The 1st Wisconsin Cavalry 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 ...
cavalry
Historically, cavalry (from the French word ''cavalerie'', itself derived from "cheval" meaning "horse") are soldiers or warriors who fight mounted on horseback. Cavalry were the most mobile of the combat arms, operating as light cavalry ...
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 ...
that served 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 ...
. The regiment is most notable as one of two cavalry regiments credited with the final capture of Confederate president
Jefferson Davis
Jefferson F. Davis (June 3, 1808December 6, 1889) was an American politician who served as the president of the Confederate States from 1861 to 1865. He represented Mississippi in the United States Senate and the House of Representatives as a ...
on May 10, 1865.
Service
The 1st Wisconsin Cavalry was organized at
Ripon
Ripon () is a cathedral city in the Borough of Harrogate, North Yorkshire, England. The city is located at the confluence of two tributaries of the River Ure, the Laver and Skell. Historically part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, the city ...
and
Kenosha, Wisconsin
Kenosha () is a city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the seat of Kenosha County. Per the 2020 census, the population was 99,986 which made it the fourth-largest city in Wisconsin. Situated on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan, Kenos ...
, between September 1, 1861, and February 2, 1862. Wisconsin was initially only approved to raise a
battalion
A battalion is a military unit, typically consisting of 300 to 1,200 soldiers commanded by a lieutenant colonel, and subdivided into a number of companies (usually each commanded by a major or a captain). In some countries, battalions are ...
of four companies of cavalry, but in the Fall of 1861 their allotment was raised to six companies, then to a full regiment of 12 companies. The 1st Wisconsin Cavalry mustered into Federal service on March 10, 1862.
The regiment participated in the capture of
Confederate
Confederacy or confederate may refer to:
States or communities
* Confederate state or confederation, a union of sovereign groups or communities
* Confederate States of America, a confederation of secessionist American states that existed between 1 ...
President
President most commonly refers to:
*President (corporate title)
*President (education), a leader of a college or university
*President (government title)
President may also refer to:
Automobiles
* Nissan President, a 1966–2010 Japanese ful ...
Jefferson Davis
Jefferson F. Davis (June 3, 1808December 6, 1889) was an American politician who served as the president of the Confederate States from 1861 to 1865. He represented Mississippi in the United States Senate and the House of Representatives as a ...
on May 10, 1865.
The regiment was mustered out at
Edgefield, Tennessee, on July 19, 1865.
Total strength and casualties
The 1st Wisconsin Cavalry initially recruited 1,124 officers and men. An additional 1,417 men were recruited as replacements, for a total of 2,541 men.
The regiment suffered 6 officers and 67 enlisted men killed or died from wounds in action, and 7 officers and 321 enlisted men who died of disease, for a total of 401 fatalities.
[http://www.civilwararchive.com/Unreghst/unwicav.htm#1stcav The Civil War Archive website after Dyer, Frederick Henry. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion. 3 vols. New York: Thomas Yoseloff, 1959.]
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 ...
Edward Daniels (December 3, 1861February 5, 1863) resigned.
* Colonel
Oscar Hugh La Grange
Oscar Hugh La Grange (April 3, 1837January 5, 1915) was an American lawyer and abolitionist activist. He served as a Union Army officer in the American Civil War, and received an honorary brevet to brigadier general.
Biography
Oscar Hugh La Gr ...
(February 5, 1863July 19, 1865) spent most of 1864 and 1865 in command of the brigade. Before joining the regiment, he was captain of Co. B in the
4th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment. After the war he received an honorary brevet to brigadier general.
** Lt. Colonel William H. Torrey (November 1863May 1864) served as acting commander, then served as acting brigade commander when Colonel La Grange was wounded. Killed while commanding the brigade near Atlanta on July 30, 1864. He began the war as major of the regiment.
** Major Nathan Paine (May 17, 1864July 28, 1864) served as acting commander due to illness and injuries until killed near Atlanta on July 28, 1864. Began the war as captain of Co. G.
** Lt. Colonel
Henry Harnden
Henry Harnden (March 4, 1823March 17, 1900) was an American sailor, Republican politician, and Wisconsin pioneer. He served as a Union Army officer during the American Civil War and led the Wisconsin cavalry regiment which was credited in the ca ...
(October 1864July 19, 1865) served as acting commander of the regiment. Began the war as captain of Co. L. After the war, he served as a Wisconsin legislator.
Notable people
*
John Aaron Baker was enlisted in Co. B and later first lieutenant in Co. I. After the war he served as a Wisconsin legislator.
*
James R. Barnett
James R. Barnett, Sr., (May 31, 1842January 20, 1917) was an American medical doctor, banker, and Republican politician. He served two years in the Wisconsin State Assembly, representing northern Winnebago County.
Biography
Barnett was born o ...
was enlisted in Co. I and rose to the rank of 1st sergeant. After the war he served as a Wisconsin legislator.
*
Henry S. Burtch was enlisted in Co. E and wounded at the Battle of Nashville. After the war he served as a Wisconsin legislator.
*
Columbus Caldwell
Columbus Caldwell (September 25, 1830 – December 18, 1908) was an American farmer and politician.
Born in Charlotte, Chautauqua County, New York, Caldwell moved with his parents to Wisconsin Territory in 1836. Caldwell settled first in Keno ...
was 2nd lieutenant of Co. M and captured at Cleveland, Tennessee. After the war he served as a Wisconsin legislator.
*
Elihu Colman was a musician with Co. G. After the war he served as a Wisconsin legislator and U.S. attorney.
* Charles F. Cornwell, son of
Almon Cornwell
Almon D. Cornwell (March 30, 1820November 8, 1893) was an American farmer, politician, and Wisconsin pioneer. He was a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly, representing Kenosha County in the 1858 session.
Biography
Almon D. Cornwell was bo ...
, was a private drafted into Co. G. He died of dysentery in September 1864.
*
Asa Kinney
Asa Kinney (May 21, 1810October 3, 1886) was an American businessman, politician, and Wisconsin pioneer. He represented southern Milwaukee County in the Wisconsin State Senate during the 1st and 2nd legislatures (1848, 1849).
Biography
Born in ...
was quartermaster of the regiment. Before the war he had served in the Wisconsin Senate.
*
Charles Pettibone was captain of Co. I. Earlier, he was sergeant and 2nd lieutenant in Co. C. After the war he became a newspaper publisher and Wisconsin state senator.
*
Henry Putnam was a corporal in Co. B. After the war he served as a Wisconsin state senator.
*
Nathaniel S. Robinson was assistant surgeon of the regiment during 1865. After the war he served as a Wisconsin legislator.
*
Hiram S. Town was adjutant of the regiment. Earlier, he was 1st lieutenant in Co. E. After the war he served as a Wisconsin state senator.
*
Peter J. Williamson
Peter J. Williamson (April 20, 1823, Elst, Netherlands - February 15, 1907, Nashville, Tennessee) was a Dutch-American architect.
Biography
He emigrated to Green Bay, Wisconsin in 1849 at the age of 26. He was trained at a post-secondary educ ...
was 1st lieutenant of Co. F. Earlier he was sergeant major. After the war, he became a prominent architect.
See also
*
List of Wisconsin Civil War units
The state of Wisconsin enrolled 91,327 men for service in the Union Army during the American Civil War, 77,375 in the infantry, 8,877 in the cavalry, and 5,075 in the artillery. Some 3,802 of these men were killed in action or mortally wounded, an ...
*
Wisconsin in the American Civil War
With the outbreak of the American Civil War, the northwestern state of Wisconsin raised 91,379 soldiers for the Union Army, organized into 53 infantry regiments, 4 cavalry regiments, a company of Berdan's sharpshooters, 13 light artillery batter ...
References
References
The Civil War Archive
Military units and formations established in 1861
Military units and formations disestablished in 1865
Units and formations of the Union Army from Wisconsin
1861 establishments in Wisconsin
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