COMPANY I. SEVENTEENTH REGIMENT.

Co. I, of the 11th reg. Ill. Vol. Inf., was raised from men at New Boston, Keithsburg and Aledo. Dr. E. P. 'Wood, of New Boston (afterward lieutenant-colonel of the regiment), Geo. W. Sanders, William Avery, E. S. Bruington, and D. T. Hindman were leading spirits in organizing the company. Enos P. Wood was afterward (April 20, 1861) elected captain, and a month later, on the organization of the regiment, elected lieutenant-colonel ; Edward S: Braington, second lieutenant (afterward captain); and Geo. W. Sanders, who also afterward was promoted to the captaincy, as first lieutenant. William Avery succeeded from second to first lieutenancy on the formation of the regiment. Wm. A. Lorimer was promoted to second, then to first lieutenant, and was mustered out as captain of the company. Theodore Glancey was chosen second lieutenant April 2, 1863, and afterward, and until the expiration of his term, promoted to second lieutenancy.

- The company left New Boston April 19, 1861, for Monmouth, whither they marched. At Monmouth they tarried four days, and in the meantime were met by company F, of Warren county. April 23 they took the cars to Peoria, and went into camp, the camp being named Camp Mather. Company I was raised as a three months' company, but the call for the three months' men was already full and overflowing when they arrived in camp, It was generally understood before arriving there that such was the case, and nearly all were ready to enlist for three years. A few, however, declined and returned home. May 24 the regiment was organized, and company I, with as brave a lot of men as ever carried the musket, was assigned the position indicated by the letter given above.

One item in the history of this company will be remembered as long as a member of it remains. Though rough usage and privations incident to army life left their impressions, yet they were not suffered to sink so deeply into the heart of the rough soldier as did the act of kindness of the citizens of Monmouth during the four clays of their stay in that city. The best and foremost people of the town opened their doors, their cupboards, and their hearts to the boys, and nothing was considered too good for them. Long years have passed and many of the incidents of the war have been obliterated from the minds of the grim warriors, but these acts, which went down deep into the heart, are as fresh as though performed but yesterday.

The Seventeenth . Regiment of Ill. Vol. Inf., was mustered into the the United States' service at Peoria, Illinois, on May 24, 1861, and left camp on the 17th of June for Alton, Illinois, for the purpose of more fully completing its organization and arming. Late in July it proceeded from Alton to St. Charles, Missouri, remaining but one day ; thence went to Warrenton, Missouri, where it remained in camp about two weeks: company A being detailed as body guard to General John Pope, with headquarters at St.Charles.

The regiment left Warrenton for St. Louis, and embarked on transports for Bird's point Missouri ; remained at Bird's point some weeks,. doing garrison duty ; then proceeded to Sulphur Springs Landing ; debarking there proceeding via Pilot Knob and Ironton, to Fredericktown, Missouri, in pursuit of General Jeff. Thompson, and joined. General B. M. Prentiss' command at Jackson, Missouri. They thence proceeded to Kentucky and aided in the construction of Fort Holt. They were then ordered to Elliott's mills ; remained there a short time and returned to Fort Holt. They went from thence to Cape Girardeau, and with other regiments were again sent in pursuit of Gen. Jeff. Thompson's forces ; participated in the engagement near Green­ field ; lost one man killed and several wounded, and returned to Cape Girardeau, doing provost duty until early in February, 1862, when they were ordered to Fort Henry ; participated in that engagement and Fort Donelson, losing several men killed, wounded and taken prisoners. They then proceeded to Metal Landing, Tennessee river, and embarked for Savannah, Tennessee ; from thence to .Pittsburg, landing and were assigned to the First Division, Army West Tennessee, under Gen. John A. McClernand ; were engaged in the battles of April 6 and 7, and suffered great loss in. killed and wounded

They were with the advance to Corinth. After the evacuation of Corinth they marched to -Purdy, Bethel and Jackson, Tennessee, and remained there until July 17, when the regiment was ordered to Bolivar, and was assigned to duty as provost guard. They remained at Bolivar until November, 1862, during which time they participated in the expedition to Iuka, to.reinforce Gen. Rosecrans, and afterward at the battle of Hatchie. They returned again to Bolivar, and remained there until the middle of November. They were then ordered to Lagrange, reporting to Major Gen. John A. Logan, and were assigned to duty as provost guard, Col. Norton being assigned to the command at that post. Early in December they marched to Holly Springs ;. thence to Abbeyville guarding railroads, and thence to Oxford. After the capture of Holly Springs the regiment was assigned to the Sixth Division, Seventeenth Army Corps, under Maj. Gen. McPherson. They then proceeded, via Moscow, to Collierville ; from there to Memphs, and the regiment was assigned to duty at the navy yard. They remained there until January 16, and then embarked for Vicksburg ; reembarked and proceeded to Lake Providence, Louisiana, then the headquarters of the Seventeenth Army Corps. doing duty there until the investment of Vicksburg commenced. Arriving at Milliken's Bend, on or about May 1, they commenced to march across the.Delta to Perkins' landing, on the Mississippi river ; thence to the crossing below Grand Gulf, advancing with McPherson's command, via Raymond, Champion Hills, Jackson, Big Black, and to the final investment of Vicksburg. After the surrender of that city, the regiment remained there doing garrison duty and making incur­ sions into the enemy's country as far east as Meridian, and west as far as Monroe, Louisiana. Returning to 'Vicksburg they remained there until May, 1864, the term of service of the regiment expiring on May 24, of that year.

The regiment was ordered to Springfield, Illinois, for muster-out and final discharge, when and where those of the original organization who did not re-enlist as veterans were mustered out and discharged. A sufficient number not having re-enlisted to entitle them to retain their regimental organization, the veterans and recruits whose term of service had not expired consolidated with the Sth Ill. Vol. Inf., and were finally mustered out with that regiment and discharged in the spring of 1866.

Seventeen names are engraved on Mercer county's soldiers' monument as having given up their lives for their country's warfare. Some of these were killed on the battle-field ; some were wounded, and, after long and painful suffering, died from the effects of wounds ; and some were victims of diseases brought on by exposure in the camp and on the march.

 

 

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