The battery was organized in Chicago, Illinois beginning in January 1862 and mustered in February 20, 1862 for a three-year enlistment under the command of Captain Axel Silversparre.
The battery first served unassigned with the Army of the Tennessee, April 1862.
It was subsequently attached to Artillery, 5th Division, Army of the Tennessee, to July 1862.
Artillery, 5th Division, District of Memphis, Tennessee, to November 1862.
Artillery, 5th Division, Right Wing, XIII Corps, Department of the Tennessee, November 1862.
Artillery, 1st Division, District of Memphis, XIII Corps, to January 1863.
Artillery, 2nd Division, XV Corps, Army of the Tennessee, to September 1864.
Battery H mustered out of service June 14, 1865, in Louisville, Kentucky.
Moved to Young's Point, Louisiana, January 1863 and duty there until March.
Expedition to Rolling Fork, via Muddy, Steele's and Black Bayous, and Deer Creek, March 14–27.
Movement to join the army in the rear of Vicksburg, Mississippi, via Richmond and Grand Gulf, May 2–14.
Battles about Dallas, New Hope Church, and Allatoona Hills May 25 – June 5.
Operations about Marietta and against Kennesaw Mountain June 10 – July 2.
Duck Branch, near Loper's Crossing, South Carolina, February 2.
During the Battle of Atlanta on 22 July 1864, Battery H, 1st Illinois Artillery (DeGress's) was overrun by a Confederate attack which took its four 20-pounder Parrott rifles.