The 6th Independent Battery Wisconsin Light Artillery was organized at Racine, Wis., and mustered in October 2, 1861. Moved to St. Louis, Mo., March 15-16, 1862, thence to New Madrid, Mo., March 19-20, and report to Gen. Pope.
The 6th Independent Battery initially recruited 157 officers and men. An additional 85 men were recruited as replacements, for a total of 242 men.
The battery suffered 1 officer and 6 enlisted men killed in action or died of wounds and 22 enlisted men who died of disease, for a total of 29 fatalities.
OFFICERS:
Captain Henry Dillon
Captain Thomas R. Hood
ASSIGNMENTS:
Attached to Artillery Division, Army of Mississippi, to September, 1862. Artillery, 3rd Division, Army of Mississippi, to November, 1862. Artillery, 7th Division, Left Wing, 13th Army Corps (Old), Dept. of the Tennessee, to December, 1862. Artillery, 7th Division, 16th Army Corps, to January, 1863. Artillery, 7th Division, 17th Army Corps, to September, 1863. Artillery, 2nd Division, 17th Army Corps, to December, 1863. Artillery, 3rd Division, 15th Army Corps, to November, 1864. Garrison Artillery, Nashville, Tenn., Dept. of the Cumberland, to February, 1865. Artillery Reserve, Chattanooga, Tenn., Dept. of the Cumberland, to July, 1865.
BATTLES:
Siege of Corinth
Battle of Corinth
Battle of Port Gibson
Battle of Champion Hill
Siege of Vicksburg
Siege of Chattanooga
Battle of Nashville
SERVICE:
Duty in the fortifications of New Madrid, Mo., and Island No. 10, Missouri, until May 17, 1862. Moved to Hamburg Landing, Tenn., May 17-23. Siege of Corinth, Miss., May 23-30. Pursuit to Booneville May 30-June 12. Moved to Rienzi and duty there until October 1. Battle of Corinth, Miss., October 3-4. Duty at Corinth, Miss., until November 2. Moved to Grand Junction November 2. Grant's Central Mississippi Campaign November 2, 1862, to January 10, 1863. Moved to Memphis, Tenn., and duty there until March, 1863. Yazoo Pass Expedition and operations against Fort Pemberton and Greenwood March 13-April 5. Moved to Milliken's Bend, La., April 13. Movement on Bruinsburg and turning Grand Gulf April 25-30. Battle of Port Gibson, Miss., May 1 (Reserve). Jones' Cross Roads May 3. Battles of Raymond May 12; Jackson May 14; Champion's Hill May 16. Siege of Vicksburg, Miss., May 18-July 4. Assaults on Vicksburg May 19 and 22. Surrender of Vicksburg July 4 and duty there until September. Ordered to Helena, Ark., September 12, thence to Memphis, Tenn., September 27. March to Chattanooga, Tenn., October 5-November 20. Operations on the Memphis & Charleston Railroad in Alabama October 20-29. Chattanooga-Ringgold Campaign November 23-27. Tunnel Hill November 23-24. Mission Ridge November 25. Duty at Bridgeport, Ala., December 5-22. At Larkinsville, Ala., until January 7, 1864, and at Huntsville, Ala., until June 22. March to Kingston, Ga., June 22-30, and duty there until July 12. Stationed at Etowah River Bridge, near Cartersville, until November 10. Nonveterans mustered out October, 1864. Moved to Chattanooga, Tenn., November 10, thence to Nashville. Tenn., and garrison duty there until February 17, 1865. Battles of Nashville, Tenn., December 15-16, 1864 (not actively engaged). Ordered to Chattanooga February 17, 1865, and duty there until July. Mustered out at Madison, Wis., July 3, 1865.
ROSTERS:
The composite rosters of this unit contain the names of 450 men. BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Dyer, Frederick H. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion. Vol. 2. Davenport, IA: Eastern Digital Resources, 2003.
Love, William D. Wisconsin in the War of the Rebellion. Chicago: Church and Goodman, 1866. E537L79. Davenport, IA: Eastern Digital Resources, 2011.
Quiner, E.B. The Military History of Wisconsin. Chicago: Clarke, 1866. E537Q75.
Davenport, IA: Eastern Digital Resources, 2011.
Rigdon, John C. Wisconsin Civil War Soldiers Index. Davenport, IA: Eastern Digital Resources, 2011.
HISTORICAL NOTES: