ILLINOIS 28TH INFANTRY

Three Years Twenty-eighth Infantry.-Col., Amory K. Johnson; LieutCols., Louis H. Waters, Thomas M. Kilpatrick, Richard Ritter; Majs, Charles J. Sellon, Barclay C. Gillam, Hinman Rhodes. This regiment was composed of three companies from Pike county, one from Fulton, one from Schuyler, one from McDonough, one from Mason one from Scott, and two from Menard. It was organized at Camp Butier, Aug. 15, 1861, and was mustered into the service for three years. On Aug. 28, it was ordered to St. Louis, Mo., where it was armed. On Feb. 13, 1862, a detachment of 48 men and 12 officers met Col. Claiborne's Confederate cavalry, 500 strong, at Little Bethel Church, 5 miles west of Fort Heiman, and immediately attacked them, taking 2 prisoners. In the opening of the battle of Shiloh the regiment was assigned to a position on the left of the line, in the Peach orchard, which position the enemy immediately attacked, but was repulsed with heavy loss, and the regiment held its position, against great odds from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. In this conflict it lost heavily in killed and wounded. On the morning of the second day the regiment held a position on the right of the line and was hotly engaged until the battle closed and the victory was won. In the two days' fighting it sustained a loss of 239, killed, wounded and missing. It was engaged in the siege of Corinth during the month of May. At the battle of Davis' bridge in the following October, Gen. Lauman ordered the 2nd brigade, of which the regiment formed a part, to take the bridge and cross to the east side of the river, which was done amidst a most terrific fire. A battery in front of the 28th was dealing death and destruction, and the regiment was ordered to charge and take it at all hazards, which it did most gallantly, capturing 6 guns and caissons, 1 flag, and 1 officer in uniform. On Oct. 28, it returned to Bolivar, bearing a tattered flag, with the loss of 97 men killed, wounded and missing. It was engaged in the siege of Vicksburg from June 11, to July 4, 1863, and occupied a position to the left of the center, on the Hall's Ferry road. On July 12, near Jackson Miss., the 28th, with other regiments of the brigade, not exceeding 800 men, charged across an open, level cornfield, some 600 yards under a destructive fire of grape, canister and minie bullets. The enemy appearing upon both flanks as it reached the ditch, the Federals were compelled to fall back, with a loss of more than half of the rank and file killed and wounded. The eight companies of this regiment in line, numbering 128 men, lost 73 killed and wounded, and 16 taken prisoners. On Jan. 4, 1864, the regiment, having reenlisted as a veteran organization, was mustered for three years' veteran service, and on May 18, proceeded to Illinois for veteran furlough. Returning to the front, it served as a regiment until the following October, when it was consolidated into a battalion of four companies. Twenty-eighth (Consolidated) Infantry.-Cols., Richard Ritter, Hinman Rhodes, Lieut.-Cols., Richard Ritter, Hinman Rhodes, Edwin P Durell; Majs., Hinman Rhodes, Edwin P. Durell, Albert J. Moses. On Oct. 10, 1864, the original 28th regiment was consolidated into four companies, and on the 12th embarked for Morganza, La., Brig.-Gen. Lawler commanding 1st brigade, 19th army corps. On Nov. 22, at Memphis it received 200 recruits, which were organized into two companies, and the battalion was assigned to the 1st brigade, district of West Tennessee. In Jan., 1865, it was transferred to Louisiana and in March, was in the advance upon Spanish Fort, occupying the extreme right of its division and corps. It held this position during the entire siege of 14 days, losing 14 killed and wounded, including 2 captains. On April 7, Cos. G and H joined the regiment from Camp Butler, Ill., and on April 13, the regiment marched to Whistler Station and skirmished with the enemy. On April 15, Cos. I and K joined the regiment from Camp Butler, Ill., and this gave the regiment its full complement of companies. In the following July, it was sent to Texas and remained in that state until March 15, 1866, when it was mustered out at Brownsville, after a total service from the date of its first organization of four years and seven months. During that time 1,720 men had enlisted in the organization, and of these, 61 were killed, 34 died of wounds, 284 were wounded, 4 commissioned officers were dismissed, 17 enlisted men were missing in action, 5 were killed accidentally, 141 died of disease, 494 were discharged, and 21 were transferred. Source: The Union Army, vol. 3 Shiloh after battle report: Report of Col. Amory K. Johnson, Twenty-eighth Illinois Infantry. HDQRS. TWENTY-EIGHTH REGT. ILLINOIS VOLS. Pittsburg, Tenn., April 9, 1862. SIR: I would respectfully report the following as the part borne by my command during the late engagements of the 6th and 7th instant: On the morning of the 6th, with an effective force of 558 rank and file, I was ordered to form the left center of the First Brigade, which brigade advanced about a mile to the front of the encampment and formed in line of battle, skirting the south side of the peach-orchard field. This position was maintained for some time, with but little loss or firing, when we were ordered to change position, forming line in the rear of the farm-house, and to support Mann's battery on our right and one section of artillery on our left. This position was maintained for several hours under constant and heavy firing from the enemy's infantry and artillery. Here we suffered severely, having my major, B. C. Gillam, and adjutant, J. B. T. Mead, wounded, besides 5 line officers and 100 men killed and wounded. The force on our right and left being forced to retire, I received orders to fall back to a more protected position to the woods on the north side of the field, which was done in good order. This position we maintained until all support on either flank again gave way. I again, under orders, fell back some 300 paces to the south side of the small field and on the right of the road and of Mann's battery. Here my command suffered severely, losing several officers and quite a number of men. Again, being flanked on the left, I fell back under a murderous cross-fire, passing through the open field. Here Lieut.-Col. Killpatrick fell, with a number of the rank and file. Maintaining good order, I fell back to the front of the siege pieces, when I was ordered to take position in the main line, in the rear of the line of guns. Here with slight changes we rested for the night. On the morning of the 7th the Fourth Division was ordered to move to the right. On arriving near Gen. McClernand's lines I was ordered to form the Twenty-eighth on the left of his advance column and to advance on the enemy, who had slowly driven our right for about half a mile. Advancing steadily to within 400 paces of the enemy, who was supported by artillery, we were ordered to charge, which was done in a handsome manner. The enemy was falling back to his re-enforcements, which were advancing in large force, when we were ordered to fall back and await re-enforcements. In this charge the Twenty-eighth lost in killed and wounded 32. At this time, being relieved by fresh troops, Gen. Hurlbut, ordered the Twenty-eighth to fall back and for the present to look after the wounded, which a portion of them did, the remainder continuing in the field during the remainder of the day. It is but proper to state that during a part of the 6th the Forty-first Illinois was under my immediate command, and it gives me pleasure to relate that they behaved nobly, doing their whole duty, both officers and men. Also on the 7th a portion of the Thirty-second Illinois was under my command, of whom I would bear the same testimony. For the Twenty-eighth Illinois I can but say that they behaved nobly, doing their whole duty in a manner becoming soldiers; therefore I shall not particularize, but commend them to my superior officers, who will do them ample justice.* Respectfully submitted. A. K. JOHNSON, Col., Cmdg. Brig. Gen. STEPHEN A. HURLBUT, Cmdg. Fourth Division.

Source: Official Records: Series I. Vol. 10. Part I, Reports. Serial No. 10

Illinois 28th Infantry (Union)

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