96th Illinois Infantry

Regimental History and Service Record

Organized at Rockford, Ill., and mustered in September 6, 1862. Moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, October 8-10, 1862. Attached to 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, Army of Kentucky, Dept. of the Ohio, to February, 1863. 2nd Brigade, Baird's 3rd Division, Army of Kentucky, Dept. of the Cumberland, to June, 1863. 1st Brigade, 1st Division, Reserve Corps, Army of the Cumberland, to October, 1863. 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, 4th Army Corps, October, 1863. 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, 4th Army Corps, to June, 1865.

SERVICE.--Moved to Covington, Ky., October 10, 1862, and duty there until October 29. Operating against Kirby Smith's threatened attack on Cincinnati, Ohio (Cos. "A," "E," "F," "G" and "H" escort train to Lexington, Ky., October 19-25). Moved to Lexington, Ky., October 29-November 6. Duty at Lexington until November 14 and at Harrodsburg, Ky., until November 28. (Cos. "A" and "E" at Lexington until January, 1863.) Moved to Danville November 28 and duty there until January 26, 1863. Pursuit of Morgan to Lebanon Junction December 26-31, 1862. Moved to Louisville, Ky., January 26-31, thence to Nashville, Tenn., January 31-February 8. Repulse of Wheeler's attack on Fort Donelson, Tenn., February 4. At Nashville until March 5. Moved to Franklin, Tenn., and pursuit of Van Dorn March 5-12. Spring Hill March 10. At Brentwood March 27-April 8. Return to Franklin April 8, and repulse of Van Dorn's attack April 10. At Franklin until June 2. Moved to Triune June 2, Action at Triune with Wheeler June 11. Middle Tennessee or Tullahoma Campaign June 24-July 7. At Wartrace July 3 to August 12, and at Elk River near Esuntil Springs until September 7.

August 16-September 22, 1863 - The Chickamauga Campaign
- Ringgold September 17.
- Spring Creek September 18.
- September 19-20, 1863 - Battle of Chickamauga, Georgia
September 24-October 27, 1863 - Siege of Chattanooga, Tennessee^[1]
Moved to Moccasin Point September 23 and duty there until November 1, and at Shellmound until November 20.
November 23-27, 1863 - The Chattanooga/Ringgold Campaign
- Lookout Mountain November 23-24.
- Mission Ridge November 25.
- Taylor's Ridge, Ringgold Gap, November 27.

At Lookout Mountain until December 1. At Nickajack Cove until January 26, 1864. Duty on East Tennessee R. R. until February 22. Demonstration on Dalton. Ga., February 22-27. Tunnel Hill, Buzzard's Roost Gap and Rocky Faced Ridge February 23-25. At Cleveland, Tenn., March 1-April 22.

May 1-September 8, 1864 - The Atlanta Campaign
- Tunnel Hill May 6-7.
- May 8-11, 1864 - Demonstration against Rocky Faced Ridge, Georgia
- Buzzard's Roost Gap May 8-9.
- May 11-13, 1864 - Demonstration on Dalton, Georgia
- May 14-May 15, 1864 - Battle of Resaca, Georgia
- Near Kingston May 1849.
- 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, Smyrna Camp Ground, July 4.
- Chattahoochie River July 5-17.
- 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 against Hood in North Georgia and North Alabama September 28-November 3.

Nashville Campaign November-December. Columbia, Duck River, November 24-27. 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. Expedition to Bull's Gap and operations in East Tennessee March 20-April 22. Moved to Nashville, Tenn., and duty there until June. Mustered out June 10, 1865.