Illinois 56th Infantry Regiment



Historical Notes HISTORICAL NOTES:
The 56th Illinois Infantry was organized at Shawneetown, Ill., and mustered in February 27, 1862. Left State for Paducah, Ky., February 27, and duty there until April 20.

On March 31, 1865, just 26 days from the end of the war, a contingent of discharged soldiers from the regiment, including 11 officers and 190 enlisted men, were returning home on the Steamer General Lyon when the ship caught fire in heavy seas. The fire spread quickly through the ship killing most of those on board, including all but five of the contingent - a tragic and bitter end to the war for the 56th Infantry Regiment and the families of the victims. Survivors: Michael S. Brocket (his brother - Matthew - was killed in this incident), Jasper Fitzgerald, M. H. Ozment, Isaac N. Wilhite, and George W. Williams. More information regarding the 196 that perished, including possible biographies may be obtained through the General John A. Logan Museum located in Murphysboro Illinois.

The Regiment lost during service 2 Officers and 25 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 14 Officers and 348 Enlisted men by disease. Total 389.
Officers OFFICERS:
  • Colonel Robert Kirkham - resigned on June 26, 1862.
  • Colonel William R. Brown - resigned August 31, 1862.
  • Colonel Green B. Raum - of Pope County Illinois - mustered out March 3, 1865.
  • ASSIGNMENTS ASSIGNMENTS:
    Attached to District of Paducah, Ky., to April, 1862. 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, Army of Mississippi, to November, 1862. 2nd Brigade, 7th Division, Left Wing 13th Army Corps (Old), Department of the Tennessee, to December, 1862. 2nd Brigade, 7th Division, 16th Army Corps, to January, 1863. 2nd Brigade, 7th Division, 17th Army Corps, to September, 1863. 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, 17th Army Corps, to December, 1863. 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, 15th Army Corps, to April, 1865. 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, 15th Army Corps, to August, 1865. Service SERVICE:
    Moved from Paducah, Ky., to Hamburg Landing, Tenn., April 20-25, 1862. Advance on and siege of Corinth, Miss., April 29-May 30. Pursuit to Booneville May 31-June 12. Expedition to Ripley June 22-23. At Camp Clear Creek until October, 1862. Battle of Corinth October 3-4. Pursuit to Ripley October 5-12. Grant's Central Mississippi Campaign November 4 to December 30. Reconnaissance from LaGrange November 8-9. Guard Memphis & Charleston R. R. until March 1, 1863. Yazoo Pass Expedition March 1-April 5. Fort Pemberton March 22. Moved to Milliken's Bend La., April 13. Movement on Bruinsburg and turning Grand Gulf April 25-30. At Grand Gulf guarding transportation lines and base of supplies May 1-13. Battle of Champion's Hill May 16. Big Black River May 17. Siege of Vicksburg, Miss., May 18-July 4. Assaults on Vicksburg May 19 and 22 and June 25. Surrender of Vicksburg July 4. Moved to Helena, Ark., August 20; thence to Memphis, Tenn., and march to Chattanooga, Tenn., September 20-November 23. Operations on Memphis & Charleston R. R. in Alabama October 20-29. Chattanooga-Ringgold Campaign November 23-27. Tunnel Hill November 24-25. Mission Ridge November 25. Pursuit to Graysville November 26-27. Guard railroad and duty at Whitesburg, on Tennessee River, until May, 1864. Atlanta (Ga.) Campaign May to September. Guard Memphis & Charleston R. R. and Chattanooga & Atlanta R. R. and fords of the Etowah; stationed at Mud Creek, Calhoun and Adairsville, Ga., until October. Defense of Resaca October 12-13. Company "F" at surrender of Dalton, Ga., October 13. Adairsville October 22. March to the sea November 15-December 10. Siege of Savannah December 10-21. Campaign of the Carolinas January to April, 1865. Salkehatchie Swamp, S.C., February 2-5. Fishburn's Plantation, near Lane's Bridge, Salkehatchie River, February 6. South Edisto River February 9. North Edisto River February 11-12. Columbia February 15-17. Cox's Bridge, Neuse River, February 19-20. Battle of Bentonville, N. C., March 20-21. Occupation of Goldsboro March 24. Advance on Raleigh, N. C., April 10-14. Occupation of Raleigh April 14. Bennett's House April 26. Surrender of Johnston and his army. March to Washington, D.C., via Richmond, Va., April 29-May 19. Grand Review May 24. Moved to Louisville, Ky., June; thence to Little Rock, Ark., and duty there until August. Mustered out August 12, 1865. Rosters ROSTERS:
    The roster of this regiment contains the names of 3142 men.

  • Company A - Massac County (Also known as Wisconsin Company)
  • Company B - many men fromWhite County (Also known as Ohio Company)
  • Company C - Hamilton County (Also known as Indiana Company)
  • Company D - Gallatin and White counties
  • New Company D - Massac County
  • Company E - Franklin, Saline and Williamson counties
  • Company F - Gallatin, Hamilton and White counties
  • Company G - Hamilton County
  • Company H - Edwards and Wayne counties (Also known as Ohio Company)
  • Company I - Franklin County
  • New Company I - Assorted counties
  • Company K - Pope County
  • BIBLIOGRAPHY:


    REFERENCES:

    REF: Wikipedia
    Dyer, Frederick H., A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion