The Thirty-fifth Illinois Volunteer Infantry was organized at Decatur, July 3d, 1861, and on July 23d, was accepted by the Secretary of War, as Col. G. A. Smith's Independent Regiment of Illinois Volunteers.
     August 4th.  Left Decatur and reached Jefferson Barracks, Mo. next day.  One week afterward eight companies were mustered into the United States' service, making the aggregate strength of the regiment seven hundred and ninety-three.
     Sept. 15.  Moved by railroad to Jefferson City, thence (Sept. 25th) to Otterville.
     October 15th.  Marched to Sedalia, and joined General Siegel's advance on Springfield.
     Nov. 10th.  Advanced to Wilson's Creek.  Returning left Springfield, Mo., Nov. 13th, for Rolls.
     January 23d, 1862.  Began the advance on Springfield, reaching that place on the 13th.  Next followed Price's retreating army, and after a hard and fatiguing march, arrived at Cross Hollows, Ark., January 21st, having formed line of battle, and skirmished nearly every day with the enemy for a distance of two hundred and twenty-eight miles.
     March 7th.  Participated in the hotly-contested battle of Pea Ridge, winning fresh laurels by its bravery, and driving the stubborn enemy from every commanding position.  The regiment lost, in this contest, fifteen killed, forty-five wounded, and fifty-five prisoners, Col. Smith having been so severely wounded that he never afterward resumed command of the regiment.
     April 5th.  Major McIlwain in command.  Commenced march to Batesville, Ark., arriving May 8th, the distance being two hundred and ninety-one miles.  The regiment afterward participated conspicuously in the following battles: - Siege of Corinth, Perryville, Stone River (losing in the latter battle eleven killed, forty-four wounded, and twenty-nine missing, out of twenty commissioned officers and four hundred and nineteen that went into action), Chickamauga (losing three commissioned officers and fifteen men killed; five commissioned offers and one hundred and twenty-five men wounded; twelve men missing out of eighteen commissioned officers and two hundred and eighty-one enlisted men that entered the battle), Mission Ridge, gallantly leading the storming columns, and being the first to plant the stars and stripes on teh enemy's stronghold, all the color-guard of the regiment having been either wounded or killed, and Lieut. Col. Chandler, commanding regiment, carrying the colors "into the jaws of death; into the mouth of hell."  The losses in this battle being six men killed; two commissioned officers, and forty-six men wounded, out of two hundred and twelve officers and men engaged;  Rocky Face Ridge, Resaca, Dallas, Mud Creek, Kenesaw, losing in these last campaigns, six commissioned officers and one hundred and eighteen men.  Major McIlwain was killed at Kenesaw, June 22d, 1864.  He was a brave and efficient officer, having greatly distinguished himself in the battle of Stone River.
     The regiment having marched, during the term of service, in all three thousand and fifty-six miles, was mustered out at Springfield, Ill., September 27th, 1864.

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