Hd. Qurs. 26th Wis. Vol. Inf.
Near Atlanta, Ga. July 23, 1864
His Excellency J.F. Lewis
Governor of Wisconsin
Sir:
In the fiercest battle
of the campaign, crowned by the most decisive victory, which was fought
within four miles of Atlanta the 20th rist., the 26th Wisconsin bore its
part. Wholly unsupported on the left we got to the foot of a hill just
as the enemy reached its brow which we coveted. They came down to within
about 10 faces of us in front and also came around our left giving us an
enfilading fire. It was the 33rd Miss. of Featherstone's Brig. Lonning's
Div. Stuart's (labe Polk's) Corps. We drove them back, pursued them on
their very heels and gained and held the top of the hill, leaving thirty
four of the enemy's dead among them Col. Drake 33 Miss. and perhaps double
that number of severely wounded who could not get away, behind us, and
cutting off some forty officers and men who were afterwards taken prisoner.
We took the flag and six officer's swords of the 33 Miss., have been obliged
to send them to headquarters but I have made application to get them back
and if I succeed will sent them to the state.
Capt.'s Robert Miller
Co. C and J.P. Seeman Co. I both comdg. Co. B were killed. Capt. Shemmeger
Comdg. Co. F highly wounded and St. Wollman seriously. Seven enlisted men
were killed and thirty four wounded.
This army is invincible,
holds Atlanta in its gripe, the capture of which is reduced to a question
of days. As soon as we get it I will send a full account of the part taken
by this regt. in the campaign.
Henry Rauth Co. C. is
senior 1st Lieut. in the regiment and I recommend him for the captaincy
of Co. C. made vacant by the death of Capt. Miller. 1st Lieut. Joseph Maschauer,
Co. H, who is next in seniority I recommend for the vacancy in Co. I caused
by the death of Capt. Seeman. He has commanded that company ever since
his promotion in November last. The captaincy of Co. F is also vacant by
the promotion of Major Sackner. According to seniority promotion is due
to Lieuts. Juenger Co. A., Koener Co. K and Wollner Co. G in the order
prescribed but as they are all absent wounded I recommend that this vacancy
be left open for the present. 2nd Lieut. Charles Karsten Co. F, who was
once promoted on my recommendation, did his full duty on this occasion
and I recommend him for 1st Lieut. of Co. H. For the 1st Lieutenancy of
Co. C. I recommend Sergeant Major Rudolph Klien.
I should be glad to recommend
upon the principle of company formation, as it is preferred by you, but
I cannot possibly make it harmonize with the good of the regiment. An exception
is made in the case of 1st St. Adolph Hensel Co.B. who is now in fact the
oldest 1st St. He was promoted from quartermaster sergt. for the sole purpose
of acting as 2. Lieu. of the regt. and has only acted as such and never
served as a soldier in line and would not accept a captaincy in the line.
I have the honor to be
Very Respectfully
Your Obt. Servt.
Fred C. Winkler
Lt. Col. 26th Wis. Vol.
Comdg. Regt.
Wisconsin Historical Society, 1200 Series, Box 128, Correspondence 1864
