The 6th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment was a

volunteer Volunteering is an elective and freely chosen act of an individual or group giving their time and labor, often for community service. Many volunteers are specifically trained in the areas they work, such as medicine, education, or emergency ...

infantry Infantry, or infantryman are a type of soldier who specialize in ground combat, typically fighting dismounted. Historically the term was used to describe foot soldiers, i.e. those who march and fight on foot. In modern usage, the term broadl ...

regiment A regiment is a military unit. Its role and size varies markedly, depending on the country, military service, service, or administrative corps, specialisation. In Middle Ages, Medieval Europe, the term "regiment" denoted any large body of l ...

that served in the Union Army during the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861May 26, 1865; also known by Names of the American Civil War, other names) was a civil war in the United States between the Union (American Civil War), Union ("the North") and the Confederate States of A ...

. Throughout the war, it was part of the brigade that came to be known as the

Iron Brigade The Iron Brigade, also known as The Black Hats, Black Hat Brigade, Iron Brigade of the West, and originally King's Wisconsin Brigade was an infantry brigade in the Union Army of the Potomac during the American Civil War. Although it fought ent ...

in the

Army of the Potomac The Army of the Potomac was the primary field army of the Union army in the Eastern Theater of the American Civil War. It was created in July 1861 shortly after the First Battle of Bull Run and was disbanded in June 1865 following the Battle of ...

. They were engaged in most of the critical battles of the eastern theater of the war, including

Antietam The Battle of Antietam ( ), also called the Battle of Sharpsburg, particularly in the Southern United States, took place during the American Civil War on September 17, 1862, between Confederate General Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virgin ...

, Gettysburg, and Grant's

Overland Campaign The Overland Campaign, also known as Grant's Overland Campaign and the Wilderness Campaign, was a series of battles fought in Virginia during May and June 1864, towards the end of the American Civil War. Lieutenant general (United States), Lt. G ...

Service

The 6th Wisconsin was raised at

Mauston, Wisconsin Mauston is a city in and the county seat of Juneau County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 4,347 as of the 2020 census. It is approximately 70 miles northwest from the state capital, Madison. History Mauston was founded by Milton ...

, and mustered into Federal service July 16, 1861, for a term of three years. They received their baptism by fire in the 1862

Northern Virginia Campaign The Northern Virginia Campaign, also known as the Second Bull Run Campaign or Second Manassas Campaign, was a series of battles fought in Virginia during August and September 1862 in the Eastern Theater of the American Civil War. Confederate ...

, fighting at Brawner's Farm (Gainesville) in the waning hours of August 28, 1862, losing 72 men killed or wounded. After the devastating defeat at

Second Bull Run The Second Battle of Bull Run or Battle of Second Manassas was fought August 28–30, 1862, in Prince William County, Virginia, as part of the American Civil War. It was the culmination of the Northern Virginia Campaign waged by Confederate ...

, the 3rd Corps was transferred back into the

. In the subsequent

Maryland Campaign The Maryland campaign (or Antietam campaign) occurred September 4–20, 1862, during the American Civil War. The campaign was Confederate States Army, Confederate General (CSA), General Robert E. Lee's first invasion of the Northern United Stat ...

, the 6th Wisconsin would assault Turners Gap at the

Battle of South Mountain The Battle of South Mountain, known in several early Southern United States, Southern accounts as the Battle of Boonsboro Gap, was fought on September 14, 1862, as part of the Maryland campaign of the American Civil War. Three pitched battles ...

, losing 90 men; three days later they would be heavily engaged again at the

Battle of Antietam The Battle of Antietam ( ), also called the Battle of Sharpsburg, particularly in the Southern United States, took place during the American Civil War on September 17, 1862, between Confederate General Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virgi ...

, resulting in another 152 casualties, including their then-commander, Colonel Edward Bragg, who was wounded in the first barrage. The 6th Wisconsin would not see any major action at the

Battle of Fredericksburg The Battle of Fredericksburg was fought December 11–15, 1862, in and around Fredericksburg, Virginia, in the Eastern Theater of the American Civil War. The combat between the Union Army, Union Army of the Potomac commanded by Major general ( ...

, but would partake in the assault at Fitzhugh's Crossing, April 29, 1863, part of the maneuvering for the

Battle of Chancellorsville The Battle of Chancellorsville, April 30 – May 6, 1863, was a major battle of the American Civil War (1861–1865), and the principal engagement of the Chancellorsville campaign. Confederate General Robert E. Lee's risky decision to divide h ...

. Colonel Bragg would be wounded again at Chancellorsville, leaving command of the regiment to Lieutenant Colonel

Rufus Dawes Rufus R. Dawes (July 4, 1838August 1, 1899) was a military officer in the Union Army during the American Civil War. He used the middle initial "R" but had no middle name. He was noted for his service in the famed Iron Brigade, particularly dur ...

The 6th's next major engagement would be at the crossroads town of Gettysburg, July 1, 1863. Their brigade was one of the first to engage the enemy at Gettysburg, advancing to Herbst's Woods in the morning, but the 6th Wisconsin would initially be held in reserve on Seminary Ridge. The 6th would finally get their turn to bring glory to Wisconsin when they were ordered to attack an exposed Confederate brigade under the command of Joseph R. Davis at about 11am. The 6th would form up on the Chambersburg Pike behind a fence, and—aided by the 14th Brooklyn and the —they would assault the Confederates, who had entrenched themselves in an unfinished railroad cut. The Badgers would suffer heavily in the charge, losing one man for every yard they advanced. The following is quoted from their commander that day, Rufus Dawes. "I first mistook the strange maneuver for a retreat, but was undeceived by the deadly fire, which they at once began to pour from their cover in the cut." Dawes noted that he lost ten men carrying the colors, and nearly half of all available officers. "Men were dying in the twenties and thirties, but still, the boys crowded around the colors, and went forward." Finally, after withstanding the fire that was being directed at the advancing Federals, the rebel flag was within reach, and a horrific melee ensued in the cut. "Corporal Egelston seized the rebel battle flag, but was struck, and fell, mortally wounded. Private Anderson, furious at the shooting of his comrade, with a terrific blow split the skull of the rebel who had shot young Egelston." After several minutes of deadly melee, Corporal Francis A. Wallar seized the colors of the 2nd Mississippi, and held it aloft, compelling most of the rebels to surrender, and cease their fighting. The Wisconsinites would hold their position in the railroad cut, until ordered to retreat with the rest of the 1st Corps. The 6th would take positions on Culps Hill with the rest of the brigade, and would partake in a nighttime attack to retake some earthworks previously occupied by Federals. The 6th Wisconsin would suffer 168 casualties at Gettysburg, with most of all available officers put out of duty. After Gettysburg, the brigade would be briefly joined by the 167th Pennsylvania, who, convinced that their enlistments had expired, refused to march. As a result, the brigade was ordered to shoot the unruly Pennsylvanians, who quickly went into line, with little to no doubt in their mind that the hardened veterans of the Iron Brigade would not hesitate to shoot them, the 6th was ordered to march behind the 167th at bayonet point, with orders to shoot anyone who fell out of line. The Iron Brigade would see service in the

of 64', fighting in the

Battle of The Wilderness The Battle of the Wilderness was fought on May 5–7, 1864, during the American Civil War. It was the first battle of Lieutenant general (United States), Lieutenant General Ulysses S. Grant's 1864 Virginia Overland Campaign against General (C ...

the 6th, along with the rest of the brigade, would assault Confederate lines on May 5. The brigade would gain initial success, however, they would advance unsupported, and as a result their lines would be flanked. As a result of heavy pressure the brigade would retreat in disorder, unexpected for a veteran Brigade of their status. During the subsequent

Battle of Spotsylvania Court House The Battle of Spotsylvania Court House, sometimes more simply referred to as the Battle of Spotsylvania (or the 19th-century spelling Spottsylvania), was the second major battle in Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant and Maj. Gen. George G. Meade's 18 ...

, the 6th Wisconsin would once again assault Rebel earthworks at Laurel Hill, and then again at the

Cold Harbor The Battle of Cold Harbor was fought during the American Civil War near Mechanicsville, Virginia, from May 31 to June 12, 1864, with the most significant fighting occurring on June 3. It was one of the final battles of Union Army, Union Lieuten ...

. Total losses for the Badgers during the Overland Campaign would add up to 140. The 6th Wisconsin and the rest of the Iron Brigade would see service during the

siege of Petersburg The Richmond–Petersburg campaign was a series of battles around Petersburg, Virginia, fought from June 9, 1864, to March 25, 1865, during the American Civil War. Although it is more popularly known as the siege of Petersburg, it was not a c ...

and at the Battle of Weldon Railroad (or Globe Tavern). The regiment would see considerable service till the end of the war. The regiment participated in the

Grand Review of the Armies The Grand Review of the Armies was a military procession and celebration in the national capital city of Washington, D.C., on May 23–24, 1865, following the Union victory in the American Civil War (1861–1865). Elements of the Union Army in th ...

on May 23, 1865, and then mustered out at

Louisville, Kentucky Louisville is the List of cities in Kentucky, most populous city in the Commonwealth of Kentucky, sixth-most populous city in the Southeastern United States, Southeast, and the list of United States cities by population, 27th-most-populous city ...

, on July 2, 1865.

Commanders

Colonel Colonel ( ; abbreviated as Col., Col, or COL) is a senior military Officer (armed forces), officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations. In the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, a colon ...

Lysander Cutler (May 28, 1861November 29, 1862) was promoted to brigadier general, commanded the

. He served through nearly the entire war and received an honorary brevet to major general. * Colonel Edward S. Bragg (March 10, 1863June 25, 1864) began the war as captain of Co. E. He was later promoted to brigadier general and commanded the Iron Brigade. After the war he became a U.S. congressman and U.S. minister to Mexico. * Colonel

(July 5, 1864August 9, 1864) began the war as captain of Co. K, and was acting commander of the regiment at the

Battle of Gettysburg The Battle of Gettysburg () was a three-day battle in the American Civil War, which was fought between the Union and Confederate armies between July 1 and July 3, 1863, in and around Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The battle, won by the Union, ...

. He mustered out at the end of his three-year enlistment and received an honorary brevet to brigadier general. After the war, he served as a U.S. congressman and wrote an extensive memoir of his Civil War service. His son, Charles G. Dawes, was the 30th vice president of the United States. * Colonel John Azor Kellogg (December 10, 1864July 14, 1865) began the war as 1st lieutenant of Co. K, and served as adjutant to the brigade commander in 1863 and was a prisoner of war for several months in 1864. He mustered out with the regiment at the end of the war and received an honorary brevet to brigadier general. After the war, he served in the Wisconsin State Senate and wrote a memoir of his time as a prisoner of war.

Total enlistments and casualties

The 6th Wisconsin Infantry initially mustered 1,029 men and later recruited an additional 601 men, for a total of 1,630 men. The regiment lost 16 officers and 228 enlisted men killed in action or who later died of their wounds, plus another 1 officer and 112 enlisted men who died of disease, for a total of 357 fatalities.

Notable people

File:RRDawes.jpg, Rufus Dawes File:COL John A. Kellogg.png, John A. Kellogg File:JohnJJenkins.jpg, John J. Jenkins File:Benjamin J. Sweet.jpg, Benjamin J. Sweet * Oscar Bartlett, assistant surgeon, later became chief surgeon for the 3rd Wisconsin Infantry Regiment. Resigned due to disability. Before the war, he had served in the Wisconsin Legislature. * Edwin Arnold Brown, captain of Co. E, was killed by a cannon ball at Antietam. He was the son of Fond du Lac pioneer Isaac Brown. * Francis A. Deleglise was a corporal in Co. E and was wounded at Antietam and Gettysburg. After the war he served as a Wisconsin state legislator and was a founder of

Antigo, Wisconsin Antigo ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Langlade County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 8,100 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. Antigo is the center of a farming and lumbering district, and its manufactured prod ...

. * Daniel J. Dill, captain of Co. B, later became colonel of the

30th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment The 30th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment was a United States Volunteers, volunteer infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. Service The 30th Wisconsin Infantry was organized at Camp Randall, Madison, Wisconsin, ...

. After the war served as a Wisconsin state legislator. * John C. Hall, chief surgeon, later served as a Wisconsin state senator. * Frank A. Haskell, adjutant, became adjutant and staff aide to General

John Gibbon John Gibbon (April 20, 1827 – February 6, 1896) was a career United States Army officer who fought in the American Civil War and the Indian Wars. Early life Gibbon was born in the Holmesburg, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Holmesburg section ...

, later commissioned colonel of the 36th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment, killed in action at Cold Harbor. * John J. Jenkins was a private in Co. A. Later in life, he became a seven-term U.S. congressman and a federal judge. * Robert Lees, private in Co. H, later became first sergeant, wounded at Gettysburg. After the war served as a Wisconsin state senator and county judge. * James R. Lyon, initially managed a supply wagon, later became a private in Co. I. After the war served as a Wisconsin state legislator. * Adam Gale Malloy, captain of Co. A, later became colonel of the 17th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment and received an honorary brevet to brigadier general. * George Davis McDill, private and corporal in Co. I, later became captain of Co. K in the 37th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment. After the war served as a Wisconsin state legislator. * Albert T. Morgan was captain of Co. H near the end of the war. He previously served as captain of Co. B in the "independent battalion" remnant of the

2nd Wisconsin Infantry Regiment The 2nd 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 member of the famous Iron Brigade of the Army of the Potomac. It suffered the largest numbe ...

, which was absorbed into the 6th Wisconsin Infantry in November 1864. He received a double-honorary brevet to lieutenant colonel at the end of the war. After the war, he was a Mississippi state senator and wrote a memoir of his experiences in the reconstruction-era south. * David K. Noyes, first lieutenant and captain in Co. A, severely wounded at Antietam. Later served as lieutenant colonel of the 49th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment. After the war served as a postmaster and newspaper publisher. * Peter Polin was 2nd lieutenant in Co. H, but resigned before the regiment left Wisconsin. He elected posthumously to the Wisconsin Assembly in 1870, having died the day before the election. * John Starks, sergeant in Co. A, was the son of Argalus Starks. He was badly wounded at Gainesville, later commissioned captain of Co. K,

23rd Wisconsin Infantry Regiment The 23rd Wisconsin Infantry Regiment was a volunteer infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. Service The 23rd Wisconsin was organized at Madison, Wisconsin, and mustered into Federal service on August 30 ...

, and was mortally wounded at Vicksburg. * Benjamin Sweet, major and lieutenant colonel, later served as colonel of the 21st Wisconsin Infantry Regiment and was badly wounded and disabled at Perryville. Given command of the prisoner-of-war camp Camp Douglas. After the war, received an honorary brevet to brigadier general. * John Tester, first lieutenant of Co. H, later served as a Wisconsin state legislator. * Francis A. Wallar was corporal, sergeant, and later 2nd lieutenant in Company I. He was awarded the

Medal of Honor The Medal of Honor (MOH) is the United States Armed Forces' highest Awards and decorations of the United States Armed Forces, military decoration and is awarded to recognize American United States Army, soldiers, United States Navy, sailors, Un ...

for actions at Gettysburg. After the war he was sheriff of Vernon County, Wisconsin. * Jerome Anthony Watrous, private and sergeant in Co. E, commissioned as adjutant of the regiment and received an honorary brevet to captain. After the war served as a Wisconsin state legislator and historian, and served as a U.S. Army officer in the

Spanish–American War The Spanish–American War (April 21 – August 13, 1898) was fought between Restoration (Spain), Spain and the United States in 1898. It began with the sinking of the USS Maine (1889), USS ''Maine'' in Havana Harbor in Cuba, and resulted in the ...

Nicknames

According to veteran of the 2nd Wisconsin, Cullen B. Aubery, the 6th Wisconsin's regimental nickname while part of the

was "The Calico", also called "The Calico Sixth" or the "Calico Boys". This nickname, according to 6th Wisconsin veteran

, the original commander of Company K, was derived from the mismatched uniforms first worn by the regiment when it was first mustered into service on July 16, 1861 at

Camp Randall Camp Randall was a United States Army base in Madison, Wisconsin, the largest staging point for Wisconsin troops entering the American Civil War. At this camp fresh volunteers received quick training before heading off to join the Union Army. Al ...

Service

Commanders

Total enlistments and casualties

Notable people

Nicknames

See also

References

Further reading