History of the Eighty-sixth Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry, during its term of service

In Short

This regimental history provides a firsthand account of the Eighty-sixth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, detailing the unit’s experience from its initial organization in 1862 through the major campaigns in Tennessee, Georgia, and the Carolinas. Written in 1866, the narrative captures the daily realities of soldiering—the hunger, the harsh weather, and the relentless marching—alongside descriptions of pivotal engagements like Chickamauga and the march to the sea. It has endured as an authentic record of the human toll and logistical scale of the war, preserving the voices and sacrifices of these Illinois volunteers.

The Story

The story begins with the regiment’s formation and early, difficult days in Nashville. The soldiers, initially inexperienced and ill-equipped for the realities of field life, face bitter winter conditions, inadequate shelter, and the unfamiliar, often grueling demands of picket duty. These opening months serve as a harsh apprenticeship, testing the men's resilience as they transition from civilians to seasoned soldiers.

As the war progresses, the narrative follows the regiment into the thick of major campaigns. The men move toward Chattanooga, arriving just in time for the pivotal and bloody battle of Chickamauga. The text emphasizes the scale of the conflict, noting the overwhelming odds faced by the Union forces and the desperate nature of the fighting. Following this, the regiment participates in the maneuvers around Missionary Ridge and Knoxville, movements that highlight the strategic complexity of the Tennessee theater.

The narrative arc shifts to the Atlanta Campaign, describing months of exhausting maneuvering and skirmishing. The regiment experiences the frustration of failed assaults—most notably at Kenesaw Mountain—and the subsequent reliance on Sherman’s “flanking machine” to gain ground. Through these entries, the reader observes the transformation of the landscape and the soldiers alike, as they become accustomed to the constant presence of combat and the destruction of the civilian infrastructure around them.

Following the fall of Atlanta, the regiment joins the March to the Sea. This portion of the chronicle is characterized by rapid movement, the systematic destruction of Southern resources, and the tactical ease with which the Union army crossed Georgia. The tone reflects the soldiers’ sense of momentum and the changing nature of the war as it reaches deeper into the Confederacy. The march continues through South Carolina, where the terrain proves as challenging as the enemy, and concludes with the final engagements at Averysboro and Bentonville.

The closing chapters capture the surrender of Johnston’s army and the resulting surge of relief that sweeps through the ranks. The anticipation of home—a theme that grows steadily throughout the later chapters—reaches its peak as the men realize their service is finally at an end. The journey back to Chicago is depicted as a restorative homecoming, where the survivors are met with the gratitude of their fellow citizens. The final pages provide a sober accounting of the regiment’s losses, listing the fallen and the wounded, and documenting the formal dissolution of the unit in Washington, D.C. It is a story of endurance that begins in the cold, damp tents of Nashville and concludes with the quiet, permanent discharge of men who have seen the full weight of the war.

How It Unfolds

The voyage begins The regiment gathers in Illinois and is immediately thrust into the difficult, freezing winter of Nashville. New to the trade of war, the men struggle with poor supplies and exposure, marking their first real casualties before ever meeting the enemy in a major fight.

The test of fire The narrative follows the unit to the front lines in Tennessee, where they participate in the intense skirmishing leading up to Chickamauga. The writing captures the immense pressure of these days, focusing on the tactical maneuvers and the sheer exhaustion of the men as they prepare for the imminent, bloody clash.

Campaigning for the South The focus shifts to the relentless maneuvering of the Atlanta Campaign, detailing both the failures of direct assault and the effectiveness of flanking movements. The soldiers move from the rugged terrain of Rocky Face Ridge to the outskirts of Atlanta, witnessing the displacement of civilian populations and the strategic burning of resources.

The march to the sea The regiment traverses the heart of Georgia, operating in a land where they live off the bounty of the countryside. This segment highlights the scale of the destruction and the relative ease of the march, as the unit moves toward the coast to deliver the city of Savannah as a gift to the President.

The final march The conflict spills into the Carolinas, where the regiment battles both the elements and a desperate enemy in the swampy terrain near Bentonville. This final push reflects the culmination of years of service, leading directly into the surrender of Confederate forces and the ultimate cessation of hostilities.

The long road home The final chapters focus on the news of peace and the immediate shift in morale from combat readiness to the desire for home. The story concludes with the regiment’s return to Chicago, providing a final tally of their sacrifices and a quiet, dignified end to their long service.

The People

Colonel Fahnestock and General James D. Morgan are central figures who embody the leadership of the regiment and the division. Fahnestock is depicted as a source of stability and encouragement, guiding his men through the administrative and physical challenges of the war. General Morgan, who assumes command during the Atlanta Campaign, represents the tactical side of the conflict; despite occasional mistakes in navigation, his presence provides a steadying influence during the chaotic heat of battle.

The soldiers themselves, though often referred to collectively as “the boys,” emerge as the true protagonists. Their wants are simple: warm shelter, a bit of comfort, and the eventual return to their civilian lives. What stands in their way is the constant, grinding pressure of the elements and the enemy. They begin the war as ill-prepared, damp, and freezing recruits in Nashville and finish as hardened veterans who have marched thousands of miles. Their growth is marked not by individual heroics, but by the accumulation of small, persistent acts of duty—foraging, building fortifications, and holding ground in the mud of the Carolinas. They are individuals who are fundamentally changed by the destruction they have witnessed, yet they remain defined by their collective focus on the goal of reaching home and the support they provide to one another along the way.

In Its Own Voice

"The Icelander, in his frigid and icy home of the far north, in his primeval ignorance, could not have lived in greater exposure than did the soldiers at this time."

The author describes the miserable living conditions of the regiment during their first winter in Nashville.

"The private dwellings, for the most part, were framework, not costly and extravagant, but constructed in plain and wholesome style."

While marching through Georgia, the author pauses to observe the character of the Southern landscape and its architecture.

"It is impossible for a person who has not seen the like to form a proper idea of the real grandeur and sublimity of these dense volumes of black, agitated smoke."

The author reflects on the destructive power of war as he describes the burning of equipment and stores during the campaign.

What It's Really About

The book is an exploration of the sheer endurance required by the common soldier during the Civil War. It argues that the war was not merely a series of battles, but a grueling, long-term occupation of the landscape that demanded as much from the soldier’s physical stamina as his courage. Beneath the movement of the troops and the tactical reports, there is a recurring question about the human cost of the conflict and the necessity of sacrifice. It asks how, in the face of death and extreme deprivation, a group of volunteers from Illinois could maintain their cohesion and purpose over years of service. Ultimately, it is a testament to the transition from the innocence of the recruit to the weary, pragmatic competence of the veteran.

Why Read It Today

Readers interested in the granular, day-to-day experience of the Civil War will find this book essential. It provides a grounded, unvarnished look at the reality of the infantry: the endless mud, the struggle to build shelters, and the monotonous labor that filled the long gaps between battles. It does not lean into the grandiosity of war; instead, it focuses on the weight of the packs, the quality of the rations, and the physical toll of marching thousands of miles.

The prose is straightforward and warm, reflecting the perspective of a man writing for his comrades, which creates an intimate, immediate feeling. While readers should be prepared for the period-specific attitudes and the occasional technical detail that reflects 19th-century military life, these elements contribute to the book's authenticity. There is a distinct, melancholic beauty in the author’s descriptions of the Georgia landscape and the collective relief that settles over the men as the war winds down. It is a work for anyone who wants to understand the human side of the conflict, lingering on the memory of the fallen and the quiet, profound joy of the soldier who finally lays down his arms to return to a world that has kept waiting for him.