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14th
Wisconsin Infantry
| Regimental History |
| Fourteenth Infantry. — Cols., David E. Wood, John Hancock, Lyman M.
Ward; Lieut. -Cols Isaac E. Messmore, John Hancock, Lyman M. Ward, James W. Polleys, Eddy
F. Ferris; Majs., John Hancock, Lyman M. Ward, James W. Polleys, Asa Worden, Eddy F.
Ferris, William J. Henry. This regiment was organized in Nov., 1861, at Camp Wood, Fond du
Lac, and was mustered in Jan. 30, 1862. It left the state on March 8 and went into
barracks at St. Louis until ordered to Savannah, Tenn., on the 23d. It was in action at
Shiloh, where it charged a Confederate battery and drove the enemy from the guns, but was
compelled to fall back. It repeated this three times during the day, holding the guns the
fourth time, and receiving the sobriquet of the "Wisconsin Regulars," for the
determined bravery on this, its first field. It lost 14 killed, and 79 wounded and
missing. It was made provost guard at Pittsburg landing during the siege of Corinth, and
was ordered to reinforce Gen. Rosecrans in the advance on Price at Iuka. When within 2
miles of Iuka it was ordered back to Corinth which was threatened by the enemy and at the
battle at that place it had the advance position in the line, the post of honor. In his
official report, Col. Oliver, commanding the brigade, said of its work: "Col. Hancock
and his regiment, the 14th Wis., there was no discount on; always steady, cool and
vigorous. This regiment was the one to rely upon in any emergency. * * * They maintained
their lines and delivered their fire with all the precision and coolness which could have
been maintained upon drill." The regiment was at Champion's hill, the Big Black
river, and took a conspicuous part at Vicksburg, losing 107 men in killed, wounded and
missing, out of 256, in an assault upon the enemy's works. It remained in the front line
until the surrender and was given the position of honor in the brigade in the march into
the city. Gen. Ransom said: "Every officer and man in the 14th is a hero." It
was the first regiment to enter Natchez. Two-thirds of the regiment reenlisted in Dec,
1863, and joined the "Red River", expedition, being in the engagements at
Pleasant Hill, Cloutierville, Marksville and Yellow bayou. It was also in action at
Tupelo; assisted in driving Price out of Missouri; helped to defeat Hood in Tennessee in
December; assisted in dislodging the enemy at Corinth in Jan., 1865; and was a part of the
force that reduced the forts at Mobile. Co. E and parts of other companies were detached
in the spring of 1864 and attached to the 17th corps, being known as Worden's battalion,
which joined Shennan in the Atlanta campaign. The regiment was mustered out at Mobile,
Oct. 9, 1865. Its original strength was 970. Gain by recruits, 540; substitutes, 85;
draft, 315; veteran reenlistments, 272; total, 2,182. Losses by death, 287; missing, 13;
desertion, 97; transfer, 23; discharge, 407; mustered out, 1,355. |
Footnotes:
Regimental history taken from "The Union Army" by Federal Publishing
Company, 1908 - Volume 4
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