Services Performed by the Invalid Corps – 15th Regiment

These posts are part of a larger series highlighting the contributions and accomplishments of the Invalid Corps/Veteran Reserve Corps during the Civil War. This post only captures some of the activities of individual regiments. Clearly, this is an area ripe for additional research.

15th Regiment

Organized October 10, 1863, by consolidation of the 21st, 24th, 25th, 68th, 70th, 75th, 94th, 105th, 107th and 120th Companies, 1st Battalion. Mustered out by detachments June 28 to November 25, 1865.

Commenced the official year at Camp Douglas, Chicago, in conjunction with Eighth Regiment Veteran Reserve Corps and Twenty-fourth Ohio Battery. Guarded Government property and patrolled Chicago; guarded and escorted stragglers, conscripts, substitutes, and rebel prisoners. Up to the close of the war the prisoners constantly on hand averaged from 9,000 to 13,000. Only thirteen escaped from camp and none during the transportation. The regiment aided in escorting 1,000 deserters and stragglers and between 2,000 and 3,000 substitutes and conscripts, of whom only six escaped while under charge of officers of the Fifteenth. Strength of garrison varied between 500 and 700. Men on guard every third day or every other day. The regiment aided in preventing the outbreak of the Chicago conspiracy. Officers constantly and closely employed, frequently on two or three lines of duty at once.

Camp Douglas was under the command of Benjamin Sweet. You can read his story and find out a lot more about the Chicago conspiracy here – Benjamin Sweet: Hero or Monster at https://invalidcorpsfilm.nrbrown.com/2017/09/04/invalid-corps-officer-benjamin-sweet-hero-or-monster/

Reference:

The War of the Rebellion: a compilation of the official records of the Union and Confederate Armies – https://archive.org/details/warrebellionaco17offigoog/page/n576