#21 on Amazon.com!!!!

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.

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Available for immediate shipment!!!

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.

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Expedition from Brashear City to Bayou

JANUARY 21-22, 1865.–Expedition from Brashear City to Bayou
Sorrel, La.

Report of Lieut. Richard Caddell, Eleventh Wisconsin Infantry.

BRASHEAR CITY, LA., January 22, 1865.
SIR: I have the honor to report, in obedience to orders, I embarked on
gun-boat 43 at 3.30 p.m. on the 21st instant with twenty men of
Company D, Eleventh Infantry Wisconsin Veteran Volunteers, and
proceeded to the mouth of Bayou Groesbeck, on Bayou Long; there
disembark in small boats and went up the bayou about three-quarters
of a mile; landed and divided my men in squads and made a thorough
search of the land on both sides of the bayou for a distance of one mile,
when I came to a small bayou which connects with Bayou Groesbeck.
About sixty yards up this bayou I found a small palmetto tent which
evidently had been occupied by two men. In it was a small anchor for
sinking torpedoes, which I sunk in the bayou. But failing to discover
the torpedoes, I embarked my command and went up to Bayou Millian
Point, where I disembark with four men and proceeded to the house of
William Duvall, a private of Company B, Twenty-sixth Louisiana,
whom I captured. I then proceeded to the mouth of Bayou Sorrel, where
I disembarked and secreted six men, with instructions to stop boats
coming down Bayou Long and going up Bayou Sorrel. From here I
went to Mr. Hebert’s, leaving four men there to guard that point, and
from thence to Mason’s, and searched the premises for John Spence.
Failing to find him, I returned to Hebert’s called in the guard which I
had left there, and went had captured Sergt. James Malcon and Private
John S. Hebert, of Company B, Twenty-sixth Louisiana, during my
absence. I again embarked and went down the bayou to the mouth of
Bayou Groesbeck. Here I secreted nine men, and proceeded with the
remainder to the east side
of Bayou Long, opposite to the mouth of Bayou Groesbeck;
disembarked and established a picket. About two hours after I had
posted the pickets I discovered a boat coming down the bayou with one
man in it, which I brought to, and the occupant proved to be Second
Lieut. C. Penisson, Company B, Twenty-sixth Louisiana Infantry,
whom I took prisoner. Here I remained until sunrise on the 22d, when
I embarked and return to Millian Point, where I disembarked and
awaited the return of the gun-boat from Belle River, she having gone
there to anchor. The boat arrived at 8 a.m. when I embarked and
returned to Brashear City, arriving at 2 p.m. The prisoners I turned
over to Lieut. S. E. Shepard provost-marshal, Brashear City, La.

Respectfully, your obedient servant,

RICHARD CADDELL,
Second Lieut. Company D, Eleventh Wisconsin Vet. Vol. Infty.

Capt. R. E. JACKSON
Post Adjutant.

[Indorsement.]

HDQRS. POST,
Breast City, January 22, 1865.

Respectfully forwarded.

Learning that a few rebel soldiers were in Bayou Long in charge of a
torpedo and their whereabouts, I sent Lieut. Caddell and twenty
men of the Eleventh Wisconsin Infantry up in the gun-boat 43 to capture
them. For particulars of the expedition I refer you to his report

C. L. HARRIS,
Col., Cmdg.

Source: Official Records
PAGE 58-101 LOUISIANA AND THE TRANS-MISSISSIPPI. [CHAP. LX.
[Series I. Vol. 48. Part I, Reports, Correspondence, Etc. Serial No. 101.]

Posted in 11th Wisconsin History, 1865, Correspondence, Field & Staff | 1 Comment

Expedition from Brashear City to Whisky

JANUARY 16-18, 1865.–Expedition from Brashear City to Whisky
Bayou, La.

Report of Capt. Luther T. Park, Eleventh Wisconsin Infantry.

CAMP ELEVENTH REGT. WIS. VETERAN VOL. INFTY.,
Brashear City, La., January 19, 1865.
SIR: I have the honor to report that, in obedience to orders received, I
embarked, with 100 men from the Eleventh Wisconsin Veteran Volunteer
Infantry, on board of gun-boat 41 and the steamer Carrie, supplied with
five days’ rations and eighty rounds of ammunition, on the night of the
15th, at 8 o’clock. At 1 a.m. on the 16th we left Brashear City, La.,
and proceeded up Bayou Teche into Grand Lake, arriving at Constitution
Bayou at 10.15 a.m. From Constitution Bayou to Round Lake and from
Round Lake to Bayou L’Embarras, arriving at Capt. King’s
plantation, of the C. S. Army, at 2 p.m. I landed my troops here and
found about 700 pounds of sugar. I loaded this on the steamer Carrie.
At this point I captured Capt. D. E. Grove, of Grove’s battery, and
Privates Robert Wilson and Charles Harris, of Grove’s battery. At 3.20
p.m. I embarked all my troops and proceeded up the bayou. At 5 p.m.
I anchored in the stream. At 6.15 a.m. on the 17th we got under way
and proceeded up Bayou L’Embarras into Little Devil Bayou, arriving
at Grand River at 8 a.m. I then steamed down Grand River to Hart’s
house. I here landed and found that Hart had run to the swamps. At this
place I found 600 cigars and 11 pairs of misses’ gaiters belonging to a
man by the name of Gallahan, which I brought to Brashear City and
turned over to post quartermaster, as per receipts inclosed. I then
proceeded down to Lee’s plantation, arriving at 9.30 a.m., and took the
said Lee a prisoner. I captured at this point about 1,300 pounds of
sugar, which I turned in, as per receipts inclosed. At the house I found
1 large rifle and 2 pistols, and about 8 pounds of powder, all of which
I destroyed. I then returned to Offutt’s Mill, landed and took on about
10,000 feet of lumber, which I turned over, as per receipts. At 11.30
a.m. I steamed up Grand River to Whisky Bayou, arriving at the head
of Whisky Bayou at 1.30 p.m. At this point I lowered away three boats,
loaded with armed men, and sent them up a bayou about two miles, to
a place where there had been a steam-boat hid. At 3.30 p.m. they
arrived back at the boats. We then headed down to Lake Mangoula and
anchored for the night at 5 p.m. On the morning of the 18th, at 6.30,
I started down Bayou Chene. At the plantation of Capt. Olivier I took
eleven refugees on board; at the mouth of Bayou Sorrel I took on board
seven more, making a total of eighteen. I then steamed down through
Bayou Chene into Lake Chico; from Lake Chico out through Chico Pass
into Fausse Pointe Lake; then down through Grand Lake to Brashear
City, where I arrived at 6 p.m. on January 18, 1865. At King’s
plantation I took on board two negroes. I also picked up a negro in
Bayou Sorrel, who had a pass from Capt. King, of the C. S. Army;
brought him to Brashear City. Inclosed are receipts for property taken
while on expedition on Grand River. I heard of several parties of
Confederate soldiers.

Respectfully, your obedient servant,

LUTHER T. PARK,
Capt. Company A, Eleventh Wisconsin Infty., Cmdg. Expedition.

Col. C. L. HARRIS,
Cmdg. Post, Brashear City, La.

The above letter was forwarded to Capt. Speed, assistant
adjutant-general, Defenses of New Orleans, with receipts from Capt.
Upham, commissary of subsistence, U. S. Volunteers, for 2,000 pounds
of sugar and a receipt from Lieut. Mayers, acting assistant
quartermaster at Brashear City, for 600 cigars, 11 pairs of misses’
gaiters, and 10,000 feet of lumber inclosed.

Source: Official Records
PAGE 48-101 LOUISIANA AND THE TRANS-MISSISSIPPI. [CHAP. LX.
[Series I. Vol. 48. Part I, Reports, Correspondence, Etc. Serial No. 101.]

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Expedition from New Orleans to Mandeville, La

JANUARY 15-17, 1865.–Expedition from New Orleans to Mandeville, La.

Report of Capt. Abner Powell, Eleventh Wisconsin Infantry.

OFFICE OF PROVOST-MARSHAL,
Algiers, January 18, 1865.
SIR: I have the honor to submit the following report in detail of the late
expedition to Mandeville, La., being furnished with the necessary orders
and instructions from Maj.-Gen. Hurlbut:

Embarked on board the schooner Cazador at New Basin, New Orleans,
with 2 sergeants, 1 corporal, and 11 privates selected for the expedition
from the Fifty-sixth Ohio Veteran Volunteers, and 2 privates from
Company F, First New Orleans Volunteers, 3 special officers, 2
boatmen, and 1 citizen of Algiers as a guide, numbering in all 21 men
who took part in the expedition. Sailed from New Basin on the
afternoon of Sunday, January 15. Arrived at north shore of Lake
Pontchartrain during the same night, but owing to unfavorable weather,
and not being
acquainted with the coast, were unable to land. During the whole of
Monday, January 16, we beat about the north shore of the lake,
overhauled the schooner James Stockton at Pass Manchac, examined her
papers and found them correct. In the evening passed near the town of
Mandeville, headed direct for New Orleans. Sailed in this direction until
some time after nightfall, when tacked about and ran up to wharf at
Mandeville, dropping anchor about 1 o’clock at night. But one man was
visible on the wharf, whom we easily decoyed on board, and by threats
induced to consent to pilot us to the office of Lieut. Robinson.
Leaving a small guard in charge of the schooner, I proceed with the
remainder of my force to Lieut. Robinson’s quarters. First
stationing my men so as to command every place of egress from the
house, I opened the front door, and in company with special officers
walked in, and striking a light, discovered Lieut. Winslow
Robinson, commandant of the Lake shore District; Capt. W. E.
Ligon, assistant commissary of subsistence of Gen. Hodge’s staff;
Bvt. Second Lieut. G. W. White, First Louisiana Cavalry, C. S.
Army, and Judge Bethune, of Georgia, all of whom surrendered at
once, and I proceeded to take possession of all contraband articles about
the premises, consisting of one large telescope glass and a quantity of
letters, papers, and books appertaining to Lieut. Robinson as
commander of Lake Shore District. The object of the expedition being
accomplished, I returned with the prisoners and property on board the
schooner, having been absent from the wharf not to exceed thirty
minutes. Immediately set sail for New Orleans, bringing with us the
mulatto ma whom we had used as a guide, and leaving the town wrapt
in as profound quietude as we had entered it, not seeing an individual
save those brought away. Arrived at New Orleans about 6 o’clock on
Tuesday morning, January 17; turned over the prisoners to
Lieut.-Col. Wood, provost-marshal-general military division,
and the papers and property to Maj.-Gen. Hurlbut. Every man
engaged in the expedition performed his duty so well that to
particularize would be impracticable. Owing to the small space, and
cramped, uncomfortable positions, and during the time we were sailing
near the coast on the 16th, to prevent discovery, all the soldiers had to
remain below deck in the most painful situations, yet no murmur or
word of discontent was uttered by a man on board. Each individual man
deserves much credit for the manner and promptness in which his duty
was performed.

I have the honor to be, major, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

A. POWELL,
Capt., 11th Wisconsin Vet. Vol. Infty., and Provost-Marshal.

Maj. D. J. BENNER,
Chief of Staff, Department of the Gulf.
ADDENDA.

HDQRS. MILITARY DIVISION OF WEST MISSISSIPPI,
New Orleans, La., January 22, 1865.
Capt. A. POWELL,
Eleventh Wis. Vet. Vol. Infty., Provost-Marshal, Algiers, La.:
(Through headquarters Department of the Gulf.)

CAPT.: I am instructed by the major-general commanding to
acknowledge the receipt, through headquarters Department of the Gulf,
of the report of the expedition which left this city for the town
of Mandeville, on Lake Ponchartrain, on the 15th instant, under your
command, and which resulted in the capture of three noted rebel officers
and Judge Bethune, of Georgia. The admirable skill, courage, and
promptness which marked this gallant little affair merits the highest
commendation, and I am charged with the pleasant duty of conveying
the approbation and thanks of the commanding general to yourself, as
well as to the little band who accompanied you, and who, by their good
conduct and patient endurance, aided materially in securing the
successful results of the expedition.

I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

C. T. CHRISTENSEN,
Lieut.-Col. and Assistant Adjutant-Gen.

Source: Official Records
PAGE 44-101 LOUISIANA AND THE TRANS-MISSISSIPPI. [CHAP. LX.
[Series I. Vol. 48. Part I, Reports, Correspondence, Etc. Serial No. 101.]

Posted in 11th Wisconsin History, 1865, Correspondence, Field & Staff | 1 Comment