This Regiment was organized at Camp Randall in November 1861, was mustered into US service 31 January 1862, and left the state 13 March for Pittsburg Landing, Tennessee. In the battle of Shiloh it was exposed to heavy small arms and artillery fire for the greater part of two days and suffered the loss of 245 men killed and wounded.

It took part in the Siege of Corinth, Mississippi from 15 April to 29 May and again in Second Battle of Corinth in October. It was engaged in railroad guard duty from December 1862, to the latter part of January 1863, and then was stationed at Lake Providence, Louisiana from 1 February to the beginning of August, when it went into camp at Vicksburg, Mississippi until 28 September.

It was then ordered to Redbone, Mississippi guarding fords on the Big Black River where it engaged in skirmishes with bands of Confederate Cavalry until 5 February 1864, when it again became a part of the garrison at Vicksburg. It participated in the Atlanta Campaign, and was involved in trench and skirmishing warfare at Kennesaw Mountain, Georgia during the majority of June 1864.

In the Atlanta battles in July, it sustained a loss of 123 men killed and wounded. It was assigned to duty at Atlanta until 26 August when it moved forward in pursuit of the enemy, engaging in skirmishes at Jonesboro and Lovejoy's Station before going into camp at Atlanta on 8 September.

Later it took part in Sherman's March to the Sea, and took part in the Siege of Savannah. In the Carolina Campaign the Regiment was engaged at Beaufort, Whippy Swamp and at Orangeburg where it crossed the North Edisto, waded through swamps and drove the enemy from his position. It participated in the battle of Bentonville, North Carolina and took part in the grand review at Washington, DC in May 1865.

Part of the Regiment was mustered out on 2 June at Washington, DC, and the remainder on 16 July at Louisville, Kentucky. Its original strength was 1,066. Gained by recruits, 629; substitutes, 88, draft, 174; veteran reenlistments, 243; total, 2,200 Losses by death, 363; missing, 46; desertion, 115; transfer, 38; discharge, 386, mustered out, 1,252.