Organization
The 29th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment was organized at Camp Randall in Madison, Wisconsin, and mustered into the service of the United States on September 27, 1862. The regiment left Wisconsin on November 2 and arrived in Helena, Arkansas, soon thereafter.
Active Duty
The 29th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment was organized at Camp Randall in Madison, Wisconsin, and mustered into the service of the United States on September 27, 1862. The regiment left Wisconsin on November 2 and arrived in Helena, Arkansas, soon thereafter.
From Helena, the regiment engaged in various operations into the interior of Arkansas, including expeditions up the White River to Friars Point, Mississippi, and Yazoo Pass, Mississippi.
In the spring of 1863, the 29th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment took part in the campaign against Vicksburg. The regiment crossed the Mississippi River below Vicksburg on April 30, 1863, and took part in the Battle of Fort Gibson on May 1. The regiment then participated in the active movements of the army under General Grant, including the Battle of Champions Hill on May 16. The regiment took position in the trenches in the rear of Vicksburg and continued to participate in the siege until the surrender of the city on July 4, 1863.
The day after the surrender, the 29th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment was detailed to the Jackson Campaign, which lasted from July 5 to 25, 1863. In August, the regiment accompanied other forces in the occupation of Natchez, Mississippi. In September, the regiment moved into southern Louisiana, where it was engaged in many expeditions about New Iberia.
In early January 1864, the 29th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment joined an expedition to Texas on the Rio Grande. The expedition returned to New Orleans in late February.
The 29th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment was then assigned to duty with the forces engaged in the Red River Expedition, which lasted from March 10 to 22, 1864. The regiment participated in the campaign, including the Battle of Sabine Cross Roads on April 8, 1864. As part of its work in this campaign, the regiment assisted Colonel Bailey in constructing his famous dam across the Red River, which saved the Union gunboats.
After the abandonment of the Red River Expedition, the regiment was transferred to southern Louisiana, where it remained until September. The field of its operations was then transferred to Arkansas, with headquarters generally at Little Rock. From Little Rock, the regiment moved in various directions and accompanied many expeditions in frequent contact with the enemy.
In January 1865, the 29th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment was again ordered to New Orleans as part of the forces collecting for the reduction of the fortifications at Mobile, Alabama. The regiment participated in the campaign, which lasted from March 17 to May 4, 1965, including the reduction of Spanish Fort and the capture of Fort Blakely.
The war being practically over, the regiment remained in southern Louisiana until about June 22, 1865, when it was mustered out of the service of the United States. The regiment returned to Madison, Wisconsin, and was disbanded on July 17, 1865.
Casualties
During service the 28th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment had one officer and 76 enlisted men who were killed and mortally wounded. Dying by disease were three officers and 242 enlisted men.
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).