32nd Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment
The 32nd Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry was organized at Camp Butler, Illinois and was mustered into service on December 31, 1861. Company F. of the 32nd Illinois Volunteer Infantry was organized and raised in Upper Alton by George Jenks. The company was made up entirely of Alton and Upper Alton men.
The regiment fought at Shiloh, Corinth, Matamora, Vicksburg, Atlanta Campaign, Kennesaw Mountain, Sherman's March to the Sea, and Bentonville during the Campaign of the Carolinas.
By January 20, 1862, the 32nd Illinois arrived at Cairo and drew arms, smooth-bore muskets altered from flint-lock. By the Fall of 1862, returns for the regiment show that they were replacing their old smoothbore muskets with Enfield rifles in large numbers. The Enfield would be carried as the main rifle in service with the regiment through 1864. In 1864, the Regiment re-enlisted as a Veteran Infantry Regiment, and took new arms, Springfield 1855's.
Initially, the 32nd received the iconic nine button Illinois State Jacket. Tin-type photos of soldiers in this regiment that are dated prior to and around the Battle of Shiloh show them wearing forage caps, also typical of early war Illinois troops. Following Shiloh and Corinth, the Regiment occupied Corinth, and returns, as well as photographs, show the men of the 32nd adopting the US Army Dress hat, otherwise known as the "Hardee Hat" as a common practice.
This is how the men of the 32nd would have appeared in late 1862 to early 1863.
The regiment fought at Shiloh, Corinth, Matamora, Vicksburg, Atlanta Campaign, Kennesaw Mountain, Sherman's March to the Sea, and Bentonville during the Campaign of the Carolinas.
By January 20, 1862, the 32nd Illinois arrived at Cairo and drew arms, smooth-bore muskets altered from flint-lock. By the Fall of 1862, returns for the regiment show that they were replacing their old smoothbore muskets with Enfield rifles in large numbers. The Enfield would be carried as the main rifle in service with the regiment through 1864. In 1864, the Regiment re-enlisted as a Veteran Infantry Regiment, and took new arms, Springfield 1855's.
Initially, the 32nd received the iconic nine button Illinois State Jacket. Tin-type photos of soldiers in this regiment that are dated prior to and around the Battle of Shiloh show them wearing forage caps, also typical of early war Illinois troops. Following Shiloh and Corinth, the Regiment occupied Corinth, and returns, as well as photographs, show the men of the 32nd adopting the US Army Dress hat, otherwise known as the "Hardee Hat" as a common practice.
This is how the men of the 32nd would have appeared in late 1862 to early 1863.
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