resigned October 7, 1862
Colonel John P. Post - resigned September 28, 1863
Colonel Josiah A. Sheetz - mustered out with the regiment
ASSIGNMENTS:
Attached to District of Cairo to October, 1861. 2nd Brigade, District of Cairo, to February, 1862. 1st Brigade, 1st Division, District of Cairo, February, 1862. 1st Brigade, 1st Division, District of West Tennessee, and Army of the Tennessee, to July, 1862. 1st Brigade, 1st Division, District of Jackson, Dept. of the Tennessee, to September, 1862. 4th Brigade, 1st Division, District of Jackson, to November, 1862. 4th Brigade, 3rd Division, Right Wing 13th Army Corps (Old), Dept. of the Tennessee, to December, 1862. 3rd Brigade, 3rd Division, 17th Army Corps, Army of the Tennessee, to April, 1864. Maltby's Brigade, District of Vicksburg, Miss., 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 June, 1865. Dept. of Louisiana to May, 1866.
SERVICE:
Duty at Cairo, Ill, until October, 1861. Moved to Bird's Point, Mo., and duty there until February, 1862. Expedition against Thompson's forces November 2-12, 1861. Expeditions toward Columbus, Ky., January 13-20, 1862. Advance on Fort Henry, Tenn., February 2-6. Investment and capture of Fort Donelson, Tenn., February 12-16. Moved to Pittsburg Landing, Tenn., March 6-13. Battle of Shiloh April 6-7. Advance on and siege of Corinth, Miss., April 29-May 30. Moved to Bethel June 4-6, thence to Jackson June 15. Duty there and guard duty at Toone's and Medon Stations until October. Grant's Central Mississippi Campaign October 31, 1862, to January 10, 1863. Ordered to Lagrange November, 1862. Reconnaissance from Lagrange November 8-9. March to Grand Junction January 4-9, 1863, and to Memphis, Tenn., January 12-19. Moved to Lake Providence, La., February 22, and duty there until April. Moved to Milliken's Bend, La., April 12. Movement on Bruinsburg and turning Grand Gulf April 25-30. Battles of Thompson's Hill, Port Gibson, May 1. South Fork Bayou Pierrie May 2. 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. Surrender of Vicksburg July 4. Garrison duty at Vicksburg until July, 1864. Stevenson's Expedition from Vicksburg to Monroe, La., August 20-September 2, 1863. Expedition to Canton October 14-20. Bogue Chitto Creek October 17. Meridian Campaign February 3-March 5, 1864. Regiment Veteranize March 24, 1864. Expedition to Pearl River, Miss., July 2-10. Jackson July 7. Expedition to Morganza, La., July 29-September 3. Moved to mouth of White River September 3-8, and duty there until October 18. Movement to Memphis, Tenn., and return October 18-30. Moved to Duvall's Bluff November 9, thence to Memphis, Tenn., November 28. March to Moscow and return December 29-31. Moved to New Orleans, La., January 1-4, 1865. Campaign against Mobile and its defenses February to April. Siege of Spanish Fort and Fort Blakely March 26-April 8. Assault and capture of Fort Blakely April 9. Occupation of Mobile April 12. Duty at Mobile until May 27. Moved to New Orleans, La., thence to Shreveport May 27-June 9. Moved to Marshall, Texas, and duty there until September. At Alexandria, La., until April, 1866. Mustered out at Baton Rouge May 4 and discharged at Springfield, Ill., May 13, 1866.
ROSTERS:
The roster of this regiment contains the names of 3,212 men.
HISTORICAL NOTES: