The 26th Wisconsin Infantry Volunteers were mostly German-speaking immigrants of southeastern Wisconsin. Some were of Jewish background. They enlisted in August of 1862, drilled at Camp Sigel in Milwaukee, and became part of the 11th Corps. Major General Franz Sigel, also a German immigrant, took command of the 11th Corps on October 15, 1862. The 26th Wisconsin regiment fell under Major General Carl Schurz’s Division, and the Brigade of Colonel Vladimir Krzyzanowski. In January of 1863, Major General Oliver Otis Howard replaced General Sigel.
The weather squelched their opportunity to fight at Fredericksburg, Virginia in December of 1862. In the spring of the following year was the first battle for the 26th Wisconsin, which took place at Chancellorsville, Virginia. The entire 11th Army Corps could not repel the Confederate assault on their extreme right flank. The 26th Wisconsin, along with the 58th New York attempted to make a stand near Hawkins Farm (Picture Left). Though the battle was short lived, their stubborn stance against the Confederate army, gave enough time for the Union Army to evacuate troops and supplies. After the three-day battle, the news press in New York and in Milwaukee, cited the “German regiments as cowards, throwing down their weapons, and fleeing for their lives”. It would take many months, and a great deal of effort from Major General Carl Schurz and Colonel Krzyzanowski to bring out the truth.
Two months later, and with much anger t
owards their new Major General Howard’s leadership incompetence at Chancellorsville, the 26th Wisconsin marched towards Gettysburg. During the afternoon of July 1st, 1863, the entire 11th Corps took up a position north of town (picture right) and fought against the incoming rebel forces. The battle lasted for a few hours until the increasing number of Confederate forces was no match for them. In a frantic run, the 11th Corps withdrew south through the town. Confederates took prisoners while rebel snipers killed their victims. The regiment found refuge on Cemetery Hill. However, on the second day of battle the 11th Corps repelled advancing enemy forces, but the 26th Wisconsin did not participate. On the third day, the Confederates made their charge to the Union forces. Though the Union Army engaged in fierce battle, the 26th Wisconsin had little resistance. On the fourth day, the 26th Wisconsin marched east of town to pick up Confederate stragglers. The battle of Gettysburg took its toll on the soldiers of the 26th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment.
Given unfavorable press, the disgruntled regiment returned to their march for the south. The next battle took place on October of 1863 at Wauhatchie by Lookout Mountain near Chattanooga, Tennessee. Major General Oliver Otis Howard sent two of his Corps divisions (one containing the 26th Wisconsin) to Wauhatchie Station as reinforcements. As more Union troops arrived to join in this rare night time battle, the Confederates fell back to Lookout Mountain.
On April 14th, 1864, General U. S. Grant reorganized the Army of the Potomac. The 26th Wisconsin now became part of the 20th Army Corps with General Joseph Hooker in command. They fell under the Third Brigade under Colonel James Wood Jr., while Major Frederick C. Winkler took command of the 26th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment. General Sherman took command of this and two other Army Corps, and marched their way to Atlanta, Georgia. The 26th Wisconsin had many skirmishes while on route to Atlanta. They fought at battlegrounds such as: Buzzard Roost, Resaca, New Hope Church, Kennesaw Mountain (left), and Peach Tree Creek as the 26th’s greatest victory with the capture of the 33rd Mississippi regimental flag. The campaign ended with the conquest of Atlanta.
On November 16th, 1864, General Sherman ordered the 20th Corps to march through South Carolina to the Atlantic Ocean. There were only skirmishes during the march. Their primary duty was to wreak havoc in the two states destroying the railroad, cutting off supplies to the Confederate Army, and taking provisions from the land. The march concluded on December 10, 1864 upon the capture of Savannah, Georgia.
One of the last battles that the 26th fought was in Averasboro, North Carolina on March 16th, 1865. This battle was inconclusive. And one battle took place outside of Bentonville on March 20th, 1865. The Confederate Army retreated. On April 18, General Johnston signed an armistice with Sherman at the Bennett House, and on April 26, surrendered his army. The war was over.
The 26th Wisconsin, along with the rest of the 20th Corps, began their march back to Washington. They marched through the devastated town of Richmond, Virginia, and passed by Chancellorsville, Virginia, on the same road they fought on two years earlier. They crossed the Potomac river and encamped in Washington D. C.
The 26th Wiscons
in marched in the Grand Review parade in Washington D. C. The picture on the left shows part of Sherman’s Twentieth Corps marching down Pennsylvania Ave. On July 13th, 1865, Washington mustered out the 26th Wisconsin. They received passage by train for Milwaukee, Wisconsin. There they received another hero’s welcome and a parade and returned to their former lives. Some veterans of the 26th Wisconsin attended many reunions, joined their local GAR (Grand Army of the Republic) and remembered the war they fought together.
Contact Russ: rscott56@netzero.com