Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1864-05-14
Sketch of the History and Operations Of the
FOHrth Cavalry Wisconsin Volunteers.


terest. 1t is taken from the New Orleans
Times
As the veterans Of the 4th Reg. Wis. Cav
airy are about leaving for home, it IS fitting
that few words should be written OF their
services; and especially so as it is the senior
regiment of the old forces of this Depart
ment. -
Early in the spring of 1861, Wisconsin,.
not less backward than its elder sisters mani
tested most vigorously its determination to
uphold the Union. Companies we're raised
throughout the State, the services of which
were rendered with the utmost loyalty and
fervor. They were assigned TO regiments,
those nearest the lines of communication with
the capital having the honor of precedence.
On the 9Th of May the 4th Regiment of In
fantry was formed and assigned to the first
brigade Wisconsin active militia, Brig. Gen.
Rufus King commanding. u.,asaa.
1t was composed of companies from the
border counties, and numbering a class OF
men deemed the most hardy in. the Union.
The field officers assigned were: Colonel,
Halbert E. Paine Lieutenant Colonel, Sid
new A. Bean; Major, Frederick A. Boardman.
Mustered into the State service, the regi-
ment went into camp at Camp Utley, in Ra-
cine. early in June, where it was organized
and equipped in the best possible manner
On the I'd of July, 1861, it was mustered into
the service of the United States, and shortly
after ordered to Chambersburg, Penn, to
ioin Mai Gen. Patterson's command. Leav-
ing Wisconsin on the 18th of July, it passed
successfully through Chicago, Toledo, Cleve-
land, Buffalo, Elmira and Williamsport, to
Harrisburgh, receiving an ovation along the
entire route that has scarcely been excelled.
While awaiting instructions in Harrisburg
the Army of the Potomac advanced, the bat
tie of Bull Run was fought, and full of appre-
hension, all troops at Camp Curtin were hur-
ried to the front. Marching through the
streets of Baltimore at midnight, through the
hushed gloom, with no welcome, but with
every gun loaded and capped, there was no
manifestation of the evident hate and rebel
lious hearts of its citizens. All apprehen-
sion of danger to Washington soon passing,
the regiment was attached to Maj. Gen. Dix's
command, and sent to various portions of his
district-to Pikesville Arsenal, to to the Re-
,ay House on the Northern Central r. r., and
IN the Relay House on the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad. 1t was, however, very shortly al
ter united at the latter place, having COM
pIicity of duties which it had the honor of
doing creditably.. In November it was or
dered to join movement to be made In
Eastern Maryland and Virginia. A petition
Arundel and Baltimore, Maryland, containing
twelve hundred names, was presented to the
Commanders of the Department and Army,
asking its assignment as permanent garri-
son for Fort Dix-which it had erected-and
the vicinity. Such a service of inactivity
was undesired by officers and men, and
through their efforts it left to participate in
the .glories of the eastern Shore Expedi-
ton" The counties of Northumberland and
Aceomac, Virginia, were reclaimed, and have
since been held-none the less valuable be-
cause the victory which acquired them was
bloodless.
Returning to Baltimore on the 10th of
December, it erected the barracks on Patter-
sons Park, since used as hospital.
In the midst of the successes lnaugurated
by the battle of Mill Spring and the capture
of Fort Henry, there was an earnest desire
to share in the victories of the spring that
the war-clouds betokened. On the 18th of
February, 1862, the summons came in an or
der to embark on the following day for
Fortress Monroe. A few days were spent at
Fortress Monroe and Newport News, from the
latter of which the Constitution sailed March
9th, with the regiment and its long-while
omrades-in-arms-the6 9th Michigan and LIST
Indiana regiments-eaeh of them thousand
strong The rebel batteries..at Sewal's Point
expended their fury on the desired prize on
ly in vain Luckily and singularily the Mer-
rimac did not come out until two days later.
On the 18th of March, after trying pas
sage, the force debarked at Ship Island, and
was assigned to the brigade of Brig. General
Thomas Williams, which moved ON the 18th
of April to cooperate with Farragut's forces.
Remaining at the Passes several days, for
the transport Great Republic could not cross
the bar, it afterwards went to Bay Ronde for
the purpose of landing in the rear of Fort st.
Phillip, and assaulting it, if necessary. While
there, there was witnessed the grand sight of
the feet passing the Forts, from which the
Great Republic was only five miles distant.
Two companies ofthe regiment and other por-
tions of the command landed and made their
way through the swamps to the Quarantine.
The surrender of the Forts rendered it unnec-
sesary for any larger detachment to land, un-
der the disadvantageous circumstances so the
transport feet returned to the Passes. On
the last day of April the regiment crossed the
bar, proceeded to New Orleans, and landed
on the afternoon of the LIST day of May. Com
panies and G, under Major Boardman, (the
same that debarked in Bay Ronde) on the
gunboat Kineo, were the first of the land
forces to land the 31st Regiment Massachu-
sets Volunteers followed, and then the bal
ance of the 4th Wisconsin. The flag of the
latter was the first of the Army of the Union
to be unfurled in the city after its restora-
ton, and its band the first to recall the citi-
zens of the Crescent City their recollections
of our National airs. No other regiments
landed on the lst of May except the 18th
Connecticut, which remained over night on
the levee The 3lst Massachusetts, and 4th
Wisconsin marched to the Custom House,
which was occupied by both. Officers and
soldiers, famished for news, invaded the rebel
Post Office and laid strong hands on the is
sues of city papers. tLt#ttft1
On the following day two companies of the
regiment, under Major Boardman, occupied
Lafayette Square, and guarded it until the
18th Connecticut, followed by the goth Mas
saehusetts, marched into the enclosure.
Gen. Buffers first coup detat was to collect
an immense concourse of citizens in the
neighborhood of St. Charles Hotel, march
his force of infantry and artillery into their
midst, and by the presence of bristling bayo-
nets and frowning cannon maintain grim
composure among the crowd, as the splendid
band of the 4th Wisconsin dscoursed to it
the stirring strains of Yankee Doodle, Star
Spangled Banner, etc.
On the 18th of May six companies of the
regiment and detachment of the 9th Michi-
gan, under Gen. Williams, was conveyed by
steamer to- Kenner's, marched through seven
miles of swamp, and destroyed the New Or
leans and jackson Railroad to Manchac Pass,
burning the bridges under the guns of supe-
rior force of the enemy The party landed
at Baton Rouge, where flag was raised on
flaG fafa md ha nnrfxr Of o,1p