56th Illinois Infantry

Regimental History and Service Record

Organized at Shawneetown, Ill., and mustered in February 27, 1862. Left State for Paducah, Ky., February 27, and duty there until April 20. Attached to District of Paducah, Ky., to April, 1862. 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, Army of Mississippi, to November, 1862. 2nd Brigade, 7th Division, Left Wing 13th Army Corps (Old), Department of the Tennessee, to December, 1862. 2nd Brigade, 7th Division, 16th Army Corps, to January, 1863. 2nd Brigade, 7th Division, 17th Army Corps, to September, 1863. 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, 17th Army Corps, to December, 1863. 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, 15th Army Corps, to April, 1865. 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, 15th Army Corps, to August, 1865.

SERVICE.--Moved from Paducah, Ky., to Hamburg Landing, Tenn., April 20-25, 1862. Advance on and siege of Corinth, Miss., April 29-May 30. Pursuit to Booneville May 31-June 12. Expedition to Ripley June 22-23. At Camp Clear Creek until October, 1862. Battle of Corinth October 3-4. Pursuit to Ripley October 5-12. Grant's Central Mississippi Campaign November 4 to December 30. Reconnaissance from LaGrange November 8-9. Guard Memphis & Charleston R. R. until March 1, 1863. Yazoo Pass Expedition March 1-April 5. Fort Pemberton March 22. Moved to Milliken's Bend La., April 13. Movement on Bruinsburg and turning Grand Gulf April 25-30. At Grand Gulf guarding transportation lines and base of supplies May 1-13. Battle of Champion's Hill May 16. Big Black River May 17.

May 18-July 4, 1863 - Siege of Vicksburg, Mississippi
Moved to Helena, Ark., August 20; thence to Memphis, Tenn., and march to Chattanooga, Tenn., September 20-November 23.
September 26-November 20, 1863 - Expedition from Vicksburg, Mississippi to Chattanooga, Tennessee
Operations on Memphis & Charleston R. R. in Alabama October 20-29.
November 23-27, 1863 - The Chattanooga/Ringgold Campaign
- Tunnel Hill November 24-25.
- Mission Ridge November 25.
- Pursuit to Graysville November 26-27.
Guard railroad and duty at Whitesburg, on Tennessee River, until May, 1864.
May 1-September 8, 1864 - The Atlanta Campaign
- Guard Memphis & Charleston R. R. and Chattanooga & Atlanta R. R. and fords of the Etowah; stationed at Mud Creek, Calhoun and Adairsville, Ga., until October.
- October 12-October 13, 1864 - Skirmishes about Resaca, Georgia
- Company "F" at surrender of Dalton, Ga., October 13.
October 22, 1864 - Skirmish at Adairsville, Georgia
November 15-December 21, 1864 - The Savannah Campaign
- December 10-21, 1864 - Siege of Savannah, Georgia
January 1-April 26, 1865 - The Carolinas Campaign
- Salkehatchie Swamp, S.C., February 2-5.
- Fishburn's Plantation, near Lane's Bridge, Salkehatchie River, February 6.
- South Edisto River February 9.
- North Edisto River February 11-12.
- Columbia February 15-17.
- Cox's Bridge, Neuse River, February 19-20.
- Battle of Bentonville, N. C., March 20-21.
- Occupation of Goldsboro March 24.
- Advance on Raleigh, N. C., 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; thence to Little Rock, Ark., and duty there until August.
Mustered out August 12, 1865.