30th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment

Last updated
30th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment
Flag of Wisconsin.svg
ActiveOctober 21, 1862 September 20, 1865
Country United States
Allegiance Union
Branch Infantry
Size Regiment
Engagements American Civil War
  • Sully's Expedition Against the Sioux in Dakota Territory
Commanders
Colonel Daniel J. Dill

The 30th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment was a volunteer infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.

Contents

Service

The 30th Wisconsin Infantry was organized at Camp Randall, Madison, Wisconsin, and mustered into federal service October 21, 1862. Duty at Green Bay, West Bay and other points in Wisconsin, enforcing draft, etc., until March, 1863. Headquarters of regiment at Camp Randall until December 26, 1862, then at Camp Reno, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Companies "D" "F," "I" and "K" ordered to St. Louis, Missouri, May 2, 1863. Guard boats and supplies for Sully's Northwestern Indian Expedition up the Missouri River till August. Companies "I" and "K" ordered to Milwaukee. Companies "D" and "F" at Fann Island, and fatigue duty building Fort Sully till December, 1863. Companies "E" and "G" at Bayfield and Superior City, Wisconsin, May 26–August 21, 1863, then report to Milwaukee. Company "G" ordered to Davenport, Iowa, December 5, 1863. Company "I" moved to St. Louis, Mo., April, 1864, and thence to Fort Union, Dakota Territory, and duty there until June, 1865. Rejoined regiment at St. Louis, Missouri, June 22, 1865. Companies "A," "C," "F" and "H" left Milwaukee, Wisconsin, April 20, 1864, to join Sully's Northwestern Indian Expedition. Moved from St. Louis to Fort Sully, Dakota Territory, thence to Fort Rice, and duty there until October. Moved to Sioux City October 12–November 2. Company "D" join. Moved to Quincy, Illinois, thence to Louisville, Kentucky, November 24–29. Companies "B," "E," "G" and "K" left Milwaukee for Dakota Territory April, 1864. Duty at Fort Wadsworth July 1–September 29. Ordered to St. Louis, Missouri, thence to relief of Paducah, Kentucky, October 29. Moved to St. Louis December 6–10, and join balance of regiment. Moved to Bowling Green, Kentucky, December 12 and assigned to 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, Military District of Kentucky. Moved to Louisville, Kentucky, January 10, 1865, and provost duty there until September; also conducting prisoners to various points. Companies "B," "E" and "G" moved to Frankfort, Kentucky, February, 1865, and duty there until June. Mustered out September 20, 1865. [1]

Detailed Service

The 30th Wisconsin Infantry was recruited under the call of July, 1862, for 300,000 men. The first man to enlist was James Berry of Company D, on July 21, 1862. Enlistments closed on August 23, 1862, with a full regiment of 1020 men. Many of the enlistment papers were made out for the Twenty-fifth Regiment, but volunteering was so brisk that thirteen full regiments were raised from the 21st to the 33rd Wisconsin, inclusive, within thirty days from the call.

The average age of the men was twenty-five years and six months; their average height was 5 ft. 7 7–10 inches. Many were lumbermen, farmers and miners, and a number were Indians from the Chippewa Reservation. Nearly 90% were born in the United States.

The regiment was mustered into the United States service, October 18, 1862, at Camp Randall, near Madison, Wisconsin. As mustered in, the regiment was composed as follows:

Subsequently, regimental headquarters remained at Camp Randall, while portions of the regiment were almost constantly detached in the performance of various kinds of duty.

On May 2, 1863, companies D, F, I and K, under command of Lieutenant Colonel Bartlett, were ordered to the upper Missouri River, to support the Indian expedition under General Alfred Sully. These companies served with this command at different points on the river, from Sioux City, Iowa, to Fort Pierre, Dakota Territory, until the August 10, 1863, when companies I and К were ordered to report at Camp Washburn, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, leaving companies D and F at Fort Pierre; these companies arrived at Milwaukee on September 12, 1863.

On the May 26, companies G and E left Camp Randall, the former for Superior, Wis., and the latter for Bayfield, Wisconsin, in anticipation of trouble with the Indians at these points. They remained at these stations, respectively, until the middle of August, when they were recalled; arrived on August 31 at Camp Washburn, which was placed under command of Major John Clowney, of this regiment. The remaining companies, at various times, were sent to various parts of the state to maintain order during the enrollment and draft, under the Conscription Act. Colonel Daniel J. Dill was Post Commandant at Camp Randall during this time.

In the December, 1863, the regiment was transferred to Camp Washburn, and subsequently to Camp Reno, at Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where the headquarters of the regiment were established. In March, 1864, detachments of the regiment were ordered to various points in Dakota Territory and Northwestern Minnesota, and in General Sully's campaign against the Sioux Indians, moving from point to point during the summer, performing many marches and participating in several engagements with Indians.

On October 1, 1864, detachments of the 30th Wisconsin were stationed at various places in Dakota Territory as follows: Companies A, C, F, and H, under the immediate command of Colonel Dill, at Fort Rice, of which post Lieutenant Colonel Bartlett was placed in command; Companies B, E, G and К under command of Major Clowney, at Fort Wadsworth (later renamed to Fort Sisseton) near Coteau des Prairies; Company D, under command of Captain Fulton, at Fort Sully, and Company I, under command of Captain Greer, at Fort Union. Orrin C. Hall, the First Sergeant of Company I, was killed in action during a skirmish with Sioux warriors near Fort Union on April 27, 1865.

Companies A, C, F and H, commanded by Colonel Dill, left Fort Rice, Dakota, Friday, October 12, 1864, and descending the Missouri river in flat boats built by themselves, arrived November 2, 1864, at Sioux City, Iowa, where they were joined by Company D, under command of Lieutenant Lewis O. Marshall, Captain David С. Fulton having been promoted Major of the 1st Wisconsin Heavy Artillery Battalion on October 14. Continuing their journey down the river they arrived at St. Joseph, Missouri, November 17, 1864. Company H having been detained by floating ice, Captain Bedal abandoned his boat a few miles above St. Joseph, and marched his command to the city, rejoining the other companies November 23. Leaving St. Joseph on November 24, and proceeding by rail, they arrived on the following day at Quincy, Illinois, and thence proceeded by way of Springfield, Illinois, and Indianapolis, Indiana, arriving on November 29, 1864, at Louisville, Kentucky, where they went into camp.

Companies B, E, G and K, under command of Major Clowney, left Fort Wadsworth, Dakota Territory, on the September 29, 1864, en route for Fort Snelling, Minn., where they arrived on the October 20, having marched upwards of four hundred miles in twenty days, making an average of 20½ miles per day. Embarking on steamboats at Fort Snelling, Minnesota, on October 20, they descended the Mississippi to St. Louis, Missouri, where they arrived on October 26, and were quartered in Benton Barracks. They left St. Louis on the October 29, and arrived the next day at Paducah, Kentucky, at the mouth of the Tennessee River. Here they were employed in guard duty until December 6, 1864, when they again embarked and proceeding up the Ohio River, landed at Louisville December 10, where they rejoined the balance of the regiment, with the exception of Co. I, which still remained at Fort Union, Dakota Territory.

On the December 12, 1864, the nine companies of the Thirtieth left Louisville by rail, and next day went into camp at Bowling Green, Kentucky. Here the regiment was assigned to the Second Brigade, Second Division, Military District of Kentucky. Colonel Dill took command of the Brigade, and Major Clowney that of the Regiment. On the 10th of January 10, 1865, the Regiment left Bowling green for Louisville, arriving on the 12th, where they were assigned to duty as guard to the military prison in that city. On January 20, 1865, Companies A, D and F, under command of Captain Meacham, of Company F, were detached as provost guard in Louisville. On the February 8, 1865, Companies B, E and G, under command of Major Clowney, proceeded by rail to Frankfort, Kentucky, sixty five miles from Louisville, under orders to assume the duties of permanent garrison of that city. Company B, on the March 30, moved from Frankfort to Georgetown, Kentucky, near which they were stationed as garrison, under command of Lieutenant William H. Gill.

Lieutenant Colonel Bartlett rejoined and assumed command of the Regiment at Louisville in the latter part of February, 1865, and on April 17, 1865, Colonel Dill was appointed Provost Marshal General of Kentucky. Company В rejoined the command May 27, and early in June Companies E and G returned to Louisville, where Company I also rejoined the regiment on June 22, 1865, having been relieved from duty at Fort Union, Dakota Territory on June 4 by Company B of the 1st United States Volunteer Infantry. During the service of the Regiment in Kentucky it was engaged in running down and capturing bands of guerrillas in the Department.

The regiment was mustered out of service at Louisville, Kentucky, on September 20, 1865, and immediately started for home, arriving at Madison, Wisconsin, on September 25, 1865, where it was paid and disbanded. [2]

Casualties

The 30th Wisconsin suffered 2 enlisted men killed in action or who later died of their wounds, plus another 2 officers and 65 enlisted men who died of disease, for a total of 69 fatalities. [1]

Commanders

Notable members

See also

Related Research Articles

The 6th Minnesota Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment that fought in the Union army during the American Civil War. The 6th Minnesota Infantry spent much of the war in the Northwest fighting Dakota Indians rather than participating in the battles with the Confederacy. Led by William Crooks, the regiment saw action in the American Civil War mainly with the Dakota Tribe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">6th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment</span> Union Army infantry regiment

The 6th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. It spent most of the war as a part of the famous Iron Brigade in the Army of the Potomac.

The 25th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment was a volunteer infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. During their service, they first participated in the Dakota War of 1862, then spent most of the rest of the war in the western theater.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">27th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment</span> Union Army infantry regiment

The 27th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. The regiment began organizing in August 1862 but recruiting problems delayed its entry into federal service until March 1863. Predominantly from the Lake Michigan shore counties of the state, the regiment was mainly composed of German immigrants. The 27th Wisconsin played a supporting role in the Siege of Vicksburg and participated in the capture of Little Rock, Arkansas during the year. The regiment served in the Little Rock garrison and saw its first serious combat in the Camden Expedition of 1864, during which it fought in the Battle of Jenkins' Ferry. The regiment was among the Union forces in the Mobile campaign in early 1865, and was involved in the Battle of Spanish Fort. Ending the war in the occupation of Texas, the regiment was mustered out in August before returning to Wisconsin.

Galvanized Yankees was a term from the American Civil War denoting former Confederate prisoners of war who swore allegiance to the United States and joined the Union Army. Approximately 5,600 former Confederate soldiers enlisted in the United States Volunteers, organized into six regiments of infantry between January 1864 and November 1866. Of those, more than 250 had begun their service as Union soldiers, were captured in battle, then enlisted in prison to join a regiment of the Confederate States Army. They surrendered to Union forces in December 1864 and were held by the United States as deserters, but were saved from prosecution by being enlisted in the 5th and 6th U.S. Volunteers. An additional 800 former Confederates served in volunteer regiments raised by the states, forming ten companies. Four of those companies saw combat in the Western Theater against the Confederate Army, two served on the western frontier, and one became an independent company of U.S. Volunteers, serving in Minnesota.

The 7th Kentucky Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.

The 12th Kentucky Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.

The 19th Kentucky Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.

The 8th Kansas Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.

The 36th Regiment Indiana Infantry was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.

The 81st Regiment Indiana Infantry was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.

The 30th Regiment Indiana Infantry was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">70th Indiana Infantry Regiment</span> Military unit

The 70th Regiment Indiana Infantry was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clarence Edmund Bennett</span> United States Army officer (1833–1902)

Clarence Edmund Bennett (1833–1902), usually referred to as Clarence E. Bennett, a graduate of West Point, a career American Army officer who saw duty almost exclusively in Western frontier assignments, served in the American Civil War in California, New Mexico and Arizona Territories and later in Reconstruction occupation forces and frontier duty during the later Indian Wars.

The 71st Ohio Infantry Regiment, sometimes 71st Ohio Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment in the Union Army during the American Civil War.

The 46th Regiment Indiana Infantry was a regiment of the Union Army during the American Civil War.

The 48th Regiment Indiana Infantry was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alexander A. Arnold</span> 19th century American politician

Alexander Ahab Arnold was an American lawyer, livestock breeder, and Republican politician from Galesville, Wisconsin. He was the 33rd speaker of the Wisconsin State Assembly and served two years in the Wisconsin State Senate, representing Trempealeau County.

Joseph Nelson Garland Whistler was a career United States Army officer. He served in the Mexican–American War and received a brevet appointment for distinguished service in the Battle of Contreras and the Battle of Churubusco. At the beginning of the American Civil War, Whistler was among the U.S. Regular Army officers taken prisoner by Confederates in Texas in April 1861 and paroled but was not exchanged until August 15, 1862. In 1863, he became colonel of the 2nd New York Heavy Artillery Regiment. He received a promotion and four brevet appointments in the regular army for his service during the Overland Campaign, specifically the Battle of North Anna, and the Siege of Petersburg, specifically the Second Battle of Petersburg. He was nominated on January 13, 1866 and confirmed on March 12, 1866 for appointment to the grade of brevet brigadier general of volunteers, to rank from March 13, 1866. He retired in on October 19, 1886 as colonel of the 15th U.S. Infantry Regiment.

The Department of the Northwest was an U.S. Army Department created September 6, 1862 to put down the Sioux uprising in Minnesota. Major General John Pope was made commander of the Department. At the end of the Civil War the Department was redesignated the Department of Dakota. Immediately upon arriving in St. Paul General Pope sent letters to the Governors of Iowa and Wisconsin for additional troops to assist the 5th Minnesota Infantry Regiment. From Iowa he got the 27th Iowa Infantry Regiment and from Wisconsin he received the 25th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment. Both quickly crossed the border to assist with the uprising. The 25th Wisconsin was in Minnesota three months and the 27th Iowa was there a month before both headed south. After they departed, the Minnesota District would be garrisoned by Minnesota units: 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th Infantry Regiments, 1st and 2nd Minnesota Cavalry Regiments plus Minnesota Independent Cavalry Battalion as well as the 3rd Minnesota Light Artillery Battery. In 1864 companies of the 30th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment would see service in the Minnesota and Dakota Districts too.

References

  1. 1 2 "30th Regiment Infantry". civilwararchive.com. Retrieved June 2, 2016.
  2. Roster of the thirtieth Wisconsin Infantry Volunteers: mustered in, October 18, 1862, Madison, Wis., mustered out, September 20, 1865, Louisville, Ky, M.J. Cantwell, for the Association, 1896