Show STORIES OF WISCONSIN Regiment Had Many Interesting Ex Experiences During War War Senator Senator Davis Served as Lieutenant The Twenty-eighth Twenty Wisconsin wa wat composed almost a most wholly of Waukesha and Walworth county men Large numbers were recruited Tram from among the farmer boys though every In the counties made generous con can The regiment completed Its organization at Camp Washburn Milwaukee and was mustered In iC about the middle of October 1862 1812 Dr James M. M Lewis of OconomowoC was the firl first colonel writes Col l. l J. J A Watrous U. U S S. S A. A In the Milwaukee Sentinel On December 20 1862 the regiment left Milwaukee with orders to report at Columbus Ky reaching there days later It was at once sent tc Union City where It was expected It would be called upon to togo go Into a s a fight but returned to Columbus the next day the enemy having taken his flight night Early In January 1863 U it went to Helena Ark where It became t part of ot the Thirteenth army corps a member of the Second brigade From this point It went on transports tc St. St Charles Ark where where with a force of cavalry and artillery all under command of Colonel Lewis It tools tooh charge of the place It returned tc te Helena two weeks later and In camp there ther until February 24 Tin I 1 l r Held It Against Great Odds 11 i t regiment did much extra duty going on en various raids and was occupied for fora a long time In the hard work of constructing constructing con con- fortifications Once when the Twenty-eighth Twenty went to the support support sup sup- port of f an Indiana regiment It was under the fire of a gunboat and a Confederate battery the better part of a day It participated In the unsuccessful unsuccessful un un- successful attack oh on Fort Pemberton and after alter that returned to Helena In Ina a a. raid accompanied by cavalry and a section of artillery commanded by Colonel Lewis they met and drove back a large force of cavalry and destroyed destroyed de de- strayed an Immense quantity of stores returning to camp without loss From FromA April A rU 8 1863 until July 4 4 the regiment regi regi- ment went was In camp at Helena and I I gave Invaluable aid In fortifying the I place It also during that time participated par par- In an expedition In the direction dl di of Cotton Point Ark Gen Frederick Salomon who had entered the service as colonel of the Ninth Wisconsin was placed In command command com com- mand of the force at Helena a fact which was very pleasing to the eighth ty-eighth Wisconsin General Salomon was entitled to credit for the thorough preparation that had bad been made for forthe forthe forthe the battle which was fought on July 4 His small email force orce about men wasso was nas wasso so well protected and the town was so substantially f fortified that be he held ItIn It U UIn itLa In La spite of the desper taUght of or an arm of Confederates i s and nd d de' de d e. e the enemy Inflicting great slaughter The Twenty eighth received praise from the general for Its bravo and splendid conduct It occupied an Important position and held beld it against great odds In n August 1863 the accompanied Gen Fred Steele on the Little Rock Hock campaign Colonel Lewis bad had command of at the Second brigade and Lieutenant Colonel Gray commanded commanded com cow the regiment It remained at Little UttIe Rock Hock from September 10 lu until unfit October 26 and then participated in 10 inthe the tho race after alter General Marmaduke's force but turned back after reaching Rockport At about this tills time tho the Twenty eighth was ordered to Join the tha command of at Colonel Powell Clayton at Pine Pino Bluff muff Colonel Clayton who afterward became a brigadier r general was so well pleased with tho the Wisconsin Wiscon sin regiment that he be kept It with him himas himas himas as long as possible and has never for tor forgotten forgotten g gotten his bis association with It Colonel Gray was in command of or the tho post at t Pine Pino Bluff mutt for tor some time Six Ix coin coin- p panics anies of We the regiment participated ed In fa Inan o oU pan an U expedition to destroy a bridge on aD the Saline river in March 1864 While on guard at that point It was attacked by a Confederate force or of 1500 The Tho Twenty eighth men deployed and held the largo large force at bay until the bal ba balance ance nce of the Unionists were In position The rhe Confederates tes were repulsed with 1 tren groat loss loss i t ib l f |