HISTORICAL NOTES:
The 4th Regiment, Wisconsin Cavalry, was organized at Racine, Wisconsin and it was mustered in July 1861. it moved to Baltimore, Md., July 15-22. It was mustered out at Brownsville May 28, 1866. It then moved to Madison, Wisconsin, June 3-18, and was discharged June 19, 1866.
The 4th Wisconsin Cavalry initially recruited 1,047 officers and men. An additional 998 men were recruited as replacements, for a total of 2,045 men. The Regiment lost during service 11 Officers and 106 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 3 Officers and 311 Enlisted men by disease. Total 431.
ASSIGNMENTS:
Attached to Dix's Division, Baltimore, Md., to February, 1862. Williams' Brigade, Butler's New Orleans Expedition, to April, 1862. 2nd Brigade, Dept. of the Gulf, to December, 1862. Grover's Division, Dept. of the Gulf, to January, 1863. 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, 19th Army Corps, Dept. of the Gulf, to July, 1863. Cavalry Brigade, 19th Army Corps, July, 1863. District of Baton Rouge, La., Dept. of the Gulf, to October, 1863. (Designation changed to 4th Cavalry August 22, 1863.) Unattached, Cavalry Division, Dept. of the Gulf, to January, 1864. District Baton Rouge, La., Dept. Gulf, to June, 1864. 4th Brigade, Cavalry Division, Dept. Gulf, to August, 1864. 2nd Brigade, Cavalry Division, Dept. Gulf, to February, 1865. Cavalry Brigade, District of Baton Rouge, to March, 1865. 1st Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, Military Division West Mississippi to April, 1865. 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, Cavalry Corps, Dept. of the Gulf, to May, 1865. 3rd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, Dept. of the Gulf, to July, 1865. Dept. of Texas, to May, 1866.
OFFICERS:
Colonel Frederick A. Boardman (August 22, 1863 – May 3, 1864) was killed in action at Comite River, Louisiana. He had begun the war as major of the 4th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment and was promoted to Colonel after the death of Colonel Sidney Bean.
Colonel Joseph Bailey (May 3, 1864 – November 10, 1864) was promoted to brigadier general. Earlier in the war, he had served as captain of Co. D in the 4th Wisconsin Infantry, and was later major and lieutenant colonel of the regiment.
Lt. Colonel Nelson F. Craigue (June 1864 – May 28, 1866) mustered out with the regiment. He was designated for promotion to colonel, but was never mustered at that rank.
SERVICE:
Guard railroad near Baltimore, Md., until November, 1861. Expedition to eastern shore of Maryland November 14-22. Duty at Baltimore until February, 1862. Moved to Fortress Monroe, Va., February 19, thence sailed on Steamer "Constitution" for Ship Island, Miss., March 5, arriving there March 13, and duty there until April 16. Operations against Forts St. Phillip and Jackson April 16-29. Surrender of Fort St. Phillip April 29. Occupation of New Orleans May 2. Expedition to New Orleans and Jackson Railroad May 8-10. Occupation of Baton Rouge May 12. Reconnaissance to Warrenton May 14-29. At Baton Rouge until June 17. Expedition from Baton Rouge June 7-9 (2 Cos.). Williams' Expedition to Vicksburg, Miss., and operations in that vicinity June 20-July 26. Grand Gulf June 23-24. Battle of Baton Rouge, La., August 5. Evacuation of Baton Rouge August 20. At Carrollton until September 29 and at Camp Parapet until December 19. Bayou Des Allemands September 4-5. Expedition from Carrollton to St. Charles' Court House September 7-8. Bonnet Carre near St. Charles' Court House September 8. Moved to Baton Rouge December 19, and duty there until February, 1863. (Co. "G" detached for Heavy Artillery service in the Defenses of New Orleans November 13, 1862, to August 14, 1863.) Moved to Bayou Plaquemine February 6, 1863. Expedition to Indian Village February 13. To New Orleans February 23, thence to Baton Rouge March 6. Demonstration on Port Hudson March 7-27. Operations in Western Louisiana April 9-May 14. Teche Campaign April 11-20. Fort Bisland April 12-13. Pursuit to Opelousas April 15-20. Expedition to Bayou Plaquemine April 22-23. Expedition from Opelouses to Chicotsville and Bayou Boeuf April 26-29. Near Washington May 1. Boyce's Bridge, Cotile Bayou, May 14. Cheyneyville May 18. March to Port Hudson May 19-25. Siege of Port Hudson May 25-June 9. Expedition to Niblitt's Bluff May 26-29. Assault on Port Hudson June 14. Grierson's Expedition to Clinton June 1-6. Clinton June 3-4. Surrender of Port Hudson July 9. Moved to Baton Rouge, La., July 25, and duty there until September. Designation of Regiment changed to 4th Wisconsin Cavalry August 22, 1863. Duty at Baton Rouge engaged in scouting, picketing and operating against guerrillas in that section of country lying between the Comite, Amite and Mississippi Rivers until June, 1864. Near Baton Rouge September 8, 1863 (Detachment). Greenwell Springs Road September 19 (Detachment), and October 5. Donaldsville February 8, 1864. New River February 9. Expedition to Rosedale February 14-22. Baton Rouge March 8. Black Bayou March 19. Reconnaissance to Clinton May 1. Olive Branch Church near Baton Rouge May 3. Baton Rouge June 16. Plaquemine June 28. Ordered to Morganza June 29, and duty there until August 9. Plaquemine August 6. Moved to Baton Rouge August 9. Near Bayou Letsworth August 11. Expedition to Clinton August 25-29. Olive Branch, Comite River and Clinton August 25. Expedition to Clinton, Greensburg and Camp Moore October 5-9. Expedition from Baton Rouge to Brookhaven, Miss., and skirmishes November 14-21. Liberty Creek November 15. Jackson November 21. Davidson Expedition to Mobile & Ohio Railroad and Pascagoula Bay November 27-December 13. At Baton Rouge until April, 1865. Mobile Campaign April. Capture of Mobile April 12. March through Alabama to Georgia and to Vicksburg, Miss., April 18-June 5. Moved to Shreveport, La., June 26-July 2. March to San Antonio, Texas July 8-August 3, and duty there until October. Expedition to Fort Inge and to Fort Clark and Eagle Pass September. Guard and patrol duty along the Rio Grande from Brownsville to Laredo until May, 1866. Mustered out at Brownsville May 28, 1866. Moved to Madison, Wis., June 3-18, and discharged June 19, 1866.
ROSTERS:
The composite rosters of this unit contain the names of 3512 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: