1st Wisconsin Infantry Regiment (3 Months)

It has been suggested that this article be merged into 1st Wisconsin Infantry Regiment (3 Years). (Discuss) Proposed since March 2022.

1st Wisconsin Infantry Regiment
Flag of Wisconsin
Active	April 16, 1861 – August 22, 1861[1]
Country	United States
Allegiance	Union
Branch	Infantry
Size	Regiment
Engagements	American Civil War Battle of Hoke's Run
Commanders
Colonel	John C. Starkweather

The 1st Wisconsin Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment that served a three-month enlistment in the Union Army during the first months of the American Civil War. The regiment was later re-established as a three-year enlistment.

Service[]

Sketch of Col. John C. Starkweather leading the 1st Wisconsin Infantry at the Battle of Hoke's Run, July 1861.

The original 1st Regiment Wisconsin was raised at Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on April 16, 1861, and mustered into Federal service May 17, 1861. The regiment was moved to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, on June 9. It was assigned to Abercrombie's 6th Brigade of Negley's 2nd Division, Patterson's Army. It spent its service guarding the upper Potomac River crossings. Its only engagement was at the Hoke's Run on July 2.

The regiment was mustered out on August 22, 1861.

Commanders[]

• Colonel John C. Starkweather

Notable people[]

• George E. Bryant was captain of Co. E and later colonel of the 12th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment. After the war he served as a brigadier general in the Wisconsin National Guard and served as a Wisconsin state legislator.
• Lucius Fairchild was captain of Co. K. He was later colonel of the 2nd Wisconsin Infantry Regiment and brigadier general. After the war he became the 10th Governor of Wisconsin.
• Charles L. Harris was lieutenant colonel of the regiment and was later appointed colonel of the 11th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment. He received an honorary brevet to brigadier general. After the war he served as a Nebraska state senator.
• Judson G. Hart was enlisted in Co. B and later served in the 7th Independent Battery Wisconsin Light Artillery. After the war he became a Wisconsin state legislator.
• Charles H. Larrabee was ensign of Co. C, but was commissioned major of the 5th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment after one month. Later he became colonel of the 24th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment. Before the war, he had served as a U.S. congressman and Wisconsin Supreme Court justice.
• James Kerr Proudfit was 2nd lieutenant of Co. K and later became colonel of the 12th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment. He received an honorary brevet to brigadier general. After the war he became a Wisconsin state senator.
• Florian J. Ries was enlisted in Co. D and later enlisted in the 17th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment, rising to the rank of 1st lieutenant. After the war he became a Wisconsin state legislator.
• Christian Sarnow was 2nd lieutenant of Co. H and later served as a 1st lieutenant in the 26th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment. After the war he became a Wisconsin state legislator.
• Lyman M. Ward was 1st sergeant in Co. I and later became colonel of the 14th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment. He received an honorary brevet to brigadier general. After the war he became a Michigan state legislator.

Total enlistments and casualties[]

The 1st Wisconsin Infantry initially mustered 810 men and added no recruits. It lost 2 men killed in action or mortally wounded, and one killed accidentally for a total of three fatalities, a death rate of 0.37 percent.^[2] One of the fatalities was Second Sergeant of Company B, Warren M Graham, 18 years old, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin.^[3][4]

See also[]

• 1st Wisconsin Infantry Regiment (3 Years)
• 1st Wisconsin Infantry Regiment (1898)
• List of Wisconsin Civil War units
• Wisconsin in the American Civil War

References[]

Further reading[]

• The Civil War Archive