117th Illinois Infantry

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https://civilwar.illinoisgenweb.org/history/117.html

117th Illinois Infantry
Regiment History


Adjutant General's Report

The One Hundred and Seventeenth Infantry Illinois Volunteers was organized at Camp Butler, Ill., in September, 1862 by Colonel Risdon M. Moore, and was mustered in September 19, by Captain Washington, United States Army.

Moved from Camp Butler, November 11, and arrived at Memphis, Tenn., on the 17th. Remained on duty at Memphis until July 5, 1863, when it was sent to reinforce Helena, Ark., and returned. December 25, it was sent after Forrest, in Western Tennessee, losing 3 men killed in a skirmish at Lafayette, Tenn.

December 29, 1863, moved to Vicksburg in Third Brigade, Third Division, Sixteenth Army Corps. Was engaged in the Meridian Campaign. On 5th February, was engaged in a skirmish, losing 2 killed and 5 wounded. Returned to Vicksburg, March 4. On the 10th of March, embarked for Red River expedition. Assisted in the capture of Fort DeRussey, March 14, 1864. Engaged in the battle of Pleasant Hill, April 9. Moved to Grand Ecore, 11th. On 14th, was sent to relief of the gunboats and transports, at Campta, La., and was engaged at Cloutierville and Cane River; at Bayou Rapids, May 2; at Governor Moore's plantation and Bayou Roberts, May 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 11. Continued on return march to Mississippi River, on 14th, skirmishing daily. In battle of Yellow Bayou, May 18, and arrived at Mississippi on 20th, and at Vicksburg on 27th. Took part in driving Marmaduke from Chicot Lake and Columbia, Ark., and arrived at Memphis, June 10, 1864.

Marched to the relief of Sturgis on June 14th, and, on 23d, commenced the Tupelo Campaign. Was engaged at Tupelo July 14th, and at Old Town Creek, 15th. Commenced Oxford Campaign August 5th. Was engaged at Hurricane Creek, 18th, 19th, and 20th, and returned to Memphis on 10th.

Arrived at Jefferson Barracks September 19th. Was engaged October 1st at Franklin. Moved via Jefferson City, Sedalia, Lexington, Independence and Harrisonville, and returned to St. Louis, November 19th.

Moved to Nashville, Tenn., and took position in the works. December 1, 1864. Was engaged in the battle of Nashville, December 15th, and turned them upon the retreating enemy. Reached Clifton, January 4th, 1865. Embarked at Eastport for New Orleans, arriving January 17. embarked at Chalmette March 7, and moved to Dauphine Island. Moved to Fish River with the Sixteenth Corps., Major A.J. Smith commanding. Engaged at Spanish Fort, from March 27 till April 2, and at Fort Blakely until the 9th, taking part in its capture.

Marched for Montgomery April 12, and thence to Camp Butler, Ill., where the Regiment was mustered out August 5, 1865, by Captain James A. Hall, United States Army.

Distance traveled by Rail, miles ........................778
Distance traveled by water, miles....................6,191
Distance marched, miles ................................2,307
The Regiment has been engaged in 6 battles and 33 skirmishes.
 
https://civilwar.illinoisgenweb.org/reg_html/117_reg.html

117th Illinois Infantry Regiment
Three Year Service
September 19, 1862 - August 5, 1865
Assigned to:
  • 16th Army Corps: January 1863 - February 1865
  • Military Division West Mississippi: February 1865- August 1865
Battles/Campaigns Engaged in:
Red River Campaign, Pleasant Hill, Nashville, Ft. Blakely

Adjutant General's Regiment History
Frederick Dyer's Regimental History
117th Infantry Field & Staff

Non-Commissioned Staff
Unassigned Recruits


This Regiment did not have a Band or Unassigned/Substitute/Drafted Recruits
Link to Roster

Company A
Company B
Company C
Company D
Company E
Company F
Company G
Company H
Company I
Company K
 
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For further reading:
  • Gerling, Edwin G. The One Hundred Seventeenth Illinois Infantry Volunteers (The McKendree Regiment): 1862-1865 (Highland, IL: E. G. Gerling), 1992.
  • Hucke, Louis. The Civil War Diary of Louis Huch/Hucke: A Private in the 117th Regiment of the Illinois Infantry, Capt. Robert A. Halbert, February 1864 to July 1865 (Columbia, IL: Monroe County Genealogical Society), 2001.
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https://battleoffranklin.wordpress.com/2009/04/01/117th_illinois

117th Illinois soldiers writes about post-Franklin

I recently acquired a letter written by a 117th Illinois Infantry soldier named Thomas A. Whitesides. It is dated Nashville, Tenn., December 6th, 1864. Whitesides wrote this letter to his wife who was living in Belleville, Illinois. This letter was written just six days after the Battle of Franklin (30 November 1864).

Thomas A. Whitesides enlisted August 12, 1862 as a Corporal. On September 19, 1862, he mustered into Company H of the 117th Illinois Infantry at Camp Butler in Springfield, Illinois. He mustered out on August 5th, 1865, having served nearly three years in the service for the Union.

Whitesides would have seen action with the 117th in places like Vicksburg (summer 1863); western Tennessee chasing after Nathan Bedford Forrest's cavalry (Dec 1863); the Red River expedition and the Battle of Pleasant Hill (Feb 1864); and the Battle of Nashville (Dec 15-16th, 1864).

*******************************************

Nashville, Tenn
Dec 6th, 1864

Dear wife,

I seat myself to fulfill my promise in my last [letter]. I told you I would write the first opportunity. Thies [sic] few lines leave us well and I hope to find all of you the same. We have moved our position to the left and thrown up breastworks waiting an attack. Skirmishing is kept us all the while night and day by the picket. Shelling is quite common all along the line. I suppose hood [CSA Gen. John Bell Hood] is going to seige us out of here as he don't advance only at night. They have thrown up [breast] works every night and still getting closer. Their line and ours are one mile of each other. Hood sent a flag of truce [end page one] yesterday wanting to exchange prisoners that were taken in the late battle [Franklin: 30 Nov 1864]. I suppose he is short of supplies and don't wish to feed men that are not fighting for him.

The prisoners say they don't get fourth rations and if they don't take this place before long they will be without any as they are so far from base of supplies and no railroad to ship on. It is rumored round camp that Rosecrans is commencing with reinforcements for us. I don't credit the report though I would like for some good General to get in the rear of them and close in so they would have to get up and dust. I see in yesterdays paper that Sherman had got through to the coast. I would be pleased to know he had released our prisoners at Antietam [probably means Andersonville]. [end page two]

I hear that Don Morrison has gone to France as he couldn't stand for the Stars and Stripes to float over him.

Olive, I have been tempted to ask a favor of you for some time past and I fear you will not be so free to grant it. I will make all fair promises imaginable. I wish your photograph. I will pray for a half dozen and I promise to return it if you should call for it. Tell me at once if I can have it.

I must close for present.

I remain as ever your affectionate friend,

Thomas Whiteside

PS

Our Co [Company] is on picket tonight. I guess we may have a good time with the Rebs.
 
MOORE, WILBUR F. Rank and organization: Private, Company C, 117th Illinois Infantry. Place and date: At Nashville, Tenn., 16 December 1864. Entered service at: Lebanon, St. Clair County, Ill. Birth: Lebanon, St. Clair County, Ill. Date of issue: 22 February 1865. Citation: Captured flag of a Confederate battery while far in advance of the Union lines.

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