So, Should Sherman's Army Have Been Called the Army of the Illinois?

From the McHenry County Civil War Round Table (Illinois) discussion group for February 26, 2022.

I went through Sherman's Union Order of Battle for his march through the Carolinas and counted the number of Illinois units.  I came up with 41.  That is a huge number of regiments and one battalion.  Now, granted, that late in the war, none or very few of these had the predetermined 1,000 soldiers considered a regiment at full strength.  But, even so, that was a lot of troops.

Here are the Illinois regiments:

7, 10, 12, 16, 20, 26, 30, 31, 32, 34, 40, 45, 48, 50, 52, 53, 55, 56, 57, 60, 63, 64, 65, 78, 82, 85, 86, 90, 93, 101, 102, 104,  105, 111, 112, 116, 125, 127, 129

Also, there was a 14/15 Battalion.

That's sure a lot of Illinois boys.

Army of the Illinois since Union Armies named after rivers.

--Old Secesh

Truman Murray, 48th Illinois-- Part 2: Drum Major

Truman Murray enlisted in Co. F, 48th Illinois on September 1, 1861, as principal musician private. This was after the death of his wife Cordelia in 1861.  He was drum major and took part in the battles of Fort Henry, Fort Donelson and Shiloh.

After that he was discharged early because of his age and then went to Aurora, Illinois, where he met and married his third wife.  Late in 1865, they moved to a farm near Lawton, Michigan, where they resided before going to Santa Barbara, California, in 1970 where they lived the remainder of their lives.

This Man Sure Moved A Lot.  --Old Secesh

Truman Murray, 48th Illinois Infantry, Enlisted At Age 56

From Find-A-Grave.

I happened to come across this man while looking for information on Lucien Greathouse.  He was very old to be enlisting when he did.

TRUMAN MURRAY

Born 5 August 1805 in Fairfield, NY.
Died 22 October 1879 in Santa Barbara, California, age 74
Buried Santa Barbara Cemetery

According to the 1860 Federal Census, he was 54 and living in Galesburg, Illinois. with his wife Cordelia, 40, and children Emily, 17) and William, 16.

He Sure Did Some Traveling In His Life, From East Coast to West Coast.  --Old Secesh

Battle of Atlanta: The Troup Hurt House-- Part 1: Where Col. Greathouse was killed.

From the Battle of Atlanta Digital Scholarship.

On Digress Avenue:  Site of two famous moments in the Battle of Atlanta: The Confederate capture of the Troup Hurt House and the De Gress Battery and the successful Union counterattack.

Evidently, this is the where Lucien Greathouse was killed in the counterattack.  I was a bit confused by my readings on this battle as apparently the 48th Illinois had retreated and then counter attacked..

The Troup Hurt House is no longer standing but is featured prominently in the Battle of Atlanta Cyclorama painting on high ground north of the Georgia Railroad (now the right of way for MARTA commuter line and the CSX Railroad).

The site is now a privately-owned  home which was a church at one time.  The church was built in 1907.

--Old Secesh

Death of Col. Lucien Greathouse: A First-Hand Account

Letter from William H. Odell who served in Co. B of the 48th Illinois.  Letter in the Illinois State Historical Society.

"on the 22nd the enemy charged our works and tried to swing both our right and left flanks but we gave them a good and genteel whipping taking as estimated by General Logan 12 Thousan & 50 prisoners.  besides killing greate numbers, in this Battal our Colonel [Lucien Greathouse] was killed, poor fellow he was so good a Man as ever drew lifes breth.

"I loved him as a brother for he always treated me as such.  he fell amid the hotest of the contest with his sword in one hand & his hat in the other, cheering his never failing men to victory.

"fighting hard until night our Boys was very tired of over heat, for it was a vary hot day.  one Rebel Colonel Rode up to our works & demanded a surrender, but he soon fell to the ground, a victim to death & notorious trator to his country."

Spelling left as it was but paragraphs inserted.

Wonder What Happened to Lucien's Sword?  --Old Secesh

Col. Lucien P. Greathouse-- Part 4: Killed Leading Charge At Age 22 Years At the Battle of Atlanta

At the Troup Hurt House, the 48th Illinois led the charge.  Riding a large horse, Col. Lucien Greathouse led the way.  Forced to retreat, though, a Confederate yelled "Surrender, can't you see you are beaten?"  Lucien replied, "Beat hell, we've just come into the fight."

Riding forward with saber in hand he was struck in the chest by an enemy round and instantly killed.

Though he died, that charge turned the tide of the battle.

He was killed July 22, 1864, at the age of 22 years, one month and 15 days."

--Old Secesh

Lucien P. Greathouse-- Part 3: Company C, 48th Illinois

He taught school after graduation from Indiana University and studied law under his brother, Tevis Greathouse, in Vandalia, Illinois.

Greathouse enlisted and helped recruit Company C of the 48th Illinois and quickly rose through the ranks, eventually joining the regimental staff.  When he left Company C, he was given a jewel inlaid sword.

The 48th Illinois was at Vicksburg with General Grant and fought in 40 battles before going with General Sherman on his March to the Sea.

At the Battle of Atlanta there was a large brick house owned by Troupe Hurtt (or Troup Hurt House) that the Confederates were using as a stronghold.

--Old  Secesh

Lucien P. Greathouse-- Part 2: Graduated Indiana University at Age 16

Born June 7, 1842. Died July 22, 1864.  U.S. Army colonel.

He led his regiment in 40 battles and was killed at the age of 22 with the flag of his regiment and country in his hands at Atlanta on July 22, 1864.

KIA.

He first commanded Company C of the 48th Illinois Infantry before rising to command the regiment.

Lucien Greathouse was born in Carlinville, Illinois where his father was states attorney.  In 1856, he enrolled at McKendree College in Lebanon, Illinois, and then entered Indiana University where he graduated in 1858, just after his 16th birthday.

Quite a Young Man.  --Old Secesh

Lucien P. Greathouse-- Part 1: Youngest Union Colonel?

While researching William McHenry for my Not So Forgotten War of 1812 blog, I found than he was buried in Old State Cemetery in Vandalia, Illinois.  Another person buried there is one Col. Lucien Greathouse who was killed at the Battle of Atlanta while leading his troops.

I'd never heard of him.

There wasn't even an article about him in Wikipedia or even a stub, even though one source I found said he was the youngest Union colonel in the war.  He was just 22 when he was killed.

He commanded the 48th Illinois Infantry Regiment.

Looks like I will have to do some research on him.

I have been writing a lot about the Star-Spangled Banner and Fort McHenry in my War of 1812 blog.  I thought that McHenry County, Illinois, where we live, was named after Fort McHenry, but it was named after William McHenry.

--Old Secesh