73rd Illinois Infantry

Regimental History and Service Record

The "Persimmon Regiment"
The "Preacher's Regiment"

Organized at Camp Butler, II1., and mustered in August 21, 1862. Moved to Louisville, Ky., August 23-25, thence moved to Covington, Ky., and duty there during Kirby Smith's threatened attack on Cincinnati, Ohio, September 1-17. Attached to 35th Brigade, 11th Division, Army of the Ohio, to October, 1862. 35th Brigade, 11th Division, 3rd Corps, Army Ohio, to November, 1862. 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, Right Wing 14th Army Corps, Army of the Cumberland, to January 1863. 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, 20th Army Corps, Army of the Cumberland, to October, 1863. 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, 4th Army Corps, to June, 1865.

SERVICE.--Pursuit of Bragg into Kentucky October 1-16, 1862.

October 8, 1862 - Battle of Perryville, Kentucky

March to Nashville, Tenn., October 16-November 7. Duty at Nashville until December 26. Reconnaissance to Mill Creek November 27. Advance on Murfreesboro, Tenn., December 26-30. Battle of Stone's River December 30-31, 1862, and January 1-3, 1863. At Murfreesboro until June. Expedition toward Columbia March 4-14. Middle Tennessee or Tullahoma Campaign June 24-July 7. Fairfield June 27. Occupation of Middle Tennessee until August 16. Passage of Cumberland Mountains and Tennessee River and

August 16-September 22, 1863 - The Chickamauga Campaign
- September 19-September 20, 1863 - Battle of Chickamauga, Georgia
September 24-October 27, 1863 - Siege of Chattanooga, Tennessee
November 23-27, 1863 - The Chattanooga/Ringgold Campaign
- Orchard Knob November 23-24.
- Missionary Ridge November 25.
- Pursuit to Graysville November 26-27.
March to relief of Knoxville, Tenn., November 28-December 8.
Operations in East Tennessee until February. 1864.
Moved to Chattanooga, thence to Cleveland, Tenn., and duty there until May.
May 1-September 8, 1864 - The Atlanta Campaign
- May 8-11, 1864 - Demonstration against Rocky Faced Ridge, Georgia
- Buzzard's Roost Gap May 8-9.
- May 9-13, 1864 - Demonstration on Dalton, Georgia
- May 14-May 15, 1864 - Battle of Resaca, Georgia
- May 17, 1864 - Engagement at Adairsville, Georgia
- Near Kingston May 18-19.
- Near Cassville May 19.
- Advance on Dallas May 22-25.
- May 25-June 5, 1864 - Operations in Bartow County, Georgia
- Operations about Marietta and against Kenesaw Mountain June 10-July 2.
- Pine Hill June 11-14.
- Lost Mountain June 15-17.
- Assault on Kenesaw June 27.
- Ruff's Station July 4.
- Chattahoochie River July 5-17.
- Buckhead, Nancy's Creek, July 18.
- Peach Tree Creek July 19-20.
- July 22-August 25, 1864 - Siege of Atlanta, Georgia
- Flank movement on Jonesboro August 25-30.
- Battle of Jonesboro August 31-September 1.
- LoveJoy Station September 2-6.

Operations in North Georgia and North Alabama against Hood and Forest September 29-November 3. Nashville Campaign November-December. Columbia, Duck River, November 24-27. Spring Hill November 29. Battle of Franklin November 30. Battle of Nashville December 15-16. Pursuit of Hood to the Tennessee River December 17-28. Moved to Huntsville, Ala., and duty there until March, 1865. Operations in East Tennessee March 28-April 19. Moved to Nashville, Tenn., and duty there until June. Mustered out June 12, 1865.