The 45th Illinois, under the command of Colonel John E. Smith, in the 2nd Brigade of General John McClernand was heavily engaged in the Battle of Shiloh with a casualty rate of 31%. As Colonel Smith does not have an Official Report in the records one must look at the 45th’s positions during the 2 day battle and other sources if possible.
The 45th was encamped in the North end of Woolf Field on the Federal right flank just above Water Oaks Pond. The fighting was heavy as evidenced by having 3 of the 5 known Confederate Burial Trenches located in the area held by the Illinis.
According to the brigade commander, Colonel C. Carrol Marsh of the 20th Illinois Infantry, the 2nd Brigade was severely tested at Fort Donelson and had but 1,514 men present for duty at Shiloh. Colonel Marsh reported that 437 Confederates and 115 Federals had been buried in his command area.*
From reading of reports and tracking the 45th’s positions across the Western sector of the battlefield, it had been pushed from its campsite to the North and the Union’s final line at the end of the 1st day fight. After consolidating with the other regiments of the brigade, they 45th rested till the next morning.
Monday morning’s fighting for the 2nd Brigade began at about 9 am in conjunction with McAllister’s Battery D, 1st Illinois Light Artillery. Fighting along a dirt road, present day Sherman Avenue, the 45th regained its original campsite in the North part of Woolf Field. The regiment buried their dead adjacent to the largest known Confederate Burial Trench just West of their campsite.
Regards
David
Strength and Losses of the 45th Illinois
562 Present for Duty
23 KIA
187 WIA
3 MIA
213 Total Casualties
38% Loss Ratio**