HISTORICAL NOTES:
The 3rd Regiment, Wisconsin Infantry was organized at Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, and it was mustered in June 19, 1861. It was ordered to Hagerstown, Md., July 12; thence to Harper's Ferry, W. Va., July 18. The 3rd Wisconsin Infantry was a part of Gen. Nathaniel Banks' army during Jackson's Shenandoah Valley campaign of 1862. Later in the year, the 3rd Wisconsin took part in the fighting around the Cornfield during the Battle of Antietam. In 1863, after the Battle of Gettysburg, the 3rd was sent to New York, to help control the New York City draft riots. The regiment participated in the Grand Review of the Armies on May 24, 1865, and then mustered out at Louisville, Kentucky, on July 18, 1865.
The 3rd Wisconsin Infantry initially mustered 979 men and later recruited an additional 940 men, for a total of 1919 men. The Regiment lost during service 9 Officers and 158 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 2 Officers and 113 Enlisted men by disease. Total 282.
ASSIGNMENTS:
Attached to Hamilton's Brigade, Patterson's Army, to October, 1861. Stiles' Brigade, Banks' Division, Army of the Potomac, to March, 1862. 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, Banks' 5th Army Corps, to April, 1862. 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, Dept. of the Shenandoah, to June, 1862. 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, 2nd Corps, Army of Virginia, to September, 1862. 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, 12th Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, to October, 1863, and Army of the Cumberland, to April, 1864. 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, 20th Army Corps, Army of the Cumberland, to July, 1865.
OFFICERS:
Colonel Charles Smith Hamilton (May 11, 1861 – August 10, 1861) was promoted to brigadier general. He was later promoted to major general. After the war, he served as a U.S. marshal.
Colonel Thomas H. Ruger (August 10, 1861 – November 29, 1862) began the war as engineer-in-chief to Governor
Alexander Randall, and mustered into federal service with the 3rd Wisconsin Infantry as lieutenant colonel. He left the regiment when promoted to brigadier general. After the war he was military governor of Georgia during reconstruction and remained in the military until 1897, retiring with the rank of major general.
Colonel William Hawley (March 10, 1863 – July 18, 1865) mustered into federal service with the 3rd Wisconsin Infantry as captain of Co. K. He mustered out with the regiment and received an honorary brevet to brigadier general.
SERVICE:
Moved to Darnestown August 18, 1861; thence to Frederick, Md., September 12, and duty there until February 25, 1862. Action at Harper's Ferry, W. Va., October 11, 1861 (Cos. "A," "C" and "H"). Bolivar Heights October 16 (Cos. "A," "C" and "H"). March to Sandy Hook February 25, 1862. Occupation of Winchester, Va., March 12. Advance toward Manassas March 22-25. Battle of Winchester March 23 (Co. "A"). Advance from Strasburg to Woodstock and Edenburg April 1-2. Edenburg April 1-2. Operations in the Shenandoah Valley until June 17. Buckton Station May 23 (Co. "G"). Middletown and Newtown May 24. Winchester May 25. Retreat to Martinsburg May 26-June 6. Duty at Front Royal until July 6, and at Little Washington until August 6. Battle of Cedar Mountain August 9. Pope's Campaign in Northern Virginia August 16-September 2. Guard trains of the army during Battles of Manassas August 27-30. Maryland Campaign September 6-22. Battle of Antietam September 16-17. Duty at Maryland Heights until October 30, and in the Defenses of the Upper Potomac at Antietam Iron Works until December 10. March to Fairfax Station and duty there until January 3, 1863. Moved to Stafford Court House January. 18, and duty there until April 27. Chancellorsville Campaign April 27-May 6. Germania Ford April 29. Battle of Chancellorsville May 1-5. Brandy Station and Beverly Ford June 9. Gettysburg (Pa.) Campaign June 11-July 24. Battle of Gettysburg July 1-3. Pursuit of Lee to Manassas Gap, Va., July 5-24. Duty in New York during draft disturbances August 16-September 5. Movement to Bridgeport, Ala., September 24-October 3. At Stevenson, Ala., and Decherd, Tenn., guarding railroad until December. Regiment veteranized December 21, 1863. Veterans on furlough December 25, 1863, to February 9, 1864. At Fayetteville, Tenn., until April 28. Atlanta (Ga.) Campaign May 1 to September 8. Demonstrations on Rocky Faced Ridge May 8-11. Battle of Resaca May 14-15. Cassville May 19. New Hope Church May 25. Operations on line of Pumpkin Vine Creek and battles about Dallas, New Hope Church and Allatoona Hills May 25-June 5. Operations about Marietta and against Kenesaw Mountain June 10-July 2. Pine Hill June 11-14. Lost Mountain June 15-17. Gilgal or Golgotha Church June 15. Muddy Creek June 17. Noyes Creek June 19. Kolb's Farm June 22. Assault on Kenesaw Mountain June 27. Ruff's Station July 4. Chattahoochie River July 5-17. Peach Tree Creek July 19-20. Siege of Atlanta July 22-August 25. Operations at Chattahoochie River Bridge August 26-September 2. Occupation of Atlanta September 2-November 15. March to the sea November 15-December 10. Montieth Swamp December 9. Siege of Savannah December 10-21. Campaign of the Carolinas January to April, 1865. Robertsville, S.C., January 29. Taylor's Hole Creek, Averysboro, N. C., March 16. Battle of Bentonville March 19-21. Occupation of Goldsboro March 24. Advance on Raleigh April 10-14. Occupation of Raleigh April 14. Bennett's House April 26. Surrender of Johnston and his army. March to Washington, D.C., via Richmond, Va., April 29-May 19. Grand Review May 24. Moved to Louisville, Ky., June 11-16, and there mustered out July 18, 1865.
ROSTERS:
The composite rosters of this unit contain the names of 4908 men. BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Dyer, Frederick H. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion. Vol. 2. Cartersville, GA: Eastern Digital Resources, 2003.
Love, William D. Wisconsin in the War of the Rebellion. Chicago: Church and Goodman, 1866. E537L79. Cartersville, GA: Eastern Digital Resources, 2011.
Quiner, E.B. The Military History of Wisconsin. Chicago: Clarke, 1866. E537Q75.
Cartersville, GA: Eastern Digital Resources, 2011.
Rigdon, John C. Wisconsin Civil War Soldiers Index. Cartersville, GA: Eastern Digital Resources, 2011.
HISTORICAL NOTES: