Clark Co., Wisconsin Civil War
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18th WI Infantry History
Compiled by Crystal Wendt & Janet Schwarze
Military Notes
Principal Commanders: Maj. General Ulysses S. Grant [US]; Lt. General John C. Pemberton [CS]
The 18th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment was organized in October, 1861 and mustered out July 18, 1865. 4 Officers died of disease or accident and 52 enlisted soldiers were killed or mortally wounded.
His Infantry Officers were: Cols., James S. Alban, Gabriel Bouck, Charles H. Jackson, Lieut.-Cols., Samuel W. Beall, Charles H. Jackson, James P. Millard, Majs., Josiah W. Crane, Charles H. Jackson James P. Millard Joseph W. Roberts.
Soldiers With Clark County Ties Who Served in this Company
Collier, George--Cemetery
Comstock, Charles--Cemetery
Craig, George Washington--Cemetery
Davis, Benjamin--Veteran's Index
Dows / Douse, William--Cemetery
Geary, John--Veteran's Index
Slocomb, Charles--Cemetery
Sterling, John A--Cemetery
Sweet, Ralph--Cemetery
Whipple, Henry--Veteran's Index
This company left Wisconsin March 30, 1862 for Pittsburg Landing and reached it on April 5th.
This map is courtesy of Harper's Pictorial History of the Civil War.
(Click the picture to enlarge.)
The next morning, with absolutely no instruction in the manual of arms and but little drill, it was ordered to check the enemy's advance at Shiloh. It fought bravely, losing 24 killed, 82 wounded and 174 prisoners. "Many regiments may well covet the impressions which the 18th Wis. left of personal bravery heroic daring and determined endurance," said Gov. Harvey.
Pittsburgh Landing, Tennessee
(Click picture to enlarge.)
It took part in the siege of Corinth and then encamped at Corinth; and Bolivar until Sept. 17, when it was ordered to Iuka to reinforce Rosecrans, but was immediately returned to the defense of Corinth which was threatened.
On Oct. 1, it met the advance of Price and Van Dorn and fell back to the protection of Smith's bridge the following day. On the 3d, the enemy appearing in force, the regiment burned the bridge, rejoined its brigade at the railroad, and retained its position until overwhelming numbers compelled it to fall back.
It joined in pursuit of the enemy after the battle of Corinth, and on Nov. 2 proceeded to Grand Junction. In the movement southward it went to Holly Springs, then back to Grand Junction, thence to Moscow, Tenn., and Memphis, and from there by boat to Young's point, La., where it remained until Feb. 9, 1863.
In the advance upon Vicksburg it took position in the battle of Champion's Hill (aka Baker's Creek), and reached Vicksburg on May 20. It deployed as sharpshooters to cover the assault on the 22nd when General Grant engaged his whole line. He hoped the assault would be successful and give the Union forces a complete investment of Vicksburg. Grant's army numbered scarcely more than 30,000 men. Success would close the campaign and save the government from sending him large re-enforcements as well as free his own army for other operations. The assault was ordered for 10 o'clock A.M. and so fastidiously was a simultaneous attack insisted upon, that Grant had the watch of each of his corps commanders timed exactly to his own.
On June 4 went into the trenches where it remained until the surrender.
It was then on guard duty until Sept. 11, when it was sent to Memphis, thence to Corinth and to Chattanooga, reaching the latter place Nov. 19. It joined in the attack on Missionary Ridge and was on guard duty at Bridgeport, Ala., during the greater part of December.
It went to Huntsville on Dec. 25, remained there until May 1 1864, then went to Whitesburg for guard duty until June 19, and was in camp, garrison and guard duty in Georgia and Tennessee until September. In October it aided in the defense of Allatoona against repeated assaults of a superior force.
A furlough was granted reenlisted veterans on Nov. 12, and the recruits and non-veterans were temporarily assigned to the 93rd IL, which accompanied Sherman's army to Savannah. The veterans were ordered to Nashville, reaching there Jan. 11, 1865, and were then sent to New Berne, N. C., where they encamped until the last of March, when they joined Sherman at Goldsboro and took part in the movement to Richmond.
The regiment participated in the grand review at Washington and was mustered out at Louisville, Ky., July 18, 1865. Its original strength was 962 Gain by recruits, 226, draft, 271; veteran reenlistments, 178; total, 1,637. Losses by death, 220; missing 78; desertion, 208, transfer, 23; discharge. 265; mustered out, 843.
Sources: The Union Army, vol. 4, p. 56, Harper's Pictorial History of the Civil War.
