The 2nd Wisconsin Infantry Regiment was an infantryregiment 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 of casualties as a percentage of its total enlistment of any Union Army unit in the war.[1]: 65
Establishment
Following the Battle of Fort Sumter, on April 16, 1861, President Abraham Lincoln issued a proclamation to call for 75,000 volunteers to put down the rebellion. Pursuant to that proclamation, the War Department requested each state provide a certain number of regiments of volunteers—they requested one regiment from the state of Wisconsin. However, following Wisconsin GovernorAlexander Randall's call to arms, 36 companies of men were enrolled to volunteer for the war effort—enough for more than three regiments. The Second Wisconsin Infantry Regiment was the second unit created from these original volunteer companies. The regiment was organized at Camp Randall, in Madison, Wisconsin, primarily composed of companies from Madison, Racine, Milwaukee, Oshkosh, and La Crosse.
Governor Randall appointed 41-year-old S. Park Cooncolonel of the new regiment—Coon was a native of New York, had served as Wisconsin's 2nd Attorney General, and was an influential Milwaukee County Democrat. The lieutenant colonel, Henry W. Peck, was from Ohio and had graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1851—Peck provided some professional military experience and training, versus the political appointee Coon.[2]: 5
The regiment formally mustered into federal service on June 11, 1861.[3]: 438 Although President Lincoln's original request was for three-month volunteers, by June the need had become apparent for longer enlistments, and the 2nd Wisconsin was mustered as a three-year regiment.[2]: 4
Service
Field officers of the 2nd Wisconsin Vol. Infantry, photographed at a camp in northern Virginia circa 1862. The officers seated, from left, are surgeon A. J. Ward, Major Thomas S. Allen, Lt. Colonel Lucius Fairchild, and Colonel Edgar O'Connor.
The regiment was transported to Washington, D.C., and saw its first combat at the First Battle of Bull Run in July 1861 in a brigade under William T. Sherman. At the battle some of the men wore state militia grey uniforms, causing the 2nd Wisconsin to receive friendly fire from Union troops mistaking them for Confederates. Coon, never comfortable in his role as a military man, resigned July 30 to return to politics. Peck and the major also resigned, all were considered victims of the regiment's poor performance at Bull Run.[2]: 10 Three new field officers replaced them—Col. Edgar O'Connor, Lt. Col. Fairchild, and Maj. Thomas S. Allen. The appointment of O'Connor, married to a Southern woman and an outspoken Democrat, was met with sharp criticism in Wisconsin's media, particularly in the Republican newspapers. He would prove to be a brave and competent leader, however, and was killed in action in Virginia in late summer 1862.[2]: 11 Lt. Col. Fairchild was promoted to the rank of full colonel on September 8, 1862, to become the third commander of the 2nd Wisconsin Volunteers.
The regiment suffered severe casualties during the 1862 Northern Virginia Campaign, fighting against Stonewall Jackson's Confederates at the Battle of Groveton. The 2nd would advance alone, against superior forces. when it was joined by the rest of the Brigade, it had suffered heavily, the 2nd would lose 276 men killed or wounded out of a total strength of 430. The regiment would see more action at the Second Battle of Bull Run. During the subsequent Maryland Campaign, the 2nd Wisconsin attacked Turner's Gap during the Battle of South Mountain, and then again took high casualties in the Cornfield at Antietam.
Perhaps the regiment's finest hour came at Gettysburg, where it lost 77% of its strength (233 casualties out of 302 effectives) in stubborn fighting on McPherson's Ridge during the Iron Brigade's lengthy action on July 1, 1863. Where it assaulted McPherson's Woods and drove back a Brigade under the command of James J. Archer, capturing most of his Brigade and Archer himself, who was captured by Patrick Maloney. A young Irishman in the 2nd, Patrick would be awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions. Sadly, Patrick Maloney would not live to see the sunrise of July 2.[4]: 239 The 2nd would be counterattacked in the late afternoon, and would be forced back, but not without putting up a stubborn fight. Colonel Fairchild lost an arm due to a severe wound, and most of the line officers went down as well. The regiment reformed on Culp's Hill and entrenched for the rest of the battle. Although the 2nd Wisconsin was able to replenish some of its losses, it was never the same fighting force again. It later served in the Bristoe and Mine Run campaigns. The final campaign for the 2nd Wisconsin was Grant's bloody Overland Campaign.
With the regiment's original three-year enlistments expiring on June 11, 1864, those who chose not to re-enlist were sent back to Madison, with the final company mustering out on July 2, 1864. Newer recruits and re-enlisted veterans were restructured into a battalion of two companies, first under the command of Captain Dennis B. Dailey, then under Lt. Albert T. Morgan, and finally Lt. Henry Naegly. The battalion participated in the Siege of Petersburg—suffering several more casualties during that campaign—until they were ultimately consolidated into the 6th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment on November 30, 1864.
Total enlistments and casualties
The 2nd Wisconsin Infantry initially mustered 1,051 men and later recruited an additional 152 men, for a total of 1,203 men.[5]
The regiment lost 10 officers and 228 enlisted men killed in action or who later died of their wounds, plus another 77 enlisted men who died of disease, for a total of 315 fatalities.[6]
Colonel John Mansfield (February 9, 1864 – August 14, 1864) began the war as captain of Co. G. Mustered out with the regiment as Colonel.[2]: 287 Later became the 15th lieutenant governor of California.
Allen S. Baker was a private in Co. H and was wounded at Gettysburg. After the war he became a Wisconsin state legislator.
Melvin Baldwin was enlisted in Co. E and was wounded at Gainesville. Later he was detached as chief of the division's ambulance corps, he returned to the regiment and was later commissioned captain of Co. E. He was captured by the enemy at Gettysburg and was a prisoner of war for 18 months. After the war he became a U.S. congressman from Minnesota.
Joseph Bock was a private in Co. C and was wounded at Gainesville. After the war he became a Wisconsin state legislator.
Norton J. Field was sergeant and later 1st sergeant in Co. F. After the war he became a Wisconsin state legislator.
William H. Harries enlisted in Co. B and was wounded at Antietam. Later he was commissioned as 2nd lieutenant and promoted to 1st lieutenant of that same company. After the war he became a U.S. congressman from Minnesota.
Fordyce R. Melvin was a private in Co. D and was wounded at First Bull Run. He later re-enlisted with the 24th New York Infantry Regiment. After the war he became a Wisconsin state legislator.
Albert T. Morgan was 1st lieutenant in Co. A and later a captain in the independent battalion, and was captain of Co. H in the 6th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment after that regiment absorbed the independent battalion. After the war he worked to enfranchise freedmen in Mississippi during Reconstruction, but was chased out of the state by White terrorism in the 1870s. He later wrote a memoir of his experiences.
Patrick Henry Ray was a private in Co. K but was transferred to the 1st Wisconsin Heavy Artillery Regiment in December 1861. He rose to the rank of captain in the 1st Wisconsin Heavy Artillery and remained in the U.S. Army after the war, and achieved the rank of brigadier general in 1906.
George G. Symes was a private in Co. B but was wounded and discharged after First Bull Run. He later returned to service and was commissioned colonel of the 44th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment. After the war he became a U.S. congressman from Colorado.
Samuel K. Vaughan was 2nd lieutenant in Co. G, but resigned after just a few months and re-enlisted with the 19th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment. He rose to become lieutenant colonel of the 19th Wisconsin Infantry and received an honorary brevet to brigadier general.
Gilbert M. Woodward was enlisted and later 1st lieutenant in Co. B. In 1863, he was appointed adjutant of the regiment and served on the brigade staff of General Solomon Meredith. He was wounded at Gettysburg. After the war he became a U.S. congressman.
Second Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry - A large website with comprehensive information on the 2nd Wisconsin, as well as many other Wisconsin-based Civil War regiments and civilian life in the state during the period.
Wisconsin Battle Flags- A website by the Wisconsin Veterans Museum Foundation showcasing the battle flags of Wisconsin regiments, including the 2nd Wisconsin.
