Brief History

Who was the Ninety-Second Illinois Volunteer Mounted Infantry?

Victor Hicken, in his book, Illinois in the Civil War, [University of Illinois Press, Urbana and Chicago, 1991, page 348], observed:

“One of the finest fighting units of the entire Union army

was the 92^nd Illinois Infantry.”

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I. A few snippets to pique your interest in this fascinating, hard-fighting regiment:

It originated in the Freeport area of northwestern Illinois. It began as infantry, but within eleven months, was transformed into mounted infantry (cavalry).
The 92^nd Illinois proudly became part of the famed Col. John T. Wilder’s “Lightning Brigade”, a cavalry unit noted for its daring exploits during the Tullahoma Campaign and the Battle of Chickamauga.
This regiment was one of the relatively few Union regiments which boasted the Spencer repeating rifle. (This weapon has been credited, in part, with winning the war for the Union.)
The 92^nd Illinois witnessed some of the most savage fighting of the war. It was engaged in nearly fifty skirmishes and battles.
It was part of General William T. Sherman’s army that captured Atlanta and cut a swath through Georgia on its march to the sea.
It was also attached to General Judson (Kilcavalry) Kilpatrick’s cavalry.
The 92^nd Illinois participated in the Carolina Campaign.
It suffered over 170 deaths. Causes ranged from ravaging diseases to horrific battlefield fatalities to disgusting, inhumane treatment at Andersonville Prison.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

II. A brief history outlining this regiment’s nearly three years’ stint in the Union army:

August 1862	Citizens of Stephenson, Ogle and Carroll counties in northwestern Illinois organized in Rockford, Illinois
September 1862	Mustered into United States service “for three years, or during the war”
October 1862	Earned sobriquet “Abolitionist Regiment” out of their demonstrated concern for welfare of African-Americans in Kentucky, where they first encountered slaves and Southern sympathizers
January 1863	At Louisville, boarded steamers Arizonia and Tempest. Sailed toward Nashville
April 1863	Assisted in construction of fort in Franklin
July 1863	Converted to mounted infantry as member of Col. John T. Wilder’s celebrated “Lightning Brigade”
July 1863	Three companies of 92^nd Illinois received Spencer repeating rifles
July/August 1863	Participated in Tullahoma Campaign in southern Tennessee
September 1863	Reached Lookout Mountain
September 1863	First full regiment into Chattanooga after Confederate evacuation. Planted flag on top of Crutchfield Hotel. A moment of glory for this regiment
September 1863	Engaged in two-day Battle of Chickamauga
November 1863	Portion of regiment engaged in Battle of Lookout Mountain
December 1863	Remaining companies equipped with Spencer repeaters
Winter 1863/1864	Time spent in northern Alabama
April 1864	Ambushed at Nickojack Gap. Many Killed. Many captured and imprisoned at Andersonville
May/September 1864	Assigned to General William T. Sherman’s army. Involved in Atlanta Campaign, climaxed by capture of Atlanta
August 1864	Participated in General Judson Kilpatrick’s raids around Atlanta
September 1864	Occupied Atlanta
September/December 1864	Remained with Sherman. Participated in March to Sea
December 1864	Witnessed the travesty of Ebenezer Creek
December 1864	Assisted in capture of Savannah
February 1865	Ambushed in Aiken, South Carolina
February/March 1865	Stormed through South Carolina and North Carolina in the Carolina Campaign
April/May 1865	Occupied Chapel Hill, North Carolina
May/June 1865	Occupied Concord, North Carolina
June 1865	Mustered out of service. Less than five hundred of the original one thousand soldiers were on hand at muster out.
July 1865	Arrived in Chicago by train and returned home

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

III. History of the 92^nd Illinois’ attachments within the Union army:

November 1862 – February 1863	2^nd Brigade, 3^rd Division, Army of Kentucky, Dept. of the Ohio
To June 1863	2^nd Brigade, Baird’s 3^rd Division, Army of Kentucky, Dept. of the Cumberland
To July 1863	1^st Brigade, 1^st Division, Reserve Corps, Dept. of the Cumberland
To October 1863	1^st Brigade, 4^th Division, 14^th Army Corps, Dept. of the Cumberland
To December 1863	Wilder’s Mounted Brigade (other sources indicate the 92^nd Illinois was attached to Wilder’s Brigade to April 1864)
To April 1864	3^rd Brigade, 2^nd Division, Cavalry Corps, Army of the Cumberland
To October 1864	3^rd Brigade, Kilpatrick’s 3^rd Division, Cavalry Corps, Army of the Cumberland
To November 1864	3^rd Brigade, 3^rd Division, Cavalry Corps, Military Division Mississippi
To June 1865	2^nd Brigade, 3^rd Division, Cavalry Corps, Military Division Mississippi

Source: Dyer, Frederick H., A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion, T. Yoseloff, New York, 1959 reprint, vol. III, page 1085.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

IV. The 92^nd Illinois was involved in nearly fifty engagements and battles, including the following:

Franklin skirmish - Duck River - Triune - Sequatchie Valley - Harrison Landing - Taking and Holding of Chattanooga - Ringgold (two times) - Tullahoma - Chickamauga (two days’ fight) - Bambridge Ferry - Lookout Mountain - Missionary Ridge - Tunnel Hill - Resaca - Nickojack - Calhoun - Lays Ferry - Adairsville - Owl Creek Church - Villanow - Siege of Atlanta - Jonesboro (two times) - Lovejoy Station - Siege of Savannah - Ebenezer Creek - Brush Creek - Macon - Gordonsville - Wadesboro - Altamaha - Wauhatchee - Barnwell - Blackville - Willeston - Aiken - Averasboro - Acton Bridge - Dotsonville - Monroe’s Crossroads - Bentonville - all skirmishes following Wade Hampton to Raleigh.

Source: Attachment to Discharge Document of William Boddy, Private, Co. A, 92^ndIllinois Volunteer Mounted Infantry

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

V. Monthly breakdown of deaths incurred by the 92^nd Illinois during the war:

1862		1864		1865
September	0	January	3	January	0
October	0	February	0	February	10
November	5	March	0	March	3
December	3	April	8	April	3
		May	4	May	1
1863		June	3	June	1
January	16	July	1
February	26	August	6	Also
March	15	September	8	Month	2
April	10	October	13	unknown
May	2	November	3
June	1	December	6
July	2
August	2
September	10
October	6
November	1
December	1

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

VI. Statistical summary of deaths suffered by the 92^nd Illinois during the war:

Total number of soldiers at original muster	944
Died during war, all causes	175
Percentage of soldiers who died, all causes	18.5
Total number of soldiers killed in action	56
Of total deaths during war, percentage killed in action	32
Died as prisoner of war	13