12th Illinois Cavalry

The 12th Illinois Cavalry was recruited from the counties of Cook and Kankaee. Companies A, E, F, H, and I were present at Gettysburg. The 12th was commanded by Col. George H. Chapman of the 3rd Indiana Cavalry. The 3rd Indiana and 12th Illinois served as, basically, one regiment.

The regimental monument is located along Reynolds Avenue not far from the Railroad Cut. It marks the regiment’s first line of battle on July 1. The sister 3rd Indiana Cavalry monument is nearby.

12th Illinois Cavalry

Cavalry Corps, 1st Division, 1st Brigade

Engaged: 588 (Combined with 3d Indiana); 4 killed, 10 wounded, 6 missing

Monument: Reynolds Avenue

8th Illinois Cavalry

This was only one of three units from the state of Illinois at Gettysburg. Commanded by Maj. John L. Beveridge (1824-1910), a lawyer from Evanston and future Congressman and Governor, the 8th Illinois Cavalry was raised from the counties of Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Kane, McHenry, Whiteside, and Winnebago in the fall of 1861. This monument marks the unit’s position that it occupied until relieved by the First Corps. A secondary marker to the alleged first shot fired in the battle is at the intersection of US 30 and Knoxlyn Road.

The main monument was dedicated on September 3, 1891 at a cost of $1500.00. The monument consists of Blue Westerly Granite from Rhode Island. The monument’s salient feature is a carved cavalryman’s saddle at the capstone; it is a detailed replica of the essential items carried by a Union calvaryman.

8th Illinois Cavalry

Cavalary Corps, 1st Division, 1st Brigade

Maj. John L. Beveridge (1824-1910)

Engaged: 491; 1 killed, 5 wounded, 1 missing

Monument: Reynolds Avenue

82nd Illinois

The 82nd Illinois was one of three Illinois units at Gettysburg. It was the only infantry unit from that state. It fought as members of the XI Corps on July 1, 1863.

The commander was Lt. Col. Edward S. Salomon (1836-1913), a Prussian who was later the governor of the Washington Territory in the 1870s.

The regiment was known as the Second Hecker Regiment. It came from mainly Cook county but also St. Clair County and mustered in during the fall of 1862.

The monument is shaped like a minie ball. It features the state seal, palm fronds (symbolic of peace) and the XI corps cresent moon badge.

82nd Illinois “2nd Hecker”

Members of the XI Corps, 3rd Division, 1st Brigade

Commanded by: Lt. Col. Edward S. Salomon (1836-1913)

Engaged: 347; 4 killed, 19 wounded, 89 missing

Monument: Howard Avenue, the XI Corps line