A Wisconsin Military Man

Wm Hawley with his staff

Union Colonel William Hawley was made the commander of the 3^rd Wisconsin Infantry March 10^th 1863.

William Hawley was born August 19^th 1824 in Porter, New York.  Hawley served during the Mexican American War with the rank of Sergeant.  He moved to Madison, Wisconsin in 1854, where he went into the furniture business.

When the Civil War started Hawley received a commission in the Union Army.  He helped to raise the 3^rd Wisconsin Infantry.  It was made up mostly of Scandinavians and mustered into Union service in June 1861 in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin with Hawley as the Captain of Company K.  He was promoted to Colonel and take command of the 3^rd on March 10^th 1863.   He would be with the men at the Battle of Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Sherman’s March to the Sea, and finally the Grand Review in Washington, DC in May 1865.  He mustered out of service on July 18^th 1865.

After the war Hawley tried a business in Flint, Michigan before rejoining the United States Army, serving as a Second Lieutenant in the 11^th United States Infantry, being stationed in Virginia.  He was promoted to First Lieutenant on December 6^th 1866.  He would serve in Louisiana, Texas and the Dakota Territory.

Traveling back east in December 1872 he was caught in a blizzard got frostbitten and came close to dying from exposure.  Hawley died in Buffalo, New York January 15^th 1873 after a short illness.  He is buried in the Glenwood Cemetery in Flint, Michigan.

Devotion And Unswerving Loyalty

The Union Colored Regiments from Massachusetts and Pennsylvania got their “Grand Review” November 14^th 1865 in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

Most Union troops paraded through Washington, DC on May 23^rd and 24^th 1865 in front of dignitaries and citizen in a “Grand Review of the Armies”.  There were however about 180,000 soldiers missing, the United States Colored Troops.

The black soldiers who had served in regiments formed in Massachusetts and Pennsylvania gathered for a “Grand Review” of their own in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania November 14^th 1865.  A prominent resident and recruiter of Colored Troops, Thomas Morris Chester was the grand marshal for the parade.  The troops marched through the main streets of Harrisburg; the capital of Pennsylvania, to the home of Senator Simon Cameron.  Cameron, who was an abolitionist and advocate for raising black soldiers, delivered the speech in their honor.  He said, “I cannot let this opportunity pass without thanking the African soldiers for the compliment they have paid me, but more than all to thank them for the great service which they have been to their country in the terrible rebellion. Like all other men, you have your destinies in your own hands, and if you continue to conduct yourselves hereafter as you have in the struggle, you will have all the rights you ask for, all the rights that belong to human beings.”  There were letters read from those who couldn’t attend, including Union General Benjamin F Butler, who wrote, I “witnessed…[African American soldiers’] bravery and good conduct on the battle-field, and, above all, their devotion and unswerving loyalty to the flag and government.”

It was reported that about 7,000 Colored soldiers attended the “Grand Review”.  It ended with a grand ball held for the soldiers.

A Hard Fought German Regiment

The 26^th Wisconsin Infantry, a German regiment organized in Milwaukee, Wisconsin left the state for Washington, DC October 6^th 1862.

The 26^th Wisconsin Infantry was made up mostly of men of German decent and was organized at Camp Siegel in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  They were mustered into the Union Army September 17^th 1862 and left for Washington, DC on October 6^th 1862.  The 26^th joined the 11^th Corps at Fairfax Court House, Virginia.  They saw their first real action in Chancellorsville in May 1863, where they and the 119^th New York were attacked by superior numbers of Confederates in an open field.  The 26^th lost 177 men in that battle.  The 26^th saw heavy losses again at the Battle of Gettysburg.  Their service continued with action at Missionary Ridge, Resaca, Kennesaw Mountain and Sherman’s March to the Sea.  They were part of the Union Army’s Grand Review in Washington, DC.

The 26^th mustered out of Union service in Washington, DC June 17^th 1865.  Of the 1088 men who served in the 26^th, 188 officers and enlisted were killed and 77 died from disease.

A good web site to look at if you want to know more is the History of the 26th Wisconsin Infantry

The Last March

The last act of most Union Civil War Soldiers the Grand Review took place on May 23 and 24th 1865 in Washington, DC.


President Andrew Johnsons declared the fighting to be “virtually at an end” on May 10th 1865. Plans began for a review of troops that would be greater then the two celebrations of victory held just before President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated. May 23rd 1865 was a clear sunny day. As a single shot fired, the Army of the Potomac marched down Pennsylvania Avenue before thousands. In front of the White House was a reviewing stand for the President Johnson, General Ulysses S Grant and other top officials. General George Gorden Meade dismounted in front of this stand to salute his men and watch his army pass. There were about 80,000 infantry lined up 12 across marching with precision.

These were joined by artillery and a seven mile long cavalry that by its self took over and hour to pass. General William Tecumseh Sherman’s Army of the Tennessee repeated this march the next day.

For most of the Union soldiers this parade was the end of their military duty. During the next few weeks the armies were disbanded.

A good web site for more information on this subject, TO THE LIMITS OF THE SOUL'S IDEAL: THE GRAND REVIEW, MAY 23, 1865