ILLINOIS SEVENTY-SEVENTH INFANTRY (Three Years)

Seventy-seventh Infantry. Cols., Charles Ballance, David P. Grier; Lieut.-Cols., Lysander R. Webb, John A. Burdett; Majs., Memoir V. Hotchkiss, John A. Burdett. This regiment was fully organized and mustered into the U. S. service at Peoria Sept. 3, 1862. It remained in camp at that place until Oct. 4, at which time it proceeded to Covington, Ky., and reported to Maj.-Gen. Gordon Granger, commanding the Army of Kentucky, who assigned it to duty in the division commanded by Gen. A. J. Smith. Its first actual engagement was in December, when it participated in the attack on the Confederate works at Chickasaw bluffs. It was also in the assault on Arkansas Post in Jan., 1863, its loss being 6 killed and 39 wounded, some of the latter mortally. It crossed the Mississippi river below Grand Gulf on the last day of April, marched all night, arriving at Port Gibson early on the morning of May 1, and participated in the engagement there during the entire day. The regiment remained with Gen. Grant's army in the campaign around Vicksburg and the siege of the latter place until its surrender. It was engaged in the actions at Champion's hill, Black River bridge and the first charge on Vicksburg, losing in these engagements 20 killed, 86 wounded and 26 missing. It was under fire at Jackson until July 16, when the place was evacuated, and the regiment then returned to Vicksburg. It was sent to Louisiana in the early part of 1864, marched from Alexandria up the Red river to Sabine cross-roads, where it met the enemy in force and was immediately engaged. In this action the regiment suffered terribly, 176 officers and men being killed, wounded or made prisoners, leaving only about 125 men in the regiment for duty. The regiment assisted in the reduction of Forts Gaines and Morgan and then returned to Morganza bend on the Mississippi. It was with Gen. Canby's army and under fire during the entire siege and capture of Spanish Fort, Fort Blakely and Mobile. It remained in camp at Mobile until July 1O, 1865, at which time it was mustered out of service.

Source: The Union Army, vol. 3

Illinois 77th Infantry (Union)

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