William Thompson Smith

GEDCOM Note

126th Illinois Infantry Regiment (Union)

- Organized on Sep 4 1862 at Alton, IL - Enlistment term: 3 years - Mustered out on Jul 12 1865 at Pine Bluff, AR

Available statistics for total numbers of men listed as: - Enlisted or commissioned: 1017 - Killed or died of wounds (Enlisted men): 6 - Died of disease (Officers): 4 - Died of disease (Enlisted men): 192 - Disabled: 68 - Deserted: 29 - Discharged: 50 - Mustered out: 641 - Transferred out: 18

Roster for this Regiment

Assignments for this Regiment

Historical notes and Reports:

ILLINOIS 126TH INFANTRY (Three Years)

One Hundred and Twenty-sixth Infantry.-Col., Jonathan Richmond; Lieut.-Cols., Ezra M. Beardsley, Lucius W. Beal; Majs., William W. Wilshire, John Morris. This regiment was organized at Alton, Ill., and was mustered in Sept. 4, 1862. It moved on Nov. 20, to Columbus, Ky., and thence to Bolivar, Tenn. It served in Tennessee until July 24, 1863, when it embarked for Helena, Ark. and marched with Gen. Steele's army, participating in the capture of Little Rock, Sept. 10. The remainder of its term of service was spent in Arkansas, and it was mustered out at Pine Bluff on June 4, and July 12, 1865.

Source: The Union Army, vol. 3

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Report of Lieut. Col. Ezra M. Beardsley, One hundred and twenty-sixth Illinois Infantry.

HDQRS. 126TH Regt. ILLINOIS VOL. INFANTRY, Devall's Bluff, Ark., July 10, 1864. SIR: I have the honor to make the following report of the participation of the battalion of the One hundred twenty-sixth Regt. of Illinois Infantry Volunteers, Composed of Companies A, B, D, E, F, G, H, and I, which I commanded, in the skirmish at Clarendon, Ark., Sunday, June 26, 1864, while accompanying the expedition of Brig. Gen. E. A. Carr, to dislodge a rebel force under Shelby: The battalion debarked from the transport Platte Valley at Clarendon, Ark. (on White River), at 8.30 a. m., June 26, which I immediately formed, and after waiting a short time (apparently for the debarkation of the light battery), upon receiving orders from Col. Graves, chief of infantry, I marched it the left flank, preceded by the battalion of the Fifty-fourth regiment Illinois Veteran Infantry Volunteers, and immediately succeeded by the six-gun battery (D), Second Regt. Missouri Artillery Volunteers, and after moving in a northeasterly direction about three-fourths of a mile again came into line of battle in the same relative order, within supporting distance of a force of cavalry engaging the enemy's skirmishers, which had previously been advanced and deployed as skirmishers to ascertain and feel his position. Upon receiving orders, I immediately deployed Company E, Capt. L. W. Beal commanding, covering the front of the battalion in reserve, which was promptly advanced to relieve the cavalry skirmishers of the Eleventh Missouri Volunteers in our front, who then repaired to form upon the flank, which rested upon the swamp enmargining Bayou Cache (which seemed to regulate the movement). At 10 a. m., or after Company E had been engaged about twenty minutes, Company D was deployed and advanced to re-enforce them upon the skirmish line, when a general advance was ordered of the supporting line, the battalion moving simultaneously, halting at intermitting intervals to successively keep in sustaining distance and give the skirmishers an opportunity to dislodge and force back the enemy. Soon afterward the enemy opened upon our line with a battery of artillery nearly confronting our (central) position, thereby indicating a resolution of arresting our further advance; but our skirmishers, not thus diverted or intimidated, but stimulated with increased vigilance and activity, pressed steadily onward, sustained by a long line of equally gallant and energetic companies among the several battalions and detachments, seconded by a brisk response from Capt. Schaerff's Battery (D), Second Missouri Artillery, soon convinced our adversaries their attempt to withstand our advance might jeopardize their position or forces, so he seemed henceforward to contest the position with as much persistence as practicable, with his available skirmish force gradually retiring. At nearly 12 m., upon the right platoon of Company D rejoining the reserve line, I immediately deployed Company A, Lieut. Allen H. Morgan commanding, and advanced it to replace the skirmishers returned and sustain those engaged; but soon after it had arrived upon and re-enforced the skirmish line, the rebel commander, having previously withdraw most of his baggage, made a precipitate withdrawal of his forces from the front of our skirmishers, with too much rapidity for infantry to follow, whereupon, receiving orders to halt in position awaiting developments to be elected by a cavalry reconnaissance, I recalled the skirmishers to the line of reserve at 12.30, thus ending the participation of my battalion in said engagement. The skirmishers of the battalion advanced under the enemy's fire, driving him nearly 3 miles from the position where we originally formed at about 9.30 a. m., until 12.30, when the engagement ceased, thus occupying three hours.

The officers and men of the entire command seemed animated by a confidence and determination which remained unabated during the engagement. I would especially commenced Capt. Lucius W. Beal and the skirmishers under his command from Companies E and D for the efficient manner in which they performed the hazardous task of dislodging and driving a wily enemy, sustained by his artillery and reserves, from his chosen and covert position for a distance of 3 miles in as many hours, while nearly two-thirds of the distance our (Federal) force had to approach them through the open and nearly level fields, which thus gave the assailants no protection.*

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E. M. BEARDSLEY, Lieut.-Col., Cmdg. Regt.

Capt. C. H. DYER, Asst. Adjt. Gen., District of Little Rock.

Source: Official Records PAGE 1048-61 LOUISIANA AND THE TRANS-MISSISSIPPI. [CHAP. XLVI. [Series I. Vol. 34. Part I, Reports. Serial No. 61.]