Whether it was total ineptness on the part of its officers, or as some have speculated, the bigotry of the men who refused to serve alongside black soldiers, the Illinois 128th Infantry Regiment was a complete failure. After being formed in the fall of 1862, it lost 82% of its men in less than 5 months to desertion. When the unit was disbanded some of the men went on to serve in other units, principally the Illinois 9th Infantry Regiment. Companies of the Illinois 128th Infantry Regiment Company A - Franklin and Williamson counties Company B - Williamson County Company C - Franklin and Williamson counties Company D - Williamson County Company E - Williamson County Company F - Williamson County Company G - Williamson County Company H - Williamson County Company I - Grundy and Williamson counties Company K - Saline County