15th Illinois Cavalry

Regimental History and Service Record

Organized December 25, 1862, in the field and at Camp Butler, Ill., by assignment of Stewart's Independent Cavalry Battalion, organized at Jackson, Tenn., July, 1862, as Companies "A," "B," "C," "D," "E" and "F." Gilbert's Independent Cavalry Company, 52nd Illinois, organized at Geneva October 25, 1861, as Company "G." Kane County Independent Cavalry Company, organized September 1, 1861, as Company "H." Jenks' Company Dragoons, 36th Illinois, organized at Camp Hammond, Ill., September 23, 1861, as Company "I." Sherer's Company Dragoons, 36th Illinois, organized at Camp Hamilton, Ills., September 23, 1861, as Company "K." Ford's Cavalry Company, 53rd Illinois, organized at Ottawa, Ills., January 1, 1862, as Company "L." Company "K," 1st Illinois Cavalry, assigned as Company "M," but mustered out December 27, 1862. Regiment attached to District of Columbus, 16th Army Corps, Dept. of the Tennessee, to March, 1863. Cavalry Brigade, District of Corinth, 16th Army Corps, to June, 1863. 3rd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, 16th Army Corps, to August, 1863. Detached Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, 16th Army Corps, to December, 1863. Waring's Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, 16th Army Corps, to January, 1864. District of Eastern Arkansas, 7th Army Corps, Dept. of Arkansas, to January, 1865.

SERVICE.--Bath Springs, Miss., January 1, 1863. Monterey, Tenn., January 4. Clifton January 10. Chambers' Creek, near Hamburg, January 13. Near Obion River April 9 (Co. "E'). Expedition from Corinth to Courtland, Ala., and North Alabama April 15-May 8. Burnsville, Ala., April 14. Dickson's Station April 17. Great Bear Creek and Cherokee Station April 17. Dickson's Station April 19. Rock Cut, near Tuscumbia, April 22. Tuscumbia and Florence April 23. Town Creek April 28. Expedition from Burnsville to Tupelo, Miss., May 2-8. King's Creek, near Tupelo, May 5. Obion Plank Road Crossing May -- (Co. "E"). Greenville, Miss., May 18 (Detachment). Expedition from Corinth to Florence, Ala., May 26-31. Florence May 28. Hamburg Landing May 30. Smith's Bridge, near Corinth, June 11 (Detachment). Iuka July 7. Duty about Memphis, Tenn., and Columbus, Ky., until January, 1864. Ordered to Helena, Ark. Post and garrison duty at Helena until January, 1865. Expedition from Helena up White River February 4-8, 1864. (Detachment.) Expedition up St. Francis River February 13-14 (Co. "G"). Expedition up White River February 20-26. Wallace's Ferry, Big Creek, July 26. Lamb's Plantation, near Helena, August 12 (Detachment). Operations in Eastern Arkansas August 1-5 (Co. "E"). Scout to Mt. Vernon August 22-25. Expedition up White River August 29-September 3 (Detachment). Kendall's Grist Mill September 3 (Detachment). Non-Veterans mustered out August 25, 1864. Veterans and Recruits consolidated to a Battalion, and consolidated with 10th Illinois Cavalry January 26, 1865.

Companies "F" and "I" detached and moved to Memphis, thence to Vicksburg, Miss., May 13-20, 1863. Attached to Herron's Division, 13th Army Corps, to July, 1863. Cavalry, 2nd Division, 13th Army Corps, to August, 1863. Cavalry Brigade, 13th Army Corps, Dept. of the Gulf, to September, 1863. 2nd Brigade, Cavalry Division, Gulf, to November, 1863. 3rd Brigade, Cavalry Division, Gulf, to December, 1863. Unattached Cavalry, Dept. Gulf, to January, 1864. Participated in

May 18-July 4, 1863 - Siege of Vicksburg, Mississippi
- July 4, 1863 - Surrender of Vicksburg, Mississippi
Engaged in outpost duty on Big Black River.
Advance on Jackson, Miss., July 5-10.
Siege of Jackson July 10-17.
Assault on Jackson July 12.
Ordered to Dept. of the Gulf with 13th Corps August 17.
October 3-November 30, 1863 - The (II) Bayou Teche Campaign

Reconnaissance toward Opelousas October 20. Opelousas and Barre Landing October 21 (Co. "F"). Company "I" at New Iberia until January 5, 1864, then reported to Gen. Lee as escort. Companies ordered to Illinois on Veteran furlough February 11, and rejoined Regiment at Helena, Ark.

Company "H" - Formerly Kane County Cavalry Company - served detached. Attached to 1st Brigade, 3rd (Cavalry) Division, District Eastern Arkansas, Dept. Tennessee, December, 1862. Sherman's Yazoo Expedition to January, 1863. Headquarters Gen. Blair, 15th Army Corps, to August, 1863. Headquarters Arkansas Expedition to January, 1864. Participated in Sherman's Yazoo Expedition December 22, 1862-January 3, 1863. Chickasaw Bayou December 26-28. Chickasaw Bluff December 29. Expedition to Arkansas Post, Ark., January 3-10, 1863. Fort Hindman January 10-11. Reconnaissance toward White River and St. Charles January 13. Moved to Young's Point, La. Duty there and at Milliken's Bend, operating against Vicksburg, Miss., until April. Expedition from Milliken's Bend to Greenville, Black Bayou and Deer Creek April 2-14. Deer Creek April 10. Battle of Jackson, Miss., May 14. Champion's Hill May 16. Siege of Vicksburg May 18-July 4. Advance on Jackson, Miss., July 4-10. Siege of Jackson July 10-17. Ordered to Helena, Ark., July 24. Steele's Expedition against Little Rock, Ark., August 1-September 10. Capture of Little Rock September 10, and duty there until January, 1864. Rejoined Regiment.

Company "K" - Formerly Sherer's Independent Company (which see)--served detached at Headquarters, Right Wing 14th Army Corps, Dept. of the Cumberland, to January, 1863. Headquarters 20th Army Corps, Army Cumberland, to October, 1863. Headquarters 11th and 12th Army Corps to April, 1864. Headquarters 20th Army Corps, Army Cumberland, to June, 1865.

SERVICE.--At Murfreesboro, Tenn., until June, 1863. Actions at Rover, Tenn., March 15. Salem March 21. Near Murfreesboro March 22. Middle Tennessee or Tullahoma Campaign June 22-July 7. Occupation of Middle Tennessee until August 16.

August 16-September 22, 1863 - The Chickamauga Campaign
- September 19-September 20, 1863 - Battle of Chickamauga, Georgia

Chattanooga-Ringgold Campaign November 23-27. Battles of Lookout Mountain November 23-24. Mission Ridge November 25. Ringgold Gap, Taylor's Ridge, November 27.

May 1-September 8, 1864 - The Atlanta Campaign
- May 14-May 15, 1864 - Battle of Resaca, Georgia
- Operations on line of Pumpkin Vine Creek and battles about Dallas, New Hope Church and Allatoona Hills May 25-June 5.
- Operations about Marietta and against Kenesaw Mountain June 10-July 2.
  - Assault on Kenesaw June 27.
- Chattahoochie River July 3-17.
- July 22-August 25, 1864 - Siege of Atlanta, Georgia
- Operations at Chattahoochie River Bridge August 26-September 2.
- Occupation of Atlanta September 2-November 15.
November 15-December 21, 1864 - The Savannah Campaign
- December 10-21, 1864 - Siege of Savannah, Georgia
January 1-April 26, 1865 - The Carolinas Campaign
- Mount Elon, S.C., February 27.
- Battle of Bentonville, N. C., March 19-21.
- Occupation of Goldsboro and Raleigh.
- 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.