Clark County WI, Civil War History

6th Wisconsin Light Artillery

Transcribed by Harold Zander.

Service

The Sixth Battery of Wisconsin Light Artillery was organized at Camp Utley, Racine, WI, and mustered into the service of the United States on the 2nd day of October 1861. The battery left the state on the 15th of March 1862, proceeding to New Madrid, MO, where it was placed in charge of a siege battery.

After the surrender of Island No. 10 on the Mississippi, on the Tennessee-Kentucky border, the Sixth was transferred to Corinth, MS, reaching that place the latter part of May, and participated in the siege and battle of Corinth October 3-4, 1862. Following these actions, the Battery was transferred to the vicinity of Grand Junction, and later on to Memphis, TN.

In the early part of March 1863, the battery embarked down the river with the forces advancing on Vicksburg. The unit crossed the Mississippi river May 1 and took part in the movements of the army under General Grant. In this capacity, the Sixth Battery participated in the battle of Champion's Hill on the 16th day of May and on the 19th of May took a position in the trenches in the rear of Vicksburg, continuing in this service until the surrender July 4, 1863.

After the surrender, the battery took part in various movements in northern Mississippi and southern Tennessee, reaching Chattanooga, TN, November 24, and taking part in the battle of Missionary Ridge November 25, 1863, and in the pursuit of the Confederates.

Thereafter and until the beginning of the Atlanta Campaign, the Sixth Battery was stationed at various points in northern Alabama, including Bridgeport and Huntsville. The battery joined Sherman's army at Kingston, GA, and was largely engaged in garrison duty in that army until the later part of November 1864, when the unit was transferred to Nashville, TN. Here the battery remained on duty during the battle of Nashville December 15-16, 1864.

In February, the unit was transferred to Chattanooga, TN, and assigned to a permanent camp, where it remained until mustered out of the service of the United States. The Sixth Battery reached Madison, WI, July 3, 1865, and was disbanded July 18, 1865.

Statistics

Original strength, 157;

Gain -- by recruits in 1863, 18, in 1864, in 1865, 1; substitutes, 2; reenlistments, 34; total, 276;

Loss -- by death, 29; deserted, 5; transferred, 9; discharged, 36; mustered out, 197.

Related Links

Burials of Greenwood, Wisconsin Civil War Soldiers.