In The Review Queue: The Prairie Boys Go to War:

The Prairie Boys Go to War:

The Fifth Illinois Cavalry, 1861-1865

By Rhonda M. Kohl

Cavalry units from Midwestern states remain largely absent from Civil War literature, and what little has been written largely overlooks the individual men who served. The Fifth Illinois Cavalry has thus remained obscure despite participating in some of the most important campaigns in Arkansas and Mississippi. In this pioneering examination of that understudied regiment, Rhonda M. Kohl offers the only modern, comprehensive analysis of a southern Illinois regiment during the Civil War and combines well-documented military history with a cultural analysis of the men who served in the Fifth Illinois.

The regiment’s history unfolds around major events in the Western Theater from 1861 to September 1865, including campaigns at Helena, Vicksburg, Jackson, and Meridian, as well as numerous little-known skirmishes. Although they were led almost exclusively by Northern-born Republicans, the majority of the soldiers in the Fifth Illinois remained Democrats. As Kohl demonstrates, politics, economics, education, social values, and racism separated the line officers from the common soldiers, and the internal friction caused by these cultural disparities led to poor leadership, low morale, disciplinary problems, and rampant alcoholism.

The narrative pulls the Fifth Illinois out of historical oblivion, elucidating the highs and lows of the soldiers’ service as well as their changing attitudes toward war goals, religion, liberty, commanding generals, Copperheads, and alcoholism. By reconstructing the cultural context of Fifth Illinois soldiers, Prairie Boys Go to War reveals how social and economic traditions can shape the wartime experience.

About the Author

Rhonda M. Kohl is a historian and writer in Jeffersonville, Indiana. Her articles have appeared in the Journal of the Illinois State Historical Society, Arkansas Historical Quarterly, Civil War History, and Illinois Historical Journal.

ISBN 978-0809332038, Southern Illinois University Press, © 2013, Hardcover, 328 pages, Photographs, Maps, End Notes, Bibliography & Index. $39.95.  To purchase a copy of this book click HERE. Show more

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Gen. Grants Column --- A Reconnoisance ---- Rebel Prisoners Seized, &c. &c.

CAIRO, March 28. – A gentleman returned here this morning from Pittsburg and Savannah, on the Tennessee river and reports that on Sunday and Monday last Gen. Sherman made a reconnoissance in force to Pea Ridge, near the line of the Mobile and Ohio Railroad, where it had been reported the rebels were fortifying.  The reconnoissance was completed in every particular, no enemy was found, however, in the neighborhood.  The expedition returned to Pittsburg on Tuesday.

Our forces at Pittsburg are being rapidly augmented.  Steamer after steamer are continually arriving laden with fresh troops.

The latest advices from the rebel camp at Corinth gives the strength of their force there at 170,000 and the apparent efforts of the rebels to fortify the town of Corinth would seem to demonstrate an intention to make a vigorous resistance there.  It is, however, the general belief of all prominent officers of Gen. Grant’s command, that the rebels will retreat on our approach, but should a battle occur Corinth will doubtless be one of the hardest fought and bloodiest affairs of the present war.

On Sunday last information was received at headquarters of Gen. Grant that a considerable amount of pork was stored at a point on the river called Nicholas Landing, sixty miles south of Savannah.  Major M. Smith of the 45th Ill. with one hundred and fifty infantry and Capt. Osband’s company 5th Illinois cavalry was dispatched on a steamer to secure said property. – Arriving at Nicholas Landing information was given by contrabands regarding the locality of the pork in question.  Within a circuit of fifteen miles fifteen thousand pounds of fresh pork, forty-five thousand pounds of pork hams and shoulders were discovered and confiscated and placed on board the steamer and brought to Savannah and turned over to the Commissary Department.  Nicholas Landing and vicinity has been the mart of the pork business for a long time, and immense quantities have been brought there and stored for the use of the confederate army.  Had the information been received two weeks earlier it would have secured to the United States upwards of two hundred thousand pounds of meats.  Within that time the rebels have transported large quantities southward by teams.

On Monday the gunboat Taylor [ran] up the river to the vicinity of Eastport, near which point a masked battery opened upon them at a distance of two hundred yards, one shot striking the smoke stack of the Taylor.  A number of shots were exchanged, but with what effect on the enemy’s works is unknown.  The engagement was spirited while it lasted; upwards of fifty shots were fired.  The Taylor received no other injuries and nobody was hurt.

Captains Bernard and Corson of Gen. Smith’s scouts returned to Savannah from Nashville, overland, on Tuesday night as bearer of despatches from Gen. Buell.  Capt. Bernard reports a strong loyal sentiment in several districts of Tennessee between Columbia and Savannah. – He overtook certain bodies of marauding rebels, but their identity not being suspected they were allowed to pass unmolested.  Union men live in extreme fear of these marauders prowling about the vicinity, and are anxious for the approach of the Government forces.

A man named Morris, one of the Jesse scouts, was hung at Savannah on Sunday for stealing thereabouts.

Gen. Grant has entirely recovered from his recent illness.  Gen. Smith is still confined at his headquarters, but is convalescent.

A steamer arrived early this morning from the flotilla and reports no change in the condition of affairs at Island No. 10.  The bombardment continues with but little interruption, but the results are not indicative of any signs of evacuation by the rebels.

Rumors were afloat that the rebel gunboats had passed Pope’s batteries at Point Pleasant, from below, but they can be traced to no reliable source.  The store is undoubtedly a canard.

The rebels are impressing citizens of Kentucky and Tennessee into service and arming them with axes and pikes.

Four rebels armed with Arkansas toothpicks were arrested near Charleston yesterday, and brought to Bird’s Point; they claim to be refugees from Tennessee.  Their story is disbelieved.  They remain in custody.

Gen. Strong visited the Island to-day.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, April 5, 1862, p. 4

5th Illinois Cavalry

Organized at Camp Butler, Ills., August 31 to December 30, 1861. Moved to Benton Barracks, Mo., February 20, 1862. Thence to Pilot Knob, Mo., March 3. Moved to Doniphan March 27-April 1 and to Pocahontas April 17. Attached to Steele's Division, Army of Southeast Missouri, to May, 1862. Army of Southwest Missouri to July, 1862. District of Eastern Arkansas, Department of Missouri, to December, 1862. 1st Brigade 3rd (Cavalry) Division, District of Eastern Arkansas, to January, 1863. 1st Brigade, 2nd Cavalry Division, 13th Army Corps, Department of the Tennessee, to April, 1863. 1st Brigade, Cavalry Division, District of Eastern Arkansas, to June, 1863. Cavalry Herron's Division, 13th Army Corps to August, 1863. Winslow's Cavalry Brigade, 15th Army Corps to December, 1863. Winslow's Cavalry Brigade, 17th Army Corps, and District of Vicksburg, Miss., to January, 1865. 1st Brigade, Cavalry Division, District of West Tennessee to June, 1865. Departments of the Gulf and Texas to October, 1865.

SERVICE.--Action at Putnam's Ferry, Mo., April 1, 1862. Doniphan April 4. Pocahontas April 21. Scouting and skirmishing in Arkansas and Missouri till June. Smithville June 17 (Cos. "D," "F" and "L"). March to Helena, Ark., June 26-July 14. Hill's Plantation, Cache River, July 7. At Helena, Ark., till May, 1863. Expedition from Helena to Clarendon August 4-17, 1862. Clarendon August 15. Expedition from Helena to Jeffersonville and Mariana September 2-6. Expedition from Clarendon to Lawrenceville and St. Charles September 11-13. Near Helena October 22. Expedition from Helena to Arkansas Post November 16-21. Expedition from Helena to Grenada, Miss., November 27-December 5. Moved to Snyder's Bluff, Miss., May 31-June 1, 1863. Expedition to Satartia June 2-8 (Detachment). Satartia June 4 (Detachment). Raid to Brookhaven June 23-26 (Detachment). Expedition from Snyder's Bluff to Greenville June 25-July 1 (three companies). Rocky Creek, near Ellisville, June 26 (three Companies). Gaines' Landing, Ark., June 28. Advance on Jackson, Miss., July 5-10. Near Clinton July 8. Siege of Jackson July 10-17. Near Canton July 12. Holton's Depot July 16. Grant's Ferry, Pearl River, July 16. Briar Creek, near Canton, July 17. Canton July 18. Bolton's Depot July 24. Raid from Big Black River, on Mississippi Central R. R, and to Memphis, Tenn., August 10-22. Payne's Plantation, near Grenada, August 18. Panola August 20. Coldwater August 21. Moved from Memphis to Vicksburg, Miss., August 23-27, and duty in that District till January, 1865. Expedition from Big Black River to Yazoo City September 27-October 1, 1863 (Detachment). Brownsville September 28 (Detachment). Morris Ford, near Benton, September 29 (Detachment). Expedition to Canton October 14-20. Brownsville October 15. Canton Road, near Brownsville, October 15-16. Near Clinton and Vernon Cross Roads October 16. Bogue Chitto Creek October 17. Robinson's Mills, near Livingston, October 17. Livingston Road, near Clinton, October 18. Oak Ridge January 16, 1864. Meridian Campaign February 3-March 2. Champion's Hill February 4, Jackson February 5. Brandon February 7. Morton February 8. About Meridian February 9 to 13. Hillsboro February 10. Meridian February 13-14. Marion Station February 16. Clinton April 3. Expedition from Vicksburg to Yazoo City May 4-21 (Detachment). Benton May 7-9. Yazoo River May 29. Expedition from Vicksburg to Pearl River July 2-10. Jackson July 7. Expedition from Vicksburg to Deer Creek September 21-26. Expedition to Rodney and Fayette September 29-October 3 (Detachment). Port Gibson September 30. Expedition from Natchez to Woodville October 4-11 (Detachment). Woodville October 5-6 (Detachment). Operations In Issaqueena and Washington Counties October 24-31. Expedition from Vicksburg to Gaines' Landing, Ark., and Bayou Macon, La., November 6-8. Expedition from Vicksburg to Yazoo City November 23-December 4. Franklin Creek, Miss., December 21-22. Moved to Memphis, Tenn., January 24, 1865. Expedition through Southern Arkansas and Northern Louisiana January 26-February 13. At Memphis, Tenn., till June. Expedition into Northern Mississippi March 3-11. Moved to Alexandria, La., via Red River, July 1, thence march to Hempstead, Texas, August 12, arriving August 26, and duty there till October. Moved to Springfield, Ills., October 6-17. Mustered out October 27, 1865.

Regiment lost during service 28 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 5 Officers and 414 Enlisted men by disease. Total 447.

SOURCE: Dyer, Frederick H., A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion, Part 3, p. 1024