53rd Illinois Infantry

Regimental History and Service Record

Organized at Ottawa, Ill., January, 1862. Moved to Chicago, Ill., February 27, 1862, and duty there until March 23, guarding prisoners. Moved to St. Louis, Mo., thence to Pittsburg Landing, Tenn., March 23-April 7. Attached to 1st Brigade, 4th Division, Army of the Tennessee, to July, 1862. 1st Brigade, 4th Division, District of Memphis, Tenn., to September, 1862. 1st Brigade, 4th Division, District of Jackson, Tenn., to November, 1862. 1st Brigade, 4th Division, Right Wing 13th Army Corps (Old), Department of the Tennessee, to December, 1862. 1st Brigade, 4th Division, 17th Army Corps, to January, 1863. 1st Brigade, 4th Division, 16th Army Corps, to July, 1863. 1st Brigade, 4th Division, 13th Army Corps, to August, 1863. 1st Brigade, 4th Division, 17th Army Corps, to April, 1864. 2nd Brigade, 4th Division, 17th Army Corps, to July, 1864. 1st Brigade, 4th Division, 17th Army Corps, to July, 1865.

SERVICE.--Battle of Shiloh, Tenn., April 7, 1862. Advance on and siege of Corinth, Miss., April 29-May 30. March to Memphis, Tenn., via Grand Junction, La Grange, Holly Springs, etc., June 1-July 21, and duty at Memphis until September 6. Moved to Bolivar, Tenn., September 6-13. March to relief of Corinth, Miss., October 4. Battle of Hatchie River (or Metamora) October 6. Grant's Central Mississippi Campaign. Operations on the Mississippi Central R. It. November 2, 1862, to January 10, 1863. Reconnaissance from La Grange to Lamar, Miss., November 5. Worsham Creek November 6. At Moscow, Tenn., and guarding Memphis & Charleston R. R. January to March, 1863. Skirmishes near Moscow February 9 and 18. Moved to Memphis, Tenn., March 11, and duty there until May 17. Moved to Young's Point, La., May 17-20.

May 18-July 4, 1863 - Siege of Vicksburg, Mississippi
- May 19, 1863 - Assault on Vicksburg, Mississippi^[1]
- May 22, 1863 - Assault on Vicksburg, Mississippi^[2]

Advance on Jackson, Miss., July 4-10. Siege of Jackson July 10-17. Assault on Jackson July 12. Duty at Vicksburg until August 15. Moved to Natchez, Miss., August 15, and duty there until November 30. Moved to Vicksburg November 30. At Milldale until February 1, 1864.

February 3-March 2, 1864 - Expedition from Vicksburg, Mississippi to Meridian, Mississippi
Pearl River February 27.
Regiment veteranized January 1, 1864.
Veterans on furlough March and April.
Moved to Bird's Point, thence to Clifton, Tenn., and march to Ackworth, Ga., via Huntsville and Decatur, Ala., and * Rome, Ga., April 28-June 8.
June 8-September 8, 1864 - The Atlanta Campaign
- Ordered to Allatoona Pass June 8, and duty there building fortifications until July 13.
- July 22, 1864 - Battle of Atlanta, Georgia^[3]
- Rejoined army at Marietta and duty there until November.
- Skirmish at Decatur July 20-21.
- Shadna Church and Westbrook's October 2.
November 15-December 21, 1864 - The Savannah Campaign
- Oconee River November 26.
- December 10-21, 1864 - Siege of Savannah, Georgia
January 1-April 26, 1865 - The Carolinas Campaign
- Salkehatchie Swamps, S.C., February 2-5.
- River's Bridge, Salkehatchie River, February 3.
- Binnaker's Bridge, South Edisto River, February 9.
- Orangeburg, North Edisto River, February 11-12.
- Columbia February 15-17.
- Cheraw March 3.
- Fayetteville, N. C., March 11.
- Battle of Bentonville March 20-21.
- Occupation of Goldsboro March 24.
- Advance on Raleigh April 10-14.
- 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 6.
Mustered out July 22, 1865.