Organization
The 43rd Wisconsin Infantry Regiment was organized at Camp Washburn in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in September and October 1864. The companies were mustered into service at different dates in September and left the state on October 9, 1864, under orders to report to General Sherman at Atlanta.
Active Duty
By the time they reached Tennessee, their orders had been changed, and they were assigned to the forces assembling under General Thomas for the defense of Nashville.
On October 15, the 43rd was sent to Johnsonville, Tennessee, and assigned to drill, garrison, and patrol duty at that point. Johnsonville was then an important shipping point where a large quantity of stores for the army had been collected and were being threatened by Confederate forces. On November 4-5, the enemy attacked the position but abandoned the attack. On November 30, the place was evacuated by the Union forces under orders to march to Nashville. However, this was found to be impractical, and the column was diverted to Clarksville, Tennessee.
The 43rd reached Nashville from Clarksville on December 28 and was assigned to patrol and garrison duty along the line of the Louisville & Nashville Railway at Dechard and vicinity. The regiment was also engaged in expeditions into the hill region southwest of that point.
In June, the regiment was ordered to Nashville and mustered out of the service of the United States on June 24, 1865. They then proceeded to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and were disbanded on July 6, 1865.
Casualties
The regiment lost 1 men to mortal wounds and 2 officer and 72 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).