HR0259 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0259 LRB097 11480 GRL 54074 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 four 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; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we honor the devotion, service, and dedication of those who served in the 79th Volunteer Infantry during the American Civil War; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Mike Wilson, unofficial historian of the 79th Volunteer Infantry.