Shiloh Civil War Battle: 15th Infantry Regiment Illinois

Date: [unknown] [unknown]
Location: Illinois, United States

Contents 1 History of the 15th Infantry Regiment Illinois through the Battle of Shiloh 2 Formation and Pre-Shiloh 3 Shiloh 4 After Battle Reports 5 Source

History of the 15th Infantry Regiment Illinois through the Battle of Shiloh

Formation and Pre-Shiloh

ILLINOIS FIFTEENTH INFANTRY. (Three Years) The Fifteenth Regiment of Illinois Volunteer Infantry was raised under the "Ten Regiment Act" in the First Congressional District. Company A was from McHenry county; Company B, Winnebago county; Company C, Boone county, Company D, McHenry county; Company G, Stephenson county; Company H, Ogle county, Company I, Lake county; Company K, from Carroll county.

The Regiment was organized at Freeport, Illinois, and mustered into the.United States service on the 24th day of May, 1861, being one of the first regiments from the State sworn into the United States service, for the three years' service. After electing officers organizing and drilling for some time, the Regiment proceeded to Alton, Illinois, remaining there six weeks for instruction.

In July the Regiment left Alton by steamboat for St. Charles, Missouri, thence by rail to Mexico, Missouri, where it remained for a time in company with the Twenty-first Illinois Infantry, commanded by Colonel U. S. Grant. A part of the Regiment marched from Mexico to Fulton, and thence to the Missouri river, and thence by steamer to Jefferson Barracks, the other part of the Regiment marched to Hannibal, Mo., and thence by steamer to Jefferson Barracks.

The Regiment then moved by rail to Rolla, Mo., where it arrived in time to cover General Sigel's retreat from Wilson's Creek. After building one or two forts, the Regiment was ordered to Tipton, Mo., and thence became attached to General Fremont's army, and marched under General Hunter to Springfield, Mo.; after remaining there a short time, the Regiment returned to Tipton, then went to Sedalia. It assisted in the capture of 1,300 rebels a few miles from the latter place. The Regiment then marched to Otterville, Mo.,and went into winter quarters December 26, 1861. The winter was cold and the snow deep, and the first winter's experience in tents was a severe one.February 1,1862, the Regiment marched to Jefferson City, thence by rail to St. Louis, where it embarked on transports for Fort Donelson, and arrived to take part in the surrender. The Regiment was then assigned to General S. A. Hurlburt's "Fighting Fourth Division" and marched to Fort Henry, then went by boat to Pittsburg Landing, being one of the first regiments that landed on that historic battle ground.

Shiloh

At the battle of Shiloh, on the 6th of April, the Regiment was in the first line of battle, formed by Hurlburt's Division, and was in the Brigade commanded by General C. Veach. Hardly had the Brigade taken position when a Confederate column, massed three lines deep, deployed from the woods on the left and front, and with rebel yell that echoed through the surrounding forest, charged on in double quick. The Fifteenth was flanked by the Fifty third Ohio, on the right. At the first fire of the enemy the Buckeyes broke and ran, and the enemy were not only in front of the Fifteenth Regiment, but on both flanks in a very short time. For more than one hour the Regiment held its position, and fought as gallantly as any troops could fight in the terrible struggle, called by the Confederates the "Hornet's Nest" and disputed inch by inch the advance and the incessant attacks of the best troops in the Confederate service. Owing to the want of support, the Regiment was compelled to withdraw and take up a new position. In five minutes after the Regiment formed its first line, the field officers, Lieutenant Colonel E. F. W. Ellis and Major Wm. R. Goddard, Captains Holden Brownell and Harley Wayne, andLieutenant John W. Peterbaugh were killed, and Captain Adam Nase lost a leg and was taken prisoner. Captain Thos. J. Turner was absent and the command of the Regiment devolved upon Captains L. D. Kelly and George C. Rogers, assisted by Adjutant Charles F. Barber. As soon as a new line was formed (the Fourteenth Illinois on the left of the Fifteenth), when the enemy had approached sufficiently near these two Regiments, acting as one man, rose and delivered a rapid, well aimed and awfully destructive fire, full into the massed ranks of the enemy. The enemy was soon convinced this was not the way to the landing.

At the second attack these two Regiments received the first shock, and for three hours were in that awful gap, without giving ground, where the Confederates sacrificed more than two thousand as brave men as ever trod the battle-field, in the unavailing effort to drive them from their position. This baptism of blood cemented the two Regiments, and they were always afterwards brigaded and served together during the remainder of the war, and discharged at the same time and place.

The Fifteenth Regiment was in the hottest of the fight both days of the bloody battle, and not a man faltered in his duty or failed to perform all that wasrequired of him. The two Regiments that were in the final charge on the 7th, led by General Grant in person, were the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Illinois, the Fourteenth commanded by Colonel Cyrus Hall, and the Fifteenth by Captain George C. Rogers. This detachment moved forward, and when within range delivered their fire, and with fixed bayonets charged at double quick. The raking fire, however, had done its work.The Confederate army had fled.

The Fifteenth Regiment lost in this engagement 250 men, killed and wounded and there are more of the "known dead', of this Regiment buried in the National Cemetery at Pittsburg Landing, than of any other Regiment, and many died of wounds in hospitals at home.Captain George C. Rogers was promoted Lieutenant Colonel by Governor Yates for meritorious conduct on the battle-field at Shiloh, and took command of the Regiment.

After Battle Reports

WILLIAM T. CLARK, A. A. G.Source: The Union Army, vol. 3 Shiloh after battle report: Report of Lieut. Col. William Cam, FourteenthIllinois Infantry, commanding Fifteenth Illinois Infantry. PITTSBURG LANDING, TENN., April 10, 1862SIR: After taking command of the Fifteenth Illinois on the morning ofthe 7th (Monday) I advanced up the road leading westward from thelanding a quarter of a mile or more, and halted until a 64-pounderhowitzer was planted in a small field directly in front, where I wasposted, a quarter of a mile farther and to the right. After about anhour's halt we moved in double-quick time across the field used beforethe battle as our review or parade ground. Near the camp of the FourthIllinois Cavalry we had some sharp firing, but he enemy fled, spikingand deserting three brass field pieces, and we followed. Our skirmisherscoming up with the enemy's rear, and he getting two guns, supportedby cavalry, into position to cover his retreat, we took shelter on the right of the Fourteenth, on the side of a hill, until supports came up orwe could ascertain that our flanks were clear; but being ordered out orranger of the canister and spherical case, which the enemy threw withthe most admirable precision, we retired, and soon afterward came tocamp, where we arrived about sundown.Col., I cannot close this brief report without commending the spiritand cheerful obedience of the officers and men whom I had the honorto command. I feel confident that had it not been for the unfortunate lossof their field officers, Lieut.-Col. Ellis and Maj.Goddard, early on Sunday morning, the Fifteenth Regt. would have been distinguished for gallantry and daring.Very respectfully, your obedient servant,WM. CAMLieut.-Col., Cmdg. Fifteenth Illinois Volunteers.

Col. VEATCH.-----------Report of Capt. Louis D. Kelley, Fifteenth Illinois Volunteers.HDQRS. FIFTEENTH REGT. ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS,Pittsburg, April 10, 1862. SIR: As senior officer in command I report to you the part taken by the Fifteenth Illinois Volunteers in the battle at this place on the 6th ofApril. Soon after breakfast heavy firing was heard to our left, and about the same time we received orders to fall in and take our position in yourbrigade. Our regiment numbered about 500 men; a heavy detail for fatigue duty had been made from our regiment early inn the morning, reducing our numbers somewhat. After taking our position in the brigade we were ordered to advance in the direction of where there was heavy firing. Advancing a short distance, we were ordered to load ourpieces and form in line of battle. We were drawn up in line directly inthe rear of one of our batteries, numbering six pieces. No sooner hadwe prepared for operation than the battery gave way, part of the gunsbeing taken by the enemy and the rest taken away by horses withoutriders, who dashed through our ranks with great speed. Although ourlines were broken several times by horses and mules running away, yet they were immediately closed up again.At the time the battery gave way a regiment in front of us (placed there,I suppose, to support the battery) gave way also; one at our right wasseen to break and run without firing a single round. We immediately received orders to open fire upon the enemy. Although everything wasconfusion around us and without supports, yet we maintained ourposition for some time against superior numbers, who had all of the advantage they could wish in the lay of the ground. Our men fired from10 to 15 rounds each. Lieut. Col. E. F. W. Ellis, commandingthe Fifteenth Regt. and Maj. William r. Goddard fell early in thefight while cheering the men. They were frequently heard to say; "Standfirm;" "Do your duty, boys;" "Stand your ground;" "Take good aim."Col. Ellis was wounded in the arm severely at the first fire of the enemy upon us but he paid no attention to that, and it was not till a ballpenetrated his heart that he ceased to cheer on his men. Maj. Goddard fell a few moments before Col. Ellis, a ball passing through his head. Two braver or better officers never lived. They were dearly beloved by all their men and by all who knew them. They were kind-hearted, and their loss will be a severe one to the regiment and tothe service. Although our field officers were killed and all our captainsbut two shot down, besides several lieutenants, yet the men stood theirground like veterans amid a perfect storm of shell and bullets, and not until it was found impossible to maintain our position and keep from being taken prisoners did the regiment leave the ground. About 200 of our killed and wounded were left upon the field. After falling back some distance Capt. Rogers (who had been wounded by a piece of shell in the breast and arm), Adjutant Barber, and myself rallied what men we could, and started in search of the brigade but being unableto find, and having but a little over 100 men, we fell in with parts ofother regiments and prepared to meet the enemy.In this position the enemy advanced upon us with a battery and asuperior force of infantry. Had those with whom we had connectedourselves kept their ground I have no doubt we could have maintained our position and kept the enemy at bay, but they ingloriously fled,leaving us alone. Not one of the Fifteenth left until ordered to do so by myself. Several times did we fall in with other regiments, and as many times were we left in the same way. At last we took a position alone behind a rail fence and but a little distance to the rear of our sharpshooters. Here we could have done good execution and maintained our position against superior numbers, but on of our own batteries, mistaking us for the enemy, opened fire upon us, wounding several men. I was absent for a few moments at this time watching the movements of the enemy, and Capt. Rogers, who was in command, ordered the regiment to fall back a few rods, at the same time displaying our colors, when our battery ceased firing upon us.At this time Gen. Grant rode up to us and ordered us to take a position to the left, where there was heavy firing, but ere reaching the position we met several regiments or parts of regiments retreating. We fell in with them and formed another line. Here we were soon deserted again and left to fight alone. After consulting with Capt. Rogers and several lieutenants it was thought best to move to the left and join some cavalry we saw on an open field. We had hardly joined them when they were ordered away. Finding it impossible to keep up with them; we filed to the right, in the direction of the Landing, where our forces were said to be. We had marched but a short distance when we found therewas a panic among some of our forces. Cavalry, infantry, and teamsters came running by us at the same time, reporting that the Landing was in possession of the enemy. Our men being exhausted and night coming on, it was thought best to move a little under the hill, near where we were, and give the men some rest. Just as we were moving under the hill we were informed that the Landing was in our possession still. We then about-faced, and moved to the rear of the siege guns,near the Landing, where we bivouacked for the night.On the morning of the 7th we saw Gen. Hurlbut. He informed us where we could find you. We immediately reported to you with about 212 men, many having joined us in the night previous. I believe youhave a list of the killed and wounded. All, both officers and men, dead and living, as far as I know, behaved with great gallantry.With much respect, I remain, yours, &c.,L. D. KELLEY,Capt., Cmdg. Fifteenth Illinois Volunteers.Col. J. C. VEATCH.Comdg. Second Brig., Fourth Div., Dept. of the Mississippi.Source: Official Records: Series I. Vol. 10. Part I, Reports. Serial No. 10

Source

• U.S., American Civil War Regiments, 1861-1866: "U.S., American Civil War Regiments, 1861-1866"
  Data compiled by Historical Data Systems of Kingston, MA from the following list of works
  Ancestry Record 3866 #2990 (accessed 12 February 2023)