The Eighty-eighth Infantry Illinois Volunteers was organized at Chicago, Illinois, in September, 1862, by Colonel Frances T. Sherman, and was known as the "Second Board of Trade Regiment." It was mustered in September 4, 1862.

Ordered to Louisville, Kentucky, September 4, and went into camp below Jeffersonville. Received arms on 11th. Moved to Covington, Kentucky, 12th. On the 15th, was brigaded with Twenty-fourth Wisconsin, and Second and Fifteenth Missouri, Colonel Greasel's (First) Brigade, Granger's Division, Army of the Ohio. On the 21st, moved to Louisville, and was brigaded with Twenty-first Michigan, Twenty-fourth Wisconsin, and Thirty-sixth Illinois, Colonel Greasel commanding, Thirty-seventh Brigade, Eleventh Division, Brigadier General P. H. Sheridan commanding.

October 1, 1862, marched in pursuit of Bragg. Engaged in the battle of Perryville, October 8,--losing four killed, five mortally wounded, and 36 wounded. Marched to Crab Orchard, and thence to Lebanon and Bowling Green, Kentucky, arriving October 30, 1862. Moved toward Nashville, arriving at Edgefield, November 7. Moved, November 17, six miles south of Nashville, on Nolensville pike.

November 20, 1862, brigaded in First Brigade, Second Division, under Major General P. H. Sheridan, of the Right Wing, Army of the Cumberland.

December 26, 1862, marched in the advance upon Murfreesboro.

December 31, 1862, to January 3, 1863, engaged in the battle of Stone River.

January, 1863, to June, 1863, encamped at Murfreesboro, with the exception of a scout to Columbia, Tennessee, in pursuit of Van Horn.

June, 1863 to July, 1863, brigaded in First Brigade, Second Division, Twentieth Army corps. Engaged in the advance in movement against and pursuit of Bragg, from Middle Tennessee.

August, 1863, encamped at Bridgeport, Alabama.

September, 1863, joined in the Chickamauga Campaign, and advance to Alpine, Georgia.

September 19 and 20, 1863, engaged in the battle of Chickamauga.

October, 1863, encamped at Chattanooga. Brigaded in First Brigade, Second Division, Fourth Army Corps.

November 23 and 25, 1863, engaged in the battle of Mission Ridge. Formed part of the assaulting column upon the left center of the enemy's position, and was among the first to place its colors upon the enemy's works.

December, 1863, to February, 1864, engaged in scouting through East Tennessee, when it encamped at Loudon, where it remained until April, 1864.

April, 1864, moved to Cleveland, Tennessee.

May, 1864, joined in the advance upon the Atlanta Campaign. It continued with the advance, as part of the Fourth Corps, commanded by Major General Howard, throughout the whole of that campaign, up to and including the capture of Atlanta--participating in the following principal battles and skirmished; Rocky-Face Ridge, Resaca, Adairsville, New Hope Church, Pine Mountain, Mud Creek, Kenesaw Mountain, Smyrna Camp Ground, Atlanta, Jonesboro and Lovejoy Station. Its services in the advance movements were continuous and constant, from May to September, 1864.

September, 1864, was ordered to Chattanooga, and was engaged during the month in duty at that place and Whiteside and Bridgeport.

October, 1864, moved to Gaylesville, Alabama, and returned to Chattanooga.

November, 1864, moved to Pulaski, Tennessee, and thence, upon the advance of Hood, to Columbia, Franklin and Nashville. It was engaged in skirmishes at Columbia and Spring Hill, and in the battle of Franklin, upon the right centre, the main point of attack of the enemy.

December 15 and 16, 1864, engaged in the battle of Nashville.

December 16, 1864, to January, 1865, joined in the pursuit of Hood, from Tennessee.

January, 1865, to March, 1865, encamped at Huntsville, Alabama.

March, 1865, moved to Bull's Gap, East Tennessee. May, 1865, moved to Nashville, where it remained until its muster-out.

During the period of its service the Regiment was always in the front. It was never upon garrison duty. Its losses in the engagements in which it participated aggregate two-thirds of its number; and its conduct in every battle was such as to merit and receive the commendation of its Brigade, Division and Corps commanders. For its conduct at Stone River, Mission Ridge and Franklin, it was made the subject of special mention.

The regiment was mustered out June 9, 1865, at Nashville, Tennessee, and arrived at Chicago, June 13, 1865, where it received final pay and discharge June 22, 1865.