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1st Wisconsin Heavy Artillery
in the American Civil War

Regimental History

First Wisconsin Heavy Artillery. — Col., Charles C. Meservey; Lieut. -Col., Jacob T. Foster; Majs., Charles C. Meservey, L. H. Drury, Richard W. Hubbell, David C. Fulton. Three days after the first battle of Bull Run (July 25, 1861), Co. K, 2nd Wis. infantry, was detached for garrison duty at Fort Corcoran near Washington. On Aug. 28 it occupied Fort Marcy and on Sept. 12, one-half of the company was ordered to Fort Ethan Allen for garrison and instruction duty. On Oct. 10 it rejoined the regiment, but on Dec. 9 was permanently detached and organized as an artillery company — the 1st battery Wis. heavy artillery — and stationed at Fort Cass. This formed the nucleus for Wisconsin's heavy artillery and on Aug. 28, 1862, a detachment of 40 men, with 3 pieces of artillery, was sent to garrison Fort Buffalo, an exposed post, where it repulsed an attack of the enemy. It returned to Fort Cass in September, moved to Fort Ellsworth in November, and was transferred to Fort Worth in May, 1863. In June Capt. Meservey was authorized to recruit a battalion of four batteries of heavy artillery, using the first battery as a basis. On Aug. 22 part of battery B was mustered in and by Sept. 9 was fully recruited. Battery A moved in October from Fort Worth to Battery Rodgers, where it remained until May, 1864, and was then transferred to Fort Willard. It returned to Battery Rodgers in August and was mustered out at Washington Aug, 18, 1865. Battery B left Milwaukee in Oct., 1863, was sent to Munfordville, Ky., and on Jan. 4, 1864, to Lexington, Ky., where it garrisoned Fort Clay until Aug. 30, 1865, when it was mustered out. Battery C was mustered in Oct. 1, 1863, left the state on the 30th, and was sent to Fort Wood, Chattanooga. In Jan., 1864, it was sent to Fort Creighton and in May moved to Fort Sherman. On March 29, 1865, it moved to Athens, Tenn., and on April 5, marched to Mouse creek. On July 3 it was ordered to Strawberry plains, and was mustered out at Nashville Sept. 21, 1865. Battery D was mustered in Nov. 7, 1863; left the state Feb. 1, 1864, for New Orleans and was sent to Fort Jackson on garrison duty. In July it moved, to Fort Berwick, Brashear City, La., where it remained until June, 1865. It was mustered out Aug. 18, 1865. General orders No. 21, issued Sept. 14, 1864, called for the recruiting of eight additional companies to complete the regimental organization. Batteries L and M left the state, Sept. 30, E and F Oct. 3, H Oct. 7, K Oct. 17, and G and I Nov. 12. They were assigned to duty in the defenses at Washington as a part of the 4th brigade, Da Russy's division, 22nd army corps, and remained at that point until mustered out Oct. 1, 1865. It is due the entire regiment to say that in discipline and appearance under arms, it was equal to any in the service. Its original strength was 1,777. Gain by recruits, 407; draft, 4; reenlistments, 29; total, 2,217. Loss by death, 73; desertion, 70; transfer, 28; discharge, 223; unaccounted for, 3; mustered out, 1,820.

Footnotes:
Regimental history taken from "The Union Army" by Federal Publishing Company, 1908 - Volume 4

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