The companies that composed the Fifteenth Cavalry were independent companies, attached to Infantry Regiments, and acted as such.

Moved with the army from Cairo in the spring of 1862, up the Tennessee River to Fort Henry. Disembarked and was moving to the rear, when the Fort was evacuated by the rebels; took possession, but remained there a few days only.

Moved, under command of General Grant, to Fort Donelson. Fort surrendered after a siege of three days. Moved with the fleet up Tennessee River to Pittsburg Land. Participated in the Shiloh battle, April 6 and 7, 1862.

Moved with the army in the siege of Corinth. Fort evacuated about May 1, 1862. Ordered from there to Jackson, Tenn. There and then organized into Stewart’s Battalion, commanded by Colonel Cornine.

Moved in the month of November to Corinth, Miss.

In the spring of 1863, organized the Fifteenth Regiment. George A. Bacon was appointed Colonel. F. T. Gilbert, Lieutenant Colonel. We were under command of General G. M. Dodge. Scouted through the States of Mississippi, Alabama, Kentucky and Tennessee, till October 1863; moved by the way of Memphis. Remained three weeks under command of General Hurlbut, thence to Helena, Ark., arriving about the month of November 1863. Then, under command of General Buford of Illinois, did post duty and long severe scouting through Arkansas and Mississippi.

August 10, 1864, ordered to Springfield, Ill., to be discharged. By expiration of term of service, mustered out August 25, 1864.

The recruits who were enlisted in 1863, were consolidated with the Tenth Illinois Cavalry. Moved to San Antonio, Tex., and mustered out of service.

History of Company I, Fifteenth Cavalry

This company was organized at Aurora, Kane county, Ill., August 2, 1861, by Captain Albert Jenks, and was mustered in, September 23, as Cavalry, attached to Thirty-sixth Illinois Volunteers.

On 24th September, moved from camp, and reported to the Regiment, at Rolla, Mo. On 31st December, reported to Colonel Carr, commanding Third Illinois Cavalry, and moved to Bennett’s Mills. On February 10, 1862, moved to Osage Springs, Mo., arriving on 20th. March 2d, moved, with Siegel’s Division, to near Bentonville, losing 4 men taken prisoners. Was engaged, March 7 and 8, at Pea Ridge.

Moved, with the army, to Salem. May 1, ordered to White River. Returned to Batesville, on the 9th. Was engaged in the movements of Asboth’s Division, and arrived at Cape Girardeau, Mo., May 24. Moved to Hamburg Landing, Tenn. Was escort for General Rosecrans, at battle of Corinth, October 3 and 4.

December 25, 1862, was assigned to the Fifteenth Illinois Cavalry. On 9th June 1863, moved to Memphis. May 20, landed at Chickasaw Bayou, and was engaged in the operations against Vicksburg, with the Regiment. August 17, moved to Carrollton, La. September 5, moved, with Fourth Division, Thirteenth Army Corps, to Morganzia, La., and was engaged in the campaign, General Herron commanding. October 10, returned to Carrollton. 15th, moved to Brashear, La., and, on 17th, to New Iberia, La. Was engaged in scouting, and various expeditions, reporting to Brigadier General A. L. Lee, as escort, January 5, 1864.

On February 11, the company moved for Illinois, for veteran furlough, and, on 26th, the men were furloughed at Chicago, Ill.

GENERAL ORDERS NO. 250.

The companies of Illinois Volunteer Cavalry organized and mustered into the service of the United States, and now or lately commanded by the officers designated herein, are hereby attached to the Battalion of Illinois Cavalry, now commanded by Major Warren Stewart.

Commanding Officers............Designation of Company.......Corps to which heretofore attached.
Captain William Ford............Company A, Cavalry.............53d Regiment Illinois Vol. Infantry
Captain Albert Jenks.............Company A, Dragoons.........36th Regiment Illinois Vol. Infantry
Captain Samuel B. Sherer.....Company B, Dragoons..........36th Regiment Illinois Vol. Infantry
Captain W. C. Wilder...........Kane County Cavalry............Formerly Captain C.B. Dodson
Captain Oscar H. Huntley.....Company K..........................1st Regiment Illinois Cavalry
Captain Franklin T. Gilbert....Company A, Cavalry...........*52d Regiment Illinois Vol. Infantry

Which said companies, with those heretofore forming the command of Major Stewart, aforesaid, and one other, now at Camp Yates, Springfield, Ill., are declared to form the Fifteenth Cavalry Regiment Illinois Volunteers.

Major Warren Stewart is hereby appointed Colonel of said Regiment, with rank from this date.
George W. Bacon, Lieutenant Colonel, with rank from this date.
T.L. Morris, Adjutant, with rank from this date.
Louis Souther, Commissary, with rank from this date.

S.B. Stewart, appointed quartermaster of the Sisteenth Regiment Illinois Cavlary, on the 25th of October, last, will be mustered out of service of the Sixteenth Regiment, and mustered in as Quartermaster of the Fifteenth Cavalry, as of that date, he having been, since that date, acting as Quartermaster of said Regiment, now consolidated and known as the Fifteenth Regiment.

By order of his Excellencey, RICHARD YATES, Governor of the State of Illinois, who acts in compliance with authority of Major General H.W. HALLECK, General-in-Chief.

* Subsequently detached therefrom, and assigned as Company H, Twelfth Reg't Illinois Cavalry.

SPECIAL ORDERS NO. 496, Extract.

XXVII. General Orders, No. 250, December 25, 1862, General Headquarters, State of Illinois, which consolidated certain companies and troops, thus forming the Fifteenth Regiment Illinois Cavlary, is hereby confirmed, as of its date. All parties affected by its provisions will be governed accordingly.

By order of the Secretary of War.

SPECIAL ORDERS NO. 24, Extract.

IV. The original service term of the Tenth and Fifteenth Regiments Illinois Cavlary Volunteers having expired, the re-enlisted men and recruits of the same will, under the supervision of the Commissary of Musters for the Department, be formed into twelve companies, of the maximum strength, and re-organized as the Tenth Regiment Illinois Cavalry Volunteers, to be officered as follows, viz:

James Stewart.....................Col. 10th Ill. Cav............................to be Colonel
E. Carmichael......................Major 15th Ill. Cav.........................to be Lieutenant Colonel
Thomas D. Vrendenburg......Captain Co. D, 10th Ill. Cav...........to be Major
George A. Willis..................Captain Co. I, 15th Ill. Cav.............to be Major
William A Chapin................Captain Co. F, 10th Ill. Cav.............to be Major
Augustus A Shutt.................Surgeon 10th Ill. Cav......................to be Surgeon
J.H. Shilling.........................1st Asst. Surgeon 10th Ill. Cav.........to be Assistant Surgeon
Edwin L. Lathrop................2d Asst. Surgeon 10th Ill. Cav.........to be Assistant Surgeon
Louis Souther......................1st Lieut. and Adjt. 15th Ill. Cav......to be Adjutant
John G. Springer.................1st Lieut. Co. I, 10th Ill. Cav............to be Quartermaster
William King.......................Sergt. Major 10th Ill. Cav................to be Commissary
G.A. Bruce.........................Capt. Co. L, 10th Ill. Cav................to be Captain Co. A
Byron L. Crouch.................Capt. Co. B, 10th Ill. Cav................to be Captain Co. B
Edwin R. Neal....................1st Lt. and Com., 10th Ill. Cav.........to be Captain Co. C
George W. Curry................1st Lieut. Co. K, 10th Ill. Cav..........to be Captain Co. D
William H. Stout..................Capt. Co. E, 10th Ill. Cav................to be Captain Co. E
J.S. Vredenburg..................1st Lieut. Co. B, 10th Ill. Cav..........to be Captain Co. F
William T. Wooten..............1st Lieut. Co. C, 10th Ill. Cav..........to be Captain Co. G
Tabner B. Pierce.................Capt. Co. H, 10th Ill. Cav................to be Captain Co. H
William H. Coffman.............Capt. Co. I, 10th Ill. Cav.................to be Captain Co. I
Wm. Duncan.......................Capt. Co. K, 15th Ill. Cav...............to be Captain Co. K
Albert Collins......................Capt. Co. F, 15th Ill. Cav................to be Captain Co. L
Daniel Dynan.......................2d Lieut. Co. I, 15th Ill. Cav............to be Captain Co. M
Samuel F. Russell................2d Lieut. Co. A, 10th Ill. Cav...........to be First Lieut. Co. A
Jerome Ross.......................Sergt. Co. K, 10th Ill. Cav...............to be First Lieut. Co. B
Sardius Smith......................1st Lieut. Co. M, 10th Ill. Cav..........to be First Lieut. Co. C
William H. Summy..............Sergt. Co. K, 10th Ill. Cav................to be First Lieut. Co. D
Samuel B. Garber...............1st Lieut. Co. E, 10th Ill. Cav............to be First Lieut. Co. E
Casper Britt.......................1st Sergt. Co. F, 10th Ill. Cav............to be First Lieut. Co. F
Augustus F. Myers.............Com. Sergt,. 10th Ill. Cav..................to be First Lieut. Co. G
William A. Keith................1st Lieut. Co. H, 10th Ill. Cav.............to be First Lieut. Co. H
William Keller....................Sergt. Co. H, 10th Ill. Cav.................to be First Lieut. Co. I
Charles M. Harvey.............1st Lieut. Co. K, 15th Ill. Cav...........to be First Lieut. Co. K
John Mooneham.................1st Lieut. Co. F, 15th Ill. Cav...........to be First Lieut. Co. L
Jerome B. Marlett..............Sergt. Co. I, 15th Ill. Cav..................to be First Lieut. Co. M
D. Dempster......................2d Lieut. Co. D, 10th Ill. Cav............to be Second Lieut. Co. A
Isaac N. Watts..................Sergt. Co. B, 10th Ill. Cav.................to be Second Lieut. Co. B
George B. Taylor...............2d Lieut. Co. C, 10th Ill. Cav............to be Second Lieut. Co. C
G.H. Sturdevant.................Sergt. Co. K, 10th Ill. Cav................to be Second Lieut. Co. D
William J. Dorman.............2d Lieut. Co. E, 10th Ill. Cav.............to be Second Lieut. Co. E
Edward Jageman...............Sergt. Co. F, 10th Ill. Cav.................to be Second Lieut. Co. F
Fred R. Spriggs................1st Sergt. Co. G, 10th Ill. Cav.............to be Second Lieut. Co. G
Fred H. Miller..................Chief Trumpeter, 10th Ill. Cav.............to be Second Lieut. Co. H
Simon Baltzell...................2d Lieut. Co. I, 10th Ill. Cav...............to be Second Lieut. Co. I
John A McQueen..............2d Lieut. Co. K, 15th Ill. Cav............to be Second Lieut. Co. K
William H. Huddlestone.....Sergt. Co. E, 15th Ill. Cav..................to be Second Lieut. Co. L
George Gunter...................Sergt. Co. I, 15th Ill. Cav...................to be Second Lieut. Co. M

All commissioned officers of the Tenth and Fifteenth Illinois Volunteer Cavalry, not herein designated, will be mustered out of service.

The consolidated command will embrace all enlisted men of said Regiments retained in service under War Department Circular 36, of 1864, except members of Company M, Fifteenth Illinois Cavalry Volunteers. No reports having been received, the station and status of this Company is unknown. It is supposed to have been mustered out of service; and should any men belonging thereto report for duty, they will be attached, as "unassigned," to Company M, Tenth Illinois Cavalry Volunteers.

By command of Major General J.J. REYNOLDS.