Organization 

The Eleventh Wisconsin Infantry Regiment (11th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment) organized at Camp Randall, Madison, Wisconsin, and mustered into the service of the United States on October 16, 1861. They left the state on November 20 and proceeded directly to St. Louis. 

Active Duty 

They began their service in St. Louis with service patrolling and guarding railways. The regiment continued with those duties until March 1862, when they joined other Union forces to participate in a number of expeditions into Northern Arkansas and Southern Missouri. Along with these expeditions, they took part in the actions at Bayou Cache, on July 7, 1862. Later, they spent the winter of 1862-1863 in Southern Missouri, occupied principally in patrol duty and guarding railways along with other lines of communication. 

On March 11, 1863, the Eleventh moved to Memphis, Tennessee, then continued down the Mississippi River to Milliken’s Bend, LA, occupying different positions.  As a part of Grant’s forces, the regiment crossed to the east side of the Mississippi below Vicksburg on April 30, and moved forward at once and took part in the battle at Port Gibson on May 1.   

Next, they engaged in the battles of Champions Hill on May 16. Following this, they engaged in the action at the Black River Bridge on May 17. Then, they took part in the siege of Vicksburg taking place from May 18 to July 4.  After the surrender of Vicksburg, the Eleventh participated in the Jackson Campaign from July 5 to 25, 1863.  

 In August, they proceeded to Southern Louisiana under orders and was assigned to the Thirteenth Army Corps. With the Thirteenth Army Corps they participated in the operations in Teche Country, Louisiana, from October 3 to November 30.  In late November, the Eleventh was part of the force engaged in an expedition to Brazos Santiago, Texas, about six hundred miles west of New Orleans.  

Returning to Brashear City (now Morgan City, LA), the Regiment continued in active service until February 26, 1865, when it was assigned to the force sent to capture Mobile, AL.  Here the Eleventh participated in the siege of Spanish Fort, from March 26 to April 8, 1865, the assault and capture of Ft. Blakely on April 9, 1865, and the occupation of Mobile, April 12.  During the following summer, the Eleventh was engaged in guard duty in Southern Alabama.  They mustered out of service on September 5th. Later, they travelled to Madison and disbanded on September 28, 1865. 

Casualties 

The Eleventh Regiment lost 6 officers and 80 enlisted men to mortal wounds. In addition, they lost 4 officers and 253 enlisted men to disease, for a total loss of 373 men to the regiment. 

For Further Research

Search our collections for photos and artifacts from Wisconsin in the Civil War. Read about other Wisconsin Civil War regiments. For detailed regimental histories of the U.S. Civil War, consult the Frederick H. Dyer, Compendium of the War of the Rebellion: Regimental Histories.

The histories above, unless otherwise noted, are adopted from Charles E. Estabrook, ed., Records and Sketches of Military Organizations, (Madison, 1914).