USA > Wisconsin > An illustrated history of Wisconsin from prehistoric to present periods : the story of the state interspersed with realistic and romantic events > Part 37
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Original strength, 105. Total strength, 194. . Death loss, 34. Killed and wounded in action, 52.
This company was organized at Camp Randall during the early part of September, 1861. Being intended that the best marksmen possible should be procured, it was ordered that " No man be accepted who cannot, when firing at rest, at two hundred yards, put ten consecutive shots in the target, not to exceed five inches from the center of the bull's eye."
Eighty strong it reached Weehawken, New Jersey, October 3, 1861, and while there recruited to over one hundred. This regiment of sharpshooters was composed of ten companies raised in the states of New York, Michigan, New Hampshire, Vermont and Wisconsin. Their uniform consisted of a dark green coat and cap, with light blue trousers.
The spring campaign of 1862 found them in the rifle-pits before York- town, and thence constantly employed in their hazardous duties during McClellan's Peninsula campaign, which ended so disastrously to the national cause. The campaign and battles of Mannassas, Second Bull Run and An- tietam followed in quick succession and then later Fredericksburg, in all of which the sharpshooters earned great honors by their daring conduct and skillful marksmanship. In fact, theirs is the history of the Army of the Potomac repeated.
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HISTORY OF WISCONSIN.
Starting from their winter quarters at Falmouth on the 28th of April, 1863, they reached Chancellorsville, and took part in the desperate engagement on the 2d and 3d of May, remaining in one position constantly under fire for seventeen hours. without being relieved even to obtain water. Then followed the Gettysburg campaign and the battle, and subsequent pursuit of the de- feated enemy. They occupied various camps near Culpeper Court House, until the 11th of October, and then took part in the movement of the army to intercept the confederate attack on our rear, which having been accomplished, the company was employed at Cedar Runs in picket and outpost duty, until the 7th of November, 1863, at which date it participated in the battle at Kel- ly's Ford. For the gallantry displayed in this action the sharpshooters were highly complimented. From the 8th to the 26th of November the regiment was in winter quarters at Bott's Farm, at which date it crossed the Rapidan and took part in the successful battle at Locust Grove.
Participating in the general movement of the army under Grant, the sharpshooters arrived on the evening of May 5th, 1864, at the battle of the Wilderness, while the armies were engaged. Into this seething cauldron of flame and death, as well as the succeeding battles of Spottsylvania, South Anna and Cold Harbor, the company entered, and its heroism at all times is attested by its losses. On the 15th of June the sharpshooters took position before Petersburg and remained engaged in picket, fatigue and guard duty, and ex- cursions against the confederate right and left wings until the expiration of their term of service on the 22d of September, 1864, and were mustered out on the field, after three years of hazardous and successful exploits unparalleled in the history of the war.
THE FIRST WISCONSIN CAVALRY REGIMENT.
Mustered in, March 8, 1862. Mustered out, July 9, 1865. Campaigned in Missouri, Tennessee, Arkansas, Alabama, Georgia.
Engagements : Patterson, Chickamauga, Anderson's Gap, Mossy Creek, Danbridge, Vanell's Station, Burnt Hickory, Chattachoochie, Beechtown, Campbelltown, Hopkinsville, Elizabethtown, Centerville, Montgomery, Tus- keegee, Fort Tyler.
Original strength, 1, 124. Total strength, 2,602. Death loss, 373. Killed and wounded in battle, 204.
The first cavalry regiment from Wisconsin left the state on the 14th of March, 1862, and was quartered at Benton Barracks until the 28th of April, when it embarked for Cape Girardeau, from where companies of the regiment were detached and sent to various points in Missouri, and reunited in October. They moved by way of Greenville to Patterson and there remained during the months of November and December. In the beginning of 1863 the regiment
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WISCONSIN IN THE CIVIL WAR.
was at West Plains, Pilot Knob, St. Genivieve and Cape Girardeau. Leaving the latter place on the 31st of May it was assigned to position in the cavalry corps of the army of the Cumberland, and thereafter stationed at various points during the summer. It was engaged with the cavalry at Chickamauga and went into camp at Larkinsville, Alabama, and remained until the first of October, at which date, marching with the brigade to Jasper, Tennessee, it was learned that Wheeler's command had burned a supply train near Anderson's Gap, on the Nashville and Chattanooga railway. The advance moved rapidly and encountered the rebels a short distance from the train. The enemy re- treated for a few miles and in the skirmish which took place, thirty-seven of them were killed and wounded, and forty-two prisoners captured, our regi- ment's loss being about eight.
We next find it on the 16th at Winchester, Tennessee, where they re- mained in camp until the 20th of November, when, moving by way of Mur- freesboro, Alexandria and Sparta, they took part in the affair at New Market. On the 29th, the cavalry met the rebel forces at Mossy Creek, driving them across the stream, with the loss of a number of prisoners. Our regiment en- camped at that place until the 14th of January, when again mounting moved to Danbridge and participated on the 17th in the battle at that place, losing thirty-two in killed and wounded. May 3d they accompanied the march of General Sherman's forces, taking part in daily actions. On the 26th of May five companies of the regiment attacked a brigade of rebel cavalry near Dallas, routing the enemy with great loss and capturing forty-seven men.
The First cavalry participated in the skirmishes at Ackworth and Big Shanty, taking part in frequent engagements before Lost Mountain and finally moving with the expedition to the rear of Atlanta, on the 27th of July. The regiment, in passing through Campbelltown, attacked a force of two thousand rebels, and after a severe engagement were compelled to retire, and returned to Marietta and thence to Cartersville, where they remained employed in scout- ing and forage duty until the 16th of October, 1864, when they were ordered to Louisville, reaching that place November 9th.
After being reunited, the regiment left here on the 4th of December, and by way of Bowling Green to Hopkinsville, where, on the 16th, they drove the enemy, capturing two pieces of artillery and fifteen prisoners. Moving in pur- suit they again encountered the confederates at Elizabethtown and pursuit was abandoned. Returning to Bowling Green, Kentucky, it again broke camp on the 2d of January, 1865, marching by way of Franklin, Nashville and Colum- bia to Waterloo, Alabama, arriving on the 24th of January and remained until the 10th of March, at which date the regiment went by way of Chickamauga to Jasper, and thence to Clayton and Montevallo. Early on the morning of the 2d of April, the First cavalry engaged in a skirmish with Jackson's cavalry, los-
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HISTORY OF WISCONSIN.
ing five men. On the 6th they arrived at Selma, Alabama, moving eastward on the 9th and encountering the enemy's cavalry, forced it back and entered Montgomery on the 12th. In April it engaged the enemy near Tuskeegee, capturing one hundred prisoners and losing sixty in killed and wounded. Again taking up the march, our men captured Fort Tyler, with two hundred prisoners, during which they lost twenty-one men in killed and wounded. They remained in camp at Macon until the 6th of May, when ordered to in- tercept the flight of Jefferson Davis.
While on the march, the First cavalry met the Fourth Michigan cavalry, under Colonel Pritchard, who informed Colonel Harden that he was ordered to Abbeyville to watch for Davis and at the same time offered the First regiment some of his men, if needed. These Colonel Harden refused, and, with the understanding that the Michigan regiment was remaining at Abbeysville, set out in pursuit of the fleeing confederate president. Advancing rapidly forward the force encountered a detachment of the Michigan, cavalry, and each sup- posing the other to be rebel cavalry, a short engagement at once ensued, which ceased only after a loss of several men in each regiment. The regiment cap- tured the ex-president of the confederacy and immediately returned to Macon, remaining there until the 24th, when they set out on the northward march, going into camp at Edgefield, Tennessee, where the First Wisconsin cavalry was mustered out on the 12th of July and shortly after paid and disbanded.
THE SECOND WISCONSIN CAVALRY REGIMENT.
Mustered in, March 12, 1862. Mustered out, November 17, 1865. Cam- paigned in Missouri, Arkansas, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas. Engagements : Vicksburg, Redbone, Yazoo, Egypt Station, Prairie Grove, Lane's Prairie. Original strength, 1,127. Total strength, 2,510. Death loss, 293. Killed and wounded in action, 116.
The Second cavalry regiment left the state a week after the First, with orders to proceed to St. Louis, where it remained in camp at Benton Barracks until thoroughly mounted and equipped, marching then to Springfield. The regiment was here divided. The First battalion remaining in the vicinity of Springfield and Cassville, Missouri, during the summer months of 1862, march- ing in October to Osage Springs, Arkansas, leaving there the middle of De- cember for Forysth, then the latter part of March, 1864, to Lake Springs, Mis- souri, in June to Rolla and in September, 1864, moving to Vicksburg.
The Second and Third battalions leaving Springfield on the 14th of June, 1862, and, joining General Curtis' forces, marched with them to Helena, where they remained until the latter part of January, 1863, when they moved to Mem- phis. In the middle of June, 1863, they left Memphis and moved down the
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WISCONSIN IN THE CIVIL WAR.
river to take part in the operations against Vicksburg, occupying the position at Snyder's Bluff. On the 4th of July they left Vicksburg to take part in the expedition under Sherman to Jackson, returning and encamping on the 29th at Big Black River, removing shortly afterward to Redbone Church and remained until April, 1864. From Redbone they moved to Vicksburg, doing picket duty until the 6th of November, when they joined the expedition to Gaines Landing, Arkansas, returning on the 12th.
As a part of the cavalry expedition under Colonel Osland, they left Vicks- burg, November 23d, and on their way burnt a large bridge across the Big Black river, destroying thirty miles of railroad track and many railroad buildings, with large accumulations of cotton and military stores. Near Yazoo City the Ist of December they met rebel forces, and in the engagement which followed sustained a loss of forty killed, wounded and missing. They re-entered Vicks- burg December 5th, having marched during the expedition about three hun- dred miles. The early part of December, the regiment moved to Memphis, leaving there the 21st, on a southward expedition. As they advanced, the brigade destroyed railroad bridges, cars and quantities of stores, and on the 28th took part in a skirmish at Egypt Station, which resulted in the capture of five hundred prisoners. Returning in charge of its captives it passed through Lex- ington and Benton, destroying all rebel railroad property on the line of march, entering Vicksburg January 5, 1865.
March 3d the command again set out for Memphis on an expedition into Northern Mississippi, returning a week later, when it was employed in guard and picket duty until the 9th of May, when a battalion of the regiment ( Major De Forest's squadron) left Granada, and on the 24th of June joined the regi- ment at Alexandria. It remained here until early in August and then rode to Hempsted, Texas. The march was through a desolate country and all suffered from lack of food and water. Here, being on ordinary camp duty until Octo- ber 30th, when it again marched (as infantry) to Austin, Texas, and was mus- tered out on the 15th of November, 1865, having turned its horses over to other regiments. The first hundred miles of homeward path were accomplshed with much fatigue. At Brenham it moved by rail and steamer, arriving at Madison on the 1 1th of December, and disbanded.
THE THIRD WISCONSIN CAVALRY REGIMENT.
Mustered in, January 21, 1862. Mustered out, September, 1865. Cam- paigned in Missouri, Kansas, Indian Territory and Arkansas.
Engagements : Church in-the-Woods, Taberville, Coon Creek, Fort Blunt, Cabin Creek, Honey Springs, Perryville, Waldron, Clarksville, Baxter's Springs, Bull Creek. Original strength, 1, 186. Total strength, 2,523. Death loss, 215. Killed and wounded, 213.
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HISTORY OF WISCONSIN.
The muster of this regiment was completed about the 21st of January, 1862, and they left the state on the 26th of March for St. Louis. On the way twelve men were killed and twenty-eight injured in a railroad accident near Chicago. From St. Louis the regiment moved to Fort Leavenworth where Colonel Barstow was appointed provost marshal of Kansas, with his regiment. Four companies were sent to Fort Scott with orders to keep careful watch of the enemy, stamp out bushwhackers and keep the peace generally in the sur- rounding country. The rebels, two thousand strong, having been discovered at Church-in-the-Woods, Captain Conkey, in his effort to inform Colonel Bar- stow, charged through the rebel ranks and escaped without loss, and a short time afterwards was attacked by a superior force and lost all his transportation. The battalion took part in several engagements, receiving much praise for their gallantry.
Four companies, I, M, C, and F, remained at Fort Scott until July, 1863. The 13th of September, 1862, six companies were ordered to the front, accom- panying the movement of the forces under General Solomon, participating in the battles of Cane Hill and Prairie Grove and in skirmishes with the guerrillas, arriving at Fort Scott on the 5th of July, 1863. During May and June, 1863, Companies B, G, H, I and M were engaged in escorting supplies. They took part in the battles near Fort Blunt, at Cedar Creek and Honey Springs. On the 19th of August they returned to Fort Blunt and on the 22d again left the fort on a forward movement, capturing a large quantity of rebel stores, and also captured and burned Perryville. They were frequently dispatched on scouting expeditions, and had daily encounters with bands of guerrillas. From October 16th the detachment remained at Van Burne, until February, 1865, engaged in guard, escort and scouting duty. On the 6th of October, 1863, Company I was attacked at Baxter's Springs and after a gallant resistance was finally overpowered and compelled to retire with a loss of twenty-two killed and four wounded. Of the regimental band, which was with the company, not a man escaped, the rebels robbing and murdering them when prisoners and causing their bodies to be burnt. The confederate commander at this bat- tle was Quantrell, the famous guerrilla chief.
During the winter of 1864 about three-fourths of the regiment re-enlisted, arriving on the 13th of May at Madison on their thirty days' furlough. Leav- ing Wisconsin on June 16 they proceeded by way of St. Louis and Memphis to Duval's Bluff, Arkansas. During August and September the regiment was engaged in scouting and in expeditions in pursuit of Shelby's men. On Sep- tember 30th the various companies were detached and sent to points in Mis- souri and Kansas, engaged in guard, picket and scouting duty. At the expira- tion of the term of service of the original organization, April 19, 1865, the regiment was reorganized. The portion of the regiment stationed at Little
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WISCONSIN IN THE CIVIL WAR.
Rock set out on the 2 1st of April for Duval's Bluff, where it remained until the 3d of June, and during the months of July and August was engaged in post duty at St. Louis, Springfield, and Fort Leavenworth. This battalion was mustered out at the latter place on the 8th of September. The other com- panies of the battalion were mustered out during September and October.
FOURTH WISCONSIN CAVALRY. (See Fourth Wisconsin Infantry. )
MILWAUKEE CAVALRY.
This company left the state, under command of Captain Gustav Van Deutsch, in September, and was mustered into the United States service as an independent acceptance on the 23d of that month, at St. Louis. It served a short time as body guard to General Fremont and was afterwards incorporated as Company M with the Fourth Missouri cavalry and served with that regi- ment until mustered out.
Its original strength was eighty-three.
THE FIRST HEAVY ARTILLERY REGIMENT.
Mustered in at various dates from the 11th of June, 1861, to the 30th of September, 1864. Mustered out at dates from the middle of June until the last of September, 1865. Campaigned in Virginia, Tennessee, Louisiana, Ken- tucky. Total strength, 882. Death loss, 73.
After the first battle of Bull Run, Company K, of the Second infantry, was ordered on duty at Fort Corcoran, near Washington. This was the nucleus of the First Wisconsin heavy artillery. On the 8th of December, 1861, it was permanently organized as an artillery company and so placed in garrison at Fort Cass. August 28th a detachment was sent to garrison Fort Buffalo, where it was attacked by the enemy, who, however, soon withdrew. The danger having passed, the detachment returned to Fort Cass ten days later. During the early winter the battery was transferred to Fort Ellsworth and thence in the spring to Fort Worth. On the 8th of June, Captain Mersevey was authorized to recruit four batteries of heavy artillery, using the first battery as a basis for that purpose. September 9th, 1863, the regiment was fully or- ganized, being stationed by companies at the following points :
Battery A moved in October, 1863, to Battery Rodgers, where it re- mained until May, 1864, and then was transferred to Fort Willard, returning in August, 1864, to Battery Rodgers. Battery B was assigned to Fort Terrel, Kentucky, in October, 1863, and on the 4th of January, 1864, to Lexington, Kentucky. Battery C was sent to Fort Wood, Chattanooga, and moved in January, 1864, to Fort Creighton and in May to Fort Sherman. Battery D
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HISTORY OF WISCONSIN.
was stationed at Fort Jackson on the 8th of January, and in February, 1864, moved to Berwick, near Brashier City, Louisiana. July 25th Batteries E, F, K, H and G occupied part of the defense at Washington.
Battery B remained at Lexington until its discharge from the service on the 30th of August, 1865. Battery C remained at Fort Sherman until the 29th of March, 1865, when it successively occupied Athens, Mouse Creek, Strawberry Plains, and was mustered out on the 21st of September, 1865. Battery D was occupied at Brashier City, Louisiana, until June, 1865, when it was ordered to Washington. The remaining nine companies of the regiment were engaged at Washington until the companies from E to M in- clusive were mustered out on the 26th of June. Companies A and D were mustered out on the 18th of August, 1865.
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CHAPTER LI.
Startling Historical Account of the Movements and Engagements of the First, Second Third, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth and Seventh Wisconsin Batteries.
THE FIRST WISCONSIN BATTERY.
Mustered in, October 10, 1861. Mustered out, July, 1864. Engage- ments : Tazewell, Vicksburg, Arkansas Post, Anderson's Hill, Black River Bridge, Jackson, Liberty. Original strength, 155. Total strength, 203. Death loss, 25. Killed and wounded in action, 4.
This battery left Wisconsin on the 27th of January, 1862, and remained at Louisville until April 3d on drill duty, then joined the expedition towards Cumberland Gap, the men hauling their guns over the mountain passes with long ropes. August 6th it took part in the battle of Tazewell, and on the 16th of August four thousand rebels invested Cumberland Gap, when the federals were obliged to retreat. Having marched over two hundred miles, during which the battery suffered severely, it arrived at Greensborough October 3 Ist, and then proceeded to Portland, where the Badger boys were refitted, and on the 25th of the month joined the forces of General Cox, proceeding so far east as Red House Landing, when they were ordered back. From Cincinnati they joined General Sherman's forces at Memphis and then moved to Vicksburg and remained until 1863, when Sherman withdrew the army and moved to Arkansas Post, there doing their full duty and returning to the mouth of the Yazoo on the 14th of January. During the winter, spring and summer of 1863 they took part in the battles of Champion Hills, in which they were held as a reserve, Black River Bridge, Vicksburg and Jackson, acquitting themselves in the praiseworthy manner in which all their work was done, whether in battle or fatigue duty. During Grant's campaign in the Mississippi valley the bat- tery fired more than twelve thousand rounds of ammunition.
July 24th it returned to Vicksburg and went into camp near that place. Its guns were found unserviceable and it was furnished with new thirty pound- ers and ordered to the Gulf. The battery was then sent to the defense of New Orleans, where it remained and was equipped, as horse artillery, with three-inch guns. April 22, 1864, it was ordered to assist in the ill-fated Red river expedi- tion and participated in the engagements near Alexandria, returning with the expedition and encamped near Morganzia until June 23d, when it returned to New Orleans. In August the Wisconsin boys moved to Baton Rouge. In October eight men of the battery, whose time had expired, returned home by
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HISTORY OF WISCONSIN.
way of the ocean, escorting two hundred and eighteen rebel prisoners. The remainder of the battery remained at Baton Rouge until it was ordered home on the 7th of July, and was discharged at Milwaukee on the 18th.
THE SECOND WISCONSIN BATTERY.
Mustered in, October 10th, 1861. Mustered out, July 10th, 1864. Cam- paigned in Virginia. Engagements: South Mary Bridge. Original strength, 153. Total strength, 243. Death loss, 12.
This battery was mustered into the United States service the 10th of October, leaving the state on the 2 Ist of January and moving by way of Balti- more to Fortress Monroe, where they remained until September, when ordered to Camp Hamilton on garrison duty. The 10th of January, 1863, the battery left this station and moved to Suffolk, Virginia, and were engaged in the battle near South Mary Bridge. During March and April it was divided, part being stationed at Fort Dix and Union and the remainder at Nausemond river. May 6th, the men marched by way of Williamsburgh to Yorktown, remaining there until the 20th of January, 1864, when they embarked and proceeded by steamer to point Lookout, Maryland, and were mustered out, July 10, 1864.
THE THIRD WISCONSIN BATTERY.
Mustered in, October 10th, 1861. Mustered out, July 20th, 1865. Cam- paigned in Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama.
Engagements : Chaplin Hills, Stone River, Crab Orchard, Chickamauga. Original strength, 170. Total strength, 270. Death loss, 26. Killed and wounded in action, 9.
This Badger battery left the state on the 23d of January, 1862, under orders for Louisville, Kentucky, where they were placed in camp of instruction until the 10th of March, when it proceeded to reinforce Grant on the Tennessee river. During the summer it moved from place to place in Mississippi, Ala- bama, Tennessee and Kentucky, and on the 8th of October, took part in the battle of Chaplin Hills, and then accompanied the army in its southward march. During December they remained stationed at Nashville, going into camp after the battle of Stone River, early in January, 1865, leaving this place July 5th, and accompanying the general movement of the union army. The battery remained at Chattanooga until the spring of 1865, when they moved to Murfreesboro and there remained until ordered to Wisconsin to be discharged, being mustered out, July 20th, 1865.
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WISCONSIN IN THE CIVIL WAR.
THE FOURTH WISCONSIN BATTERY.
Mustered in, October 1st, 1861. Mustered out, July 3d, 1865. Cam- paigned in Virginia and Maryland.
Engagements : Fort Monroe, Suffolk, Bermuda Hundreds, Petersburg. Original strength, 151. Total strength, 2,947. Death loss, 24. Killed and wounded in battle, 8.
This battery was mustered in on the first of October, 1861, leaving the state January 21st, 1862, and arriving on the 28th, at Fortress Monroe, where they remained as part of the garrison until the 13th of September. The bat- tery had charge of the barbette guns, handling them during the engagements between the Monitor and the Merrimac. Moving to Camp Hamilton, it did garrison and guard duty until ordered to Suffolk. While here they were con- stantly on duty curing the month of April, the rebels under Longstreet having besieged the city. On the 29th of June, it moved with the advance column on an expedition up the Peninsula. They went into camp at Yorktown, July 10th, remaining about two months, when ordered to Gloucester Point. The ser- vice had been so severe that early in October, out of one hundred and twenty- four in the battery, only four enlisted men were able to do duty. Ten days later it was ordered to Portsmouth, and there remained until the 4th of July, 1864. On the 22d, the battery moved to Bermuda Hundreds, where on May 9th, it took position before Fort Clifton. Although under fire nearly all day on the 14th, the command maintained its position. The battery remained at Bermuda until the 16th of June, and then participated in the assault on Petersburg. They took part in the engagements before this city until its cap- ture, all of their work being done with the bravery that characterized Wiscon- sin's previous service. The battery was mustered out, on the 3d of July, 1865.
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