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38th Wisconsin Infantry

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Muster In: Companies “A,” “B,” “C” and “D” organized at Madison, Wis., and mustered in April 15, 1864. Co. “E” Joined July 26, 1864.  Companies “F,” “G,” “H,” “I” and “K” Joined October 1, 1864.1
Muster Out: 2nd Battalion mustered out June 6, 1865. 1st Battalion mustered out July 26, 1865.2

Commander(s):
Colonel James Bintliff
Commander Image

Lieutenant Colonel Colwert K. Pier
Commander Image

Major Robert N. Roberts
Commander Image

Lieutenant Charles L. Ballard
Commander Image

Commander 5
Commander Image

First Offensive Order of Battle: First Brigade | Third Division | IX Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army3,4

Second Offensive Order of Battle: First Brigade | Third Division | IX Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army8,9

  • Commander: Captain Robert N. Roberts (June 30, 1864)10
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons: Springfield Rifles (.58 caliber) (June 30, 1864)11
  • The 38th Wisconsin was a battalion of four (4) companies at this time.12,13

Third Offensive Order of Battle: First Brigade | Third Division | IX Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army14,15

  • Commander: Lieutenant Colonel Colwert K. Pier (July 31, 1864)16
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:
  • Note: Co. “E” Joined July 26, 1864, at which point the unit had five companies.17,18,19

Fourth Offensive Order of Battle: First Brigade | Third Division | IX Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army20,21

  • Commander: Lieutenant Charles L. Ballard (August 31, 1864)22
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:
  • Note: The 38th Wisconsin had only five (5) companies at this time.23,24

Fifth Offensive Order of Battle: First Brigade | First Division | IX Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army25,26

  • Commander:
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:
  • Note: The second battalion of the 38th Wisconsin (Cos. F, G, H, I, K), newly raised and new to the Siege of Petersburg, left City Point to join the first battalion (Cos. A, B, C, D, E) in the field on September 30, 1864 but did not reach them until October 1, 1864, at which point the unit was united for the first time.27,28

Sixth Offensive Order of Battle: First Brigade | First Division | IX Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army29,30

  • Commander: Colonel James Bintliff (October 31, 1864)31
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:

Seventh Offensive Order of Battle: First Brigade | First Division | IX Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army32

  • Commander: Colonel James Bintliff (December 31, 1864)33
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:

Eighth Offensive Order of Battle: First Brigade | First Division | IX Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army34,35

  • Commander:
    • Colonel James Bintliff (January 31, 1865)36
    • Lieutenant Colonel Colwert K. Pier (February 28, 1865)37
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:

Ninth Offensive Order of Battle: First Brigade | First Division | IX Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army38,39,40

  • Commander:
    • Colonel James Bintliff (March 31, 1865)41
    • Major Robert N. Roberts (March 31, 1865)42
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:
  • Note: This unit is listed in the casualty returns for the Battle of Fort Stedman, March 25, 1865. However, the First Brigade is called out for having not been actively engaged, and the record shows no casualties.43

Dyer’s/Sifakis’ Compendium Info:
Siege of Petersburg Battles44:

  • Movement across James River to Petersburg June 12-15.
  • Assaults on Petersburg June 16-18.
  • Siege of Petersburg June 16, 1864, to April 2, 1865.
  • (Co. “E” Joined July 26, 1864.)
  • Mine Explosion, Petersburg, July 30, 1864.
  • Weldon Railroad August 18-21.
  • Poplar Springs Church September 29-October 2.
  • Boydton Plank Road, Hatcher’s Run, October 27-28.
  • (Companies “F,” “G,” “H,” “I” and “K” Joined October 1, 1864.)
  • Received Rebel Peace Commissioners Stephens, Hunter, Campbell and Hatch through lines under flag of truce January 29, 1865.
  • Fort Stedman, Petersburg, March 25.
  • Appomattox Campaign March 28-April 9.
  • Assault on and fall of Petersburg April 2.
  • Occupation of Petersburg April 3.
  • Pursuit of Lee April 3-9.

Bibliography:

    Siege of Petersburg Documents Which Mention This Unit:

    Sources:

    1. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3) ↩
    2. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3) ↩
    3. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 1 (Serial Number 80), p. 230 ↩
    4. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 2 (Serial Number 81), p. 550 ↩
    5. Volume 14 (Ordnance Returns for the Second Quarter, April-June, 1864); 38th Wisconsin Entry, Page 78; Summary Statements of Quarterly Returns of Ordnance and Ordnance Stores on Hand in Regular and Volunteer Army Organizations, 1862-1867, 1870-1876. (National Archives Microfilm Publication M1281, Roll 7); Records of the Office of the Chief of Ordnance, 1797-1969, Record Group 156; National Archives Building, Washington, D.C. ↩
    6. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 1 (Serial Number 80), p. 230 ↩
    7. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 2 (Serial Number 81), p. 550 ↩
    8. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 1 (Serial Number 80), p. 230 ↩
    9. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 2 (Serial Number 81), p. 550 ↩
    10. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 2 (Serial Number 81), p. 550 ↩
    11. Volume 14 (Ordnance Returns for the Second Quarter, April-June, 1864); 38th Wisconsin Entry, Page 78; Summary Statements of Quarterly Returns of Ordnance and Ordnance Stores on Hand in Regular and Volunteer Army Organizations, 1862-1867, 1870-1876. (National Archives Microfilm Publication M1281, Roll 7); Records of the Office of the Chief of Ordnance, 1797-1969, Record Group 156; National Archives Building, Washington, D.C. ↩
    12. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 1 (Serial Number 80), p. 230 ↩
    13. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 2 (Serial Number 81), p. 550 ↩
    14. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 1 (Serial Number 80), page 260 ↩
    15. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 3 (Serial Number 82), page 734 ↩
    16. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 3 (Serial Number 82), page 734 ↩
    17. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 1 (Serial Number 80), page 260 ↩
    18. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 3 (Serial Number 82), page 734 ↩
    19. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3) ↩
    20. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 2 (Serial Number 88), page 617: “Organization of the Army of the Potomac…August 31, 1864” ↩
    21. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 1 (Serial Number 87), page 127: “Return of Casualties in the Union Forces (August 1864)” ↩
    22. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 2 (Serial Number 88), page 617: “Organization of the Army of the Potomac…August 31, 1864” ↩
    23. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 2 (Serial Number 88), page 617: “Organization of the Army of the Potomac…August 31, 1864” ↩
    24. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 1 (Serial Number 87), page 127: “Return of Casualties in the Union Forces (August 1864)” ↩
    25. Sommers, Richard J. “Grant’s Fifth Offensive at Petersburg: A Study in Strategy, Tactics, and Generalship.  The Battle of Poplar Spring Church, the First Battle of the Darbytown Road, the Second Battle of the Squirrel Level Road, the Second Battle of the Darbytown Road (Ulysses S. Grant, Virginia).” Doctoral Thesis. Rice University, 1970. Print. p. 1301. ↩
    26. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 1 (Serial Number 87), page 141: “Return of Casualties in the Union Forces (September-October 1864)” ↩
    27. Sommers, Richard J. “Grant’s Fifth Offensive at Petersburg: A Study in Strategy, Tactics, and Generalship.  The Battle of Poplar Spring Church, the First Battle of the Darbytown Road, the Second Battle of the Squirrel Level Road, the Second Battle of the Darbytown Road (Ulysses S. Grant, Virginia).” Doctoral Thesis. Rice University, 1970. Print. p. 1301. ↩
    28. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3) ↩
    29. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 3 (Serial Number 89), page 462: “Organization of the Union Forces” (October 31, 1864)” ↩
    30. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 1 (Serial Number 87), page 157: “Return of Casualties in the Union Forces…Boydton Plank Road, Va., October 27-28, 1864” ↩
    31. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 3 (Serial Number 89), page 462: “Organization of the Union Forces” (October 31, 1864)” ↩
    32. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 3 (Serial Number 89), page 1121: “Organization of the Union Forces” (December 31, 1864) ↩
    33. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 3 (Serial Number 89), page 1121: “Organization of the Union Forces” (December 31, 1864) ↩
    34. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 2 (Serial Number 96), page 331: “Organization of the Union Forces” (January 31, 1865) ↩
    35. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 2 (Serial Number 96), page 745: “Organization of the Union Forces” (February 28, 1865) ↩
    36. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 2 (Serial Number 96), page 331: “Organization of the Union Forces” (January 31, 1865) ↩
    37. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 2 (Serial Number 96), page 745: “Organization of the Union Forces” (February 28, 1865) ↩
    38. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 1 (Serial Number 95), page 573: “Organization of the Union Forces” (March 31, 1865) ↩
    39. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 1 (Serial Number 96), page 70: “Return of Casualties in the Union forces at Fort Stedman… (March 25, 1865)” ↩
    40. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 1 (Serial Number 95), page 588: “Return of casualties in the Union Forces commanded by Lieut. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, March 29-April 9, 1865” ↩
    41. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 1 (Serial Number 95), page 573: “Organization of the Union Forces” (March 31, 1865) ↩
    42. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 1 (Serial Number 95), page 573: “Organization of the Union Forces” (March 31, 1865) ↩
    43. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 1 (Serial Number 96), page 70: “Return of Casualties in the Union forces at Fort Stedman… (March 25, 1865)” ↩
    44. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3) ↩

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