Photocopies provided by Raymond J. Fargo. Transcription by K. Runquist.
At the organization W. N. Coler, of Urbana, Illinois, was commissioned Colonel J. S. McClelland, of __ ___, Lieutenant Colonel, and R. H. Nodine, of Urbana, Major.
The Regiment rendezvoused at the U. S. Arsenal Park, St. Louis, Mo., August 2, 1861, and was mustered into the service for three years August 4, 1861.
August 23, left St. Louis for Jefferson City.
September 25, left Jefferson City marching via Otterville and Sedalia, crossing the LaMine, Osage and Pomme DeTerre rivers, arriving at Springfield, Mo., October 17.
November 8, marched to Wilson Creek and Camp Lyon, returning to Springfield November 10.
November 13, marched to Rolla, Mo., arriving there November 19. Remained at Rolla until February 2, 1862 when the Regiment marched back to Springfield and to Pea Ridge, Ark.
Engaged in the battle of Pea Ridge March 6, 7, and 8, 1862. The Regiment lost in this battle three killed and seventeen wounded.
After marching and counter marching for at least a month, on May 9, the Regiment received orders to report at Cape Girardeau, Mo., where it arrived May 20. May 22, went on board the transport "Henry Clay" en route for Pittsburg Landing, Tenn., arriving there May 26.
After marching through Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, and Kentucky, the Regiment arrived in Louisville, Ky., September 26, 1862.
October 1, left Louisville.
October 8, was held in reserve at the battle of Perryville. Marched south again over the same roads back to Nashville, Tenn., arriving there November 7. Remained at Edgefield and near Nashville scouting and foraging until December 26.
Left camp, fought the battle of Stone River, December 30 and 31, 1862, and January 1, 2, and 3, 1863.
Remained in camp near Murfreesboro Tenn., doing picket duty foraging and skirmishing occasionally, until June 26, 1863, when we started south and engaged in the battle of Chickamauga.
September 19 and 20, retired to Chattanooga where we built immense works and forts, surrounded by the enemy, on Missionary Ridge and Lookout Mountain.
November 23, 24, and 25, engaged in the storming and capture of Missionary Ridge.
November 28, left Chattanooga for Knoxville, Tenn., arriving there December 3.
Marched and counter-marched all over east Tennessee and back to Cleveland Tenn., where the Regiment remained until June 4, 1864, when the Regiment started for the front with a supply train of 3,000 wagons and 1,000 ambulances.
June 7, joined the Brigade and Division. On the march to Atlanta the Regiment was not actually engaged in the heavy battles fought in the campaign against Atlanta, but was on the march every day and engaged almost every day in skirmishing and picket duty.
August 1, 1864, the three years having expired, and while the Regiment was in sight of Atlanta, orders were received for the Regiment to report at Camp Butler, Ill., and muster-out, which event occurred September 5, 1864.
The men of the Twenty-fifth Illinois traveled on foot during three years, 3,252 miles, and by steamboat and railroad 1,710 miles, making a total of 4,962 miles.
The Regiment participated in the battles of Pea Ridge, Ark,. Stone River Tenn., Chickamauga, Ga, Missionary Ridge, Tenn., Siege of Corinth, Miss., Kenesaw Mountain, Ga., Siege of Atlanta, Ga., and innumerable skirmishes.
When the term of service of the Twenty-fifth had expired, Colonel W. H. Gibson, commanding the Brigade to which the Regiment was attached, addressed the men, through an order, in this highly complementary manner:
"Soldiers of the Twenty-fifth Illinois Volunteers: As your term for three years' service has expired, and you are about to proceed to your State to be mustered out, it is fitting and proper that the Colonel commanding should express to each and all his earnest thanks for the cheerful manhood with which, during the present campaign, you have submitted to every hardship, overcome every difficulty, and for the magnificent heroism with which you have met and vanquished every foe. Your deportment in camp has been worthy true soldiers, while your conduct in battle has excited the admiration of your companions in arms. Patriotic thousands and a noble State will give you a reception worthy of your sacrifice and your valor. You have done your duty. The men who rallied under the starry emblem of our nationality at Pea Ridge, Corinth, Chaplin Hills, Stone River, Chickamauga, Mission Ridge, Noonday Creek, Pinetop Mountain, Kenesaw Mountain, Chattahoochie, Peach tree Creek, and Atlanta, having made history for all time and coming generations to admire, your services will ever be gratefully appreciated. Officers and soldiers farewell! May God guarantee to each health, happiness and usefulness in coming life and may our country soon emerge from the gloom of blood that now surrounds it, and again enter upon a career of progress, peace and prosperity."
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