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THE CIVIL WAR SERVICE OF THE 78TH ILLINOIS VOLUNTEER INFANTRY REGIMENT

THE 78TH ILLINOIS VOLUNTEER INFANTRY REGIMENT TOOK THE FIELD UNDER COMMAND OF A LACKADAISICAL COLONEL WHO WAS FREQUENTLY ABSENT AND FEUDED WITH HIS OWN OFFICERS AND SUPERIORS. DISTRUSTED BY SENIOR OFFICERS, THE 78TH BECAME A REGIMENT THAT WAS ALWAYS LEFT BEHIND, UNTIL ITS OWN OFFICERS FORCED THEIR RELUCTANT COLONEL TO RESIGN.

HIS REPLACEMENT WAS A FORCEFUL LEADER WHO TURNED THE REGIMENT UNTO A CRACK FIGHTING OUTFIT THAT PERFORMED HEROICALLY IN THE BATTLE OF CHICKAMAUGA AND MANY OF THE GREAT BATTLES OF THE ATLANTA CAMPAIGN.