43rd Illinois Infantry Regiment
| 43rd Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment | |
|---|---|
Illinois state flag | |
| Active | October 12, 1861, to November 30, 1865 |
| Country | United States |
| Allegiance | Union |
| Branch | Infantry |
| Nickname | "Koener Regiment" |
| Engagements | Battle of Shiloh Siege of Corinth Siege of Vicksburg Battle of Prairie D'Ane Battle of Jenkins' Ferry |
The 43rd Illinois Regiment Volunteer Infantry, known as the "Koerner Regiment" after Gustav Körner, was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.
Service
The 43rd Illinois Infantry was organized at Camp Butler, Illinois , and mustered into Federal service on October 12, 1861.
Initially consisting of 8 Companies, they moved to St. Louis, Missouri, where they were issued Harper's Ferry and Pattern 1853 Enfield Rifled Muskets, in Early 1862, While Stationed at Benton Barracks, Two Additional Companies were added.[1]
Battle of Shiloh
In February 1862, the Regiment took part in the Battle of Shiloh. It was assigned to the third brigade of McClernand's Division. On the Morning of April 6, 1862, the Regiment was among the First to respond to the Confederate assault on Shiloh.[1]
The 43rd Fought Stubbornly, supporting Waterhouse's Battery and Suffering Heavy losses. During the Battle, Colonel Julius Raith was mortally wounded and died on April 9th 1862, 1862. After the battle, it lost 206 out of its 500 engaged.[1]
Western Tennessee and Mississippi
Following the Advance of Corinth, the Regiment Spent much of 1862 performing garrison duty, Building Fortifications at Bolivar, Tennessee, and moving towards Luka and Jackson. In December 1862, a detachment of the regiment, led by Colonel Adolph Engelmann, repelled a charge by Confederate Cavalry at Salem Cemetery near Jackson.[1]
In the Spring of 1863, a 200-Man Detachment of the 43rd Was Mounted Briefly for Scouting operations. The Regiment later participated in the operations of the Vicksburg Campaign along the Yazoo River and at Haine's Bluff.[1]
Red River Expedition
The 43rd was among the first Union regiments to enter Little Rock on September 11th, 1863, following the evacuation of Confederate forces there.[1]
In March 1864, It Took part in the Red River Campaign, where it saw Action at Prairie D'Ane, and then at Jenkins' Ferry, where it faced superior Confederate numbers. During the Fighting, the 43rd captured a Confederate battery and dragged it back to union lines.[1]
The regiment remained on duty at Little Rock through the end of the war. Though many of its original members were discharged in late 1864 upon the expiration of their 3-year enlistments, the regiment was still maintained by drafted recruits. The 43rd Illinois was mustered out on November 30, 1865.[1]
Total strength and casualties
The regiment suffered 8 officers and 75 enlisted men who were killed in action or mortally wounded, and 2 officers and 161 enlisted men who died of disease, for a total of 246 fatalities.[2]
Commanders
- Colonel Julius Raith - Mortally wounded at Shiloh, died on April 9, 1862.
- Colonel Adolph Englemann - Mustered out on December 31, 1864.
- Lieutenant Colonel Adolph Dengler - mustered out with the regiment.[3]
See also
Notes
- ^ a b c d e f g h "History of 43rd Illinois Infantry". illinoisgenweb.org. Retrieved 2026-03-08.
- ^ http://www.civilwararchive.com/Unreghst/unilinf4.htm#43rd The Civil War Archive website after Dyer, Frederick Henry. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion. 3 vols. New York: Thomas Yoseloff, 1959.
- ^ http://www.rootsweb.com/~ilcivilw/f&s/043-fs.htm Illinois in the Civil War website after Illinois Adjutant General's muster rolls
References