Description
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.