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assigned to the First
Brigade of General Lander's division, and was soon ordered to Patterson's Creek, below Cumberland. At this period the regiment suffered seriously from sickness, occasioned by constant exposure and excessive duty. The weather was intensely cold, and cattle cars were the only quarters to be had for the command. But the men endured these hardships for over two months with scarcely a murmur, notwithstanding their comrades were almost daily dying around them. These days and weeks will ever be remembered as being more terrible than were those in which the enemy was confronted on the battle-field. From Patterson's Creek the Thirty-ninth to the advance, protecting the workmen in repairing the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad to Martinsburg. The regiment, from Martinsburg, participated in a reconnaissance to Strasburg, and, on its return, took part in the brilliant fight at Winchester, March 23, 1862, that resulted in the utter defeat of "Stonewall" Jackson's forces. The regiment suffered but little during the engagement, owing to its position, which was the extreme left. The ensuing day it took the advance in pursuing the enemy down the Shenandoah Valley, as far as New Market, where it was detached and sent into the Luray Valley, to protect bridges over the South Branch of the Shenandoah River.
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and courage, the enemy was held in check for nearly twenty-four hours. Company G, under command of
Captain Slaughter, was also attacked at Great Cacapon Bridge, but repulsed the enemy with considerable loss. A heavy force was approaching, and this Company, not being able to ford the Potomac, retreated up the railroad to Cumberland, Maryland. Colonel Osborn, with the remaining portion of the regiment, was simultaneously attacked at Alpine Station. Companies C and F, in command of Captain Munn, drew into ambush about five hundred (500) of Ashby's Cavalry, and, after killing and wounding 30, routed them. The regiment finally forded the Potomac, sustaining no serious loss, except in the matter of camp and garrison equipage, and took up a new position on the Maryland shore.
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back to the Valley, making forced marches over a distance of one hundred and eighty miles. After a few days' rest, the regiment was ordered to
Alexandria, Virginia, and immediately embarked on transports for the James River, and reached Harrison's Landing in time to take part in the closing scenes of General McClellan's seven days fight and seven nights retreat. While at Harrison's Landing, the regiment was kept at the front, on picket duty, and had a series of unimportant skirmishes, until about the middle of August, when it participated in the second Malvern Hill fight, but without material injury. From this point a number of officers and men were sent away sick.
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was temporarily disabled by the premature discharge of a heavy piece of ordnance. The regiment formed the advance of their
Brigade, temporarily commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Mann, and occupied the trenches on the night that it was discovered the fort was being evacuated. As soon as this fact was known, Thirty-ninth entered the fort, captured the enemy's rear-guard, cut several fuses were laid with the design to blow up the structure on the approach of Union troops, and planted the Regimental colors on the parapet some two hours before the time appointed for the general charge.
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Missouri, but without success. The regiment had already assumed the name of His
Excellency, the governor of Illinois, and was known as the "Yates Phalanx". Governor Yates manifested an earnest desire to see it brought into the service, and sent General O. L. Mann (then known as Captain) to Washington, with strong commendatory letters to the president and secretary of war, urging the acceptance of the regiment, which at this time had over 800 men on the rolls.
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The Thirty-ninth left the Valley the 1st of May 1862, with Shield's division, and making a continued march of one hundred and fifty (150) miles, reported to
General McDowell at Fredericksburg. After one day's rest, the news of General Bank's defeat in the Valley arrived, and the regiment was ordered
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The regiment was next ordered on to Morris Island, where it was assigned to
General Alfred H. Terry's division, and again worked zealously and long in the trenches, parallels and forts which resulted in the final capture of Fort Wagner. A day or two previous to the fall of this fort, Colonel Osborn
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The regiment was accepted on the day succeeding the first Bull Run disaster, and Austin Light, of
Chicago, was appointed colonel; and under his direction the organization was completed, and left Camp Mather, Chicago, on the morning of October 13, 1861. The day previous to the departure, a beautiful
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Cumberland was at this period, threatened, and the Thirty-ninth was ordered to make a forced march of forty (40) miles, over terrible roads, which was accomplished in the short space of eighteen hours. From
Cumberland the regiment was ordered to New Creek, Virginia, to guard a bridge, and was here
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January 3, 1862, the advance of a rebel force 15,000 strong, under command of "Stonewall" Jackson, attacked
Companies D, I and K, in the command of Major Mann, near Bath, Virginia, and, after a brisk little fight, were repulsed; then, with two pieces of artillery, and a liberal display of strategy
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October 29, the regiment received orders to proceed to Williamsport, Maryland, where it was fully armed and equipped. December 11, it pressed on to Hancock, Maryland, at which point it crossed the Potomac River, and was distributed in detachments along the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, to assist in
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On the 23, January 1863, the regiment broke camp, and marched a distance of seventy-five miles, to the Chowan River, where it took transports, and reported to General Foster, at Newbern, North Carolina. Colonel T. O. Osborn was her placed in command of the First Brigade, O. S. Ferry's Division of
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January 20, 1863, the regiment again embarked, accompanying General Foster's expedition to Hilton Head, South Carolina. It remained in camp on St. Helena Island, South Carolina, for several weeks, where a most favorable opportunity for drill and discipline was diligently improved. An experienced
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The regiment was here assigned to the First Brigade, Peck's division, Keyes' Corps, and retreated with the army to Fort Monroe. September 1, it was sent to Suffolk, Virginia, where it remained for the space of three months, fortifying the place, and making frequent expeditions to the Blackwater,
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General T. O. Osborn was one of its contemplated field officers, and labored zealously to get it accepted under the first call for troops, but did not accomplish his object. The state having filled its quota without this regiment, efforts were made to get it accepted into the State service of
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Major S. W. Munn, in command of four companies, met a small cavalry force at Columbia Bridge, and, after a brisk skirmish, dislodged the enemy, putting out the fire which they had applied to the structure, and capturing thirty (30) prisoners.
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stand of colors was presented to the regiment by Miss Helen Arion, daughter of Colonel Arion. It had also won a handsome flag at a prize drill, under the auspices of the Illinois Agricultural Society, then in session at Chicago.
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The 1st of April, the regiment took part in General Hunter's expedition against Charleston, and, after landing on Folly Island, took a prominent part in the erection of batteries with which Morris Island was taken.
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Foster's Corps. A beautiful flag was here presented to the regiment, from His Excellency, Governor Yates, being his portrait, and which was carried through all the subsequent battles of the Thirty-ninth.
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The regiment suffered 12 officers and 129 enlisted men who were killed in action or who died of their wounds and 2 officers and 130 enlisted men who died of disease, for a total of 273 fatalities
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inspecting officer here paid the Thirty-ninth a flattering compliment, by pronouncing it the best drilled and the best equipped Regiment in the division.
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where heavy skirmishes frequently occurred. On one occasion it participated in the capture of two pieces of artillery and forty prisoners.
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The organization of this regiment was commenced as soon as the news of the firing on Fort Sumter reached Chicago.
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At Suffolk, about the 1st of December, Major S. W. Munn resigned, on account of ill health, and returned home.
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On leaving Chicago, the regiment reported to Brigadier General Curtis, at Camp Benton, St. Louis, Missouri.
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Dr Charles M Clark History of the Thirty-Ninth Illinois Infantry Regiment...1899
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of Company G received the medal posthumously for his actions at the
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Chicago To Appomattox: The 39th Illinois Infantry In The Civil War
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39th Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry "Yates' Phalanx"
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of Company K was awarded the medal for his service as a
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Company K - LaSalle, McLean, and Cook Counties
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Colonel Austin Light - dismissed on November 25, 1861
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Military units and formations disestablished in 1865
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Units and formations of the Union Army from Illinois
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442:Military units and formations established in 1861
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229:Company C - Livingston and Cook Counties
357:United States Army Center of Military History
349:"Medal of Honor Recipients - Civil War (A–L)"
241:Company I - DeWitt and Boone Counties
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135:The 39th Illinois Infantry was organized at
231:Company D - Ogle and DeWitt Counties
237:Company G - Cook and Will Counties
235:Company F - Cook and Lake Counties
233:Company E - Will and Cook Counties
289:while serving with the regiment. Private
162:guarding that important line of transit.
110:39th Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry
225:Company A - Will and Cook Counties
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112:, nicknamed "Yates' Phalanx," was an
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319:Illinois in the American Civil War
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297:on August 16, 1864, and Corporal
363:from the original on 21 May 2011
324:List of Illinois Civil War Units
281:- mustered out with the regiment
259:The regiment's commanders were:
227:Company B - McLean County
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437:1861 establishments in Illinois
239:Company H - Cook County
221:Companies and county of origins
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247:Total strength and casualties
295:Second Battle of Deep Bottom
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307:Third Battle of Petersburg
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214:Billinghurst Requa Battery
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407:. McFarland and Company.
143:Adjutant General's Report
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353:Medal of Honor Citations
90:Battle of Drewry's Bluff
86:Bermuda Hundred Campaign
403:Baker, Jason B (2021).
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381:The Civil War Archive
208:The 39th Illinois at
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386:Civil War ILL Genweb
359:. December 3, 2010.
291:Henry M. Hardenbergh
82:Siege of Fort Wagner
285:Two men earned the
277:Lieutenant Colonel
119:that served in the
98:Appomattox Campaign
94:Siege of Petersburg
78:Battle of Kernstown
30:Illinois state flag
309:on April 2, 1865.
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125:American Civil War
414:978-1-4766-8620-2
272:brigadier general
137:Chicago, Illinois
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268:Thomas O. Osborn
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397:Further reading
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123:during the
74:Engagements
426:Categories
335:References
121:Union Army
54:Allegiance
39:1861–1865
361:Archived
313:See also
266:Colonel
117:regiment
114:infantry
68:Infantry
367:June 5,
305:at the
255:Members
131:Service
44:Country
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64:Branch
36:Active
58:Union
409:ISBN
369:2011
108:The
216:gun
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