The following historical information is about the service of both the company, regiment, and the men, of the "Madison Zouaves" of the Twenty-Third (23rd) Wisconsin Infantry Regiment, U.S. Volunteers, which served in the American Civil War from August 1862 to July 1865. If you have any corrections, suggestions, or additional information that you wish to contribute, feel free to submit the information to the Webmaster.

The Twenty-third Regiment, organized under the supervision of Colonel Joshua J. Guppey, previously of the Tenth Wisconsin, was mustered into service on the 30th of August, 1862, at Camp Randall, Madison. They left Madison on the 15th of September, under orders to report at Cincinnati, Ohio. The following was the regimental roster: Colonel - Joshua J. Guppey. Lieutenant Colonel - Edward Jussen; Major - Charles H. Williams; Adjutant - William G. Pitman; Quartermaster - Franklin Z. Hicks; Surgeon - James Prentice; First Assistant Surgeon- John Greening; Second Assistant Surgeon - James C. Axtell; Chaplain - Rev. Christ. E. Weirich.

Arriving at Cincinnati on the 17th, they crossed the Ohio, and joined the brigade of Brigadier General Green Clay Smith, which then held the extreme left of our line, about five miles above Newport, Kentucky.

The regiment, rapidly acquiring habits of drill and discipline, remained in this position until the 8th of October, when they accompanied the general forward movement of the line, from Cincinnati southward, proceeding by the way of Falmouth and Paris, to the vicinity of Lexington, whence, on the 31st, they proceeded to Nicholasville, the terminus of the Kentucky Central Railroad. While stationed at this place, the regiment, in addition to the usual routine of guard duty, acquired great proficiency in the manual of arms and battalion movements, for which they were highly complimented by the commanding general. Leaving Nicholasville on the 11th of November, after a march of eighty-six miles, in excessively hot weather, over dry and dusty roads, they arrived, on the afternoon of the 15th, at Louisville, where they embarked on the 19th, and descending the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, landed, on the 27th, at Memphis, Tennessee, where they joined the force under command of Major General Sherman, then preparing for an attack upon Vicksburg.

In the organization of these forces, the Twenty-third Wisconsin was assigned to the First Brigade, Brigadier General S.G. Burbridge; Tenth Division, Brigadier General A. J. Smith; Thirteenth Army Corps, Major General John A. McClernand.

General Sherman's army embarked at Memphis on the 21stof December, en route for Vicksburg, Mississippi. The Twenty-third reached Milliken's Bend on the 24th, and next day, with the First Brigade, marched twenty-five miles into the interior of Louisiana, and having destroyed the railroad buildings, several bridges on the Shreveport Railroad, which they struck at Dallas, torn up the track, and burned a large quantity of cotton, cotton gins and corn, and severed the enemy's railroad communications with the interior of Louisiana, returned, on the 26th, to Milliken's Bend, having marched upwards of fifty miles within two days, without sustaining any loss.

Taking part in Sherman's expedition against the northern defenses of Vicksburg, on the 27th of December they reembarked, and continued down the Mississippi to the Yazoo River, and ascending the latter stream, disembarked in the evening, about ten miles from its mouth, near Chickasaw Bayou. They immediately formed in marching column, and moving to the southward, took position in line of battle, three miles from the enemy's fortifications. Next morning the regiment moved forward, to within a mile of the rebel works, and from this date, occupied various positions in front of the enemy, sustaining no loss, although constantly exposed to the fire of the batteries on the hills in front. On the night of the 31st, they constructed rifle pits within one hundred 3'ards of the rebel sharpshooters. General Sherman abandoned the attack on the 1st of January, 1863, and his troops returned to Milliken's Bend, where he was superseded in command, by General McClernand.

The Twenty-third took part in the attack on Arkansas Post, on the Arkansas River. Disembarking on the morning of the10th, within three miles of the Post, General McClernand proceeded to invest the place, which having been effected, the engagement commenced at noon, on the following day. The Twenty-third, while moving forward to obtain position, was assailed by a very destructive enfilading fire from the enemy's rifle pits and artillery, rendering necessary a change of front. Having effected this movement with unbroken ranks. Company B was deployed forward as skirmishers, followed soon afterwards by companies G and K. These companies captured several blockhouses, occupied by the enemy, forcing him back into his works, while the balance of the regiment attacked and carried the rifle pits from the front, and also, by accurate sharpshooting, kept silent a number of pieces of artillery in the main fort. The engagement had continued with great fury for about three hours when the enemy, at the moment that the Twenty-third was formed for a final charge upon the fort, raised the white flag, and Arkansas Post, with its garrison, was unconditionally surrendered. In this gallant affair, during which the conduct of the regiment elicited the official compliments of the brigade and division commanders, the Twenty -third sustained a loss of six killed and thirty-one wounded.

On the 15th of January, the regiment again embarked, arriving on the 23d, at Young's Point, La., where they went into camp on the following day. In this unhealthy location, the effects of exposure to the malaria of the Yazoo swamp and at Fort Hindman, developed themselves in an alarming increase of sick-ness among the members of the regiment, the effective force of which soon became very much reduced, several companies being without commissioned officers fit for duty, and many companies not having able bodied men sufficient to take- their regular turn at guard duty. By the unremitting attention of the medical officers of the regiment, assisted by the officers and men, and the reception of sanitary supplies, the men improved in health so that about the middle of February, the regiment could muster250 men fit for duty.

From the 14th of February to the 8th of March, the regiment, with the brigade, was engaged in several minor expeditions against the enemy at Greenville, Miss., and at Cypress Bend, Arkansas, where they had a severe fight, in which the Twenty-third took a prominent part, and succeeded in capturing several prisoners and pieces of artillery On the 23d, they pursued a force of the enemy's cavalry and artillery, in the vicinity of Greenville, and captured four prisoners, with a quantity of horses, mules and supplies, with which, on the 26th, they returned to camp at Young's Point. On the 4th of March, the regiment was ordered on a foraging expedition to Princeton, Miss., from which they returned on the 8th, and reembarking next day, they ascended the Mississippi twenty miles, to Milliken's Bend, where camp was established in a comparatively healthy location. After a short time, the health of the men began to improve, and the regiment, which, during the preceding four months had lost 150 men by death, and 113 by discharge, left Milliken's Bend on the 14th of April, with between four and five hundred men, fit for duty.

On the 25th of February, 1863, Major Charles H Williams resigned, and Captain William F. Vilas was appointed Major. On the 23d of March, Lieutenant Colonel Edward Jussen resigned, and Major Vilas was appointed Lieutenant Colonel, and Captain Edgar P. Hill, Major.

Accompanying the movement of the Thirteenth Army Corps in its march to the rear of Vicksburg, they proceeded by way of Holmes plantation and Perkins' plantation, to Hard Times Landing, below Grand Gulf. Here they crossed the Mississippi on the 30th of April, to Bruinsburg, whence the division, at midnight, commenced the march towards Vicksburg, reaching the battle ground of Port Gibson early in the morning of the 1stof May In this action, the Twenty-third was not directly engaged, but acted as a reserve, and as support to a section of the First Wisconsin Battery, and although under fire, sustained no loss. At four in the afternoon, the division was ordered to take the advance, relieving Brigadier General Hovey's division. The regiment, with the brigade, then moved forward with but little opposition, and captured twenty prisoners. Early on the morning of the 2d of May, the Twenty-third took the advance, pushed forward with great rapidity, and was the first of our army to enter the village of Port Gibson, where the regiment acted as provost guard during the day. Edward Palzer, of Company D, was wounded at Port Gibson.

After an unsuccessful effort to find the enemy to the southeast of Port Gibson, on the 3d, the brigade returned, and took position at Bayou Pierre Bridge, remaining until the 7th. They then moved forward, by Big Sandy, to Cayuga, and on the 12th, made a detour to the Black River, under orders to hold in check a large body of the enemy in that vicinity, and on the 15th, they joined the movement on Raymond, two miles east of which, they bivouacked for the night.

On the 16th of May, occurred the battle of Champion Hills, nine miles from Raymond. Early in the morning, the Twenty-third took the advance of the division, companies A, D and H moving in front, and acting as skirmishers. They soon came upon the enemy's skirmish line, which they forced back upon the main body, a distance of nearly two miles. The Seventeenth Ohio Battery, supported by the Twenty-third, by a few well directed shots, drove the enemy from his position in front. In order to further develop the rebel force, companies B and E were sent out, who encountered the enemy's skirmishers, and forced them back a distance of a mile and a half. The enemy having changed his position, the regiment advanced on the new line, and soon developed the enemy in force. The Seventeenth Ohio Battery was at once placed in position, supported by the eight companies of the Twenty-third, and an artillery duel ensued, resulting in the enemy again being driven from his position. Having rested an hour, the division again advanced against the enemy in front, who had occupied a very strong position on a hill, defended by twelve pieces of artillery. The Twenty-third, on reaching an open held, was ordered to charge the enemy's line. Advancing, under a heavy fire, across the field, the regiment succeeded in gaining a road which ran parallel with the rebel position, and sheltered from the enemy's fire only by as light rise of ground. This position the regiment held until the enemy retired from the field. The action of the regiment during this engagement, is worthy of special notice, contributing as it did, so much to the success of our arms. By the steadiness promptness and courage of the division, the command of the rebel General Loring, consisting of thirteen regiments, more than double the force opposed to them, was cut off from the enemy's main body, and rendered useless.

Early next morning, the regiment pushed forward to Black River Bridge, where line of battle was promptly formed, and the brigade, advancing directly upon the rebel works, captured the Sixtieth Tennessee, with its colors. On the 19th of May, the division advanced to within three miles of the works in the rear of Vicksburg. The two following days, were occupied in obtaining position in front of the fortifications. Several casualties occurred on the 20th. On the 22d, the regiment took part in the grand assault. Under a very destructive fire, they advanced with great gallantry, until, at one, in the afternoon, they had forced their way to the outer slope of one of the rebel forts. Here farther progress was arrested by a deep ditch, which was impassable. In this position the regiment, unable to scale the walls of the fort, lay during the afternoon, and until withdrawn in the evening It should also be noted that, during the afternoon, companies B and E were detached from the regiment, underorders to place a piece of artillery in position near the fort. This service they performed in the most gallant manner, drawing the piece by hand, through ravines and over steep hills, to a point within twenty yards of the rebel line, where they kept it supplied with ammunition during the engagement.

The regiment was subsequently occupied in the performance of siege duty, until the final surrender of the city, on the 4th of July. On the morning of the 3d, a flag of truce, carried by General Bowen, approached from the rebel works, in front of the position occupied by the Twenty-third, and was halted by Captain Fletcher, of Company K. At ten o'clock, next day, the city was occupied by our forces.

From its organization, the regiment had been commanded by Colonel Guppey, until the 5th of June, when continued ill health compelled that officer to turn over the command to Lieutenant Colonel Vilas, who had charge of the regiment during the sub-sequent progress of the siege of Vicksburg, and for nearly two months after the surrender. Corporal William Jones, of Company K, was mortally wounded on the 30th of June.

On the 5th of July, the Twenty-third, accompanying the movements of the division, left the position they had so long occupied in rear of Vicksburg, and crossing the Big Black River on the 6th, took position, on the 10th, before Jackson, and until the capture of that place, on the 17th, were constantly exposed to the enemy's fire.

On the 21st of July, they returned to Vicksburg, and encamped south of the city, on the east bank of the Mississippi, until the24th of August, when the regiment accompanied the movement of the Thirteenth Army Corps, down the Mississippi to New Orleans, and from thence to Berwick City.

On the 25th of August, Lieutenant Colonel Yilas resigned, and Major Hill was appointed Lieutenant Colonel, and Captain Green, of Company D, was appointed Major.

On the 7th of October, it took part, with a portion of the Thirteenth Corps, in the expedition through the southwestern part of Louisiana. The Twenty-third left Berwick on the 7th of October, with Burbridge's brigade, and passing through Franklin, Centreville and New Iberia, arrived, on the 10th, within three miles of Vermillion, where they remained until the 21st, when the forward movement was renewed. Passing through Opelousas to Barrs’ Landing, they moved thence, on the 1st of November, sixteen miles to Bayou Borbeaux, where, at noon on the 3d, the enemy made a fierce assault upon the right of the brigade, simultaneous with an attack in front by his cavalry. In the action which ensued, the regiment was immediately formed in line, and took position a short distance from the camp, and under a heavy fire, moved to the right, into a belt of woods skirting a bayou in rear of the camp. Two regiments of the brigade, which had preceded the Twenty-third, unable to resist the rebel attack, here fell back, successively, through their line, leaving our regiment, unsupported, to resist the steady advance, at this point, of the greatly superior forces of the enemy. Although exposed to a very destructive fire, the regiment held the position against the repeated attempts to dislodge it, until outflanked on both sides, when it was ordered to retreat. In this maneuver they lost a number killed and many wounded, among the latter, Colonel Guppey and Captain Sorenson, who, with Captain Bull and Lieutenants Atkinson and Stanley, were taken prisoners. Having retired a short distance, another attempt was made to check the advance of the enemy, hut without effect, and the regiment, then numbering less than one hundred rank and file, was again forced back. They again reformed, and with the like result, when General Burbridge directed the withdrawal of the line, through the timber to the prairie. Here the brigade formed a new line, nearly a mile from the ground of the first engagement, and on the arrival of reinforcements, promptly advanced, drove the enemy from the woods, regained the camp, and pursued him a short distance towards Opelousas. The Twenty-third, on going into this action, numbered 220 officers and men.

After the battle, the regiment, under command of Lieutenant Colonel Hill, on the evening of the 3d of November, retired three and a half miles, to Carrion Crow Bayou, thence they proceeded to New Iberia, reaching there on the 8th of November. Lieutenant Colonel Hill was placed in command of the post of New Iberia; Captain Duncan was appointed Provost Marshal, and the regiment was assigned to provost duty, in which they were engaged until relieved on the 18th, when they took position within the fortifications of the town. On their return to Berwick, they received orders to proceed with the Thirteenth Army Corps, under General Washburn, to Texas. By rail they proceeded to Algiers, opposite New Orleans, and embarked at that point, on the 25th of December, en route for Matagorda Peninsula, Texas, arriving on the 29th, off De-crow's Point, where they landed, and went into camp on the 1stof January, 1864. Lieutenant Colonel Hill being absent in Wisconsin, Major Green was in command of the regiment. On the28th, companies A and C were detailed as guard at the landing, and rejoined the regiment on the 3d of February. While stationed on Matagorda Peninsula, the regiment participated in several reconnaissance’s of minor importance, and on the 22d, reembarked, under orders to return to Louisiana. They landed, on the morning of the 26th, at Algiers, and immediately proceeded to Berwick City.

Taking part in Banks' famous Red River Expedition, on the7th of March, they set out, with the Thirteenth Corps, and proceeded through Vermillion, Opelousas and Washington, arriving on the 22d, at Bayou Rapide, eight miles southwest of Alexandria. On the 28th, they set out for Natchitoches, eighty miles distant, and reaching that place on the 2d of April, were assigned to provost duty; Major Green commanding the post, Adjutant Carl Jussen acting as Post Adjutant, Captain Duncan, Provost Marshal, and Lieutenant Atkinson as Assistant Provost Marshal. On the 6th of April, the regiment left Natchitoches, and marching thirty-five miles, reached Pleasant Hill next day. Resuming the march early on the morning of the 8th, the Twenty-third, leading the column, encountered the enemy at an early hour, when they were deployed, and skirmishing commenced, which was continued until noon, when the enemy had been driven back about eight miles. About three, in the afternoon, the enemy, in great force, attacked our lines, and the battle of Sabine Cross Roads commenced. The Twenty-third held the extreme left of our line, and under a very heavy fire, retained its position, until all the rest of the line had given way, and left the field in retreat, when, outflanked on both sides, the regiment was ordered to retire. Frequently forming in line to check the advance of the enemy, by whom our line was closely pursued, they withdrew in good order to the position occupied by the Nineteenth Corps. During the night, they accompanied the retreat of the army, arriving next morning at Pleasant Hill.

They reached Grand Ecore on the 11th, and were occupied in guarding prisoners at that place, until an exchange was effected on the 19th, after which, they were employed in labor on the fortifications until the 22d, when the town was evacuated, and the retreat resumed. They participated, without loss, in the engagement of the 23d, at Cane River, and on the 25th, reached Alexandria. They bivouacked three miles from the city on Bayou Rapids, and, participating in frequent skirmishes, were stationed in the vicinity of the city until the 13th of May, when the army was again put in motion, and marching down the bank of the Red River, arrived, on the 17th, at Simmsport, on the Atchafalaya River. The Twenty-third crossed the Atchafalaya on the 20th, and on the 22d, reached Morganzia, having marched, during the retreat, a distance of 175 miles. They embarked, on the 24th, at Morganzia, and descending the Mississippi, landed next day, and encamped at Baton Rouge. Here Colonel Guppey rejoined the regiment, but in consequence of ill health, was unable to take the command, which soon afterwards, upon his return, was assumed by Lieutenant Colonel Hill. While stationed at this place, the Thirteenth Corps was disbanded. From the 8th to the 26th of July, the regiment was encamped at Algiers, opposite New Orleans. On the 26th of July, they proceeded up the river to Morganzia, where they arrived on the following day. On the 18th of August, the Twenty-third was assigned to the Third Brigade, commanded by Colonel Guppey, Second Division, Brigadier General Dennis, Nineteenth Army Corps, General Emery commanding, and participated in a movement to Mobile Bay, from which they returned, on the 2d of September, to Morganzia, without having accomplished anything of importance. From this point the regiment was frequently dispatched on reconnaissance’s in various directions through the surrounding country, the nature of which is such as to afford peculiar facilities for the operations of guerillas and irregular troops, and were kept constantly on the alert, to prevent the formation of any considerable body of the enemy. In one of these expeditions, they embarked on the 3d of October, and proceeding to Bayou Sara, marched thence sixteen miles, to Jackson, Louisiana, and in returning, next day, to the transports, were engaged in heavy skirmishing with the enemy', during which, they lost two killed and four wounded. On the 5th, they entered camp at Morganzia, and on the 10th, again embarked, and after a detention at the mouth of the White River, they reached Helena on the 3d of November, and went into camp.

The Twenty-third remained at Helena until the 23d of February 1865, at which date they were placed on transports, underorders to report to the officer commanding the reserve corps, and descending the Mississippi, reached New Orleans on the 27th, and encamped at Algiers, Louisiana. On the 1st of March, they moved to Hickox’s Landing, on Lake Pontchartrain, under orders to join the forces then assembling in the vicinity of Mobile, for the reduction of the fortifications defending that city. Arriving at Dauphin Island on the 3d of March, they remained in camp upon the island until the 17th, when they crossed to Navy Cove, on Mobile Point, whence, on the following day, they set out with the column, for Spanish Fort, before which, after an exceedingly laborious march, they arrived on the 27th. They took position with the brigade on the following day, and commenced the usual routine of siege and heavy fatigue duty, in which they were engaged until the 30th, when the brigade was ordered on an expedition towards Blakely. After a delay of two days at Pollard's Mills, orders were received to proceed to Blakely, and on the 3d of April, the regiment was directed to take position on the left of our line then investing the place, in front of the rebel works. Companies G and I, under command of Captain Tolford, were at once deployed as skirmishers, and had advanced within a few hundred yards of the works, when the regiment was relieved by a division of the Sixteenth Corps, and ordered to encamp in rear of, and act as support to the other forces. On the night of the 5th, they accompanied the movement of the brigade to the extreme right of our line, in anticipation of an attack, and returning next day, remained in camp, furnishing heavy details for fatigue duty, until the afternoon of the 9th, when the regiment was ordered to the front. In the final assault upon Blakely, they acted as support to the attacking column, and after the capture of the place, moved, during the night of the 12th, to Starks Landing, from which point they crossed Mobile Bay, landing on the eastern side, five miles below Mobile, in the western part of which they encamped.

On the 7th of May, Companies C and E were detached from the regiment to East Pascagoula, Mississippi, under orders to repair the roads in that vicinity, from which duty they were recalled, on the receipt of orders for discharge from service.

The Twenty-third was mustered out of service at Mobile, on the 4th of July, and next day set out for home. They arrived on the 16th, at Madison, Wisconsin, where the regiment, on the 24th of July, was paid, and formally disbanded.

For meritorious services during the war. Colonel Guppey was brevetted Brigadier General.

Regimental Statistics - Original strength, 994. Gain - by recruits in 1863, 1, in 1864, 118, in 1865, 4; total, 1,117. Loss - by death, 289; missing, 1; deserted, 6; transferred, 124; discharged, 281; mustered out, 416.

The "Madison Zouaves" began their organization in June 1861 as a company of the Wisconsin State Militia, with members being recruited in the town of Madison, Dane County. The original purpose was to recruit members under the age of 18, who had been turned away from active service with the volunteers, and to ensure that they were properly instructed and trained the men elected William F. Vilas as their first Captain. Captain Vilas had served with the Wisconsin State Militia for a number of years as a member of the Governor’s Guard, and was present when that company took part in a competition against Captain Elmer E. Ellsworth’s "United States Zouaves Cadets" of Chicago, Illinois, in 1860.

As part of the State Militia the company took part from 1861 to 1862 in a number of drills, demonstrations, recruiting efforts and such, until August 1862. Per General Order No. 22, Wisconsin Adjutant General’s Office, the company was officially accepted into active service and assigned to the then organizing Twenty-Third (23rd) Infantry Regiment at Camp Randall in Madison. Efforts were immediately begun to recruit the company to full strength, and in short time the necessary number were obtained and the company reported at Camp Randall for active service. On August 30th, 1862, the men were officially mustered into United States service as Company A of the Twenty-Third (23rd) Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment for the period of three years’ service, under the command of Captain William F. Vilas, 1st Lieutenant Sinclair W. Botkin and 2nd Lieutenant Henry Vilas.

Serving with the regiment throughout its marches, battles and campaigns the regiment concluded its service in Alabama, being officially mustered out of United States service on July 4th, 1865, at Mobile, Alabama. The men were then transported to Madison, where on July 24th, 1865, they were paid off and the company, and regiment, was officially disbanded.

At this time (03.26.2020) the original enlisted uniform of the "Madison Zouaves" is not known; however, there is a surviving example of the officers' uniform. Pictured (at left) is the uniform of Captain William F. Vilas, supposed to have been worn at the time of his commanding the company in 1861. It consists of the standard nine button navy blue frock coat, with red cuffs and collar, and trimmed around the collar and cuffs with red worsted trim. This was worn with red wool trousers, topped off by a red fez (not pictured) with buff trim and highly embroidered. The uniform was donated by Mrs. Mary Esther Vilas Hanks (his daughter) in 1900, and is in the collection of the Wisconsin Historical Society.

Recruiting Poster "Madison Zouaves" (Wisconsin Historical Society)	Captain William F. Vilas (Wisconsin Historical Society)	Captain Sinclair W. Botkin (Wisconsin Historical Society)	Privates Herman & Lewis Gudmunsden (Wisconsin Historical Society)