10th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment
The 10th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment was a volunteer infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. The regiment was engaged in many of the critical battles of the western theater of the war, including Perryville, Stone's River, and Chickamauga—where a large portion of the regiment was taken as prisoners of war.
Service
The 10th Wisconsin was raised at Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and mustered into Federal service October 14, 1861. At the September 1863 battle of Chickamauga, 121 men of the regiment were captured, and most were held as prisoners through the remainder of the war. When the regiment's initial three-year enlistments expired in October 1864, the more recent recruits and the veterans who chose to re-enlist were transferred to the 21st Wisconsin Infantry Regiment.Commanders
- Colonel Alfred Rose Chapin resigned. Earlier in the war, he had served as adjutant of the 1st Wisconsin Infantry Regiment, and was detailed as assistant adjutant general of their brigade.
- Colonel John Gibson McMynn resigned. He joined the regiment as its original major; he was promoted to lieutenant colonel in July 1862 and to colonel at the time of Chapin's resignation. Before the war, he had been a teacher and pioneer of public education, and was one of the founders of the Wisconsin Teachers Association. After returning from the war, he was appointed Wisconsin's superintendent of public instruction by Governor James T. Lewis.
- Lt. Col. John Hager Ely was mortally wounded at the Battle of Chickamauga, and died of wounds while a prisoner of war. He joined the regiment as captain of Co. E, was promoted to major in November 1862, and was promoted to lieutenant colonel at the time of McMynn's resignation in June 1863.
- Capt. Jacob Whitman Roby was captain of Co. B when he took command of the regiment after the loss of Lt. Col. Ely at the battle of Chickaumauga. He continued as acting commander of the regiment until its dissolution. Wisconsin governor James T. Lewis ordered Roby promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel in October 1864, but the rank was never confirmed by federal authorities.
Total enlistments and casualties
The 10th Wisconsin initially mustered 1,029 men and later recruited an additional 601 men, for a total of 1,630 men.The regiment lost 5 officers and 91 enlisted men killed in action or who later died of their wounds, plus another 1 officer and 147 enlisted men who died of disease, for a total of 244 fatalities.
| Company | Original Moniker | Primary Place of Recruitment | Captain |
| A | Walworth County Guards | Walworth County and Lafayette County | |
| B | Lyon Guards | Dodge County | |
| C | Menasha Guards | Menasha, Winnebago County, and Calumet County | |
| D | Fremont Rifles | Columbia County and Adams County | |
| E | Sturdy Oaks | Hartford, Juneau County, Dodge County, and Washington County | |
| F | Grant County Patriots | Grant County | |
| G | Jackson County Rifles | Black River Falls, Jackson County | |
| H | Juneau County Rifles | Juneau County and Monroe County | |
| I | Grant County Sixth | Monroe County | |
| K | Waupun Rifles | Waupun, Dodge County, and Fond du Lac County |
Notable people
- John A. Barney was enlisted in Co. B and promoted to 1st sergeant. He was lost an arm and was captured at Chickamauga, and was then discharged due to disability. After the war he served as a Wisconsin state senator.
- Joshua James Guppey was the original lieutenant colonel of the regiment and was commissioned colonel of the 23rd Wisconsin Infantry Regiment in July 1862. After the war he received an honorary brevet to brigadier general and served as a Wisconsin county judge.
- Sophronius S. Landt was enlisted in Co. D and promoted to sergeant. After the war he served as a Wisconsin state legislator.
- Robert Mitchell was 1st assistant surgeon of the regiment and later commissioned surgeon of the 27th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment. After the war he served as a Wisconsin state legislator.