CHAPTER XIII.
PATRIOTISM OF SHELBY AND MOULTRIE COUNTIES.

FOURTEENTH INFANTRY REGIMENT

     This regiment was first called into service for thirty days, under the "Ten Regiment Bill."  It rendezvoused at Jacksonville, Ill., and was mustered into the service of the State for thirty days and was mustered into the service of the State for thirty days on the 4th of May, 1861.  On the 25th of the same month it was mustered into the U. S. service for three years, by Capt. Pitcher, U. S. A.  The regiment remained at Camp Duncan, Jacksonville, until the latter part of June.  Shelby county was well represented in this regiment; her men formed a part of six companies, viz., Companies B, G, H. F, I, and K, and two enlisted men from Moultrie county.  Colonels John M. Palmer and Cyrus Hall were the commanders of hits regiment at different times.  Col. Hall was from Shelbyville.  In the latter part of June the regiment proceeded to Quincy; thence to Missouri.  It was with Fremont on his campaign to Springfield, after Price.  Returned and wintered at Otterville.  In February, 1862, it was ordered to Fort Donaldson, reaching that place the day subsequent to its surrender.  Palmer was promoted Brigadier General, and Major Hall, Seventh Illinois Cavalry, originally Captain of one of hte companies, had been promoted Colonel.  From Donaldson the regiment proceeded to Fort Henry, where, embarking on transports, it went up the Tennessee river to Pittsburg Landing, where it first smelt powder in the bloody battles of the 6th and 7th of April, 1862.  The loss in killed and wounded was fully one-half the command engaged, and regimental colors were pierced with forty-two bullets.  General Veatch, commanding the brigade , in his official report of the battle, employs the following language: "Col. Hall, of the Fourteenth Illinois, led with his regiment that gallant charge on Monday evening, which drove the enemy beyond our lines, and closed the struggle of that memorable day."  It took an active part in the siege of Corinth; thence to Memphis; thence to Bolivar, Tenn.
     October 4, 1862, the Fourth Division, under Hurlbut, was ordered to proceed to Corinth, to relieve the beleaguered garrison; but Rosecrans, before Corinth was reached, had pushed the enemy, and they met the retreating rebels at the village of Matamora, on the Hatchie river.  The Fourteenth Illinois, in the eight hours; fight, sustained its high reputation.  After a march into Northern Mississippi, under McPherson, it went into winter quarters at Lafayette, Tenn.  It was at Vicksburg, and the expedition at Jackson.  After arduous marches to Natchez, thence across to Harrisonburg, and captured Fort Beauregard.  After the return a large portion re-enlisted as veterans.  After enjoyment of veteran furlough, it formed a part of the advance on Atlanta.  Here it was consolidated with the Fifteenth into the "Fourteenth and Fifteenth Illinois Veteran Battalion."  In October, 1864, when Gen. Hood made his demonstration against Sherman's rear, a large number of the battalion were killed, and many of the balance were taken prisoners and sent to Andersonville.  Those who were not captured were mounted, and acted as scouts on the march to the sea.  At Goldsborough, N. C., in the spring of 1865, the battalion organization was discontinued.  The two regiments were filled up, and Col. Hall was again put in command of the Fourteenth.  After the capitulation of Johnson, the regiment marched to Washington, and on May 24, took part in the grand review of Sherman's army.  Then it proceeded by rail and river to Louisville; thence by river to Fort Leavenworth; thence to Fort Kearney and back.  Mustered out at Fort Leavenworth, Sept. 16, 1865; arrived at Springfield, Ill., September 22, 1865, where it received payment and discharge.  The aggregate number of men who have belonged to this regiment was 1980; and aggregate mustered out at Fort Leavenworth was 480.  During its term of service the regiment marched 4490, traveled by rail 2330 and by river 4490 miles, making an aggregate of 11,310 miles.

FOURTEENTH INFANTRY REGIMENT
(Three years' service)

These men are from Shelby county.)

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