ILLINOIS SEVENTY-EIGHTH INFANTRY (Three Years)

Seventy-eighth Infantry. Cols., William H. Bennison, Carter Van Vleck; Lieut.-Cols., Carter Van Vleck, Maris R. Vernon; Majs., William L. Broaddus, George Greene, Robert S. Blackburn. This regiment was organized at Quincy and mustered into service Sept. 1, 1862. CO. A was recruited in Schuyler county, B, E, F, G and K in Adams, C and I in McDonough and D and H in Hancock. On Sept. 19 the regiment was ordered to Louisville, Ky., and was provost guard a few days in that city, while Buell was equipping his army after his celebrated race with Bragg. On Dec. 26 the guerrilla John Morgan captured and paroled Cos. B and C at Muldraugh's hill, near Elizabethtown. They were under fire from 9 pieces of artillery some 2 hours. The first actual engagement that the regiment participated in was at Chickamauga, and there it lost heavily in killed and wounded, its loss being about 40 percent of the number engaged, with 8 officers out of 20. When the regiment left Rossville on the morning of Sept. 22 pickets were left in front of the enemy with the understanding that they would be relieved later on, but by the blunder of a staff officer the pickets were not relieved and hence were captured and sent to Southern prisons, where 24 of them died. The regiment lost by this capture 4 officers and 51 men from Cos. I and F, who were on picket duty. The regiment engaged in the Atlanta campaign, May 13 finding it in line of battle in front of Resaca, where the command met with slight loss. The regiment left Rome on the 24th and marched toward Dallas, driving the Confederate pickets through Burnt Hickory. It participated in the pursuit of the enemy from Kennesaw mountain, skirmishing with him constantly, crossed the Chattahoochee river on July 17, and fought at Peachtree creek with some casualties. It also participated in the assault on enemy's entrenchment's at Jonesboro. On the entire campaign the regiment was hardly out of the sound of guns any day during the entire period from May 2 to the fall of Atlanta and casualties were of almost daily occurrence. The regiment lost in killed and wounded about 200 men during this period. On Sept. 29, with its division, it moved by rail to Athens, Ala., and then marched to Florence in pursuit of Forrest, who was in the rear with a large force doing great damage. The command had a skirmish with the enemy and drove him across the Tennessee river at Florence. The regiment accompanied Sherman on his march to the sea and up through the Carolinas. It proceeded in a northeasterly direction towards Averasboro, where the enemy made the first positive resistance after leaving Savannah and a lively engagement ensued in which the 78th suffered some loss. After the surrender of Johnston the regiment marched north through Richmond, Va., arriving at Washington on May 19, and participating in the grand review. On June 7, 1865, it was mustered out and sent to Chicago, where it was paid off, June l2. It is estimated that the regiment lost about 400 men, killed and wounded about 96 killed on the field, 24 died in Confederate prisons, and 77 in hospitals from wounds and disease. The original enrollment was 862; recruits received, 140; and the number mustered out was 393. Source: The Union Army, vol. 3 Chickamagua after battle report: Report of Lieut. Col. Carter Van Vleck Seventy-eighth Illinois Infantry. OFFICERS' HOSPITAL, Chattanooga, Tenn., September 22, 1863. COL.: Pursuant to your request, I improve the first opportunity to make you an official statement of the part taken by my regiment in the battle of Chickamauga. We were not engaged in the battle of Saturday, except to protect the right flank of our division lines while the First Brigade were engaging the enemy on the Rossville and Ringgold road. Sunday morning soon after light we were posted in line with the Ninety-sixth Illinois on said road and remained thus until about 10 a. m., when we received orders to move in haste to the support of Gen. Thomas, some 4 or 5 miles to the right, whither we went with the other regiments of the division under the command of Gen. Steedman. The last mile and a half of this march was made over an open plain under a continuous fire of artillery and musketry. No serious casualties occurred, but the temper of the men was well tried and proved to be of the right material. From this open plain we passed into a dense piece of timber, where our brigade was formed in two lines, the One hundred and thirteenth and Ninety-eighth Ohio Volunteer Infantry making the front line, and the Seventy-eighth Illinois and One hundred and twenty-first Ohio Infantry making the rear line, and advanced in this order in the direction of the enemy. Our lines very soon became separated and the rear line found itself confronted by the enemy, posted in strong position on the crest of a high ridge. We immediately charged upon him and drove him from his position and occupied the crest ourselves, capturing several prisoners. In this charge our loss in wounded was severe, but we lost none killed, excepting Maj. Broaddus, who received a fatal shot through the neck. The knowledge of his death stung every heart with bitter grief. As an officer and soldier he was the pride of the regiment; as a Christian and a patriot he had no superior; as a man he was beloved by all who knew him. His loss to his friends, the regiment, and the service, is irreparable. We maintained the admirable position we had gained from about 1 o'clock until after 4, under one of the most terrible fires on record; it was emphatically a hand-to-hand musketry fight. Time and again did the enemy charge upon our lines in superior force, of the getting as near as 20 or 30 yards, but he was as often hurled back into the ravine from which he vainly struggled to ascend. After maintaining this fearful contest for more than three hours an overwhelming force was thrown against our left wing, which left us no alternative but to retire or be overpowered and captured. Such a shower of grape, canister, and musket-balls as was at this time poured over the regiment can hardly be imagined. We put forth every energy in our power to drive back, or at least hold in check, the massive columns that moved steadily against us, but in vain. Our only salvation was in retreat. The order was reluctantly given and still more reluctantly obeyed. While communicating this order I received a severe wound in my left [arm]. I nevertheless conducted the regiment to the crest of another ridge some 300 yards to the rear. This retreat was made and the line reformed under a heavy fire, without the least disorder, when we resumed our fire with the same determined energy as before. I remained with the regiment for nearly half an hour after I received the wound, when I became so much exhausted from loss of blood as to be compelled to leave the field, having first committed the command of the regiment to Adjt. George Green, which was done with the consent of all his superior officers because of his recent election as major, in consideration of the resignation of Col. Benneson and the consequent promotion of the other field officers. The regiment could not have been committed to better hands. During the entire engagement he exhibited the most undaunted courage and perfect self-possession. He took command with the composure of a veteran and a hero, and kept the regiment at is deadly work until darkness put an end to the strife, when he withdrew it in perfect order to Rossville. I should very much like to mention the gallant conduct of different officers, but to mention one would involve the necessity of mentioning all, for every one did his duty, his whole duty, and nothing but his duty, and did it most nobly. The soldiers, too, were not a whit behind the officers in the gallant and noble discharge of their whole duty. Sufficient to say that our hearts were all filled with gratitude and pride to know that, having been most severely tried, not one craven or coward [is] to be found in our ranks; there were no stragglers from the Seventy-eighth Illinois. We went into action with about 370 men [Company F having been previously detailed to guard the field hospital], and we lost in killed, wounded, and missing 142 men, besides 54 that were taken prisoners while doing picket duty Monday night. A detailed statement* of these losses is herewith sent. We captured 30 prisoners and 1 stand of regimental colors. Our regimental and brigade alignments were not broken by us from the time we entered the field until we left it. That we were not utterly destroyed is owing in a great measure to the protection afforded by our excellent position. I am, colonel, with great respect, your most obedient servant, CARTER VAN VLECK, Lieut. Col., Comdg. 78th Illinois Volunteer Infantry. Col. J. G. MITCHELL, Comdg. Brigade. ----------Report of Lieut. George Green, Seventy-eighth Illinois Infantry. HDQRS. SEVENTY-EIGHTH ILLINOIS INFANTRY, Near Chattanooga, Tenn., September 25, 1863. SIR: On the morning of the 19th instant, the regiment was moved 4 miles on the Ringgold road. A line, of battle was formed, the Seventy-eighth Illinois placed on the right of the brigade, and supporting Company M, First Illinois Artillery; Companies D and K thrown out as skirmishers. We remained in that position during the night. On the morning of the 20th, our position was changed to the left of the line of battle formed across the Ringgold road, and were temporarily under the command of Col. Champion, Ninety-sixth Illinois Volunteers. At 10 a. m. we were marched to the right wing of the army, some 4 or 5 miles distant, where Thomas' corps was fighting. We became engaged with the enemy about 1 p. m. We charged and drove them from their position on the crest of a hill, and maintained our position until sundown, when our ammunition became exhausted and we were compelled to retire, and were withdrawn from the field to Rossville, where we bivouacked for the night. Our loss was quite severe, amounting to 91 killed, wounded, and missing. Prior to the engagement Company F was detailed to guard prisoners at field hospital. We went into the battle with 334 men and 19 officers. On the 21st, we moved up the Chattanooga road and went on Mission Hill, where we threw up breastworks and put out skirmishers and let them remain as a picket. At midnight we left the hill and marched into Chattanooga, leaving 30 men and 3 officers, of Company F, and 19 men and 1 officer, of Company I, as pickets, who were not relieved, and are supposed to be in the hands of the enemy. Our whole loss from the 19th instant to the 22d was: Officers killed, 1; wounded, 8; captured, 4; total, 13. Enlisted men killed, 16; wounded, 52; wounded and missing, 5; captured and paroled, 9; captured, 51; total, 146.+ All of which is respectfully submitted. GEORGE GREEN, Lieut., Comdg. Regt. Lieut. J. T. COLLINS, Acting Assistant Adjutant-Gen., Second Brigade.

Source: Official Records CHAP. XLII.] THE CHICKAMAUGA CAMPAIGN. PAGE 868-50 [Series I. Vol. 30. Part I, Reports. Serial No. 50.]

Illinois 78th Infantry (Union)

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