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1st Illinois Light Artillery Regiment History

Adjutant General's Report

BATTERY A

Battery A was called into service by Governor Yates, in response to the first call of President Lincoln for troops to defend the Nation. Our first appearance in the sanguinary conflict was on Sunday morning, April 2, 1861, and by 9 P.M. we moved for Cairo, via, the Illinois Central Railroad. On our arrival there we were assigned the duty of bringing to all downward bound boats with the view of preventing the shipment of contraband goods within the rebel lines. The mode adopted for bringing boats, to, was to fire a blank shot in their direction. On the 24th of April, the steamer Baltic, in passing Cairo, disregarded the blank shot, when a solid shot was fired across her bow, which had the desired effect. These shots were fired by squad one, under command of Lieutenant J. R. Botsford, and they were the first that were fired across this mighty river.

After about a week's stay at Cairo, we were ordered to take a position two miles above, on the Mississippi River bank. The position was christened Camp Smith, in honor of our commander, and was occupied by the Battery nearly five months.

The Battery did not muster into the United States three month's service, but was mustered into the three years service July 16, 1861. While stationed at Cairo the Battery was presented with a beautiful silk flag by Miss Katie Sturges, of Chicago. This flag was carried by the Battery through all its campaigns.

On September 6, the Battery moved with General Grant to Paducah, where it remained until February 4, 1862, participating in the various expeditions from that place, under command of Generals Lew. Wallace and C. A. Smith, among which was the feint on Columbus simultaneous with General Grant's attack on Belmont.

Early in February we moved up the Tennessee River, landing below Fort Heiman. We occupied the rebels' camp at Fort Heiman until the 13th of February, when we received orders at midnight to proceed to Fort Donelson, whither we proceeded without delay, and on our arrival were quickly put in position, and opened fire at once, using canister in repelling the last decisive charges, firing fifty-five round. The Fort surrendered next day, when we were marched back to Fort Heiman, where we remained until March 6, when we started on the grand advance up the Tennessee. March 27 we marched to Pittsburg Landing, when we were transferred from Gen. Lew. Wallace's Division to Gen. C. F. Smith's, Second Brigade, General McArthur commanding. The Battery took a conspicuous part in the memorable battle of April 6, going into the fight at 8 o'clock A.M., and retiring some time after 4 P.M. Daniel R. Farnham, Ed. Russel and John Flannigan lost their lives in this engagement, while A. C. Hall, Charles Kimball and Little Bailey were wounded.

About 5 o'clock we fell back to the landing, and about 5:30 the enemy made their last attack on our lines, which was easily repulsed with the aid of two gunboats. Thus ended the first day's fight.

We slept on our arms that night. At 8 o'clock next morning we were ordered to the front, and shelled the timber for about half an hour. Fighting continued at intervals through the day, the rebels making the most stubborn resistance. After the enemy had been routed, General Sherman rode up to Lieutenant Wood and publicly thanked him for the gallant service the Battery had rendered, an don the 12th of April we were presented with a stand of colors "From Friends at Home".

Our next move was with General Lew. Wallace's Division, in the direction of Corinth. From Corinth we moved to Bolivar; thence to Union Station, near Memphis. On the 17th of June we reached Memphis, where we remained until November 26. While there we took part in several expeditions from that place, including the Tallahatchie march.

On the 20th of December we moved to Yazoo and took part in the Chickasaw Bayou fight, being under fire about four hours, and firing 807 rounds.

Our next move was to Arkansas Post. We were engaged in a battle here on the 10th and 11th of January 1863.

We next moved to Young's Point, where we remained all winter.

In the latter part of the winter our right section went with Colonel Giles A. Smith up the Sunflower River and Black Bayou to the relief of Porter's gunboats.

On April 13 we witnessed the grand sight of our gunboats running past the rebel batteries at Vicksburg. Soon after this we went with Sherman up the Yazoo, and made a feint on Haines' Bluff.

On May 15, we were hurried back, and the next day the battle at Champion Hill was fought, where we were in position, but were not engaged.

On May 17 we marched to Big Black to a place called Bridgeport, and captured a rebel Lieutenant and 12 men.

On the 18th of May we advanced on the works around Vicksburg. On the 19th and 22d of May, ineffective charges were made upon the works, when the regular siege was begun, which lasted until July 4, when the city was surrendered with 33,000 troops.

On the 5th of July we moved with the Division to Jackson. We besieged the city from the 10th to the 17th, when the place was evacuated. While here our loss was 7 prisoners and 1 killed -Sergeant Wilber J. Willcox. We moved back to Big Black, where we remained until September 27, when we were ordered to Chattanooga.

On the 24th of November our Corps moved forward and occupied a spur of Missionary Ridge without firing a shot. Next day we attacked the enemy's right flank and pressed it vigorously all day. About 4 o'clock the Army of the Cumberland made a charge in the center and swept everything before them. Hooker had taken Lookout Mountain, driving Bragg from his fortifications. We followed him until he took refuge at Dalton, Ga. We then returned to camp near Chattanooga. We moved next to Bellfont, Ala., reaching there about Christmas; thence to Larkinsville, where we went into winter quarters.

On May 1, 1864, we started on the Atlanta Campaign, reaching Snake Creek gap May 9. We were drawn up in line of battle at its east end, looking into Resaca, where the enemy was protected by earthworks. On the 11th, Johnson massed his forces in Resaca, and on the 15th the battle was fought, when the rebels evacuated their fortifications and retreated, burning their bridges behind them. Here Lieutenant Rumsey was severely wounded.

We next engaged the enemy at Dallas. They charged on us repeatedly, but were each time repulsed with heavy loss. Here Colonel Taylor was shot in the breast, the ball glancing on a rib, and the same ball struck General Logan in the arm.

The rebels retreated to Kenesaw Mountain, where there was fighting at close intervals from June 10 until July 3, when they were forced to retreat to Atlanta. On July 12, the three-year men, whose term of service had expired, were ordered to the rear to be mustered out.

On the evening of the 12th of July the battery moved with the Corps to North-east Atlanta, marching all night and all the next day. We took part in the engagement of July 19 and 21, losing two of our new men. On the 22d the battery was posted on a high ridge through which the railroad passed. During the day we were attacked from the front and rear, and, being overpowered by superior numbers, the battery was captured and many of the men taken prisoners, while a number were killed and wounded. Subsequently the infantry rallied and forced the rebels back, regaining our position, but the retreating column carried with four of our guns.

We took part in the grand move in the rear of Atlanta, which culminated in the severe battle of Jonesboro on the 28th of July, and which compelled the evacuation of Atlanta.

Here we re-organized, and Captain E. P. Wilcox, formerly of Battery B, was placed in command. After about a month's encampment on the outskirts of Atlanta, we moved northward towards Hood's army, and when he countermarched by our left lank and went south, we were ordered to Nashville, where we arrived about Nov. 1, and were in the reserve line during the battle there. From here we were sent to Chattanooga, remaining till the latter part of June 1865, when we were ordered home for muster-out, arriving at Chicago July 3, where we received a royal welcome at the hands of our friends, who gave us a grand banquet in honor of our return.

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