89th Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment
Encyclopedia
The 89th Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, nicknamed the Railroad Regiment, was an infantry
regiment
that served in the Union Army
during the American Civil War
.
It participated in the battles of Stones River
, Liberty Gap, Chickamauga
, Orchard Knob and Missionary Ridge
, Pickett's Mill, the Atlanta Campaign
, and Nashville
. Its brigade commander for most of the American Civil War
was August Willich
- regimental commander for most of the war was Charles T. Hotchkiss. Major John M. Farquhar
- then Sergeant Major- was awarded the Medal of Honor
for heroic service at the Battle of Stones River.
The regiment was mustered out on June 10, 1865 and discharged at Chicago, Illinois on June 24, 1865.
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 89th Illinois Infantry was organized at Chicago, Illinois and mustered into Federal service on August 27, 1862. The regiment was nicknamed the "Railroad Regiment" due to the important role Chicago, Illinois based Railroad companies had in raising and filing the Regiments' roster. The Regiment motto, "Clear the Tracks" was stitched onto the national flag.It participated in the battles of Stones River
Stones River
The Stones River is a major stream of the eastern portion of Tennessee's Nashville Basin region.-Geography and hydrography:The Stones River is composed of three major forks: the West, Middle, and East forks. The West Fork, long, rises in southernmost Rutherford County near the Bedford County...
, Liberty Gap, Chickamauga
Chickamauga
Chickamauga may refer to:* Chickamauga Indian* Chickamauga Wars , battles between Cherokee and Anglo-American pioneer settlers; also related to the American Revolutionary War* Chickamauga, Georgia...
, Orchard Knob and Missionary Ridge
Missionary Ridge
Missionary Ridge is a geographic feature in Chattanooga, Tennessee, site of the Battle of Missionary Ridge, a battle in the American Civil War, fought on November 25, 1863. Union forces under Maj. Gens. Ulysses S. Grant, William T. Sherman, and George H...
, Pickett's Mill, the Atlanta Campaign
Atlanta Campaign
The Atlanta Campaign was a series of battles fought in the Western Theater of the American Civil War throughout northwest Georgia and the area around Atlanta during the summer of 1864. Union Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman invaded Georgia from the vicinity of Chattanooga, Tennessee, beginning in May...
, and Nashville
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
. Its brigade commander for most of 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...
was August Willich
August Willich
August Willich , born Johann August Ernst von Willich, was a military officer in the Prussian Army and a leading early proponent of Communism in Germany. In 1847 he discarded his title of nobility...
- regimental commander for most of the war was Charles T. Hotchkiss. Major John M. Farquhar
John M. Farquhar
John McCreath Farquhar was a United States Representative from New York and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor.-Biography:...
- then Sergeant Major- was awarded the Medal of Honor
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
for heroic service at the Battle of Stones River.
The regiment was mustered out on June 10, 1865 and discharged at Chicago, Illinois on June 24, 1865.
Total strength and casualties
The regiment suffered 12 officers and 121 enlisted men who were killed in action or who died of their wounds and 1 officer and 172 enlisted men who died of disease, for a total of 306 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...
John Christopher - Returned to Regular Army on January 7, 1863. - Colonel Charles T. Hotchkiss - Mustered out with the regiment.
Further Reading
- Pearson, Thomas L. "Railroad Boys: The Story of the 89th Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment (1862-1865)". St. Louis, Mo: Infinity Mirror Press, 2009.