Wisconsin Civil War History

  • Home
  • Wisconsin Civil War History

Wisconsin Civil War History Dedicated to telling the story of Wisconsin's Civil War history.

On this day, Sept. 14, 1862 the Battle of South Mountain is fought during the Maryland Campaign.The 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 6th, ...
14/09/2025

On this day, Sept. 14, 1862 the Battle of South Mountain is fought during the Maryland Campaign.

The 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 6th, and 7th Wisconsin Infantry regiments participated in the battle.

Seeing John Gibbon’s brigade of the 2nd, 6th, 7th Wisconsin and 19th Indiana regiments ferociously attacking Turner’s Gap, Army Commander George B. McClellan is said to have remarked, “They must be made of iron”, thus earning the sobriquet “Iron Brigade.”

All told, at the end of the day, Wisconsin troops suffered 222 killed and wounded in helping secure a Union victory.

On this day, Sept. 13, 1861 the 8th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment is mustered into Federal service.Famously know...
13/09/2025

On this day, Sept. 13, 1861 the 8th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment is mustered into Federal service.

Famously known as the “Eagle Regiment”, so named for their bald eagle mascot “Old Abe”, the regiment would participate in such Western Theater battles as Iuka, Second Corinth, Vicksburg, the Red River Campaign, and Nashville.

Old Abe’s legacy lives on through its likeness utilized in the 101st Airborne Division patch.

Mair Pointon (1843-1921)An English immigrant, Mair Pointon was a member of the “Sauk County Riflemen”, which would becom...
11/09/2025

Mair Pointon (1843-1921)

An English immigrant, Mair Pointon was a member of the “Sauk County Riflemen”, which would become Co. A of the 6th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment.

Pointon would survive the bloodletting at Antietam and eventually rise the ranks to become a First Lieutenant in Co. A by war’s end.

Sauk County Historical Society

WISCONSIN IN THE MARYLAND CAMPAIGN Capt. George Otis - Co. I, 2nd Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment.Otis served with...
09/09/2025

WISCONSIN IN THE MARYLAND CAMPAIGN

Capt. George Otis - Co. I, 2nd Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment.

Otis served with the 2nd Wisconsin at the Battle of Antietam and survived the battle. In a letter he wrote to his father on Sept. 21, 1862, he would convey his emotions of what he had just gone through: “I am comparatively alone with 12 or 14 men, and I assure you I feel lonesome and at times moan and pine for old Wisconsin. I have seen so much, passed through such terrible fields of strife, that my heart sickens against war…but I came here to perform a part and that part, whatever it may be, I shall cheerfully perform to the end.”

Perhaps one of the more poignant stories from the Maryland Campaign concerns Capt. Werner von Bachelle and a dog he befr...
07/09/2025

Perhaps one of the more poignant stories from the Maryland Campaign concerns Capt. Werner von Bachelle and a dog he befriended on the eve of the Battle of Antietam.

Werner von Bachelle was a German immigrant who was active in the Citizens Corp of Milwaukee militia unit. At the outset of the war he enlisted in the 6th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment and was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in Company F.

At the start of the Maryland Campaign von Bachelle was serving as captain of Company F. In the days leading up to the Battle of Antietam von Bachelle befriended a dog, which quickly became his pet and a mascot of the 6th Wisconsin. On Sept. 17, von Bachelle was mortally wounded, and as the story goes, the dog stayed at von Bachelle’s side and was found dead atop his lifeless body a couple days later.

As Rufus Dawes of the 6th Wisconsin described: “Bachelle had a fine Newfoundland dog…in camp, on the march, and in the line of battle, this dog was his constant companion…so far as we knew, no family or friends mourned for poor Bachelle, and it is probable that he was joined in death by his most devoted friend on earth.”

Werner von Bachelle was laid to rest in Antietam National Cemetery, and as legend goes, his loyal companion rests with him.

Antietam National Battlefield

06/09/2025

Don Pfanz: With profound sadness, we say goodbye….

We mourn the loss of Don Pfanz who was one of our battlefield guides, Civil War community legend, and friend. Donald Pfanz of Spotsylvania County, VA died in his home on Sept. 2 from Glioblastoma brain cancer. Pfanz was born on April 16, 1958, in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, the son of author/historian Harry W. Pfanz and Letitia Earll Pfanz. He was predeceased by his first wife, Betty Davidsen Pfanz, and is survived by his second wife, Zandra Montalvo Pfanz.

Pfanz grew up in St. Louis, Missouri, and attended Wootton High School in Montgomery County, Maryland, before graduating with a B.A. degree in history from the College of William and Mary in 1980, where he played on the varsity soccer team. After college he made his career with the National Park Service, serving for 32 years at Petersburg Battlefield Park, Fort Sumter National Monument, and Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania County National Military Park. In the latter assignment, he helped organize and execute the annual Chatham Concert Series, National Cemetery Luminaria, and Memorial Day Program.

An avid preservationist, Pfanz was a founder of The Association for the Preservation of Civil War Sites (now The American Battlefield Trust). He also wrote 10 books on key people and places of the Civil War, including Clara Barton’s Civil War, Richard S. Ewell: A Soldier’s Life, War So Terrible: A Popular History of the Battle of Fredericksburg, and Spotsylvania National Military Park and Fredericksburg: A Comprehensive Civil War Guide.

The interment service will be private. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to The American Battlefield Trust at https://www.battlefields.org/
Read more about Don on our page.
https://battlefieldtoursofvirginia.com/personnel/don-pfanz/

Wisconsin in the Maryland Campaign Continuing our series on Wisconsin in the Maryland Campaign, I want to highlight Wils...
06/09/2025

Wisconsin in the Maryland Campaign

Continuing our series on Wisconsin in the Maryland Campaign, I want to highlight Wilson Colwell of Company B, 2nd Wisconsin.

Born in Pennsylvania, Colwell settled in La Crosse, WI, started a family, and became mayor of the town.

When the war started, Colwell left his office to become captain and commander of the La Crosse Light Guard, which was mustered into Federal service as Company B, 2nd Wisconsin, with Colwell as captain.

Colwell participated in the First Battle of Bull Run and was still with the regiment for the Maryland Campaign. During the Battle of South Mountain on Sept. 14, 1862, as Colwell was leading his company into action a Confederate bullet struck him down.

A report in the La Crosse Republican described what happened next: “When he lay mortally wounded, and his life blood ebbing away, his last and almost dying words were ‘Advance the right, and press forward; don’t give way’…then…his pulse grew still-‘my poor, poor wife’-and the cord of life was broken.”

Perhaps the best epitaph came from his commanding officer, Col. Lucius Fairchild: “His place can hardly be filled. He was a fine officer and beloved by the whole regiment.”

Colwell is buried in Pennsylvania and left behind his wife Nannie and two daughters, the youngest being born a month before he was killed.

La Crosse County Historical Society

Introducing the commanders of the Wisconsin regiments at the beginning of the Maryland Campaign of 1862:2nd Wisconsin: C...
05/09/2025

Introducing the commanders of the Wisconsin regiments at the beginning of the Maryland Campaign of 1862:

2nd Wisconsin: Col. Lucius Fairchild
3rd Wisconsin: Col. Thomas H. R***r
5th: Wisconsin: Col. Amasa Cobb
6th Wisconsin: Lt. Col. Edward S. Bragg
7th Wisconsin: Capt. John B. Callis

Today begins the anniversary of the Maryland Campaign of 1862, which will culminate with the Battle of Antietam.Stay tun...
04/09/2025

Today begins the anniversary of the Maryland Campaign of 1862, which will culminate with the Battle of Antietam.

Stay tuned to this page as we trace the movements of the Wisconsin troops involved and how the “Iron Brigade” moniker was born!

in 1862 citizens of Manitowoc were awakened to the cry of “Indians are coming!”This cry was raised by messengers from ...
02/09/2025

in 1862 citizens of Manitowoc were awakened to the cry of “Indians are coming!”

This cry was raised by messengers from the neighboring communities of Rapids, Branch, and Kellnersville and began what was known as the “Indian Scare of 1862”.

Mainly brought on by the news of the Dakota War in neighboring Minnesota, settlers from the communities surrounding Manitowoc fled to that town to seek refuge.

The alarm was proved to be false after a scouting expedition led by recruits of the 26th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment could not find any evidence of a forthcoming attack.

in the two-day Battle of Jonesborough (also spelled Jonesboro) commences in 1864.Part of the Atlanta Campaign, the b...
31/08/2025

in the two-day Battle of Jonesborough (also spelled Jonesboro) commences in 1864.

Part of the Atlanta Campaign, the battle concluded on September 1, 1864 with a Union victory. The result of the battle had a direct impact on the evacuation of Atlanta on September 2.

The 1st, 12th, 16th, 17th, 21st, 24th, 25th and 32nd Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry regiments along with the 5th and 10th Wisconsin Light Artillery batteries participated in the battle.

Address


Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Wisconsin Civil War History posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to Wisconsin Civil War History:

Shortcuts

  • Want your business to be the top-listed Media Company?

Share