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THIRTIETH REGIMENT.

The Thirtieth Infantry Illinois Volunteers was organized at Camp Butler , Illinois , August 2S, 1861, Col. P. B. Fouke, commanding. September 1, 1861, it moved to Cairo, Illinois, and was assigned to Brig.-Gen. John A. McClernand's brigade, Brig.Gen. Ulysses S. Grant commanding district of Cairo, and Maj.-Gen. John C. Fremont commanding department of Missouri. October 22, it went on scout into Kentucky, near Columbus. November 7, it was engaged in the battle of Belmont. The regiment did gallant service during this action, and captured the celebrated " Watson's New Orleans battery."

January 10, 1862, the regiment moved from Cairo on a reconnoissance into Kentucky, and returned on the 22d. February 4, it moved up Tennessee river, and on the 6th was in the attack and taking of Fort Henry, in Col. Oglesby's brigade. It was engaged in the siege and taking of Fort Donelson, 13th, 14th and 15th of February, 1862.

It arrived at Pittsburg Landing April 25th and took part in the siege of Corinth, in Col. Logan's brigade. June 4th and 5th it marched from Corinth to Bethel, and on the 8th occupied Jackson, Tennessee. On the 13th and 14th of August the regiment marched to Estenaula, and on the 31st to Denmark.

September 1, 1862, the regiment marched toward Medan Station, on the Mississippi Central railroad, and about four miles from that place met the enemy's cavalry, 6,000 strong, under Gen. Armstrong, and after four hours' hard fighting drove the enemy from the field, gaining a brilliant victory. The Thirtieth was commanded by Maj. Warren Shedd, Col. Dennis, commanding brigade of 20th and 30th Illinois infantry, one section Schwartz's Illinois battery, Capt. Forster's company of independent Ohio cavalry, and thirty-four men of the Fourth Illinois cavalry.

On the 2d of September the regiment marched to Medan ; 3d, to Jackson; and on the 2d of November, to Lagrange. On the 11th it marched toward Water Valley, Mississippi, arriving December 19th. On the 21st it marched for Memphis, Tennessee, arriving January 19, 1863. It was stationed at Memphis, Tennessee, in Col. Leggett's brigade, Maj.Gen. Logan's division, Maj.Gen. McPherson's corps.

February 22, 1863, the regiment moved to Lake Providence, Louisiana, and moved soon after to Vista's plantation. April 17, it moved to Milliken's Bend, Louisiana, and joined Grant's army, and moved to Brainburg, Mississippi, crossing Mississippi river. May 1, it moved to Thompson's Hill ; after that it moved to Hankinson's Ferry, on Black river, skirmishing with the enemy en route, and then moved to Raymond, Mississippi. The regiment was engaged in the battle of Raymond, May 12, and then moved via Clinton to Jackson, and pursued the retreating enemy after their defeat, 14th of May. May 16 it engaged in the battle of Champion Hills, losing heavily, and crossed Black river with the army, and arrived in the rear of Vicksburg May 19, 1863.

May 25, the regiment moved with the expedition to Mechanicsburg, under Gen. Blair. Returning, it actively participated in the siege of Vicksburg until June 23, and then moved to Black river, under Gen. Sherman, to watch the rebel Gen. Johnson. The regiment then moved with Gen. Sherman's army to Jackson, and assisted in the investment of that place, after which it went to Vicksburg, arriving July 25, and remained in camp until August 20, when it moved to Monroe, Louisiana, returning the 28th. October 14, it moved, under Gen. McPherson, toward Canton, Mississippi, and was in engagement at Bogachitta creek, and returned the same month.

January 1, 1864, the regiment mustered in as a veteran organization and on the 10th moved with an expedition up the Mississippi river against guerillas, and returned on the 15th. February 3, left Vicksburg, on Meridian campaign, under Gen. Sherman, and participated in the several skirmishes with the enemy, and arrived at Meridian February 15th. It returned March 3d. March 5, the regiment left Vicksburg on a veteran furlough to the state, arriving at Camp Butler March 12th.

April 18, the regiment left Camp Butler, and on the 28th left Cairo with the " Tennessee river expedition," under Gen. W. Q. Gresham, and arrived at Clifton, Tennessee, the 30th. May 5, it marched, via Pulaski, Tennessee, and Athens, Alabama, to Huntsville, Alabama, and on May 25th moved to Decatur, crossing Mississippi river the 27th. Thence it went, via Warrentown, Alabama, to Rome, Georgia ; thence, via Kingston, joining Gen. Sherman's " grand army" at Ackworth, June 8th.n the 10th it moved to Big Shanty, and commenced sitir mishing with the enemy, and on the 27th moved out to make a demontration in front, losing about twenty killed and wounded.

On the night of July 2, the regiment moved, with the Seventeenth Army Corps, to the right of Gen. Sherman's army, and on the 5th moved to Nickajack creek. On the 9th the regiment was sent to guard department headquarters, and on the 12th moved to Sweet Water creek. July 17, it moved toward Decatur, via Marietta, crossing the Chattahoochie at Roswell's and arriving at Decatur on the 20th. It was in the battle of July 21st, near Atlanta, and also in the battle of July 22d, near Atlanta ; lost heavily. It was actively engaged until the fall of Atlanta and Jonesboro, and camped at East Point, September 6th.

October 4, 1864, the regiment moved northward, in the pursuit of Gen. Hood, via Kenesaw mountain, to Resacca, and returned to Smyrna camp ground via Galesville, Alabama, arriving November 5th. November 13, it moved to Atlanta and on the 15th moved with Gen. Sherman's army in the march to the sea," participating in the capture of Savannah, Georgia, December 21st. Left Savannah January 4, 1865, and moved by water to Beaufort, South Carolina. Left Beaufort January 13th and participated in the capture of Pocotaligo on the 15th ; remained at Pocotaligo until the 30th ; marched with Sherman's army to Goldsboro, North Carolina, where the regiment arrived March 25, 1865. The regiment was engaged, during the march, in the capture of Orangeburg, Columbia and Cheraw, South Carolina, and Fayetteville, North Carolina, besides destroying railroad track, etc.

April 10, the . regiment moved to Raleigh, arriving there on the 14th, and remained in camp until the surrender of the rebel army under Gen. Johnson. April 29, it marched northward, via Richmond, to Alexandria, Virginia, arriving May 19th. The regiment took part in the grand review May 24, 1865, at Washington, D. C., and camped near Washington the same day. It left Washington June 7th, via Baltimore & Ohio railroad, arriving at Parkersburg, Virginia, the 9th, and proceeded by steamboat to Louisville, Kentuck y, remainingin camp at Louisville.

It was mustered out of United States service July 17, 1865, by First Lieutenant Aug. P. Noyes, A. C. M. third division, Seventeenth Army Corps, and arrived at Camp Butler, Illinois, July 20th, where the men received final payment and. discharge July 27, 1865.

Of company A thirty-one men died from wounds and disease, or in battle, and of company G nineteen reaped a like reward for their bravery

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