The 125th Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry: Attention Batallion!

A vivid, first‑hand account of a Union regiment’s journey through the Civil War, this work follows the men of the 125th Illinois from their hopeful mustering in September 1862 to the grueling realities of campaign life in the South. Written by a former second sergeant, it weaves together the everyday details of camp routines, the camaraderie forged in corn‑stalk huts, and the harsh trials of disease and discipline, all while preserving a complete roster that tracks each soldier’s fate.

The narrative moves beyond the drill grounds to the regiment’s baptism by fire at the Battle of Perryville, describing the chaos of that first engagement and the raw emotions of young men confronting combat for the first time. Interlaced with personal anecdotes, brief interviews with notable commanders, and reflections on the broader war effort, the book offers both a historical record and a human portrait of those who answered the nation’s call. Listeners will gain a palpable sense of the era’s hardships and the enduring bonds among the volunteers.