56th Illinois Infantry

56th Illinois Regimental Monument

NPS / P. Winfrey

Monument is located on Union Avenue 200 yards north of the Minnesota Memorial. Also a marker designating the assault of 22 May 1863, located on Union Avenue between the Minnesota Memorial and Pemberton Avenue and a marker designating a sharpshooter's line in the mowed gallery running north and south 400 yards northwest of the Minnesota Memorial. This unit was attached to Col.s Samuel A. Holmes & Green B. Raum's (assumed command 10 June 1863) 2nd Brigade of Brig. Gen'ls Isaac F. Quimby & John E. Smith's (assumed command 2 June 1863) 7th Division, Maj. Gen. James B. McPherson's XVII Army Corps and was commanded by Col. Green B. Raum & Capt. Pinckney J. Welsh (assumed command 10 June 1863). The regiment lost 1 enlisted man KIA, 1 officer & 2 enlisted men WIA in the assault on Vicksburg, MS 22 May 1863 for a total of 4 casualties. [Refer to Col. Green B. Raum of Illinois.]

 

Monument Inscription (Alt-Text)

56th INFANTRY.
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COL. GREEN B. RAUM;
CAPT. PINCKNEY J. WELSH.
2d BRIG., 7th DIV., 17th CORPS.

When brigade crossed the river,
this regiment remained on duty at Hard
Times Landing, Louisiana, and at
Grand Gulf, Mississippi, for a number
of days and joined the brigade at
Champion's Hill, May 16, 1863.

CASUALTIES:
Assault, May 22, Killed 1, Wounded 3,
Total 4; During Siege, Killed 4,
Wounded 13, Total 17, Mostly in the
Crater, June 25-26, Lieut. Andrew E.
Walbright, Killed.
Aggregate, Killed 5, Wounded 16, Total 21.

ILLINOIS

 

Unit position marker

NPS Image