NEW VIDEO TRACES ILLINOIS' ROLE IN THE CIVIL WAR By SECRETARY OF STATE GEORGE H. RYAN

A new video presentation, "The State Archives: Illinois' Memory of the Civil War," looks at one of the most painful periods in U.S. history, 1861-1865, when 34,834 Illinoisans perished. In all, more than 250,000 Illinoisans served in the war.

The presentation seeks to inform historical and genealogical societies about the information available for Civil War research at the State Archives. However, any Illinois citizen with an interest in genealogy can research the holdings, and the video can be borrowed by anyone.

As Secretary of State and State Archivist, I am pleased to announce that the video is available for free rental at public libraries and Blockbuster Video Stores, and through the Secretary of State's Communications Department and Illinois State Archives. The video also has been distributed to cable companies and public television stations.

The presentation was created by the Secretary of State's office and developed by archivist Cody Wright. Using reports from the War Department and the Adjutant General in the holdings at the State Archives, the video traces Illinois' role in the four-year conflict. Photographs of Illinois soldiers, letters, and records paint a vivid picture of the lives of those engaged in the conflict.

"... a fantastic documentation," said C. W. Munie, historian/curator for the Department of Military Affairs, in a letter to Wright. "In my opinion, it was very professional, held the interest and did the job historically . . . It's about time Illinois started blowing our own horn about the Civil War . . . The war isn't over yet until everyone finds out what we did and how we did it."

On April 15, 1861, the day after the surrender of Fort Sumter to the Confederacy, the Secretary of War sent a telegram to Governor Richard Yates asking for six regiments of militia for immediate service. In a patriotic gesture, the Illinois General Assembly authorized 10 regiments.

Thus, Illinois began an unprecedented collection of records relating to the war. Military rolls were collected from Illinois counties listing able-bodied men between the ages of 18 and 45 eligible for military service. Large muster roll books for each Illinois unit in the war have been microfilmed and are the most frequently requested Civil War records at the Archives.

Some of the more interesting Illinoisans highlighted in the video include:

• Ulysses Simpson Grant of Galena. Early in the

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war, Grant proved himself to be the soldier's soldier. During battle, he instilled confidence in his commanders and soldiers by riding from position to position, spurring his horse and his men onward. He kept his cool under fire and often was the last to leave a battle after seeing his men safely away. General Grant's reports from the field can be found in the 128 volumes of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, available for research at the Archives.

In all, more than 2 million men served the Union during the war, while half that many were in the Confederate Army. Over 300,000 Union soldiers died, three times the number of Confederate casualties.

• General Ben Grierson of Jacksonville. A former music teacher who hated horses, Grierson was a commander of Illinois' 6th Cavalry Regiment and heroic leader of the famed "Grierson's Raid" through the South. Grierson's cavalrymen marched 800 miles continuously over 17 days, terrorizing the Confederate forces in Mississippi and Louisiana. Grierson's men drew rebel fire and support away from Vicksburg, enabling Grant's eventual success. Grierson was promoted to General in the U.S. Army Cavalry after the war.

• General John Logan of Southern Illinois. Logan compiled a brilliant war record, distinguishing himself at Belmont, Vicksburg, Kennesaw Mountain, and the Battle for Atlanta. Logan and his troops were described by one young Illinoisan at Vicksburg as "the hardest set of men I ever saw ... all the time quarreling with each other and the hardest swearers in the Army."

• Colonel Isaac Pugh of Decatur. Commander of the 41st Illinois Infantry, he and his men from Central Illinois formed one of the most embattled units during the war. For example, at the Battle of Fort Donelson, the 41st were the first troops the rebels engaged when they attempted to cut their way out and flee the Union onslaught. Col. Pugh lost 200 men in the battle and had 11 bullet holes shot through his uniform. But he was not injured.

These men and hundreds of other Illinois officers can be found in the thousands of regimental papers and rosters at the Archives. In addition, casualty lists at the Archives tell the saddest part of the compelling story of the war.

For additional information about the video or the Archives' holdings, write to Cody Wright, Illinois State Archives, Springfield, Illinois 62756, or call 217/782-4866. Requests for the video also may be made to Jim Daniels, Communications Department, Klein and Mason Warehouse, Springfield, Illinois 62756, or by calling 217/782-2845. •

Page 10 / Illinois Municipal Review / June 1992