HISTORICAL NOTES:
The 12th Independent Battery was mustered into service at St. Louis, Missouri, in February, 1862 as a part of a Missouri light artillery regiment under the authority of Governor Henry but was transferred to Wisconsin state service.
The 12th Independent Battery initially recruited 99 officers and men. An additional 212 men were recruited as replacements, for a total of 311 men.
The battery suffered 1 officer and 10 enlisted men killed in action or died of wounds, and 23 enlisted men who died of disease, for a total of 34 fatalities.
Most of the battle losses occurred at the Battle of Allatoona Pass, October 5, 1864, where the 12th was the only Union artillery present. First Lieutenant Marcus Amsden, who commanded the battery in this fight, fell mortally wounded; Sergeant Sylvester Bartow, Corporal Alva P. Hamilton, and Private David C. Davey were killed in action, and Privates Charles C. Baker, Joseph W. Chase, and Samuel H. Doolittle also died of their wounds.
The battery was mustered out on June 26, 1865.
OFFICERS:
Captain William A. Pile - March 1, 1862 - July 18, 1862, when his commission was revoked
Captain William Zickerick - July 18, 1862 - June 7, 1865[
ASSIGNMENTS:
Organized at St. Louis, Mo., under authority of Governor Harvey, as a Company for the 1st Missouri Light Artillery, to be known as the 12th Wisconsin Battery February and March, 1862. Moved to Hamburg Landing, Tenn., May 6, 1862. 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 Array Corps, to December, 1863. Artillery, 3rd Division, 15th Army Corps, to September, 1864. Artillery Brigade, 15th Army Corps, to June, 1865.
SERVICE:
Advance on and siege of Corinth, Miss., May 8-30, 1862. Pursuit to Booneville May 31-June 6. At Camp Clear Creek until August. Ordered to Jacinto August 14. Battle of Iuka, Miss., September 19. Battle of Corinth, Miss., October 3-4. Pursuit to Ripley October 5-12. At Corinth until November 8. Grant's Central Mississippi Campaign. Operations on the Mississippi Central Railroad November, 1862, to January, 1863. Duty at Germantown, Tenn., January 4 to February 8, 1863. Moved to Memphis, Tenn., February 8; thence to Grand Lake, Ark. Yazoo Pass Expedition and operations against Fort Pemberton and Greenwood March 13-April 5. Moved to Milliken's Bend, La., April 16. Movement on Bruinsburg and turning Grand Gulf April 25-30. Battle of Port Gibson, Miss., May 1 (Reserve). 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. Duty at Vicksburg until September. Moved to Helena, Ark., September 12; thence to Memphis, Tenn., September 27. March to Chattanooga, Tenn., October 6-November 20. Operations on Memphis & Charleston Railroad in Alabama October 20-29. Chattanooga-Ringgold Campaign November 23-27. Tunnel Hill November 24-25. Mission Ridge November 25. Duty at Bridgeport, Ala., until December 22; at Larkinsville until January 7, 1864, and at Huntsville, Ala., until June 22. March to Kingston, Ga., June 22-30, and duty there until July 13. Moved to Allatoona, Ga.. July 13, and duty there until November 12. Repulse of French's attack on Allatoona October 6. Reconnaissance from Rome on Cave Springs Road and skirmishes October 12-13. March to the sea November 15-December 10. Siege of Savannah December 10-21. Campaign of the Carolinas January to April, 1865. Combahee River, S. C., January 28. Hickory Hill February 1. South Edisto River February 9. North Edisto River February 12-13. Congaree Creek February 15. Columbia February 16-17. Battle of Bentonville, N. C., March 19-21. Near Falling Creek March 20. Mill Creek March 22. Occupation of Goldsboro March 24. Advance on Raleigh April 10-14. Occupation of Raleigh April 14. Bennett's House April 26. Surrender of Johnston and his army. March to Washington, D.C., via Richmond, Va., April 29-May 20. Grand Review May 24. Mustered out June 26, 1865.
BATTLES:
siege of Corinth
Battle of Iuka
Battle of Port Gibson
Battle of Raymond
Battle of Jackson
Battle of Champion Hill
Siege of Vicksburg
Battle of Allatoona
Battle of Bentonville
ROSTERS:
The composite rosters of this unit contain the names of 438 men.
HISTORICAL NOTES: