title: 71st Illinois Infantry Regiment
text: # 71st Illinois Infantry Regiment
  
  The 71st Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.
  
  ## Service
  
  The 71st Illinois Infantry was organized at Camp Douglas at Chicago, Illinois and mustered into Federal service on July 26, 1862, for a term of three months. It served garrisons in scattered garrisons in southern Illinois and western Kentucky. Company K unanimously elected James Creed as captain, which was responsible for protecting two bridges along the Big Muddy river in southern Illinois from Confederate sympathizers.
  
  The regiment was mustered out on October 29, 1862.
  
  ## Total strength and casualties
  
  The regiment suffered 23 enlisted men who died of disease, for a total of 23 fatalities.
  
  ## Commanders
  
  * Colonel Othniel Gilbert - mustered out with the regiment.
  