85th Regiment, Illinois Infantry

Brief History
The 85th Regiment, Illinois Infantry was organized at Peoria, Illinois, and mustered in August 27, 1862. It marched to Washington, D. C., via Richmond, Virginia from April 29-May 19, 1865. The regiment mustered out June 5, 1865.

For more information on the history of the 85th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, see the following:


 * Wikipedia, (accessed 30 Dec 2010) article on the the 85th Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment.


 * The Civil War Archive. (accessed 30 Dec 2010) Brief history of the 85th Regiment Infantry.

Companies in this Regiment with County of Origin
Men often enlisted in a company recruited in the counties where they lived though not always. After many battles, companies might be combined because so many men were killed or wounded. However if you are unsure which company your ancestor was in, try the company recruited in his county first.

The following counties of origin are taken from the Adjutant General's Report, found on the Illinois Civil War Rosters web site. Roster pages are from the same report found on the Internet Archives web site. The rosters show the men who served in each regiment, their residences, dates of enlistment and mustering out, and other remarks.

Company A - many men from Mason and Tazewell counties - Mason and Tazewell county web sites - Roster, vol. 5, pages 173-175.

Company B - many men from Fulton and Mason counties - Fulton and Mason county web sites - Roster, vol. 5, pages 175-176.

Company C - many men from Mason County - Mason County web site -Roster, vol. 5, pages 177-179.

Company D - many men from Mason County - Mason County web site - Roster, vol. 5, pages 179-180.

Company E - many men from Tazewell and Woodford counties - Tazewell and Woodford county web sites - Roster, vol. 5, pages 181-182.

Company F - many men from Fulton County - Fulton County web site - Roster, vol. 5, pages 182-184.

Company G - many men from Fulton County - Fulton County web site - Roster, vol. 5, pages 184-186.

Company H - many men from Fulton County - Fulton County web site - Roster, vol. 5, pages 186-188.

Company I - many men from Fulton County - Fulton County web site - Roster, vol. 5, pages 188-190.

Company K - many men from Mason County - Mason County web site - Roster, vol. 5, pages 190-192.

Unassigned Recruits - Roster, vol. 5, page 192.

Men from Menard County, Illinois are known to have served in the 85th Regiment.

The Civil War Soldiers and Sailors database lists 1,546 men on its roster for this unit. Roster.

Other Sources
WEB SITES


 * Beginning United States Civil War Research gives steps for finding information about a Civil War soldier. It covers the major records that should be used. Additional records are described in ‘Illinois in the Civil War’ and ‘United States Civil War, 1861 to 1865’ (see below).


 * National Park Service, The Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System, is searchable by soldier's name and state. It contains basic facts about soldiers on both sides of the Civil War, a list of regiments, descriptions of significant battles, sources of the information, and suggestions for where to find additional information.


 * Illinois in the Civil War describes many Confederate and Union sources, specifically for Illinois, and how to find them. These include compiled service records, pension records, rosters, cemetery records, Internet databases, published books, etc.


 * United States Civil War, 1861 to 1865 describes and explains United States and Confederate States records, rather than state records, and how to find them. These include veterans’ censuses, compiled service records, pension records, rosters, cemetery records, Internet databases, published books, etc.


 * Illinois Civil War Rosters from the Adjutant General's Report, 85th Regiment  (accessed 22 Feb. 2011) includes rosters of all the regiments and information on the different companies in each regiment.


 * Illinois State Archives - Illinois Civil War Muster and Descriptive Rolls Database (accessed 14 June 2011). Search by residence, unit, regiment, company or soldier.

BOOKS AND FILMS


 * Aten, Henry J. History of the Eighty-fifth Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry. (Hiawatha, Kansas, 1901). Reprint: FHL US/CAN Films 1550191 and 1684633 item 1. Other libraries with this book. View online at Internet Archives; Google Books; and Illinois Ancestors Presents Menard County. Officer biographies.


 * Civil War Centennial Commission of Illinois. Illinois Military Units in the Civil War. (Springfield, [Ill.]:Civil War Centennial Commission of Illinois, c1962).. FHL US/CAN Book 977.3 M2im and FHL US/CAN Film 6334558. Other libraries with this book. Includes military units by county, infantry, cavalry, and artillery regiments, including independent artillery.


 * United States. War Department. Record and Pension Office. Compiled Records Showing Service of Military Units in Volunteer Union Organizations. (Washington, District of Columbia : The National Archives, c1964). 83rd-90th Infantry FHL US/CAN Film 1488479. Other libraries with this microfilm. View online at Internet Archives.


 * Vance, Joseph W and Illinois. Adjutant General's Office. Report of the Adjutant General of the State of Illinois, 1861-1866. (Salt Lake City, Utah : Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1957, 1980). FHL US/CAN Films 1670784 and 1670785. Other libraries with this book.  View online at Internet Archives. Rosters of officers, enlisted men, and historical memorandum of the regiments.