Completed the following sentence: In May 1861 he recruited the 18th Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment, and was appointed as its first colonel. ️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️ <unk> <unk> <unk> <unk> <unk> <unk> <unk> <unk> <unk> ️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️ 1863 Vicksburg Campaign. He led his men in the battles of
Port Gibson, Champion's Hill, and Big Black River Bridge. and during the general assault of May 22, 1863 on Vicksburg MS, where troops under his command were the only Union forces to enter the Confederate works at the Railroad Redoubt where they planted the U.S. flag.