The 117th Illinois Regiment
The “McKendree Regiment”: The 117 th Illinois Volunteers and McKendree Civil War Reenactment
When the North and South went to battle in the mid-nineteenth century, McKendreans
quickly prepared to serve. At least 150 who were students before or after the Civil
War served, and it is most likely all were volunteers. Not less than thirty faculty
and students became military officers. In September of 1862, McKendreans formed the
117th Regiment of Illinois Volunteers. After training at Camp Butler, the 117th headed out to face the enemy, fighting in six battles and thirteen skirmishes, including
being present at Vicksburg under General Ulysses S. Grant.
From 1845 to 1862, Risdon M. Moore was a student, tutor and professor at McKendree
College. Moore started forming the “McKendree Regiment” on August 5, 1862, soon after
President Abraham Lincoln’s request for 300,000 additional men. As of September 19,
he became the regiment’s colonel.
The 117th finally departed on November 11. Having received defective rifles and thus without
arms, the regiment was stationed at Fort Pickering for two years. Twice, it was sent
to General Grant at Vicksburg, a key Confederate hold on the Mississippi River. In
December 1863, it chased the well-known Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest,
who had been raiding western Tenn. and northern Miss. On April 9th, 1864, the regiment fought at the Battle of Pleasant Hill and came out victoriously.
In June, Union General Sturgis’ command fell under heavy assault by Forrest, the troops
badly broken up. According to Moore, the general should have been held responsible
for “that disgraceful affair.” Thus, the 117 th set out “for the work that Sturgis failed to do—whip Forrest.” The Northern troops
fought in several succeeding engagements and “chastised Forrest severely.” The regiment
later rushed off to Nashville in late 1864 to support General George Thomas against
Confederate General John Bell Hood, then chased Hood’s men to the Tennessee River,
which resulted in the capture of many Confederate prisoners and artillery pieces.
The McKendree Regiment’s final battle was fought at Fort Blakely on April 9, 1865,
the same day that the great Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered.
The 117th Illinois Regiment participated in a total of 35 engagements. It was mustered out on August 5, 1865.
Civil War Reenactment 
The McKendree campus traveled back in time to the mid-nineteenth century on the weekend
of April 7-9, 1995. Over these three days, McKendree and the residents of Lebanon
were blasted nearly 150 years into the past when various events took place on campus
and in town, the climax being an exciting reenactment of a Civil War skirmish. Overall,
12 cannons, 27 cavalry, some 80 civilians dressed in period costumes, and nearly 150
reenactors representing Confederate and Union soldiers were involved in this weekend
of activities.
The events began with a reenactment of the best of the 1858 Lincoln-Douglas debates.
Later, Lebanon’s Looking Glass Theater staged a production of “Our American Cousin”—the
play Lincoln had seen when he was assassinated—and “A Visit With Lincoln.” Other activities
for the public included a parade through town, a Civil War-era fashion show and a
ladies’ tea. A commemorative ceremony was held in honor of those who had served in
the “McKendree Regiment.” A reactivation of the 117th also occurred, with the mustering of both students and faculty into the regiment.
A grand ball where participants dressed in formal period attire was thrown in Peasons
Hall, now the site of the 1828 cafe. A Latin Catholic field mass and a Methodist church
service in Bothwell Chapel, both of which were conducted as period services, also
took place. Finally, a skirmish was fought in Lebanon and on the front lawn of McKendree
campus between the Confederate and Union reenactors.
Recently, the McKendree Historical Society and Phi Alpha Theta have discussed the
possibility of hosting another Civil War reenactment in the near future. With enough
money and volunteers, it could organize and sponsor a reenactment on campus in the
spring of 2010.
Sources: Centennial McKendree College History, 1828-1928 ; “The McKendree Regiment: or the 117 th Illinois Infantry”by Risdon M. Moore in The McKendree Pigskin, 1905; McKendree College Bulletin, Summer 1995 issue.
First photo: 117th reunion. Second photo: taken from the McKendree College Bulletin, Fall 1994
