John A. Sterling died 26-May-1916 and is buried in the Dorchester Memorial Cemetery, Dorchester, WI.

Residences: Plover, Portage Co., WI, & Holton, Marathon Co., WI.

Enlistment Date in the Civil War: 16 December 1861

Distinguished Service: DISTINGUISHED SERVICE

Side Served: Union Army, Wisconsin

Unit Numbers: 3068 3068

Service Record:

1. Enlisted as a Private on 16 December 1861

2. Enlisted in Company E, 18th Infantry Regiment Wisconsin on 16 December 1861.

3. Transferred Company E, 18th Infantry Regiment Wisconsin on 16 May 1863

4. Transferred in on 16 May 1861.

5. Was mustered out on 16 January 1865

Military Notes

The 18th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment was organized in October, 1861 and mustered out July 18, 1865.  4 Officers died of disease or accident and 52 enlisted soldiers were killed or mortally wounded.

His Infantry Officers were:  Cols., James S. Alban, Gabriel Bouck, Charles H. Jackson, Lieut.-Cols., Samuel W. Beall, Charles H. Jackson, James P. Millard, Majs., Josiah W. Crane, Charles H. Jackson James P. Millard Joseph W. Roberts.

Soldiers With Clark County Ties Who Served in this Company

This company left Wisconsin March 30, 1862 for Pittsburg Landing and reached it on April 5th.

This map is courtesy of Harper's Pictorial History of the Civil War.

(Click to enlarge)

The next morning, with absolutely no instruction in the manual of arms and but little drill, it was ordered to check the enemy's advance at Shiloh. It fought bravely, losing 24 killed, 82 wounded and 174 prisoners. "Many regiments may well covet the impressions which the 18th Wis. left of personal bravery heroic daring and determined endurance," said Gov. Harvey.

Pittsburgh Landing, Tennessee

(Click to enlarge)

It took part in the siege of Corinth and then encamped at Corinth; and Bolivar until Sept. 17, when it was ordered to Iuka to reinforce Rosecrans, but was immediately returned to the defense of Corinth which was threatened.

On Oct. 1, it met the advance of Price and Van Dorn and fell back to the protection of Smith's bridge the following day. On the 3d, the enemy appearing in force, the regiment burned the bridge, rejoined its brigade at the railroad, and retained its position until overwhelming numbers compelled it to fall back.

It joined in pursuit of the enemy after the battle of Corinth, and on Nov. 2 proceeded to Grand Junction. In the movement southward it went to Holly Springs, then back to Grand Junction, thence to Moscow, Tenn., and Memphis, and from there by boat to Young's point, La., where it remained until Feb. 9, 1863.

In the advance upon Vicksburg it took position in the battle of Champion's Hill, and reached Vicksburg on May 20. It deployed as sharpshooters to cover the assault on the 22nd and on June 4 went into the trenches where it remained until the surrender.

It was then on guard duty until Sept. 11, when it was sent to Memphis, thence to Corinth and to Chattanooga, reaching the latter place Nov. 19. It joined in the attack on Missionary Ridge and was on guard duty at Bridgeport, Ala., during the greater part of December.

It went to Huntsville on Dec. 25, remained there until May 1 1864, then went to Whitesburg for guard duty until June 19, and was in camp, garrison and guard duty in Georgia and Tennessee until September. In October it aided in the defense of Allatoona against repeated assaults of a superior force.

A furlough was granted reenlisted veterans on Nov. 12, and the recruits and non-veterans were temporarily assigned to the 93rd IL, which accompanied Sherman's army to Savannah. The veterans were ordered to Nashville, reaching there Jan. 11, 1865, and were then sent to New Berne, N. C., where they encamped until the last of March, when they joined Sherman at Goldsboro and took part in the movement to Richmond.

The regiment participated in the grand review at Washington and was mustered out at Louisville, Ky., July 18, 1865. Its original strength was 962 Gain by recruits, 226, draft, 271; veteran reenlistments, 178; total, 1,637. Losses by death, 220; missing 78; desertion, 208, transfer, 23; discharge. 265; mustered out, 843.

Grand Review in Washington D. C., May 23, 1865

Sources: The Union Army, vol. 4, p. 56, Harper's Pictorial History of the Civil War.

==========================

1860 Census Wisconsin, Portage County, Plover

Sterling, George (head) male 44 yrs old

Sterling, Mary (wife) female 42 yrs old

Sterling, John A. (son) male 19 yrs old

Sterling, Elizabeth (daughter) female 16 yrs old

==========================

1880 Federal Census--Holton, Marathon, Wisconsin

JOHN STERLING Head Married Male, White 39 yrs., b. PA, Farmer, Father b. PA, Mother b. PA

Mattie STERLING Wife Married Female, White, 31 years, b. WI, Housekeeper, Mother b. NY

Frank STERLING, Son, Single, Male, b. W 11 yrs. WI, Father b. PA, Mother b. WI

Daisy STERLING, Daughter Single Female, b. WI, 6 yrs. WI, Father b. PA, Mother b. WI

Sources: American Civil War Soldiers Record, 1860 & 1880 Federal Census, Cemetery Records.