50th Illinois Infantry

Regimental History and Service Record

The "Blind Half-Hundred"

Organized at Quincy, Ill., and mustered in September 12, 1861. Moved to Hannibal, Mo., October 9, thence to Chillicothe October 19. To St. Joseph, Mo., November 27; to Palmyra, Mo., December 19, and to St. Joseph, December 24. Attached to Department of Missouri October, 1861, to February, 1862. 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, District of Cairo, February, 1862. 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, District of West Tennessee, and Army of the Tennessee to July, 1862. 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, District of Corinth, Miss., to November, 1862. 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, District of Corinth, Miss., 13th Army Corps (Old), Department of the Tennessee, to December, 1862. 3rd Brigade, District of Corinth, 17th Army Corps, to January, 1863. 3rd Brigade, District of Corinth, 16th Army Corps, to March, 1863. 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, 16th Army Corps, to September, 1864. 3rd Brigade, 4th Division, 15th Army Corps, to July, 1865.

SERVICE.--Moved from St. Joseph, Mo., to Cairo, Ill., and Smithland, Ky., January 21-28, 1862. Operations against Fort Henry, Tenn., February 2-6. Capture of Fort Henry February 6. Investment and capture of Fort Donelson, Tenn., February 12-16. Expedition to Clarksville and Nashville, Tenn., February 19-March 1. Moved to Pittsburg Landing, Tenn., March 25-31.

April 6-7, 1862 - Battle of Shiloh, Tennessee

Advance on and siege of Corinth, Miss., April 29-May 30. Duty at Corinth until November, 1863. Reconnaissance to Bay Springs August 4-7, 1862 (two Companies). Battle of Corinth October 3-4, 1862. Pursuit to Hatchie River October 5-12. Grant's Central Mississippi Campaign November, 1862, to January, 1863. Expedition against Forest in West Tennessee December 18, 1862-January 3, 1863. Dodge's Expedition to Northern Alabama April 15-May 3, 1863. Great Bear Creek and Cherokee Station April 17. Rock Cut, near Tuscumbia, April 22. Tuscumbia April 23. Town Creek April 28. Moved to LaGrange, Tenn., and return to Corinth October 11-17. Moved to Eastport, Pulaski and Lynnville November 6-12, and duty there until March, 1864. Regiment mounted November 17, and Veteranize January 1, 1864. Veterans on furlough until March 5.

May 1-September 8, 1864 - The Atlanta Campaign
- May 8-13, 1864 - Demonstration on Resaca, Georgia
  - May 9, 1864 - Combat at Resaca, Georgia
  - May 13, 1864 - Combat at Resaca, Georgia
- May 14-May 15, 1864 - Battle of Resaca, Georgia
- Lay's Ferry, Oostenaula River, May 14-15.
- Rome Cross Roads May 16.
- Assigned to garrison duty at Rome, Ga., until November.
- May 25-June 5, 1864 - Operations in Bartow County, Georgia^[1]
- Battle of Allatoona October 5.
- Cave Springs Road October 12-13.
November 15-December 21, 1864 - The Savannah Campaign
- Ogeechee Canal December 9.
- December 10-21, 1864 - Siege of Savannah, Georgia
January 1-April 26, 1865 - The Carolinas Campaign
- Salkehatchie Swamps, S.C., February 2-5.
- South Edisto River February 9.
- North Edisto River February 11-12.
- Columbia February 15-17.
- Battle of Bentonville, N. C., March 20-21.
- Occupation of Goldsboro March 24.
- Advance on Raleigh 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 3-8.
Mustered out July 13, 1865.