A Narrative of Service with the Third Wisconsin Infantry

A young carpenter from the modest town of Waupun answered the call to arms in the spring of 1861, joining the newly formed Waupun Light Guard. After a brief reorganization, his unit became Company E of the Third Wisconsin Infantry, and he quickly moved from first‑sergeant to lieutenant as the regiment prepared for service. The narrative opens with vivid descriptions of the early drills, camp life, and the palpable mix of excitement and uncertainty that gripped the volunteers.

As the company marched into its first campaigns, the author records the daily rhythms of marching, camp duties, and the bonds forged among men from farms and small towns across Wisconsin. He offers candid observations of leadership, discipline, and the stark realities of early combat, all drawn from his own diary entries and letters home. The account provides a personal window into the formative months of the war, capturing both the hopeful spirit and the sobering challenges faced by ordinary soldiers stepping onto a historic battlefield.