The 17th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment was organized at Madison, Wis., and mustered in March 15, 1862. It was popularly known as the Irish Brigade, due to its composition of mostly Irish American immigrants. It left the State for St. Louis, Mo., March 23. At Benton Barracks until April 10. Moved to Pittsburg Landing, Tenn., April 10-14.
The Regiment lost during service 41 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 228 Enlisted men by disease. Total 269.
Officers:
Colonel John L. Doran (October 25, 1891 – November 25, 1862) was an attorney and militia volunteer captain before the war. He was tasked with recruiting and organizing the 17th Wisconsin Infantry, and led the regiment until forced to resign in November 1862.
Colonel Adam Gale Malloy (November 25, 1862 – July 14, 1865) began the war as captain of Co. A in the 6th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment. He joined the 17th Wisconsin as lieutenant colonel when it was organized and operated for much of the war as brigade commander, receiving an honorary brevet to brigadier general after the end of the war.
Lt. Colonel Thomas B. MacMahon (April 1864 – August 24, 1864) acted as commander of the regiment while Colonel Malloy was commanding the brigade. Discharged in August 1864.
Lt. Colonel Donald D. Scott (August 24, 1864 – November 1864) acted as commander of the regiment while Colonel Malloy was commanding the brigade.
Major Patrick H. McCauley (November 1864 – March 23, 1865) acted as commander of the regiment while Colonel Malloy and Lt. Colonel Scott were on furlough.
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. 2nd Brigade, 6th Division, 16th Army Corps, to January, 1863. 2nd Brigade, 6th Division, 17th Army Corps, to September, 1863. 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, 17th Army Corps, to April, 1864. 3rd Brigade, 3rd Division, 17th Army Corps, to November, 1864. 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, 17th Army Corps, to July, 1865.
Battles:
Siege of Corinth
Second Battle of Corinth
Vicksburg Campaign
Siege of Vicksburg
Atlanta Campaign
Battle of Kennesaw Mountain
Battle of Atlanta
Savannah Campaign
Carolinas Campaign
Battle of Rivers' Bridge
Battle of Bentonville
Service:
-Advance on and siege of Corinth, Miss., April 29-May 30, 1862. Duty at Corinth until November. Near Ramer's Crossing, Mobile & Ohio Railroad, October 2 (Co. "A"). Battle of Corinth October 3-4. Pursuit to Ripley October 5-12. Moved to Grand Junction November 2. Grant's Central Mississippi Campaign, operations on the Mississippi Central Railroad November 2, 1862, to January 3, 1863. Moved to Moscow, Tenn., January 3, thence to Memphis January 10, and to Young's Point, La., January 18. Moved to Lake Providence, La., February 8 and duty there until April 20. Movement on Bruinsburg and turning Grand Gulf April 20-30. Battle of Port Gibson, Miss., May 1 (Reserve). Battle of Champion's Hill May 16. Siege of Vicksburg, Miss., May 18-July 4. Assaults on Vicksburg May 19 and 22. Expedition to Mechanicsburg May 26-June 4. Moved to Natchez, Miss., July 12-13 and duty there until October 9. Expedition to Harrisonburg September 1-8. Trinity September 2. Near Harrisonburg and capture of Fort Beauregard September 4. Cross Bayou September 10. Moved to Vicksburg October 9 and duty there until March, 1864. Veterans on furlough March 8-April 21. Moved to Cairo, Ill., April 21-22, thence moved to Clifton, Tenn., May 4, and march to Ackworth, Ga., via Huntsville and Decatur, Ala., and Rome, Ga., May 5-June 8. Atlanta (Ga.) Campaign June 8 to September 8. Operations about Marietta and against Kennesaw Mountain June 10-July 2. Brush Mountain June 15. Assault on Kennesaw 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. Barker's Mills, Whippy Swamp, February 1. Salkehatchie Swamp February. 2-5. South Edisto River February 9. North Edisto River February 12-13. Columbia February 16-17. Battle of Bentonville, N. C., 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, and there mustered out July 14, 1865.
Rosters:
The composite rosters of this unit contain the names of 3684 men.
Historical Sketch: