41st Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment
Encyclopedia
The 41st Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry was an infantry
regiment
that served in the Union Army
during the American Civil War
.
and mustered into Federal service on August 5, 1861.
The regiment as a whole saw action with the Army of the Tennessee
at Fort Donelson
, Shiloh
, Corinth
, Hatchie's Bridge
, Vicksburg and Meridian
.
In March, 1864 the veterans of the regiment went of furlough and the newly recruited members of the regiment joined Nathanial Banks' Army of the Gulf
. This non-veteran detachment fought at Fort DeRussy
, Pleasant Hill
, Mansura
and Tupelo
.
The veterans did not rejoin the regiment after their furlough but instead formed a "Veteran's Battalion" and rejoined the Army of the Tennessee in Georgia. They were assigned to guard duty along the railroad near Big Shanty, Marietta and Kenesaw Mountain. Then moved with the army during the March to the Sea and siege of Savannah, Georgia.
The regiment was consolidated with the 53rd Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment
on December 23, 1864.
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
regiment
Regiment
A regiment is a major tactical military unit, composed of variable numbers of batteries, squadrons or battalions, commanded by a colonel or lieutenant colonel...
that served in the Union Army
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
.
Service
The 41st Illinois Infantry was organized at Decatur, IllinoisDecatur, Illinois
Decatur is the largest city and the county seat of Macon County in the U.S. state of Illinois. The city, sometimes called "the Soybean Capital of the World", was founded in 1823 and is located along the Sangamon River and Lake Decatur in Central Illinois. In 2000 the city population was 81,500,...
and mustered into Federal service on August 5, 1861.
The regiment as a whole saw action with the Army of the Tennessee
Army of the Tennessee
The Army of the Tennessee was a Union army in the Western Theater of the American Civil War, named for the Tennessee River. It should not be confused with the similarly named Army of Tennessee, a Confederate army named after the State of Tennessee....
at Fort Donelson
Battle of Fort Donelson
The Battle of Fort Donelson was fought from February 11 to February 16, 1862, in the Western Theater of the American Civil War. The capture of the fort by Union forces opened the Cumberland River as an avenue for the invasion of the South. The success elevated Brig. Gen. Ulysses S...
, Shiloh
Battle of Shiloh
The Battle of Shiloh, also known as the Battle of Pittsburg Landing, was a major battle in the Western Theater of the American Civil War, fought April 6–7, 1862, in southwestern Tennessee. A Union army under Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant had moved via the Tennessee River deep into Tennessee and...
, Corinth
Siege of Corinth
The Siege of Corinth was an American Civil War battle fought from April 29 to May 30, 1862, in Corinth, Mississippi.-Background:...
, Hatchie's Bridge
Battle of Hatchie's Bridge
The Battle of Hatchie's Bridge, also known as Davis's Bridge or Matamora, was fought on October 5, 1862, in Hardeman County and McNairy County, Tennessee, as the final engagement of the Iuka–Corinth Campaign of the American Civil War...
, Vicksburg and Meridian
Battle of Meridian
The Battle of Meridian was fought in Lauderdale County, Mississippi, from February 14 to February 20, 1864, between elements of the Union Army of the Tennessee led by Maj. Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman and Confederate forces under Lt. Gen. Leonidas Polk...
.
In March, 1864 the veterans of the regiment went of furlough and the newly recruited members of the regiment joined Nathanial Banks' Army of the Gulf
Army of the Gulf
The Army of the Gulf was a Union army that served in the general area of the Gulf states controlled by Union forces. It mainly saw action in Louisiana and Alabama.-History:...
. This non-veteran detachment fought at Fort DeRussy
Battle of Fort De Russy
The Battle of Fort De Russy was part of the Red River Campaign in the American Civil War and took place in Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana. On March 12, 1864, Brigadier General A.J. Smith and Brigadier General Joseph Mower led their men towards Shreveport, Louisiana, which they wanted to capture...
, Pleasant Hill
Battle of Pleasant Hill
The Battle of Pleasant Hill was fought on April 9, 1864, during the Red River Campaign of the American Civil War, near Pleasant Hill, Louisiana, between Union forces led by Maj. Gen. Nathaniel P. Banks and Confederate forces, led by Maj. Gen...
, Mansura
Battle of Mansura
The Battle of Mansura was fought near Mansura, Louisiana, on May 16, 1864, during the Red River Campaign of the American Civil War. A Union force defeated elements of the Confederate States Army.-Background:...
and Tupelo
Battle of Tupelo
The Battle of Tupelo was a Union victory over Confederate forces in northern Mississippi which ensured the safety of General William T. Sherman's supply lines.-Background:...
.
The veterans did not rejoin the regiment after their furlough but instead formed a "Veteran's Battalion" and rejoined the Army of the Tennessee in Georgia. They were assigned to guard duty along the railroad near Big Shanty, Marietta and Kenesaw Mountain. Then moved with the army during the March to the Sea and siege of Savannah, Georgia.
The regiment was consolidated with the 53rd Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment
53rd Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment
The 53rd Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Service:The 53rd Illinois Infantry was organized at Ottawa, Illinois and mustered into Federal service in January, 1862....
on December 23, 1864.
Total strength and casualties
The regiment suffered 8 officers and 107 enlisted men who were killed in action or mortally wounded and 3 officers and 107 enlisted men who died of disease, for a total of 225 fatalities.Commanders
- ColonelColonelColonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
Isaac C. PughIsaac C. PughIsaac Campbell Pugh was a United States volunteer soldier who was a veteran of the Black Hawk War, Mexican War and American Civil War rising to the rank of Brevet brigadier general.-Early life:...
- mustered out with the regiment. - Colonel John N. Nale
- List of Illinois Civil War Units
- Illinois in the American Civil WarIllinois in the American Civil WarThe state of Illinois during the American Civil War was a major source of troops for the Union army , and of military supplies, food, and clothing. Situated near major rivers and railroads, Illinois became a major jumping off place early in the war for Ulysses S...