Organization 

The Eighteenth Wisconsin Infantry Regiment (18th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment) organized at Milwaukee, Wisconsin and mustered into the service of the United States on March 15th, 1862. They left Wisconsin on March 30, and disembarked at Pittsburg Landing, TN, April 5, 1862, at once moving up to the front.   

Active Duty 

The battle opened early the next morning and the Eighteenth shared the varying fortunes of the brigade to which it had been assigned during the battle of Shiloh, April 6-7, 1862.   

After the battle, the Eighteenth participated in the advance on and siege of Corinth from, April 29 to June 10. Subsequently, they engaged in the battle of Corinth from October 3 to 4, 1862.  Thereafter, they participated in various expeditions before the assembling of Union forces at Grand Junction in November for the advance on Vicksburg.  After the change of plans, the Eighteenth marched to Memphis. Then, they continued down the Mississippi, reaching Youngs Point, LA on January 25, 1863.   

Later, the men were employed on the canal dug to enable Grant's army to pass below Vicksburg.  Crossing the Mississippi river below Vicksburg, the regiment reported to General McPherson at Raymond, MS on May 13. Then, they moved with the union forces to take part in the battle of Jackson, MS on May 14. Soon after, they participated in the battle at Champions Hill, May 16, and Black River Bridge, May 17, 1863. Afterwards, they took their position in the trenches encompassing Vicksburg, where they remained until the surrender.  (Siege of Vicksburg, May 19-July 4, 1863). After the surrender the Eighteenth stayed around Vicksburg for guard and fatigue duty until September.  

Next, they transferred to Memphis, TN and then to Corinth, MS.  There, the Union forces assembled to assist in the relief of Chattanooga. The Eighteenth, a part of the Fifteenth Army Corps and with the forces under General Sherman, reached Chattanooga after a march of about two hundred fifty miles. On November 24th, they crossed the Tennessee river and participated in the attack on Missionary Ridge on November 25.  Thereafter, the Eighteenth was assigned to protect the lines of communication. At times, they were assigned to duty at Bridgeport, Huntsville, Allatoona, and Chattanooga. After, they moved south of Chattanooga on the road to Atlanta, with headquarters at Allatoona. When Allatoona was attacked on October 5, 1864, the Eighteenth actively engaged in the famous defense.  

After, a portion of the regiment accompanied General Sherman on the Savannah and Carolina Campaigns.  The portion remaining in Tennessee joined the detachment accompanying General Sherman at Goldsboro, NC, until late March 1865. After the surrender of the Confederates under General Johnston on April 26, 1865, the Eighteenth participated in the Grand Review at Washington, D.C. After, they transferred to Louisville, KY, as a part of the Provisional Division. The regiment remained there until they mustered out on July 18, 1865.  They returned to Madison, WI, and disbanded July 29, 1865. 

Casualties 

The Eighteenth Regiment lost 4 officers and 52 men to mortal wounds, and an additional 2 officers and 1767 men to disease. 

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).