The Wisconsin 10^th Infantry was organized at Milwaukee and was mustered into US service 14 October 1861, with 916 personnel. It left the state 9 November.

The following spring the Regiment made a march on Bowling Green, Kentucky. Later it forced the enemy out of Huntsville, Alabama where it captured the military railroad, machine shops, engines and rolling stock, then went on to seize Stevenson, Decatur and Tuscumbia, Alabama for which they received high acclaim from Brigadier General Mitchell.

Within the state of Alabama, it defended and saved Paint Rock Bridge, acted as rear-guard in the retrograde movement to the Ohio river in which it fought guerrillas most of the way, ensured trains traveled safely from Huntsville to Stevenson, and assisted in repelling an enemy attack at Stevenson.

At Perryville, Kentucky it was subjected to intense fire, at one point holding its position with empty guns for 20 minutes until the battery that it had been ordered to support was rendered safe from being overwhelmed. Of the 276 men engaged in the battle, 36 were killed, 110 were wounded and one was reported missing. General Rousseau said in his after action report: "For this gallant conduct, these brave men are entitled to the gratitude of their country and I thank them here as I did on the field of battle."

In Tennessee the Regiment was engaged at Stone's River for four days, was at Hoover's Gap, and took part in the battles at Chattanooga under appalling cannon and musket fire, losing 18 killed, 56 wounded and 132 missing. Most of the missing were later reported to be prisoners.

Also in Tennessee it supported Colonel Loomis' 26th Illinois Infantry at Missionary Ridge, and in the Atlanta Campaign participated in the battles at Dallas, Kennesaw Mountain and Peachtree Creek. On 16 October 1864, the recruits and reenlisted veterans were transferred to the 21st Regiment and the remaining personnel were sent to Milwaukee where they were mustered out 25 October.

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Nettleton Transferred to F Company WI 21st Infantry 17 September 1862

The 21st Regiment was organized at Camp Bragg, Oshkosh 5 September 1862 and was sent to Covington, Kentucky for the defense of Cincinnati.

In the battle of Perryville, Kentucky it was mistakenly placed in an exposed position subject to the fire of both friend and foe. As a result of this command blunder it suffered the loss of 179 personnel in killed, wounded and missing.

On 7 December it was ordered to Nashville. With its brigade it repulsed an attack on the supply wagons by 3,500 of Confederate Major General Wheeler's cavalry at Jefferson, the burden of the attack falling on the 21st Regiment. General Rousseau said: "This Regiment, led by its efficient commander behaved like veterans."

It went into the battle of Stone's River the following day, and was sent to the extreme front where they held their position under heavy fire for three days. It encamped at Murfreesboro during the winter and spring.

The Regiment moved south with the Army of the Cumberland in June into Alabama and Georgia and arrived at Chickamauga in time to take part in the second day's fight. An after action battle report stated, “The 21st Regiment never faltered during the whole day, and often the second line would have to face about and drive away the rebels from the rear." On being ordered to retreat it fell back, "Only to the second line of works, where, still fighting and surrounded by the enemy, Lieutenant Colonel Hobart and about 70 officers and men were captured."

The Regiment was placed in reserve at Missionary Ridge and then was stationed on the summit of Lookout Mountain until the spring of 1864. It was in the advance on Resaca in May 1864, and was the last to retire in the evening. At Dallas it remained for six days under fire, its skirmishers being within 50 paces of those of the enemy.

The Regiment next followed Confederate General Johnston in his retreat from Dallas to Kennesaw Mountain, where it charged the enemy's skirmish line and gained position within 150 paces of the main line of Confederate works. It participated in siege, fatigue and guard duty until the fall of Atlanta, took part in the battle of Jonesboro, and then went into camp at Atlanta.

On 1 October it was attached to the 1st Brigade, 1st Division, 14th Army Corps, and pursued General Hood northward. It then rejoined Sherman's Army, took part in the March to the Sea, the siege of Savannah, the Carolina Campaign, and the march to Richmond, Virginia.

It participated in the grand review at Washington, DC where it was mustered out 8 June 1865.