26th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry

Second National Colors, issued 1864
V1964.219.119

During its nearly three years of service, the mostly German-speaking 26th Wisconsin Infantry asserted itself as one of the Union's finest fighting regiments. The 26th Wisconsin lost over 17% of its men in battle (188), fifth among all Union regiments. The regiment first saw action at Chancellorsville in early 1863, where it lost 53 men, eleven percent of its engaged troops. The regiment, along with the rest of the 11th Army Corps, was unprepared for the Confederate assault and fell back. Newspapers in New York and Milwaukee chastised the "German" regiments as cowards for this supposed retreat. It was some time before the unit's commanding officers could remedy the regiment's poor reputation.

Following the reorganization of the Army of the Potomac by General Grant, the 26th Wisconsin became part of General Hooker's 20th Army Corps. Major Frederick Winkler (mustered out as brevet Brigadier General) commanded the regiment as let out for Atlanta. At Peach Tree Creek, the 26th had its finest hour, decimating the 33rd Mississippi Infantry, capturing their regimental flag, killing the regiment's only field officer, Colonel Jabez L. Drake, and killing or wounding 160 of the regiment's 250 men. About the battle, Major Winkler wrote:

July 21st, 1864

At last I have some good news. We fought the hardest battle and won the greatest victory yesterday of all the campaign, and my regiment covered itself with glory. We were attacked by superior numbers, the forces on our left failed us; we were outflanked, but we whipped the enemy, turned, and pursued him to the position we coveted, got it and held it. We fought the 33rd Mississippi, and virtually annihilated it; we killed the Colonel and thirty-four men, whom we have picked up inside the point we pursued them to, End beyond that our fire must have done them severe damage. The ground was covered with wounded; I had no time to count them, but had three stretchers working all night, carrying them to the rear. We took its flags and six officers' swords. Every body is speaking the praise of the 26th today.

Battle Flag Display Schedule

Visit the Grand Army of the Republic gallery at the Wisconsin Veterans Museum to see actual National and Regimental Colors flown by Wisconsin regiments during the Civil War.

January through March 2009:		26th WI Volunteer Infantry, National
April through June 2009:		18th WI Volunteer Infantry, National
July through September 2009:		2nd WI Volunteer Infantry, National
October through December 2009:		3rd WI Volunteer Infantry, Regimental
January through March 2010:		5th WI Volunteer Infantry, National
April through June 2010:		36th WI Volunteer Infantry, National