The Ninty-Eighth Illinois Volunteers was organized at Centralia, Ill., September 1862, by Colonel John J. Funkhouser, and mustered in September 3.
September 8, 1862, the Regiment was ordered to Louisville, Ky. At Bridgeport, Ill., whilst in route, the train was thrown from the track, by a misplaced switch, and Captain O. L. Kelly and 7 men killed, and 75 wounded. On the 9th, moved to camp Jo Holt, at Jeffersonville. On 19th, moved to Shepherdsville. On 30th, moved to Elizabethtown, and, from thence moved to Frankfort, arriving October 9. On 111th, moved to Versailes, from which the enemy retreated, leaving 200 sick in hospital; and, on 13th, returned.
The Regiment was in Fortieth Brigade, Seventy-second and Seventy-fifth Indiana, Ninety-eighth Illinois, and Thirteenth Indiana Battery; Colonel A. O. Miller, Seventy-second Indiana, commanding; Twelfth Division, Brigadier General Dumont commanding; Army of Ohio. On October 26, the Brigade marched, via Bardstown, Mumfordsville and Glasgow, to Bowling Green, arriving November 3.
November 10, 1862, moved with Brigade and Division to Scottsville; 25th, to Gallatin; 28th, to Castillian Springs, and, December 14, to Bledsoe Creek. General Reynolds took command of the Division, December 23. The Seventeenth Indiana was assigned to the Brigade - Colonel Wilder, of that Regiment taking command of the Brigade. On 26th December, began march northward, in pursuit of Morgan, arriving, 31st, at Glasgow.
January 2, 1863, marched to Cave City, and, on the 4th, moved to Nashville. From thence, marched to Murfreesboro, 6th. On 14th, the Regiment was assigned to First Brigade, Fifth Division, Fourteenth Army Corps. Brigade composed of Seventeenth and Seventy-second Indiana, One Hundred and Twenty-third and Ninety-eighth Illinois, January 24, moved through Bradyville, and, on 25th, returned.
On the 8th of March, the Ninety-eighth was ordered to be mounted. During the winter and spring of 1863, it had been doing guard duty for forage trains and on scouts. On 14th March, 350 men were mounted. Shortly afterward the whole Brigade was mounted. On the 1st of April, moved out on an 8 days' scout, going to Rome, Lebanon and Snow's Hill, and returned.
On April 13, moved to Lavergne and Franklin, and returned the next day. Moved to McMinnville, April 20, and destroyed a cotton factory and captured a railroad train. On 22d and 23d, moved, by way of Liberty, to Alexandria, and joined General Reynold's command. On 27th, moved to Lebanon, having captured a large number of horses and mules. 29th, returned to Murfreesboro.
May 6, the One Hundred and Twenty-third Illinois was assigned to the Brigade, and mounted in place of the Seventy-fifth Indiana.
On May 23, made a reconnaissance to the front, driving in the enemy's pickets, killing 2 and wounding 4. On the 31st, the Regiment was armed with the Spencer repeating rifle.
June 4, moved out on the Liberty road, and attacked the First Kentucky and Eleventh Texas rebel cavalry, capturing 20 prisoners and 5 wagons. Moved, June 16, to Dark Bend, on the Tennessee. On the 10th, attacked the enemy at Liberty, driving their rear guard of 150 men to Snow's Hill.
On 24th June, moved, with the Army of the Cumberland, to attack the enemy. The Ninety-eighth Mounted Infantry, on the right flank, came upon the enemy at Hoover's Gap, repulsing them - the Regiment losing 1 man killed and 5 wounded.
From Jun 24 to 28, moved flank of Fourth Division, cutting the railroad at Decherd, and driving the enemy from the stockades. Returned to Manchester, July 1. From July 1 to 16th August, was in the vicinity of Wartrace and Decherd, and captured over 1,000 horses and mules.
The Ninety-eighth Illinois, Colonel Atkins, was assigned to the Brigade.
On August 16, moved, over Cumberland Mountains and Waldron's Ridge, to Poe's Tavern, and, September 9, forded Tennessee, and moved in advance of Chittenden's Corps, toward Ringgold. 11th, moved to Tunnell Hill, skirmishing with Forrest. 12th, moved to Gordon's Mills. 13th, lay in line of battle, skirmishing with the enemy, and 14th, moved to Stephenson's Gap. On 17th, moved to Alexander's Bridge, and on 18th, the battle of Chickamauga began. The Ninety-eighth did good service in this action, and lost 5 killed and 36 wounded - Colonel Funkhouser being severely wounded.
During the remainder of the month, the Regiment marched to Stevenson, guarding prisoners, and returned. On 1st of October, the Brigade, Colonel A. O. Miller commanding, with First and Second Brigades of Cavalry, under General Crook, started in pursuit of Wheeler. On 2d crossed Walden's bridge, and moved through Sequatchie to summit of Cumberland Mountains. 3d, the Ninety-eighth Illinois and Seventeenth Indiana attacked a Brigade of the enemy - their rear guard - and defeated it killing or wounding 15 or 20 of the enemy. On the 4th, drove the enemy from McMinnville. 7th, came up with the enemy near Shelbyville, and charged him, capturing 50 prisoners, and losing only 2 wounded.
Was engaged in the battle of Farmington.
On the 8th, was engaged in pursuit of Wheeler and followed him until he crossed Tennessee, 19th.
Went into camp at Maysville. On 21st November, moved to Chattanooga, where the Brigade was numbered the Third, and assigned to Second Cavalry Division, Brigadier General Crook commanding. The Ninety-eighth, numbering only 200 effective men, mounted.
The Division crossed the Chickamauga, on pontoons, and marched up the Tennessee to Bly's Ferry, and thence to Tine's Station, cutting the railroad, and telegraph wires, in sight of Bragg's camp fires. On November 24, captured wagon train of 60 wagons, and moved into Cleveland.
On 26th, had a slight engagement with the enemy, losing 2 wounded.
On 28th, Major Marquiss and Lieutenant Richard, in charge of dismounted men, returned to Huntsville.
29th, the Ninety-eighth, numbering 150 men, moved to Benton.
December 1, took advance of Sherman's Army, driving the enemy to Loudon, and, on 4, forded Little Tennessee, and moved to Knoxville. Moved to Maysville on 5th, and Murphy on the 8th. Went into camp at Calhoun, on the Hiawassee River, on 15th - the Regiment being reduced to 111 men and officers. On 28th December, had a skirmish with Wheeler's Cavalry, driving them some distance and capturing the Inspector General of Kelly's rebel Division.
February 4, 1864, Colonel Funkhouser joined the Regiment with the balance of the command.
In January 1864, the Third Brigade had been assigned to Second Cavalry Division. On 23d and 24th February, the command was engaged at Buzzard's Roost, losing 12 wounded. On March 1, moved to Cleveland. 16th, moved to Ringgold, and went on picket duty, extending the line toward Nickajack. Lost 2 men wounded. On 14th April, ordered to Columbia, and marched, via Bridgeport, Battle Creek, Decherd and Shelbyville, arriving April 24. On 30th April, the Ninety-eighth, 400 strong, moved to the front, arriving at LaFayette, Ga., May 9. On 11th, marched to Villanon, and, on 14th, moved toward Rome. 16th, to Lay's Ferry, and, on 19th, marched through Kingston. On 23d, crossed Etowah and moved toward Van Wert, and, on 24th, through Van Wert, and within 2 miles of Dallas, met the enemy and drove him to Dallas. Skirmished with the enemy on 25th, and moved toward Powder Springs.
On 28th of May, took position on McPherson's right, dismounted, and repulsed a charge of the enemy; and, on 29th, moved to Burnt Hickory. June 9, mad a reconnaissance beyond Big Shanty. Dismounted, and drove the enemy 5 miles. On 19th and 20th June, moved out to Noonday Creek, and skirmished with the enemy.
On July 3, marched through Marietta, and, on 4th, skirmished heavily. On 5th, moved toward Roswell Factory, and, on 9th, drove the enemy's pickets from the Chattahoochie and took possession of Roswell Factory.
Colonel Funkhouser resigned, to take effect July 5. Crossed Chattahoochie to Cross Keys, on 17th, and struck Atlanta and Augusta Railroad 16 miles east of Atlanta, destroying several miles of track, and, on 19th, returned to McAfee's Bridge. Moved to Decatur on the 21st, and to Oxford and Covington, capturing a railroad train and 16 prisoners, burning railroad bridge, and returned to Decatur, 24th.
On 25th July, moved in support of Stoneman, in the movement on Atlanta and Mobile Railroad. The Division (Garrard's) was, at one time, entirely surrounded by the enemy, but cut its way out, and returned to rear of Atlanta.
On the 1st of August 1864, the Division was ordered to occupy the works vacated by the Twenty-third Corps. On 15th, moved out of the works, and, on 20th, moved with Kilpatrick on the reconnaissance to Decatur.
Participated in Sherman's flank movements to Rough-and-Ready, and went on picket at Jonesboro, September 4 to 8. Moved to Decatur 8th September, to Blake's Mills 9th, and on 19th went on scout towards Lawrenceville. On 21st, moved to support of Kilpatrick, via Atlanta, Dry Pond and Sandtown. Crossed the Chattahoochie on the 24th, and reconnoitered toward Campbelltown. Moved to Lost Mountain and Ackworth.
Was engaged in watching movements of Hood's Army, then marching north. Camped, October 4, near Kenesaw. On 12th, moved to Rome. On 13th, moved out and attacked the enemy, defeating him. On 15th, moved to Adairsville. On 16th, to Snake Creek Gap. On 19th, to Chattanooga. On 20th, to Gaylesville. On 21st, attacked and routed Wheeler, near Little River, at Rudd's farm.
November 1, turned over our horses and equipment to Kilpatrick.
On 2d November, moved to Calhoun. On 4th, moved toward Chattanooga, arriving 6th, and, on 13th, arrived at Nashville. Moved thence to Louisville. Lay in camp until December 26, waiting for horses and equipment, and then ordered to Elizabethtown, to intercept enemy under General Lyon. December 31, moved to Elizabethtown.
On 12th January 1865, the command passed through Nashville, Tenn., and marched, via Columbia and Mount Pleasant, to Gravelly Springs, Ala., remaining in camp at that place until March 13. Moved to Waterloo and Chickasaw Landing. On 22d March, commenced the spring campaign, with the First, Second and Fourth Cavalry Divisions, 12,000 strong, Brevet General Wilson commanding. On 31st, arrived at Montrevalle - Roddy's rebel command being driven out by General Upton. On April 1, the enemy made a stand at Ebenezer Church, but were routed by four companies of the Seventeenth Indiana. On April 2, participated in capture of Selma. The Fourth Cavalry Division having, failed in their assault, 1,600 men of Second Division, General Long commanding, made the attack and carried the works. The loss of the Ninety-eighth, in this action, was 9 killed and 2 mortally wounded, 6 officers wounded and 21 men wounded. Number of the Regiments engaged, 172.
On 9th, crossed Alabama River, and April 13, marched through Montgomery. On 16th, marched through Columbus, and, on 20th, entered Macon, without opposition. The Ninety-eighth was detailed for provost guard, and Lieutenant Colonel Kitchell as Provost Marshal of the city. May 23, started for Chattanooga, arriving June 1; and, thence, to Nashville, arriving 15th, and camping near Edgefield. Was here joined by Major Marquiss and a detachment of Ninety-eighth. Mustered out June 27, 1865, by Captain L. M. Hosea, A.C.M. The recruits were transferred to Sixty-first Illinois Volunteers. Arrived at Springfield, Ill., 30th June, and received final payment and discharge, July 7, 1865.
The Ninety-eighth while attached to the First Brigade, Second Division of Cavalry, as Mounted Infantry, assisted in the capture at Macon, Ga., of four brass cannon which had been buried near the small-pox hospital, as deceased soldiers, marking them with head and foot-boards. One of these pieces was given to the Ninety-eighth and subsequently it was presented to Illinois, when it was placed on exhibition in Memorial Hall.
HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION OF THE TENNESSEE
XXVI. Those men of the Ninety-eighth Illinois Volunteers who are ineligible to be mustered out with that command, now at Edgefield, Tenn., will proceed, without delay, to Franklin, Tenn., under charge of Captain J. E. Judy, Sixty-first Illinois. On arrival at Franklin, these men will be transferred to, and permanently consolidated with the Sixty-first Illinois Volunteer Infantry. Brevet Major A. L. Hough, Chief Commissary of Musters, M.D.T., is hereby charged with the execution of this order. The transfer to be made under provisions of Circular No. 64, series 1864, War Department.
By command of Major General THOMAS.
HENRY M. CIST, A.A.G.