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32nd
Wisconsin Infantry
| Regimental History |
| Thirty-second Infantry. — Cols., James H. Howe, Charles H. De Groat;
Lieut. -Cols., William A. Bugh, Abel B. Smedley, Charles H. De Groat, Joseph H. Carlton;
Majs., Abel B. Smedley, Charles H. De Groat, Joseph H. Carlton, William S. Burrows. This
regiment was organized at Camp Bragg, Oshkosh, was mustered in Sept. 25, 1862, and left
the state Oct. 30. It reached Memphis on Nov. 3, and joined Sherman's movement toward
Vicksburg, but returned late in Jan., 1863, the surrender of Holly Springs defeating the
object of the expedition. The regiment acted as provost guard at Memphis until November;
then moved to LaGrange; reached Moscow Dec. 3, just in time to repulse the enemy's attack
on Hatch's cavalry; was sent to Vicksburg in Jan., 1864, where it was attached to the 2nd
brigade, 4th division, 16th corps, and took part in the Meridian expedition. It held a
pontoon bridge at Jackson until the troops had passed and then destroyed it. The regiment
was attacked in February by a brigade of Confederate cavalry, while destroying the Mobile
& Ohio railroad, but it repulsed the attack handsomely. It returned to Vicksburg in
March, thence to Memphis Tenn., Cairo, Ill., and Paducah, Ky. ; up the Tennessee river,
200 miles, to Crump's landing; thence across Tennessee to Decatur, Ala., where it was
attached to the 3d brigade, and was engaged in guard duty and building fortifications.
Cos. A, C, D and F, with a small additional force, engaged in a sharp skirmish with a
large body of the enemy in May and was compelled to fall back. The following day the
brigade, with artillery and cavalry, followed the enemy for 7 miles. The regiment, which
was in the advance, met a portion of the enemy and drove them to their main force, where
by an impetuous charge, the Federals completely routed them. The regiment also dispersed a
small body near Courtland and then returned to camp. It was attacked by a superior force
while guarding a wagon train at Courtland in July, but repulsed the enemy repeatedly,
bringing the train safely into camp. The following day it was engaged in the action that
forced the enemy from his works near Courtland. It then joined Sherman's army in the siege
of Atlanta, was constantly under fire until Aug. 24, and it was in the battle of
Jonesboro. It was transferred to the 3d brigade, 1st division, 17th corps, and was on
picket and guard duty until October at East Point. It then moved to Atlanta and in
November joined the march toward Savannah, destroying railroads and public property and
skirmishing at the Little Ogeechee and Marlow. It remained in the vicinity of Savannah
until Jan. 3, 1865, when the campaign of the Carolinas was commenced. It forced the enemy
from his works at Rivers' bridge after an all day's struggle, losing 51 men. It repeated
this at Binnaker's bridge and on March 3 drove the enemy back to his main line at Cheraw.
It was in the heavy skirmish work at the Cape Fear river, and at Bentonville it advanced
through a swamp, charged with the 1st division and captured the enemy's works. It was in
the general movement to Richmond, participated in the grand review at Washington, and was
mustered out at Crystal Springs June 12, 1865. Col. Tillson, brigade commander, said that
since the war commenced he "had not seen a body of men that, in point of discipline
and efficiency, excelled, and very few that equalled the 32d Wis." Its original
strength was 993. Gain by recruits, 381 ; draft, 100; total, 1,474. Loss by death, 275;
desertion, 58; transfer, 27 ; discharge, 189 ; mustered out, 925. |
Footnotes:
Regimental history taken from "The Union Army" by Federal Publishing
Company, 1908 - Volume 4
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