1st Regiment, Illinois Light Artillery

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Brief History
The 1st Regiment, Illinois Light Artillery was first known as Smith's Chicago Light Artillery. It entered State service for three months, April 17, 1861, and it mustered out at Chicago, Illinois, July 3, 1865.

Company L is made up of men from Wisconsin, orginally organized as the Oconto Guards.

Wisconsin 11th Battery, Light Artillery or "Oconto Guards"

The Oconto Guards were first organized to be part of the 17th Wisconsin Infantry. But, the 17th was full so the group was taken by Capt. Rourke to Chicago to be part of the battery to Mulligan's Irish Brigade. They were temporarily attached and then became Battery L of the 1st Illinois Light Artillery.

The Roster of Wisconsin Volunteers, found on the Internet Archives web site, shows this battery as the 11th Battery, Wisconsin, Light Artillery. The men who served in this battery, their residences, dates of enlistment and mustering out, and other remarks.

11th Battery, Light Artillery - Roster page 244.

For more information on the history of this unit, see:

The Wikipedia article, Battery "A", 1st Regiment Illinois Volunteer Light Artillery, (accessed 20 June 2012).

Companies in this Regiment with the Counties of Origin
Men often enlisted in a company recruited in the counties where they lived though not always. After many battles, companies might be combined because so many men were killed or wounded. However if you are unsure which company your ancestor was in, try the company recruited in his county first.

Smith's Battery Chicago Light Artillery mustered out July 16, 1861 probably at Cairo, Alexander County, Illinois and became Battery "A" 1st Regiment Illinois Light Artillery.

Battery "B" was organized at Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, for three months' service and mustered into United States service May 2, 1861. It mustered out July 6, 1865 probably Nashville, Tennessee.

Battery "C" was also known as "Houghtailing"s". It was organized at Ottawa, LaSalle County, Illinois and mustered in October 31, 1861. It mustered out June 14, 1865 probably at Louisville, Kentucky.

Battery "D" was organized at Cairo, Alexander County, Illinois, and mustered in July 30, 1861. It mustered out July 28, 1865 probably Clarksville, Tennessee.

Battery "E" ("Waterhouse's") was organized at Chicago, Cook County, Illinois and mustered in December 19, 1861. It mustered out July 15, 1865.

Battery "F" was organized at Camp Butler, Sangamon County, Illinois and mustered in February 25, 1862. This Battery was discontinued February 22, 1865, and the men were transferred to other Batteries.

Battery "G" was organized at Cairo, Alexander County, Illinois and mustered in February 28, 1862. It mustered out July 24, 1865.

Battery "H" was organized at Chicago, Cook County, Illinois and mustered in February 20, 1862. It mustered out June 14, 1865. Known as "DeGress' Battery" after Captain Francis DeGress. This battery fired the first shots in the Battle of Atlanta. Surviving members marched in The Grand Review.

Battery "I" was organized at Camp Douglas, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois and mustered in February 10, 1862. It mustered out July 26, 1865 probably Chicago, Illinois.

Battery "K" was organized at Shawneetown, Gallatin County, Illinois,and mustered in January 9, 1862. It mustered out December 10, 1864. Veterans and Recruits transferred to Battery "E," 1st Illinois Light Artillery.

Battery "K" was reorganized March, 1865 and mustered out July 15, 1865.

Battery "L" was organized at Chicago, Cook County, Illinois and mustered in February 22, 1862. It mustered out July 10, 1865.

Battery "M" was organized at Camp Douglass, Chicago. Cook County, Illinois and mustered in August 12, 1862. It mustered out July 24, 1865 probably Chicago, Illinois.

The Civil War Soldiers and Sailors database lists 5,660 men on its roster for this unit. Roster.

Other Sources

 * Beginning United States Civil War Research gives steps for finding information about a Civil War soldier. It covers the major records that should be used. Additional records are described in ‘Illinois in the Civil War’ and ‘United States Civil War, 1861 to 1865’ (see below).


 * National Park Service, The Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System, is searchable by soldier's name and state. It contains basic facts about soldiers on both sides of the Civil War, a list of regiments, descriptions of significant battles, sources of the information, and suggestions for where to find additional information.


 * Illinois in the Civil War describes many Confederate and Union sources, specifically for Illinois, and how to find them.. These include compiled service records, pension records, rosters, cemetery records, Internet databases, published books, etc.


 * United States Civil War, 1861 to 1865 describes and explains United States and Confederate States records, rather than state records, and how to find them. These include veterans’ censuses, compiled service records, pension records, rosters, cemetery records, Internet databases, published books, etc.