39th Illinois Infantry

Organized at Chicago, Ill., and mustered in October 11, 1861. Left state for St. Louis, Mo., October 13, thence ordered to Williamsport, Md., October 29, 1861. Attached to R. R. Guard, Dept. of West Virginia, to January, 1862, 1st Brigade, Lander's Division, Army of the Potomac, to March, 1862. 2nd Brigade, Shields' 2nd Division, Banks' 5th Army Corps, to April, 1862, and Department of the Shenandoah to May, 1862. 2nd Brigade, Shields' Division, Dept. of the Rappahannock, to July, 1862. 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, 4th Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, to September, 1862. Ferry's Brigade, Division at Suffolk, Va., 7th Army Corps, Dept. of Virginia, to December, 1862. 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, 18th Army Corps, Dept. of North Carolina, to February, 1863. 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, 18th Army Corps, Dept. of the South, to April, 1863. U.S. Forces, Folly Island, S.C., 10th Army Corps, Dept. of the South, to June, 1863. 2nd Brigade, Folly Island, S.C., 10th Army Corps, June, 1863. 1st Brigade, Folly Island, S.C., 10th Army Corps, to July, 1863. 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, Morris Island, S.C. 10th Army Corps, July, 1863. 1st Brigade, Morris Island, S.C., 10th Army Corps, to October, 1863. Howell's Brigade, Gordon's Division, Folly Island, S.C., to December, 1863. District of Hilton Head, S.C., 10th Army Corps, to April, 1864. 1st Brigade, 1st Division, 10th Army Corps, Army of the James, Dept. of Virginia and North Carolina, to December, 1864. 1st Brigade, 1st Division, 24th Army Corps, to August, 1865. District of Eastern Virginia, Dept. of Virginia, to December, 1865.

SERVICE. – Moved from Williamsport, Md., to Hancock, Md., December 11, 1861, and guard duty on Baltimore and Ohio R. R. till January, 1862. Action near Bath January 3, 1862 (Cos. "D," "I," and "K"). Great Cacapon Bridge January 3 (Co. "G"). Alpine Station January 3 Companies "A," "B," "C," "E," "F" and "H." Retreat to Cumberland, Md., January 5. Moved to New Creek, Va., thence to Patterson's Creek and duty there till March. Advance on Winchester, Va., March 7-15. Reconnoissance to Strasburg March 18. Action at Kernstowy March 22. Battle of Winchester March 23. Pursuit to New Market. Mt. Jackson March 25. Strasburg March 27. Woodstock April 1. Edenburg April 2. Occupation of Mt. Jackson, April 17. In Luray Valley till May, guarding bridges over South branch Shenandoah River. March to Fredericksburg, Va., May 12-21, thence to Front Royal March 25-30. Moved to Alexandria, thence to Harrison's Landing, Va., June 29-July 2. Chickahominy Swamps July 3-4. At Harrison's Landing till August 16. Moved to Fortress Monroe, Va., August 16-22, and duty there till September 1. Moved to Suffolk, Va,, and duty there till January, 1863. Skirmishes on the Blackwater October 9-25-29-30. Expedition from Suffolk December 1-3, 1862. Action near Franklin on the Blackwater December 2. Zuni October 20 and 25 and December 12, 1862. Moved to New Berne, N. C., January 23, thence to Port Royal, S. C, January 28-February 1. Camp at St. Helena Island, S.C., till April. Expedition against Charleston April 7-13. Occupation of Folly Island, S.C., April 13 to July 10. Attack on Morris Island, S.C., July 10. Assaults on Fort Wagner, Morris Island, S.C., July 11 and 18. Siege of Forts Wagner and Gregg, Morris Island, S.C., and operations against Fort Sumpter and Charleston July 18-September 7. Capture of Forts Wagner and Gregg, September 7. Siege operations against Charleston, S.C., till October. Duty at Folly Island, S.C., till December and at Hilton Head, S. C, till April, 1864. Veterans on furlough January 1 to February 3, 1864, then moved from Chicago to Washington, D.C., thence to Yorktown, Va. Butler's operations on south side of the James River and against Petersburg and Richmond May 5-June 15. Occupation of Bermuda Hundred and City Point May 5. Chester Station June 6-7. Weir Bottom Church May 9. Swift Creek or Arrow field Church May 9-10. Proctor's and Palmer's Creeks and Drury's Bluff May 12-16. Defences of Bermuda Hundred, May 16-June 15. Weir Bottom Church, May 20. Bermuda Hundred June 2 and 14. Bermuda Front June 16-17. Siege operations against Petersburg and Richmond June 16, 1864, to April 2, 1865. On the Bermuda Hundred front till August 14, 1864. Demonstration north of the James August 14-18. Strawberry Plains, Deep Bottom, August 14-18. Deep Run August 16. In trenches before Petersburg August 25-September 27. Chaffin's Farm, New Market Heights, September 28-30. Darbytown Road October 13. Battle of Fair Oaks October 27-28. In trenches before Richmond till March 27, 1865. Moved to Hatcher's Run March 27-28. Appomattox Campaign March 28-April 9. Hatcher's Run March 29-31. Assaults on Petersburg April 1-2. Assault on Fort Gregg and fall of Petersburg. April 2. Pursuit of Lee April 3-9. Appomattox Court House April 9. Surrender of Lee and his army. Duty at Richmond till August, and at Norfolk, Va., till December. Mustered out December 6 and Discharged at Chicago, Ill., December 16, 1865.

Regiment lost during service 12 Officers and 129 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 2 Officers and 130 Enlisted men by disease. Total 273.

SOURCE: Frederick H. Dyer, A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion, Part 3, p. 1063

The Illinois New Constitution

The statement industriously circulated that a number of Illinois regiments have voted almost unanimously for the new constitution, is wholly untrue.  It was set afloat in order to discourage opposition to the instrument.  The two regiments on the Potomac – 8th cavalry and the 39th infantry – are understood to be unanimous against it.  Letters from Springfield say that there is a high probability that it will be defeated – the nullifying section of article 2, and the extraordinary clause giving Justice’s of the Peace authority to imprison citizens for 30 days without appeal, being extremely unpopular. – Wash. Dispatch N. Y. Trib. 14th.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Monday Morning, May 19, 1862, p. 2

St. Louis Budget of News and Rumors

ST. LOUIS, Feb. 19. – Accounts from every camp in the State represent the joy of our troops over the Donelson victory unbounded. – At Pilot Knob a salute was fired last evening.

The officers of Col. Carlin’s 39^th Illinois gave a ball in honor of the event.

A little rebel outbreak took place yesterday morning twelve miles from Jefferson City.  There was two companies of rebels organized near Stonington, destined for Price’s army, and before leaving they revenged themselves of some loyal citizens by killing two and wounding five more.  Gen. Pope dispatched three companies of cavalry after them and their capture is almost certain.

Prof. Swallow, State Geologist, residing at Columbia, Boone county, was arrested today for disloyalty.

The report of burning the bridge of the Memphis & Charleston Railroad at Decatur, Ala., by Union sympathizers is not believed at headquarters.

Ten steamboats are advertised to leave to-day for Paducah.  They carry troops up the Tennessee river.

Gen. Halleck issued an order thanking Gen. Hunter now in Kansas, for the energy displayed in organizing troops in this department prior to his (Halleck’s) arrival, by whose aid our arms were partially enabled to triumph at Donelson.  The meaning of this order, which takes the form of a telegraphic dispatch to Gen. Hunter, is by no means clear.

Gen. Halleck has also issued a spirited order congratulating out troops on their recent success, and encouraging them to look for future victories at times and places already selected.

On Change [sic] yesterday and to-day there has been a decided advance in everything needed at the South in anticipation of an early permission to trade with Tennessee.  It is noticed that whisky advanced considerably.

More arrests for disloyalty are constantly occurring.  Seventeen Rebel prisoners, not being guilty of violating the rules of war, were released to-day on giving bonds and subscribing to the oath.

Deputy Provost Marshal, Gen. Thomas C. Fletcher, proceeded to Alton this p. m. by Gen. Halleck’s order, to release a large number of prisoners from the penitentiary on parole, mostly those who have never borne arms.  Where bonds are given Secessionists are invariably preferred to Union men, as in cases of default no compunction will be felt in seizing property.

The 42^nd Illinois regiment went down the river last night, on the War Eagle.  The Edward Walsh, also, carried 1,400 troops, and an immense quantity of baggage.

Brigadier Gen. Pope, and Staff, proceed south immediately, on the steamer Northerner, which boat also carries a regiment from St. Charles.

Constable’s Ohio battery and two batteries of the 1^st Missouri artillery, are en route for the Cumberland river.  Likewise, the Henry Chouteau steamer is loading with the baggage of the 24^th Indiana regiment.

The shipment of pig lead from this point without a permit, is prohibited.

Another company of nurses have left here for Cairo and vicinity, to attend the wounded from Fort Donelson.

The provost Marshal has ordered all business to be suspended on the 22d inst.  Extensive preparations are progressing for a magnificent celebration.

The Sanitary Commission are preparing hospitals for a large accession of wounded patriots.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, February 22, 1862, p. 3