Illinois Regiments in the Civil War

Brianne McNicholas
Grissom Junior High School, Tinley Park

The Civil War is an important part of American history. Though the war itself may have been complex, the most phenomenal thing may be the many men who risked their lives by simply fighting for what they believed. Illinois men were certainly no exception in the war. In fact, war fever burned high in Illinois. In April 1861, 100,000 men and boys volunteered for service in

Pictured here are officers of the Thirty-third Illinois Volunteer Infantry.

Illinois. Incredibly, this was 25,000 more than President Lincoln had requested for the entire nation. Specific regiments began forming, some much larger and more dominant than others. The Thirty-third, Seventy-third, and Fifty-fifth regiments were all formed for different reasons, but they all contributed and were important to the Civil War. When President Lincoln called for 75,000 militia to serve in the Union Army, the young men at State Normal University were more than willing. In fact, the students of the so-called Teachers College actually wanted to drop out of school and join the Army. President of the college, Charles E. Hovey, was able to convince the boys to finish school before enlisting. He also promised that when they finished school he would go with them. So the unit, the "Normal Rifles," was formed. The Normal Rifles eventually formed the nucleus of the Thirty-third Illinois Infantry Regiment. While the men were still in school they trained under the direction of John W. White. When they graduated, Hovey, keeping his promise, set out to form a regiment of students, teachers, and other educators. Though the idea was well received, President Lincoln was unsure. It was early in the war, and he was not sure large numbers of soldiers would be needed. He also saw a definite need for teachers.

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This all changed, though, after the Union was defeated at the battle of Bull Run. President Lincoln then promised Hovey a commission as colonel and authorized him to recruit his regiment.

No sooner had the Thirty-third Regiment formed than it started receiving many nicknames, including the "School Masters Regiment," "Brain Regiment," and "Teachers Regiment." It is no wonder how these nicknames were acquired because of the high percentages of students, college graduates, and teachers that served in the regiment. Later the regiment obtained another nickname. They became known as the "Veteran Regiment," because 75 percent of the men reenlisted for another term.

Sadly, towards the end of the war, tragedy struck this loyal regiment near New Orleans. The train they were aboard collided with a horse and was derailed. The accident left nine dead and seventy-two others injured. By the time the regiment returned home on the last day of November 1865, they had lost 309 men.

School men were not the only people who wanted to fight in the war. The Seventy-third Illinois Infantry was composed of Methodist preachers. The Illinois unit was formed by former minister, James Frazier Jaquess. He set out to form a unit of boys from the Methodist Church. In one month he recruited more than nine hundred men. Much like the School Masters Regiment, the Preachers Regiment included many young men.

Unbelievably, within two months, the Seventy-third suffered a devastating defeat and won a great victory. The horrible setback occurred on September 20. When the men were ordered to charge across a field at Chickamauga, men were killed left and right by the Confederate troops. After the loss, Colonel Jaquess realized he was left with only seventy-three men.

On a happier note, those who survived were able to win a great victory at Missionary Ridge. They killed, wounded, and captured more rebels then they had in their entire regiment at the time, and their losses were kept to a minimum.

Unfortunately, one of Illinois' largest regiments would return one of the smallest. In mid-June 1865 only three hundred seventy-three of the nine

Men of all ages served in the Civil War. Orion P. Howe (left) was the drummer boy of the Fifty-fifth Regiment, and Captain Cyrus M. Browne (right) was the oldest officer in the same regiment.

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Marshall Brown (left) and R. Gooch (right) served in the Seventy-third Regiment.

hundred seventy men on the roster of the Seventy-third returned,

It would seem with the overwhelming response to the call for soldiers that the North would win the war easily, but what the North lacked was good leaders. This is well demonstrated by the Fifty-fifth Illinois Infantry Regiment. Though the regiment participated in many important battles such as Shiloh and Vicksburg, their leadership suffered. Matters were so bad in January 1863, soldiers refused to reenlist under the same officers. The troops were put under extreme pressure, so they reenlisted for another term under the agreement that they could elect their own colonel.

Campaigning started quickly with two major political parties. One called itself the "Council of Kent" and supported Lieutenant Colonel Oscar Malmborg. The other known as the "Church and State," were for the candidacy of Chaplain Milton Haney. Haney won the election, but the agreement to choose was forgotten. Therefore Malmborg was allowed to resign, and Lieutenant Colonel Charles Andress took command of the army instead of the elected Milton Haney. The regiment became well known and admired for its desire to get rid of its poor leaders.

The soldiers of the Thirty-third, Seventy-third, and Fifty-fifth were all extraordinary men; their efforts helped lead the Union to victory.—[From Edwin C. Bearss, The 55th Illinois 1861-1865; Victor Hicken, Illinois in the Civil War; Ray Page, Illinois at War 1961-1965; Elizabeth Rissler, "The Preachers' Regiment," Illinois Civil War Sketches No.l (1963); Elizabeth Rissler, "The School Masters Regiment," Illinois Civil War Sketches No. 4 (1963).]

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