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 42
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The Thirtieth Regiment were at Louisville, Ky., in January, 1865, and were engaged in detachments during the summer, doing guard-duty at the military prison, and other work; and on the 20th of September were mus- tered out, and started homeward, arriving at Madison on the 25th, when they were disbanded.
The Thirty-first Regiment, on the 18th of January, 1865, crossed the Sa- vannah River, and rejoined its division at Parisburg, S.C., twenty-five miles distant from Savannah. Owing to rains, they were water-bound until the 28th. The regiment marched with the army through South Carolina, doing its share in burning and destoying, tearing up railroads, and similar duties, to drive back the enemy's rear-guard. On the 16th of March they took posi- tion in the front, at the battle of Averysborough, and were under fire until night. They lost two men killed, and ten wounded. On the 19th the Thirty-first was at the battle of Bentonville, in which ten were killed, and forty-two wounded. The regiment reached Goldsborough on the 24th of March, having been on the tramp sixty-five days, twenty-three of which the rain fell without cessation, many of them barefoot, and often hungry for twenty-four hours. On the 10th of April the army was again in motion, in the direction of Raleigh, when they heard of the surrender of Johnston to Gen. Sherman. The regiment went into camp at Raleigh. On the 30th of April the Twentieth Army Corps started for Washington, passing through Richmond, Va., on the 11th, and arrived at Alexandria May 20. On the 24th they took part in the grand review at Washington. On the 2d of June they were ordered to Louisville, where quarters were assigned to them. Six companies were mustered out, to date from June 20, and left for Madison June 21. They were paid off, and went to their homes July 8, 1865. The remaining companies remained in camp until July 8, and were mustered out, reaching Madison on the 12th, and were paid off and dis- charged July 20, 1865.
The Thirty-second Regiment left Pocotaligo, S.C., on the 30th of Janu- ary, 1865, on which day the " grand march " through the Carolinas was commenced. On the 1st of February, the regiment, with the division, took part in the battle at Rivers Bridge, on the Salkahatchie, in which the regi-
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ment had eleven killed, and thirty-eight wounded. They also took part in the engagement at Binnaker's Bridge, losing one killed, and six wounded. The regiment was engaged in skirmishing, and had engagements near Cheraw and at Fayetteville with small losses. They also took part in the battle at Bentonville, where two were killed, and twenty-three wounded; and were engaged, also, in the advance from Goldsborough on the 10th of April, on Raleigh, from which place they marched fifteen miles in a westerly direction, returning on the 27th of April to Raleigh. After the surrender of Johnston's army, with the Seventeenth Corps they marched to Richmond, on their way homeward; thence to Alexandria, where they camped until the 23d of May, when they moved to Washington, and took part in the grand review of Sherman's army, and were mustered out on the 12th of June. The same day they commenced the journey to Wisconsin, arriving at Milwaukee on the 16th of June, where they were paid and disbanded.
The Thirty-third Regiment, with the forces of Gen. Smith, reached Clif- ton, Tenn., on the 2d of January, 1865. From this point, they proceeded by transports to Eastport, Miss., and were detailed to guard the transporta- tion train to Savannah, Tenn. The roads being in a bad condition, they were greatly delayed in their progress. With six companies, Lieut .- Col. Lovell succeeded in getting a portion of the train to Savannah; and Major Virgin, with the other companies, took the balance of the train to Grand View. At these places they found transports, and reached Eastport on the 14th of January. The command left this place on the 6th of February, and proceeding down the Tennessee, Ohio, and Mississippi Rivers, reached Vicksburg, where they went into camp. They re-embarked on the 20th, and proceeded to New Orleans, thence to Dauphin Island, near Mo- bile, thence to Cedar Point and Spanish Fort, where, on the 27th, they drove the enemy into his intrenchments. The regiment assisted in the capture of Spanish Fort, and was the first regiment to enter the main fort, where it took two Napoleon guns and a number of prisoners. In the operations be- fore Mobile they had nine killed, and twenty-three wounded. On the 9th, they moved to Blakely, and were held in reserve during the assault. After the capture, they moved to Montgomery, Ala., thence to Tuskegee, where they remained till the 19th of July, when they returned to Montgomery. They were ordered to proceed to Vicksburg for muster out, where they arrived July 31. Here they were mustered out of service on the 8th of July, and, embarking for home, reached Madison Aug. 14, where they were soon after paid off, and formally disbanded.
The Thirty-fourth Regiment was mustered into the government service for nine months. The mustering was completed on the 31st of December, 1862; and the regiment left the State Jan. 31, 1863. After spending their time in garrison and fatigue duty, they returned to Camp Washburne, and were mustered out on the 8th of September.
The Thirty-fifth Regiment removed from Duvall's Bluff, Ark., on the 7th of February, 1865, to Algiers, La., and encamped. On the 22d of February they embarked, with Gen. Canby's forces, for Mobile Point, and
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on the 17th of March commenced the march to Spanish Fort, taking posi- tion in the front of the fort on the 27th, and were engaged in siege and fatigue duty until the evacuation on the 8th of April. The next day they proceeded to Fort Blakely, but did not arrive in time to participate in the attack. Crossing Mobile Bay, they moved to Whistler's Station, thence to Mannahubba Bluff, and on the 26th to McIntosh's Bluff on the Tombigbee River, and were engaged in building fortifications. On the surrender of Dick Taylor's forces, they proceeded to Mobile, arriving June 1, and thence to Brazos Santiago and Brownsville, opposite Matamoras, where they re- mained till about March 1, 1866, when orders were received for muster out of service, and return home.
The Thirty-sixth Regiment, with the Second Corps, on the 5th of Febru- ary, 1865, moved near Hatcher's Run, and met the enemy. In the battle at Dabney's Mills, they were exposed to a heavy artillery fire, in which they had two men killed, and three wounded. Crossing Hatcher's Run, the corps formed in line of battle, advanced, and occupied the enemy's first line of works, and next day advanced to the second line, and occupied them. The regiment participated in the movement before Petersburg, and the surrender, with the Second Corps. The Thirty-sixth joined in the pursuit of Lee, and on the 9th of April had the satisfaction of being present at the surrender of the entire army near Appomattox Court House. After the surrender, they returned to Burkesville, where most of the captured officers returned to the regiment; and on the 2d of May they started for Washington by the way of Richmond, participating in the grand review of the Army of the Potomac, June 17. They subsequently left for Louisville, Ky., where they arrived on the 21st, and went into camp at Jeffersonville. The regiment was mustered out of service on the 12th of July, and arrived at Madison on the 14th, where they were paid and finally discharged.
The Thirty-seventh Regiment, with the first brigade, on the 2d of April, 1865, marched and formed in front of Fort Sedgwick, from which place they moved for Fort Mahone, one of the enemy's strongest positions, and drove the enemy out on the other side, and turned the guns of the fort upon their late proprietors. Attempts were made during the day by the rebels to regain possession, but unsuccessful. The next day the brigade proceeded toward Petersburg and Richmond, and learned of their surrender. In the assault on Fort Mahone, the regiment lost fifteen killed, and fifteen wounded. Re- maining in the vicinity of Petersburg until the 20th of April, the regiment broke camp, moved to City Point, and took transports for Washington, ar- riving on the 26th. They were present at the grand reviews on the 23d and 24th of May, and on the 20th were mustered out of the United States ser- vice, and embarked on the cars for Wisconsin, reaching Madison on the 31st of July, where they were publicly received by the State authorities, and furloughed fifteen days, till their pay-rolls could be prepared, at the end of which time they were paid off, and the regiment formally disbanded.
The Thirty-eighth Regiment were in the rifle-pits before Richmond in the month of January, 1865. In the assault on Fort Mahone, or " Fort
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Damnation " as it was nicknamed, the Thirty-eighth had eight companies engaged with other regiments. The fort was taken, as referred to in the account of the Thirty-seventh Regiment. The Thirty-eighth suffered se- verely, having seventeen killed, and forty-seven wounded. The records of the adjutant-general show that fourteen were killed, or died of wounds in the trenches, and thirteen wounded. On the 4th the Thirty-eighth moved out on the Southside Railroad, in pursuit of the rebel army, capturing many prisoners. On the 6th of June a part of the regiment (one year's men) were mustered out, and returned to Wisconsin. The remainder of the regiment was on duty at the arsenal during the trial and execution of the assassination conspirators, and on the 26th of July were mustered out of service, and started for Madison, where they were paid off and discharged on the 11th of August, 1865.
The Thirty-ninth, Fortieth, and Forty-first Regiments were known as the one-hundred-day regiments. Their services have been referred to. They returned home in the fall of 1804.
The Forty-second Regiment were engaged in Southern Illinois; and a por- tion of them were employed at Springfield in provost-duty; and the re- mainder were detached to points in that part of the State where military surveillance was necessary. The regiment returned, on the expiration of their term of service, to Madison, on the 20th of June, 1865, and were soon after mustered out and disbanded.
The Forty-third Regiment left Nashville on the 1st of January, 1865, and moved to Deckerd, Tenn., by rail, where six companies went into camp, and four companies were detached to guard Elk-river Bridge. In the beginning of June they returned to Nashville, and were mustered out of service on the 24th of June. They soon after returned to Milwaukee, and were disbanded.
The Forty-fourth Regiment arrived at Nashville February, 1865, and were employed in post and guard duty. In March they proceeded to Eastport, Miss., from which place they returned to Nashville. Embarking on the 3d of April, they proceeded to Paducah, Ky., and were employed in picket- duty until Aug. 28, when the regiment were mustered out of service, and left on the 30th. They arrived at Madison on the 2d of September, where they were paid and disbanded.
The Forty-fifth Regiment, after leaving the State, proceeded to Nash- ville, Tenn., and were stationed there until the 17th of July, 1865, when they were mustered out of service, and embarked for Wisconsin, where they arrived on the 23d, and were shortly after paid off and disbanded.
The Forty-sixth Regiment left the State on the 5th of March, 1865, and proceeded to Louisville, Ky., arriving there on the 10th of March. From thence they proceeded to Athens, Ala., arriving on the 24th. The regi- ment engaged in railroad guard-duty on the Nashville and Decatur Railroad until the latter part of September, when they moved to Nashville, and were mustered out on the 27th, and set out for home, arriving at Madison on the 2d of October, where they were shortly afterwards paid and disbanded.
The Forty-seventh Regiment was organized, and left the State on the
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27th of February, 1865. They arrived at Louisville on the 28th, whence they proceeded to Nashville, Tenn., and thence to Tullahoma. Here they were employed in guard-duty until the latter part of August, when they moved to Nashville, were mustered out, and returned to Wisconsin, arriving at Madison Sept. 8, 1865, where they were paid and disbanded.
The Forty-eighth Regiment was organized in February and March, 1865. Eight companies were mustered in, and left Milwaukee, March 22, to report at Benton Barracks, St. Louis, whence they proceeded to Paoli, Kan., which place they reached on the 13th. Here the regiment was broken up in detachments; one company going to Lawrence, one to Olathe, two re- mained at Paoli, and four were ordered' to Fort Scott. The other com- panies left Milwaukee March 8, and marched to and reached Fort Scott April 28. After the performance of the ordinary duties, the regiment pro- ceeded to Lawrence, Kan., where they arrived on the 25th. Here they were paid, and the men expected to be mustered out; but the exigencies of the service demanded a force to escort the trains and mail through hostile Indian country, and the regiment was ordered on that duty. The regiment, on the 6th of September, commenced the march to Fort Zarah, two hundred and fifty miles west of Lawrence. Two companies were left at that place; and the other eight proceeded to Fort Larned, twenty-eight miles farther west, where headquarters were established, and two companies were sta- tioned. Two companies were sent to Fort Dodge, sixty miles from Fort Larned; two companies to Fort Aubrey, one hundred and sixty miles from Fort Larned; and two companies to Fort Lyon, Col., two hundred and ten miles from Fort Larned.
Four companies returned to Leavenworth in December, were mustered out of service, and returned to Madison, Wis., on the 3d of January, 1866, where they were paid and disbanded. The remaining companies were sub- sequently mustered out at Leavenworth, the last of them arriving the latter part of March, and were disbanded.
The Forty-ninth Regiment left the State on the 8th of March, 1865, pro- ceeded to St. Louis, were sent to Rolla on the 13th, and were engaged in guard- duty and as escort to trains. Here they remained until Aug. 17, 1865, when they returned to St. Louis. Three companies were mustered out Nov. 1, and the balance of the regiment on the 8th, when they returned to Madison, where they were paid and disbanded.
The Fiftieth Regiment left Madison by companies in the latter part of March, for St. Louis. From St. Louis they proceeded to Fort Leavenworth, and were ordered to Fort Rice, in Dakota Territory, arriving Oct. 10, where they were stationed up to Feb. 15, 1866. They shortly afterwards were mustered out, and returned to Wisconsin.
The Fifty-first Regiment was organized at Milwaukee in the early part of 1865. It proceeded to Warrensburg, Mo., and was employed in guard- ing the construction of a part of the Pacific Railroad. On the 11th of June the Fifty-third Regiment (four companies) was consolidated with the Fifty- first. The regiment returned to Madison on the 5th of August, 1865,
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where they were mustered out by companies, completing the same on the 80th.
The Fifty-second Regiment never was fully recruited. Five companies were mustered into service, and were sent forward by companies to St. Louis, in April, 1865. The battalion was sent to Holden, on the Pacific Railroad, and was employed in guarding workmen on the railroad. It moved to Leavenworth, Kan., in June, where it was assigned to duty. The battalion was mustered out of service on the 28th of July, arrived at Madi- son on the 2d of August, and was paid and disbanded.
The Fifty-third Regiment (four companies of which were organized before the order came to discharge all unmustered recruits) were sent to St. Louis, and thence to Leavenworth, Kan., where they were transferred to the Fifty- first Regiment, by order of the war department, on the 10th of June, 1865. These companies were mustered out with the Fifty-first Regiment.
The First Cavalry spent the winter at Waterloo, Ala., where they re- mained until March 10, when they moved to Chickasaw, and took up their line of march for the interior of Alabama. One battalion moved forward to Centreville, where they captured fifteen prisoners. On the 2d of April they encountered Jackson's division of rebel cavalry, and had a severe engage- ment. After marching some two miles, they arrived at Selina on the 6th, where they rejoined the main column. On the evening of the 12th, they occupied Montgomery, which was surrendered to the brigade. Passing through Tuskegee and Auburn, they reached West Point, Ga., on the 16th of April. The brigade assaulted and captured Fort Tyler, with its garrison of two hundred men. The casualties at West Point were six killed, and fifteen wounded. The last active duty which the regiment was called upon to perform in the closing scenes of the Rebellion has already become his- toric, by its association with the capture of Jefferson Davis, president of the so-called Southern Confederacy. It is not necessary to give a full account of this affair, more than to say that Lieut .- Col. Harnden went to meet Col. Pritchard of the Fourth Michigan Cavalry, to inform him of the proximity of the train of Davis, which he had pursued for a long distance, and that his command had gone forward in pursuit. Col. Harnden and his force con- tinued the pursuit until nine o'clock, P.M., when he halted, with orders for an early start. At three o'clock in the morning, May 10, he proceeded about a mile, when the advance guard was ordered to halt by a party of men concealed behind trees. Supposing he had run upon rebel pickets, they attempted to retreat, when a heavy volley was fired upon the party, wound- ing three out of his seven men. It was soon found that the opposing force was Col. Pritchard; and also that the latter, after his interview with Col. Harnden, had selected a number of his best mounted men, pushed rapidly forward on the run to Irwinville, which place he reached before the arrival of Davis and his train. He had then sent a small force, dismounted, around to the rear of the train; and, as he moved upon it with his principal force from the Irwinville side, Col. Harnden encountered his dismounted men, as before related. While this unfortunate collision was in progress, a portion of Col. Pritchard's force captured the train.
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The reward offered for the capture of Jeff. Davis was subsequently divided between the officers alluded to, and others of the party. Col. Harnden re- turned to Macon, and re-entered camp on the 13th of May. From Macon, the regiment marched northward, and, on the 2d of June, arrived at Chat- tanooga, and encamped on the 15th at Edgefield, Tenn., opposite Nashville. Here the First Cavalry were mustered out of service on the 19th of July, and shortly afterwards paid and disbanded.
The Second Cavalry were at Memphis the latter part of May, 1865, scout- ing, when they were put upon the duty of guarding citizens from depreda- tions of rebel soldiers and bushwhackers.
They were engaged in this duty until in June, when they were ordered to report to Gen. Sheridan at Alexandria, La. On the 3d of July Col. Stephens and the men whose term expired Oct. 1, 1865, were mustered out, embracing about two hundred men. The remainder of the regiment moved froin Memphis to Alexandria, thence by way of Jasper, Livingston, and Swartwout, to Trinity River, thence to Danville, Montgomery, and Hempstead, Tex., where they arrived on the 26th of July, after a march of three hundred and ten miles in nineteen days. Here they were employed in drilling and camp-duty until the 30th of October, when they commenced their march to Austin, where they arrived on the 4th of November. They were mustered out on the 15th, and on the 17th set out for home, arriving at Madison Dec. 11, 1865, and were paid off and disbanded.
The Third Cavalry were encamped at Little Rock in March, 1865. A small detachment was sent to Clear Lake to capture a band of guerillas. As they approached the canebrake, the guide treacherously gave a signal, and disappeared. A volley of musketry assailed the head of the column. Capt. Geisler fell, mortally wounded, with five gunshot wounds in his body, and died the next day. The force of Capt. Geisler numbered about forty : the force of the enemy in ambush was estimated at two hundred. The detachment returned to Little Rock ; and a larger force of cavalry was sent out to secure the body of Capt. Geisler, and capture the guerilla by whose hand he was betrayed to his death. On the expiration of the term of ser- vice of the original organization, the regiment, on the 19th of April, 1865, was re-organized by order of the general commanding the department. One battalion left Little Rock April 21, and proceeded to Duvall's Bluff, where they remained until the 3d of June, when they proceeded down White River, and up the Mississippi to St. Louis, thence to Rolla by rail, and marched to Springfield. Here they remained until the 18th of July, when they took their line of march to Fort Leavenworth, reaching there Aug. 2. Here the battalion was mustered out on the 8th of September, and returned home, arriving at Madison on the 14th, where they were paid and dis- charged. Four companies were mustered out the 29th of September, at Fort Leavenworth, and arrived at Madison Oct. 2: The varied character of the services in which most of the companies of the Third Cavalry were en- gaged, being stationed at various points in Missouri and Kansas, makes it difficult to give much of their history.
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The Fourth Cavalry, while on a foraging expedition in the early part of March, had two killed, and four wounded. With other cavalry forces, the regiment was in the vicinity of Mobile when that city capitulated; after which an expedition (including the Fourth Cavalry) proceeded through Alabama into Georgia, and returned by the way of Montgomery, Ala., to Columbus, Miss., whence they marched across the State of Mississippi to Vicksburg, where they arrived on the 1st of June, having been seventy days in the saddle and on the march. On the 26th of June, the regiment left Vicksburg, and proceeded to Shreveport, on the Red River, and on the 9th of July took up their line of march to Texas, and encamped at San An- tonio. The regiment was in service on the 20th of March, 1866, with head- quarters at Ringgold Barracks, Texas, and not long after was mustered out, and returned home.
It has been the intention to give a brief account of the operations of the Wisconsin regiments from their first mustering-in to their final mustering- out of the service; and, in doing so, abstracts have been taken from the reports of the adjutant-generals of the State, and the military histories of E. B. Quiner, Esq., and Rev. W. De Loss Love. The history of the part taken by Wisconsin in the war has found able writers in the gentlemen referred to; and those desiring further and more particular information on this subject are referred to their valuable Histories.
Mr. Quiner, in the introduction to his work, justly says, -
"Wisconsin may well feel proud of her record made in the defence of the na- tional existence. Shoulder to shoulder with the other loyal States of the Union, she has stood in the front ranks. From her workshops, her farms, and her vast prairies, have poured forth the stalwart men who have filled up the organizations which she has sent to the field. The blood of those brave men has drenched almost every battle-field of the Rebellion, from Gettysburg to the valley of the Rio Grande. Establishing at an early day a reputation for gallantry and endurance, Wisconsin regiments always occupied positions where hard fighting was to be done; and those who placed them there never were disappointed in their not per- forming their whole duty."
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CHAPTER LVI.
ADMINISTRATION OF GOV. FAIRCHILD.
Events of 1866 - Legislation - Full Reports from the State Institutions -Statis- ties - The Soldiers' Orphans' Home - Public Services of Mrs. Harvey.
Ox Monday, Jan. 1, 1866, the newly-elected State officers were inaugu- rated, and entered upon their official duties. Gov. James T. Lewis retired, and was succeeded by Gen. Lucius Fairchild, late secretary of state, who was succeeded as secretary by Gen. Thomas S. Allen. Both of these gen- tlemen fought nobly in the army during the Rebellion, the former losing an arm at Gettysburg. Lieut .- Gov. Wyman Spooner was continued for another term in the position which he had filled with so much dignity and propriety. Hon. S. D. Hastings retired from the office of state treasurer, which he had held continuously for eight years past, and was succeeded by Hon. W. E. Smith, a gentleman who had had much legislative experience, and was eminently qualified to transact the duties of his office. Attorney- Gen. Winfield Smith gave place to Col. Charles R. Gill ; and William H. Ramsey, bank comptroller for four years past, was succeeded by Col. Jere- miah M. Rusk. Col. J. G. McMynn was continued as superintendent of public instruction. Cols. Gill, Rusk, and McMynn were officers in the recent war. Mr. Henry Cordier was continued another term for state-prison commissioner.
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