HISTORICAL NOTES:
The 4th Illinois Cavalry was part of the Army of the Potomac from September 1862 to November 1863; the Department of the Gulf from March 1864 to February 1865; and the Department of Texas from July 1865 to May 1866.
The 4th Illinois Cavalry was consolidated with the 12th Illinois Cavalry on June 14, 1865.
At the Gettysburg Battlefield, the monument to the unit is west of Gettysburg on Reynolds Avenue between the Railroad Cut and Chambersburg Road. It was dedicated in 1891 by the State of Illinois
Companies "A," "B," "C," "D," "E" and "G" organized at Springfield, Ill., and mustered in February 24, 1862. Captain Gilmore's Company of Cavalry, Company "A," 32nd Illinois, organized at Camp Butler December 31, 1861; assigned as Company "F." Captain Sheerer's and Captain Barker's Companies, McClellan Dragoons, organized at Chicago, Ill., October, 1861; assigned as Company "H." Captain Brown's Company, McClellan Dragoons, organized at Chicago, Ill., October, 1861; assigned as Company "I." Companies "K," "L" and "M" organized at Springfield, Ill., December 30, 1863, to January 12, 1864.
The Regiment lost during service 38 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 4 Officers and 192 Enlisted men by disease. Total 234.
OFFICERS:
Colonel Arno Voss (1861–1864)
Colonel Hasbrouck Davis (1865)
ASSIGNMENTS:
Duty at Camp Butler, Ill., guarding prisoners, until June, 1862. Ordered to Martinsburg, W. Va., June 25. Attached to District of Martinsburg, W. Va., to September, 1862. 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, 12th Army Corps, Army Potomac, to October, 1862. Defenses Upper Potomac, 8th Army Corps, Middle Dept. to February, 1863. 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, Cavalry Corps, Army of the Potomac, to June, 1863. 1st Brigade, 1st Division, Cavalry Corps, Army Potomac, to November, 1863. Chicago, Ill., to February, 1864. District of St. Louis, Mo., Dept. of Missouri, to March, 1864. 1st Brigade, Cavalry Division, 19th Army Corps, Dept. of the Gulf, to June, 1864. District of LaFourche, Dept. of the Gulf, to August, 1864. 4th Brigade, Cavalry Division, Dept. of the Gulf, August, 1864. 3rd Brigade, Cavalry Division, Dept. of the Gulf, to February, 1865. 2nd Brigade, Cavalry Division, District of West Tennessee, to July, 1865. Dept. of Texas to May, 1866.
SERVICE:
Duty at Martinsburg, W. Va., and on the Upper Potomac to September, 1862. Near Martinsburg September 3. Bunker Hill September 3-4. Martinsburg September 6. Darkesville September 7. Williamsport, Md., September 11. Martinsburg September 11-12. Defense of Harper's Ferry, W. Va., September 13-14. Regiment cut way through enemy's lines on night of September 14. Antietam, Md., September 16-18. Hagerstown, Md., September 20. Duty on Upper Potomac September 20 to December 8. Williamsport September 21. McCoy's or Russell's Ferry and near Green Springs Furnace October 10. Reconnaissance from Bolivar Heights to Rippon, W. Va., November 9. Dumfries, Va., December 26-27. At Falmouth, Va., until April 1863. Chancellorsville Campaign April 27-May 8. Stoneman's Raid April 29-May 8. Tunstall Station May 4. Aylett's May 5. Raid from Yorktown into Matthews County May 19-23. March to Falmouth, Va., Brandy Station and Beverly Ford June 9. Upperville June 21. Expedition from Yorktown to South Anna Bridge June 23-28 (Detachment). South Anna Bridge June 26 (Detachment). Battle of Gettysburg, Pa., July 1-3. Williamsport, Md., July 6. Bronsboro July 8. Benevola or Beaver Creek July 9. At and near Funkstown July 10-13. Falling Waters July 14. Chester Gap July 26. Kelly's Ford July 31-August 1. Brandy Station August 1-4. Near Fairfax Court House August 6 (Detachment). Brandy Station and Culpeper Court House September 7-8. Near Bristoe Station September 12. Advance from the Rappahannock to the Rapidan September 13-17. Culpeper Court House September 13. Raccoon Ford September 14-16. Stevensburg September 17. Reconnaissance across the Rappahannock September 21-23. Jack's Shop, Madison Court House, September 22. Bristoe Campaign October 9-22. Raccoon and Morton's Fords October 10. Brandy Station October 11-12. Oak Hill October 15. Rappahannock Station October 27. Moved to Chicago, Ill., November 20-28, and duty there until February, 1864. Moved to St. Louis, Mo., February 9, thence moved to New Orleans, La., March 15-April 1. Moved to Red River April 20, arriving at Alexandria April 23. Actions at Alexandria April 28-May 5-8. Bayou Teche, La., May 5-8. Wilson's Landing May 14. Avoyelle's or Marksville Prairie May 15. Mansura May 16. Yellow Bayou May 17. Morganza May 20. Arrived at New Orleans, La., June 1. Moved to Napoleonville June 11, and duty there until October, engaged in picketing and scouting. Near Napoleonville July 29 (Co. "L"). Expedition from Paincoursville to Natchez, Miss., with skirmish August 15-21 (Cos. "I," "L"). Expedition to Grand Lake, Grand River and Lake Natchez September 7-11. Expedition from Napoleonville to Grand River and Bayou Pigeon September 26-30. Moved to Baton Rouge, La., and duty there until November 14. Liberty November 18. Davidson's Expedition against Mobile and Ohio R. R. November 27-December 13. Expedition from Baton Rouge to Clinton December 23-24. Moved to Vicksburg, Miss., thence to Memphis, Tenn., and to Gaines' Landing, Ark., January 7-26, 1865. Osban's Expedition through Southern Arkansas and Northern Louisiana January 27-February 14. Duty near Memphis, Tenn., until June. Expedition from Memphis, Tenn., into Northern Mississippi March 3-11. Moved to Alexandria, La., June 15-22, thence marched to Hempstead, Texas, August 8-26. Duty in Eastern Texas until May, 1866. Mustered out May 29, 1866.
ROSTERS:
The roster of this regiment contains the names of 4544 men.
Company A - Cook County and Winnebago County
Company B - Cook County
Company C - DuPage County and Cook County
Company D - Cook County
Company E - Kankakee County and Cook County
Company F - Greene County (Also known as Gilmore's Cavalry Company)
Company G - Hancock County and Cook County (Originally attached to 52nd Infantry; then assigned to Company H, 12th Illinois Cavalry, subsequently assigned as Company G, 15th Illinois Cavalry)
Company H - Cook County (Also known as Barker's Dragoons, Gilbert's Cavalry Company, McClellan Dragoons)
Company I - Cook County (Also known as Barker's Dragoons, McClellan Dragoons)