USA > Wisconsin > An illustrated history of the state of Wisconsin : being a complete civil, political, and military history of the state, from its first exploration down to 1875 > Part 33
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There were remaining in the State at that date, yet incom- plete, three regiments of infantry ; to wit, the Twenty-seventh, Thirty-first, and Thirty-fourth Volunteers, and the Thirty- fourth drafted militia (nine months' men). The first two men- tioned would have been completed, and have gone from the State, before that date, if the time for volunteering could have. been extended a few weeks. The Thirty-first left the State on the 1st of March, 1863, under orders for Columbus, Ky., for which place, also, the Twenty-seventh followed, on the 16th of said month. The Thirty-Fourth was formed exclusively of conscripts obtained from the draft ordered from the war de- partment, Aug. 4, 1862, and made by the State authorities in conformity to General Orders. Col. Fritz Anneke was commis- sioned and assigned to this regiment. The regiment, when com- pleted, numbered 961 men, and left the State on the 24th of January, for Columbus, Ky. The term of service of this regi- ment expired on the 17th of August, at which time it returned,
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and was mustered out of the service on the 8th of September. No additional regiments to those above enumerated were raised during the year 1863.
By consent of Gen. Barry, inspector of artillery of United States Army, Capt. C. C. Messerve was authorized to raise a battalion of heavy artillery, to consist of four companies from this State, to constitute the basis. Batteries B, C, and D were soon raised and mustered into service, constituting the battal- ion. Company B left the State in October, with orders to report at Louisville, Ky. Companies C and D were still in camp at Milwaukee, awaiting orders, at the close of 1863.
Authority was also given for raising another, the Thirteenth Battery of Light Artillery ; and recruiting commissions issued accordingly. But slow progress was made ; and, at the close of 1863, some ninety men only were mustered in under a first lieutenant.
Upon the return of the Thirty-fourth Regiment (nine months' men), authority was given to recruit the Thirty-fifth Regiment, and recruiting appointments issued. On the 1st of November, some two hundred men were enlisted.
The adjutant-general, in his report, states that the total number of troops furnished the General Government from this State, and mustered into the service, from the commencement of the war to the 1st of November, 1863, exclusive of three months' regiments (for which the State received no credit numerically), was as follows: total strength of regiments and batteries at departure from the State, 38,878; total number of recruits since mustered, 2,897; total, 41,775. Or less nine months' militia, 961 ; men reduced to three years' basis, 721; total volunteers on a three-years' basis, 41,054. The military officers of the State, on the opening of the year 1863, were as follows: -
His Excellency, EDWARD SALOMON, Governor and Commander-in-Chief. Brig .- Gen. AUGUSTUS GAYLORD, Adjutant-General. Col. S. NYE GIBBS, Assistant Adjutant-General. Brig .- Gen. NATHANIEL F. LUND, Quartermaster-General. Brig .- Gen. E. B. WOLCOTT, Surgeon-General. Col. WILLIAM H. WATSON, Military Secretary.
The following is a history of the. regiments in detail, from
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Rev. A. C. Pennock.
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the close of 1862, when they were dropped in the chapter pre- ceding the last. The First Regiment, at the close of the year 1862, was encamped at Murfreesborough, Tenn. On the 9th of January, 1863, three corps were organized in the army, - the Fourteenth, Gen. Thomas; the Twentieth, Gen. McCook; Twenty-First, Gen. Crittenden. Rousseau's division was num- bered the first in the Fourteenth Corps; and Stark weather's brigade numbered third in the division, but was changed to second on the 28th of April.
Col. Starkweather, in January, returned the flag of the First to Gov. Salomon. It was presented to the regiment by Gov. Randall in 1861, and now stands in its place, with other State flags used in the Rebellion, in a case in the rooms of the State Historical Society at Madison.
On the 24th of June, the First Wisconsin, with the brigade and division, took part in Rosecrans' movement against Gen. Bragg, driving his troops from Hoover's Gap, turning his position at Tullahoma, and following his fleeting forces to the foot of the Cumberland Mountains, permitting him to retire to Chattanooga, while the victorious army of Rosecrans congre- gated around Cowan's Station on the Nashville and Chat- tanooga Railroad, where a halt was made in order to establish railroad communications, and prepare for a future demonstra- tion. On the 17th of July, Col. Starkweather was appointed brigadier-general, and was mustered out of service as colonel of the First Wisconsin. The next move of Gen. Rosecrans against the enemy commenced on the 2dl of September, when the Fourteenth Corps, to which Gen. Starkweather's brigade belonged, began its march across the Tennessee River, and over the mountains, into the vicinity of Trenton, Ga., where it arrived on the 10th, and camped near Stevens's Gap. On the next day, the brigade with the division was ordered forward to the support of Gen. Negley's division, about five miles in advance near Dug Gap. Skirmishing as they advanced, the brigade attained a position between Negley's troops, and the enemy under a severe fire. This position they gallantly held, resisting the repeated efforts of the enemy to dislodge them, until three o'clock in the afternoon, when a retrograde move- ment commenced ; and the brigade was ordered to cover the
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retreat. This duty was admirably performed; Gen. Stark- weather succeeding in resisting all attempts of the enemy to break his lines, or drive in his skirmishers, and successfully covering the retreat of Gen. Negley's force, and securing the safety of his own command, with only the loss of two killed. One of them, however, Lieut. R. J. Nickles, was a serious loss to Gen Starkweather, being a member of his staff, and highly esteemed by him.
The brigade bivouacked in line of battle near Stevens's Gap, where they remained until the 17th, when the division moved to Owen's Gap, and next day to Crawfish Spring, and on the 19th took position on the battle-field of Chickamauga.
In this battle the First Wisconsin, with the brigade, went to the relief of Col. Croxton of Branman's division, who was out of ammunition, and took position in front, where they were attacked by an overwhelming force of the enemy, who ap- proached on the right flank, and compelled a change in the position of the brigade. Here the enemy struck the line on the right and front, with such overwhelming force as to compel the command to retire to a ridge directly in the rear, leaving a part of their artillery. The enemy was attacked on the rear and flank, and driven from the field; and the missing guns were recovered. The brigade closed on the first and third brigades of Baird's division, to the support of Gen. John- son's division. Being ordered to the support of the first line in front, whose ammunition was failing, the movement of the brigades of the division in the darkness became confused. The darkness was intense ; and, by mistake, one of the brigades opened fire on Starkweather's brigade from the rear and flank, which occasioned a portion of Johnson's force to fire into their right, mistaking them for the enemy. The brigade was there- fore compelled to retire in order to re-form, which was done ; and it bivouacked in an open field near Gen. Johnson's train. On the morning of the 20th, the command moved to a ridge, and took position, forming two lines, and throwing up barri- cades of trees in front of each line, with the artillery in the centre and on the left, and covered on the right by an Iowa battery. This position was held by the brigade nearly all day, until peremptory orders were received to fall back as well as
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possible. In doing so, the second line retired first. Just as this was discovered by the first line, the enemy charged in front with bayonet, supported by his batteries, which occasioned the first line to give way ; and a portion only rallied at a point where Gen. Willich's command rested, about sunset. From there, the command moved to Chattanooga. On nearing the town, the order was countermanded ; and a position was re- assigned the brigade in front, where it remained until the 22d, when, with the balance of the division, it was ordered to cover the retreat of the army to Chattanooga, going into bivouac near that place.
The casualties of the First Regiment in the battles of Dug Gap and Chicakmauga, as reported officially, are, killed, or died of wounds, thirty-four ; wounded, seventy-nine. Seventy- six were missing, mostly taken prisoners. The number of officers killed was one-seventh of all killed and wounded in the Fourteenth Army Corps.
Gen. Starkweather was wounded in the leg by a piece of a shell, but remained in command of the brigade until the army retired into Chattanooga.
In the movement on Mission Ridge, on the 25th of Novem- ber, the brigade was held as a reserve, and joined in the pursuit of the flying enemy as far as Stevens's Gap, when they returned to Chattanooga. Late in 1863, about four hundred drafted soldiers were assigned to the regiment, and about seventy recruits joined it early in 1864. But these did not increase the aggregate of the regiment sufficiently to warrant the muster of a colonel; and, consequently, it remained under the command of Lieut .- Col. Bingham, though he was commissioned as a colonel.
The Second Regiment, as last noticed, was at Falmouth, Va. In the winter of 1863, several changes were made in the officers and arrangements in connection with the Iron Brigade ; and it was now attached to the first division of Gen. Wadsworth, and First Army Corps, Gen. Reynolds. They proceeded to Fredericksburg, and opposite the enemy's pickets across the river, where, in twenty minutes, they possessed the enemy's works with two hundred prisoners. Twenty-nine of the enemy were also killed. This regiment and the brigade
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took an active part at the battle of Gettysburg, and fought nobly. Our space forbids giving the movements and details of this battle ; and it is only necessary to say that the regiment lost, by killed and died of wounds, forty-four ; wounded, a hun- dred and thirty-eight ; and fifty-three missing, most of whom were taken prisoners. The regiment was in active service all the summer of 1863. In December, forty soldiers re- enlisted, and came home on veteran furlough.
The Third Regiment, in January, 1863 encamped at Stafford Court House. Lieut .- Col. Hawley was promoted to the com- mand in March, and other changes made. The regiment took part in the operations of Gen. Hooker near Chancellorsville ; and, in the battles that took place from April 27 to May 6, they had nineteen killed or died of wounds, and seventy-four wounded. On the 6th of June, the regiment was detached to accompany a cavalry expedition up the Rappahannock, and, as skirmishers and sharpshooters, contributed to the victory gained by our troops; in which engagement the regiment had two killed, and fourteen wounded. They passed the summer and fall in railroad guard-duty, picket-duty, &c., at various points in Tennessee. Being transferred to the Army of the Cumberland, they proceeded to Columbus, O., thence to Stevenson, Ala., where they arrived Oct. 3. A sufficient number having re-enlisted as veterans, the veteran Third, on the 25th, left for Wisconsin on furlough. The Fourth Regi- ment took an active part in the assault on the enemy's works at Port Hudson, losing thirty-nine killed, seventy wounded, and thirty-one missing. After this engagement, the regiment remained in the vicinity of Port Hudson, while Gen. Banks was perfecting a plan for the capture of that place. On the 1st of September, 1863, the regiment was changed to a cavalry regi- ment, known as the Fourth Wisconsin Cavalry, of which Frede- rick A. Boardman was colonel. After this organization, the Fourth was engaged in scouting, picketing, and foraging in the vicinity of Baton Rouge; and, on one occasion, a small party of them captured seventeen of the enemy, and, on another occasion, seized large quantities of goods intended for the enemy, capturing eighty-five rebel soldiers, with a loss to themselves of eight men taken prisoners.
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The Fifth Regiment went into winter-quarters at White-oak Church, near Belle Plain ; and Col. Amasa Cobb, being elected to Congress, resigned, and Lieut. Thomas S. Allen of the Second Regiment was made colonel. This regiment performed some daring deeds under Col. Allen, taking the Washington Battery of New Orleans, whose commander surrendered his sword to the colonel, complimenting him for his daring and the bravery of his men. In this engagement, the Fifth lost three commissioned officers and forty-one enlisted men killed or mortally wounded, and eight commissioned officers and eighty-four enlisted men wounded, and twenty-three missing, out of a force of four hundred men. The regiment also par- ticipated in the charge on the enemy's works at Rappahannock Station, in which it lost twelve killed and thirty-two wounded. The regiment returned to winter-quarters at Brandy Station, where it remained until the opening of the campaign of 1864.
The Sixth Regiment was a part of the Iron Brigade, of which the Second, Seventh, and Nineteenth Indiana composed the remainder. The history of this regiment is identical with that of the Second, and need not be repeated. The Seventh Regiment being a part of the brigade, its history for 1863 has been referred to. These regiments, when their time expired, returned to Wisconsin, re-enlisted, and returned to the field.
The Eighth Regiment, in January, 1863, moved from La Grange, by way of Corinth, to Germantown, Tenn., where they were employed in building fortifications, and guard-duty, until March 11, when they marched to Memphis, and joined the forces intended by Gen. Grant to operate against Vicks- burg, which were being concentrated near Helena. Lieut .- Col. Robbins was commissioned as colonel in the place of Col. Murphy dismissed. The regiment with others attacked the enemy, and, on the 14th of May, took possession of Jackson, the capital of Mississippi. They then proceeded to Walnut Hills, forming the extreme right of the investing force around Vicks- burg. Here they took a part in the assault on the enemy's works. The regiment participated in many skirmishes with some loss, and, on the 26th of September, moved to Black River Bridge, and went into camp, and remained until Oct. 13. They subsequently proceeded to Vicksburg, to Memphis and
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La Grange, Tenn., and encamped. At this place and Salis- bury, the regiment was stationed until January, 1864, engaged in guard-duty, skirmishing, and in expeditions towards Poca- hontas, against the forces of the rebel Forrest.
The Ninth Regiment, in December, 1862, was near Prairie Grove, Ark., but not in time to participate in the battle. On the 10th of December, they returned to Rhea's Mills. A raid was made from there on Van Buren ; the regiment marching sixty miles in two days, and returning to Rhea's Mills. From this time till Feb. 20, the regiment was engaged in marching to various points, performing a sort of patrol duty, when they went into winter-quarters at Stahl's Creek, thirty-six miles west of Springfield, Mo. The regiment was stationed at different points in Missouri, engaged in guard-duty, and on foraging parties in the vicinity of Rolla and Springfield, until July 8. On that day they moved by railroad to St. Louis, where they were engaged in guard-duty until the 12th of Sep- tember, 1863, where they remained until the 10th of October. They then marched to Little Rock, and went into winter- quarters about the 1st of November.
The Tenth Regiment, on the 5th of January, 1863, was encamped at Murfreesborough. A number of changes took place in the regiment. Col. McMynn resigned on the 16th of June, which left place for the promotion of the junior officers. On June 24, the regiment joined in the advance of Gen. Rosecrans' army against Gen. Bragg at Tullahoma, but was not seriously engaged with the rebels, and, on the 14th of July, went into camp at Cowan's Station. In August they removed to Anderson, and on the 2d of September commenced their march into Georgia, and, on the 11th, took part in the movement to assist Gen. Negley at Dug Gap. On the 19th of September, at the battle of Chickamauga, the regiment advanced to the left of the line, and moved forward in two. lines of battle, about half a mile, and drove the enemy before them, capturing a number of prisoners. On the 20th, two attacks were made, in which they were unsuccessful, not being properly supported ; and about all of the regiment on the field were captured, -twelve officers and one hundred and eleven men. Lieut .- Col. Ely, commanding the regiment, was mortally
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wounded. On the 21st, the regiment numbered three officers and twenty-six men. They moved to the front, formed in line, and on the 22d returned to Chattanooga. Although it was obliged to surrender, not a particle of censure can be attributed to it. The casualties, as reported by Capt. Roby, were twenty- eight killed, thirty-eight wounded, and one hundred and twenty-one missing.
The remnant of this gallant regiment remained in camp at Chattanooga, employed in guard-duty, and labor on the fortifi- cations, until the famous assault on Mission Ridge, where it acted as a support to Loomis's Battery, after which it returned to camp at Chattanooga, and remained during the winter.
The Eleventh Regiment, which had been in camp at Middle- brook, Mo., during the winter of 1862-63, was ordered to join the forces of Gen. Grant, who was concentrating his forces at Helena, preliminary to the attack on Vicksburg. Marching to St. Genevieve, the regiment embarked with the rest of the brigade, and proceeded to Memphis, thence to Helena, and, on 22d of March, landed at Milliken's Bend, a few miles above Vicksburg. Taking part with the Thirteenth Army Corps, across the river, it arrived at Bruinsburg, April 30, and pro- ceeded onward to where the enemy were found in force, near Magnolia Church, four miles from Fort Gibson. In this engagement, the brigade occupied in the centre ; and the fight became severe. They advanced close to the enemy's line, and opened fire with such rapidity and precision, that the rebels soon broke and fled. They soon, however, formed again, and another engagement took place; and the rebels were again driven from the field. The commander of the brigade compli- mented the Eleventh on their bravery on these occasions. The casualties reported were six killed and fifteen wounded. On the 2d of May, the enemy having evacuated Grand Gulf, the second brigade was sent to that place. At the battle of Black River Bridge, the Eleventh took an active part, and alone took more than one thousand prisoners. In this en- gagement, three were killed, and eight wounded. Among the former was Capt. D. E. Hough of Company A.
Moving from the Bridge the next day, the Eleventh and the brigade took its position in the trenches before Vicksburg. In
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the assault on. May 22, thirty-eight were killed, and sixty-nine wounded. The regiment was engaged on guard and fatigue duty until July 2, when they returned to Black River Bridge. On the 3d of July, the city surrendered. The Eleventh, with Carr's division, took part in the march of Gen. Sherman on Jackson, after the surrender of Vicksburg. On July 13, the enemy was driven to his works, and on the 17th the city was entered by our troops. They were also sent south, performing a toilsome march of two hundred and fifteen miles. Taking a part in Gen. Banks's operations in Texas, the Eleventh, with Gen. Washburn's division, embarked for Brazos, Santiago, on the 23d, and, after repeated marchings, proceeded to Indian- ola, and took possession of that place.
CHAPTER XLVI.
WISCONSIN'S WAR RECORD.
Events of 1863, continued - Regimental History - The Progress of the War - Battle-Field Incidents.
THE Twelfth Regiment left Lumpkin's Mills Jan. 8, 1863, and marched to Holly Springs, and thence to Colliersville, to Neville Station, on the Memphis and Charleston Railroad, where they were engaged guarding the railroad until March 14, when the division marched to Memphis. During much of the time, Col. G. E. Bryant was in command of the brigade. Subsequently they took part in an expedition through the centre of Mississippi, and returned to Memphis, and, on the 11th of May, moved down the river to take part in the operations against Vicksburg. Disembarking at Sherman's Landing, they marched across the peninsula, and taking a transport landed at Grand Gulf on the 18th. Here Col. Bryant was placed in command of the post; and the brigade engaged in guard and fatigue duty. After the taking of Vicksburg, they proceeded to assist in the taking of Jackson, but subsequently returned to Vicksburg. On the 15th of August, the brigade embarked for Natchez, where the Twelfth remained until the latter part of November without any thing occurring of special note, except an expedition to Harrisonburg, La., where they found an aban- doned fort ; when they returned to Vicksburg, going into camp ten miles east of the city. On the 4th of December, they made an expedition after Adams's Cavalry, from which they returned Jan. 23, 1864, and went into camp at Hebron, where the regi- ment was re-organized as a veteran regiment, five hundred and twenty men having re-enlisted.
The Thirteenth Regiment took part in pursuing the rebel
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general, Forrest, through Western Tennessee, driving him to- wards Corinth, where his command was defeated and dispersed by Gen. Sullivan. In this expedition, the Thirteenth marched one hundred and twenty miles, and returned to Fort Henry Jan. 1, 1863. During the month, they were employed on the river between Fort Henry and Hamburg Landing, Tenn., in guarding steamers laden with stores and supplies. On the 3d of Febru- ary, in the afternoon, they learned that Fort Donelson was attacked, and that a severe fight was going on. In half an hour, the regiment was on the road to re-enforce the Eighty-third Illinois at that important point. After driving the enemy's skirmishers five miles, they arrived in the vicinity of the Fort at ten in the evening, with the loss of one man on the march. Meanwhile the garrison, assisted by the gunboats, had repulsed the enemy with severe loss, and gained a victory at Fort Don- elson on the 3d of March, holding the extreme right and front of the Army of the Cumberland.
During the spring and summer, they were in detachments, scouting and scouring the surrounding country, taking many prisoners. Participating in the forward movement of the Army of the Cumberland, they left Fort Donelson Aug. 27, and by way of Columbia, Tenn., arrived at Stevenson, Ala., a distance of two hundred and sixty miles, on Sept. 14. Col. William P. Lyon was placed in command of the post and the whole body of troops stationed there. The regiment joined the brigade to which it belonged, at Nashville, in the latter part of October, and went into winter-quarters at Edgefield, where it was employed in picket and guard duty until February, 1864, when, more than three-fourths of the men having re-enlisted, the regiment proceeded to Wisconsin on veteran furlough.
The Fourteenth Regiment, on the 10th of January, 1863, left Moscow, encamping, on the 13th, at Memphis ; and on the 17th embarked for Vicksburg, where they landed, and engaged in guard and fatigue duty. Col. Hancock, having become disabled by ill-health, resigned Jan. 23, and was succeeded by Lieut .- Col. Ward. On the 8th of February, they embarked on transports for Lake Providence, seventy-five miles above Vicksburg, with other forces, arriving there on the 10th. Here they remained until the 20th, engaged in sundry reconnoissances, seizures of
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cotton, supplies, &c., when they proceeded down to Milliken's Bend. Marching across the peninsula, they reached Grand Gulf May 13, and joined the Seventeenth Army Corps at Ray- mond. They reached there while the battle of Champion's Hill (on the 16th) was in progress, five miles to the left. On the 17th, they were put in motion towards Vieksburg, and reached Big Black River, where the battle had just been fought and assisted in the construction of two floating-bridges, and the next day arrived at Vieksburg, and advaneed to a position within range of the enemy's guns, in the line of the Seventeenth Army Corps. In the assault on the enemy's works on the 19th, they attained a position within eighty rods of the enemy's lines, after two days in skirmishing; and on 22d of May, the Four- teenth took a conspieuous place in the terrible charge, penetrat- ing a considerable distance beyond any other regiment of the brigade, and attaining a position in front of the enemy's fort, where no other regiment was near them. Here they were obliged to seek cover until night, before they could eseape. In this charge, the Fourteenth lost one hundred and seven in killed, wounded, and missing. The regiment remained engaged in the duties of the siege until the surrender of the eity, July 4, when it was assigned the position of honor on the right, and ordered to take the advanee in the triumphal entry of our troops into the city; the general (Ransom) complimenting them with the remark, that " every man and officer of the Fourteenth was a hero." On the 12th of July, the regiment embarked with the brigade, and proceeded to Natchez, of which place they took . possession on the 14th. Here they remained until Oet. 9, when, pursuant to orders, they proceeded to Vicksburg, and encamped for the winter. Medals of gold and silver were awarded by a Board of Honor to five non-commissioned officers of the regi- ment for gallant services.
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