The 6th Wisconsin was raised at Madison, Wisconsin, and mustered into Federal service July 16, 1861 for a term of three years. It saw severe fighting in the 1862 Northern Virginia Campaign, fighting at Brawner's Farm during the early part of the Second Battle of Bull Run. During the subsequent Maryland Campaign, the 6th attacked Turner's Gap in the Battle of South Mountain, and then suffered considerable casualties battling Hood's Texas Brigade in the D.R. Miller cornfield at Antietam.
The 6th Wisconsin being state militia troops were outfitted by there own state and not the Federal Government. This being the case most of there uniforms were ripped torn and in very bad shape.
The Sixth Wisconsin was commanded at the Battle of Gettysburg by Lieutenant Colonel Rufus R. Dawes, grandson of the William Dawes who rode with Paul Revere. It brought 340 men to the field and lost 30 killed, 116 wounded and 22 missing.
The Sixth and the rest of the First Corps were the first Northern infantry in the fight at Gettysburg, going into action northwest of town during the morning of July 1st.
The regiment was initially held in reserve from the rest of the Iron Brigade. When Davis' Mississippi Brigade threatened to outflank the Iron Brigade the 6th Wisconsin charged across open ground to the Railway Cut north of Chambersburg Pike, trapping much of Davis' command and taking a number of prisoners, particularly from the 2nd Mississippi Infantry.
By late afternoon the Union position north and west of Gettysburg collapsed and the Sixth was forced to retreat though Gettysburg to Cemetery Hill. It was ordered with the rest of the First Division to the north side of Culp's Hill, which it defended for the rest of the battle.
Corporal Francis A. Waller of Company I was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions on July 1st when he captured the flag of the 2nd Mississippi Infantry.
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