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ILLINOIS
127TH INFANTRY
(Three Years)
     One Hundred and Twenty-seventh Infantry.-Cols., John Van 
Arman, Hamilton N. Eldridge; Lieut.-Cols., Hamilton N. 
Eldridge, Frank S. Curtiss; Majs., Frank S. Curtiss, Thomas W. 
Chandler, Frank C. Gillette.  This regiment was raised under 
the call of President Lincoln for 500,000 volunteers in the 
summer of 1862.  Co. A was recruited in Kendall county, B, in 
and around Chicago, C, at Elgin, D, in Grundy county, E, at 
St. Charles, F, at Plano; G, in Chicago; H, about Lyons; I, at 
Elgin, and K, at Aurora and Big Rock.  The regiment was 
mustered into the service at Camp Douglas Sept. 6, 1862.  It 
performed a considerable amount of guard duty in Camp Douglas, 
where the Harper's Ferry prisoners were sent in the fall of
1862.  The command drew a full complement of English Enfield 
rifles in the beginning of November and on the 9th, of that 
month departed over the Illinois Central railway for Cairo, 
where it went on board the steamer Emerald, and landed at 
Memphis, Tenn., on the 13th.  It reached the Yazoo in 
December, and was engaged in the operations on the Chickasaw 
bluffs during which its losses were 1 man killed and 7 
wounded.  It was with the expedition which captured Arkansas 
Post and was one of the first to plant its colors on the 
enemy's works.  Its losses in the assault were 2 killed, 20 
wounded and 9 missing.  It was in the bloody assaults upon the 
Vicksburg lines in May, 1863.  0n the first day planting its 
colors on the glacis of the Confederate works and maintaining 
its position until nightfall, when the troops were withdrawn. 
The losses of the regiment in the two engagements were about 
15 killed and 60 wounded.  It took part in the series of 
battles around Resaca, Ga., in the spring of 1864, notably the 
one on the evening of May 14, when the brigade to which it was 
attached carried the fortified line along the slope of 
Conasine creek by a desperate assault with the bayonet, in 
which the regiment bore a conspicuous part and captured a 
number of prisoners.  In the operations in front of Resaca the 
regiment lost 1 man killed and 3 wounded.  In the sharp 
fighting among the Dallas hills it was almost constantly under 
fire, showing conspicuous gallantry in the actions of May 27, 
and 29.  In the assault upon Kennesaw mountain the regiment 
stood up grandly under the most terrible fire it had ever 
encountered, and in the bloody engagement of July 22, east of 
Atlanta, it was in the thickest of the fray.  On Aug 3, it 
took part in an attack on the Confederate skirmish line to the 
west of Atlanta, in which it displayed its usual gallantry and 
lost a number of men, and it was hotly engaged in the battle 
of Jonesboro, its officers and men displaying the greatest 
gallantry and inflicting severe loss upon the enemy.  The 
regiment accompanied Sherman's army on its grand march through 
Georgia and the Carolinas, and at the battle of Bentonville it 
was for 24 hours on the skirmish line but escaped without 
loss.  After the surrender of Johnston it marched to 
Washington, took part in the grand review, and was specially 
complimented for its fine discipline and military bearing.  It 
was finally mustered out on June 17, 1865, after an arduous 
service of almost three years, the actual number of men 
finally discharged being about 240, all that remained of the 
900 with which the regiment left Camp Douglas in Nov., 1862.

Source: The Union Army, vol. 3

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  Report of Col. Hamilton N. Eldridge, One hundred and twenty-seventh
  Illinois

  HDQRS. 127TH REGIMENT ILLINOIS VOLUNTEER INFANTRY,
  Chickasaw Bayou, Miss., May 28, 1863.

  CAPT.: In accordance with instructions from you, I have the honor
  to submit the following report of the operations of my regiment since
  crossing the Big Black River on the 17th of the present month:

  On the morning of May 18, my regiment was ordered to march on the main
  road to Vicksburg, which was said to be about 16 miles distant.

  About 3 o'clock in the afternoon, musketry, apparently from skirmishers,
  was heard in the advance, and soon after I was ordered to halt and throw
  out two companies of skirmishers, to connect with the line of skirmishers
  of other regiments of the brigade. I immediately detached Companies H and
  I, and, under the direction of Adjutant Keyes, they made the connection
  as above ordered, and moved about 600 yards in advance of the main body,
  at which point the timber was cut away, and the skirmishers were in plain
  view of the enemy, his works some 300 yards ahead. Having a good position
  to observe any advance of the enemy, my skirmishers were ordered to remain
  in their position that night, acting as a picket.

  On the 19th, about noon, orders were received for an advance, with the
  intention of charging and 'carrying the enemy's works by storm. About
  1 o'clock the skirmishers were called in, and at 2.30 the advance was
  ordered in line of battle on the double-quick, my regiment following the
  Eighty-third Indiana. In crossing the brow of the hill, just beyond the
  point from which we started, we received a murderous fire from the enemy,
  which killed and wounded many of my men. The unevenness of the ground,
  added to the fact that it was thickly covered with brush and fallen trees,
  soon broke our lines and scattered to a considerable extent the men. The
  most of them, however, worked their way up close under the enemy's works,
  where the regiment's colors were planted. We maintained our position,
  under a galling fire, until after dark, when orders were received for us
  to fall back, which I did without losing a man.

  I had 14 officers and 202 enlisted men when I advanced--one company (D)
  of 36 men, which had been out skirmishing, not having returned in time to
  advance with us--and out of these 8 were killed and 30 wounded.

  Among the killed I have to regret the loss of First Lieut. Hiram
  McClintock. Of Company H, a brave and meritorious officer, who was
  killed about 2.40 o'clock in the afternoon, and Sergeant [Jesse] Curran,
  of Company E, a young man of great promise, and one of the most competent
  non-commissioned officers in the regiment. First Sergeant [Henry] Newby,
  of Company H, has since died of his wounds, another brave and excellent
  officer. Capt. J. S. Riddle, of Company C; Capt. T. W. Chandler, acting
  major; Lieut. Sewell, of Company G; First Sergeant [Harvey L.] Mason,
  of Company B; First Sergeant [Ora B.] Douglass, Company I, and Color-Sergt.
  F. S. Shemmerhorn are among the wounded.

  On Friday, the 22d, another advance was ordered. Before falling in for the
  advance, volunteers to the number of 11 were called for from my regiment,
  to form a part of the storming party which was to precede the main body
  and be the first to scale the works of the enemy. It would have been an
  easy matter to have raised quadruple the number called for, so anxious
  were the men to distinguish themselves and be of service to their country
  The names of these brave volunteers I have already forwarded to you in
  another report, and I would most earnestly suggest, what I have no doubt
  will be done, that suitable notice be taken of their gallant action.

  At 2.30 a.m. The order came for us to advance; this time by the right
  flank, we following the Fifty-seventh Ohio. We advanced this time to the
  left of the Vicksburg road, and then around through a sheltered ravine to
  a hill to the left and close to the enemy's works, where we lay until the
  morning of the 23d, when we were ordered to Chickasaw Bayou, to guard the
  commissary stores and furnish details for unloading boats. My loss in the
  engagement on the 22d was slight--3 men killed and 8 wounded.

  In both engagements officers and men, with very few exceptions, behaved
  with great coolness and courage, and, I think, fully sustained their
  reputation as Illinois volunteers. Where all did so well, it is impossible
  to discriminate.

  I have the honor to be, with great respect, your obedient servant,

  H. N. ELDRIDGE,
  Col., Commanding.

  Capt. G. MOODIE WHITE,
  Acting Assistant Adjutant-Gen., Second Brigade.

  Source:  Official Records
  CHAP. XXXVI.]   THE SIEGE OF VICKSBURG, MISS.   PAGE 274-37
  [Series I. Vol. 24. Part II, Reports. Serial No. 37.]

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  Report of Capt. Charles Schryver, One hundred and twenty-seventh Illinois
  Infantry.

  HDQRS. 127TH ILLINOIS VOLUNTEER INFANTRY,
  Near Jonesborough, Ga., September 6, 1864.
  SIR: Pursuant to Special Field Orders, No. 117, headquarters Department
  and Army of the Tennessee, September 4, 1864, I have the
  honor to forward the following report of the operations of the One
  hundred and twenty-seventh Regt. Illinois Volunteer Infantry
  since leaving Chattanooga, Tenn., May 3, 1864, up to the present
  time:

  With 212 men, under Lieut. Col. F. S. Curtiss, the regiment
  marched to Resaca, Ga., via Snake Creek Gap, participating in the
  assault and fight of May 14, losing 1 killed, 4 wounded, and 1 missing.
  From hole we proceeded to Dallas, Ga., crossing the Oostenaula
  River one mile and a half from Calhoun Ferry. Were engaged in
  the fight of the 28th of May at Dallas, and suffered a loss of 1 killed
  and 3 wounded. The regiment next took route for New Hope
  Church, from there to Big Shanty, and the line in front of Kenesaw
  Mountain. Were in the assault of June 27 against the rebel works,
  under the command of Capt. A. C. Little, Lieut.-Col. Curtiss
  being sick and other senior officers absent.

  On the 6th of July Capt. F. A. Raymond, Company I, was dishonorably
  discharged the service of the United States for "leaving
  his command without authority whole advancing on the enemy June
  19, 1864, going to the rear and remaining until sent for, and again
  on the 27th of June, during the assault on the enemy's works." July
  11, 1864, the resignation of Maj. T. W. Chandler was accepted by
  Special Field Orders, No. 154, headquarters Department and Army
  of the Tennessee. In the various flank movements following the
  One hundred and twenty-seventh shared the fortunes of the brigade,
  finally crossing the Chattahoochee River at Roswell July 14. Marching
  thence in a southeasterly direction to the Atlanta and Augusta
  Railroad, striking it near Stone Mountain, we assisted in its destruction.
  On the 26th of July, in the advance upon Atlanta, the loss
  was 3 wounded, and in the battle of the 22d the regiment had 2
  killed and 8 wounded, with 6 missing. Included in this list was
  Color-Sergt. Alexander Dennis, mortally, and Lieut. E. Percival,
  severely, wounded. In the engagement of the 28th of July the One
  hundred and twenty-seventh was detached from the brigade and
  placed upon the extreme right of the division. Here we lost 4 killed,
  8 wounded, and 4 missing.

  August 3, in a charge upon the rebel skirmish line, made by order
  of Gen. Lightburn, our loss was 1 killed and 5 wounded. On
  the 6th of August, by General Orders, No. 8, issued from department
  headquarters, Lieut. Col. F. S. Curtiss was dismissed the service
  of the United States for disobedience of orders and misbehavior
  before the enemy August 3, 1864.* Command then devolved
  upon Capt. Charles Schryver, Company F. While in the works to
  the west of Atlanta, on the Baker's Ferry road, there were 2 men
  wounded, and on the night of the 26th of August, while leaving
  them, Sergt. Maj. W. W. Lawton was killed by shell. On the 28th
  instant reached the Montgomery and West Point Railroad, and aided
  in the work of its destruction. On the morning of the 36th started
  out in a southeasterly direction, and at night took station in the line
  near Jonesborough. In the fight of the next day the one hundred
  twenty-seventh lost 1 killed, 7 wounded, and 1 missing.

  __________
  * By direction of the President, on the recommendation of the
  Judge-Advocate-Gen., the dismissal of Lieut.-Col. Curtiss was (October 4, 1864)
  revoked, and he was restored to his command with a view to his trial by
  court-martial. A board of officers having subsequently reported that there were
  no grounds for charges against this officer, he was restored to duty. (Vide
  Special Orders, No. 36, headquarters Second Division, Fifteenth Army Corps,
  April 1,1565.)

  
  In the skirmishing of September 1 we again suffered a loss of 2
  killed and 3 wounded. On the 2d of September joined in the pursuit
  of the enemy to near Lovejoy's Station, returning to the works
  previously occupied near Jonesborough on the night of the 5th instant,
  which position we now occupy.

  The total loss of the regiment up to date since May 3, 1864, has
  been: Officers-wounded, 4. Enlisted men-killed, 14; wounded,
  49; missing, 12. Aggregate, 79. At this time there are for duty,
  present with the regiment, 10 officers and 81 enlisted men.

  All of which is respectfully submitted.

  CHARLES SCHRYVER,
  Capt., Comdg. 127th Illinois Volunteer Infantry.

  Capt. J. T. McAULEY,
  A. A. A. G., 1st Brig., 2d Div., 15th Army Corps.

  Source:  Official Records
  CHAP. L.]   REPORTS, ETC.--ARMY OF THE TENNESSEE.   PAGE 203-74
  [Series I. Vol. 38. Part III, Reports. Serial No. 74.]


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