Draw the Sword

A Fighting 300 Regiment

Location: Meredith Avenue, Reynolds Woods on West McPherson Ridge. 39° 50.133′ N, 77° 15.241′ W

Order of Battle: 1st Corps, 1st Division, 1st Brigade

Number Engaged: 302; 26 killed, 155 wounded, 52 missing

Commander: Col. Lucius Fairchild (1831-1896)

Raised: Columbia, Grant, Iowa, LaCrosse, Racine, and Winnebago counties. One of the Army of the Potomac’s original regiments.

Monument Specifications: The five-pointed insignia of the Iron Brigade stands atop a two-course pedestal and tiered, rough-hewn base. It marks the general location where the 2nd Wisconsin Infantry jumped off for its counter-charge against Archer’s Confederates on the morning of July 1, 1863.

Dedication Date: June 30, 1888.

Other Monuments and Memorials: There are two. Small stone position marker located on western slope of Culp’s Hill, North Slocum Avenue, Stevens Knoll. Marker was dedicated on “Wisconsin Day,” June 30, 1888. Denotes the regiment’s location on July 2 and 3. Also on western slope of Culp’s Hill very close to the regimental marker is a small tombstone style marker denoting the location of Company F of the 2nd Wisconsin. This marker was dedicated on June 30, 1888 as well.

Supplemental Materials: After Action Report of Maj. John Mansfield (will open a pop up window).

Regimental History ~ Dyer’s Compendium of the War of the Rebellion:

Organized at Madison, Wis., and mustered in June 11, 1861. Moved to Washington, D.C., June 20-25. Attached to Sherman’s Brigade, Tyler’s Division, McDowell’s Army of Northeast Virginia, to August, 1861. Fort Corcoran, Division of the Potomac, to October, 1861. King’s Brigade, McDowell’s Division, Army of the Potomac, to March, 1862. 3rd Brigade, 3rd Division, 1st Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, to April, 1862. 3rd Brigade, King’s Division, Dept. of the Rappahannock, to June, 1862. 4th Brigade, 1st Division, 3rd Army Corps, Army of Virginia, to September, 1862. 4th Brigade, 1st Division, 1st Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, to June, 1863. 1st Brigade, 1st Division, 1st Army Corps, to March, 1864. 1st Brigade, 4th Division, 5th Army Corps, to August, 1864. 3rd Brigade, 3rd Division, 5th Army Corps, to September, 1864. 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, 5th Army Corps, to October, 1864.

SERVICE.–Advance on Manassas, Va., July 16-21, 1861. Occupation of Fairfax Court House July 17. Action at Blackburn’s Ford July 18. Battle of Bull Run July 21. Duty at Fort Corcoran, Defenses of Washington, D.C., until August 27. Camp at Meridian Hill and duty at Fort Tillinghast until March, 1862. Reconnaissance to Lewinsville, Va., September 25, 1861. (Co. “K” transferred to 1st Wisconsin Heavy Artillery December 9, 1861. A new Co. “K” organized December 20, 1861.) Advance on Manassas, Va., March 10-16, 1862. Advance to Falmouth March 18-April 23. Woodstock April 1. McDowell’s advance on Richmond May 25-29. Operations against Jackson June 2-11. Reconnaissance to Orange Court House July 24-26. Expedition to Frederick’s Hall Station and Spotsylvania Court House August 5-8. Thornburg’s Mills or Massapona Church August 5-6. Pope’s Campaign in Northern Virginia August 16-September 2. Fords of the Rappahannock August 21-23. Catlett’s Station August 21. Gainesville August 28. Battles of Groveton August 29. Bull Run August 30. Chantilly September 1 (Reserve). Maryland Campaign September 6-22. Battles of South Mountain, Md., September 14, and Antietam, Md., September 16-17. At Sharpsburg, Md., until October 30. Advance to Falmouth, Va., October 30-November 22. Battle of Fredericksburg, Va., December 12-15. “Mud March” January 20-24, 1863. At Belle Plains until April 27. Expedition from Belle Plains into Westmoreland County March 25-29. Chancellorsville Campaign April 27-May 6. Operations at Pollock’s Mill Creek April 29-May 2. Fitzhugh’s Crossing April 29-30. Battle of Chancellorsville May 2-5. Operations on Northern Neck May 20-26. Brandy Station and Beverly Ford June 9. Gettysburg (Pa.) Campaign June 11-July 24. Battle of Gettysburg, Pa., July 1-3. Pursuit of Lee to Manassas Gap, Va., July 5-24. Duty on line of the Rappahannock and Rapidan until October. Bristoe Campaign October 9-22. Haymarket October 19. Advance to line of the Rappahannock November 7-8. Mine Run Campaign November 26-December 2. Campaign from the Rapidan to the James River May 3-June 15, 1864. Battles of the Wilderness May 5-7; Laurel Hill May 8; Spotsylvania May 8-12. Detached from Brigade May 11 and assigned to duty as Provost Guard, 4th Division, 5th Army Corps. Spotsylvania Court House May 12-21. Assault on the Salient May 12. North Anna River May 23-26. On line of the Pamunkey May 26-28. Totopotomoy May 28-31. Cold Harbor June 1-12. Non-Veterans ordered to Madison, Wis., June 11, and there mustered out July 2, 1864. Veterans and Recruits consolidated to a Battalion of two Companies and assigned to duty as Provost Guard at Headquarters, 4th Division, 5th Army Corps, until September. Before Petersburg June 16-18. Siege of Petersburg June 16 to November 30. Weldon Railroad August 18-21. Boydton Plank Road, Hatcher’s Run, October 27-28. Battalion consolidated with 6th Wisconsin Infantry as Companies “G” and “H” November 30, 1864. Regiment lost during service 10 Officers and 228 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 77 Enlisted men by disease. Total 315.