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Civil War Soldier with Rifle, 1886

Oil on linen study of a Civil War soldier aiming a rifle, as seen from the rear. The study was created as part of the work of a group of German panorama artists active in Milwaukee during the 1880. The study is unsigned but is likely by F.W. Heine who donated sixteen preliminary studies to the Wisconsin Historical Society. View the original source document: WHI 78373

The 12th Wisconsin Light Artillery was organized at St. Louis, Missouri, as a company for the 1st Missouri Light Artillery,during February and March 1862. Once it joined the Missouri regiment it was known as the 12th Wisconsin Battery. From St. Louis it moved through Mississippi, Tennessee, Arkansas, Alabama, Georgia, the Carolinas, Virginia, and Washington, D.C.

It participated in the sieges of Corinth, Vicksburg, Savannah, and the battles of Iuka, Corinth, Port Gibson, Raymond, and Bentonville, and the surrender of the Confederate army. The battery mustered out on June 26, 1865. It lost 34 men during service. One officer and 10 enlisted men were killed. Twenty-three enlisted men died from disease.

• View a longer history

• View the roster

• View a list of casualties

• View original documents

• View assignments to brigades, divisions, corps and armies

[Source: Estabrook, Charles E, ed. Records and sketches of military organizations: population, legislation, election and other statistics relating to Wisconsin in the period of the Civil War. (Madison, 1914?)]