The Civil War In Illinois

In the winter of 1861 Abraham Lincoln left his home in Springfield, Illinois to become President of the United States. He wasted no time in making a grab for Federal power which led to the Civil War.

Although there were no battles on Illinois soil, the Civil War defined an era in the state. Illinoisians shaped the war's course and felt its effects. By the summer of 1862 Illinois had sent over 130,000 men to war. Despite its early secessionist proclivities, southern Illinois counties led the way in the enlistment of troops, providing nearly 50% more than their quota. Illinois troops, like most other Union soldiers, organized in units linked to their state and locality rather than the regular Army. The 45th Illinois, hailing from Galena, became known as the "Lead Mine Regiment." The 34th Illinois, raised in Dixon, dubbed itself the "Rock River Rifles." Troops often organized themselves in outfits comprised of specific ethnic groups or occupations. Illinois sent regiments of Germans, Irish, Scots, and other ethnicities, as well as units comprised solely of Jews. Units made up of railroad men, schoolteachers and ministers joined a "Temperance Regiment" in service.

Camp Butler and Camp Douglas, huge new military installations, opened outside of Springfield and Chicago, respectively. These facilities housed most Illinois troops before they departed for the South, as well as a growing list of Confederate prisoners. Cairo and Mound City in Illinois' southern tip became major military depots as well. Cairo served as the western armies' base of operations, ferrying rations, ammunition and other supplies downstream to troops in the field. Mound City hosted the Union Navy on the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers. In its foundry workmen converted steamboats into gunboats.

This site presents primary source material from the Civil War era in Illinois. These materials include letters, diaries and reminiscences of Union soldiers. But they also include important documents, images, and other resources from the home front.

Sources:
http://dig.lib.niu.edu/civilwar/

Featured Books & CD-ROMS
The Official Records of the American Civil War	CD-ROM $69.95
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The Southern Historical Society Papers	CD-ROM $69.95
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Phisterer, Frederick Statistical Record of the Armies of the United States	CD-ROM $15.00
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Cranmer, Jesse Grant Letters of Ulysses S. Grant to His Father and his youngest sister. - 218 pgs.	CD-ROM $15.00	Paperback $15.00
Cox, Jacob D. The March to the Sea, Franklin and Nashville	CD-ROM $15.00
Nicolay, John G. The Outbreak of the Rebellion	CD-ROM $15.00
Illinois Adjutant General's Office Histories of Illinois Civil War Regiments and Units	CD-ROM $15.00
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