Jump to content

3rd Wisconsin Infantry Regiment

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
3rd Wisconsin Infantry Regiment
ActiveJune 19, 1861 – July 18, 1865
CountryUnited States
AllegianceUnion
BranchInfantry
SizeRegiment
EngagementsAmerican Civil War
Commanders
ColonelCharles Smith Hamilton
ColonelThomas H. Ruger
ColonelWilliam Hawley

The 3rd Wisconsin Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.

Service

[edit]

The 3rd Wisconsin assembled at Camp Hamilton, in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, and mustered into Federal service on June 19, 1861. Its first commander was Col. Charles Smith Hamilton.

The 3rd Wisconsin Infantry was a part of Gen. Nathaniel Banks' army during Jackson's Shenandoah Valley campaign of 1862. Later in the year, the 3rd Wisconsin took part in the fighting around the Cornfield during the Battle of Antietam. In 1863, after the Battle of Gettysburg, the 3rd was sent to New York, to help control the New York City draft riots.

The regiment participated in the Grand Review of the Armies on May 24, 1865, and then mustered out at Louisville, Kentucky, on July 18, 1865.

Total enlistments and casualties

[edit]

The 3rd Wisconsin Infantry initially mustered 979 men and later recruited an additional 940 men, for a total of 1919 men.[1] The regiment lost 9 officers and 158 enlisted men killed in action or who later died of their wounds, plus another 2 officers and 113 enlisted men who died of disease, for a total of 282 fatalities.[2]

Colonels

[edit]
Captain William Hawley, circa 1861
  • Colonel Charles Smith Hamilton (May 11, 1861 – August 10, 1861) was promoted to brigadier general. He was later promoted to major general. After the war, he served as a U.S. marshal.
  • Colonel Thomas H. Ruger (August 10, 1861 – November 29, 1862) began the war as engineer-in-chief to Governor Alexander Randall, and mustered into federal service with the 3rd Wisconsin Infantry as lieutenant colonel. He left the regiment when promoted to brigadier general. After the war he was military governor of Georgia during Reconstruction and remained in the military until 1897, retiring with the rank of major general.
  • Colonel William Hawley (March 10, 1863 – July 18, 1865) mustered into federal service with the 3rd Wisconsin Infantry as captain of Co. K. He mustered out with the regiment and received an honorary brevet to brigadier general.

Notable people

[edit]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]

Notes

[edit]