119th Illinois Infantry The ONE HUNDRED AND NINETEENTH INFANTRY was

organized at Quincy, in September 1862, and was mustered into the United States
service, October 10, by Lieutenant K. Knox, of the Unites States Army. It was
recruited from the counties of Adams, Brown, Hancock, McDonough and Schuyler.
Thomas J. Kinney, Captain of Company B, was elected Colonel, and no man in the
Regiment ever found cause to regret this selection. He was brave, generous,
considerate and reliable under all circumstances. The latter part of October the
Regiment moved under orders, by transport, to Columbus, Kentucky, and from
thence to Jackson, Mississippi. From this point we were stationed at different points,
along the Mobile and Ohio Railroad, guarding the lines of communication. In
December, General Forrest mad an effort to destroy the roads in this section,
capturing at Rutherford Station, Company G, and K, at Dyer Station. Three of the
companies were stationed at Kenton, and anticipating the attack, fell back towards
Columbus, Kentucky, and when near Union City, Tennessee, joined the advancing
forces. General Cheatham was supposed to be marching on Columbus, and the
entire force fell back to this point. The Christmas times were employed here in
digging ditches in the rain, and preparing for anticipated attack. Either the
apprehension was groundless, or else the enemy feared the forces. General Davies
was commanding the post, but was soon relieved by General J. M. Tuttle. Our
presence having restored quiet in this quarter, the work of re-constructing the
railroad was commenced, and we remained at Union City for a time, impressing the
natives, including the contrabands, into the service, for work repairing the railroad.
This work accomplished in February, by order we reported, and our scattered
companies came together at Humboldt, Tennessee. From this point, with other
forces added, a movement was made eastward to Huntington, Tennessee, expecting
to meet or attract the enemy at this point. The march was in the worst of weather;
the roads in just the condition to provoke the wrath of the most devout. Our
Headquarters were established at Buntyn Station, about six miles out from
Memphis. This was about March 10, 1863. At this point, and one or two others along
the road, we guarded the approach to Memphis. This we did effectually, and much
to our enjoyment until May 30, 1863, we were ordered into Memphis, and assigned
to the Fourth Brigade, Colonel David Moore commanding; Fifth Division, Brigadier
General J. C. Veatch commanding; Sixteenth Corps, Major General S. A. Hurlbut
commanding. The Brigade was composed of the Fifty-eighth Illinois, Twenty-first
Missouri, Eighty-ninth Indiana, One Hundred and Nineteenth Illinois Infantry
Volunteers, and the Ninth Ohio Battery, commanded respectively by Colonels W. F.
Lynch, David Moore, Charles D. Murray, (Colonel of Eighty-ninth Indiana) Thomas J.
Kinney and Captain Brown, in Battery. We mention the Brigade organization, for as
above composed it remained during the war, and the history of one regiment is the
history of each. In the after scenes we sympathized, endured and fought together.
Our Regiment remained on duty in and about Memphis until in January 1864,
guarding the roads entering into the city, and such provost work and other duties as
details might be ordered. If I except the daily drills, squad, company and battalion,
this was the "good time" of our recollections. On August 14, 1863, George Parker,

Captain of Company B, died, the result of amputation of a broken leg. He was a

brave and accomplished officer and a true friend. On or about January 27, 1864, the
Regiment moved by transport down the Mississippi to Vicksburg. From here we
marched with quite an army, General W. T. Sherman commanding, to Meridan, Miss.
En route, and before reaching Jackson, Miss., we were engaged in several
skirmishes, but without regimental loss. We met the enemy at Meridan. At this
point, the bridge across quite a stream being burned, we were annoyed by the firing
of the enemy from behind cotton bale works, until a temporary structure enabled us
to cross, when, on the double quick, we routed the enemy, and occupied Meridan,
situate on the Mobile and Ohio Railroad. From this point north and south we
effectually destroyed communication by tearing up the rails, heating them on
burning ties, and bending to prevent future use until again run through the rolling
mills. A temporary stay in the section developed in a return movement by a
somewhat different route, crossing Pearl River north of Jackson, and through Canton
back to Vicksburg. The march was a weary one. Removed from our base of supplies,
foraging was largely depended upon for subsistence. At Vicksburg we rested for a
time, from about March 4th until the 10th, when we again embarked on transports.
Objective points were always unknown; but we disembarked at Simsport, on the
Atchafalaya, and entered upon the Red River campaign. We here surprised a small
Rebel camp, they falling back in the direction of Fort De Russey. The gunboats from
the river, and our forces from the land side, on or about March 12th, captured the
fort with 283 prisoners and 10 guns. This, after a march in one day of 40 miles, and
the work all done by sunset. The main Rebel force escaped up the river,
commanded by Walker. Marching to Alexandria, we halted for a time for the arrival
of Bank's command, doing general duty, and engaging in occasional raids with
meager results. We joined in the general advance to Shreveport, bringing up the
rear. We were called upon to engage in the second day's fight, and, as a part of A. J.
Smith's veterans, we assisted in routing the enemy, and retaking one of the lost
batteries and a number prisoners - this last by our own particular Brigade. We fell
back and guarded the rear of the retreating army until reaching Alexandria. Here a
halt was necessitated by the receding river. Our gunboats were unable to pass
through the rapids. This developed the Bailey plan of wing dams to press the water
into the narrow channel. These we helped to construct, and they proved successful.
The boats over, we moved toward Simsport on the Atchafalaya, the initial point of
our campaign. At Mansura, near Marksville, we had a skirmish which resulted in rout
to the enemy. Still in the rear, we were attacked at Yellow Bayou by a large force,
which occasioned a desperate fight, General Smith commanding. We did valiant
service, losing many men. Captain May, of Company I, was killed here. Colonel
Lynch commanding our Brigade, was here wounded, and the command of the
Brigade devolved upon Colonel Kinney. He was a brave man, and from this wound
afterward, he died. Putting bow to bow of many steamers, a bridge was formed
across the Atchafalaya, and now, after forty days and forty nights in sound of the
enemy's guns, and always at the post of danger, we are freed from the orders of
General Banks, who was relieved by General Canby. We were ordered back up the

Mississippi. We were landed in the southeastern part of Arkansas, and at Lake

Chicot engaged a Rebel force successfully. This was reported to be under command
of Marmaduke, and was well entrenched across a bayou; but we fought as always to
win, and drove the enemy, who retreated and left us the field. We made a detour
and reached transports, and were moved up the river, and disembarked next at
Memphis to assist in wiping out the disaster of Major General S. D. Sturgis, at
Guntown. We arrived at Memphis about June 24th, and moved by rail to Lagrange,
where the One Hundred and Twenty-second Illinois Infantry Volunteers, Colonel J. I.
Rinaker, was assigned to our Brigade, and July 5th commenced marching through
Mississippi. Met Forrest on July 14th, at Tupelo, Miss. The battle was admirably
planned, skillfully and desperately fought, resulting in a victory fully convincing the
enemy that Guntown was remembered. At bugle sound we assumed position, and
poured a deadly volley upon the forces, now so near that we could see the men face
to face. The dead and wounded were many; and after several advances, charges
and retreats, we rejoiced in a signal victory. After a day's delay burying the dead
and caring for the wounded, we started on a return movement. This was without
interference, except cavalry skirmishing at Old Town Creek the next day, after the
battle. Withdrawing to Memphis, another movement was made into Mississippi,
through Holly Springs to the Tallahatchie. No enemy interfered with this campaign.
At this time Forrest flanked our forces, and made his raid into Memphis. Returning to
Memphis, under orders to report to Sherman in Georgia, we took transports up the
river. Developments in Missouri, and the movements of Price in that direction, made
it necessary to reinforce Rosecrans, then commanding this department, with
headquarters at St. Louis. Our objective point, by order of General Hallock, was
changed, and accordingly we reported to Rosecrans at St. Louis. We at one time
moved south from Jefferson Barracks to intercept Price; but at length fully organized
under command of General Smith, we started westward in the vain attempt to out
travel and overtake a mounted enemy. We moved along, without obstacle, until we
were left at Lamine River to guard supplies, the enemy having burned the bridge.
From this point we advanced towards Dunksburg. We forded the rivers on all
occasions, all bridges being destroyed, which was no pleasant occupation for
October. We well remember going into camp late one nigh, about October 22, and
after enjoying a cup of coffee we were ordered to fall in, and we marched all night,
passing through Independence about day break, and pressing towards the Big Blue.
This point we reached too late for usefulness. We could hear the fight going on, but
the enemy were routed before our arrival. We found Price in full retreat. Pursing no
further, we soon after began our movement back towards St. Louis. We had
marched a distance of 700 miles; a weary and uncomfortable march; exposure to
the elements more than to the enemy, but truly, a trip that tried the mettle of the
soldier. From this point, St. Louis, we were loaded on steamboats and passed down
the Mississippi and up the Cumberland River to Nashville, and here reported to
General Thomas at, or about, December 1, 1864. Disembarking, we were marched
out late in the day, going into camp after night on the right of the then collected
forces. Here Colonel Kinney being the ranking officer, took command of the Division,

until General Kenand Gerrard was assigned to command, when Kinney returned to
command of the Brigade. We did some faithful work, entrenching and throwing up
earthworks, expecting Hood to attack. On one bright day, December 15, we left our
defenses, and moved on the enemy, and in the two days battle, officers and men
acquitted themselves honorably. Our loss was slight. We captured a battery of brass
guns. We never fell back in any movement during the battle. The enemy routed and
fleeing, we joined the movement south, over the Granny White Pike, seeking the
retreating and flying enemy. We marched through Franklin, passing the late field of
carnage here, camping just south of the town. It may have rained before, but it now
made a success of it. We lay until morning by letting the water run over our bodies,
our heads propped up above high water mark. On through Columbia, crossing Duck
River without resistance, Hood's forces being now effectually dissipated. We enjoyed
our Christmas and New Year's on this trip. How we enjoyed it, we know. We were
transported from Clifton, on the Tennessee River, to Eastport, Miss. At this point we
had much to amuse and annoy - little to do and less to eat. A cavalry movement
having been contemplated from this point, the Quartermasters and Commissaries
had all thoughts fixed horses, so that supplies arriving were for beast and not man.
Parched corn and improvised corn cakes from cracked corn, with occasional efforts
to digest hay, was our diet for over a week. The unexpected rise in the river gave us
occupation in that we were trying to save the immense supply of grain, but
nevertheless the Government lost heavily by the freshets. Always a reinforcing
Division, Brigade and Regiment, a weak point or a point of attack seemed to turn
attention to us. At this juncture a contemplated movement against Mobile resulted
in orders for our reporting to General Canby, then selected to command in this
attack. Again we embarked on transports, and after days of tiresome steamboat
confinement down the Tennessee, and then the Mississippi, we arrived at New
Orleans, arriving the latter part of February 1865, on the opposite side, in the town
of Algiers. Remained in camp for several days, finding shelter in an old sugar house
in the shadow of the monument erected in commemoration of the battle of New
Orleans, we spent the time awaiting embarkation. We shipped from New Orleans on
a boat for the mouth of the Mississippi. We disembarked at what seemed a coaling
station near its mouth, constructed of plank which seemed floating among the
grasses. Here the fresh oyster opportunity broke upon us, and we bought, begged
and grabbed all in reach from incoming natives. Beat eating was not our mission, so
the Fairchild, a half sea-going vessel, carried us out the mouth of the Mississippi into
the Gulf, and brought us alongside the steamer Guiding Star. So we were stored on
board a sea-going vessel, and steamed into the Gulf. This riding on the seas is
disturbing to a well regulated stomach, but we heaved with the sea, and finally
landed on Dauphine Island, off Mobile Bay, about March 12, 1865, moved March
21st to the mouth of Fish River. This was as if an opening into a swamp, but vessels
pushed up its dull and sluggish channel. After putting our feet on the land we
advanced, resisted only by skirmishers. The roads were planted with torpedoes, and
occasional explosions were deadly. Not a few men and horses were in this way killed
or wounded. March 27, 1865, Spanish Fort was invested while we directed our

attention to Fort Blakely. This investment of Spanish Fort continued until April the
8th, when all the guns small and great opened their fires upon the doomed fort, and
this grandest of all sounding battles or bombardments silenced the fort. This fort
was constructed for resistance. The approach over a plateau, bristled with abattis,
palisades, ditches, and with its cannon arranged for death dealing. We had been on
picket all night, and so were to the front of the assault on Sunday morning about
April 9th. The time came for a charge on this stronghold. So struggling with all
manner of obstructions, and amid shell canister, grape shot and musketry for about
an hour we overcame all obstacles and resistance; mounded the works, took the
Fort; captured the enemy, and completed victory was ours. Our loss was not heavy,
Company A suffering the most. How we danced over our prizes in the way of
prisoners, guns, swords, flags, and ordnance stores. Once again we could square
ordnance accounts. This battle was fought after Lee's surrender, and when the war
was practically ended. After marching several days, about April 19th, we began to
hear rumors of Lee's surrender. At last official notification reached us that Lee had
surrendered, and the demonstration we made is simply indescribable. This was the
happy day of the war to us. We marched on however, to Montgomery, Alabama.
Here we were received by the citizens with a measure of apprehension.
Gentlemanly conduct convinced them that we were without "horns" or "cloven feet",
so we had a comfortable sojourn of a few weeks at this delightful place. While at
this point, discipline demanded the organization of a court martial, and we tarried
long enough to apply the rules and regulations to offenders. From Montgomery we
moved south in the hottest weather, when as much as a leaf to shade a man was
better than a feast. We marched to a point about one hundred miles above, and
took transports for shipment to Mobile. Our Regiment embarked on the Osborn, and
reached Mobile in comparatively good condition. Here we entered upon fatigue
service, such as details for guards, and provost duty. Colonel Kinney was ordered to
report, and assigned to duty as provost marshal of the department and District of
Mobile with some of his command as assistants. He was the executive officer in all
matters pertaining both to the civil and military life, directing the soldier and
protecting the citizen. A position demanding quick and accurate judgment, and
unbending determination in all the varied questions under his jurisdiction and
control. He measured himself a man in all these things, and won the commendation
of his associates. Here we were mustered out in August 1865, Killey only a
brigadier, and the rest of us all feeling like major generals. Coasting via Lake
Pontchartrain up the Mississippi to Cairo, and from thence to Camp Butler, near
Springfield, where we finally paid off, rehabilitated as citizens, and dispersed to our
several homes, rejoiced at the outcome for our country and ourselves.