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"It is a glorious thing for any man to have been a member of the First Wisconsin Cavalry."
-Comrade Stanley E. Lathrop
Company M.
Madison, Wis
Above: East Hall as it appeared when the First Regiment was at Ripon College. |
On September 10, 1861 the First Regiment of Wisconsin Cavalry leased the campus buildings and grounds for the duration of one month to the government for the establishment of Camp Fremont (Merrell). East Hall served as the camp's headquarters and barracks. Established on College Hill by Colonel Edward Daniels, the camp drew volunteers from different parts of the state (Pedrick). The “college property was greatly damaged by the soldiers” at a time when the college was struggling financially (Merrell, 13). Having gained approval to extend their stay until December 1, the Regiment stayed until November 28. From Ripon the regiment was transferred to Camp Harvey in Kenosha (Pedrick, Estabrook). On March 8, 1962 the last company went into service. The First Regiment fought in Saint Louis and Cape Girardeau, Missouri; Nashville, Tennessee; Arkansas, Kentucky, Georgia, and Alabama. At one point they accompanied the army of General Sherman, and while stationed at Macon, Georgia in Mary 1865 they pursued Jefferson Davis along with other Union forces on an “arduous march of several days and nights.” The regiment’s service ended on July 19, 1865 and was disbanded after returning to Madison shortly thereafter (Estabrook, 166-167). |
Facts about the First Wisconsin Cavalry
(from Klement):
Killed in Action: 56
Died of Wounds: 16
Died of Disease: 309
Died of Accidents: 8
Total Loss: 389
495 soldiers of the First Regiment were foreign-born, coming from 13 foreign countries.
"The average age was 23 "a sturdy bunch, full of vigor and life, fitted for the strenuous
campaigns and incessant active service which was their lot from March 1862 to July
1865."
"The shortest soldier was Bernard Schultheis of Co. M., born at Port Washington, Wis.
He came to us in May 1862 by transfer from the North Wisconsin Infantry, where he
had already served six months. He was then 15 years old, four feet six inches high,
and served through his three years."
-Comrade Stanley E. Lathrop
Some Unpublished Facts and Figures about our Regiment
According to the old records, the regiment was made up of:
|
1828 |
Farmers |
20 |
Merchants |
48 |
Carpenters |
7 |
Doctors |
35 |
Saddlers |
10 |
Painters |
60 |
Laborers |
8 |
Printers |
30 |
Lumbermen |
2 |
Engineers |
43 |
Blacksmiths |
5 |
Hotel Keepers |
21 |
Millers |
1 |
Actor |
13 |
Shoemakers |
1 |
Telegrapher |
49 |
Students |
5 |
Architects |
22 |
Teachers |
10 |
Masons |
65 |
Clerks |
2 |
Editors |
27 |
Sailors |
6 |
Preachers |
The regiment also had representatives of lawyers, weavers, musicians, confectioners, daguerreotypists, mail carriers and stage drivers. |
The First Regiment fought in:
-
Arkansas
-
Kentucky
-
Georgia
-
Alabama
-
Nashville, Tennessee
-
St. Louis and Cape Girardeau, Missouri
They also accompanied the army of General Sherman,
and along with other Union forces, they pursued Jefferson Davis
on an "arduous march of several days and nights."
"Ripon furnished 110 of our members during the war " the largest number from any town. Beaver Dam sent 80, Kenosha 80, Waukesha 65, Milwaukee 60, Madison 35, Appleton 30, Sheboygan 40, Prairie du Chien 20, Green Bay 20, Menomonee 30, Oshkosh, Fort Atkinson, Waupun and Berlin 15 each. The remainder came from smaller towns and farms of the southern and central parts of Wisconsin. Our total enrollment (2541) was larger than that of any other Badger regiment, because of the constant stream of recruits coming all through the four years, to join the 'Famous Old First.' We are officially credited with 54 battles and actions, some of which lasted for several days. There were also countless skirmishes with the enemy, which are not counted in the records. It is safe to say that we were more constantly under fires than any other regiment, always begin at the front. This great record was fittingly closed by aiding in the capture of Jefferson Davis in Southern George, on May 10, 1865."
Sources:
Estabrook, Charles E., editor. Records and sketches of military organization: Population, legislation,
election and other statistic relating to Wisconsin in the period of the Civil War. Published by the State
Democrat Printing Company, 1914.
Klement, Frank L. Wisconsin and the Civil War. The State Historical Society of Wisconsin. Madison, 1963.
Merrel, Edward H. Ripon College: A historical sketch.
Pedrick, Samuel M. A History of Ripon, Wisconsin.
By Calah Goehring
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