Archive for the ‘11th Wisconsin’ Category

I received a surprise email from the publicist at McFarland that a new review of my book, The 11th Wisconsin in the Civil War: A Regimental History, McFarland & Co. (Fall 2008) recently came out, which was a surprise as the book has been out for almost 2 years! Anyway the ... Full story

The Eighth Regiment was organized at Camp Randall, Madison, and its muster into the United States service completed on the 13th of September, 1861, and on the 12th of October, it left the State for St. Louis. Arriving at St. Louis on the 14th of October, the regiment was soon after sent to Pilot Knob, on the ... Full story

The attack on Fort Blakely during the late afternoon hours (5:30pm) of April 9th 1865 had no impact on the outcome of the war, yet the fighting was as viscous as any had been. In the post war years accusations of atrocities committed by black troops on white Confederates surfaced. The eye witness accounts were ... Full story

Well, I have no idea how this ranks on the book-o-meter, but I received my first royalty check from my publisher, McFarland. According to their statement, they have sold 121 copies of The 11th Wisconsin in the Civil War. My first check was far more substantial than I ever thought I would get. As I have said before, like most history authors I wrote ... Full story

My book has been getting some very decent and kind reviews, thanks all! Bret over at TOCWOC noted that, "Wehner’s writing style was very enjoyable and allows readers to become immersed in the story of the regiment. It caters to beginners as well as self-styled experts on the Civil War. The author relies heavily on the letters and diaries of the 11th Wisconsin’s soldiers to tell ... Full story

Just received my copy of Vanishing Footprints: The Twenty-Second Iowa Volunteer Infantry in the Civil War by Samuel D. Pryce and edited by Jeffry C. Burden (Press of the Camp Pope Bookshop, 2008). Just looking through it I am excited to read the story of a regiment I am fairly acquainted with as they traveled with ... Full story

Well this is a little upsetting. I noticed last week that a fellow blogger posted the complete transcript of a letter from a soldier in the 11th Wisconsin that was part of my research for my book that I posted here on this blog. Not sure why Civil War blogger Kraig McNutt grabbed it and posted it in its entirety on ... Full story

Semi-centennial History of the Illinois State Normal University, 1857-1907, "THE SCHOOL AND THE WAR," BY JOHN H. BURNHAM, CLASS OF l861, (1907). John A. Burnham, who was a member of the 33rd Illinois from Normal, provides an interesting account of the Battle of Bayou Cache, also known as "Cotton Plant." As most of you know, I have written extensively on this battle in both my ... Full story

No not #21 overall, of course, but #21 for Military > Regiments (NOTE: only two other Civil War regiment history books were ahead of mine as of this writing!), but hey, I'll take it. I've been reading Eric's recent posts about authors and publishing: Things I Wish I Knew Then But Know Now. For some reason it made me feel uneasy. My book, ... Full story

The 11th Wisconsin in the Civil War A Regimental History Christopher C. Wehner ISBN 978-0-7864-3210-3 photos, maps, appendices, notes, bibliography, index 248pp. library binding (7 x 10) 2008 Available for immediate shipment Description This volume details the Civil War experiences of the 11th Wisconsin Volunteers as they traveled more than 9000 miles in the service of their country. The book looks at the attitude prevalent in Wisconsin at the start of the ... Full story

On the evening of April 9, 1865, hours after Lee’s surrender to Grant, the 11th Wisconsin made its final charge of the war. They captured over 300 prisoners, numerous guns, ammunitions, and horses. They lost 61 men, 15 of them killed. The battle at Fort Blakely, Ala., was the last significant ground action of the Civil War. The ... Full story

The assault on Fort Blakely was the last significant battle of the Civil War and that in and of itself makes it an important historical event. However, there is a subplot to the battle that perhaps takes on an even greater importance. Involved in the assault were 5,500 Negro soldiers, the largest such gather at any one time in the ... Full story

On April 9, 1865, Mobile, Ala., was the scene of the last significant fighting of the Civil War. As a primer for my soon to be published book, I will be making a series of posts about the Union's Mobile Campaign, which the 11th Wisconsin Regiment took part in. After his successful Vicksburg Campaign in 1863, Maj. Gen. ... Full story

Well good news, finally, the proofs are on their way to me and my book is about 4 weeks from printing. There was a possibility even as late as last fall that the book would be out by Christmas (07). But that was delayed when I asked to include some more material and a better regiment roster.  I should have the proofs by Tuesday or ... Full story

Over the next couple of months until the my book comes out, I am going to be posting bits and pieces of letters from members of the 11th Wisconsin that did not make it into my book. Some portions or other letters by the same author did, but there were also some decent letters that did not make it. This tidbit is from William Cope ... Full story

The following is a letter written by Joseph Minis who was a private (joined 1863, 18yr) in Co. H., of the 11th Wisconsin. He recounts exploits from Bank's Red River Campaign, which the 11th Wisconsin was not involved in. Minis served with the 33rd Wisconsin which took part in the Red River Campaign, Minis transfered to the 11th in 1865. Joseph Minis, Private, Co. H, 11th ... Full story

It's pretty much over now, my preliminary research on my new pet project "The Cotton Brigade." Whether it becomes a scholarly article or a book is yet to be decided. I don't see how there will be enough here to make it to book length. But we'll see! I have found ample evidence that Cotton stealing, speculating, and ... Full story

Maj. Gen. Samuel R. Curtis, on more than one occasion, was accused by his men for having more interest in cotton speculation than in the welfare of his troops. After routing Confederate Maj. Gen. Thomas C. Hindman’s hastily organized force on July 7 as Hill’s Plantation, Curtis’s army reached Helena on July 12. Exhausted and nearly destitute, it took days for his meager force of ... Full story

Colonel Charles E. Hovey of the 33rd Illinois was appointed a Brigadier General of Volunteers on September 5, 1862 after having seen little action. However, the U.S. Senate did not to act on his nomination within the statuary period and it expired by law on March 4, 1863. In the interim, Hovey did play a key role in the capture of Arkansas Post in ... Full story

After some research today I feel confident in debunking the myth that the 11th Wisconsin was dominated by Irish recruits; please do note that I am German/Irish. Looking through the muster roll I would say, with just a glancing guess, that maybe 25% of the regiment might have been Irish or born in Ireland. And I think that is a generous proportion. I also found some ... Full story