HISTORICAL NOTES:
The 30th Wisconsin Infantry was organized at Camp Randall in Madison and mustered into service on October 21, 1862.
The regiment was detailed to duty at Green Bay and other points in Wisconsin to enforce the draft until March 1863. In that month, the various companies were split on duties ranging from guard boat and supply duty for Sully's Northwestern Indian Expedition up the Missouri River, to draft enforcement across Wisconsin, to fort construction and fort duty. The balance of the regiment eventually came to Kentucky by mid-1864 or early 1865 and was assigned to the 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, Military District of Kentucky. It primarily served on provost duty there and conducted prisoners to various points.
The regiment mustered out on September 20, 1865, after it had lost 69 men. Two enlisted men were killed. Two officers and 65 enlisted men died from disease.
OFFICERS:
Colonel Daniel J. Dill (July 22, 1862 – September 20, 1865) nominally commanded the regiment for its entire service, but was detached as provost marshal of Kentucky near the end of the war. Before joining the 30th Wisconsin Infantry, he was captain of Co. B in the 6th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment. After the war he served in the Wisconsin State Assembly.
Major John Clowney (February 8, 1865 – September 20, 1865) had command of the regiment when Colonel Dill and Lt. Colonel Edward M. Barlett were assigned to provost and court martial duty.
ASSIGNMENTS:
Duty at Green Bay, West Bay and other points in Wisconsin, enforcing draft, etc., till March, 1863. Headquarters of Regiment at Camp Randall till December 26, 1862, then at Camp Reno, Milwaukee, Wis. Companies "D" "F," "I" and "K" ordered to St. Louis, Mo., May 2, 1863. Guard boats and supplies for Sully's Northwestern Indian Expedition up the Missouri River till August. Companies "I" and "K" ordered to Milwaukee. Companies "D" and "F" at Fann Island, and fatigue duty building Fort Sully till December, 1863. Companies "E" and "G" at Bayfield and Superior City, Wis., May 26-August 21, 1863, then report to Milwaukee. Company "G" ordered to Davenport, Iowa, December 5, 1863. Company "I" moved to St. Louis, Mo., April, 1864, and thence to Fort Union, D. T., and duty there till June, 1865. Rejoined Regiment at St. Louis, Mo., June 22, 1865. Companies "A," "C," "F" and "H" left Milwaukee, Wis., April 20, 1864, to join Sully's Northwestern Indian Expedition. Moved from St. Louis to Fort Sully, D. T., thence to Fort Rice, and duty there till October. Moved to Sioux City October 12-November 2. Company "D" join. Moved to Quincy, Ill., thence to Louisville, Ky., November 24-29. Companies "B," "E," "G" and "K" left Milwaukee for Dakota Territory April, 1864. Duty at Fort Wadsworth July 1-September 29. Ordered to St. Louis, Mo., thence to relief of Paducah, Ky., October 29. Moved to St. Louis December 6-10, and join balance of Regiment. Moved to Bowling Green, Ky., December 12 and assigned to 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, Military District of Kentucky. Moved to Louisville, Ky., January 10, 1865, and provost duty there till September; also conducting prisoners to various points. Companies "B," "E" and "G" moved to Frankfort, Ky., February, 1865, and duty there till June. Mustered out September 20, 1865.
SERVICE:
On May 2, 1863, Cos. D, F, I and K were ordered to the upper Missouri as guards for transports in the Indian expedition under Gen. Sully, from Sioux City, Ia., to Fort Pierre, Dakota. Cos. G and E were sent to Superior and Bayfield to keep close watch on the Chippewa Indians, who were stirred up by the Sioux outbreak in Minnesota. In August detached companies were used for maintaining order during the enrollment under the conscription act, furnishing guards for conscripts, recruits and deserters. The regiment spent the winter in the state. Detachments were ordered to various posts in northwestern Minnesota and Dakota in March, 1864, where they spent the spring and summer in campaigning under Gen. Sully against the Indians, guarding emigrants, making many diificult marches through wild country, and participating in a number of engagements. On Oct. 1, Cos. A, C, F and H under Col. Dill were stationed at Fort Rice, Dak.; Cos. B, E, G and K under Maj. Clowney at Fort WadsWorth; Co. D under Capt. Fulton at Fort Sully, and Co. I under Capt. Grier at Fort Union. The companies were reunited at Louisville, Ky., during the fall, with the exception of Co. I, which remained at Fort Union until the following summer. The regiment was attached to the 2nd brigade, 2nd division, Military District of Kentucky, and was used in prison guard duty, as provost guard at Louisville, and for garrison duty at Frankfort and Georgetown in detachments during the winter and spring. Col. Dill was appointed provost marshal-general of Kentucky, April 17, 1865. Co. I joined the regiment on June 22, and the organization was mustered out at Louisville Sept. 20, 1865.
ROSTERS:
The composite rosters of this unit contain the names of 1844 men.
Company A, Captain Samuel Harriman, from St. Croix, Polk and Pierce Counties
Company B, Captain Lewis S. Burton, from Iowa and Lafayette Counties
Company C, Captain A. A. Arnold, from Trempealeau County
Company D, Captain David С. Fulton, from St. Croix, Polk and Pierce Counties
Company E, Captain Edward Devlin, from Iowa and Lafayette Counties
Company F, Captain Martin A. Driebelbis, from Pierce County
Company G, Captain Asa B. Swain, from Waushara County
Company H, Captain Andrew Bedal, from Waushara County
Company I, Captain Napoleon B. Greer, from Eau Claire County
Company K, Captain John Klatt, from Chippewa County
HISTORICAL NOTES: