ILLINOIS EIGHTY-SIXTH INFANTRY (Three Years)

Eighty-sixth Infantry. Col., David D. Irons , Lieut.Cols., David W. Magee, Allen L. Fahnestock; Majs., James S. Bean, Orlando Fountain, Allen L. Fahnestock, Joseph F. Thomas. This regiment was mustered into service on Aug. 27, 1862, at Camp Lyon, Peoria at which time it numbered 923 men rank and file. On Sept. 7 it embarked for Louisville, Ky.' where it remained until Oct. 1, when it joined the command of Gen. Buell in the pursuit of Bragg. On Oct. 8 it fought at Perryville, where the regiment had the advance, and in a charge lost 1 killed and 13 wounded. It participated in the battle of Chickamauga, losing 1 killed, 4 wounded and 1 captured. It then crossed the Tennessee river, marched 6 miles up the river and guarded a ford till Nov. 23, when the regiment assisted Gen. Sherman to float his pontoons down to the river at night, cross his army, capture a Confederate post and make the attack on the north end of Missionary ridge. It then marched in pursuit of Bragg to Ringgold, Ga., and in Feb., 1864, joined in a reconnaissance, going as far as Buzzard Roost, where it took part in the engagement, losing 1 killed and 7 wounded. In May, in the fight near Buzzard Roost, it had 1 man wounded; then moved to the right through Snake Creek gap and participated in the battle of Resaca, losing 4 wounded and 1 missing. It moved from Resaca on May 16; arrived in Rome on the 17th; was in the fight there, losing 5 killed and 12 wounded , marched from Rome to Dallas, where it had a skirmish, having 1 man wounded and 1 accidentally wounded; then moved through Acworth and arrived at Kennesaw mountain, and while in front of the enemy there lost 1 killed and 7 wounded. In the charge at Kennesaw mountain on June 27, the regiment lost 26 killed, 60 wounded and 12 missing, holding its position till July 2, and during the interim losing 2 killed and 7 wounded. On July 3 it marched after the enemy to the Chattahoochee river, losing 2 men wounded, then crossed the river and skirmished to Peachtree creek, where it lost in the battle 4 killed and 11 wounded. Arriving at Jonesboro, it engaged the enemy in battle, losing 2 killed and 13 wounded. It left Atlanta on Sept. 29 on the cars to Chattanooga, Tenn., thence to Stevenson, Ala., from Stevenson to Athens, and then marched to Florence, where it drove Gen. Forrest across the river. On Nov.16 the regiment started on Sherman's march to the sea, sharing in all its perils and privations, and reached Savannah Dec. 11, with the loss of 1 man wounded and 6 captured. It then entered the campaign of the Carolinas, passed through Fayetteville, crossed the Cape Fear river and engaged the enemy near Averasboro, losing in that action 2 killed and 3 wounded. It then marched for Bentonville, N. C., and was in the battle at that place, losing 1 killed and 22 wounded. It participated in the grand review at Washington and then camped near the Soldiers' Home until mustered out on June 6, 1865. The number killed in battle was 53; died of wounds, 27; died of disease, 6; wounded in battle, 160; accidentally wounded, 16; captured, 33; deserted, 28; officers resigned, 17; officers discharged, 5; officers dismissed, 1; total membership of regiment at time of muster out, 388. Source: The Union Army, vol. 3 Chickamagua after battle report: Report of Lieut. Col. David W. Magee, Eighty-sixth Illinois Infantry. HDQRS. EIGHTY-SIXTH REGT. ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS, Camp North Chickamauga, Tenn, October 10, 1863. SIR: I have the honor of making the following report of the part taken by the Eighty-sixth Regt. Illinois Volunteer Infantry in the battle of the Chickamauga, on the 19th, 20th, and 21st of September, 1863, which was as follows, to wit: On the evening of the 18th of September, we marched with the brigade [then encamped at Rossville, Ga.] on the old La Fayette road to the point where it intersects or crosses the Ringgold road, which road we then followed for perhaps 1 mile. I was then ordered into position on the extreme right of the brigade, in a thick woods, with an open field on my front. Immediately after getting into position I deployed two companies as skirmishers, covering my front and right flank, commanded as follows: Company I, Capt. A. L. Fahnestock, and Company B, Capt. J. P. Worrell. We remained in this position, sleeping on our arms, until about 12 or 1 o'clock, at which time we were aroused by quite a sharp fire opening on our right, which proved to be skirmishing between the independent scouts belonging to our brigade and some rebel cavalry. Nothing further occurred to break the stillness of the morning. About half an hour before daylight I received an order to move my regiment by the left flank and take up a new position on the left of Capt. Barnett's battery [I, Second Illinois], then posted on the north side of the road leading to Reed's Mill. We remained in our new position but a short time, when a brisk fire was opened by my skirmishers. These two companies did splendid work, Capt. Worrell having advanced his left about one-fourth of a mile, or until his line was parallel with Capt. Fahnestock's, who covered the right flank during the night. You will readily understand by the description of our movement that my skirmishers were not withdrawn when the regiment moved to its new position on the north of the road leading to Reed's Mill. The firing now became quite severe, the rebels advancing in line of battle. About this time I detailed 2 men from each company, which detail I placed under command of First Lieut. William D. Faulkner, Company D, to procure water from a spring immediately outside of our line of skirmishers. He proceeded on this perilous duty and succeeded in reaching the spring and filling a few canteens with water, but did it under a galling fire from the rebel line, then advancing upon our skirmishers, who stood like a wall of fire between the enemy and our front. The water party were soon compelled to fall back, which they did in good order, as the rebels opened artillery upon them, compelling them to seek shelter in the woods; not, however, until they had paid them to seek shelter in the woods; not, however, until they had paid their compliments to them in the shape of a few well-directed fires from their Enfield rifles. Lieut. Faulkner succeeded in joining the regiment again with all his command except Andrew W. Peters, a private in Company H, who continued too long in the good work, and allowed the rebels to approach him so close as to capture him, and is now a prisoner in their hands. The firing now became severe and continuous, the rebels having advanced their second line. This compelled our skirmishers to fall back and take a new position. The advance of the rebels had now become so formidable and rapid that, before our skirmishers were well aware of it, they had turned our right and threatened to cut them off entirely from the regiment. But becoming aware of their perilous position, they jumped from tree to tree, retreating the while, until Capt. Fahnestock [who held the right] got his company within reach of the rear of our column, which was then moving by the flank [by order of Gen. Steedman] toward the old La Fayette road. Capt. Worrell, however, was not so fortunate, his left being so far advanced, and acting under an order to "hold his position until he heard Barnett's battery open on the enemy," remained too long, and when forced to retreat, found his right covered by the enemy in force. This compelled him to move rapidly to the rear and left, but he was so nearly surrounded by the enemy that he lost 4 men: Sergeant Kingsley, M. V. Birdine, private, wounded and taken prisoners; Lewis L. Lehman and Alexander Bennett, privates, missing [condition not known]. Capt. Worrell succeeded in joining the regiment with the remainder of his company. The conduct of Capt.'s Fahnestock and Worrell, with their companies, on this occasion, I am proud to say, was that of brave and true soldiers, and worthy of the great cause for which we are battling. The regiment then moved with the brigade to Rossville, where we were again drawn up in position to support Capt. Barnett's battery [I, Second Illinois], which had taken position on the mountain on the left of the gap leading south from Rossville, where we remained during the night of the 19th. Early on the morning of the 20th, I moved with the brigade on the Ringgold road, and took up position on an elevated piece of ground near McAfee's Church, where we remained for about two hours. My position was then changed to ground immediately in front of McAfee's Church, in which position we remained until about 1 o'clock in the afternoon, when we moved with the brigade, in compliance with an order, to report to Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger, on the north side of Chickamauga Valley, in prolongation of Gen.'s Steedman's and Whitaker's line of battle. In moving into this position my regiment was in the advance. After passing the field hospital on the old La Fayette road, and the whole column being enveloped in a thick cloud of dust, we were suddenly brought to a halt by a rebel battery opening upon us with shell from the left of the road. Being ordered to leave the main road, which I did by marching by the right flank, which brought us in line of battle by the rear rank. In this order we passed through a narrow skirt of woods and across a field which had been fired by the shells in previous conflict on that ground early in the day. A more desolate sight never met the eye. The entire country seemed to be one smoking, burning sea of ruin. Through this blazing field we marched, while the rebel battery played upon us with spherical case, shell, and almost every conceivable missile of death. Under this fire we moved quietly into the woods skirting the field on the north, where we remained until we extinguished the fire. We then moved into position, my regiment being on the right of the brigade. My line was formed on the crest of the ridge, with my left resting on the Eighty-fifth Illinois, commanded by Col. Dilworth. I immediately deployed a company [A, Capt. William S. Magarity] as skirmishers, covering my right flank. The enemy being beyond musket range, all that we could do was to quietly lie down, and for three and a half hours were the pastime of the rebel battery, which paid its addresses alternately to Barnett's battery and the line of infantry. A new danger suddenly made its appearance in the shape of a 12-pounder solid shot from a battery on our right, which, mistaking us for rebel troops, sent in two enfilading fires, which admonished us to display our colors and to move a little farther under cover. Our casualties while in this position were 1 man killed and 1 wounded, Companies I and B being again the sufferers. As night closed in upon us the firing ceased. I then deployed a company [K, Capt. John F. French] as flankers, covering my right flank. We moved in this order to Rossville, where we arrived about 10 o'clock in the evening, and where we bivouacked for the remainder of the night. About 11 o'clock on Monday morning, September 21, I received an order from our brigade commander, Col. Daniel McCook [who is always ready when the time comes to meet the enemy], to form my regiment immediately and march in the rear of the Fifty-second Ohio Volunteer Infantry, to take up a position on the mountain to the right of the gap leading south from Rossville. We moved to the position assigned us by the flank, my left resting on the One hundred and twenty-fifth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and my right on the Eighty-fifth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and were held in reserve to support the Fifty-second Ohio Volunteer Infantry, commanded by Maj. Holmes. We remained in this position until 9 o'clock in the evening, at which time I received an order to form my regiment in the rear of the brigade, and move through Rossville to Chattanooga, where we arrived at 1 o'clock on Tuesday morning, September 22, 1863. In conclusion, captain, permit me to say that the conduct of the officers and men composing my regiment on the three days we were connected with the troops engaged in the conflict referred to was such as to reflect credit upon themselves and the State they represent, and especially Capt. Worrell, commanding Company B, and his brave officers and men, I most cordially thank for the heroism displayed on Saturday morning, the 19th, and Capt. Fahnestock, acting major [Maj. O. Fountain being in arrest], as well as Adjt. C. D. Irons, for the brave and efficient manner in which they assisted me on that occasion. For coolness and bravery and the patient endurance of the fatigues incident to battle-fields my regiment could not be excelled. I am, sir, your obedient servant, D. W. MAGEE, Lieut.-Col., Comdg. Eighty-sixth Illinois. Capt. E. L. ANDERSON, Acting Assistant Adjutant-Gen., Second Brigade.

Source: Official Records PAGE 875-50 KY., SW. VA., TENN., MISS., N. ALA., AND N. GA. [CHAP. XLII. [Series I. Vol. 30. Part I, Reports. Serial No. 50.]

Illinois 86th Volunteer Infantry (Union)

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