ILLINOIS FIFTY-THIRD INFANTRY (Three Years)

Fifty-third Infantry. Cols., William H. W. Cushman, Daniel F. Hitt, Seth C. Earl, John W. McClanahan, Robert H. McFadden; Lieut.-Cols., Daniel F. Hitt, Seth C. Earl, John W. McClanahan, Robert H. McFadden, Charles H. Brush; Majs., Theodore C. Gibson, Seth C. Earl, John W. McClanahan, Rolland H. Allison, Charles H. Brush. This regiment was organized at Ottawa in the winter of 1861-62. 0n Feb. 27, 1862, it was ordered to Chicago to complete its organization and to assist in guarding the Confederate prisoners captured at Fort Donelson. It was ordered to St. Louis on March 23, and from St. Louis to Savannah, Tenn. It was engaged in the siege of Corinth, and for meritorious conduct on the skirmish line was furnished with new Springfield rifles. The following October, near the Hatchie river, it engaged four times its number of the enemy, who were retreating from the battle of Corinth, and moved steadily forward, holding the bridge and road for over 2 hours until other troops could be crossed and placed in position. The regiment lost in that battle 16 killed and 49 wounded. It there assisted in running a section of artillery (a Missouri battery) up the bluff by hand, placing it within 50 yards of the enemy's line, and supported it while it did splendid work. The regiment participated in the gallant but disastrous charge by Gen. Lauman at Jackson, Miss., on July 12, 1863, going into the fight with 250 men and officers and coming out with but 66. The color-guard and bearers were all either killed or wounded. On Feb. 1,1864, the regiment re-enlisted and was mustered as a veteran organization, and on the 3d started on the Meridian campaign. It left Vicksburg on March 13 and reached Ottawa on the 22nd, where the men were furloughed for 30 days. Cos. I and E having been consolidated, a new company was organized and assigned to the regiment as Co. I. Upon returning to the front the regiment was engaged in the siege of Atlanta, and in the engagements of July 19-22 lost 101 men in killed and wounded. It was engaged as skirmishers at Jonesboro, went with the army as far south as Lovejoy's Station, and then returned to East Point. It participated in the march to the sea, and upon arriving in front of the fortifications at Savannah on Dec. 10, the first shell from the enemy exploded in the ranks of Co. I, killing 5 and wounding 6 men. On Jan. 4, 1865, the 4Ist Ill., numbering 222 officers and men, was consolidated with the 53d. In the Carolina campaign the regiment moved by way of Orangeburg Columbia, Cheraw and Fayetteville, and participated in the battle of Bentonville losing 1 man killed and 3 wounded. After Johnston's surrender it marched with the army to Washington and was in the grand review. On June 6 it left Washington for Louisville, Ky., where, on July 22, 1865, the regiment was mustered out and moved to Chicago.

Source: The Union Army, vol. 3

Illinois 53rd Infantry (Union)

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