The Regiment was fully organized and mustered into the United States' service. September 3, 1862, at Peoria, Ill. Remained in camp at that place until October 4, at which time it proceeded to Covington, Ky., and reported to Major General Gordon Granger, commanding Army of Kentucky, who assigned it to duty in the Division commanded by General A. J. Smith.

Marched from Covington, with the Division, October 17, and reached Lexington on the 29th, and Richmond, 2d November. Marched from that point on November 11, and arrived at Louisville on the 17th.

Nothing of any interest transpired during the sojourn of the Regiment in Kentucky- there being no force of the enemy in the State at the time; and the campaign there was merely a march of about 150 miles into the interior, and a march back again.

November 20, 1862, the Regiment embarked on steamer for Memphis, Tenn., in company with the whole Division, under the same commander. Arrived at latter place, November 27.

Remained there until December 20. The Division was re-organized and reported for duty to Major General Sherman. Embarked at Memphis on the 20th of December, and proceeded down the river with Sherman's Army, for the capture of Vicksburg, Disem barked In the Yazoo River, near Chickasaw Bayou, on the 27th. The Seventy-seventh occupied the extreme right of the line, and participated in the attack on the rebel works. After four days' fighting the attack was abandoned, and the Army embarked on their boats and proceeded to Milliken's Bend, La.

At this place Major General McClernand arrived and assumed command of the Army, He organized it into two Corps--the Thirteenth and Fifteenth. The Seventy-seventh was assigned to the Tenth Division, Thirteenth Army Corps. Division commanded by General A. J. Smith. and Corps by General McClernand.

Left Milliken's Bend, January 5, 1863, and arrived at Arkansas Post on the 10th. Immediately disembarked, and, on the following morning, participated in the assault. After a few hours' hard fighting, carried the place, by assault, capturing all it contained. The loss of the Regiment here was 6 killed and 39 wounded--some of the latter mortally. The Regiment in this battle behaved admirably, and was complimented by the commanding General for its gallant conduct.

January 14, again embarked, and proceeded to Young's Point, La. Arrived there on the 22d, and went into camp, remaining until the 9th of March, engaged in the digging on the canal across the point opposite Vicksburg. In March, changed camp to Milliken's Bend.

In the first part of April, the Thirteenth Corps marched from Milliken's Bend, for Grand Gulf. The Seventy-seventh broke camp and moved forward about the middle of April. Crossed the river below Grand Gulf, on the last day of April, and marched all night, arriving at Port Gibson early on the morning of the 1st of May, and participated in the engagement there during the entire day. The Regiment remained with General Grant's Army during the entire campaign around Vicksburg, and the siege of the latter place until its surrender.

The Regiment was engaged in the actions at Champion Hills, May 17, Black River Bridge, May 19; first charge on Vicksburg, May 22 and 23, losing, in these engagements, twenty (20) killed, eighty-six (86) wounded and twenty-six (26) missing.

Vlcksburg surrendered on the 4th of July, and the next day the Regiment marched for Jackson, with the Army under Sherman. Arrived there July 9, and was under the fire of the enemy at that place until the 10th, when Jackson was evacuated, and the Seventy seventh returned to Vicksburg. Remained in camp at Vicksburg until August 25, when embarked for New Orleans, where it remained in camp until October 3.

Left New Orleans at that time, for Western Louisiana. Marched up Bayou Teche, through Franklin to New Iberia, La. Camped there until December 6, 1863, when marched back to New Orleans. Left New Orleans the 17th December, on steamer, and disembarked at Paso Cavalo, Texas, on the 20th December, Remained in camp until the last of February then embarked on vessels and were transported to Berwick Bay, La. From there marched through to Alexandria, La., with the Army under General Banks, bound for Shreveport. From Alexandria. marched up Red River. driving the enemy until Sabine Cross Roads was reached, on the 8th of April, 1864, where it met the enemy in force, and was immediately engaged.

The Seventy-seventh belonged to the Division under command of General Ransom, which Division was first ordered forward to support the advance cavalry, Before the army could be brought forward to their support the whole rebel army came down on them, and overwhelmed the whole Division. In this engagement, the Seventy-seventh suffered terribly. Lieutenant Colonel Webb was killed instantly, by a musket ball through the brain, and 176 officers and men were killed, wounded and made prisoners, leaving only about 125 men in the Regiment for duty.

On the next day General A. J. Smith's Corps came up, and at Pleasant Hill another battle was fought, ending in the complete defeat of the rebels. The Regiment remained with General Banks throughout his retreat down Red River, and until he reached the Mississippi. Here it was ordered into camp at Baton Rouge, until the first part of August. At this time, with five or six other regiments, it embarked, and was transported to Dauphine's Island, under the command of General Gordon Granger. Here assisted in the reduction of Forts Gaines and Morgan, and then returned to Morganzia Bend, on the Mississippi. In October, Regiment ordered to New Orleans, for provost duty, and remained there until the first part of March, 1865, when it was assigned to the First Brigade, Third Division, Thirteenth Army Corps, and transported to Mobile Point, where it joined General Canby's Army for the capture of Mobile. General Granger collected his Thirteenth Corps at this point, and, during the month of March moved up the Peninsula towards Spanish Fort. The Regiment was with General Canby's Army during the entire siege and capture of Spanish Fort, Blakely and Mobile, and was under fire during the entire time.

The day following their entry into Mobile, the Third Division, in which the Seventy-seventh served, marched out of the city and proceeded up the Tombigbee River, in search of General Dick Taylor's Army. It proceeded up the river about 60 miles, when it was re-called to Mobile--the rebel forces throughout the country having surrendered.

Remained in camp in Mobile until July 10, 1865, at which time it was mustered out of service, and ordered to Springfield, Ill., for final payment and discharge, where it arrived July 22, 1865.

The Seventy-seventh Illinois, during its term of service, was engaged in sixteen battles and sieges, and in every one of them carried itself with honor and credit to the State.

IX. The Seventy-seventh and One Hundred and Thirtieth Illinois Volunteers will be consolidated, and known as the Seventy-seventh Illinois Volunteers. Brigadier General I. W. Sherman, commanding defences of New Orleans (who is charged with the execution of this order.) will designate such commissioned officers as will be retained in service, to command the new organization. All other officers will be at once mustered out of service.

All supernumerary non-commissioned staff officers and all supernumerary non-com missioned officers, who were appointed as such at the date of the original organization of their respective companies, will be mustered out of service.

All other surplus non-commissioned officers, who have been appointed since the original organization, will be reduced.

By command of Major General Hurlbut

  I. In accordance with Special Orders, No. 14, current series, Department of the Gulf, the following named officers of the Seventy-seventh and One Hundred and Thirtieth Illinois Volunteees are retained in the service; and all the rest will be mustered out by the Chief Mustering Officer, Defences of New Orleans:

I. The organization formerly known as the One Hundred and Thirtieth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, discontinued January 25, 1865, by Special Orders, No. 18, Headquarters Defences of New Orleans, is hereby, subject to the approval of the War Department, revived.

All men of the Seventy-seventh Illinois Volunteer Infantry, whose term of service will not expire on or before September 1, 1865, and all officers and men now with said Regiment, who were transferred from the One Hundred and Thirtieth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, will be formed into a battalion, composed of companies of maximum strength. The officers and men will be transferred on the rolls required by Circular No. 64, War Department, A. G. O., August 18, 1864.

Brigadier General Benton. commanding Third Division, is charged with the execution of this order.

By order of Major General GRANGER.

III. By authority from superior headquarters, all enlisted men now belonging to the Seventy-seventh Illinois Volunteers, whose term of service does not expire on or before the 30th day of September next, and all officers of that Regiment, who formerly belonged to the One Hundred and Thirtieth Illinois Volunteers, are transferred to the One Hundred and Thirtieth Illinois Volunteers, revived, Special Orders No. 77, dated Headquarters Thirteenth Army Corps. June 23, 1865.

The organization of the One Hundred and Thirtieth Illinois Volunteers will be composed of the officers and men mentioned in the preceding paragraph, and such officers of the Seventy-seventh Illinois Volunteers as are transferred by Major General Sheridan, by Special Orders No. 25, Extract V. dated Headquarters Military Division of the Southwest, July 3, 1865. and will be organized as set forth in the schedule hereto annexed, and made a part of this order.

By order of Brigadier General W P. BENTON,