Organization of the Regiment

• Company A – Captain William H. Hamilton
• Company B – Captain Clement E. Warner
• Company C – Captain George A. Fisk
• Company D – Captain Jacob Walkey
• Company E – Captain Jerome F. Brooks
• Company F – Captain Prescott B. Burwell
• Company G – Captain Reuben Lindley
• Company H – Captain Austin Cannon
• Company I – Captain Daniel F. Farrand
• Company K – Captain Warren Graves

Colonel Frank Haskell had been General John Gibbon’s Aide at the Battle of Gettysburg, where Gibbon’s men faced Pickett’s charge on July 3. Gibbon wrote, “I have always thought that to him, more than to any one man, are we indebted for the repulse of Lee’s assault.”

Battle of Spotsylvania Court House

The regiment was in reserve. Attached to 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, 2nd Corps, Army of the Potomac.

North Anna River

Assigned to support a battery and constructed breastworks. Crossed the North Anna River on the 24th and joined the line of battle, constructing works. Companies H & K attacked and captured a line of enemy works, losing two men killed.

Bethesda Church

Moved into position on an open plain facing an enemy line in a woods, losing one man killed and four wounded.

Bethesda Church (continued)

Companies B, E, G & F advanced as skirmishers to support the main attack by the army some distance to the left. Veteran regiments on both flanks advanced only a short distance, fired a volley, and fell back, leaving the 36th Wisconsin advancing in the open with no support. The Confederate skirmishers were driven in and part of their defences captured, but the regiment lost about half of the 240 men engaged in the attack.

Captain Prescott B. Burwell of Company F was mortally wounded and captured, Lieutenant Newton was wounded and captured, and Captain Reuben Lindley of Company G was wounded.

That night the regiment marched to Cold Harbor, arriving early on the morning of the 2nd.

Battle of Cold Harbor 

The whole Union line attacked in the morning in mass columns of regiments. The 36th was in the rear of its brigade column. The attack was made across an open field against Confederate positions that were on the crest of a small hill, and were under artillery fire the entire way.

The brigade commander, Colonel McKean, was killed and Colonel Haskell took command, bringing the 36th to the front of the attacking column. Enemy fire made further a advance, and the rest of the Union line was going to ground. Just as Colonel Haskell gave the order to lay down a bullet hit him in the head, killing him instantly.

The regiment scraped up small breastworks and remained on the field, unable to retreat under the heavy fire, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel John A. Savage. After dark they withdrew about 600 feet to the left rear, remaining in that position until the 12th.

Casualties from May 26-June 7

• 64 men killed or mortally wounded, including Colonel Frank Haskell, Captain Prescott B. Burwell of Company F, who was also captured, and Second Lieutenant William H. Lamberton of Company B
• 126 men wounded, including Adjutant Benjamin D. Atwell, Captain Reuben Lindley of Company G, First Lieutenant Charles W. Skinner of Company I, and Second Lieutenant W.R. Newton of Company G

• Lieutenant Colonel John A. Savage, Jr. was promoted to Colonel
• Major Harvey M. Brown was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel
• Captain Clement E. Warner of Company B was promoted to Major.

Grant’s First Assault on Petersburg

The regiment moved into the first line of enemy trenches on the 16th after they had been captured by the Union attack. Was in reserve on the 17th.

On the 18th formed line of battle and drove Confederate skirmishers from their works, driving them a mile through heavy woods and to the main enemy works. Lieutenant Galloway of COmpany K was wounded at this time.

The attack was resumed that afternoon. Colonel John Savage led the men over the Confederate breastworks and was mortally wounded. Over a third of the regiment was killed or wounded.

Only the 36th Wisconsin had advanced into the enemy works. It was impossible to advance or retreat, so the men dropped to the ground and used their tin plates to scrape protective cover until night fell and they could withdraw. Captain Clement E. Warner took command of the survivors of the regiment.

• 40 men were killed or mortally wounded, including Colonel John A. Savage, Jr. and First Lieutenant Elias A. Galloway of Company K
• 81 men were wounded, including Lieutenant Colonel Harvey M. Brown (wounded in two places), First Lieutenant Luther B. Noyes of Company C, Second Lieutenant Geotge S. Morris of Company H, and Second Lieutenant Joseph Harris of Company K

Siege of Petersburg

Weldon Railroad

Marched several miles to the left along the Jerusalem Plank Road and threw up earthworks in front of the Confederate lines. The regiment escaped being captured like half of its brigade by changing direction by the left flank, but lost some men killed and wounded.

• Lieutenant Colonel Harvey M. Brown was promoted to Colonel
• Major Clement E. Warner was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel
• Captain William H. Hamilton of Company A was promoted to Major.

• First Lieutenant Charles E. Griffin was promoted to Captain of Company A.
• First Lieutenant Ephraim W. Heydon was promoted to Captain of Company I.

Battle of Deep Bottom

Several Confederate guns were captured. After Confederate forces responded, the Second Corps quietly marched away, recrossed the river and moved to support the mine explosion and Union attack, which was a failure.

The regiment returned to its camping ground and was assigned light duties for two weeks.

Demonstration north of the James at Deep Bottom

On August 13 the regiment took part in another attempt to draw Confederate troops away from a Union attack, this time on the far left flank of the Union line.

Strawberry Plains (Second Battle of Deep Bottom)

The Second Corps marched to City Point and embarked on transports which sailed downriver until dark, then turned around and moved up river to Deep Bottom, where the men disembarked.

They advanced up the New Market Road toward Richmond until they encountered Confederate earthworks, which they charged. The fighting eventually died out due to exhaustion and the extreme heat, but the Union objective was successful, allowing the Fifth Corps to capture the Weldon Railroad.

• 6 men were killed or died or were mortally wounded, including Captain Reuben Lindley of Company G who received four wounds, two of them mortal.
• 13 men were wounded, including Lieutenant Colonel Clement Warner, who lost his left arm, and Major William H. Hamilton, who was badly wounded in the face.

Captain Austin Cannon took command of the regiment as senior officer.

Ream’s Station

The 36th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment was posted as a reserve in a railroad cut. Confederate attacks broke the Union line, and the 36th Wisconsin was surrounded and unable to escape due its position in the cut. Of the 175 men who went into the fight only 3 officers and 45 men were available the next morning.

• 7 men were killed, including Second Lieutenant Henry H. Ginty of Company E
• 3 men were wounded, including Captain Oliver N. Russel of Company F, who was hit in the right shoulder causing his arm to become useless
• 125 men were missing or captured, including Captain Charles A. Griffin of Company A, Adjutant Benjamin D. Atwell. and Lieutenants George E. Albee of Company F, Clarence E. Bullard of Company C, Manley T. Mathews of Company I, James G. Merrill of Company H, William H. Parker of Company B, and Charles L. Sholes of Company A. Many of these men were sent to Salisbury Prison in North Carolina, and most of those died in captivity. The regimental surgeon, Dr. Clarkson Miller, accompanied the men to prison and also died there.

Boydton Plank Road, Hatcher’s Run

Company A was sent out as skirmishers, driving back the Confederate picket line and capturing their rifle pits. An attack on the rear of the Corps caused the Third Division to break and threatened to surround the brigades in front.

Captain George Fisk faced the regiment to the rear and launched a bayonet charge on the enemy’s flank, causing them to break and run. They captured a large number of prisoners and a stand of colors at a loss of 15 men wounded or captured.

Brigadier General Thomas Egan, commanding the division, wrote to the Governor of Wisconsin about the 36th Wisconsin, stating that it had “captured a larger number of prisoners than it had men engaged” and praising Captain Fisk for his gallantry.

Lieutenant Colonel Harvey M. Brown was discharged due to his wound from June 18.

Dabney’s Mills, Hatcher’s Run

The Second Corps broke camp and marched to Hatcher’s Run, encountering the enemy at Dabney’s Mills. Three men were wounded and two captured on the picket line, while the rest of the regiment was exposed to heavy artillery fire.

After the enemy were driven back the regiment constructed winter quarters.

Watkins’ House

The Second Corps made a strong demonstration.

Appomattox Campaign

Hatcher’s Run

The 36th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment broke camp, crossed Hatcher’s Run, and captured the first line of Confederate earthworks.

Boydton Plank Road and White Oak Road

The regiment continued to advance, capturing a second line of works.

Fall of Petersburg

The left wing of the regiment under the command of Captain Cameron captured part of the enemy’s works, including 150 prisoners and three guns. The men continued to advance, capturing stragglers and learning the entire Confederate line had collapsed.

Sailor’s Creek

High Bridge and Farmville

There was a short skirmish with an enemy rearguard at the bridge, and a larger skirmish that evening at Farmville.

Appomattox Court House

Surrender of Lee and his army.

Lieutenant Colonel Clement E. Warner was promoted to Colonel but was not mustered and would be discharged as a Lieutenant Colonel.

The photo shows Lieutenant Colonel Warner before he lost his left arm at the Second Battle of Deep Bottom on August 14, 1864.