The 26th Wisconsin Infantry was organized at Camp Sigel in Milwaukee and mustered into service on September 17, 1862. The regiment left Wisconsin for Washington D.C., on October 6, 1862. From there it moved through Virginia, Pennsylvania, Alabama, Georgia, the Carolinas, Virginia and back to Washington D.C. Its participated in the battles of Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Kennesaw Mountain, the Siege of Atlanta, Sherman's March to the Sea, the Siege of Savannah, the Carolinas campaign, the Battle of Bentonville, and the surrender of the Confederate army. The regiment mustered out of active military service, June 17, 1865.  The regiment lost 265 men during service. Twelve officers and 176 enlisted men were killed and 77 enlisted men died from disease.

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[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?).]

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