The regiment was organized at Centralia, Illinois, and mustered in for one-hundred day service on June 1, 1864.

[2][3] In early June, they received marching orders to proceed by rail to Cairo, Illinois, from where they sailed with Fort Pillow as the boat's destination.

[2] On the regiment's arrival at Columbus, Kentucky, information that General Nathan Bedford Forrest would attack Fort Pillow was found to be incorrect.

[2] On August 12, the expedition marched to Mayfield, Kentucky, but learned the Confederate troops had changed direction and captured Memphis, Tennessee.

[2][3] From Missouri, the regiment moved to Camp Butler, Illinois, and on October 30 was mustered out.