22nd Illinois Volunteers at Stone's River - 1862
22nd Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment, Company B.
The 22nd Regiment of Illinois Volunteers was organized in Alton, and Belleville and were mustered in for Federal Service on June 25, 1861 at Caseyville, Illinois.
Captain Harrison E. Hart and the Alton Union Guards had reported to Springfield in April as a nearly full company around the same time as the Alton Jaeger Guards. However, with the quota of Companies being filled, disappointed, the men returned to Alton.
Captain Hart then spent time recruiting more men, and two months later he would assist in the organization of the 22nd Illinois, serving as the Lieutenant Colonel. The Alton Union Guard, now with John Seaton as their Captain would serve as Company B in this regiment.
On December 31st 1862, the 22nd Illinois, already an experienced and depleted regiment, would take part in the Battle of Stone's River. The fighting would take a disastrous toll on the regiment, with 199 men killed, captured, wounded or missing of the original 342 who went into fighting on the first day. The battle also cost the regiment every single officer above the company level. Another indicator of the ferocity of the fighting, not a single horse from the regiment would survive the battle. The men of the 22nd Illinois, as they had done at Belmont and Corinth, proved their bravery, and maintained a reputation for gallantry and effectiveness in field maneuvers.
"The fight raged in all its fierceness and about noon the enemy made a more determined fight on account of our battery getting out of ammunition and the enemy was not slow in finding it out. Colonel Roberts, seeing how matter stood, ordered us to fall back which we did in good order. As we were going back, Lieutenant Colonel Swanwick ordered us to about face and charge which we did with a yell. It was a mistake and Colonel Roberts stopped us and sent us back. This is the darkest time we saw that day. The enemy was in our rear and on our flanks and pressing hard in front. We were surrounded and many a face showed what it felt. The idea came forcibly to our minds that we would be forced to a surrender. The scene we saw here was a fearful one. Men were struck down on all sides, the missiles flew from all directions, and we sought no shelter. The boys took it all coolly and jokes passed freely." - Corporal William M Austin, 22nd Illinois Volunteers
The regiment fought at Belmont, New Madrid/Island No. 10, Siege of Corinth, Stone's River, Tullahoma Campaign, Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge, Buzzard's Roost Gap, and Resaca.
Regiment lost during service 2 Officers and 145 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded, and 2 Officers and 101 Enlisted men by disease. Total 250.
Captain Harrison E. Hart and the Alton Union Guards had reported to Springfield in April as a nearly full company around the same time as the Alton Jaeger Guards. However, with the quota of Companies being filled, disappointed, the men returned to Alton.
Captain Hart then spent time recruiting more men, and two months later he would assist in the organization of the 22nd Illinois, serving as the Lieutenant Colonel. The Alton Union Guard, now with John Seaton as their Captain would serve as Company B in this regiment.
On December 31st 1862, the 22nd Illinois, already an experienced and depleted regiment, would take part in the Battle of Stone's River. The fighting would take a disastrous toll on the regiment, with 199 men killed, captured, wounded or missing of the original 342 who went into fighting on the first day. The battle also cost the regiment every single officer above the company level. Another indicator of the ferocity of the fighting, not a single horse from the regiment would survive the battle. The men of the 22nd Illinois, as they had done at Belmont and Corinth, proved their bravery, and maintained a reputation for gallantry and effectiveness in field maneuvers.
"The fight raged in all its fierceness and about noon the enemy made a more determined fight on account of our battery getting out of ammunition and the enemy was not slow in finding it out. Colonel Roberts, seeing how matter stood, ordered us to fall back which we did in good order. As we were going back, Lieutenant Colonel Swanwick ordered us to about face and charge which we did with a yell. It was a mistake and Colonel Roberts stopped us and sent us back. This is the darkest time we saw that day. The enemy was in our rear and on our flanks and pressing hard in front. We were surrounded and many a face showed what it felt. The idea came forcibly to our minds that we would be forced to a surrender. The scene we saw here was a fearful one. Men were struck down on all sides, the missiles flew from all directions, and we sought no shelter. The boys took it all coolly and jokes passed freely." - Corporal William M Austin, 22nd Illinois Volunteers
The regiment fought at Belmont, New Madrid/Island No. 10, Siege of Corinth, Stone's River, Tullahoma Campaign, Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge, Buzzard's Roost Gap, and Resaca.
Regiment lost during service 2 Officers and 145 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded, and 2 Officers and 101 Enlisted men by disease. Total 250.
