Military History

This 63-page book by historian Bill Schuette chronicles the military lives of four soldiers from Sauk County, Wisconsin, who fought in the Mexican-American War, 1846-1848. From the call to arms, to their final resting places, their movements through the historic events to which they were witness, is documented through newspaper and battle accounts and through their service records. Included are Find A Grave images of their tombstones, and obituaries which summarize their lives' histories. This is a compilation of the information on these soldiers which is available from various on-line venues.

The Iron Brigade

US Highway 12 - IRON BRIGADE - MEMORIAL HIGHWAY

Highway 12 is dedicated to the Brave Soldiers of the Iron Brigade who fought in the great Civil War 1861 - 1865. The Iron Brigade became one of the most celebrated units of the war. Of its five regiments, three came from Wisconsin: The Second, Sixth, and Seventh Wisconsin Volunteer infantry. The two other regiments were the Nineteenth Indiana and the Twenty-fourth Michigan. Together these units ranked among the most gallant and effective of the 3,559 regiments of the Union Army. The Iron Brigade earned its nickname during its first campaign at South Mountain in Northern Virginia in the Fall of 1862. It thereafter fought in all major campaigns of the Army of the Potomac, the Unions principal force in the Eastern theater of war. Battles of Second Manassas, Antietam, Gettysburg and Spotsylvania were recorded on the Iron Brigades Colors. Iron Brigade casualties ranked among the highest of the war. The Second Wisconsin suffered the greatest percentage of loss of the entire Union Army, and during the course of the war, the Seventh Wisconsin had more men killed in battle than any other Union Regiment.

Placed by Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War.

Civil War

Click the image to find the story.

“War Work of Wisconsin Women in the Civil War” 

Paper read before the Sauk County Historical Society at the spring picnic, 1919.

Baraboo Before the Civil War

Written for the Sauk County Historical Society by Mrs. T.W. English

“Baraboo News”, Aug. 3, 1911.

The 19th Regiment Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, Company A

Over the course of the Civil War, from 2.1 to over 2.4 million men served in the United States Armed Forces. In addition, from 850,000 to over 1,000,000 men served for some period of time in the Confederate Army and Navy. This is the story of the Wisconsin 19th Volunteer Infantry.

McCready Civil War Diary 1861 - 1864

(transcription and photo enhancement by Bill Schuette)

On the morning of Monday, the 16th day of Sept. 1861, I was up early and to speak truly somewhat nervous for on that day I was going to enlist to fight for the Union, and I hope for the destruction of Slavery in the Nation. Breakfast was eaten without much conversation, then came the tender scene of parting from my mother, sister and from my four brothers…

Robert Bruce Crandall - Letters and Diary 1839 - 1901

Sauk County Soldiers in the Civil War, assembled and produced by William Schuette

Frank A. Pettis - Reedsburg’s Civil War Drummer Boy

by Bill Schuette

World War I

Letters Home

letters written from Sauk County soldiers to the local newspaper

Tuscania Memorial Project

Learn the story of the Baraboo 21 saved off the coast of Scotland.

Tuscania Photos

Photos of soldiers and documents related to the sinking of the Tuscania

World War I Soldier Photos

A collection of images of WWI Sauk County soldiers

World War II

Above and Beyond

Stories of Sauk County World War II pilots and more

Badger Ordinance

Images of the Badger Ordinance Plant - exterior and interior

WWII Prisoner of War Camp

137 German prisoners of war were housed at Webb Park in Reedsburg