“The Twenty-sixth Regiment was enlisted during the summer of 1861, from the counties of Effingham, Stevenson, Lasalle, McLean, Sangamon, Champaign, and one company at large, so that it represented every portion of Illinois. In August 1861, seven companies that were at that time organized, were hurried off to the defence of Quincy, which was then threatened with an attack from Price, Green and their followers. They had no arms, no clothes, no blankets, and went forth to meet the foe. The remaining three companies recruited under the most discouraging auspices, and only by the most strenuous personal exertions, did not join the command until January 1862, up to which time a dreary fall and winter was spent guarding the Hannibal and St. Joseph Railroad, fighting bushwhackers, and kindred occupations.
“This regiment was organized at Camp Butler near Springfield and was mustered into the United States service on August 3, 1861, with seven companies. Three more companies were organized later and by January 1, 1862, the organization was completed, the regiment having in the meantime performed guard duty at Quincy, Illinois, and Hannibal, Missouri. February 19. 1862, it left Hannibal, Missouri, arriving at New Madrid on March 3rd and participated in the action there. Thence it marched to Point Pleasant where it arrived on the 6th day and where it engaged Confederate gunboats with its sharpshooters. After the evacuation of Island No. 10 by the Confederates it returned to New Madrid, from which point it participated in an expedition against Fort Pillow. Thence it proceeded up the Ohio and Tennessee rivers to Hamburg Landing and marched to Corinth, Mississippi, participating in the siege at this place. On May 8th and 9th it was engaged at Farmington, Mississippi, and on May 28th was in an encounter with the Confederates near Corinth. Company G of this command is said to have been the first Union force to enter Corinth after its evacuation. The regiment served in the vicinity of Corinth till August, 1862, when it marched to Tuscumbia. Thence in September to clear Creek. On the 18th of September to Iuka, Mississippi. Was engaged at this place on the 19th and joined in pursuit of the Confederate force, arriving again at Corinth on October 3d and participated in the battle of Corinth.
After this action, it followed the retreating foe to Riply, then returned to Corinth on November 2d. It became part of General Grant’s army in the northern Mississippi campaign, going as far south as Oxford, where it remained until December 20th and was ordered to Holly Springs to prevent the capture of that place by Van Dorn, which place it reached only after its capture by the Confederates and after they had fled. Thence the regiment moved to La Grange, Tennessee, where it remained until March 8, 1863. On this day it moved to Collierville, Tennessee, and was engaged in fortifying the place and defending the railroad leading to Memphis. On June 7th it broke camp here for Memphis and Vicksburg, it disembarked at Haines’ Bluff about June 11th and went into camp at Oak Ridge, forming part of the line of defense across the Yazoo and Big Black Peninsula, opposing General Joseph E. Johnston’s relieving army.
Upon the fall of Vicksburg on July 4th, in the afternoon, this regiment formed part of the column to disperse this relieving army. The regiment participated in the second battle of Jackson and about July 22d began its return march to the Big Black River. Here it remained until September 28th and returned to Memphis on the 7th of October.
After a few days’ preparation, the regiment started for its long march from Memphis to Chattanooga on October 11th. Reached Bridgeport, Alabama, on November 15th and participated in the battle of Mission Ridge on the 24th and 25th of November. Before daylight on the 26th, it followed the retreating Confederate column to Ringgold, Georgia, and then took up its march of two hundred miles to the relief of General Burnside at Knoxville. It returned with full ranks on March 3d and remained at Scottsboro until it started on the Atlanta campaign May 1st. The regiment was engaged in the campaign and capture of Atlanta and then became part of General Sherman’s army, in its march to the sea.
It participated in the siege of Savannah and capture of Fort McAllister and then proceeded to Beaufort, South Carolina, and served there and at Port Royal Ferry until the beginning of the Carolina’s campaign. It was in the action of Columbia and battle of Bentonville. Thence proceeded to Goldsboro, North Carolina, and on April 10th started on the march to Raleigh. Left Raleigh May 1st for Washington. Was in the grand review at Washington. Thence proceeded to Louisville, Kentucky, where it remained until July 20, 1865, and was mustered out of service.
Started for Springfield, Illinois, and received its final pay and discharge on July 28, 1865. “