The first man to volunteer in Joliet was Frederick Bartleson. Bartleson was an attorney who is reported to have said at one of the rallies that took place soon after the firing on fort sumter: "I will ask no man to do that, which I would not be willing to do myself." He then signed his name as a volunteer in the Unon forces. Bartleson entered the service as a captain in the 20th Illinois Volunter Infantry Regiment. There were approximately 200 men from Joliet and Will County in that unit. The regiment fought at Fort Donelson in February 1862 and at Shiloh in April on that same year. At Shiloh, Bartleson was wounded and lost an arm as a result.After recuperating, he was placed in command of a new regiment formed in August, 1862, comprised almost entirely of Will County volunteers. This regiment, the 100th Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment, would be Bartleson's final command. The 100th Illinois fought at Stones River on December 31, 1862 to January 2, 1863. Later in 1863, the regiment fought at Chickamauga where Bartleson was captured. He was held in the famous Libby Prison in Richmond but was subsequently paroled in time to join his regiment for Sherman's Atlanta Campaign.
He was killed leading a skirmish line at Kenesaw Mountain, Georgia in 1864.

The first man to volunteer in Joliet was Frederick Bartleson. Bartleson was an attorney who is reported to have said at one of the rallies that took place soon after the firing on fort sumter: "I will ask no man to do that, which I would not be willing to do myself." He then signed his name as a volunteer in the Unon forces. Bartleson entered the service as a captain in the 20th Illinois Volunter Infantry Regiment. There were approximately 200 men from Joliet and Will County in that unit. The regiment fought at Fort Donelson in February 1862 and at Shiloh in April on that same year. At Shiloh, Bartleson was wounded and lost an arm as a result.After recuperating, he was placed in command of a new regiment formed in August, 1862, comprised almost entirely of Will County volunteers. This regiment, the 100th Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment, would be Bartleson's final command. The 100th Illinois fought at Stones River on December 31, 1862 to January 2, 1863. Later in 1863, the regiment fought at Chickamauga where Bartleson was captured. He was held in the famous Libby Prison in Richmond but was subsequently paroled in time to join his regiment for Sherman's Atlanta Campaign.
He was killed leading a skirmish line at Kenesaw Mountain, Georgia in 1864.