Union service · Illinois

23rd Illinois Infantry

Discover the people remembered in this unit and the family stories shared by our community.

Regiment archive

Names remembered

9 entries

Company B

Rank unknown

Ward, John, an old-time citizen of Chicago, died at his home, No. 60 Damen st. on April 3, aged 68 yrs. Deceased was father of Captain William Ward of the city police, now in command of the Desplaines street station. Both father and son belonged to Col. Mulligan's regiment, the 23rd Ill. Infantry, and served with it from the siege of Lexington until mustered out at the close of the Civil War. Funeral occurred from Holy Family Church to Calvary. -April 10, 1886 (2) from The Chicago Citizen, 1883-1909, obituaries, marriage and social notices in Tom Cook, Chicago’s Irish Families 1833-1910. The inscription of his military gravestone photograph at Find a Grave Memorial ID: 160962887 reads "JNO. WARD / CO. B / 23RD ILL. INF." within a shield. "/" indicate line breaks.
Contributor Brian Scott DonovanDate added 9/13/2022

Company C

Private

No family notes have been added.
Contributor Johannes WaplerDate added 8/13/2008

Company D

Corporal

Pvt John Creed waspresented a Medal of Honor for capturing a Confederate flag at the Battle of Fisher's Hill in the Shenandoah Valley on Sep 22, 1864. I am writing a book about the 23rd Illinois.
Contributor James R. CreedDate added 10/31/2011

Company E

Corporal

No family notes have been added.
Contributor Kate GuideauDate added 10/13/2013

Company H

Captain

Captain Charles Coffey was born Dublin Ireland in 1821,he emigrated to New York in 1842 and studied Engineering in West Point. He took part in the Mexican War and was in the Sappers Corps. When the Civil War started he raised H Company the Ottawa Guards in the 23rd Illinois Infantry. He supervised the defenses at the Siege of Lexington.He served from 15/6/1861 until 1864 when his term expired. He had a brother Peter Coffey who served on the Ship The Dawn during the Civil War, Peter was also born in Dublin Ireland. He had also a sister called Mary Ann Coffey she married a Mr. Joseph Etherington in La Salle Illinois. She later moved to Butler Iowa where Captain Coffey had a farm. Captain Charles Coffey died while building a Church in Butler he was transporting lumber on a wagon when the horses got fright and bolted, the wagon hit a tree stump and overturned and killed Captain Coffey. He died in 1871 and is buried in Coldwater Cemetery Butler County Iowa.
Contributor David CoffeyDate added 8/16/2016

Company H

Corporal

No family notes have been added.
Contributor Jim CookDate added 8/3/2010

Company I

Rank unknown

My great grandfather, Charles Grubb, had four brothers who also served in the Civil War. They were Ephraim (Illinois 118th Infantry , Co.C), Horace (Ill. 119th Inf. Co. B), Stephen (Ill. Artillery, Battery C), and Edmund (Penna 2nd Cav. Co. I).
Contributor Art KnoxDate added 7/15/2005

Company I

Private

Thomas was a private in the 10th Tennessee Infantry (Confederate) when he was captured at Fort Donelson and sent to Camp Douglas in Illinois. The 23rd Illinois made him an offer he couldn't refuse, so he enlisted and served in the 23rd for the duration of the war. I am searching for a family connection with this 'galvanized Yankee' who had the same name as me!
Contributor Tom SloperHomepage www.sloperama.comDate added 9/18/2007

Company K

Sergeant

Malichi Quigley was born in 1839 near Nenagh, County Tippery, Ireland. He arrived in the US in late 1852 settling Ottawa, Illinois. Malichi died on August 19, 1902 in Toledo, Ohio
Contributor David QuigleyDate added 1/3/2010

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