minimum number of recruits required by law, and by the fifteenth of the same month all were filled to near the maximum standard, and were ready to be assigned to regiments, or to be consolidated into one regimental organization. The officers and men of the companies thus raised, coming as they did from neighboring counties, early expressed a desire to go into the United States service as a regiment, and to effect such object a convention was held at Marengo, Illinois, on the 16th day of August, 1862, when the future field, staff and line officers of the command for the first time assembled, became acquainted with each other, and decided upon the military organization. At this meeting the Hon. Daniel Whitney, a citizen and pioneer of Boone county, was called to the chair, who stated the objects of the convention, and addressed the officers who were about going forth to the defense of the country, eloquently and with patriotism. The main business before the meeting was the selection of field officers for the new regiment, and Hon. Lawrence S. Church, of Woodstock, McHenry county, was unanimously chosen as its Colonel; Thomas W. Humphrey, of DeKalb county, Lieutenant Colonel; and Leander Blanden, of Harvard, McHenry county, as Major. The proceedings of the convention were conducted in the best spirit and harmony, and it adjourned with the satisfaction of having given shape and consolidation to the ten companies anxiously awaiting its action. Soon afterward, Governor Yates accepted the regiment, designated its number, and directed the companies to rendezvous at "Camp Fuller," Rockford, Illinois, for the purpose of completing the regimental organization and muster into the United States service. Accordingly, on the third day of September, 1862, the different companies arrived at the rendezvous indicated, taking quarters in barracks erected by Government for the new troops. On the fourth day of the same month the regiment was mustered into the service of the United States by Lieut. J. W. Tibbatts, of the regular army, and at that time the Roster of Commissioned Officers thus mustered was as follows: On the same day, September 4th, 1862, the Colonel commanding the regiment, by Regimental Order No. one, made appointments of non-commissioned officers for the several companies, and on the 9th, the noncommissioned staff was ordered as follows: SERGEANT MAJOR..... FIFE MAJOR .BENNETT T. WAKEMAN. .WM. H. EARLEY. ..JOHN B. HURLBUT. WILBUR P. BUCK. ..JUSTUS M. SHEFFIELD. ..THEODORE INGHAM. Soon after the muster in and completion of the regimental organization, the regiment began inquiring studiously into the "Revised Army Regulations and "Tactics," and preparing for the real and active service before them in the field. It was known that the regiment would remain at Camp Fuller a few weeks before leaving the State, and meanwhile the commissioned officers and enlisted men, heretofore un accustomed to the conditions of military life, had a good opportunity of becoming acquainted with some of its mysteries and requirements, of studying into the theoretical part of war, and of informing themselves generally in reference to the duties appertaining to their respective offices. Squad drills, company and battalion drills, dress parades, and commissioned and non-commissioned officers' schools at night, were at once instituted, and the whole camp, from morning till evening, now became busy with the hum and tramp of military preparation. During the same fall, three other regiments-the Seventy-fourth, Ninety-second, and Ninety-sixth Illinois Infantry-raised in Northern Illinois, were in rendezvous camp at Rockford at the same time with the Ninety-fifth, and among them all arose a friendly intercourse of brothers in arms. A spirit of rivalry sprang up, commendable to the officers and soldiers of the different organizations, and beneficial to the service they were about entering upon. After the departure of the Seventy-fourth Illinois for the field, Colonel Church, being senior in rank, was placed in command of the Post, and while administering in this capacity, won the praise of all, and gave entire satisfaction to the other regiments, as well as his own. Most of the time, however, during the |