56th Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment

The 56th Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.

Service
The 56th Illinois Infantry was organized at Shawneetown, Illinois and mustered into Federal service on February 27, 1862.

The regiment was mustered out on August 12, 1865.

Total strength and casualties
The regiment suffered 2 officers and 25 enlisted men who were killed in action or mortally wounded and 14 officers and 348 enlisted men who died of disease, for a total of 389 fatalities.

The General Lyon disaster
On March 17, 1865, just 23 days from the end of the war, a contingent of discharged soldiers from the regiment, including 12 officers and 195 enlisted men, were returning home on the steamer General Lyon when the ship caught fire in heavy seas. The fire spread quickly through the ship killing most of those on board, including all but three of the contingent - a tragic and bitter end to the war for the 56th Infantry Regiment and the families of the victims.

Commanders

 * Colonel Robert Kirkham - resigned on June 26, 1862.
 * Colonel William R. Brown - resigned August 31, 1862.
 * Colonel Green B. Raum - mustered out March 3, 1865.