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17th
Wisconsin Infantry
| Regimental History |
| Seventeenth Infantry. — Cols., John L. Doran, Adam G. Malloy; Lieut.
-Cols., Adam G. Malloy, Thomas McMahon, Donald D. Scott; Majs., Thomas McMahon, William H.
Plunkett, Donald D. Scott, Patrick H. McCauley. This regiment, known as the "Irish
Regiment," was organized at Camp Randall in the early part of 1862. It was ordered to
St. Louis a few days after organization and on April 10 was sent to Pittsburg landing,
Tenn., where it remained in camp until called upon to take part in the siege of Corinth.
After the evacuation of that place by the enemy the regiment was stationed there for the
summer and in October it participated in the second battle of Corinth. Its loss in this
action was 41 in killed, wounded and missing. Gen. McArthur, the brigade commander,
complimented the regiment, saying, "Boys of the 17th, you have made the most glorious
charge of the campaign." An entire brigade was routed by this one Irish regiment. It
took part in the battle of Port Gibson and the next day pursued the enemy toward
Vicksburg. It was in the battles of Champion's hill and the Big Black river, and in the
siege of Vicksburg its gallant services received special mention. On June 8, 1864, the
regiment arrived at Acworth, Ga., where it joined the army under Gen. Sherman, and was
engaged in heavy skirmishing until the 19th. It participated in the battle of Kennesaw
mountain, sustaining a heavy fire from the enemy's artillery for more than 3 hours, with a
loss of 2 killed and 11 wounded. It took part in the battles about Atlanta in July, and
later was in action at Jonesboro, and Lovejoy's Station. It was with Sherman in his march
from Atlanta to the sea, and performed gallant service at Savannah, Columbia and
Bentonville. After Johnston's surrender the regiment participated in the grand review at
Washington. It was mustered out July 14 and soon after disbanded in Wisconsin. Its
original strength was 941. It gained by recruits during its service 385; substitutes, 136;
draft, 215; veteran reenlistments, 287; total, 1,964. Loss by death, 221; missing, 5;
desertion, 157; transfer, 32; discharge, 448; mustered out, 1,101. |
Footnotes:
Regimental history taken from "The Union Army" by Federal Publishing
Company, 1908 - Volume 4
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