52nd Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment

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52nd Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry

Flag of Illinois.svg

Illinois state flag
Active November 19, 1861, to July 5, 1865
Country United States
Allegiance Union
Branch Infantry
Engagements Battle of Shiloh
Battle of Corinth
Battle of Resaca
Battle of Kennesaw Mountain
Siege of Atlanta
Battle of Jonesboro
March to the Sea
Battle of Bentonville

The 52nd Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.

Infantry military service branch that specializes in combat by individuals on foot

Infantry is the branch of an army that engages in military combat on foot, distinguished from cavalry, artillery, and tank forces. Also known as foot soldiers, infantry traditionally relies on moving by foot between combats as well, but may also use mounts, military vehicles, or other transport. Infantry make up a large portion of all armed forces in most nations, and typically bear the largest brunt in warfare, as measured by casualties, deprivation, or physical and psychological stress.

Regiment Military unit

A regiment is a military unit. Their role and size varies markedly, depending on the country and the arm of service.

Union Army Land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War


During the American Civil War, the Union Army referred to the United States Army, the land force that fought to preserve the Union of the collective states. Also known as the Federal Army, it proved essential to the preservation of the United States of America as a working, viable republic.

Contents

Service

The 1862-63 winter quarters of the 52nd at Corinth, Mississippi 52nd Illinois at Corinth.jpg
The 1862-63 winter quarters of the 52nd at Corinth, Mississippi

The 52nd Illinois Infantry was organized at Geneva, Illinois and mustered into Federal service on November 19, 1861.

Geneva, Illinois City in Illinois, United States

Geneva is a city in and the county seat of Kane County, Illinois, United States. It is located on the western side of the Chicago suburbs.

The regiment was mustered out on July 5, 1865.

One soldier from the regiment, Sergeant Edward B. Spalding of Company E, was awarded the Medal of Honor for continuing to fight after being wounded at the Battle of Shiloh on April 6, 1862. [1]

Edward Burson Spalding was a Union Army soldier in the American Civil War and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor, for his actions at the Battle of Shiloh.

Medal of Honor United States of Americas highest military honor

The Medal of Honor is the United States of America's highest and most prestigious personal military decoration that may be awarded to recognize U.S. military service members who have distinguished themselves by acts of valor. The medal is normally awarded by the President of the United States in the name of the U.S. Congress. Because the medal is presented "in the name of Congress", it is often referred to informally as the "Congressional Medal of Honor". However, the official name of the current award is "Medal of Honor." Within the United States Code the medal is referred to as the "Medal of Honor", and less frequently as "Congressional Medal of Honor". U.S. awards, including the Medal of Honor, do not have post-nominal titles, and while there is no official abbreviation, the most common abbreviations are "MOH" and "MH".

Battle of Shiloh major battle of the American Civil War, fought in southwestern Tennessee

The Battle of Shiloh was a battle in the Western Theater of the American Civil War, fought April 6–7, 1862, in southwestern Tennessee. A Union force known as the Army of the Tennessee had moved via the Tennessee River deep into Tennessee and was encamped principally at Pittsburg Landing on the west bank of the Tennessee River, where the Confederate Army of Mississippi launched a surprise attack on Grant's army from its base in Corinth, Mississippi. Johnston was mortally wounded during the fighting; Beauregard took command of the army and decided against pressing the attack late in the evening. Overnight, Grant was reinforced by one of his divisions stationed further north and was joined by three divisions from the Army of the Ohio. The Union forces began an unexpected counterattack the next morning which reversed the Confederate gains of the previous day.

Total strength and casualties

The regiment suffered 2 officers and 59 enlisted men who were killed in action or mortally wounded and 119 enlisted men who died of disease, for a total of 180 fatalities. [2]

Commanders

Colonel is a senior military officer rank below the brigadier and general officer ranks. However, in some small military forces, such as those of Monaco or the Vatican, colonel is the highest rank. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations.

See also

Illinois in the American Civil War

The U.S. state of Illinois during the American Civil War was a major source of troops for the Union Army, and of military supplies, food, and clothing. Situated near major rivers and railroads, Illinois became a major jumping off place early in the war for Ulysses S. Grant's efforts to seize control of the Mississippi and Tennessee rivers. Statewide, public support for the Union was high despite Copperhead sentiment.

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References

  1. ↑ "Civil War Medal of Honor Recipients (M–Z)". Medal of Honor Citations. United States Army Center of Military History. December 3, 2010. Archived from the original on 21 May 2011. Retrieved May 30, 2011.
  2. ↑ http://www.civilwararchive.com/Unreghst/unilinf4.htm#52nd The Civil War Archive website after Dyer, Frederick Henry. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion. 3 vols. New York: Thomas Yoseloff, 1959.
  3. ↑ http://www.rootsweb.com/~ilcivilw/f&s/052-fs.htm Illinois in the Civil War website after Illinois Adjutant General's muster rolls


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