38th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment Roster Battles involving 38th Infantry Assignments for 38th Infantry   - Organized on Apr 1 1864 at Camp Randall, Madison, WI - Enlistment term: 3 years - Mustered out on Jul 26 1865 at Washington, DC Available statistics for total numbers of men listed as: - Enlisted or commissioned: 1009 - Transferred in: 15 - Killed or died of wounds (Officers): 1 - Killed or died of wounds (Enlisted men): 56 - Died of disease (Enlisted men): 56 - Prisoner of war: 12 - Died while prisoner of war: 3 - Disabled: 64 - Deserted: 57 - Discharged: 40 - Mustered out: 729 - Transferred out: 20 Historical notes and Reports: Thirty-eighth Infantry WISCONSIN (3-YEARS) Thirty-eighth Infantry. -- Cols., James Bintliff, Colwert K. Pier, Lieut.Cols., Colwert K. Pier, Charles L. Ballard; Majs., Courtland P. Larkin Robert N. Roberts Charles L. Ballard, Frank A. Hayward. This regiment was organized at Camp Randall, Madison, in March, 1864, and was mustered in April 15. Cos. A, B. C and D left the state on May 3, being ordered to Arlington Heights and from there to White House, Va., where they were assigned to the 4th provisional brigade, for guard duty. On June 9, they were transferred to the Army of the Potomac and assigned to the 3d brigade, 1st division, 8th corps, but on the 11th they were transferred to the 1st brigade. They were under fire in the trenches at Cold Harbor, took position in the extreme front before Petersburg on June 16 and the following afternoon charged the enemy's outer line of intrenchments, capturing them at the bayonet's point. The same evening they accompanied the general advance, capturing and occupying a second line of the works. They then went back to the trenches, where Co. E joined them. Upon the explosion of the mine July 30, Cos. B and E took part in the advance upon the enemy's works, capturing a position and holding it until the afternoon, when they returned to the trenches. The regiment continued in the siege and on picket duty until Aug. 19, when it moved to aid in the capture of the Weldon railroad, repulsed an attack from three directions simultaneously and fortified its position. It returned to Petersburg and in October was under fire for 22 hours at Hatchers' Run, after which it took position opposite the ''Crater'' in the front line, remaining there until spring. It led the right wing of the victorious assaulting column at Fort Mahone on April 1, its loss being over half that of the entire brigade, and entered Petersburg on the 3d. It was in the grand review at Washington. The one year men were mustered out at Tenallytown June 2, and the remainder on July 26. The original strength of the regiment was 913. Gain by recruits, 112. It lost by death, 108; desertion, 55; transfer 21; discharge, 208; mustered out, 640. Source: The Union Army, vol. 4, p. 69 Report of Lieut. Col. Colwert K. Pier, Thirty-eighth Wisconsin Infantry. Report of the part taken by the Thirty-eighth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, in the operations before Richmond and Petersburg: FIFTH EPOCH. The Thirty-eighth Wisconsin Infantry Volunteers, composed of four companies, were ordered to report to commanding officer of Army of the Potomac on the 11th day of June, 1864, and were temporarily attached to the Third Brigade, First Division, Ninth Army Corps. During the night of the 11th, while the regiment was on picket, they were relieved and ordered to report to Col. Hartranft, commanding First Brigade, Third Division, and lay during the 12th in the trenches occupied by this brigade. On the evening of the 12th we marched with the brigade to the left, reaching the vicinity of Charles City Court-House on the p.m. of the 14th. Remained in camp here until the evening the night, reaching a position before Petersburg Thursday evening, the 16th of June. After remaining in line for a time and an engagement being in progress, we were moved out with the brigade to a line of trenches, lying under fire during the night and forenoon. At 1 o'clock we were ordered forward to assault a line of the enemy's works. Through some mishap the regiments immediately on the left of the Thirty-eighth somewhat overlapped each other and caused something of a diversion from our line. In the evening the second assault was participated in by this regiment, which was very successful. On the 18th the works adjacent to the Norfolk and Petersburg Railroad, and our losses were quite severe. From this time until the 4th of July we lay in the trenches, almost continually under fire, fortunately but few casualties occurring. The regiment lay in camp until the 17th of July, when we again went to the front, remaining in the first line of trenches under fire until the 30th of July, when the memorable explosion took place. The companies of the regiment participating in the assault following this terrific ''blow up'' moved up in good order, and every officer and soldier distinguished himself on the occasion. C. K. PIER, Lieut.-Col., Thirty-eighth Wisconsin Volunteers. NOTE. The tabular statement of losses was forwarded at the time called for. Source: Official Records PAGE 583-80 OPERATIONS IN SE. VA. AND N. C. [CHAP. LII. [Series I. Vol. 40. Part I, Reports. Serial No. 80.] Report of Maj. Robert N. Roberts, Thirty-eighth Wisconsin Infantry. HDQRS. THIRTY-EIGHTH WISCONSIN VOLUNTEERS, April 7, 1865. CAPT.: In compliance with orders just received, I have the honor to report that nothing outside the daily routine of picket duty before the lines held during the winter occurred in this command during the time elapsing from March 26 to the evening of April 1, 1865. On the evening of the 1st instant, at 10 o'clock, the regiment was formed in the trenches, where it remained until 2 a.m., when it moved to the left and joined Gen. Hartranft's division, remaining until near daylight, when a line was formed outside the trenches. Company A was detached from the regiment and placed on the right of the One hundred and ninth New York Volunteers, while B company was placed upon the left of same regiment. With this disposition of the troops the order to forward and charge the enemy's lines came. The regiment moved up in good and removing the lines of abatis scaled the works, capturing a rebel battery, and turning the guns upon the enemy. The line of works was held during the entire day and night of April 2, successfully repelling every attempt of the enemy to retake the works. During the early a.m. of the 3d of the line advanced, passing over the hill, thence into the city, where the regiment remained about an hour, when it was marched back to camp, where we stayed during the balance of the day. I am, captain, very respectfully, your obedient servant, R. N. ROBERTS, Maj., Cmdg. [Capt. WARREN A. NORTON, Acting Assistant Adjutant-Gen.] Source: Official Records CHAP. LVIII.] THE APPOMATTOX CAMPAIGN. PAGE 1046-95 [Series I. Vol. 46. Part I, Reports. Serial No. 95.] Battles (where losses incurred) involving 38th Infantry Regiment Location Date Killed Wounded POW Missing Losses Cold Harbor, VA 06/12/64 2 0 0 0 2 Petersburg, VA 03/04/65 0 3 0 0 3 Petersburg, VA 06/20/64 0 6 0 0 6 Petersburg, VA 06/16/64 5 44 0 0 49 Petersburg, VA 07/30/64 7 14 10 0 31 Petersburg, VA 04/02/65 9 58 0 0 67 Poplar Grove Church, VA 09/30/64 0 5 0 0 5 Reams' Station, VA 06/26/64 1 1 0 0 2 Weldon Railroad, VA 08/19/64 2 5 1 0 8 Brigade, Division, Corps, and Army assignments for 38th Infantry Regiment From To Brigade Division Corps Army/Department Comments 06/01/64 09/30/64 1 3 9 Army of Potomac 09/01/64 07/31/65 1 1 9 Army of Potomac Mustered Out Roster for 38th Infantry Regiment - 1,023 men Source: Roster of Wisconsin Volunteers; War of the Rebellion, 1861-1865; Volumes I and II; compiled by Authority of the Legislature, under the direction of Jeremiah M. Rusk, Governor & Chandler P. Chapman, Adjutant General; Democrat Printing Company, State Printers; Madison, Wisconsin; 1886 Abbey - Faulkner Feathers - McWain Mears - Thompson Thorp - Zetteler back to Civl War index back to Military index back to index Copyright © 2006-2009 to Genealogy Trails' Wisconsin Trails host & each Contributor All rights reserved