Wisconsin in the Civil War
Wisconsin's Involvement in the Civil War
Read an overview of Wisconsin's involvement in U.S. Civil War, 1861-1865. Learn about the state's contributions including the Iron Brigade and Old Abe, the war eagle.
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Resource Description
- About Our American Civil War Collections
Our Civil War materials – collected for over 150 years – offer researchers a wealth of materials including rosters, casualty lists, memoirs, historical photographs, regimental histories and more.
Have Questions?
For questions about the Roster or help finding a soldier, please contact us:
Search Our Documents
Roughly 25,000 pages of original documents about Wisconsin in the Civil War are available online including soldiers' letters, diaries, and memoirs; regimental histories and rosters; photographs, maps, biographies and battle summaries.
Wisconsin Civil War Essays
Read dozens of stories taken from original documents about camp life, combat, death and destruction, politics, enemy encounters and personal reflections.
- A Colonel Tricks His Confederate Captors
Read about how a lieutenant outwitted Confederate soldiers after he was captured in the fog near Petersburg, Virginia
- Cordelia Harvey Persuades President Lincoln to Establish Northern Hospitals
Learn how Cordelia Harvey established a hospital in Madison to help Civil War soldiers
Civil War Battle Summaries
Learn basic facts about each battle and the role played by Wisconsin troops. Summaries include links to battle maps, related images and original documents.
- Atlanta Campaign
By seizing Atlanta, Georgia, the center of Confederate industry and transportation, the Union crippled the Confederacy's ability to wage war.
- Iuka, Battle of
Learn more about Wisconsin's role in this Civil War battle. This article includes links to view original documents and other accounts of this battle.
Wisconsin Civil War Regimental Histories
Learn basic regiment facts and the important engagements. Histories include links to original documents.
- 4th Wisconsin Light Artillery History
The 4th Wisconsin Light Artillery was organized at Racine and mustered into service on October 1, 1861.
- 39th Wisconsin Infantry History
The 39th Wisconsin Infantry was organized at Camp Washburn in Milwaukee and mustered in on June 3, 1864.
Biographies of Wisconsin Civil War Leaders
Read short biographies of prominent Wisconsin figures from the Civil War era.
- La Grange, Col. Oscar H., 1837-1915
Read about this ardent abolitionist who rose from company captain to brigadier general.
- Harvey, Cordelia (1824–1895)
A brief biography of Wisconsin’s Florence Nightingale, Cordelia Harvey who was a strong voice for innovatring Civil War Military hospitals.
- Browse All Pictures
From the Wisconsin in the Civil War Digital Collection
- Browse All Diaries
From the Wisconsin in the Civil War Digital Collection
- Browse All Maps
From the Wisconsin in the Civil War Digital Collection
- Browse All Broadsides
From the Wisconsin in the Civil War Digital Collection
View Census Enumeration Documents Online
- 1885 Veterans Enumerations
Enumeration of soldiers and sailors of the late war residing in Wisconsin June 20, 1885
- 1895 Veterans Enumerations
Wisconsin census enumeration, 1895 : names of ex-soldiers and sailors residing in Wisconsin, June 20, 1895 : alphabetically arranged
- 1905 Veterans Enumerations
Wisconsin census enumeration, 1905 : names of ex-soldiers and sailors residing in Wisconsin, June 1, 1905
More Essays on Wisconsin in the Civil War
- Civil War: Wisconsin Statistics
Basic statistics pertaining to Wisconsin's involvement in the Civil War.
- Wisconsin Women in the Civil War
Learn about the women of Wisconsin, and their lives during the Civil War.
- The Underground Railroad in Wisconsin
Read about the most famous escapes of fugitive slaves along Wisconsin's Underground Railroad. Includes links to primary sources.