HR1045 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1045 LRB096 21723 GRL 39364 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The 79th Infantry Illinois Volunteers was organized in Mattoon in August of 1862 by Colonel Lyman Guinnip; the regiment was mustered into United States service on August 28, 1862; and

WHEREAS, The 79th Infantry was subsequently ordered to Louisville, Kentucky; on September 13, 1862, the regiment was assigned to the Third Brigade of Brigadier General Craft's Division of the Army of Kentucky; on September 29, 1862, the regiment was transferred to Colonel Buckley's 4th Brigade of General Sill's 2nd Division; and

WHEREAS, On October 1, 1862, the 79th Infantry commenced its march through Kentucky; at Frankfort, the regiment was transferred to General Kirk's 5th Brigade; on October 9, 1862, the regiment arrived at Perryville, Kentucky and continued its march to Crab Orchard; the regiment then moved through Lebanon, Bowling Green, and Nashville, Tennessee, arriving on November 7, 1862; and

WHEREAS, On December 26, 1862, the 79th Infantry moved toward Murfreesboro; on December 31, 1862, the regiment entered the Battle of Stone River; early in the action, Colonel Read was killed and command was assumed by Major Buckner; and

WHEREAS, The 79th Infantry lost 4 officers and 81 enlisted men in action or from their wounds and one officer and 211 enlisted men from disease; the regiment had a total of 297 fatalities; and

WHEREAS, On June 12, 1865, the 79th Infantry was mustered out of service; the regiment arrived at Camp Butler on June 15, 1865; on June 23, 1865, the members of the regiment received their final pay and discharge; and

WHEREAS, 2011 will mark the 150th anniversary of the beginning of the American Civil War; in total, the State of Illinois provided 259,000 soldiers to preserve the Union; and

WHEREAS, During the Civil War centennial in 1961, various Civil War regiments were reactivated by the Governor to celebrate the centennial; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we urge the Governor to reactivate the 79th Volunteer Infantry Regiment to honor the devotion, service, and dedication of those who served; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Governor Pat Quinn.