92nd Illinois Infantry Regiment

The 92nd Illinois Volunteer Infantry was organized at Rockford, Illinois by MAJ Smith D Atkins of the 11th Illinois Infantry Regiment and mustered into Federal service on September 4, 1862.[1][2][3] It was composed of five companies from Ogle County, three from Stephenson County, and two from Carroll County. The regiment elected Atkins the regiment's Colonel and remained drilling in Rockford until 10 October 1862.[1] The next day it departed, with orders to report to Gen. Wright, at Cincinnati, where it was assigned to Cochran's Brigade, Gen. Baird's Division, Army of Kentucky.[4]

It marched immediately into the interior of the State, and during the latter part of October was stationed at Mt. Sterling, to guard that place against rebel raids, and afterward at Danville, Kentucky. COL Atkins as senior regimental commander assumed command of the brigade upon COL Cochrane's 13 January resignation. On 26 January 1863, the regiment, with Gen. Baird's Division, was ordered to the Army of the Cumberland. Arriving at Nashville, the command moved to Franklin, Tennessee, and was engaged in the pursuit of the rebel Gen. Van Dorn. This culminated in the regiment's participation in the 10 April 1863 defeat of Van Dorn at the Battle of Franklin.

As part of the Tullahoma Campaign, it advanced to Murfreesboro, skirmished around Guy's Gap, and occupied Shelbyville, 27 June.[5] On 1 July, the conflict between COL Atkins and MGEN Granger ruptured,[6][7] and Atkins submitted a request for the 92nd to join Brigadier General John T. Wilder's Lightning Brigade. On 3 July, the regiment detached from Granger's marched to Wartrace, and was engaged in rebuilding a wagon-bridge over Duck River from 5–6 July.[8] The requested transfer came through on July 10, 1863, the Regiment was detached from General Granger's Corps and assigned a place in Brigadier General John T. Wilder's Lightning Brigade,[1] where it remained while Gen. Rosecrans had command.

With the transfer, the 92nd Illinois Infantry converted to mounted infantry and rearmed with Spencer rifles.[9] From 22–26 July, a detachment of 200 men of the regiment accompanied by the 98th Illinois captured 1700 horses and mules and liberated 800 slaves who were quickly mustered into a black regiment in Nashville. There were enough horses taken to mount the regiment.[10] As they converted to mounted infantry under the guidance of Wilder and others in the brigade,[11] they took to the Spencer finding it a superior weapon that permitted them to take on an enemy that outnumbered them with confidence.[12] Also, the rapidity of movement afforded by their mounts gave them a rapid response ability that could take and maintain the initiative from the rebels.[13]

With the Lightning Brigade, on 16 August, the 92nd moved north and east of Chattanooga to divert Bragg's attention away from the rest of the Army of the Cumberland as it crossed the Tennessee west and downriver of Bragg.[14] As part of this effort, the 92nd participated in the brigade's 21 August raid into Chattanooga to keep Bragg diverted from Rosecrans' advance on a wide front to force him from the city. [15]

As the newcomer to the brigade, the 92nd occasionally found itself detached for independent duties.[16] On such a detachment on 4 September, the regiment crossed the mountains at Dechard, Tennessee, and took part in the movements opposite and above Chattanooga, when it recrossed the mountains and joined Gen. Thomas at Trenton, Alabama. On the morning of 9 September, it was in the advance to Chattanooga, and participated in driving the rebels from Point Lookout, and entered the rebel stronghold, unfolding the Union banner on the Crutchfield House, and kept in pursuit of the rebels.[17][18]

At Ringgold, Georgia, it was attacked by a brigade of cavalry, under command of Gen. Forrest, and drove them from the town, killing and wounding a large number. During the Chickamauga battle, the regiment was again detached from the brigade to secure the road between the Corps and Chattanooga while the rest of the brigade took part in Gen. Reynolds' Division of Gen. Thomas' Corps. This combat power prevented much larger Confederate units from crossing a bridge on the first day of Chickamauga[8][19] and stopped the left column of the Bragg's key breakthrough on the second day.[20] As the brigade fell back to Chattanooga, it collected the 92nd and kept the line of retreat open for Thomas' men.[21]

In April, 1864, it was again at Ringgold, Georgia, performing picket duty. On April 23, Capt. Scovil, with twenty-one men, was captured at Nickajack Gap, nine miles from Ringgold, and one man killed. Of the men thus taken prisoners, twelve were shot down, and six died of wounds, after being taken prisoners. The remainder were taken to Andersonville; very few ever left that place, having died from the cruel treatment received there.

From Ringgold, May 7, 1864, the regiment entered upon the Atlanta campaign and was assigned to Gen. Kilpatrick's command, and participated in the battle of Resaca, raids around Atlanta, and engagements at Bethesda, Fleet River Bridge, and Jonesboro. The regiment lost, at Jonesboro, one-fifth of the men engaged. On October 1, the regiment moved from Mount Gilead Church, west of Atlanta, and took an active part in the operations against Hood's army. At Powder Springs it had a severe engagement, losing a large number of men, killed and wounded. The regiment then returned to Marietta, and participated in the various engagements and skirmishes in Sherman's march to the sea. At Swift Creek, North Carolina, Capt. Hawk, of Co. C, was severely wounded, losing a leg.

The regiment, during its term of service, was in some forty battles and skirmishes. The regiment was mustered out at Concord, North Carolina, on June 21, 1865, and discharged at Chicago, on July 10, 1865. The regiment's recruits were transferred to the 65th Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment on that date.

The regiment suffered casualties of 1 officer and 51 enlisted men who were killed in action or who died of their wounds, and 2 officers and 127 enlisted men who died of disease, for a total of 181 fatalities.[22][23]

• Colonel Smith D. Atkins – Mustered out with the regiment.[23]

• List of Illinois Civil War Units
• Illinois in the American Civil War

• 92nd Regiment, Illinois Infantry, NPS
• 92nd Illinois Mounted Infantry Regiment
• 92nd Illinois Infantry Homepage