The One Hundred and Thirtieth Regiment was organized at Camp Butler, and was mustered into the service on the 25th of October 1862.
The companies comprising this Regiment were organized in the counties of Alexander, Bond, Clark, Christian, Coles, Edgar, Monroe, Sangamon, Richland and Lawrence.
The Regiment having received its outfit of clothing and arms, left Camp Butler November 11, for Memphis, Tenn., where it arrived on the 17th, and was assigned to the Sixteenth Army Corps, commanded by Major General Hurlbut. It remained at Fort Pickering, near that city, until March 27, 1863, during which time it did provost duty in the city, and was only relieved at the urgent request of Colonel Niles, for active service in the field. While on duty at this place its loss by death was severe, as is the case with most new regiments upon taking the field. But more particularly owing to the prevalence of the measles and the small-pox, which carried off many of the best men.
On the 27th of March the Regiment embarked on the J.C. Snow, for Milliken's Bend, La., where it arrived on the 31st. It remained at this point while the army was organizing for the Vicksburg campaign, and moved with that army on the 15th of April 1863, the Thirteenth Army Corps in advance, and crossed the Mississippi River at Bruinsburg on the morning of May 1, and marched immediately for Port Gibson, where the advance of the Thirteenth Corps had early engaged the enemy. Here the Regiment became engaged for the first time and behaved like veterans. Captain J.R. Johnson, of Company H, was here wounded in the thigh by a piece of shell. The enemy were handsomely repulsed after a stubborn resistance, and left their dead and wounded on the field.
The Regiment continued with the army through Mississippi, and was again engaged at Champion Hills on the 16th of May, and on the 17th at Black River Bridge, at both of which the enemy were driven from the field. On the 18th it marched on Vicksburg and at night encamped within three miles of the city, and one-half all night in front of one-half of the Division. The Twenty-third Wisconsin picketing the other half. During the night the enemy burned all the buildings outside of their defense, which illuminated the sky and was a grand and imposing sight.
On the morning of the 19th the Regiment was ordered forward in line of battle, in concert with the grand army, which, like a fiery serpent, surrounded the city, and soon compelled the enemy to retire within their defenses.
On the 22d of May, Captain William H. Colby was killed, in a charge made, with many gallant soldiers of the Regiment killed and wounded; and almost daily during the siege was some soldier either killed or wounded, carried to the rear for burial or medical assistance. For forty-eight days constant vigilance and a gradual approach upon the enemy were the order of the day. On the morning of the glorious 4th of July the Regiment welcomed the joyful intelligence of the surrender of the enemy.
On the morning of the 5th of July the Regiment again took up line of march for Jackson, Miss., where the enemy were found entrenched behind very formidable works, but by a vigorous siege of ten days were compelled to withdraw, burning and sacking the town as they left. The Regiment was then ordered to return to Vicksburg, and encamped on the bank of the river, where the Thirteenth Army Corps was permitted to rest and reorganize, and was then transferred to the Gulf Department, under the command of General Banks.
The One Hundred and Thirtieth remained near New Orleans until the middle of October 1863, when it was ordered, with the remainder of the army, across to Berwick Bay, and from thence up Bayou Teche, at which time a Texas expedition was under way. After proceeding up the Bayou about 80 miles, the Regiment was brought to a halt at New Iberia, and, with the Ninety-ninth Illinois, remained on duty at this place, under command of Colonel Niles, while a large portion of the army moved on 25 miles farther up to Vermillionville. The Regiment remained at New Iberia until about the 1st of December. While here Colonel Niles resigned, and the Regiment lost a gallant officer. No braver man than he ever stood before the enemy, and true patriotism inspired his every action. Upon his departure the Regiment passed some very complimentary resolutions. Adjutant John B. Hay also resigned on the 26th of October, and E. S. Dewey was appointed in his place. The command of the Regiment now devolved upon Major John B. Reid, Lieutenant Colonel James H. Matheny having been absent nearly the entire time. The Regiment was then ordered to the coast of Texas, where it spent the winter of 1863-4 at Decrow's Point, on Matagorda Peninsula. n February 1864, it returned to Berwick Bay, and then started on the ill-fated Red River expedition. At the battle of Mansfield the Regiment lost severely in killed and wounded, and nearly its entire number captured and taken to Tyler, Texas, where they remained thirteen months as prisoners of war, and were only paroled a few days before the surrender of the entire rebel army. At the battle of Mansfield Lieutenant Colonel John B. Reid, in command of the Regiment, and the only field officer present, was severely wounded, a rifle ball passing through the upper lobe of his right lung and the entire body. He was taken to a rebel hospital, where he so far recovered as to be paroled in ten weeks from the date of his capture. He returned to the Union lines, and, by the time he was exchanged, was able to again take command of the Regiment. Captain F. D. Phillips was also severely wounded in the knee, and afterwards died from the effects of the wound. He was a noble, brave young officer, and the service lost a valuable and gallant patriot. Captain C.T. Mullen was also wounded, and died while in the hands of the rebels. The remainder of the Regiment, but a handful of men, who succeeded in escaping, returned with the army to the Mississippi River, and was afterward ordered to New Orleans, where it was put on duty during the winter of 1864-5, and in January 1865, was temporarily consolidated with the Seventy-seventh Illinois, with whom it was connected during the Mobile campaign, and participated in the attack and siege of Spanish Fort and Fort Blakeley. This was the second regiment that landed on the Mobile shore of the bay, and, upon landing, found the enemy had evacuated the city, and, following them, had slight skirmish with their cavalry - one of the last skirmishes of the war. It went up the Tombigbee River as far as McIntosh Bluffs, where the enemy once had a navy yard. Here it remained until the surrender of Taylor's command and the return of the rebel fleet down the river, when it embarked on the fleet and returned to Mobile. On the 11th of July 1865, the old Seventy-seventh was mustered out, and the old One Hundred and Thirtieth reorganized into a battalion of six companies, by the untiring energy of Lieutenant Colonel John B. Reid, who was anxious it should be mustered out as the old regiment. On the first week in August 1865, it was ordered to New Orleans for muster out, which was accomplished on the 15th of August, and it at once embarked for Springfield, Ill., where, on the 31st of August, it was paid off and finally discharged. For gallant services several officers were here promoted, among the number Lieutenant Colonel John B. Reid to Colonel, and Captain J. W. Wilkin to Major.
Colonel Reid was the only field officer who remained with the Regiment from its organization to muster-out.
Colonel Nathaniel Niles was a man in the prime of life, a lawyer by profession and of considerable reputation, well known to many of the citizens of this State. He was a resident of Belleville, St. Clair County, Ill. His home is still Belleville.
Lieutenant Colonel James H. Matheny was also a lawyer, well-known, and a resident of Springfield, Ill. He was at one time a law partner of President Lincoln. During the last twelve years he has served the people of Sangamon county as Judge.
Major John B. Reid was, at the time of enlistment, clerk of the Circuit Court of Bond county, elected in 1860. At this time he is postmaster at Greenville, Ill.
Adjutant John B. Hay was a lawyer, a resident of Belleville, Ill. Since the war he has been Prosecuting Attorney for the Twenty-fourth Judicial Circuit, has served two terms in Congress, and been postmaster of Belleville.
SPECIAL ORDERS NO. 14, Extract.
The Seventy-seventh and One Hundred and Thirtieth Illinois Volunteers wil be consolidated into and known as the Seventy-seventh Illinois Volunteers. Brigadier General T.W. Sherman, commanding Defenses 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, all supernumerary non-commissioned officers who were appointed, as such, at the date of the original organiztion of their respecitive 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.
SPECIAL ORDERS NO. 18, Extract.
I. In accordance with Special Orders No. 14, current series, Department of the Gulf, the following names officers of the Seventy-seventh and One Hundred and Thirtieth Illinois Volunteers are retained in service; and the rest will be mustered out by the Chief Mustering Officer, Defenses of New Orleans:
Colonel.........................David P. Grier.................77th Illinois Volunteers
Lieut. Colonel................John B. Reid.................130th Illinois Volunteers
Surgeon.........................Charles Winne................77th Illinois Volunteers
Assistant Surgeon..........John Stoner.....................77th Illinois Volunteers
Assistant Surgeon..........William F. Sigler............130th Illinois Volunteers
First Lieut. and Ad't.......Henry P. Ayres...............77th Illinois Volunteers
First Lieut. and Q.M......David McKinney.............77th Illinois Volunteers
Chaplain........................John S. McCullock..........77th Illinois Volunteers
Captain..........................Joseph M. McCullock.....77th Illinois Volunteers
Captain..........................Robert H. Brock.............77th Illinois Volunteers
Captain..........................Edward Stevens..............77th Illinois Volunteers
Captain..........................John D. Rouse.................77th Illinois Volunteers
Captain..........................Jesse R. Johnson...........130th Illinois Volunteers
Captain..........................John W. Watts..............130th Illinois Volunteers
Captain..........................Jacob Wilkin.................130th Illinois Volunteers
Captain..........................Milgore B. Parmeter........77th Illinois Volunteers
Captain..........................Gardner G. Stearns..........77th Illinois Volunteers
Captain...........................J. Kirby Secord..............77th Illinois Volunteers
First Lieutenant...............Samuel J. Smith...............77th Illinois Volunteers
First Lieutenant...............William Harned.............130th Illinois Volunteers
First Lieutenant...............Henry J. Wyman.............77th Illinois Volunteers
First Lieutenant...............Clark S. Crary..............130th Illinois Volunteers
First Lieutenant...............Thomas C. Matthews......77th Illinois Volunteers
First Lieutenant...............Edmund S. Dewey........130th Illinois Volunteers
First Lieutenant...............John W. Paulon............130th Illinois Volunteers
First Lieutenant...............Joseph F. Parker..........130th Illinois Volunteers
First Lieutenant...............John W. Shields..............77th Illinois Volunteers
First Lieutenant...............George C. Kenyon.........77th Illinois Volunteers
Second Lieutenant..........Marcus O. Harkness.......77th Illinois Volunteers
Second Lieutenant..........Wilson J. Neill...............130th Illinois Volunteers
Second Lieutenant..........Andrew S. Martin..........130th Illinois Volunteers
Second Lieutenant..........Charles W. Johnson.......130th Illinois Volunteers
Second Lieutenant..........Charles F. McCullock......77th Illinois Volunteers
Second Lieutenant..........Henry L. Bushnell.............77th Illinois Volunteers
II. The companies of the Seventy-seventh Illinois Volunteers will be completed by the transfer into the same of the retained officers and enlisted men of the One Hundred and Thirtieth Illinois Volunteers.
The commanding officer of the One Hundred and Thirtieth Illinois Volunteers will turn over, without delay, an accurate descriptive-roll of his Regiment, and all papers and books connected with the Regiment, to the commanding officer of hte Seventy-seventh Illinois Voolunteers, who will assign the officers and men to thier companies, and select, from the non-commissioned staff of the two regiments, the legal non-commissioned staff of the new organization. He will, also, complete the legal number of non-commissioned officers of companies from the non-commissioned officers of the One Hundred and Thirtieth Illinois Volunteers, and will render a list of all supernumerary non-commissioned staff officers, and supernumerary non-commissioned company officers who were appointed, as such, at the date of the original organization of the two regiments, to the Chief Mustereing Officer, Defenses of New Orleans, for muster-out.
All other surplus non-commissioned officers, and all surplus field musicians, will reert to the position of private.
By command of Brigadier General SHERMAN.
I. The organization formerly know as the One Hundred and Thirtieth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, discontinued January 25, 1865, by Special Orders, No. 18, Headquarters Defenses 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.
SPECIAL ORDERS NO. 79, Extract.
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, Jun 23, 1865.
The organization of the One Hundred and Thirtieth Illinois Volunteers will be composed of hte 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 5, dated Headquarters Military Division of hte 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.
Lieutenant Colonel John B. Reid.............................Original 130th Illinois Volunteers.
First Lieutenant and Adjutant Edmund S. Dewey.....Original 130th Illinois Volunteers.
Assistant Surgeon William F. Sigler.........................Original 130th Illinois Volunteers.
Jesse R. Johnson..............Captain Co. A....................Original 130th Illinois Volunteers.
Wilson J. Neill..................Second Lieut. Co. A..........Original 130th Illinois Volunteers.
George C. Kenyon...........First Lieut. Co. B...............Transfered by General Sheridan, from 77th Illinois.
Jacob W. Wilkin...............Captain Co. C...................Original 130th Illinois Volunteers.
Joseph F. Parker...............First Lieut. Co. C..............Original 130th Illinois Volunteers.
Andrew S. Martin..............Second Lieut. Co. C.........Original 130th Illinois Volunteers.
Thomas C. Mathews..........First Lieut. Co. D.............Transfered by General Sheridan, from 77th Illinois.
William C. McGowan........Second Lieut. Co. D.........Transfered by General Sheridan, from 77th Illinois.
John W. Watts...................Captain Co. E..................Original 130th Illinois Volunteers.
Jacob W. Paulen................First Lieut. Co. E..............Original 130th Illinois Volunteers.
John D. Rouse...................Captain Co. F....................Transfered by General Sheridan, from 77th Illinois.
William C. Harned..............First Lieut. Co. F..............Original 130th Illinois Volunteers.
Charles W. Johnson............Second Lieut. Co. F.........Original 130th Illinois Volunteers.