95th Illinois, Pride of McHenry County

Tomorrow, the McHenry County Civil War Round Table discussion group will be talking about  the county's main Union regiment, the 95th Illinois.  Of course, men from McHenry County did serve in other regiments, but by far, this was the biggest one for the county.

I noticed right away that on June 10, 1864, the regiment went through three commanders: a colonel and two captains.  Two of them were killed and one wounded.  That must have been some fight  that day.

I did a lot of research on the 95th's colonel, the first commander killed that day, Thomas Humphrey, from Franklin Township DeKalb County.I also did research on Camp Fuller in Rockford, where the 95th and three other Illinois regiments trained.

While researching it, I came across a Lt.Col. Melancthon Smith of the 45th Illinois who was killed June 28, 1863, and buried in Rockford.

Should Be An Interesting Meeting.  --Old Secesh

McHenry County, Illinois, in the Civil War-- Part 2

The 95th Illinois Infantry was mostly from McHenry County. Its US and regimental flags are preserved in the Illinois National Guard Militia Historical Society Museum in Springfield.

They organized at Camp Fuller in Rockford, Illinois September 4, 1862. A total of 1,324 volunteers served in it during the course of the war and they traveled 9,960 miles.

Service Record:

VICKSBURG-- May 18 and 22, 1863
MERIDIAN EXPEDITION-- Feb. 14, 1864
RED RIVER CAMPAIGN-- March 9 to April 22, 1864
BRICE'S CROSSROADS
SHERMAN'S Campaign Against Atlanta-- June 24 to September, 1864
NASHVILLE-- Dec. 15, 1864
SPANISH FORT-- April 8, 1865
BLAKELY FORT-- April 9, 1865

I found out that John Hatch is buried in Marengo Cemetery. He died January 30, 1924, and was in Co. E, 95th Illinois.

A Bit of Local History. --B-Runner