17th
Illinois Volunteer Infantry Company "D"
While this unit was not completely made up of men from Henry County, the number of Henry County musters involved in the group were significant.
HISTORY OF THE SEVENTEENTH
ILLINOIS INFANTRY
The Seventeenth Regiment of Illinois Infantry Volunteers was musteredinto
the United States service at Peoria, Ill, on the 25th day of May 1861.
Left camp on the 17th of June for Alton, Ill, for the purpose of more fully
completing its organization and arming.
Late in July it proceeded from Alton to St. Charles, Mo., remaining but
one day; thence went to Warrenton, Mo., where it remained in camp about
two weeks--Company "A" being detailed as body guard to General John Pope,
with headquarters in St. Charles.
The Regiment left Warrenton for St. Louis, and embarked on transports for
Bird's Point, Mo. Remained at Bird's Point some weeks, doing garrison
duty; then proceeded to Sulphur Springs Landing, debarking there, prodeeded,
via Pilot Knob and Ironton, to Frederickstown, Mo., in pursuit of General
Jeff Thompson's forces. Met and defeated them at Fredericktown, Mo.,
October 21, 1861, losing several killed and wounded. The Regiment charged
the enemy's lines early in the engagement, completely routing him.
Captured two 6-pound howitzers and 200 prisoners. The enemy fled
in great confusion, leaving his dead upon the field, among whom
was the Brigade Commander, Colonel Lowe. Among the killed and wounded on
the Union side was First Lieutenant J.Q.A. Jones, Company "K", killed;
Second Lieutenant Owan Wilkins, Company "A," wounded, and Sergeant Jacob
Wheeler, Company "K", was twice wounded, once dangerously. October
22, pursued the enemy, and engaged him near Greenfield, Ark., in which
the Seventeenth lost one killed and several wounded.
Returned to Cape Girardeau,
doing provost duty until early in February, 1862, when ordered to Fort
Henry. Participated in the sanuinary battle, followed by the surrender
of Fort Donelson, losing a number of men; thence marched to Metal Landing;
thence embarked for Savannah, later arriving at Pittsburg Landing, where
the Regiment was assigned to the First Division of the Army of West Tennessee,
under command of General John A. McClernand, and upon the memorable field
of Pittsburg Landing took part in the momentous battles on the 6th and
7th of April. On the 6th the Regiment was under fire from early morn
until night, when a rain set in. Meanwhile under the dauntless and
skillful leading of General McClernand, the field contested with fluctuating
success in seven successive positions. At nightfall he formed his
decimated ranks for the eighth time upon the Seventeenth Regiment to rest
on their arms until the morning of the7th, when the regiment with the Division
moved forward to the attack, and in co-operation with the other Union forces,
after a fierce and stubborn conflict, drove the enemy from the field.
It is a notable fact that the First Division, including the Seventeenth
Regiment, maintained its organization, not only amid the wreck and confusion
of the 6th, but also on the 7th. It fought out the two day battle.
Had not this been so, the Union forces must have been overwhelmed on the
first day, and to General McClernand, perhaps more than to any one commander
is due the credit of averting this calamity.
HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF VICKSBURG,
VICKSBURG, MISS., June 14, 1864
SPECIAL ORDERS, No. 20}
Extract.--VIII. The detachment of the Seventeenth Illinois Veteran
Volunteers will be consolidated into a Battalion of two Companies, under
the directions of the commanding officer, who will make the necessary assignment
of the men to carry out this order.
H.C. RODGERS, A.A.G.
By command of Major General H. W. SLOCUM.
HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF VICKSBURG,
VICKSBURG, MISS., June 17, 1864
SPECIAL ORDERS, No. 45}
Extract.--III. In pursuance of instructions contained in Special
Field Orders No. 20, dated "Headquarters Department and Army of the Tennessee,
Pumpkin Vine Church, Ga., May 26, 1864," the Veterans of the Seventeenth
Infantry Illinois Volunteers will be consolidated with the Eighth Illinois
Infantry Volunteers.
The commanding officer
of the Eighth Illinois Infantry will superintend the re-organization, making
all necessary assignments to companies and causing all supernumerary commissioned
officers to be mustered out of the service. Should an excess of the
members of the non-commissioned staff, beyond the number prescribed by
law, occur, he will also cause the same to be mustered out.
H.C. RODGERS, A.A.G.
By command of Major General SLOCUM.
Roster of 17th IL Volunteer Inf, Co "D"