ILLINOIS TWENTY-FIFTH INFANTRY (Three Years)

The Twenty-fifth was composed of volunteers from the counties of Kankakee, Iroquois, Ford, Vermilion, Douglas, Coles, Champaign and Edgar. At the organization W. N. Coler, of Urbana, Illinois, was commissioned Colonel J.S. McClelland, of ---------, Lieutenant Colonel, and R. H. Nodine, of Urbana, Major. The Regiment rendezvoused at the U. S. Arsenal Park, St. Louis, Mo., August 2,1861, and was mustered into the service for three years August 4, 1861. August 23, left St. Louis for Jefferson City. September 25, left Jefferson City marching via Otterville and Sedalia, crossing the LaMine, Osage and Pomme DeTerre rivers, arriving at Springfield, Mo., October 17. November 8, marched to Wilson Creek and Camp Lyon, returning to Springfield November 10. November 13, marched to Rolla, Mo., arriving there November 19. Remained at Rolla until February 2, 1862 when the Regiment marched back to Springfield and to Pea Ridge, Ark. Engaged in the battle of Pea Ridge March 6, 7, and 8, 1862. The Regiment lost in this battle three killed and seventeen wounded. After marching and counter marching for at least a month, on May 9, the Regiment received orders to report at Cape Girardeau, Mo., where it arrived May 20. May 22, went on board the transport "Henry Clay" en route for Pittsburg Landing, Tenn., arriving there May 26. After marching through Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama and Kentucky, the Regiment arrived in Louisville, Ky., September 26, 1862. October 1, left Louisville. October 8, was held in reserve at the battle of Perryville. Marched south again over the same roads back to Nashville, Tenn., arriving there November 7. Remained at Edgefield and near Nashville scouting and foraging until December 26. Left camp, fought the battle of Stone River, December 30 and 31,1862, and January 1, 2 and 3,1863. Remained in camp near Murfreesboro Tenn., doing picket duty foraying and skirmishing occasionally, until June 26, 1863, when we started south and engaged in the battle of Chickamauga. September 19 and 20, retired to Chattanooga where we built immense works and forts, surrounded by the enemy, on Missionary Ridge and Lookout Mountain. November 23, 24 and 25, engaged in the storming and capture of Missionary Ridge. November 28, left Chattanooga for Knoxville, Tenn., arriving there December 3. Marched and counter-marched all over east Tennessee and back to Cleveland Tenn., where the Regiment remained until June 4, 1864, when the Regiment started for the front with a supply train of 3,000 wagons and 1,000 ambulances. June 7, joined the Brigade and Division. On the march to Atlanta the Regiment was not actually engaged in the heavy battles fought in the campaign against Atlanta, but was on the march every day and engaged almost every day in skirmishing and picket duty. August 1, 1864, the three years having expired, and while the Regiment was in sight Of Atlanta, orders were received for the Regiment to report at Camp Butler, Ill., for muster-out, which event occurred September 6,1864. The men of the Twenty-fifth Illinois traveled on foot during three years 3,252 miles, and by steamboat and railroad 1,710 miles, making a total of 4,962 miles. The Regiment participated in the battles of Pea Ridge, Ark., Stone River Tenn., Chickamauga, Ga., Missionary Ridge, Tenn., Siege of Corinth, Miss., Kenesaw Mountain, Ga., Siege of Atlanta, Ga., and innumerable skirmishes. When the term of service of the Twenty-fifth had expired, Colonel W. H. Gibson, commanding the Brigade to which the Regiment was attached, addressed the men, through an order, in this highly complimentary manner: "Soldiers of the Twenty-fifth Illinois Volunteers: As your term for three years' service has expired, and you are about to proceed to your State to be mustered out, it is fitting and proper that the Colonel commanding should express to each and all his earnest thanks for the cheerful manhood with which, during the present campaign, you have submitted to every hardship, overcome every difficulty, and for the magnificent heroism with which you have met and vanquished the foe. Your deportment in camp has been worthy true soldiers, while your conduct in battle has excited the admiration of your companions in arms. Patriotic thousands and a noble State will give you a reception worthy of your sacrifice and your valor. You have done your duty. The men who rallied under the starry emblem of our nationality at Pea Ridge, Corinth, Chaplin Hills, Stone River, Chickamauga, Mission Ridge. Noonday Creek, Pinetop Mountain, Kenesaw Mountain, Chattahoochie, Peach tree Creek and Atlanta, having made history for all time and coming generations to admire, your services will ever be gratefully appreciated. Officers and soldiers, farewell! May God guarantee to each health, happiness and usefulness in coming life and may our country soon emerge from the gloom of blood that now surrounds it, and again enter upon a career of progress, peace and prosperity." Source: Illinois Adjutant-General's Report, vol. 2, p. 352 Stone's River after battle report: Report of Capt. Wesford Taggart, Twenty-fifth Illinois Infantry. HDQRS. TWENTY-FIFTH REGT. ILLINOIS VOLS., THIRD BRIGADE, FIRST DIVISION, RIGHT WING, Camp near Murfreesborough, Tenn., January 8, 1863. SIR: I have the honor of submitting to you the following report of the operations of the Twenty-fifth Regt. Illinois Infantry during the late battle before Murfreesborough, Tenn.: The regiment left camp, near Nashville, Tenn., at 6.30 a.m. December 26, 1862, under command of Maj. R. H. Nodine, and, after a march of 10 miles, in company with balance of brigade, encountered a force of the enemy near Nolensville. About 3 p.m. were deployed on the right of the brigade; Companies A, I, and K were thrown out to the front as skirmishers. After sharp action, of about two hours' duration, the enemy were driven back, and we bivouacked for the night on the field, the rain falling in torrents. Took 1 prisoners of the Eighth Texas Cavalry. At 7 a.m. on the 27th resumed the march at a distance of 10 miles, encamping near Triune, Col. Thomas D. Williams assuming command early in the morning, Maj. Nodine being detailed on the staff of Maj.-Gen. McCook. At 6 a.m. on the 29th resumed the march; encamped on Stone's River. Distance marched, 15 miles. Detailed five companies as advanced picket. At 3 p.m. on the 30th fell into line. At 8 a.m. marched in close column, by division, in company with rest of brigade. After marching a distance of 1 1/2 miles, arrived at the front; deployed in line of battle, the men stripping knapsacks. Company A, under command of Lieut. T. H. West, was deployed to the front skirmishers, and immediately afterward joined by Companies I and K, under command of Capt. Samuel Houston and Lieut. M. B. Thomspon. The companies, in conjunction with others of the brigade, continued skirmishing until dark, driving the enemy's skirmishers into his main line, Company A losing 6 men wounded, Company I 2 killed and 3 wounded, and Company K 1 wounded. The regiment advanced in line of battle into a strip of timber, and, covered under shelter of a rail fence, a corn-field of about 150 yards in width separating our forces from that of the enemy, Company A was thrown out to the front as skirmishers a distance of 60 yards. The regiment lay in this position until 3 a.m. of the 31st, at which time it was called into line, the Thirty-fifth Illinois on our right and the Eighty-first Indiana on our left, supporting the Eighth Wisconsin Battery. At daybreak a line of the enemy's skirmishers advancing, opened fire on our skirmishers, and were followed immediately afterward by their main body advancing in four consecutive lines of battle diagonally on our left. A change of front was ordered by Col. Williams, which was executed under a heavy fire of musketry. Our regiment then opened a murderous fire on the enemy, completely checking him, and finally driving him back in confusion. The enemy immediately made another advance, and were received with a terrific fire of musketry. Our regiment was, however, forced back a short distance. At this time, while bravely rallying his men, Col. Williams fell mortally wounded by a musket-ball passing through his right breast. He as carried from the field immediately. I then assumed command of the regiment, which by this time had fallen back a distance of 150 paces from the first position. I rallied the men, and, finding them almost destitute of ammunition, immediately dispatched a messenger to Gen. Woodruff to report the fact; then ordered bayonets to be fixed, and charged on the enemy once more, driving him from the field and retaking one Parrott gun, which had been taken by the enemy from the Eighth Wisconsin Battery; also capturing a number of prisoners. At this time, finding all our supplied gone, and flanked on the left, the enemy's lines having passed us on the right, and being unable to communicate with Gen. Woodruff, I assumed the responsibility of withdrawing the regiment in good order to the rear of a battery placed on a commanding eminence, taking with us the piece retaken the enemy, but which we were forced to leave after taking it about 300 yards, on account of a destructive fire being opened on us from one of the enemy's batteries. At this point I reported in person to Maj.-Gen. McCook that we were out of ammunition, and was ordered by him to retire to the ammunition train in the rear. Did so, and supplied ourselves with ammunition. Then, in obedience to orders, took position on the Murfreesborough pike, remaining there until 10 a.m. of January 1, 1863. At this time received orders from Gen. Woodruff to fall back a distance of 300 paces and erect barricades. Did so, remaining there until 4 p.m. of the 2d instant. At this time received orders to fall in line, cross Stone's River, and participate in the action going on the left. Moved forward at a double-quick a distance of 1 1/2 miles, wading the river three times, the last time under a heavy fire of shot and shell from the enemy's battery, placed on an eminence directly in front of our regiment; formed line of battle, and moved forward at a double-quick, charging on the enemy, who, however, speedily retreated. After going a distance of 300 yards in the open field, I halted the regiment, threw out a party of skirmishers in front, built a strong line of barricades, and bivouacked on the field of battle. At daylight of the 3d instant the enemy's sharpshooters, who were concealed in the timbers, opened fire on the regiment, keeping it up until dark, wounding 2 of our men. Remained on the field until 4 a.m. of the 4th instant; then received orders to recross the river and go into camp on the Nashville pike, which we did. Col. Thomas D. Williams acted with great courage, coolness, and bravery until he fall. Capt. Samuel D. Wall was severely wounded while gallantly doing duty as a field officer. He as carried from the field. Lieut.'s Dickson and Hastings were also severely wounded while nobly discharging their duty, and were carried from the field. To the officers and men of the regiment I am deeply indebted for the coolness and bravery shown on every side, all doing nobly. There were present with the regiment the following commissioned officers; Capts. S. D. Wall, S. Houston, B. F. Ford, Z. Hall, and J. Smart, Adjt. G. W. Flynn, First Lieuts. T. H. West, T. J. McKibben, E. Hall, A. Warner, W. J. Sallee, J. H. Hastings, and Second Lieuts. A. Martin, J. C. Gundy, M. B. Thompson, Thomas W. Braselton, S. Dickson, and A. H. South. Our loss is: Killed, 15; wounded, 68; missing, 25.* Very respectfully, WESFORD TAGGART, Capt. Twenty-fifth Illinois, Cmdg. Regt. Lieut. G. W. FLYNN, Acting Assistant Adjutant-Gen.

Source: Official Records PAGE 292-29 KY., MID. AND E. TENN., N. ALA., AND SW. VA. [CHAP. XXXII. [Series I. Vol. 20. Part I, Reports. Serial No. 29.]

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