19th Illinois Infantry

Regimental History and Service Record

Four Chicago Companies mustered into State service at Camp Yates May 4, 1861. Regiment organized at Chicago, Ill., and mustered in June 17, 1861. Moved to Quincy, Ill., July 12-13, 1861. Thence to Palmyra, Mo., July 14, and guard Hannibal and St. Jo. R. R. from Quincy to Palmyra and between Palmyra and Hannibal until July 27. Moved to Hannibal, thence to St. Louis, Mo., and to Bird's Point and Norfolk, Mo., and duty at Norfolk until August 14. Moved to Ironton, Mo., August 14. Attached to Department of Missouri to September, 1861. Dept. of Kentucky to October, 1861. Elizabethtown, Ky., Dept. of the Cumberland, to November, 1861. 8th Brigade, Army of the Ohio, to December, 1861. 8th Brigade, 3rd Division, Army of the Ohio, to July, 1862. Unattached R. R. Guard, Army of the Ohio, to September, 1862. 29th Brigade, 8th Division, Army of the Ohio, to November, 1862. 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, Centre 14th Army Corps, Army of the Cumberland, to January, 1863, 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, 14th Army Corps, to October, 1863. 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, 14th Army Corps, October, 1863. 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, 14th Army Corps, to July, 1864.

SERVICE.--Prentiss' Expedition toward Dallas and Jackson, Mo., August 29-September 8, 1861. Moved to Cape Girardeau, Fort Holt, Ky., and Elliott's Mills, thence moved to Cairo, Ill., September 16, under orders for Washington, D.C. While en route East, September 17, via Ohio & Mississippi R. R., bridge No. 48, over Beaver Creek, 30 miles west of Cincinnati, Ohio, broke through, precipitating six passenger coaches a distance of 60 feet, killing and wounding 129 of the Regiment. At Camp Dennison, Ohio, until September 24. Moved to Louisville, Ky., September 24-25, thence to Lebanon, Ky., September 25, and duty there until October 22. Moved to Elizabethtown, Ky., October 22, and duty there and at Bacon Creek until February 10, 1862.

Advance on Bowling Green, Ky., February 10-15.
February 15, 1862 - Occupation of Bowling Green, Kentucky
Thence advance to Nashville, Tenn., February 22-25.

Occupation of Nashville February 25 to March 18. Advance to Murfreesboro, Tenn., March 18, thence to Shelbyville, Tullahoma and McMinnville March 25-28. Advance on Huntsville, Ala., via Fayetteville April 4-11. Occupation of Huntsville April 11. Advance on and capture of Decatur and Tuscumbia, Ala., April 11-14. Action at Tuscumbia April 24.

May 1-May 2, 1862 Operations near Athens, Alabama
Athens May 13.
At Huntsville until May 26.
Moved to Fayetteville May 26-June 2.
Negley's Expedition to Chattanooga, Tenn., June 2-10.
June 7, 1863 - Skirmishes near Chattanooga, Tennessee

Expedition to Larkinsville and Stevenson, Ala., June 14-20. Winchester June 16. Guard R. R. and bridges from Huntsville to Decatur until August. Richland Creek, near Pulaski, August 27. Retreat to Nashville, Tenn., August 27-29. Siege of Nashville September 5-November 6. Repulse of Forest's attack on Edgefield November 5. At Nashville until December 26. Advance on Murfreesboro, Tenn., December 26-30. Battle of Stone River December 30-31, 1862, and January 1-3, 1863. At Murfreesboro until June. Middle Tennessee (or Tullahoma Campaign) June 24-July 7. Occupation of Middle Tennessee until August 16.

August 16-September 22, 1863 - The Chickamauga Campaign^[1]
- Davis' Cross Roads, Ga., September 11.
- September 19-September 20, 1863 - Battle of Chickamauga, Georgia
- Rossville Gap September 21.
September 24-October 27, 1863 - Siege of Chattanooga, Tennessee
November 23-27, 1863 - The Chattanooga/Ringgold Campaign
- Orchard Knob November 23-24.
- Mission Ridge November 25.
- Pursuit to Ringgold, Ga., November 26-27.
- Pea Vine Valley and Graysville November 26.
At Chattanooga until February 22, 1864.
February 23, 1864 - Skirmish at Tunnel Hill, Georgia^[2]

Demonstration on Dalton, Ga., February 22-27. Tunnel Hill, Buzzard's Roost Gap and Rocky Faced Ridge February 23-25. At Graysville until May 3.

May 1-June 9, 1864 - The Atlanta Campaign
- May 8-11, 1864 - Demonstration against Rocky Faced Ridge, Georgia
- May 14-May 15, 1864 - Battle of Resaca, Georgia
- Kingston May 18-19.
- Advance on Dallas May 22-25.
- May 25-June 5, 1864 - Operations in Bartow County, Georgia
- At Ackworth, Ga., until June 8.
- Moved to Chicago June 8-17.
- Mustered out July 9, 1864; expiration of term.