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Civil War Soldier Firing a Cannon, 1886 ca.

Oil on linen study of a Union Civil War soldier firing a cannon. The painting was done by one of a group of German panorama painters active in Milwaukee during the 1880s. Although unsigned, the study was likely done by F.W. Heine who donated it to the Historical Society. View the original source document: WHI 78364

The components of the 1st Wisconsin Heavy Artillery regiment were spread throughout the South during the war.

• Battery A was formed December 9, 1861, and soon moved to Washington, D.C., where it served defending the capital until July 11-12, 1864. It was mustered out August 18, 1865.
• Battery B was organized at Milwaukee and left the state in September 1863 for Murfreesboro, Tennessee, where it remained until January 1864. Throughout the rest of the war it was in Lexington, Kentucky, until it mustered out on August 30, 1865.
• Battery C left Wisconsin on October 30, 1863, for Chattanooga, Tennessee, where it remained until being mustered out on September 21, 1865.
• Battery D was formed November 7, 1863, and ordered to New Orleans, then Washington, D.C., where it mustered out on August 18, 1865.
• Batteries E, F, G, H, I, K, L, and M were organized during September and October 1864 and ordered to Washington, D. C. They participated in the defenses of the city until being mustered out on June 26, 1865.

The regiment lost 83 men during service. Four enlisted men were killed. Two officers and 77 enlisted men died from disease.

• View a longer history

• View the roster

• View a list of casualties

• View original documents

• View assignments to brigades, divisions, corps and armies

[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?)]