Clark County WI, Civil War History, 30th Wisconsin Infantry

Service

The 30th Wisconsin was organized at Camp Randall, Madison, Wisconsin under the supervision of Colonel Dill, and mustered into Federal service October 21, 1862. The services of this regiment differ from all other regiments of the State, in the fact that up to March 1864, the most of it had been retained in the State. in duties pertaining to the enforcement of the draft.

On the 16th of November, 1864, Company A was sent to Green Bay, to protect the Draft Commissioner, remaining several weeks. On the 18th, seven companies moved to Milwaukee, to assist enforcing the draft in Milwaukee County, while two companies remained at Camp Randall, to guard Ozaukee rioters. On the 22nd, six companies were sent to West Bend to attend to the enforcement of the draft, which was made under military surveillance. The other company was sent to Camp Randall, with more Ozaukee County rioters, and on the 24th, the draft was enforced in that county. At other times various companies were sent to other areas of the state where problems arose in relation to draft enforcement.

On the 25th of April 1864 Companies A, C and H, under Colonel Dill, preceded by Company I, proceeded to St. Louis, and moved up the Missouri River, and Reached Fort Rice on the 15th of July, having encountered vexations detentions by snags, sandbars, etc. This fort was located four hundred miles west of St. Paul, at the confluence of the Cannonball with the Missouri, and about 800 miles above Sioux City.

Companies, B, E, K and G, under Major Clowney, proceeded to Fort Snelling, Minnesota, and on the 18th of June, left, on a march to Fort Ridgely, 140 miles from Fort Snelling. The distance was made in five days. Company G was left at Fort Snelling, and the other companies proceeded to Fort Wadsworth, on James River, in Dakota Territory, where they engaged in constructing that fort, and remained as garrison until the fall of 1864.

The regiment was mustered out of service on the 20th of September, 1865.

Regimental statistics

Original strength, 906;

Gain -- by recruits in 1863, 69, in 1864, 220, in 1865, 23; by substitutes, 1; total, 1,219;

Loss -- by death, 69; deserted, 52; transferred, 46; discharged, 340; mustered out, 712.