The 139th Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry was an
infantry regiment that served in the
Union Army during the
American Civil War. It was among scores of regiments that were raised in the summer of 1864 as
Hundred Days Men, an effort to augment existing manpower for an all-out push to end the war within 100 days.
Service
The 139th Illinois Infantry was organized at
Peoria, Illinois
Peoria ( ) is the county seat of Peoria County, Illinois, United States, and the largest city on the Illinois River. As of the United States Census, 2020, 2020 census, the city had a population of 113,150. It is the principal city of the Peoria ...
, and mustered into Federal service on June 1, 1864, for a one-hundred-day enlistment. It departed for
St. Louis by steamboat on June 8, arriving there on the 10th. From there it moved to
Columbus, Kentucky, for a week, and from thence to
Cairo, Illinois
Cairo ( ) is the southernmost city in Illinois and the county seat of Alexander County.
The city is located at the confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers. Fort Defiance, a Civil War camp, was built here in 1862 by Union General Ulysses ...
, where it performed garrison duty.
Around August 1, the regiment was directed by General Payne, commanding the Department of Northern Kentucky, to raid several nearby farms owned by
Confederate sympathizers, to seize horses and cattle to make up for livestock stolen by
guerillas. The raid was successful, resulting also in the capture of two of the raiders.
The regiment returned to Cairo until September 25, when it was returned to Peoria to be mustered out of service.
Although its initial term of enlistment had expired, the regiment was asked by President
Abraham Lincoln to assist Federal efforts against General
Sterling Price during his
Raid into Missouri. When the men agreed to go, Lincoln sent them a letter, thanking them for their patriotism and willingness to serve.
The 139th marched toward
Franklin, Missouri, as part of the Union pursuit of Price in October of that year, but the
Battle of Westport on 23 October forced Price to retreat southward and ended the need for the 139th Regiment's service. The Regiment mustered out two days later, and did not lose any men in action.
[Union Regimental Histories - Illinois, Part 11](_blank)
Civil War Archive, from
Total strength and casualties
The regiment suffered 16 enlisted men who died of disease.
Commanders
*
Colonel Peter Davidson - mustered out with the regiment.
See also
*
List of Illinois Civil War Units
*
Illinois in the American Civil War
Notes
{{Reflist
References
Union Regimental Index - IllinoisThe Civil War Archive
Units and formations of the Union Army from Illinois
Military units and formations established in 1864
1864 establishments in Illinois
Military units and formations disestablished in 1864