ILLINOIS EIGHTY-SEVENTH INFANTRY (Three Years)

Eighty-seventh Infantry. Col., John E. Whiting; Lieut.Col., John M. Crebs; Maj., George W. Land. This regiment was enlisted in Aug., 1862, and was composed of Cos. A and E, from Hamilton county, H from Edwards, D from Wayne, and B, C, F, G, I and K, from White. In the latter part of August the companies went into camp at Shawneetown, Ill., where the organization of the regiment was effected, and it was mustered in Oct. 3, the muster to take effect from Aug. 2. On Jan. 31, 1863, it embarked on the two transports Freestone and May Duke for Memphis, Tenn., arriving there on Feb. 4. While at that city the 87th and 63d Ill. regiments made a raid on Hernando, Miss., capturing a great deal of property and putting a stop to the incursions of Col. Bligh's partisan Confederate cavalry. These two regiments joined in the Vicksburg campaign and on May 22 closed up the gap on the extreme left of the line of investment, where they remained for 6 hours under a steady fire of shot and shell from the enemy's works. On the night of July 4 the regiment moved out on the road to Jackson Miss., and participated in the battles before and after reaching that place. During September and October it was engaged in the movements along the Atchafalaya river and Bayou Teche, being in the affairs at Grand Coteau and Vermillionville, La. In April, 1864, it was actively engaged at the battle of Bayou de Paul, losing about 30 men in killed and wounded. It took part in the battle of Sabine cross-roads and was the only regiment in that disastrous defeat that left the field in regimental formation. On the following day it was in the battle of Pleasant Hill, and on the retreat to Alexandria it was either in the front, flank or rear of the retreating column, constantly engaged with the enemy's skirmishers. In May it was in the advance and continually under fire in the movement from Alexandria to Simsport, being in the battle of Marksville. On May 2l it went into camp at Morganza bend, La. where it remained during the summer and fall, engaged in scouting and fighting along the network of bayous between the Mississippi on the east and Atchafalaya on the west, Red river on the north and Bayou Plaquemine on the south. It captured more prisoners, horses and stores, and destroyed more Confederate property, than all the combined forces camped at Morganza. Early in August a detachment of about 50 men from the regiment was surrounded and captured by a largely superior force of the enemy near Williamsport, La. In Jan., 1865, the regiment moved to Helena, Ark., where it remained doing scouting service until mustered out, June 16, 1865, and ordered to Springfield, Ill., where it arrived June 24.

Source: The Union Army, vol. 3

Illinois 87th Volunteer Infantry (Union)

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