2nd Wisconsin Infantry Regiment facts for kids
Quick facts for kids 2nd Wisconsin Infantry Regiment |
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| Active | June 11, 1861 – July 2, 1864 |
| Country | United States |
| Allegiance | Union |
| Branch | Infantry |
| Size | Regiment |
| Engagements | American Civil War |
| Commanders | |
| Colonel | S. Park Coon |
| Colonel | Edgar O'Connor |
| Colonel | Lucius Fairchild |
| Colonel | John Mansfield |
The 2nd Wisconsin Infantry Regiment was a group of soldiers who fought for the Union Army during the American Civil War. They were part of the famous Iron Brigade and saw a lot of action. This regiment had the highest percentage of soldiers killed or wounded compared to its total size of any Union Army unit.
Contents
How the Regiment Started
The Call for Volunteers
After the attack on Fort Sumter in April 1861, President Abraham Lincoln asked for 75,000 volunteers to help stop the rebellion. The War Department, which manages the army, asked each state to send a certain number of soldier groups called regiments. Wisconsin was asked to send one.
However, many more men in Wisconsin wanted to join! Governor Alexander Randall called for volunteers, and enough men signed up to form more than three regiments. The 2nd Wisconsin Infantry Regiment was the second group created from these first volunteers.
Forming the 2nd Wisconsin
The regiment was put together at Camp Randall in Madison, Wisconsin. Most of the companies (smaller groups of soldiers) came from cities like Madison, Racine, Milwaukee, Oshkosh, and La Crosse.
Governor Randall chose 41-year-old S. Park Coon to be the regiment's first colonel. Coon was from New York and had been Wisconsin's Attorney General. He was also an important politician from Milwaukee.
The second-in-command, Lieutenant Colonel Henry W. Peck, was from Ohio. He had graduated from the military academy at West Point in 1851. Peck brought real military training to the regiment, which was helpful since Coon was a political leader, not a career soldier.
Joining the Fight
The 2nd Wisconsin officially joined the federal army on June 11, 1861. President Lincoln first asked for soldiers to serve for three months. But by June, it was clear the war would last longer. So, the 2nd Wisconsin was signed up for three years.
Fighting in the War
First Battles
The regiment traveled to Washington, D.C.. Their first big fight was at the First Battle of Bull Run in July 1861. They were part of a group led by William T. Sherman. Some of the 2nd Wisconsin soldiers wore gray uniforms, which was a problem. Union troops sometimes mistook them for Confederate soldiers and fired at them by mistake. This is called "friendly fire."
Colonel Coon wasn't comfortable leading soldiers in battle. He resigned on July 30 to go back to politics. Lieutenant Colonel Peck and the major also resigned. Many thought they left because the regiment didn't do well at Bull Run.
New Leaders and Tough Fights
Three new officers took over: Colonel Edgar O'Connor, Lieutenant Colonel Fairchild, and Major Thomas S. Allen. Some people in Wisconsin criticized O'Connor's appointment because he was married to a Southern woman and was a Democrat. However, he proved to be a brave and good leader. He was killed in action in Virginia in late summer 1862.
Lieutenant Colonel Fairchild was promoted to full colonel on September 8, 1862. He became the third commander of the 2nd Wisconsin.
The regiment suffered many casualties (soldiers killed or wounded) during the 1862 Northern Virginia campaign. They fought against Stonewall Jackson's Confederates at the Second Battle of Bull Run. They also saw heavy fighting at the Battle of South Mountain and Battle of Antietam.
Gettysburg and Beyond
One of the regiment's most famous moments was at the Battle of Gettysburg. On July 1, 1863, they fought bravely on McPherson's Ridge. They lost 77% of their strength, with 233 casualties out of 302 soldiers. Colonel Fairchild was badly wounded and lost an arm. Most of their other officers were also hurt.
The regiment regrouped on Culp's Hill and dug in for the rest of the battle. Even though the 2nd Wisconsin got some new soldiers, they were never the same fighting force. They later fought in the Bristoe and Mine Run campaigns. Their final major campaign was Grant's bloody Overland Campaign.
End of Service
The soldiers' original three-year enlistments ended on June 11, 1864. Those who didn't want to re-enlist were sent back to Madison. The last company left the army on July 2, 1864.
Newer recruits and soldiers who chose to re-enlist were reorganized into a smaller group called a battalion. This battalion had two companies. It was led by Captain Dennis B. Dailey, then Lieutenant Albert T. Morgan, and finally Lieutenant Henry Naegly. The battalion fought in the Siege of Petersburg, where they had more casualties. On November 30, 1864, they were combined with the 6th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment.
Soldiers and Losses
The 2nd Wisconsin Infantry started with 1,051 men. Later, 152 more men joined, making a total of 1,203 soldiers. The regiment lost 10 officers and 228 enlisted men who were killed in action or died from their wounds. Another 77 enlisted men died from disease. In total, 315 soldiers from the regiment died.
Regiment Commanders
- S. Park Coon: (April 24, 1861 – July 30, 1861) He resigned.
- Edgar O'Connor: (August 3, 1861 – August 28, 1862) He was killed in action at Gainesville, Virginia, during the Second Battle of Bull Run.
- Lucius Fairchild: (September 8, 1862 – October 20, 1863) He started as a captain in another regiment and joined the 2nd Wisconsin as a major. He lost an arm at Gettysburg. President Lincoln promoted him to brigadier general. After the war, he became the first person to serve three terms as governor of Wisconsin. He was later appointed the U.S. Minister to Spain.
- John Mansfield: (February 9, 1864 – August 14, 1864) He started as a captain. He left the army with the regiment as a colonel. Later, he became the 15th lieutenant governor of California.
Famous People from the Regiment
Many soldiers from the 2nd Wisconsin went on to do important things after the war. Here are a few:
- Thomas S. Allen was a captain and later a colonel of another regiment. He became the Secretary of State of Wisconsin.
- Allen S. Baker was a private and was wounded at Gettysburg. He became a Wisconsin state legislator.
- Melvin Baldwin was wounded and captured at Gettysburg, becoming a prisoner of war. After the war, he became a U.S. congressman from Minnesota.
- Joseph Bock was a private and was wounded. He later became a Wisconsin state legislator.
- Gabriel Bouck was a captain and later a colonel of another regiment. He became a U.S. congressman and Speaker of the Wisconsin State Assembly.
- Norton J. Field was a sergeant. He later became a Wisconsin state legislator.
- William H. Harries was wounded at Antietam. He became a U.S. congressman from Minnesota.
- Henry B. Harshaw lost his left arm in battle. After the war, he was elected State Treasurer of Wisconsin.
- George M. Humphrey was wounded at First Bull Run. He later became Speaker of the Nebraska House of Representatives.
- John Johnson received the Medal of Honor for his bravery at Antietam and Fredericksburg, where he lost his right arm.
- David McKee was a captain and later a lieutenant colonel of another regiment. He was killed in battle.
- Fordyce R. Melvin was wounded at First Bull Run. He later became a Wisconsin state legislator.
- Albert T. Morgan was a lieutenant and captain. After the war, he worked to help formerly enslaved people vote in Mississippi during Reconstruction.
- Patrick Henry Ray became a brigadier general in the U.S. Army in 1906.
- George G. Symes was wounded at First Bull Run. He later became a U.S. congressman from Colorado.
- William H. Upham was wounded and captured at First Bull Run. He later became the 18th Governor of Wisconsin.
- Samuel K. Vaughan became a lieutenant colonel and received an honorary promotion to brigadier general.
- Gilbert M. Woodward was wounded at Gettysburg. He later became a U.S. congressman.
