The 65th Illinois "Second Scotch Regiment" History

The 65th Illinois Infantry was organized at Camp Douglas at Chicago, Illinois and mustered into Federal service on May 1, 1862. Sent to western Virginia, it formed part of the Harper's Ferry garrison that surrendered to the Army of Northern Virginia in September 1862. After being paroled, the regiment was moved to Kentucky as part of the XXIII Corps and participated in the November 1863 Siege of Knoxville. In the spring of 1864, it joined in the Atlanta Campaign and March to the Sea. Returning to the field, it joined Sherman's army in the Atlanta campaign and on June 15 was brought into a sharp engagement with the enemy between Kennesaw and Lost mountains. Lively skirmishing was continued until the 20th, when the advance was checked by a deep and almost impassable creek — the enemy disputing the passage of the only bridge with artillery and infantry. Volunteers being called for, about 50 men of the 65th Ill. stepped forward and charged across the bridge, driving back the enemy and holding the position until the remainder of the regiment crossed. During July and August the regiment was engaged in numerous skirmishes, some of them being quite severe. On Aug. 18 four companies drove a superior force for over 2 miles. On Aug. 26, with 15 days' rations, it began the successful movement south of Atlanta, driving the enemy from Rough and Ready station and destroying the railroad, then moving to Jonesboro and participating in that battle. It followed Hood into Tennessee, was severely engaged at Columbia, losing 3 officers and 50 men, killed and wounded, and it was also in the battle at Franklin (see image below), where it captured the colors of the 15th Miss. infantry. It participated in the battle of Nashville, and afterward pursued the retreating enemy to Clifton, where the regiment remained until Jan. 15, 1865. It was then transferred to North Carolina, landing at Federal point on Feb. 7, and was engaged in the heavy skirmishes there. It fought the enemy at Smithtown creek, capturing 3 pieces of artillery and 350 men. From Kinston the first five companies, except veterans, were sent to Chicago for muster-out, and from Raleigh the remainder of the non-veterans were ordered home. The regiment was mustered out and started home, arriving at Chicago July 22, where the men received final payment and discharge, July 26, 1865.

The 66th Illinois "Western Sharpshooters" History

The 66th Illinois Veteran Volunteer Infantry Regiment originally known as Birge's Western Sharpshooters and later as the "Western Sharpshooters-14th Missouri Volunteers", was a specialized regiment of infantry sharpshooters that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. The regiment was intended, raised, and mustered into Federal service as the Western Theater counterpart to Army of the Potomac's 1st and 2nd United States Volunteer Sharpshooters ("Berdan's Sharpshooters"). As marksmen, Fremont intended that they should have a special uniform based on "hunter's dress" and be armed with highly accurate Plains Rifles. The Western Sharpshooters found the "Dimick Rifle" (as the unit called them, although Dimick's gunsmiths built only about 150) to be lethally accurate and declared themselves "well pleased" with the Plains Rifles. On December 12, 1861, Colonel John W. Birge, of St. Louis, marched them from Benton Barracks to Centralia, in Northern Missouri. The regiment was then deployed in small detachments to fight bands of the secessionist Missouri State Guard and guerrillas attacking the strategically vital North Missouri Rail Road and other targets of interest to the Federal government. On December 28, 1861, five companies of Birge's Sharpshooters and five companies of cavalry fought a mixed force of Missouri State Guard and secessionist volunteers at the small, but strategically important Battle of Mount Zion Church. On February 4, 1862, the sharpshooters were first shipped by railroad to St. Louis and then by steamboat to Fort Henry, where they eventually arrived on the 9th, just too late to take part in its capture. (Note: As they passed through St. Louis, Maj. Gen. Halleck ordered Company A (Welker's Company) stripped out of the regiment and reassigned to the newly forming 26th Missouri Volunteer Infantry Regiment, temporarily reducing the regiment to nine companies. At Fort Henry, the Sharpshooters joined Colonel Lauman's brigade of General C.F. Smith's division and marched with them to Fort Donelson. In Grant's army they served at the Battle of Fort Donelson and the Battle of Shiloh.