Organization

The 48th Wisconsin Infantry regiment was organized at Camp Washburn, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, during February and March, 1865.  Eight Companies left the State on March 22 proceeding to Sedalia, MO, then terminus of the railway. 

Active Duty

From the railway, the regiment marched to Paola, KS, where the several Companies were assigned to duty at different points. Companies I and K were left at Milwaukee and reached the regiment in  late April.  The several companies continued on duty in various districts until late August. Then, the regiment assembled at Lawrence, KS, and were sent into the western part of that State, involving a march of 250 miles on the frontier.  From this point the several companies were assigned to different points in the western part of Kansas, and two companies to Ft. Lyon, Colorado Territory, where the several companies continued in the performance of their respective duties until late December, when the 48th was ordered to assemble at Ft. Leavenworth, KS. After, they mustered out of the service of the United States on December 30, 1865. Then, they marched to St. Louis, MO, where the regiment took the train for Madison, WI, reaching there on January 3, 1866, and was shortly thereafter disbanded. 

Casualties

The Regiment lost 16 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).