2nd Wisconsin Light Artillery History | Wisconsin Historical Society

Historical Essay

2nd Wisconsin Light Artillery History

Wisconsin Civil War Regiment

2nd Wisconsin Light Artillery History | Wisconsin Historical Society
EnlargeEarthwork four miles southwest of Racine, used during the Civil War in light artillery target practice to stop solid shot. Joseph Cooper is waving the flag.

Artillery Target Practice Field, 1927 ca.

Earthwork four miles southwest of Racine, used during the Civil War in light artillery target practice to stop solid shot. Joseph Cooper is waving the flag. View the original source document: WHI 70815

The 2nd Wisconsin Light Artillery was organized at La Crosse and mustered into service on October 10, 1861. It moved to Camp Utley in Racine before continuing on to Baltimore, Maryland, and Virginia, January 21-27, 1862.

It spent the war in Virginia and Maryland until it mustered out on July 10, 1865. It participated in Dix's Peninsula Campaign and the siege of Suffolk, Virginia, and also guarded prisoners at the end of its service. The battery lost 12 enlisted men during active service, all by disease.

[Source: Estabrook, Charles E, ed. Records and sketches of military organizations: population, legislation, election and other statistics relating to Wisconsin in the period of the Civil War. (Madison, 1914?)]