Blog Archive for July, 2007

In this next-to-last matchup of the 2nd round, the 36th Wisconsin, one of Fox’s “Fighting 300,” falls in a close one to the 21st Wisconsin, the highest seeded regiment not part of the “Fighting 300.” While the 36th saw intense combat and massive casualties during their service, their time in the war was very short. The 21st saw action at Chaplin Hills in 1862, where it lost a number of men, fought at most of the major battles in Tennessee - Stones River, Tullahoma, Chattanooga, Missionary Ridge, and Chickamauga - and then became part of Sherman’s army on the March to the Sea. While not one of the “Fighting 300″ regiments, they still suffered significant losses and remained a viable unit throughout their service despite losing men due to illness, fatigue, and capture.

The 36th fought under Grant’s Army during the Virginia Campaigns of 1864 and 1865, and was received several commendations for their actions at First Hatcher’s Run (October 1864) and Second Hatcher’s Run (February 1865). At First Hatcher’s Run, Company A of the 36th drove in the enemy’s picket line and captured the rifle pits. Later in the engagement, Captain Fisk ordered a bayonet charge against the enemy’s flank, breaking the Confederate line and causing them to run. As a result, the regiment captured a number of prisoners and a stand of colors. General Thomas Egan, Commander of the Second Division, sent a letter to Wisconsin Governor James Taylor Lewis “speaking in the highest terms of the regiment, stating that it captured a larger number of prisoners than it had men engaged, and especially commended the conduct of Captain Fisk, for his gallantry and daring coolness in thus charging and driving back a greatly superior force.” (Quiner, 832)

The 21st Wisconsin has the best statistical numbers of any regiment outside of the “Fighting 300,” and although it does not have a signature victory, their consistent, sustained success in battle remains as their greatest attribute.  In the first round, we discussed the 21st Wisconsin’s action at Chaplin Hills, KY, a savage battle that cost the unit many lives. This was, in part, due to an error by Colonel Benjamin Sweet, who erroneously placed the regiment on the main line between the warring Union and Confederates armies. As a result, the 21st took fire from both sides, causing major casualties, killing three officers, and wounding Colonel Sweet. A substantial portion of the regiment - 70 men, including Lt. Col. Harrison C. Hobart, who assumed command following Chaplin Hills - was captured at Chickamauga. Near sundown on September 20, 1863, General George Thomas (”The Rock of Chickamauga”) ordered a retreat after the enemy flanked the right wing of the First Division, which included the 21st Wisconsin. The fire was so intense that the battlefield, initially lined with trees, was nearly barren by the end of the day. When Thomas ordered the retreat, the 21st Wisconsin did not receive the order and continued fighting. By the time Lt. Col. Hobart recognized the retreat, it was too late - they were surrounded by the Rebels. While the remainder of the regiment continued to fight through 1863 (Missionary Ridge and Chattanooga), Lt. Col. Hobart and the others languished away at Libby Prison. Along with 108 other prisoners, Lt. Col. Hobart escaped from Libby Prison on February 9, 1864. Soon thereafter, he returned to the regiment in time for the Atlanta Campaign. Hobart was eventually promoted to Colonel and mustered out as a Brevet Brigadier General. After the war, he unsuccessfully ran for governor in 1867.

Hobart’s escape from Libby Prison and his return to lead the 21st Wisconsin so impressed his men that they presented him with a specially engraved presentation sword. Housed in a blue velvet-lined box, the presentation grade M1850 Staff & Field Officer’s Sword features gold and silver plating on the handle, while the blade itself is etched with vines, coats of arms, and inlayed with gold. The scabbard is especially striking considering these engraved inscriptions:

Near the handle:
Presented to Col. Harrison C. Hobart
of the 21st Reg’t Wisconsin Vol. Infnty
by the Enlisted men of his Regiment

Middle of the scabbard:
“As Aristomenes from the Ceada, so Colonel Hobart from Libby”

This last inscription refers to the legend of Aristomenes, the hero of the Second Messenian War (about 650 BC). An excellent warrior, Aristomenes led his men on a raid against the Spartans near Mt. Taygetus. The Spartans captured Aristomenes and fifty of his men and cast them into a large chasm on Mt. Taygetyus called the Caedas. Only Aristomenes was saved, and he soon reappeared at the Messenian compound on Mt. Eira, ready to lead again. Legend has it that an eagle upheld his fall and he escaped by grasping the tail of a fox, which led him to the top of the chasm and to freedom.

On the Atlanta campaign, the 21st saw combat at Resaca, Dallas, Kenesaw Mountain, and Peach Tree Creek, where the unit was, according to Quiner, “constantly engaged,” and captured a Rebel captain and thirteen prisoners. (Quiner, 693) During the campaign, the 21st lost 112 men in the field or by wounds, and 110 by disease or fatigue; only about 1/3 of the arms-bearing men entered Atlanta.

After Atlanta, the 21st became part of the Fourteenth Corps, Army of Georgia, and commenced on the March to the Sea. The unit foraged and destroyed railroads and bridges,  rarely encountering the enemy, save for an occasional Rebel cavalry scout. The 21st stayed with Fourteenth Corps through the Carolinas Campaign, including the Battle of Bentonville, where the regiment lost five men in the field.

Well, that’s the end of the 2nd round. We certainly ended on a strong note, with this entry clocking in at over 1,000 words! 3rd round matchups, a link to the updated bracket, and other info will be posted soon. Thanks again for tuning in - I hope some of you out there enjoy reading this as much as we do putting it together!

We’re a little out of order, but that’s okay (we’re working up something special for the 21st IR v 36th IR matchup). Many thanks to guest Bracketologist, Curator of Collections Processing Russ Horton for his yeoman’s work  breaking down this matchup.

The juggernaut 5th Wisconsin continues its march toward history with a punishing victory over the 37th. While the underdog 37th actually has a slightly higher KDWMPE, a remarkable accomplishment given their relatively brief service, the #2 seed 5th carries the day on the back of their myriad accomplishments.

Nine months after their commendable performance at Williamsburg, described in the last round, the 5th Wisconsin became part of the Sixth Corps’ “Light Division,” a group intended to remain especially mobile and able to quickly move where it was needed. That moment of need came at Fredericksburg in May 1863, when the Light Division was ordered to attack a Confederate force at Marye’s Heights, also known as “the slaughter pen.” Positioned in the right wing of the Division, the men of the 5th were to charge up a steep hill into the face of five artillery batteries, a daunting task at best. To motivate his men, Colonel Thomas Allen gave this inspiring speech: “Boys, you see those heights?! You have got to take them! You think you cannot do it, but you can! You will do it! When the order ‘Forward’ is given, you will start at double quick- you will not fire a gun- you will not stop until you get the order to halt! You will never get that order!” And that’s just what the 5th Wisconsin did! They marched up the hill in the face of withering fire from the Confederate forces, not taking the time to return fire until they reached the top of the hill. There, they opened fire and used their bayonets to capture a Rebel battery. All told, the 5th lost 44 men killed, 92 wounded, and 23 missing during this charge. That is determination, that is intestinal fortitude, that is just plain tough!

The Wisconsin Veterans Museum Research Center holds the proceedings of reunions of the 5th Wisconsin from 1900-1903, as well as other books and manuscript materials relating to the regiment. Image

The 37th, as mentioned in the last round, suffered a large number of casualties in less than a full year of action. A majority of those losses came on a single day- July 30, 1864, the date of the Petersburg Mine, also known as the Crater. Union forces had besieged General Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia in the city of Petersburg but were unable to penetrate the defensive lines to take the city. Anxious to force a decisive confrontation, Grant approved a plan to dig a 500 foot tunnel from the Union lines beneath the Confederate lines, fill it with 4 tons of explosives, and detonate it, thus creating a literal hole in the line and an opportunity for Union soldiers to rush it. While a group of African-American soldiers were trained for the duty of rushing in after the explosion, they were pulled at the last minute in favor of a group of “white” troops that included the 37th Wisconsin. Ironically, Company K of the 37th consisted largely of Menominee Indians who were considered “colored” troops themselves. The explosion occurred on the morning of July 30, the 37th and their comrades rushed in, and disaster followed. Overwhelmed by the terrain and the scene of utter destruction in the 30 foot deep Crater, the group advanced slowly and gave Confederate forces time to regroup. The 37th lost 57 men killed and 53 wounded on that infamous day. Company K saw 9 men killed, including Corporal Seymour Hahpahtonwahiquette, and 10 men wounded, the majority of which were Menominee men.

A poem by William Green about the experiences of the 37th Wisconsin.
Image courtesy Wisconsin Veterans Museum Archives and Research Center

Stepping away from the Civil War Bracketology for a moment, here are a couple links to editorials written by Jeremi Suri and Daniel Benjamin, both of whom will be speaking here at the Wisconsin Veterans Museum in October. Both editorials appeared in the July 24, 2007 edition of the International Herald-Tribune.

“A China Opening to Iran?” by Jeremi Suri
UW-Madison Professor of History Jeremi Suri will be speaking here at the WVM on Wednesday, October 10, 2007 as a part of the 2007 Wisconsin Book Festival and the 2007 “Distinguished Lecture Series.” Suri will discuss and sign his new book, Henry Kissinger and the American Century. The program begins promptly at 7pm.

“This Is Not A War for the Pentagon: Unleash the CIA” by Daniel Benjamin
Benjamin, the Director of the Center on the United States and Europe, and a Senior Fellow in Foreign Policy Studies at Brookings Institute will speak here on Wednesday, October 17, 2007 at 7pm. Benjamin’s talk will be part of our “Distinguished Lecture Series,” and is also the featured lecture on the opening night of the UW-Madison Center for the Humanities Biennial Festival, which runs from October 17 through October 20, 2007.

As always, both programs are totally free. Arrive early to ensure yourself a good seat!

Our fall program schedule is filling up fast and we should be ready to announce it in the coming days.

Not even the spirit of the Arthur MacArthur can put the 24th over the top. The 26th has a KDWMPE of 17.2%, which is ranked 5th nationally. They entered the war a bit later than some of the other major “fighting” regiments, but saw action at Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, and Missionary Ridge in 1863, and took part in the Atlanta Campaign, the March to the Sea, and the Carolinas Campaign in 1864-65. The 26th lost a shocking amount of men at Chancellorsville (53) and Gettysburg (61). Look for a breakdown of the 26th at Gettysburg in the next round. 

Following the reorganization of the Army of the Potomac by General Grant, the 26th Wisconsin became part of General Hooker’s 20th Army Corps. Major Frederick Winkler (mustered out as brevet Brigadier General) commanded the regiment as let out for Atlanta. On the way, the 26th skirmished numerous times and saw combat at Resaca, New Hope Church, and most notably, Peach Tree Creek. Many historians believe the 26th saw their greatest triumph at Peach Tree Creek with the capture of the 33rd Mississippi’s regimental flag. The 26th fought hard and decimated the 33rd Mississippi, killing the unit’s only field officer, Col. Jabez L. Drake, and killing or wounding 160 of the regiment’s 250 men. About the battle, Major Winkler wrote:

July 21st, 1864
At last I have some good news. We fought the hardest battle and won the greatest victory yesterday of all the campaign, and my regiment covered itself with glory. We were attacked by superior numbers, the forces on our left failed us; we were outflanked, but we whipped the enemy, turned, and pursued him to the position we coveted, got it and held it. We fought the 33rd Mississippi, and virtually annihilated it; we killed the Colonel and thirty-four men, whom we have picked up inside the point we pursued them to, End beyond that our fire must have done them severe damage. The ground was covered with wounded; I had no time to count them, but had three stretchers working all night, carrying them to the rear. We took its flags and six officers’ swords. Every body is speaking the praise of the 26th today. We had a very critical position and everything depended upon holding it; officers and men did bravely. The regiment we fought had nearly four hundred men; I only two hundred and sixty. I lost severely, two captains killed, one wounded, a lieutenant wounded, seven men killed and thirty-four wounded. Upon the whole, our loss is comparatively light; most of the wounds are light, and our success was great. We took a number of prisoners. I am well and unhurt.

Winkler’s letters are available at the Wisconsin Historical Society in a bound volume titled The Letters of Frederick C. Winkler, 1862-1865.

At Peach Tree Creek, the Confederates lost over 4,700 men to the Union’s 1,700. It was the first battle for General John B. Hood as the commander of the Army of Tennessee, having just replaced General Joseph E. Johnston. Hood, noted for his aggressiveness, charged across the creek. Union forces, led by General George H. Thomas, annihilated the Confederates, killing or wounding over 25% of the Rebels on the field that day.

Major Winkler had a number of close calls while leading the 26th Wisconsin through Georgia. WVM Curator of Collections Bill Brewster wrote a very interesting article about Major Winkler and his bullet-ridden hat that he sent home to his wife sometime prior to Peach Tree Creek in summer 1864. You can read the article, and the rest of the September 2005 edition of The Bugle, here.

The 24th Wisconsin also fought at Resaca and Peach Tree Creek, fighting bravely at the latter, repulsing every enemy assault directed at them. At Resaca, in May 1864, the 24th advanced against the enemy in an open field. The advance separated the regiment from most of its brigade, but they contiuned to fight for nearly two hours until their ammunition was gone. During the battle, Lt. Col. West was wounded, and command of the regiment returned to Arthur MacArthur, the hero of Missionary Ridge. Following the siege of Atlanta, the 24th headed north, battling Hood’s Army of Tennessee at Franklin and at Nashville in December 1864, the site of a decisive Confederate defeat. Attached below is a remarkable photo of the regiment’s flag bearer in 1865, shortly after the regiment disbanded in June 1865.

The Iron Brigade makes it 6-0 so far in this tournament with the 6th Wisconsin’s defeat of the 12th Wisconsin. The 12th, as the #19 seed, provided one of the bracket’s only upsets by overcoming the 14th Wisconsin in the first round. The 6th, like the 2nd and 7th Infantries before, continue to ride their actions at Antietam, South Mountain, Second Bull Run, and Gettysburg (which we will discuss in the next round) to success.

The 6th Wisconsin lost forty men at Antietam, several of which were killed when a Confederate shell fell into the ranks, killing or wounding thirteen men, including two officers. The 6th pushed into the cornfield at the outset of the engagement, and kept pushing despite being outflanked by the enemy. The regiment’s commanding officer, Lt. Col. Edward Bragg, was wounded and fell to the rear at which point Major Rufus Dawes took command. The actions of the 6th and the rest of the Iron Brigade prompted General George McClellan to proclaim that these were the best troops in the world. Because of the extreme losses at Antietam, the Iron Brigade added another regiment, the 24th Michigan, which remained with the unit until the end of the war.

The 12th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, known as the “Marching 12th” because of the 9,503 miles they traveled by foot, train, and steamboat during the war, has another claim to fame - Bruin the Bear. A great many have heard of Old Abe, the mascot of the 8th Wisconsin, but very few have heard about Bruin. Here is the abbreviated story of Bruin, paraphrased from regiment veteran Hosea Rood’s Story of the service of Company E : and the Twelfth Wisconsin Regiment, Veteran Volunteer Infantry, in the War of the Rebellion : beginning with September 7th, 1861, and ending with July 21st, 1865 / written by one of the boys. This book is available here at the Wisconsin Veterans Museum Research Center.

Bruin joined the 12th Wisconsin with Stephen and Harlan Squires, a father and son from Waterloo who enlisted with Company E of the regiment. The bear was sixteen year-old Harlan’s pet and many of the other men in the company liked having him around. They gathered together supplies for a bed and living quarters, and set a twelve-foot post into the ground for Bruin to climb and observe the military operations below. Madison residents came to Camp Randall to watch the bear and his antics. In January 1862, the 12th shipped off to Chicago, this first stop on their way to war. According to Rood, Bruin was in good spirits throughout the trip and slept most of the way. On the march from the Chicago & Northwestern R.R. to the Burlington & Quincy R.R., Bruin led the troops through the streets of Chicago, a memorable sight for those in the city and in the regiment.

Bruin, again, exhibited a pleaseant demeanor on the train to Weston, Missouri, about eight miles above Leavenworth, Kansas along the Missouri River. The men constructed a quarters for Bruin, and he was given “all the liberty that a rope about fifty feet long would allow him, which liberty he used a full strength.” (107) Virtually no one in Missouri had ever seen a bear, so he was of great curiosity to those living nearby. Bruin played to the audience, performed when called upon, and even wrestled one of the men in the company, Hank Marston. He ate hardtack and roasted chicken with the men, but did not like coffee.

Company E eventually left for Leavenworth, and Bruin came along. While at Leavenworth, the men of the 12th were told to prepare for an operation in Texas or New Mexico. The Squires boys, not thinking Bruin would be able to handle an 800 mile march, sold the bear to local resident for $17. Rood writes, “Bruin passed into more pracitical pursuits than his comrades, the Badgers, were destined to follow and became, I hope, as good a citizen-bear as he had been a soldier-bear.” (108)

Sadly, Harlan Squires, the young man who brought Bruin to Camp Randall, died from an illness at the Battle of Vicksburg on June 29, 1863. His father survived the war, but was sapped of spirit and joy after the loss of his son.

For more on the 12th Wisconsin, please click here.

You hate to see two such talented regiments face each other so early in the tournament, yet it further shows how strong this bracket is. Both designated as “Fighting Regiments” in Fox’s Regimental Losses in the Civil War, the 3rd and the 16th fought gallantly, but the 3rd’s actions and major losses suffered at Antietam put them over the top.

The 3rd Wisconsin formed in Fond du Lac in June 1861 and first saw action in October of that year at Bolivar Heights, VA. In the buildup to Antietam, the 3rd fought at Winchester and Cedar Mountain, where they lost 26 men, but their bravery and skill at those battles served as a harbinger for their brilliant action at Antietam. On the morning of September 17, the 3rd Wisconsin assaulted the Confederates in D.H. Miller’s cornfield. Carnage ensued, as the Badgers and Rebels fought in close quarters. After two hours of fighting, the Confederates fell back; the 3rd, decimated by losses, were replaced by fresh troops. At the end of the battle, what was left of the 3rd exchanged their muskets for Springfield rifles, arming themselves for the future battles that awaited them. In all, the 3rd lost forty-one men at Antietam. Here is an excellent account of the intense combat that took place in the cornfield.

After Antietam, the 3rd took part in the battle of Chancellorsville, and was on hand at the largest cavalry battle of the Civil War at Brandy Station, VA in June 1863. The 3rd was part of a force of 3,000 infantrymen who accompanied 7,000 cavalry soldiers in an attack against J.E.B. Stuart’s Rebels. While other Wisconsin units (2nd, 6th, 7th, 26th) saw intense fighting at Gettysburg, the 3rd was only marginally involved. After returning from quelling the draft riots in New York City, the 3rd left the Army of the Potomac and was sent westward to join General Rosecrans’ Army of the Cumberland at Chattanooga. We will cover the 3rd’s actions in the west in the next round.

After losing a myriad of men at Shiloh, the 16th regrouped and continued to fight in the western theater throughout the war. At the July 1864 battle of Atlanta, the 16th lost forty-three men, but continued as part of Sherman’s army on his March to the Sea, and later the Campaign of the Carolinas. The 16th fought at the battle of Bentonville, NC in March 1865, the biggest battle during Sherman’s March, and the Confederacy’s last full-scale assault. Confederate General Joseph Johnston, sensing a weakness in Sherman’s left wing, launched an attack, surprising the Union troops who had not seen a battle in many months. The Confederates were initially successful, but his heavily outnumbered troops wore down by the end the first day. Union reinforcements arrived early the second day, and had a clear opportunity to smash what was left of Johnston’s army. Sherman, though, let Johnston retreat, possibly because he knew the end of the war was near and did not want to waste the lives of his troops. Within the next month, Lee surrendered at Appomattox, followed by Johnston two weeks later. Here is an excellent site on the battle put together by the state of North Carolina.

A reunion photograph from 1888 of members of the 16th Wisconsin. They are holding the regiment’s battle flags.
Image courtesy Wisconsin Veterans Museum Archives and Research Center

In the NCAA tournament, the experts will tell you that a 5 seed ALWAYS beats a 12 seed. However, in Civil War Bracketology, this is not the case, especially when the 5 seed is the 2nd Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry.

Over a three-week period in August-September 1862, the 2nd Wisconsin fought in intense battles at Brawner’s Farm, South Mountain, and Antietam. The performance of the Iron Brigade - called the Black Hat Brigade at this point - particularly the Wisconsin regiments, is quite remarkable considering the tremendous losses they suffered. The 2nd Wisconsin lost 86 men at Brawner’s Farm, 10 at South Mountain, and 30 at Antietam - 126 total, which is more than 50% of its total losses for the entire war. At Brawner’s Farm, the unit suffered 297 killed or wounded out of 430. Remember, the 2nd Wisconsin lost nearly 20% of its men in the field, #1 among all Union regiments.

The August 1862 battle at Brawner’s Farm, near Gainesville, Virginia, was remarkable for a number of reasons. This was the 2nd Wisconsin’s second engagement, first seeing action at First Bull Run; it was the very first for the 6th and 7th Wisconsin. The combat that awaited them truly was a baptism by fire. Going into battle, the Iron Brigade was greatly outnumbered by Stonewall Jackson’s Confederates, veterans all, yet they stood toe-to-toe, fighting in close quarters - at times, as little as 30 yards between the lines - and eventually taking the field.

During the battle, Battery B of the 4th U.S. Artillery, destroyed three Confederate batteries, due in part to Brigadier General John Gibbon’s early recognition of and assault on the Rebels. Once the lines solidified, the 2nd Wisconsin inflicted incredible damage on the Confederates. In a last ditch effort, Jackson ordered the 26th and 28th Georgia Infantries to attack the 2nd. By the end of the battle, the 2nd, with assistance on their flank from the 7th Wisconsin, inflicted a 74% casualty rate on the 26th Georgia. One Wisconsin soldier noted, “Our boys mowed down their ranks like grass; but they closed up and came steadily on. Our fire was so terrible and certain that after having the colors in front of us shot down twice they broke down in confusion and left us in possession of the field. They left their colors upon the field.”

For all of Jackson’s success at First Bull Run, he was much maligned for his ineffectiveness at Brawner’s Farm. For Brigadier General Gibbon, this was his first major battle as an infantry commander. While the brigade was not battle tested, the training of his men and his leadership reflected his brilliance as a commander. Brawner’s Farm was the first of many great successes of the Iron Brigade and the 2nd Wisconsin.

For more information on Brawner’s Farm, check out this article. I did not have room to discuss South Mountain, but here is a good review of that battle. From the Wisconsin Veterans Museum collection, check out this letter from Ashael Gage, who was killed at South Mountain on September 14, 1862.
Letter from Asahel Gage to his brother discussing the 2nd Wisconsin Infantry’s preparation for battle, page 1.
Letter from Asahel Gage to his brother discussing the 2nd Wisconsin Infantry’s preparatiion for battle, page 2.
Images courtesy Wisconsin Veterans Museum Archives and Research Center

The 15th Wisconsin, having lost their commander, Colonel Hans Heg, at Chickamauga, regrouped and carried on, fighting bravely at Missionary Ridge and following Sherman on the March to the Sea. We haven’t covered music during the Civil War yet, so here are a few songs sung by members of the 15th Wisconsin. The lyrics are in both English and Norwegian (they were likely sung in Norwegian by the troops). Thanks to Scott Cantwell Meeker for putting together this excellent website. Here also is a photo of the 15th Wisconsin monument at the Chickamauga battlefield.
Biographical sketch of Hans Heg, Colonel of the 15th Wisconsin who was killed at Chickamauga.
Images courtesy Wisconsin Veterans Museum Archives and Research Center

The 22nd provided the biggest upset of the first round, with a shocking victory over the 4th Wisconsin Cavalry. But, like all Cinderellas, the clock always strikes midnight and their run must end. Today, the 22nd Wisconsin’s tournament ends at the hands of the 1st Wisconsin Volunteers, a unit so nice they mustered in twice. That was horrible, but I’ve been waiting to use it all summer.

The 1st Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry mustered in on April 27, 1861, just over two weeks after the siege at Fort Sumter. By August 1861 the unit mustered out, only to reform again on October 19, 1861. This “first’ 1st Wisconsin, or 1st Wisconsin (three months) as it is commonly called, is the focus today. The unit saw action saw combat at the Battle of Falling Waters, Virginia (present day West Virginia) on July 2, 1861. Union troops, led by General Robert Patterson, moved across the Potomac River, and were subsequently fired upon by Confederate Lt. Col. J.E.B. Stuart’s cavalry, who were hidden in the woods. Patterson pursued the enemy, and the Confederates, then fortified by Colonel Thomas Jackson’s men, realized they were grossly outnumbered and pull back. Patterson failed to seize the opportunity to decimate Jackson’s troops, allowing the Rebels to regroup, join up with Generals Johnston and Beauregard, and form the major Confederate force that smashed Union forces than three weeks later at 1st Bull Run. As a result, Colonel Jackson became General Jackson, and earned a new nickname - “Stonewall.” Union General Patterson was relieved of his command, and Congress officially faulted him for the loss at 1st Bull Run because of his poor performance at Falling Waters.

Falling Waters marked the first Wisconsin casualty of the Civil War: George Drake, Company A, Milwaukee. In charge of Company K was Captain Lucius Fairchild, who later commanded the 2nd Wisconsin Infantry. After the war, he became Wisconsin’s first three-term governor. 

The Wisconsin Veterans Museum currently holds an early, handmade Confederate flag captured from a Rebel killed at Falling Waters. The flag, about the size of a sheet of paper, features nine hand-cut stars, two red stripes, one white stripe, and  a significant blood stain. Confederate flag captured at Falling Waters, VA, July 2, 1861

The 22nd Wisconsin overcame great odds to defeat the 4th Cavalry in the last round. As a result of their defeat at Thompson’s Station, Tennessee, the entire regiment was taken prisoner. Upon their release, members of the 22nd signed a parole certificate stating they would not take up arms against the Confederacy. The Wisconsin Veterans Museum holds a parole certificate signed by Albert Hollister, Company H, 22nd Wisconsin. This certificate provides a glimpse into the prisoner exchange process during the Civil War. Albert Hollister’s Parole Certificate 

Images courtesy Wisconsin Veterans Museum Archives and Research Center

The Iron Brigade continues its march through the tournament with a decisive victory over the 10th Infantry. In September 1862, the Iron Brigade headed into battle near Sharspburg, Maryland. Little did they know at the time, but they were about to fight in the bloodiest one-day battle in American history, with nearly 25,000 casualties. General Lee, emboldened by the Army of Northern Virginia’s resounding victory at Second Bull Run in August, felt the time was right to invade the North, through Maryland, a border state with divided sympathies. On September 17, Union and Confederate forces clashed at Antietam Creek, and for twelve hours, the armies engaged in some of the heaviest combat of the war. Savage fighting took place in the Cornfield, which you can see recreated here at the Veterans Museum, the East Woods, and the West Woods, where the 7th Wisconsin advanced with the 19th Indiana. Seeing the Iron Brigade’s left flank under heavy attack, the 7th wheeled left and fired into the Confederate line, forcing a retreat despite heavy enemy reinforcements. The 7th’s success in beating back the Confederate advance is detailed in Captain John Callis’ after action report. Click here for the National Park Service’s excellent site on the history of the battle and information on visiting the battlefield yet today. Here is a detailed breakdown of the 7th’s actions at Antietam from the remarkably detailed and thorough, “Antietam on the Web” website.

In the previous round, we documented the 10th Wisconsin’s bravery at the Battle of Chaplin Hills in 1862. Today, we will highlight the 10th’s actions at the Battle of Chickamauga in September 1863. The 10th went into battle as part of the 1st Brigade, 1st Division, 14th Corps along with regiments from Ohio and Indiana. Nine companies of the 10th Wisconsin engaged in battle that day, and suffered substantial losses, with killed and wounded estimated at nearly 25% of engaged troops. The regiment lost three officers, including Colonel J.H. Ely. In the end, the Confederates drove the Union forces from the field. The bravery of the “Rock of Chickamauga,” General George Thomas, is heralded yet today. Thomas held the Union line at Snodgrass Hill, saving the Army of the Cumberland from perhaps total destruction. Chickamauga was the last major Confederate victory of the Civil War. Union forces regrouped and later mounted a successful defense of Chattanooga, the prize in grand struggle for East Tennessee and North Georgia. For more on Chickamauga, click here.

10th Wisconsin monument at the Chickamauga battlefield
Image courtesy Wisconsin Veterans Museum Archives and Research Center

Round 2 of Civil War Bracketology is upon us. I will post the first two matchups today, and will hopefully finish the rest of the round by Friday afternoon. Enjoy and share with anyone you think may be interested!