Gettysburg. The heat, smoke, dirt, and blood of our nation's most important battle of the Civil War will never be forgotten. It is the war that preserved the Union and kept the United States as we know it to this day. Illinois. The state that produced one of our country's fi nest presidents-Abraham Lincoln-the man who guided the nation through the costliest war ever fought on American soil.Illinois at Gettysburg tells the story of how these two historically acclaimed places collided during those heated and bloody three days in the summer of 1863. It focuses on the participation of the three Illinois regiments at the various Battles of Gettysburg and traces the journey of these soldiers, from their enlistment in around the Chicago area through the battles, and on to their legacy in modern times. Drawing upon previously unpublished primary sources and extensive research, Illinois at Gettysburg details the significant contributions and fascinating incidents attributed to these men. From the first shot fired in the first battle, to the first casualty felled, to helping to save the Union right flank throughout those three days-July 1-3, 1863-the men from the Illinois were a crucial part of the victory that secured the war and preserved the Union. This is their previously untold story.

Geoffrey A. Waller is an ex-army infantry officer with over twenty-two years of both active and reserve service. He currently lives with his wife and family in the Chicago area. A family vacation led to his first visit to the Gettysburg Battlefield in the late nineties. Captivated by the beauty of the landscape and the significance of the battle, Waller has returned annually to study the event. The study of the battle led to a profound appreciation for the unique role played by the volunteers from his home state of Illinois.