Commemorative Roster of Co. F, 11th Wisconsin Infantry

June 09th, 2009
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Civil War commemorative roster of Company F, 11th Wisconsin Infantry.

Reunion of the 11th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry veterans

April 04th, 2009
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Found the following in the Wisconsin Archive, thought I would share!

Reunion of the 11th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry veterans. The building is probably the old Milwaukee County courthouse, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, c. 1895. (click to enlarge)

121 Copies!

April 04th, 2009
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Sorry for my long absence from the 11th Wisconsin blog. I realize that I failed to post the following here, when I did on my main blog. Here it is:

I received my first royalty check from my publisher, McFarland. According to their statement, they have sold 121 copies of The 11th Wisconsin in the Civil War. My first check was far more substantial than I ever thought I would get. As I have said before, like most history authors I wrote this book out of passion for that regiment and my desire to see their story told. Never thought I’d sell more than a few copies. I know, far cry from the history books (authors) that sell thousands of copies, but I was still very pleased and surprised.

Battle of Ft. Blakely

November 29th, 2008
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Battle of Ft. Blakely
author: Capt. H. R. Hubbard
published by: Mendon Dispatch, circa 1904
synopses: Personal accounts of the Civil War by Capt. Hubbard
personal subject: The Battle for Ft. Blakely

The campaign against Mobile in the early part of 1865, culminating April 9th in the capture of Ft. Blakely was my first service after graduating from southern prisons in December, 1864. I was at that time captain of Co. A. 119th Ill., first brigade, second division or the 16th corps. Col. T.J. Kinney commanded the division and Gen. A.J. Smith the corps. We rendezvoued at Dauphin Island, in Mobile Bay in March. After Farragut silenced Ft. Morgan and put the rebel fleet out of commission, we went by boat to Fish River on the east side of Mobile Bay, marched past the rear of Ft. Spanish and took up position in rear of Ft. Blakely. My company was on the skirmish line opposite the center of the rebel works, which were about a mile long. We were nearly out of ammunition before noon, so I started back for more. At the edge of the standing timber I met Col. Kinney, who sent back to camp for 1000 rounds of cartridges. I opened the box and emptied the cartridges into my pouches, slung them over my shoulder and started back. The rebel sharpshooters were very attentive and cut the brush away all around me with bullets and tore up the ground some; but their range was long and their fire was not very accurate. The company cooks came to the edge of the timber with our dinners. They had each several haversacks and two big camp kettles to carry, and naturally hesitated a little about exposing the camp kettle to the enemy’s fire, for fear of damage to the kettles and consequently loss of coffee and beans.

But Col. Kinney assured them there was no danger; that I had just gone safely back and was a much larger mark than they were. So “Darkie Ned” started out, and “Bob Knight” said “No domd naggur can go where I darsen’t go,” and Ira Boat said, “The Dutch are just as bold as the Irish and niggers,” so we got a warm dinner and enjoyed the picnic, though Boat had the bottom shot off one of his camp kettles going back.

The next day our brigade was moved to the extreme left of our line to take up a new position and more closely invest the fort.

Late in the afternoon of the 7th of April, my company and Co. C., Capt. Curry, Capt. Chupp’s company of the 89th Ind., and I believe another company of the 89th, two of the 122d Ill., and two from the 21st Mo. all under command of Major Winter, of the 89th Ind., were sent by Gen. Gerrard to take up a new position on the extreme left of our line. We drove back the rebel pickets and occupied their grounds. Finding the cross fire from our own lines on the right very annoying I suggested to Major Winter that we notify our neighbors on the right of our position and invite them to come up alongside, where they could shoot at the rebels. He agreed, and sent me to negotiate with them. I found a squad of the 11th Wis. under Lieut. Angus McDougall, and they agreed to move up and co-ooperate with us.

When I got back my command was gone. I soon found my orderly sergeant,k who with seventeen of my command, were waiting for my return. They informed me that in my absence the whole detachment were moved up until they drew the fire of the fort and had then fallen back. By this time it was very dark. I took my little squad right back to the ground we had occupied when I first left them. The Johnnies were just coming back to their former position but they retired again without much argument, and I started back for reinforcements.

I found Major Winters and the rest of the command half a mile back, faced towards the southwest, at right angles to their first position, with the remainder of my company in arrest, because they refused to retreat further and insisted on going back to look for the rest of the company. I had a short argument with the major which ended in compromise, and we all marched back, established a reserve post, advanced and extended our skirmish line laid out a line of rifle pits and by daylight were ready for business at the new stand.

We were attacked by the rebels just as our relief came up, but stood them off, with a loss of only one man wounded.

That day the rest of the regiment were busy building bombproofs and camp fortifications. We declined to participate because we had been on duty all night. Lieut. Taylor said, “Co. A is hell to fight, but not worth a dam to work.”

On the night of the 8th of April my company went into the rifle pits again, advanced, took the rebel rifle pits and turned them around. While working we held our fire, but when we had finished our new pits we wanted to try them, so fired three shots from the left end and then a volley at the blaze of the guns fired in return. The rebels in their rifle pits and a working party planting torpedoes in front of the rebel breastworks retreated into the fort. Then the rebels in the fort opened fire with cannon and musketry. Our batterires (sic) replied, and for half an hour or more the firing was very heavy. At the height of the engagement Capt. McConnell, with Co. H of the 119th Ill., rushed up from the reserve shouting, “Hold ‘em, boys, we’re coming.” When he understood the situation he gave us his benediction and ordered his men back to the reserve again.

About 50,000 men turned out under arms that night. Next day different brigade commanders reported heavy fighting in the night. One had repulsed three heavy, successive charges with great loss to the enemy. All had held their ground. The Mobile papers reported a general charge all along the line, repulsed with a loss to the Yankees of 10,000 men. From information obtained later I am inclined to think this night alarm helped to demoralize the garrison of Ft. Blakeley and made them easier to capture on the next evening, when the final charge ended the last battle of the war.[1]

1- http://www.janneyfamily.com/harmon_hubbard/hr_civil_war_11_04

Book Update: REVIEWS

November 29th, 2008
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The book is doing well and continues to get good reviews, here are some of those:

Bret over at TOCWOC noted that, “Wehner’s writing style was very enjoyable and allows readers to become immersed in the story of the regiment. It caters to beginners as well as self-styled experts on the Civil War. The author relies heavily on the letters and diaries of the 11th Wisconsin’s soldiers to tell their own story, just as it should be.” Read Full Review.

Drew at Civil War Books & Authors was also impressed with the book, saying, “Wehner writes well, especially in his battle descriptions, integrating first person accounts into his narrative with both well chosen block quotes and a skillful weaving of short excerpts into the main text.” Read Full Review.

And finally, the Civil War News had this to say about the book, “The 11th Wisconsin is a fine regimental history and will be enjoyed by anyone interested in the Western Theater, especially the Vicksburg and Mobile campaigns.” Read Full Review.

[cross posted at blog4history]

Book Updates: 11th Wisconsin in the Civil War

August 02nd, 2008
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Hello 11th Wisconsin descendants and enquirers! I do not have any updates on how sales are going, but for a regiment history, it seems to be strong. Reviews are starting to come in, and so far so good. Drew at Civil War Books and Authors gave the book high marks commenting, “Wehner writes well, especially in his battle descriptions, integrating first person accounts into his narrative with both well chosen block quotes and a skillful weaving of short excerpts into the main text.”

If you have not, please consider getting your copy as there are some good deals on Amazon.

More updates this week!

Battle at Bayou Cache

June 18th, 2008
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Semi-centennial History of the Illinois State Normal University, 1857-1907, “THE SCHOOL AND THE WAR,” BY JOHN H. BURNHAM, CLASS OF l861, (1907).

John A. Burnham, who was a member of the 33rd Illinois from Normal, provides an interesting account of the Battle of Bayou Cache, also known as “Cotton Plant.” As most of you know, I have written extensively on this battle in both my book, and an article that I have submitted to the Arkansas Historical Quarterly. This particular account popped up just recently on google books.

If you wish to see the background info on the fight, please refer to the above links:

The Normal regiment found itself at Pilot Knob, Mo., September 20, 1861. Here and near here its officers and soldiers were taught many of the important first lessons in soldiery and military tactics.

Although the Normal contingent formed the nucleus of the 33rd regiment, yet it contained more than nine hundred other members who sometimes felt the Normalites were a little too much inclined to over-rate themselves, and considerable jealousy was early aroused, disappearing, however, as soon as
it was seen that we were always ready to prove by acts and not by words that we were in the war for the good of the cause, and not to promote our own selfish interests. It was not long before we were proud of our comrades, and our comrades were proud to be associated with those who had originated the idea of the schoolmaster’s regiment.

Its first baptism of fire was at Fredericktown, Mo., October 21, 1861, just enough like war to give us a slight zest for more, not a man killed, not a drop of the Regiment’s blood spilled, and the victory was important.

In camp at Ironton, Mo., during the winter of 1861 and 1862, our regiment suffered from sickness but gradually improved itself in military drill, and perfected itself in hard marching during the following spring and summer.
Colonel Hovey won his promotion on this march, which is the main reason for the insertion of a brief account of the battle of Bayou Cache, July 7, 1862.

Our regiment formed a part of the advance guard of General Curtis’ army of 15,000 men, marching thru Missouri and Arkansas on the way to Little Rock. The Rebels, for several days, obstructed our march by felling trees in the roads and in other ways, without giving us fight. On the morning of July 7, four companies of the 33rd regiment, with as many more from the 11th Wisconsin regiment, were reconnoitering in advance, removing the blockades, when we fell into an ambush of Texan rangers.

We were driven back at first with severe loss, although not until Company A in charge of a smallcannon belonging to an Indiana battery had resisted a savage attempt to capture the gun. First Sergeant Edward M. Pike, a Normal student now living at Chenoa, Ill., aided by one other man, coupled the cannon by main strength to its foremost wheels, barely saving it from capture, just as the rebels were on the point of reaching for the artillery horses’ bridles. He received a bullet through his cap and for his muscular activity, daring and bravery, was a few years ago given, by the Secretary of War, a medal of honor, which is the only medal granted to a member of the 33rd regiment, to my knowledge. Captain Potter, in command of our company, was severely wounded, with several others. Just as we started to the rear he gave me the command of the company and told me to take it back to the rear. As a matter of fact the company or something else was taking me rapidly back to the rear without orders, and I shall never forget my satisfaction at being under orders to do what was so remarkably agreeable as was that retreat, and feeling that of all that rushing throng pushing our way to the rear amidst the crashing bullets and falling branches, I was perhaps the only one fortunate enough to be
acting under orders.

Colonel Hovey was in the rear with the main army, but fortunately was mounted and on his way to join us when he heard the sound of battle and rode like the wind to our assistance. He met our retreating forces, about five hundred in all, and instantly attempted with great success to halt the troops at a good point for resistance. I shall never forget his courageous and desperate attempts to rally the troops. I was very near to his person when some rebel buckshot passed through his clothing and cut the skin of the upper part of his breast. The pain was intense as the first sensation was like being shot thru the lungs. He turned pale and staggered, and just as I was almost near enuf for assistance, I saw him tear open the clothing and feel of his wound. In an instant his countenance brightened as he drew forth his hand containing two or three
buckshot which had merely penetrated the skin. He said immediately, ” It is nothing but a flesh wound and some buckshot. I am not hurt,” and immediately proceeded more vigorously than before to arrange the disorganized soldiers for desperatedefense. The rally was successful, other troops arrived, the force of Texans was soon driven back and we were grandly
victorious.

His descriptions offers some detail that other reports did not provide, though he essentially, as has been the case, follows only the exploits of the 33rd Illinois Regiment at the expense of the 11th. Now, this, of course, is not unusual.

Update: 9000 and Counting

May 11th, 2008
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When I was trying to come up with a guesstimate for how far the 11th Wisconsin traveled I got as high as 12,000, but as I had no source other than my calculation, I was not confident claiming that the regiment perhaps traveled that far. All the trips up and down the Mississippi - 4 from top to bottom, made it plausible that they could have traveled 12,000 miles or more. The regiment historian in 1864 claimed they had “marched over 3000″ miles with their tally around 8000.

In my book I had them around 9000 total, with 3500 or so on the march. Then this past week, I came across this newspaper article stating that as of March 1864, they were at 10000 miles total with 3000 having consisted of marching.

I have checked all the documents I can find in the Wisconsin Archives, National Archives, ect. I have not found an official total. I was probably wrong to say 9000, it might have well been close to 12000 total miles covered by the regiment.

#21 on Amazon.com!!!!

May 02nd, 2008
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No not #21 overall, of course, but #21 for Military > Regiments (NOTE: only one other Civil War regiment history book was ahead of mine as of this writing!), but hey, I’ll take it.

Please consider getting your copy today! The 11th Wisconsin in the Civil War: A Regimental History.

Available for immediate shipment!!!

April 24th, 2008
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The 11th Wisconsin in the Civil War
A Regimental History
Christopher C. Wehner

ISBN 978-0-7864-3210-3
photos, maps, appendices, notes, bibliography, index
248pp. library binding (7 x 10) 2008
Available for immediate shipment

Description
This volume details the Civil War experiences of the 11th Wisconsin Volunteers as they traveled more than 9000 miles in the service of their country. The book looks at the attitude prevalent in Wisconsin at the start of the war and discusses the background of the men who comprised the regiment, 72 percent of whom were farmers. Compiled primarily from the letters and diaries of the men who served in the 11th Wisconsin, the work focuses on the firsthand day-to-day experiences of the common soldier, including rations (or lack thereof), clothing, disease, and, at times, the simple act of waiting. The 11th Wisconsin lost more men to disease than to battle, so their story presents an accurate picture not only of the heroic but also the sometimes humdrum yet perilous existence of the soldier. Appendices provide a list of occupations practiced by the men, dates of muster into service for the regiment’s companies and a copy of a sermon delivered by George Wells after Lee’s surrender in 1865.

About the Author
Christopher C. Wehner is a history teacher in Colorado.