8th Wisconsin

The Eighth Regiment was organized at Camp Randall, Madison, and its muster into the 
United States service completed on the 13th of September, 1861, and on the 12th of October, it left the State for St. Louis.

Arriving at St. Louis on the 14th of October, the regiment was soon after sent to Pilot Knob, on the Iron Mountain Railroad. On the 20th, the regiment marched with other forces under Colonel Carlin, to Frederick town, twenty-two miles, where a rebel force under Jeff Thompson, was encountered and totally routed, and pursued to Greenville. The Eighth was stationed in the town to guard the baggage, and was not actively engaged. Returning to Pilot Knob after the pursuit, they engaged in railroad guard duty, taking part in an expedition to the St. Francis River in November. On the 25th, they moved to Sulpher Springs, where they were engaged in railroad guard duty until the 25th of January, 1862, when the regiment proceeded to Cairo, and was employed in guard and garrison duty until the 4th of March, when it moved along the line of the Cairo and Fulton Railroad, and joined the forces of General Pope, near New Madrid, being assigned to duty at Point Pleasant, nine miles below, in the Fifth Division, under the command of General Plummer. Here they were on duty in rifle pits on the river bank, to prevent the landing of the rebel gunboats. On the 7th of April, with General Plummer's command, the regiment marched to New Madrid, and crossed the river to the Kentucky shore, to assist in the pursuit of the flying rebels after the evacuation of Island No. 10, returning to New Madrid on the 9th.

General Pope's command embarked on steamers to go down the river to Memphis, but on reaching the vicinity of Fort Pillow, the orders were countermanded, and the transports turned about and steamed up the river to Cairo, thence they proceeded up the Tennessee River and joined General Halleck's forces in front of Corinth, camping at Hamburg on the 22d of April, and moving on the lst of May, to near Farmington. Here the regiment was placed in the Second Brigade, General Plummer, Second Division, General Stanley, in General Pope's "Army of the Mississippi." A reconnaissance in the direction of Corinth was made on the 8th, by the divisions of Generals Paine and Stanley. On the 9th, Major Jefferson, with a detachment, was on duty at the outpost, a mile and a half in advance of the lines, when he was attacked, and after holding the enemy's skirmishers in check for some time, was obliged to fall back to the brigade. The object of the reconnaissance being effected, the forces returned, leaving the brigade of General Plummer to bring up the rear. The rebels opened with artillery with considerable effect. The brigade was ordered to the top of the hill, where the rebels were found within range, and a brisk fire being opened upon them, the enemy fell back. The brigade then retired to a piece of timber,where they were again annoyed by the enemy's artillery.

The ground was held here by the Eighth Regiment until the rest of the brigade retired, and the rebels began turning their right flank, when the Eighth also fell back in good order, bringing up the rear of our retreating forces. For the gallantry thus displayed, the regiment received the commendation of their superior officers in general orders.

The casualties in the battle of Farmington, were 5 killed or died of wounds and 14 wounded.

The regiment was under command of Lieutenant Colonel Robbins, and Major Jefferson, both of whom, with all the officers and men, displayed the greatest coolness and bravery in this their first battle with the rebels. The loss of Captain Perkins and Lieutenant Beamish, was greatly lamented.

They remained at Farmington until the 28th, when they marched to the front, about three-fourths of a mile from the enemy's works at Corinth, and with the brigade, lay down in a ravine which run nearly parallel with the enemy's works. Here they lay until 3, P. M., while the artillery from both sides played over their heads. At that hour a rebel infantry force advanced to turn their right, and capture our batteries. The battery in front of the Eighth withdrew except one gun. Seeing this, the enemy rushed for it, but just as they were about to lay hands on it, the Eighth moved to the brow of the hill and poured such tremendous volleys into their ranks, as to check their advance, and after some very sharp fighting, the rebels were forced to retire to the woods in disorder. By their promptness and energy, the Eighth saved the right flank from being turned, and the brigade from being routed. This was the last stand made by the rebels before Corinth, they evacuating their works on the night of the 29th.

The casualties in the skirmish before Corinth were 2 killed, 5 wounded.

The brigade joined in the pursuit of the enemy as far as Boonville, capturing a large quantity of stores. On the 12th of June, they marched to "Camp Clear Creek," nine miles south of Danville, where they remained in summer quarters until the 18th of August, engaged in guard and fatigue duty, and in acquiring thorough brigade and battalion drill. Colonel Murphy was in command of the brigade. On that day they moved to Tuscumbia, Ala., arriving on the 22d. Here Colonel Murphy was put in command of the post, Major Jefferson was appointed Provost Marshall, and the Eighth employed as Provost Guard.

Colonel Murphy left Tuscumbia, with his brigade, on the 8th of September, and proceeded towards Iuka, reaching that place on the 12th, and found it deserted by the Union forces. Three of his regiments, and his artillery were ordered forward to Burnsville, leaving him the Eighth, and about 400 Minnesota men and 2 or 300 Illinois cavalry. This force was attacked next day, by the advance of General Price's army. Finding himself outnumbered, Colonel Murphy withdrew with his command, and marched to Farmington. Reaching that place, a larger force was sent forward towards Iuka under Colonel Mower, and the Eighth returned with them. Colonel Mower went within two miles of the town, and found it occupied by General Price in force, he therefore returned to Burnsville. For abandoning Iuka, Colonel Murphy was placed under arrest.

The divisions of Generals Hamilton and Stanley, moved from Clear Creek to Jacinto, for the purpose of making an attack on Price at Iuka, from the southeast. At Jacinto, the Eighth Regiment joined the brigade in Stanley's division, and marched with it, and was present at the battle of Iuka, on the 19th, but being placed on the left, and in the reserve, were not actively engaged, though they had five men wounded. The brigade joined in the pursuit the enemy as far as Aberdeen, when they returned to Corinth, through Jacinto to Rienzi and Kossuth, and arrived at Corinth on the afternoon of the 3d of October, while the battle at that place was at its height. The rebels bad succeeded in driving back our troops from the enter breastworks, and a new line was formed about a mile and a half from Corinth. The Second Brigade of Stanley's division went to the support of General Davies. The rebels advanced from the old breastworks and attacked the whole line, massing their troops against Davies, and after a fierce and bloody contest, compelling him to retire. Stanley's Second Brigade, consisting of the Eighth Wisconsin, Eleventh Missouri, Twenty-sixth and Forty-seventh Illinois regiments now moved to the front, taking the position abandoned by our retreating troops, and for a time, checked the enemy's advance. For more than an hour the brigade held the enemy at bay and under a most terrific fire, fought with the utmost gallantry. They subsequently fell back to within about a quarter of a mile from the edge of the town, with the rest of our forces, where they formed in positions to support the batteries of siege guns and field pieces, planted behind the earthworks which had been constructed by the Union troops. On the next day the Eighth occupied a position in the centre, where it suffered no loss.

The casualties in the battle of Corinth were 21 killed or died of wounds and 60 wounded.

The enemy were pursued forty miles, when the regiment returned to Corinth and engaged in guard duty and building fortifications. On the 2d of November, they moved to Grand Junetion, and took part in the southward movement of General Grant's forces in his first attempt to reach the rear of Vicksburg, in December, 1862, to cooperate with Sherman's movement down the Mississippi, being employed at Davis' Mills, Lumpkin's Mills, at Waterford, Abbeville, Oxford, Tallahatchie, Holly Springs, and LaGrange, in performing guard duty, building bridges, provost guard duty, and kindred service.

The surrender of Holly Springs, on the 20th of December, with its immense stores for Grant's army, defeated that enterprise. For this surrender Colonel Murphy, who was in command of the post of Holly Springs, was dismissed the service in February, and Lieutenant Colonel Robbins was appointed Colonel, Major Jefferson Lieutenant Colonel, and Captain Britton Major, of the Eighth.

The regiment moved in January, from LaGrange by way of Corinth to Germantown, Tenn., where they were employed in building fortifications, and guard duty, until March llth, when they marched to Memphis, and joined the forces intended by General Grant to operate against Vicksburg, which were being concentrated near Helena. On the 29th, they proceeded down the river to Young's Point, near Vicksburg, where they engaged in fatigue duty, digging canal and building roads. The regiment was in Mower's brigade of Tuttle's division, of Sherman's Fifteenth Army Corps. With the Fifteenth Corps the brigade left Young's Point, on the 2d of May, marched to Hard Times Landing, crossed to Grand Gulf, and proceeded towards Raymond, Miss., driving the enemy before them into Jackson, where in conjunction with General McPherson's Seventeenth Corps, they assaulted the enemy's works carried them, and took possession of the Capital of Mississippi on the 14th. Lieutenant Colonel Jefferson was made Provost Marshal, and the Eighth acted as Provost guard, and was detailed to destroy Confederate stores.

They left Jackson on the 16th, and moved to Walnut Hills, forming on the extreme right of the investing force around Vicksburg. Here on the 22d, they took part in the celebrated assault on the enemy's works. General Mower's brigade moved up a ravine, marching by the flank in four ranks. The ravine was soon so filled with fallen men that the brigade could not get through. Four companies of the Eighth turned to the right under cover of a hill, and got close under the enemy's works. The fight was kept up till dark, when the brigade withdrew to their former position, and was highly complimented for their gallantry.

The casualties reported were 4 killed or died of wounds and 15 wounded.

On the 25th, the brigade joined an expedition against General Johnston at Mechanicsburg, and after capturing a large number of cattle and mules, and destroying a large quantity of corn and cotton, they returned to Haines Bluff, and thence proceeded up the Yazoo River to Satartia, and from thence again marched to Mechanicsburg, meeting a force of cavalry and infantry, which they defeated and drove through that place.

The Eighth was the only regiment engaged, and lost two men wounded.

Returning to Haines' Bluff, they subsequently moved to Young's Point, and camped, and on the 14th of June, marched to Richmond, La., where they routed the enemy and took possession of the town, capturing thirty prisoners and having six men wounded, returning to their former position at Young's Point on the 16th of June. They remained here on duty opposite the city while the seige of Vicksburg was progressing, until the 12th of July, engaged in severe and dangerous duty, acting, as sharpshooters, and being exposed to the fire of the enemy's great guns in the city. They were expected to prevent the escape of the enemy across the river. Occasionally they would receive a shelling, from the rebels, but they were not to be driven from their post. The position was very unhealthy, and the regiment suffered greatly from sickness. On the 12th of July, they moved to Vicksburg, and subsequently went into Camp Sherman, on Bear Creek, remaining there till the 26th of September, engaged in guard and fatigue duty. On that day, the brigade moved to Black River Bridge, and went into camp, and remained until the 13th of October.

Colonel Robbins resigned on the 1st of September, and the regiment remained under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Jefferson.