Statewide County WI Archives Military Records.....History Of The 1st WI Infantry 
Civilwar 
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History Of The 1st WI Infantry
FIRST REGIMENT.

  The First regiment, originally organized in compliance with the President's call
for 75,000 three months' volunteers, having completed its term of service, was
mustered out of service on the 21st of August, 1861. Orders were received for
re-organization as a three years regiment on the 28th of August. Under the
supervision of the former commander (Colonel John C. Starkweather), the various
companies were rapidly recruited, organized and sent to the regimental rendezvous at
Camp Scott, Milwaukee, where the regimental organization was perfected, and their
muster into United States service completed on the 19th of October.

  Nine days afterward, on the 28th, the First again left the state for active
service, under orders to report at Louisville, Ky. Proceeding by way of Chicago and
Indianapolis, they went into " Camp Sherman," on the north bank of the Ohio,
opposite Louisville, on the 31st. Leaving Camp Sherman on the 14th of November, they
crossed the. river, marching through Louisville to Portland's Landing, a distance of
six miles; whence they proceeded by steamer to Camp Buell, near West Point, Ky., at
the mouth of Salt River. Having been assigned to Negley's brigade, they left Camp
Buell on the 3d of December, and joined the brigade on the following day at Camp
Negley, fifteen miles from Elizabethtown, Ky. They left this place on the 11th, and
marching about fourteen miles, encamped at Bacon Creek, where they remained five
days; marching on the 17th, nine miles to Green River, where they went into Camp
Wood, near Munfordsville, At this place the winter was passed, the regiment being
employed on outpost and picket duty, and participating in various reconnoitring
expeditions through the surrounding country.

  On the 14th of  February, 1862, they left Munfordsville, and marching northward
fourteen miles, bivouacked for the night at Upton's Station, on the Louisville and
Nashville railroad. On the following day the direction of their march was changed,
and proceeding southward, they passed Cave City on the 17th; encamping near Bat's
Cave, from which place they moved on the 23rd to Bowling Green, Ky. The march was
resumed on the 27th. Proceeding by way of Franklin and Mitchellville, they encamped
at Edgefield on the 2d of March, and crossing the Cumberland River on the 7th, went
into Camp Andy Johnson, three miles south of Nashville, Tenn. On the 8th of March
five companies were sent out on outpost and picket duty. Company B, holding the
right of the line, was extended right and left as skirmishers, ten men of the centre
being posted as a reserve. This small number was suddenly attacked by about two
hundred rebel cavalry. The skirmishers immediately rallied on the reserve, and while
in the execution of this manoeuvre the company was attacked on all sides. The
movement, however, was effected in good order, and the company fell back, having
lost Private Willett Greenly—the first Union soldier killed in Tennessee—and two
others of their number wounded.

  Meanwhile company C, hearing the fire on the right, had advanced to their support,
and arrived just in time to hold the enemy in check and carry off the wounded. On
returning to their original position, it was discovered that the rebels had in their
absence set fire to some buildings near which they had been stationed, destroying
their knapsacks and blankets. The whole line was held until reinforcements came up.
The regiment left Camp Andy Johnson on the 29th of March, marching by way of
Franklin, crossed Duck River, and encamped on the 2d of April, two miles south of
Columbia, Tenn., where they remained five days, marching on the 7th fourteen miles
to Mount Pleasant, where they went into camp. Moving to Lawrenceburg on the 3d of
May, they were ordered back next day to Mount Pleasant, in anticipation of an attack
upon Columbia, and returned to Camp Walker at that place, having accomplished a
march of fifty miles within thirty-seven hours.

  On the 10th of May they again broke camp at Mount Pleasant, taking part, with an
additional force of infantry, cavalry and artillery, in a reconnoissance under
command of Colonel Starkweather. Marching by a circuitous route over a rough and
broken country; passing through Pulaski on the 11th, they arrived on tbe 13th at
Rogersville, Tenn., near which place a force of the enemy's cavalry, which attempted
to cut off their communications, was defeated in a sharp skirmish. A forced march of
seventeen miles to Shoal Creek Bridge was effected on the 14th. Having stationed a
guard at the bridge, the main force of the expedition advanced three miles to
Bainbridge Ferry, on the Tennessee River, where they destroyed three ferry boats and
shelled the rebels out f of their camp on the south side of the river. Thence on the
16th they marched eight miles to Florence, Ala., where the expedition received
orders to return to Columbia. Marching on the following day, they reached Columbia
on the 20th, and went into Camp Scribner, two miles south of that place; having
marched one hundred and eighty-seven miles within ten days.

  Leaving Camp Scribner on the 25th of May, they moved nine miles to Calioka, at
which place they, were ordered to construct a railroad bridge., On the 29th,
companies A, B, G and K, under command of Major Bingham, were detached from the
regiment to join an expedition against Chattanooga. Proceeding by way of Pulaski,
Fayetteville and Tullahoma, they crossed the Cumberland Mountains o& the 4th of
June, and, on the 8th, took part in a skirmish with the enemy on the bank of the
Tennessee River, opposite Chattanooga. The object of the expedition having been
accomplished, they were on the same day ordered to return. Marching via Altamont and
Winchester, they arrived at Shelbyville on the 13th, having marched a distance of
about two hundred and seventy miles. The remainder of the regiment—with the
exception of company C, which was detailed as provost guard at Columbia —was
occupied in constructing bridges and repairing and guarding the railroad between
Columbia and Pulaski. On the 23d of June they marched ten miles, to Pulaski, and
thence, on the following day, to Elk River, from which place they proceeded by rail,
via Huntsville, arriving on the 25th, at Stevenson, Ala., the junction of the
Nashville and Chattanooga, with the Memphis and Charleston railroad.

  Meanwhile companies A, B, G and K left Shelbyville on the 23d, and marching by the
way of Fayetteville and Pleasant Plain, took the cars on the 25th at Elkton Station,
on the Nashville and Decatur railroad, proceeding thence via Athens and Huntsville
to Stevenson, Ala., at which place they joined the regiment on the 27th of June. The
regiment moved on the 29th twelve miles, to Battle Creek, encamping in a wood, near
the Tennessee River. Here they were constantly employed in the performance of
outpost, picket and signal duty, until the 25th of July, when they marched five
miles to Bridgeport, proceeding thence by rail to Mooresville, Ala., when they went
into camp on the following day. On the 3d of August camp was moved to Decatur, at
which place they were stationed five days, returning on the 9th to Mooresville,
where they remained in the performance of guard duty, with frequent reconnoissances
through the surrounding country, until the 18th, when they were ordered to
Nashville.

  Taking the cars on the 19th, they arrived at Nashville on the following day, and
crossing the Cumberland River at that place, encamped at Edgefield.

  On the 3d of September, was organized the Twenty-eighth brigade, consisting of the
First, with three other regiments and two batteries of artillery, Colonel
Starkweather being placed in command. The brigade left Edgefield at one in the
morning of the 6th, and marching rapidly, by the way of Franklin, arrived at Bowling
Green, Ky., on the evening of the following day. The general movement of our army
towards Munfordsville commenced on the 15th. On arriving within eight miles of that
place, General Rousseau's division, to which the Twenty-eighth brigade was attached,
took position and  remained until the 21st, when the brigade, having been ordered on
a reconnoissance, moved by a circuitous route to Glasgow, rejoining the division
next day at Munfordsville. The march was resumed on the 23d: proceeding by way of
Elizabethtown and West Point, marching almost literally day and night, they encamped
on the 26th at Louisville, Ky., on the Ohio River, where they were joined by the
Twenty-first regiment. The movement of our forces to meet the rebels under Bragg,
began on the 1st of October. Marching by way of Taylorsville, Bloomfield and
Chaplin, the Twenty-eighth brigade bivouacked near Mackville, en the 7th. Next
morning they were hurried forward a distance of twelve miles, and placed in position
on the extreme left of our lines, during the battle of Chaplin Hills.

  Arriving on the field at half-past one in the afternoon, the First took the
extreme left, supporting the Fourth Indiana battery, the Twenty-first being posted a
little in advance. Shortly before, the rebels had succeeded in driving back, a
portion of General Jackson's division, who rushed through and on either side of the
Twenty-first, the latter holding their ground firmly, until  the pursuing rebels
came up in front in greatly superior numbers, and a terrible conflict ensued. At the
same time the enemy availing himself of his vastly greater force, attacked the
brigade on the right, simultaneously planting a battery on the left, designed to
cover an attempt on the flank. The flank movement was prevented by our artillery,
which shelled the rebel position, dislodging the enemy, while the attempt on the
right was gallantly repulsed by the infantry.

  At this moment, the Twenty-first was ordered to "fire and charge to the front,"
but being a new regiment, and their colonel being severely wounded and their major
killed at about the time such order was given, no field officer was left to carry
the command into execution, although several companies, hearing the order, attempted
to obey it, but being sorely pressed by the brigade and battery in front, they
retired in some disorder and confusion. * In justice to this (the 21st) regiment, it
should be noted that, at the date of this battle, they had been mustered into the
service only thirty-four days, and were kept almost continually on the march,
having, during that time, the advantage of only. four days actual drill. So
inexperienced, indeed were even the company officers, that Colonel Sweet in
anticipation of the emergency which occurred, had, before the battle, addressed the
regiment, telling them, that in such event, he would simply give the command "Break
and Rally," and, as no regimental colors had as yet been furnished, they must make
himself the point around which to rally after they had retreated. The necessity
having arrived, the order was given and the regiment broke, rallying in good order
around their colonel in the rear of the main line of battle, where they continued in
the fight during the remainder of the afternoon.

  On the withdrawal of this regiment the "Old First," supporting the artillery, was
advanced to the front, which position they held until many of the artillery horses
were killed, and the balance became unmanageable, when with two other regiments of
the brigade, they were ordered to hold their position, while the guns, which were
yet manageable, were retired to a safe position. When this was effected, "a part of
the First Wisconsin then charged to the front, capturing the colors of the First
Tennessee. The fire from the Seventy-ninth and Twenty-fourth held the enemy in
check, while the balance of the First Wisconsin took by hand every remaining gun and
caisson from the field." * By this time the enemy was completely routed, and our
troops retired to the support of their new position. In this great battle the First
regiment had four hundred and seven men engaged, of whom fifty-six were killed, one
hundred and twenty wounded, and four missing. The Twenty-first, out of six hundred
and sixty-three men engaged, lost forty-one killed, one hundred and one wounded,
twenty-one prisoners and fifteen missing. In his official report of the battle,
General Rousseau thus speaks of the First: "I had great confidence in the gallantry
of these two regiments, (1st Wis. and 79th Penn.) and was not disappointed when
their time of trial came. They drove back the enemy several times with great loss,
and until their ammunition was exhaustud, bravely maintained their position, and
then quietly (not under fire,) retired under orders, to the line of battle
originally selected by General McCook and myself, where they got a supply of
ammunition, and were again ready for action."

* Official report of Colonel Starkweather.

  They left Perryville on the 11th of October, following the retreating rebels as
far as Crab Orchard, where the pursuit was abandoned, and our army took a more
southerly direction, the brigade arriving at Mitchellville, Tenn., on the 12th of
November, At this time, Mitchellville was the terminus of our railroad
transportation south, and they were stationed here in the performance of guard and
provost duty until the 9th of December, when they moved to Edgefield, Tenn. On the
following day they crossed the Tennessee River, and, passing through Nashville, went
into Camp Andy Johnson, four miles south of that place. In the reorganization of the
army, their brigade became the Second of the First division. Participating in the
movement of General Rosecrans' army, they left camp on the 26th of December, in
charge of a large train, and proceeding by way of Nolansville, arrived on the 30th
at Jefferson, a small town on the Lebanon and Murfreesboro pike. Near this place the
enemy's cavalry made a fierce attack upon the train, which was handsomely repulsed
by the brigade in a severe engagement, our regiment losing two killed and seven
wounded. Next day they were ordered up to take part in the battle of Stone River,
near Murfreesboro, where they were assigned position in the centre of our line, and
held in reserve. On the 2d of January, 1863, they took position in the entrenchments
on our front; which they held until the following day, when they advanced, taking
part in a severe engagement with the rebel infantry, The enemy withdrew during the
night, and the 4th was spent in burying the dear on the field of battle.

  In consequence of having been placed in the reserve they suffered but trifling
loss in this celebrated conflict, and soon after, in the beginning of January,
encamped within the fortifications at Murfreesboro, Marching with the centre of the
Army of the Cumberland, under command of General Thomas, they left Murfreesboro on
the 24th of June, taking a southerly direction on the Manchester pike. On the
following day, they were ordered to the front and led the advance, skirmishing
occasionally with the enemy as he retreated before them. Proceeding by way of
Fairfield, Manchester and Tullahoma, they went into camp on the 14th, at Cowan
Station, on the Nashville and Chattanooga railroad. Leaving Cowan on the 10th of
August, they marched with the division, bivouacking for the night at Crow Creek
Valley, Next day the division moved across the mountains, passing Anderson, and
going into camp three miles south of the state line of Alabama. At this place, the
First regiment was detached from the brigade, proceeding to Stevenson, Ala., where
they were employed in preparing the ground for a field hospital. At this place they
were joined by the brigade, and participating in the forward movement of the army on
Chattanooga, they left Stevenson on the 2d of September, marching to Bridgeport,
Ala., where they crossed the Tennessee on the 4th, and proceeding up the Tennessee
valley on the following day, crossed a spur of the mountains and bivouacked. They
ascended Raccoon or Sand Mountain on the 6th, encamping for the night on the summit.
On the following day they descended the eastern side, bivouacked at Johnson's Cove,
in the valley between Raccoon and Lookout Mountains, where they were delayed one day
to enable General Negley's division in their advance to ascend the latter. On the
9th they encamped on the summit, moving on the following day down the eastern slope
of the mountain.

  At three in the morning of the 11th, they were ordered forward to the support of
Negley's division, then five miles in advance, near Dug Cap. They moved forward,
skirmishing the whole distance, occupying the position assigned about eight o'clock.
Severe skirmishing soon commenced and the Second brigade was ordered to take the
place of a portion of General Negley's troops in the advance. This was gallantly
accomplished under a severe fire, and the brigade held the position, resisting the
enemy's attempts to dislodge them until half past three in the afternoon, when a
retrograde movement having commenced, they were ordered to cover the retreat. This
difficult duty was admirably performed under the command of General Starkweather,
and they went into camp at Stevens' Gap, Ga., at one on the following morning. They
remained here until the 17th, when they marched, proceeding by way of Owen's Ford
and Crawfish. Springs, and .arrived on the field of Chickamauga on the 19th, taking
position early in the morning on the left of Colonel Wilder's brigade, at the Cross
Roads.

  At ten o'clock they were ordered to move in support of the First and Third
brigades. On coming up with a portion of the Third, they were ordered to change
their direction and proceed to the left, relieving a portion of General Brannan's
division, which was then out of ammunition. On taking the place assigned, they were
assailed by a severe fire on the front and right, and had scarcely effected a
corresponding change of position, when they were attacked by heavy columns of the
enemy and forced to retire a short distance to the rear, leaving two guns. At this
moment the enemy was attacked on the flank and rear by other portions of our troops,
thrown into disorder and driven from the field, leaving the guns untouched. The
batteries were at once re-arranged, and the Second brigade, closing on the First and
Third, took position in the second line of battle, supporting General Johnson's
division on the left of his command. This position they held until evening, when
they were ordered forward and took position in the first line, relieving the troops
in their front, whose ammunition was exhausted. By the time the movement was
completed, darkness set in and the positions could only be known by the flashing of
the musketry and artillery of the first line. Under these circumstances our troops
in their vicinity, mistaking them for the enemy, poured in a terrible fire; and thus
assaulted at once on front, right and rear, there was no alternative save that of
retirement in confusion and disorder. Line was immediately reformed at the foot of a
ridge to the east of their former position, where they remained until our lines were
withdrawn, when they moved back in good order, going into bivouac in an open field
on the left of General Johnson's ammunition train.

  Moving thence at three in the morning of the 20th, they took position on a ridge,
forming in two lines, with the right of the brigade resting upon General Johnson's
division. At this place they felled trees, forming two barricades to obstruct the
advance of the enemy and cover the further retreat of our forces. This position was
retained during the day under repeated attacks by the enemy in heavy columns,
supported by artillery, until evening, when they were ordered to retire to
Chattanooga. On arriving within a mile of that place, the order was countermanded,
and they again marched to the front, and remained in position until the morning of
the 23d, when, with their front division, they covered the retreat of the army on
Chattanooga, going into bivouac at that place. In these battles the First sustained
a loss of twenty-five killed, ninety-one wounded, and eifihty-four [sic] missing.
The Twenty-First lost two killed, thirty-six wounded and seventy-six missing. Of the
missing, the greater number were prisoners in the hands of the enemy.

  The First and Twenty-first regiments, attached to the Third brigade, First
division, Fourteenth army corps, were subsequently stationed at Chattanooga,
Tennessee, employed in picket duty and labor on the fortifications, until the 23d of
November. At this date they left the fortifications, participating on the 25th in
the celebrated assault upon Mission Ridge, during which they acted .as a reserve to
the First division, sustaining no loss. On the 30th, they accompanied the movement
of the brigade, which was ordered to effect a reconnoissance, on the crest of
Lookout Mountain, and having proceeded as far as Cooper's Gap, they returned on the
3d of December to camp at Chattanooga, without having encountered the enemy. On the
following day, the Twenty-first Wisconsin, with another regiment of the brigade,
marched to and encamped on the summit of Lookout Mountain, three miles from
Chattanooga, where they were stationed in the performance of outpost and picket
duty, until the opening of the spring campaign.

  The First regiment, with the exception of Company "F," which had been detached, on
the 14th of November, to take charge of a steamer on the Tennessee River, remained
at Chattanooga, engaged in picket duty and labor on the fortifications, until the
22d of February, 1864; At this date, they left Chattanooga, accompanying the
movement of the Fourteenth corps towards Dalton, near which place they remained in
camp until the 22d, when camp was removed to Tyner's Station, nine miles from
Chattanooga, on the East Tennessee and Georgia railroad, whence they marched on the
19th of March, encamping at Graysville, Ga. At this place, they were employed in
drill and guard duty until the 2d of May, when they rejoined the division, the
movements of which they accompanied during the Atlanta campaign.

  Of their actions during this campaign, the rolls and returns of the regiment, on
file in this office, furnish no information, and I am therefore compelled to refer
to the record of the Twenty-first, attached to the same division, for a general idea
of their service. For the information which follows relative to the subsequent
movements of the "Old First," I am indebted to Mr. H. F. Stone, formerly
Sergeant-Major of the regiment.

  On the 16th of September, orders were received from the War Department, assigning
the First Wisconsin, whose term of service was about to expire, to the Fourth
division of the Twentieth corps, and at the same time directing the transfer of all
veterans, drafted men and recruits, to the Twenty-first regiment, thereby augmenting
the numbers of the latter to nine hundred and forty-one. The transfer of these men,
numbering three hundred and sixty-eight, having been completed on the 21st, the
First regiment left Atlanta on that day, en route, to join their new division, which
was then at Tullahoma, Tenn. They arrived on the 24th at Bridgeport, Ala., where
orders were received directing the regiment to report at Stevenson, Ala., from which
place they moved immediately by rail, arriving on the following day at Nashville,
Tenn., where they went into camp.

  The term of service of the regiment having expired, they left Nashville on the 6th
of October, and proceeding thence by rail, arrived on the 8th at Milwaukee. Here the
necessary rolls were completed, and the muster out of service of the last company
effected at Camp Washburn, on the 21st of October. The field and staff officers were
mustered out on the 18th of November, to date from the 13th of October, at which
time the first company was discharged.


Additional Comments:

Extracted from:

ANNUAL REPORT OF THE ADJUTANT GENERAL OF THE STATE OF WISCONSIN,
WITH REPORTS FROM THE QUARTERMASTER GENERAL AND SURGEON GENERAL,
FOR THE
YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 30th, 1865.

MADISON, WIS.: WILLIAM J. PARK & CO., B00KSELLERS, BINDERS AND STATIONERS.
1866.


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