ILLINOIS 120TH INFANTRY (Three Years)

One Hundred and Twentieth Infantry.-Col., George W. McKenig; Lieut.-Cols., John G. Hardy, Spencer B. Floyd; Majs., Spencer B. Floyd, John M. Raum. This regiment was organized at a time when there was an immediate demand for soldiers in the field and was mustered into the U.S. service on Oct. 28, 1862. The first order received for actual duty was from Col. Fonda, which was to guard the railroad bridge at "Jimtown," and that duty was performed until Nov. 9, when the regiment left for Alton, thence moved to St. Louis on the steamer Stephen Decatur and reported to Gen. Halleck, from whom orders were received to report without delay to Gen. Sherman at Memphis. In Jan., 1863, with other regiments it was transported to Hopesdale, Ark., whence they marched about 15 miles and struck a Confederate recruiting camp near Marion, capturing a lieutenant and 20 men on picket. A brisk skirmish followed in which the enemy was soon routed. The time of the regiment was variously employed in scouting and guard duty until June, 1864, when at the battle of Guntown, Miss., it participated in its first and only serious engagement. It maintained perfect discipline and after 6 hours of hard fighting contested every foot of ground with the Confederate advance from Guntown to Ripley. On Oct 21, the regiment was placed on provost duty in Memphis, in which service it remained until it was mustered out on Sept. 7, 1865, when it was ordered to Camp Butler, where it received final payment and discharge, Sept. 10.

Source: The Union Army, vol. 3

Illinois 120th Volunteer Infantry (Union)

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