12th Illinois Infantry Regiment

12th Illinois Infantry Regiment
ActiveMay 2, 1861 to July 18, 1865
Country United States
AllegianceUnion
BranchInfantry
SizeRegiment
Garrison/HQCairo, Illinois
Nickname"1st Scotch Regiment"
EngagementsBattle of Fort Donelson
Battle of Shiloh
Battle of Corinth
Battle of Resaca
Battle of Atlanta
Battle of Jonesboro
March to the Sea
Battle of Bentonville
Brig. General John McArthur of 12th Illinois Infantry Regiment in uniform, who was wounded at Shiloh, Tennessee

The 12th Illinois Infantry Regiment, also known as the 1st Scotch Regiment, was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army between May 2, 1861, and July 18, 1865, during the American Civil War.

Service

Initial 3-month service

The infantry regiment was organized at Springfield, Illinois , and mustered in on May 2, 1861, for a three-month service. Following its organization, it was transferred to Cairo, Illinois, where it conducted garrison duty alongside other regiments. The regiment's daily duties were primarily fatigue duty, such as constructing barracks, clearing parade grounds and building local defenses. Notably, the regiment assisted in constructing a redan earthwork at the confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, designed to defend against potential Confederate gunboats.[1][2]

The only field operation the regiment conducted was an expedition to the swamps near Commerce, Missouri, to pursue Confederate forces under M. Jeff Thompson. A battalion of the regiment participated in this expedition alongside detachments from various regiments.[2]

The regiment was mustered out of service on August 1, 1861. During their service, the regiment lost 4 men to disease[2]

3-year service

The 12th Illinois Infantry was mustered into Federal service for a three-year enlistment on August 1, 1861, at Cairo, Illinois.[1]

On September 5, 1861, alongside the 9th Illinois, the regiment moved to occupy Paducah, Kentucky, becoming the first Union troops to hold the city. Following the fall of Paducah, four companies were detached to conduct garrison duty at Smithland, Kentucky, remaining there until January 25, 1862. During this period, these four companies would participate in the Battle of Belmont.[3][2]

Tennessee River Campaign

In February 1862, the 12th Illinois joined John McArthur's Brigade for the Battle of Fort Donelson. The regiment marched toward Fort Donelson, enduring the cold, hunger and fatigue. Despite enduring the severe winter and heavy combat on February 15th, it was praised for its "Noble" stand, suffering 82 casualties.[3][2]

Following the surrender of the Fort, the regiment moved through Clarksville and Nashville. before embarking for Pittsburg Landing. During the Battle of Shiloh, the regiment was fully engaged for nearly the duration of the two-day battle. When Colonel Augustus Chetlain was injured during the first day, Major James R. Hugunin took command. The regiment suffered 116 casualties during the battle.[3]

Siege and Battles of Corinth

Throughout the summer of 1862, the regiment took part in the Siege of Corinth, performing picket and fatigue duty, before participating in the subsequent pursuit of Confederate forces to Booneville.[3][2]

Second Battle of Corinth, Where the 12th Recaptured Powell's Battery

On October 3rd to October 4th 1862, the Regiment played a Role in the Second Battle of Corinth. During the Fighting on October 4, supported by elements of the 50th and 52nd Illinois,[4] led a charge to recapture "Powell's Battery" from Confederate forces, capturing Confederate colors and driving the Confederates away in the process. This victory had come at a cost; the regiment suffered 112 casualties, alongside the Division the regiment was in lost half its men.[3][2]

1863 and Veteran Re-Enlistment

1863 was characterized by garrison duty and guarding railroads in Tennessee and Mississippi. In April, 1863, Confederate forces attacked the outpost of Glendale, which was 12 miles away from Corinth. The regiment was sent in as reinforcements, but before the regiment even reached the field, the attack had been repulsed and the regiment were ordered to return to Corinth.[2] In December, Colonel Chetlain was Promoted to Brigadier General. on January 16, 1864, the majority of the regiment re-enlisted as Veterans, receiving a furlough to return to Illinois, heading for Camp Butler, for the 30-day furlough, before reorganizing at Camp Fry, Ohio.[3][2]

Atlanta Campaign and March to the Sea

The Regiment returned to the front in March 1864. It took part in the Atlanta Campaign, it saw action at the Battle of Atlanta. After that, it was heavily engaged at the Battle of Allatoona, where it lost 57 out of its 161 engaged. in November, they joined the March to the Sea, moving through Georgia and to Savannah, alongside encountering minor Confederate resistance, during the march, they captured a British-made "Blakely Gun" near the Ogeechee canal,[4] and was eventually sent to guard prisoners at Fort McAllister.[3][5][2]

Carolinas Campaign

In early 1865, the regiment marched through the Carolinas, covering 600 miles from Savannah to Goldsboro, North Carolina. they participated in pursuing General Joseph E. Johnston's army, fighting at the Battle of Bentonville, losing 2 men wounded, until its Surrender at Bennett Place.[3][6]

After the end of the war, the Regiment marched through Virginia and to Washington DC, to participate in the Grand Review of the Armies on May 24, 1865.[3]

The regiment was mustered out on July 18, 1865, at Louisville, Kentucky and was disbanded at Camp Butler, Illinois.[3]

Regimental organization

3-month service

Source:[7]

Total strength and casualties

The regiment suffered 5 officers and 143 enlisted men killed in action or mortally wounded, and 3 officers and 109 enlisted men who died of disease, for a total of 260 fatalities.[8]

Flags

The Regiment was given a stand of colors by the Scottish people of Chicago in November of 1861. One of them was a National flag made of silk that measured 6 x 6 feet. The regimental flag bore a blue field containing the coat of arms of the Nation in gold, underneath it was the name and number of the regiment.

They also carried a silk sallowtail-guide flag with a white field and on it was the inscription: "Dinna ye hear the slogan?" on top and "'Tis McArthur and his men" below.[9]

Commanders

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Dyer (1959), Volume 3 p. 1,049.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "The Union army; a history of military affairs in the loyal states, 1861-65 -- records of the regiments in the Union army -- cyclopedia of battles -- memoirs of commanders and soldiers : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming". Internet Archive. Retrieved May 31, 2026.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "12th Illinois Infantry". illinoisgenweb.org. Retrieved March 12, 2026.
  4. 1 2 "Civil War Index - 12th Illinois Infantry (3 years) in the American Civil War". civilwarindex.com. Retrieved May 8, 2026.
  5. ↑ "12th Illinois Infantry (3 years) in the American Civil War -". Retrieved August 28, 2026.
  6. ↑ "Bennett Place Surrender". American Battlefield Trust. Retrieved August 27, 2026.
  7. ↑ "12th Illinois Infantry Regiment". illinoisgenweb.org. Retrieved August 28, 2026.
  8. ↑ "History - Illinois Infantry (Part - 1)". www.civilwararchive.com. Retrieved May 31, 2026.
  9. ↑ Chicago daily tribune, November 19, 1861, p.4
  10. ↑ http://www.rootsweb.com/~ilcivilw/f&s/012-fs.htm Illinois in the Ci65th Illinoia Volunteer Infantry: "The Second Scotch Regiment"vil war website after Illinois Adjutant General's muster rolls

Bibliography

  • Dyer, Frederick H. (1959). A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion. New York and London. Thomas Yoseloff, Publisher. LCCN 59-12963.
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