The 17th Illinois Cavalry Regiment was a

cavalry Historically, cavalry (from the French word ''cavalerie'', itself derived from ''cheval'' meaning "horse") are groups of soldiers or warriors who Horses in warfare, fight mounted on horseback. Until the 20th century, cavalry were the most mob ...

regiment A regiment is a military unit. Its role and size varies markedly, depending on the country, military service, service, or administrative corps, specialisation. In Middle Ages, Medieval Europe, the term "regiment" denoted any large body of l ...

from

Illinois Illinois ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern United States. It borders on Lake Michigan to its northeast, the Mississippi River to its west, and the Wabash River, Wabash and Ohio River, Ohio rivers to its ...

that served in the Union Army during the latter part of the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861May 26, 1865; also known by Names of the American Civil War, other names) was a civil war in the United States between the Union (American Civil War), Union ("the North") and the Confederate States of A ...

. The regiment guarded prisoners for several months. Elements of the unit engaged in skirmishes with Confederate partisans in Missouri. The regiment participated in several major actions during Price's Missouri Expedition. Subsequently, the unit performed garrison duty in Missouri and operations against native Americans in the Great Plains. The soldiers were mustered out of service between 23 November and 22 December 1865.

Service

The 17th Illinois Cavalry was organized at St. Charles, Illinois, between January 28 and February 12, 1864. A portion of their service was in pursuing the guerrilla Bill Anderson. On 23 September 1864, they killed Jim Anderson and five other guerrillas near Rocheport, Missouri. 17th Illinois served in the 2nd Brigade of the Provisional Cavalry, while pursuing the Confederates during

Price's Raid Price's Missouri Expedition (August 29 – December 2, 1864), also known as Price's raid or Price's Missouri raid, was an unsuccessful Confederate cavalry raid through Arkansas, Missouri, and Kansas in the Trans-Mississippi Theater of the Ame ...

, under Colonel

John Lourie Beveridge John Lourie Beveridge (July 6, 1824 – May 3, 1910) was the 16th Governor of Illinois, serving from 1873 to 1877. He succeeded the recently elected Richard J. Oglesby, who resigned to accept a Senate seat. Beveridge previously served in ...

, who would later become governor of Illinois. The regiment mustered out between November 23 and December 22, 1865.

From Dyer

Organized at St. Charles. Ills., and 8 Companies mustered in January 28, 1864. Four Companies mustered in February 12, 1864. Moved to St. Louis, Mo., May 3, 1864. Equipped at Jefferson Barracks and moved to Alton, Ill. Guard prisoners there until August. 1st Battalion, Cos. "A," "B," "C," "D," ordered to St. Louis June, 1864, thence to District of North Missouri. Engaged in Escort and Provost duty at St. Joseph and Weston, Mo., until June, 1865. Cos. "C" and "D" moved to Jefferson City September, 1864. Defense of Jefferson City October 6–7. Joined Regiment. 2nd Battalion--"E," "F," "G" and "H"—ordered from Alton, Ills., to Glasgow, Mo., June, 1864, and duty there operating against Thornton's Command until September. Skirmish at Allen July 23 (Co. "G"). Huntsville July 24 (Co. "F"). Dripping Springs August 15–16 (Co. "F"). Columbia August 16 (Co. "F"). Rocheport August 20 (Co. "F"). Battalion moved to Rolla, Mo., arriving September 23, 1864. 3rd Battalion at Alton, Ills., until August, 1864. Moved to Benton Barracks, thence to Rolla, Mo., arriving there September 19. Operations against Price's invasion of Missouri September to November. Cover Ewing's retreat from Pilot Knob to Rolla, September 27–30. Moved to Jefferson City, Mo. Defense of Jefferson City October 6–7. Moreau Bottom October 7. Booneville October 9–12. Glasgow October 15. Little Blue October 21. Independence October 22. Hickman's Mill October 23. Mine Creek, Little Osage, Marias Des Cygnes, Kansas, October 25. Returned to Springfield, Mo., thence moved to Cassville and Rolla, arriving November 15. Duty there until January, 1865. At Pilot Knob, Mo., until April, and at Cape Girardeau until June. Moved to Kansas and duty on the Plains until November. Mustered out Companies "C," "E," "I" and "M," November 23, and rest of Regiment December 15 to 22, 1865.

Total strength and casualties

The regiment suffered 7 enlisted men who were killed in action or who died of their wounds and 1 officer and 86 enlisted men who died of disease, for a total of 94 fatalities.

Commanders

*Colonel

- mustered out February 7, 1866.http://www.rootsweb.com/~ilcivilw/f&s/cav017-fs.htm Illinois in the Civil War website after Illinois Adjutant General's muster rolls

Bugler

*John David Rippberger - On January 6, 1864, when John was just 18 years old and the Civil War was raging, he volunteered for service with the union forces in Howard, McHenry County, Illinois, where he later mustered into the Cavalry on January 22, 1864, in St. Charles, Illinois. His enlistment was for three years, and he was assigned to Private in Company G, 17th Illinois Cavalry Regiment as a full bugler under Captain Cyrus Hutchinson. *At the close of the war on December 18, 1865, in Ft. Leavenworth, KS. John Rippberger was mustered out by Lieutenant Williamson, and honorably discharged at Springfield, Illinois. After almost two years of hard service he held the rank of Full Bugler. His Colonel's name was John L. Beverige, a fine man and good friend. Copyright. John David Rippberger, Last Comrade of Stoddard Post G.A.R.

Notes

References

The Civil War Archive
*{{CWR Units and formations of the Union army from Illinois 1864 establishments in Illinois Military units and formations established in 1864 Military units and formations disestablished in 1865