8th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment
Encyclopedia
The 8th Regiment Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry was an infantry
regiment
that served in the Union Army
during the American Civil War
. The 8th Wisconsin's mascot was Old Abe
, a bald eagle that accompanied the regiment into battle.
, and mustered into Federal service September 13, 1861.
The regiment was mustered out on September 5, 1865, at Demopolis, Alabama
.
The regiment lost 2 officers and 53 enlisted men killed in action or who later died of their wounds, plus another 2 officers and 219 enlisted men who died of disease, for a total of 280 fatalities.
The War Eagle
attended numerous battles and lesser engagements during the war:
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
regiment
Regiment
A regiment is a major tactical military unit, composed of variable numbers of batteries, squadrons or battalions, commanded by a colonel or lieutenant colonel...
that served in the Union Army
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. The 8th Wisconsin's mascot was Old Abe
Old Abe
Old Abe , a bald eagle, was the mascot of the 8th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment in the American Civil War. It later was depicted as the screaming eagle mascot on the insignia of the U.S...
, a bald eagle that accompanied the regiment into battle.
Service
The 8th Wisconsin was raised at Madison, WisconsinMadison, Wisconsin
Madison is the capital of the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of Dane County. It is also home to the University of Wisconsin–Madison....
, and mustered into Federal service September 13, 1861.
The regiment was mustered out on September 5, 1865, at Demopolis, Alabama
Demopolis, Alabama
Demopolis is the largest city in Marengo County, Alabama, United States. The population was 7,483 at the time of the 2010 United States Census....
.
Total enlistments and casualties
The 8th Wisconsin initially mustered 870 men and later recruited an additional 333 men, for a total of 1,203 men.The regiment lost 2 officers and 53 enlisted men killed in action or who later died of their wounds, plus another 2 officers and 219 enlisted men who died of disease, for a total of 280 fatalities.
Colonels
- ColonelColonelColonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
Robert C. Murphy - ColonelColonelColonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
George W. Robbins - ColonelColonelColonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
John W. JeffersonJohn Wayles JeffersonJohn Wayles Jefferson, born John Wayles Hemings , was the son of a former slave who served as a colonel in the Union Army and was a businessman, becoming a wealthy cotton broker in Memphis, Tennessee... - ColonelColonelColonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
William B. Britton
Battles
The 8th Wisconsin Infantry along with their mascot Old AbeOld Abe
Old Abe , a bald eagle, was the mascot of the 8th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment in the American Civil War. It later was depicted as the screaming eagle mascot on the insignia of the U.S...
The War Eagle
War Eagle
War Eagle is the battle cry of fans for the Auburn Tigers football team, and all other athletics teams of Auburn University, and for all intents and purposes, for Auburn University in general. It is also the title of the university fight song...
attended numerous battles and lesser engagements during the war:
- FredericktownBattle of FredericktownThe Battle of Fredericktown was an engagement of the American Civil War. It took place on October 21, 1861, in Madison County, Missouri. Union victory consolidated their control of southeastern Missouri.-Background:...
, Missouri - 21 October 1861 - New Madrid and *Island #10 - March & April 1862 Union General John Pope captures Point Pleasant, Missouri, and provokes Confederates to evacuate New Madrid. The Confederates abandon arms and provisions, valued at one million dollars, during their escape across the Mississippi River to the eastern bank and to Island No. 10.
- Point PleasantBattle of Point PleasantThe Battle of Point Pleasant, known as the Battle of Kanawha in some older accounts, was the only major battle of Dunmore's War. It was fought on October 10, 1774, primarily between Virginia militia and American Indians from the Shawnee and Mingo tribes...
, Missouri - 20 March 1862 - FarmingtonBattle of FarmingtonThe Battle of Farmington is a name given to two different battles during the American Civil War − one in Tennessee, the other in Mississippi.The Battle at Farmington, Tennessee was fought October 7, 1863 in Farmington, Marshall County, Tennessee. It ended in a Confederate victory...
, Mississippi. - 9 May 1862 - CorinthSiege of CorinthThe Siege of Corinth was an American Civil War battle fought from April 29 to May 30, 1862, in Corinth, Mississippi.-Background:...
, Mississippi. - 28 May 1862 - IukaBattle of IukaThe Battle of Iuka was fought on September 19, 1862, in Iuka, Mississippi, during the American Civil War. In the opening battle of the Iuka-Corinth Campaign, Union Maj. Gen. William S. Rosecrans stopped the advance of the army of Confederate Maj. Gen. Sterling Price.Maj. Gen. Ulysses S...
, Mississippi. - 12 September 1862 - Burnsville, Mississippi. - 13 September 1862
- IukaBattle of IukaThe Battle of Iuka was fought on September 19, 1862, in Iuka, Mississippi, during the American Civil War. In the opening battle of the Iuka-Corinth Campaign, Union Maj. Gen. William S. Rosecrans stopped the advance of the army of Confederate Maj. Gen. Sterling Price.Maj. Gen. Ulysses S...
, Mississippi. - 16–18 September 1862 - CorinthSecond Battle of CorinthThe Second Battle of Corinth was fought October 3–4, 1862, in Corinth, Mississippi. For the second time in the Iuka-Corinth Campaign, Union Maj. Gen. William S...
, Mississippi. - 3–4 October 1862 - Tallehatchie, Mississippi. - 2 December 1862
- Mississippi Springs, Mississippi. - 13 May 1863
- Jackson, Mississippi. - 14 May 1863
- Assault on VicksburgBattle of VicksburgThe Siege of Vicksburg was the final major military action in the Vicksburg Campaign of the American Civil War. In a series of maneuvers, Union Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant and his Army of the Tennessee crossed the Mississippi River and drove the Confederate army of Lt. Gen. John C...
, Mississippi. - 22 May 1863 - Mechanicsburg, Mississippi. - 4 June 1863
- Richmond, Louisiana. - 15 June 1863
- VicksburgBattle of VicksburgThe Siege of Vicksburg was the final major military action in the Vicksburg Campaign of the American Civil War. In a series of maneuvers, Union Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant and his Army of the Tennessee crossed the Mississippi River and drove the Confederate army of Lt. Gen. John C...
, Mississippi. - 24 June 1863 - Surrender of VicksburgBattle of VicksburgThe Siege of Vicksburg was the final major military action in the Vicksburg Campaign of the American Civil War. In a series of maneuvers, Union Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant and his Army of the Tennessee crossed the Mississippi River and drove the Confederate army of Lt. Gen. John C...
- 4 July 1863 - BrownsvilleBattle of BrownsvilleThe Battle of Brownsville took place on November 2-6, 1863 during the American Civil War. It was a successful effort on behalf of the Union Army to disrupt Confederate blockade runners along the Gulf Coast in Texas...
, Mississippi. - 14 October 1863 - Fort Scurry, Louisiana. - 13 March 1864
- Fort De Russey, Louisiana. - 15 March 1864
- Henderson's Hill, Louisiana. - 21 March 1864
- Grand Ecore, Louisiana. - 2 April 1864
- Pleasant HillBattle of Pleasant HillThe Battle of Pleasant Hill was fought on April 9, 1864, during the Red River Campaign of the American Civil War, near Pleasant Hill, Louisiana, between Union forces led by Maj. Gen. Nathaniel P. Banks and Confederate forces, led by Maj. Gen...
, Louisiana. - 8–9 April 1864 - Natchitoches, Louisiana. - 20 April 1864
- Kane River, Louisiana. - 22 April 1864
- Clouterville and Crane Hill, Louisiana. - 23 April 1864
- Bayou Rapids, Louisiana. - 2 May 1864
- Bayou La Monre, Louisiana. - 3 May 1864
- Bayou Roberts, Louisiana. - 4–6 May 1864
- Moore's Plantation, Louisiana. - 8–12 May 1864
- MansuraBattle of MansuraThe Battle of Mansura was fought near Mansura, Louisiana, on May 16, 1864, during the Red River Campaign of the American Civil War. A Union force defeated elements of the Confederate States Army.-Background:...
, Louisiana. - 16 May 1864 - Battle of Maysville, Louisiana. - 17 May 1864
- Calhoun's Plantation, Louisiana. - 18 May 1864
- Bayou De Glaise, Louisiana. - 18 May 1864
- Lake Chicot, Arkansas. - 6 June 1864
- Hurricane Creek, Mississippi. - 13 August 1864
- Pursuit of Price, Jackass Cavalry September - October 1864
- NashvilleBattle of NashvilleThe Battle of Nashville was a two-day battle in the Franklin-Nashville Campaign that represented the end of large-scale fighting in the Western Theater of the American Civil War. It was fought at Nashville, Tennessee, on December 15–16, 1864, between the Confederate Army of Tennessee under...
, Tennessee. - 15–16 December 1864 - The Mobile Campaign March - April 1865