The 16th Wisconsin Infantry was organized at Camp Randall in Madison and mustered into service on January 31, 1862. The regiment left Wisconsin for St. Louis, Missouri, on March 13, 1862, and then traveled promptly to Pittsburg Landing, Tennessee, March 14-20.
During its service it moved through Tennessee, Mississippi, Louisiana, Georgia, the Carolinas, and Washington D.C. It participated in the battles of Shiloh, Corinth, Jonesboro, Kennesaw Mountain, Atlanta, and Savannah, Sherman's March to the Sea, and the surrender of the Confederate army. On June 7, 1865, the regiment moved to Louisville, Kentucky, where it mustered out on July 12, 1865.
The 16th Wisconsin suffered 6 officers and 141 enlisted men killed in action or who later died of their wounds, plus another 4 officer and 248 enlisted men who died of disease, for a total of 399 fatalities.
The six-man color guard were all killed on April 6, 1862. They are memorialized with cenotaphs at what was the apex of the Shiloh Military Cemetery overlooking the Tennessee River.
The regiment was mustered out on July 12, 1865.
Officers:
Colonel Benjamin Allen (October 10, 1861 – July 17, 1863) was wounded at Shiloh and resigned due to lingering illness. Before the war he had served as a Wisconsin state senator.
Lt. Colonel Thomas Reynolds (April 6, 1862 – April 1863) Commanded the regiment as major when Colonel Allen and Lt. Colonel Fairchild were recuperating from wounds after Shiloh. Later commanded the regiment as a lieutenant colonel while Colonel Fairchild commanded the brigade. He received an honorary brevet to colonel at the end of the war.
Colonel Cassius Fairchild (July 17, 1863 – July 12, 1865) was also wounded at Shiloh. He commanded the brigade during the last phase of the war and received an honorary brevet to brigadier general. Before the war he had served as a Wisconsin state legislator. After the war he was appointed United States marshal for Wisconsin.
Major William F. Dawes (July 21, 1864 – December 21, 1864) commanded the regiment when Colonel Fairchild commanded the brigade and Lt. Col. Reynolds was wounded. Mustered out at the end of his three year enlistment. He was previously captain of Co. E.
Major Joseph Craig (December 21, 1864 – April 1865) commanded the regiment as a captain when Colonel Fairchild commanded the brigade. Promoted to major in April 1865. He was previously captain of Co. F.
Assignments:
Attached to 1st Brigade, 6th Division, Army of the Tennessee, to July, 1862. 1st Brigade, 6th Division, District of Corinth, Miss., to November, 1862. 1st Brigade, 6th Division, Left Wing 13th Army Corps (Old), Dept. of the Tennessee, to December, 1862. 1st Brigade, 6th Division, 16th Army Corps, to January, 1863. 1st Brigade, 6th Division, 17th Army Corps, to September, 1863. 1st Brigade, 1st Division, 17th Army Corps, to April, 1864. 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, 17th Army Corps, to July, 1865.
Battles:
Battle of Shiloh
Battle of Corinth
Vicksburg Campaign
Atlanta Campaign
Battle of Kennesaw Mountain
Battle of Atlanta
March to the Sea
Carolinas Campaign
Battle of Bentonville
Service:
-Battle of Shiloh, Tenn., April 6-7, 1862. Advance on and siege of Corinth, Miss, April 29-May 30. Duty at Corinth until September 17. Battle of Corinth, Miss., October 3-4. Pursuit to Ripley October 5-12. Ordered to Grand Junction November 2 and duty there until November 28. Grant's Central Mississippi Campaign. Operations on the Mississippi Central Railroad to December 28. Moved to Moscow and duty along Memphis & Charleston Railroad until January 10, 1863. Moved to Memphis, Tenn., January 10, thence to Young's Point, La,, January 17, and to Lake Providence March 8. Action at Old River, Lake Providence, February 10. Provost duty at Lake Providence until August. Pin Hook and Caledonia Bayou, Macon, May 10. Expedition to Mechanicsburg May 26-June 4. Near Lake Providence June 9. Moved to Red Bone Church August 1 and duty there until February 5, 1864. Garrison duty at Vicksburg until March 4. Veterans on furlough March and April. Non-veterans on duty at Vicksburg until April 5, then joined Regiment at Cairo, Ill. Veterans moved to Cairo, Ill., April 20-22. Moved to Clifton, Tenn., May 4, thence march to Ackworth, Ga. via Huntsville and Decatur, Ala., and Rome, Ga., May 5-June 8. Atlanta (Ga.) Campaign June 8-September 8. Operations about Marietta and against Kennesaw Mountain June 10-July 2. Brush Mountain June 15. Assault on Kennesaw Mountain June 27. Nickajack Creek July 2-5. Howell's Ferry July 5. Chattahoochie River July 5-17. Leggett's or Bald Hill July 20-21. Battle of Atlanta July 22. Siege of Atlanta July 22-August 25. Ezra Chapel July 28. Flank movement on Jonesboro August 25-30. Battle of Jonesboro August 31-September 1. Lovejoy Station September 2-6. Operations against Hood in North Georgia and North Alabama September 29-November 3. March to the sea November 15-December 10. Siege of Savannah December 10-21. Campaign of the Carolinas January to April, 1865. Pocotaligo, S.C., January 14. Reconnaissance to Salkehatchie River January 25. Barker's Mills, Whippy Swamp, February 1. Salkehatchie Swamp February 2-5. Binnaker's Bridge, South Edisto, February 9. Orangeburg February 11-12. Columbia February 16-17. Averysboro, N. C., March 16. Battle of Bentonville March 19-21. 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 19. Grand Review May 24. Moved to Louisville, Ky., June 7. Mustered out July 12, 1865.
Rosters:
The composite rosters of this unit contain the names of 3247 men.
Company A - many men from Waushara County and the town of Berlin, which is located in Waushara, Marathon, and Green Lake Counties
Notable Members:
George F. Caldwell was enlisted briefly in Co. D. He had originally been enlisted in the 32nd Wisconsin Infantry Regiment, but was transferred to the 16th Wisconsin Infantry in June 1865.
Jacob Fawcett was a corporal in Co. I and was wounded at Shiloh and Atlanta. After the war he became a justice of the Nebraska Supreme Court.
David G. James was enlisted in Co. F and later transferred to Co. C. He was taken prisoner during the Atlanta campaign. When mustering out, he received an honorary brevet to captain. After the war he became a Wisconsin state senator.
Norman L. James was a private in Co. F. After the war he became a Wisconsin state senator.
Robert Macauley was drafted into Co. G. After the war he became a Wisconsin state legislator and judge.
Sylvester W. Osborn was captain of Co. I for the first year. After the war he became a Wisconsin state legislator.
Horace Patch was captain of Co. C. He was wounded at Shiloh and died of disease two months later. He had served as a Wisconsin legislator before the war.
George Myron Sabin was adjutant of the regiment and was detailed to serve as a judge advocate in Vicksburg from 1863 until civil courts resumed operation, rising to the rank of lieutenant colonel. Prior to joining the 16th Wisconsin, he was a corporal in the 1st Wisconsin Infantry Regiment and was commissioned quartermaster in the 11th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment. After the war, he was appointed United States district judge for the District of Nevada.
Wiley Scribner was first lieutenant of Co. E and later quartermaster. After the war he became secretary of the Montana Territory and was acting governor in 1870.
Henry G. Webb was the first captain of Co. H, but only served a few months and never left Wisconsin. Later he served as a Wisconsin state senator and Kansas state legislator and judge.
Historical Sketch: