The 1st Wisconsin Infantry Regiment was a

volunteer Volunteering is a voluntary act of an individual or group freely giving time and labor for community service. Many volunteers are specifically trained in the areas they work, such as medicine, education, or emergency rescue. Others serve ...

infantry Infantry is a military specialization which engages in ground combat on foot. Infantry generally consists of light infantry, mountain infantry, motorized infantry & mechanized infantry, airborne infantry, air assault infantry, and marine i ...

regiment A regiment is a military unit. Its role and size varies markedly, depending on the country, service and/or a specialisation. In Medieval Europe, the term "regiment" denoted any large body of front-line soldiers, recruited or conscripted ...

in the

Union Army During the American Civil War, the Union Army, also known as the Federal Army and the Northern Army, referring to the United States Army, was the land force that fought to preserve the Union (American Civil War), Union of the collective U.S. st ...

during the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union ("the North") and the Confederacy ("the South"), the latter formed by states th ...

Service

The original 1st Regiment Wisconsin was raised at

Milwaukee, Wisconsin Milwaukee ( ), officially the City of Milwaukee, is both the most populous and most densely populated city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, Milwaukee County. With a population of 577,222 at th ...

, on April 16, 1861, and mustered into Federal service May 17, 1861. The regiment was moved to

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania Harrisburg is the capital city of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States, and the county seat of Dauphin County. With a population of 50,135 as of the 2021 census, Harrisburg is the 9th largest city and 15th largest municipality in Pe ...

, on June 9. It was assigned to Abercrombie's 6th Brigade of Negley's 2nd Division, Patterson's Army. It spent its service guarding the upper

Potomac River The Potomac River () drains the Mid-Atlantic United States, flowing from the Potomac Highlands into Chesapeake Bay. It is long,U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map. Retrieved Augus ...

crossings. Its only engagement was at the Hoke's Run on July 2. The regiment was mustered out on August 22, 1861. The regiment was reorganized with new 3-year enlistees by Colonel Starkweather at Milwaukee and was mustered into federal service on October 19, 1861. The regiment was mustered out on October 13, 1864.

Total enlistments and casualties

The 1st Wisconsin Infantry initially mustered 810 men and added no recruits. In its initial 3 months of service, it lost 2 men killed in action or mortally wounded, and one killed accidentally for a total of three fatalities, a death rate of 0.37 percent. One of the fatalities was Second Sergeant of Company B, Warren M Graham, 18 years old, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. When reorganized for 3 years of service, the regiment mustered 945 men and later recruited an additional 563 men, for a total of 1508 men. The regiment suffered 6 officers and 151 enlisted men killed in action or who later died of their wounds, plus another 1 officer and 142 enlisted men who died of disease, for a total of 300 fatalities.Civil War Archive
/ref>

Commanders

Colonel Colonel (abbreviated as Col., Col or COL) is a senior military officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations. In the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, a colonel was typically in charge of ...

John C. Starkweather (April 16, 1861July 17, 1863) was promoted to

brigadier general Brigadier general or Brigade general is a military rank used in many countries. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries. The rank is usually above a colonel, and below a major general or divisional general. When appointed ...

. * Lt. Colonel George B. Bingham (December 18, 1863October 13, 1864) began the war as captain of Co. A, 1st Wisconsin Infantry, and was promoted to major when the regiment was re-established. He was designated for promotion to colonel, but was never mustered at that rank. He mustered out with the regiment in October 1864.

Notable people

* George E. Bryant was captain of Co. E and later colonel of the

12th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment The 12th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. Service The 12th Wisconsin was raised at Madison, Wisconsin, and mustered into Federal service October 18, 1861. The regim ...

. After the war he served as a brigadier general in the Wisconsin National Guard and served as a Wisconsin state legislator. * Seth W. Button was a sergeant in Co. F and was later promoted to sergeant major and 2nd lieutenant. He was wounded at Chickamauga and resigned. After the war he became a Wisconsin state legislator, judge, and district attorney. *

Lucius Fairchild Lucius Fairchild (December 27, 1831May 23, 1896) was an Americans, American politician, soldier, and diplomat. He served as the List of Governors of Wisconsin, tenth Governor of Wisconsin and represented the United States as List of ambassadors o ...

was captain of Co. K. He was later colonel of the

2nd Wisconsin Infantry Regiment The 2nd Wisconsin Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. It spent most of the war as a member of the famous Iron Brigade of the Army of the Potomac. It suffered the largest number ...

and brigadier general. After the war he became the 10th

Governor of Wisconsin The governor of Wisconsin is the head of government of Wisconsin and the commander-in-chief of the state's army and air forces. The governor has a duty to enforce state laws, and the power to either approve or veto bills passed by the Wiscons ...

. * Charles L. Harris was lieutenant colonel of the regiment and was later appointed colonel of the

11th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment The 11th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. Service The 11th Wisconsin was raised at Madison, Wisconsin, and mustered into Federal service October 18, 1861. The re ...

. He received an honorary brevet to brigadier general. After the war he served as a

Nebraska Nebraska () is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is bordered by South Dakota to the north; Iowa to the east and Missouri to the southeast, both across the Missouri River; Kansas to the south; Colorado to the southwe ...

state senator. * Judson G. Hart was enlisted in Co. B and later served in the

7th Independent Battery Wisconsin Light Artillery The 7th Independent Battery Wisconsin Light Artillery, nicknamed the "Badger State Flying Artillery," was an artillery battery that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. Service The 7th Independent Battery was mustered into ser ...

. After the war he became a Wisconsin state legislator. * Charles H. Larrabee was ensign of Co. C, but was commissioned major of the 5th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment after one month. Later he became colonel of the

24th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment The 24th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment was a volunteer infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. Service The 24th Wisconsin was organized at Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and mustered into Federal service August 15, 18 ...

. Before the war, he had served as a U.S. congressman and Wisconsin Supreme Court justice. * James Kerr Proudfit was 2nd lieutenant of Co. K and later became colonel of the

. He received an honorary brevet to brigadier general. After the war he became a Wisconsin state senator. * Florian J. Ries was enlisted in Co. D and later enlisted in the 17th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment, rising to the rank of 1st lieutenant. After the war he became a Wisconsin state legislator. * Christian Sarnow was 2nd lieutenant of Co. H and later served as a 1st lieutenant in the

26th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment The 26th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment was a volunteer infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. The regiment had a total enrollment of 1,089 men during its service, of which 191, (17.5%) were killed in action o ...

. After the war he became a Wisconsin state legislator. *

Lyman M. Ward Lyman Munson Ward (October 6, 1836January 19, 1909) was an Americans, American farmer, Republican Party (United States), Republican politician, and Union Army colonel in the American Civil War. He served four years in the Michigan House of Repr ...

was 1st sergeant in Co. I and later became colonel of the

14th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment The 14th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment was a volunteer infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. Four of its members received the Medal of Honor for service in the Second Battle of Corinth, October 3 and 4, 1862 ...

. He received an honorary brevet to brigadier general. After the war he became a

Michigan Michigan () is a state in the Great Lakes region of the upper Midwestern United States. With a population of nearly 10.12 million and an area of nearly , Michigan is the 10th-largest state by population, the 11th-largest by area, and the ...

state legislator.

References

External links