Organization
The Eighth Wisconsin Light Artillery Battery (8th Wisconsin Light Artillery Battery), also known as the Lyons' Pinery Battery, organized at Camp Utley, Racine, WI, and mustered into the service of the United States on the January 8th, 1862. The battery left the state on March 18 for St. Louis, Missouri, where they stationed for duty at Benton Barracks until April 4.
Active Duty
In early April, they traveled to Fort Scott, Kansas, with Lane’s Southwestern Expedition. After they moved to Fort Riley, and finally to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas where they stayed until their move to Columbus, Kentucky from May 10 to June 4, 1862. The battery then transferred to Tennessee and then to Corinth, Missouri, which it reached on July 9, 1862. The Centre section participated in various Army movements around Corinth and Iuka, like the Battle of Iuka and Battle of Corinth. In Fall 1862, the Eighth Battery moved northward with the Union forces toward Ohio.
The Eighth Battery further participated in the Battle of Chaplin Hills (also known as the Battle of Perryville) on October 8, 1862, and in the pursuit of the Confederate forces. They would also engage in the Battle of Stones River, Tennessee, from December 30, 1862, to January 3, 1863, remaining at Murfreesboro for duty following those events. In June 1863, the unit participated in the Tullahoma Campaign from June 23 to July 7. Following the Tullahoma Campaign, they would participate in the advance in Chattanooga, in the battle of Chickamauga, Georgia from September 19 to 20, and participate in the action at Lookout Mountain on November 24, 1863.
On December 5, the Eighth Battery moved to Nashville, Tennessee, where they would have duty until March 1864. In April 1864, was assigned to garrison duty in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, as a part of the permanent garrison where it remained during its period of subsequent service. The battery then returned to Milwaukee, WI. The Eight Battery mustered out of service on August 10, 1865, and disbanded.
Casualties of the 8th Wisconsin Independent Battery Light Artillery
The Eight Battery lost one officer and one soldier to mortal wounds, and 26 soldiers 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).