Bill Text: IL HR1345 | 2015-2016 | 99th General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Honors the soldiers of the 100th Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment for their service during the Civil War and thanks the Joliet Area Historical Museum for restoring the Regimental Colors of the Regiment to their home in Joliet.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)

Status: (Passed) 2016-06-29 - Resolution Adopted [HR1345 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2015-HR1345-Introduced.html

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HOUSE RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
Representatives wish to honor the soldiers of the 100th
Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment for their service during
the Civil War; and
WHEREAS, The 100th Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment
was comprised almost entirely of soldiers from Will County and
was raised in Joliet, with Colonel Frederick Bartleson as its
commander; at the outbreak of the Civil War, he was an attorney
and had previously served as State's Attorney of Will County;
prior to forming the 100th, he served as Captain in the 20th
Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment and lost an arm at the
Battle of Shiloh; and
WHEREAS, The 100th Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment
fought in the Western Theater, mainly in Tennessee and Georgia;
at the Battle of Chickamauga, Colonel Bartleson was captured
and the 100th lost 165 of its 315 soldiers; Colonel Bartleson
was held in the famous Libby Prison in Richmond, where we wrote
a poem on his experiences in the war and his hope for the
future, which included the eloquent lines: "Through the clouds
the sun is slowly breaking/Hope from her long deep sleep is
waking. Speed the time Father, when the bow of peace/Spanning
the Gulf, shall bid the tempest cease. When men, clasping each

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other by the hand/Shall shout together in a united land, All is
well"; and
WHEREAS, As an officer, Colonel Bartleson was allowed to be
paroled and sent back home to Joliet, where many urged him to
retire and run for office, with both parties promising him an
unopposed congressional run; in response, he stated:
"Gentlemen, the question is still unsettled whether we are to
have another Congress or a country. It can only be settled by
the success of our armies. Until it is settled, I want no
nomination and no office but the one I now hold, and I shall
return to my post and give my life if need be, to secure to us a
free government"; and
WHEREAS, Colonel Bartleson returned to the 100th Illinois
Volunteer Infantry Regiment in time for Sherman's Atlanta
Campaign; tragically, his cryptic words held true, and he was
killed by a sniper's bullet at Kennesaw Mountain, Georgia on
June 23, 1864; he was buried in Oakwood Cemetery in Joliet,
where he lies today; and
WHEREAS, The Regimental Colors of the 100th Illinois
Volunteer Infantry Regiment were restored in partnership with
the Illinois State Military Museum in Springfield; a campaign
to return and display them to their home in Joliet began in
2012 by Joliet Area Historical Museum Board President Robert E.

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"Bob" Kuzma; the colors will be dedicated on June 30, 2016; and
WHEREAS, Colonel Bartleson's sword, snuff box, and
portrait are also part of the display; while the exhibit is not
just about him, he and the Flag represent thousands of stories
of bravery, valor, and above all, sacrifice - not only from the
soldiers of the 100th, but of all soldiers, past, present, and
future; therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we
honor the soldiers of the 100th Illinois Volunteer Infantry
Regiment for their service during the Civil War and thank the
Joliet Area Historical Museum for restoring the Regimental
Colors of the Regiment to their home in Joliet; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
presented to the Joliet Area Historical Museum as a symbol of
our esteem and respect.