Pontiac & the Civil War

Company G of the 53^rd Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment

Shortly after President Lincoln’s call for volunteers, 42 men from Pontiac traveled 43 miles north to Ottawa to join in the formation of Company G of the 53^rd Illinois Volunteer Infantry. They completed training at Fort Douglas in Chicago and were sent to Tennessee, where they took part in the second day of fighting at the Battle of Shiloh from April 6-7, 1862, under Gen. Ulysses S. Grant. Later, the 53^rd saw action in such important battles as Corinth and Vicksburg.

At the Battle of Jackson, MS, on May 14, 1863, the 53^rd participated in what was later called a “gallant but disastrous charge,” during which 250 men and officers went into the fight — only 66 returned. In October 1864, the 53^rd marched to Kingston, GA, and joined Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman’s forces during the siege of Atlanta. After that victory, the unit took part in Sherman’s March to the Sea and the march through the Carolinas. At the end of the war, the men of the 53^rd marched to Washington, D.C., to take part in the Grand Review, which took place over two days in the Capitol. They were then sent by rail west to Chicago, given final pay, and dismissed from the service.

129^th Illinois Infantry Regiment

In August 1862, a new Illinois Infantry Regiment, the 129^th, was formed in Pontiac. The unit had 927 officers and men divided into 10 companies. Half of the regiment came from either Pontiac or the surrounding communities of Livingston County (Companies A, B, C, E, and G). The other half consisted of volunteers from Scott County (Companies D, F, H, and I) and Rock Island County (Company K) in Western Illinois. The men of the 129^th were trained in Pontiac before being ordered to Louisville, KY, to confront Confederate Gen. Braxton Bragg and his forces. Later, the 129^th was ordered to Mitchellville, KY, to protect the valuable bridges and railways that were critical to keeping Union forces in the field supplied.

From June 1 to Aug. 22, 1863, the 129^th garrisoned Fort Thomas at Gallatin, TN, which was threatened by Confederate Gen. John Hunt Morgan and his command of raiders. The unit was then placed in garrison at Nashville, where it stayed until ordered to the Wauhatchie Valley in Tennessee. On May 3, 1864, the unit joined Sherman’s army at Atlanta for his March to the Sea, then continued with Sherman as he fought his way up through South and North Carolina. The 129^th played a conspicuous part at the battles of Averysboro and Bentonville, the latter being last major battle of the war. After the end of the war, the men of the 129^th also marched to Washington, D.C., to take part in the Grand Review. After the parade, the men were sent to Chicago by rail, given their final pay, and returned to their homes. During the war, two officers of the 129^th were killed and 50 soldiers of the line were killed or mortally wounded in battle. Scores of men were less seriously wounded, and 128 men were lost to disease or other non-combat causes for a regimental total of 180 dead.

Other Civil War Units with Livingston County & Pontiac Personnel

Cogswell’s Battery — Organized in Ottawa and mustered on Nov. 11, 1861, as Company A Artillery of 53^rd Illinois Infantry, then detached. The battery was in the service three years and nine months, marched more than 7,500 miles, and participated in seven sieges and many battles, including Corinth, Vicksburg, and Missionary Ridge (Chattanooga, TN).

Company D of 20^th Illinois Infantry — Organized May 14, 1861, in Joliet a month after Fort Sumter, and mustered into the Union Army on June 13, 1861. The unit saw service at the battles of Fort Donelson and Shiloh. They also spent time guarding bridges in Tennessee. Other actions included the siege of Vicksburg and the Battle of Jackson. The 20^th then joined Sherman at Kennesaw Mountain in Georgia. They later participated in Sherman’s March to Sea.

Company K of 3^rd Illinois Cavalry — The Regiment was organized in August 1861 at Camp Butler, east of Springfield. The unit participated in many battles, including Vicksburg, Port Gibson, Port Hudson, and in Western Louisiana. On Aug. 21, 1864, many veterans left the 3^rd Illinois Cavalry, their terms of service having expired. The remaining members served until the end of the war and were then sent into Indian Territory in Minnesota and the Dakotas.

Company G of 69^th Illinois Infantry — The 69^th Regiment was organized at Camp Douglas in Chicago and mustered into service June 14, 1862. It remained on duty at Camp Douglas, guarding the camp and rebel prisoners.

Company F of the 138^th Illinois Infantry — Mustered in for 100 days service on June 21, 1864, the 138^th chased Confederate guerrillas in Missouri for most of its 100 days and was then mustered out of the service Oct. 14, 1864.