With the outbreak of the American Civil War, the northwestern state of Wisconsin raised 91,379 soldiers for the Union Army, organized into 53 infantryregiments, 4 cavalry regiments, a company of Berdan's sharpshooters, 13 light artillery batteries and 1 unit of heavy artillery. Most of the Wisconsin troops served in the Western Theater, although several regiments served in Eastern armies, including three regiments within the famed Iron Brigade. 3,794 were killed in action or mortally wounded, 8,022 died of disease, and 400 were killed in accidents. The total mortality was 12,216 men, about 13.4 percent of total enlistments.[1]
Approximately 1 in 9 residents (regardless of age, sex or qualification for service) served in the army, and, in turn, half the eligible voters served. Wisconsin was the only state to organize replacements for troops that had already been fielded, leading northern generals to prefer having some regiments from the state under their command if possible.
A number of Wisconsin regiments were distinguished, including three that served in the celebrated "Iron Brigade"— the 2nd Wisconsin, 6th Wisconsin, and 7th Wisconsin. All were noted for their hard fighting and dashing appearance, being among the only troops in the Army of the Potomac to wear Hardee hats and long frock coats. They suffered severely at the Battle of Gettysburg in July 1863. The 8th Wisconsin, another hard-fighting regiment, was often accompanied into battle by its mascot, Old Abe, a bald eagle.
In a January 1863 letter to his sister, Union soldier Chauncey Herbert Cooke, a private from Company G of the 25th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment, gave his reasons for fighting for the Union in the war, stating that "I have no heart in this war if the slaves cannot go free."[2][3][4]
Women during the warEdit
While men were fighting, many women needed to learn how to farm and do other manual labor. Besides having to tend to the home and children while the men were away at war, women also contributed supplies. Quilts and blankets were often given to soldiers. Some had encouraging messages sewn on them. One quilt that was made in 1864 by a group of women in Green Bay had the following poem:
For the gay and happy soldier We're contented as a dove, But the man who will not enlist Never can gain our love. If rebels attack you, do run with the quilt And safe to some fortress convey it; For o'er the gaunt body of some old secesh We did not intend to display it. T'was made for brave boys, who went from the West; And swiftly the fair fingers flew, While each stitch, as it went to its place in the quilt, Was a smothered "God bless you, boys," too.
Other items women often sent included: shirts, sheets, pillows, pillowcases, coats, vests, trousers, towels, handkerchiefs, socks, bandages, canned fruits, dried fruits, butter, cheese, wine, eggs, pickles, books, and magazines. At one point, after the Battle of Resaca, women sent every wounded man within a certain distance a fresh orange or lemon. These fruits were to quench the strong thirst that was known to accompany a wound.[5]
^"Wisconsin in the War of the Rebellion" in J. D. Beck (ed.) The Blue Book of the State of Wisconsin. Madison: Democrat Printing Company, 1907, pp. 822-823.
^McPherson, James M. (1997). For Cause and Comrades: Why Men Fought in the Civil War. New York City, New York: Oxford University Press, Inc. p. 117. ISBN0-19-509-023-3. OCLC 34912692. Retrieved March 8, 2016. Our cause is nobler even than the Revolution, for they fought for their own freedom, while we fight for that of another race.
^Cannon, Carl M. (15 September 2005). The Pursuit of Happiness in Times of War. pp. 293–294. ISBN9781461614210. Retrieved March 9, 2016.
^Cooke, Chauncey Herbert (1919). "Soldier Boy's Letters to His Father and Mother, 1862–1865" (PDF). Mondovi: The Mondovi Herald.
^Hurn, Ethel Alice. Wisconsin Women in the War between the States. Madison: Wisconsin History Commission, 1911. pp. 26-79.
Further readingEdit
Carr, Jo Ann Daly, ed. Such Anxious Hours: Wisconsin Women's Voices from the Civil War (University of Wisconsin Press, 2020).
Hurn, Ethel A. Wisconsin Women in the War between the States. Madison: Wisconsin History Commission, 1911.
Klement, Frank L. Wisconsin and the Civil War. Madison: State Historical Society of Wisconsin, 1963.
Klement, Frank L. Wisconsin in the Civil War: The Home Front and the Battle Front, 1861-1865. Madison: State Historical Society of Wisconsin, 1997. online
Walterman, Thomas. There Stands "Old Rock": Rock County, Wisconsin and the War to Preserve the Union. Friendship, Wis: New Past Press, 2001.
Wells, Robert W. Wisconsin in the Civil War. Milwaukee: Milwaukee Journal, 1962.
Zimm, John. This Wicked Rebellion: Wisconsin Civil War Soldiers Write Home. Madison: Wisconsin Historical Society Press, 2012; primary sources
External linksEdit
Wisconsin in the Civil War
Civil War changed Wisconsin
The Civil War Home Front
October 17, 2023
wisconsin, american, civil, with, outbreak, american, civil, northwestern, state, wisconsin, raised, soldiers, union, army, organized, into, infantry, regiments, cavalry, regiments, company, berdan, sharpshooters, light, artillery, batteries, unit, heavy, arti. With the outbreak of the American Civil War the northwestern state of Wisconsin raised 91 379 soldiers for the Union Army organized into 53 infantry regiments 4 cavalry regiments a company of Berdan s sharpshooters 13 light artillery batteries and 1 unit of heavy artillery Most of the Wisconsin troops served in the Western Theater although several regiments served in Eastern armies including three regiments within the famed Iron Brigade 3 794 were killed in action or mortally wounded 8 022 died of disease and 400 were killed in accidents The total mortality was 12 216 men about 13 4 percent of total enlistments 1 The coat of arms of Wisconsin during the war Contents 1 Soldiers 2 Women during the war 3 See also 4 References 5 Further reading 6 External linksSoldiers EditApproximately 1 in 9 residents regardless of age sex or qualification for service served in the army and in turn half the eligible voters served Wisconsin was the only state to organize replacements for troops that had already been fielded leading northern generals to prefer having some regiments from the state under their command if possible A number of Wisconsin regiments were distinguished including three that served in the celebrated Iron Brigade the 2nd Wisconsin 6th Wisconsin and 7th Wisconsin All were noted for their hard fighting and dashing appearance being among the only troops in the Army of the Potomac to wear Hardee hats and long frock coats They suffered severely at the Battle of Gettysburg in July 1863 The 8th Wisconsin another hard fighting regiment was often accompanied into battle by its mascot Old Abe a bald eagle In a January 1863 letter to his sister Union soldier Chauncey Herbert Cooke a private from Company G of the 25th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment gave his reasons for fighting for the Union in the war stating that I have no heart in this war if the slaves cannot go free 2 3 4 Women during the war EditWhile men were fighting many women needed to learn how to farm and do other manual labor Besides having to tend to the home and children while the men were away at war women also contributed supplies Quilts and blankets were often given to soldiers Some had encouraging messages sewn on them One quilt that was made in 1864 by a group of women in Green Bay had the following poem For the gay and happy soldier We re contented as a dove But the man who will not enlist Never can gain our love If rebels attack you do run with the quilt And safe to some fortress convey it For o er the gaunt body of some old secesh We did not intend to display it T was made for brave boys who went from the West And swiftly the fair fingers flew While each stitch as it went to its place in the quilt Was a smothered God bless you boys too Other items women often sent included shirts sheets pillows pillowcases coats vests trousers towels handkerchiefs socks bandages canned fruits dried fruits butter cheese wine eggs pickles books and magazines At one point after the Battle of Resaca women sent every wounded man within a certain distance a fresh orange or lemon These fruits were to quench the strong thirst that was known to accompany a wound 5 See also EditList of Wisconsin Civil War units Belgian immigrants in Wisconsin during the Civil WarReferences Edit Wisconsin in the War of the Rebellion in J D Beck ed The Blue Book of the State of Wisconsin Madison Democrat Printing Company 1907 pp 822 823 McPherson James M 1997 For Cause and Comrades Why Men Fought in the Civil War New York City New York Oxford University Press Inc p 117 ISBN 0 19 509 023 3 OCLC 34912692 Retrieved March 8 2016 Our cause is nobler even than the Revolution for they fought for their own freedom while we fight for that of another race Cannon Carl M 15 September 2005 The Pursuit of Happiness in Times of War pp 293 294 ISBN 9781461614210 Retrieved March 9 2016 Cooke Chauncey Herbert 1919 Soldier Boy s Letters to His Father and Mother 1862 1865 PDF Mondovi The Mondovi Herald Hurn Ethel Alice Wisconsin Women in the War between the States Madison Wisconsin History Commission 1911 pp 26 79 Further reading EditCarr Jo Ann Daly ed Such Anxious Hours Wisconsin Women s Voices from the Civil War University of Wisconsin Press 2020 Hurn Ethel A Wisconsin Women in the War between the States Madison Wisconsin History Commission 1911 Klement Frank L Wisconsin and the Civil War Madison State Historical Society of Wisconsin 1963 Klement Frank L Wisconsin in the Civil War The Home Front and the Battle Front 1861 1865 Madison State Historical Society of Wisconsin 1997 online Walterman Thomas There Stands Old Rock Rock County Wisconsin and the War to Preserve the Union Friendship Wis New Past Press 2001 Wells Robert W Wisconsin in the Civil War Milwaukee Milwaukee Journal 1962 Zimm John This Wicked Rebellion Wisconsin Civil War Soldiers Write Home Madison Wisconsin Historical Society Press 2012 primary sourcesExternal links EditWisconsin in the Civil War Civil War changed Wisconsin The Civil War Home Front Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Wisconsin in the American Civil War amp oldid 1144957410, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
