558
HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS.
July 22, 1865, and received final discharge, at Chicago, July 28. It marched 2,855 miles, and was transported by boat and cars, 4,168 miles. Over 1,800 officers and men belonged to the regiment during its term of service.
FIFTY-FOURTH INFANTRY. Organized at Anna, in November, 1861, as a part of the "Kentucky Brigade," and was mustered into service, Feb. 18, 1862. No complete history of the regiment can be given, owing to the loss of its official records. It served mainly in Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi and Arkansas, and always effectively. Three-fourths of the men re-enlisted as veterans, in January, 1864. Six companies were captured by the rebel General Shelby, in August, 1864, and were exchanged, the following December. The regiment was mustered out at Little Rock, Oct. 15, 1865; arrived at Springfield, Oct. 26, and was discharged. During its organization, the regiment had 1,342 enlisted men and 71 commissioned officers.
FIFTY-FIFTH INFANTRY. Organized at Chicago, and mustered into service, Oct. 31, 1861. The regiment originally formed a part of the "Douglas Brigade," being chiefly recruited from the young farmers of Fulton, McDonough, Grundy, La Salle, De Kalb, Kane and Winnebago Counties. It participated in the battles of Shiloh and Corinth, and in the Tallahatchie campaign; in the battles of Chickasaw Bayou, Arkansas Post, around Vicksburg, and at Missionary Ridge; was in the Atlanta campaign, notably in the battles of Kenesaw Mountain and Jonesboro. In all, it was engaged in thirty-one battles, and was 128 days under fire. The total mileage traveled amounted to 11,965, of which 3,240 miles were actually marched. Re-enlisted as veterans, while at Larkinsville, Tenn., was mustered out at Little Rock, August 14, 1865, receiving final discharge at Chicago, the same month.
FIFTY-SIXTH INFANTRY. Organized with companies principally enlisted from the counties of Massac, Pope, Gallatin, Saline, White, Hamilton, Franklin and Wayne, and mustered in at Camp Mather, near Shawneetown. The regiment participated in the siege, and second battle, of Corinth, the Yazoo expedition, the siege of Vicksburg-being engaged at Champion Hills, and in numerous assaults; also took part in the battles of Missionary Ridge and Resaca, and in the campaign in the Carolinas, including the battle of Bentonville. Some 200 members of the regiment perished in a wreck off Cape Hatteras, March 31, 1865. It was mustered out in Arkansas, August 12, 1865.
FIFTY-SEVENTH INFANTRY. Mustered into service, Dec. 26, 1861, at Chicago; took part in the battles of
