William Ray and comrades returned to Washington and participated in the Grand Review before being ordered to Louisville, Kentucky, where they arrived on June 22, 1865. There, the men of the Sixth and Seventh Wisconsin regiments mustered out, their proud service at an end. The men of the Seventh left for Wisconsin on July 2, 1865, and were given a hearty welcome home by its citizens in Madison three days later.
In the final tally, the Seventh Wisconsin had a total enrollment of 1,630 in ranks over the four years. Of these, 281 were killed or mortally wounded in combat, a grim 17.2 percent. In total, the regiment lost 1,016 killed or wounded during the war, including 34 who died in Confederate prisons. The Seventh Wisconsin’s three heaviest battle losses were suffered at Gainesville or Brawner’s Farm (42 casualties), Gettysburg (37 casualties), and the Wilderness (55 casualties).
Of the soldiers who mustered out at Louisville in 1865, only a handful remained of the volunteers of 1861. One of them was William Ray.
Volume 14
We Are the Iron Brigade Yet
January 1, 1865 to June 14, 1865
William R Ray
Co. F. 7th Regt, Wis Vet Vols
A Resident of Grant County of Aforesaid State
Enlisted August 29th 1861
Reenlisted Jan 1st, 1864
January 1, 1865
And happy New Year to all is my best wish & God grant it. Last night as the old year was going out & the new one ushering in, the Brigade Band played a number of good & sweet airs around the camp, the night being clear & still. The sweet strains of music as it floated along on the light breezes made me think of home & how it would be to be there but I didnt allow myself to think too long on such Pleasures for fear that I might get homesick & that is a disease I have been so fortunate as not to have much while I have been in the service.
There was another picket detail today to relieve those that went out yesterday. I suppose for the purpose of letting them have some of New years to them selves.
There has been a rumor around to the effect that deserters from the rebels brought the news that Old Jeff was going to surprise the world today but we have seen nor heard nothing uncommon. There was some firing today but nothing of importance. There still continues to be many rumors about peace & and some important ones, if true.
This being Sunday we have Inspection. Captain Boyanton has returned to the Hospital, he not being able for duty. I am sorry to see him so but it cant be helped.
January 3, 1865
And fine day, rather cloudy. Nothing new but that the recruits begins to drill today. The first since coming to this camp. We got our overcoats that we sent off last spring to be stored. They are welcome articles we needed long since.
January 4, 1865
And fine day. We have Co drill in the afternoon. George went on Picket. There was about an inch of snow fell last night. This is the first we have had this winter. The weather is much like Nov weather in Wisconsin.
I had a new Soldier, a substitute, an entire stranger offer to loan me some money so I took 2 dollars of him. He didnt know my name but said my appearance told him there was honesty in its owner. This I, of course, considered flattery. I told him my name & thanked him for his kindness &c. So we were out of bread & we got the Lieut to buy us a quarters worth (viz 4 loafs). The order allowing us to buy at the Brigade Commissaries has been rescinded so we have to get the officers to buy.
January 5, 1865
Rainy day, showery. Recruits are drilling All the Boys are out of money, so we don’t get many dailies now, so we don’t know what the news is. But nothing special I guess for all want rest & so we may not look for much for awhile but all is well.
January 6, 1865
And verry stormy, hard rains. We would have had a big time today if it had been fine. There was going to be some medals presented to members of the 6th & 7th Wis Regts for meritorious conduct. But tis put off till tomorrow. There is a good many returning to their companies now from the hospitals &c. 1 came to ours today. Our Co reports 17 Privates, 8 corporals & 3 Sergts for duty now. Sergt Jesse M Roberts was mustered today as 1st lieut so we have two officers now.
January 7, 1865
And fine day, rather cool. The presentations of Medals did not come off today & is put off till Monday next to allow some distinguished gentlemen time to get here that were coming. I wrote a letter to Vina M Lander today in answer to one I reed sometime since. I reed a letter from Lu today.
January 10, 1865
And Inspection of camp today & all is right. Some of the Cos are making sidewalks of timber which makes them verry neat. I got a can of butter from somewhere, I suppose from Sister Lu. It come through the mail & weighs 2 pounds, it is verry nice & sweet, taste good.
January 11, 1865
And rainy but not bad. I got a letter from Lu & one from Sarah & Mother & one nice box of fruits which Lu sent me & the letter tells me that she sent me the butter & with all I will have good eating for a while.
January 12, 1865
And fine day. And one of our tentmates T.W. Blunt, his furlough came last night. He started home this morning. We commenced to make sidewalk in our street today. I wrote a letter to one of my Nephews H. W. Lander, he is in California & I forgot to put the postage sufficient on it. I put on only 3 cents but should put on 10 cents & it may not go. This is one of my mistakes. Dick is at work on the Brigade commisaries house & has been for several days & he got us a quarters worth of bread, soft bread.
Capt F. A. Boynton came up from the point today. He is going to stay with us now as long as his health will permit. He is pretty well & looks as well. I am happy to see him looking so well. I hope he will be able to stay with us as long as he is in the service. Wrote a letter to Sister Lu today.
January 13, 1865
And fine day & we finish the sidewalk & ditch the street &c. Have dress parade in the afternoon at the usual time, viz 4 ½ oclock. Capt Boynton is Officer of the day. This being the first time he has officiated in that capacity. He done well, exceedingly so. He makes the gayest officer we ever had in the Co. Evrything goes on well. The papers bring us no exciting news but good. The Rebellion is still on the wane & Treason’s going down. I wrote a letter to Cornelia today in answer to one I received sometime since. I have got so behind with my letter writing that a letter lays sometime before I get to answer it. But calculate to catch up soon.
January 14, 1865
And fine day & nothing especial today. We had dress parade today at the usual hour. The Report on the condition of the several camps of the Brigade was read & the Gen gave us his praise for our tidy camp. & there is a little piece concerning it in the Daily N. Y. Herald and it gives us great praise also & we have the nicest camp I have ever seen.
It is rumored on pretty good authority that Grant has relieved Butler & sent him home to report to his wife & children & from there to the Adjutant Gen by letter. This for the failure of taking Wilmington, N.C. and that Grant has gone in person with the noble fleet to take it. But this is only rumor but for all generally believed.230
January 15, 1865
And fine day nothing unusual. Dress parade in evening. This being Sunday, we have inspection by Cap & all in the best of order. I had the best gun I have had since being in the service.
January 16, 1865
And fine day. We had orders early this morning to get ready for the Presentation of those medals but about noon the order was countermanded & we ordered to be ready for Brigade drill at 2 P.M. which came off. We had a good drill of 2 hours & returned home in high glee. We have to go outside the picket line for to get a field large enough & then it is too small but has to do.
Colonel Morrow [Henry Morrow of the 24th Michigan Infantry] commanded us, Gen [Edward S.] Bragg not having returned from furlough home. Our Capt commanded the Co. for the first time on drill & I acted a new part today in the way of acting left general guide of the Regt. This buisness was entirely new to me but however I got along verry well.
January 18
, 1865
And fine day, same drill &c as yesterday. Sergt T. C. Alexander got his commission as 1st Lieut in Co H. Good news. Fort Fisher has been captured by the Union forces.231 I got a letter from Mother & a package of dried beef which is excellent.
January 19, 1865
And fine day. Sergt Alexander turned his book over to me and to assume the duty of Orderly or first Sergt. But nothing but the duty for the present & the first thing was to take the guard detail out to mount guard. Had Brigade Inspection at 10 A.M. all in good order. All my duties for today have been new ones to me but I got along well. I got a can of cake dough from home today which is verry nice when cooked. My Sister is verry kind in so doing. I have many little things of comfort which I should’nt have were she not to send them.
January 21, 1865
And rainy day & we do nothing. Look like we would have a big storm. We have no guard mounting when the weather is bad. I get along well with my new duty. But I find some opposition. There is some of the noncoms headed by a sergt that rather likes to cross me & cause me some truble. They have some bad motive, I don’t know what it is but I think it is jealousy. I may be wrong. They got up a petition & most of the Co. signed it to have the next sergt I C Reamer [Isaac C. Raemer] promoted to Orderly & was going to present it to the Captain but they didnt & it is well for them that they didnt. For if they had he would reduced the noncoms to the ranks. Why they should have such hostility I cant tell for I never laid a straw in their way & done them no harm in any way whatever. But let them work, do their worst. I can live that opposition down & will try hard to use all well, both friend & foe. I have got to obey my orders & they have got to theirs.
January 23, 1865
And fine day, but cloudy, ground verry soft & muddy. The same as yesterday duty. I had the boys sign up the clothing book. I find my work double what it was & much more perplexing than what it was before taking the Orderly ship. But I have not lost my patience as yet.
There is great rumors of peace afloat now. & great number of Deserters coming in with the usual story of starvation, hardships.
January 24, 1865
And fine day with the usual duty. There has been considerable firing down on the James River this last two nights. Tis said the Rebs had a pontoon bridge across the river & was crossing & their troop to this side & Gen [John] Gibbons found it out & began shelling them & tore their Bridge to pieces & their gunboats ran down to protect it & he sunk one & run one ashore & the other & ably got away so he made a big thing.232
January 26, 1865
And fine day & the same as yesterday. Capt has put in for a furlough. There is a great many going home now on 20 day furloughs. There is 5 percent allowed to go all the time till further orders.
January 27, 1865
And fine day. Things going OK. There is rations of Whiskey issued now evry day. It has a good potion of quinine in it. It is given for the health of the men. Capt Boynton has gone home on a leave of absence for 20 days. I get along verry well with my new duty. There is two or three of the noncoms that are rather trublesome. But they have to obey their orders, the same as myself.
The Lieut is sick today & tonight he is quite bad. He had some writing to do & called on me to help him so I went up & helped him all I could.
January 30, 1865
And warm & sunshine, fine day. Peace Commissioners are in our lines from the so called confederate states. There is 3 of them so rumors says. Evrybody seems to think they will make her win.233
January 31, 1865
And fine day. All the men not on duty are at work on the shanties that are being built for the recruits which we expect tonight. Let them come, they are welcome.
My 3 or 4 enemies have been at work again & got up a request234 for me to hand the Co. Books over to the Lieut now commanding Co. But this I paid no attention to at all. But the Lieut seen I didnt do it (for I believe he was connected with the plan to overthrow me) he took it upon himself to take me to task about it. So he called me up to his quarters & I could, I think, see deceit beaming in his countenance & he said he want confidential & so mite it be & ever will be. But the main point was to get me to give over the books & which he requested & I complied with, though I must confess much to my chagrin. I felt wrong & I was wronged but I knew no redress at present time. I, perhaps, may have some chance when Capt comes back for redress & I may not. I must in accordance to my oath to the U.S. put up with it & grin & bear it. So I return to the rank of file closers & let Isaac C Reamer [Isaac C. Raemer], the next sergt have the Co to run. I can read the verry hearts of the men that acted so by me. They cant look me in the face.
February 1, 1865
And fine day. I have nothing to do. I feel easier, not fatigue or guard or any other details to care for. Orderlyship is not so verry desirable but I am a poor man & the other four dollars a month on the wages is an incentive to strive for it. But the labor is Terible.
February 2, 1865
And rainy, cold, bad day & nothing of importance transpires. We drill Co. Drill now in forenoon & in afternoon & in afternoon, battallion drill when the weather is good. We expected Thomas Blunt back last night but he has not come yet. He will be reported as a deserter tomorrow if he don’t come before that time. But the ice in the Bay trubles the boats so that it may be he is ice bound as they have been several times this winter. There is men going home on furlough & men returning most evry day.
February 4, 1865
And fine day & I am on guard today. We had the regular guard mounting & twas done up in good state. Lieut Alexander is officer of the guard. Things goes on well, was not trubled much today. I had to fall in the guard only once to salute the officer of the day.
About 3 P.M. orders came to get ready to march at a minutes notice. Shoes were issued to those wanting & 3 days rations issued & by dark all was ready. But no order came & Tattoo was beat early & all went to bed. I, being on guard, had to sit up half the night to post the guards. And about 12 oclock there was a detail made for picket to go & relieve the Picket that was out. So they could come in & get ready. I went to bed after giving the watch & guard over to the Corporal & the order come to be ready to march at 5 in the morning with Rubber & woollen blankets only. Leave the rest & a guard would be left & the adjutant told me I was to stay as Sergt of the guard & there would be 1 more from each Co to help us & that the Corporal was to wake up the drummers at 5 in the morning.
February 5, 1865
And was awoke by the drums at 4 A.M. The Drum Major made a mistake & got up an hour too early. But I went to sleep again & was awoke about 5 A.M. to eat my breakfast, which done & the boys got ready. George is the only one that goes from our shanty. Tom & Dick being excused for lameness & they have to go on guard. I have to make a guard out of what is left. Soon the order comes to fall in at half past 6. That time arrived & they fell in & the Col gave them a few words of advice & they started of going to the west-ward.
There is 3 corps (viz the 6th, 2nd & 5th corps of Infantry & a corps of Cavelry) going. So say rumor. Big, think can do something if they try hard. Night & we can hear away off towards Reams Station hard fighting. Both musketry & artillery hear it for near an hour & then all is still. Many camp rumors but they are not worthy of notice, don’t believe any of them.235
I get along well with the guards. I am commandant of them. Lieut Alexander went with the Regt.
February 6, 1865
And fine day We have pretty fair time here in camp. But verry anxious to hear from the Boys definitely. We have rumors evry hour but we cant rely on them. They had a hard fight last evening we know. & tis said was beaten back some. There has one man come in. He has been hit with a spent ball. He is a German & don’t know & can tell less about what has transpired.
February 7, 1865
And rainy bad day. Sleeted most all day. Bad time for the army, especially for the wounded. There was some hard fighting yesterday & pretty reliable news from the front. Rumor say Lieut Alexander was wounded & taken prisnor & a n
umber more killed & wounded. All the casualties in our Co was Corpl George Atkinson slightly wounded in hand and all. They met with strong resistance & I guess rather got the worst of it. The rumor is that 2 corps from the Southwest has come here. The guard buisness is running harder for the boys are mostly sick & they tire of such constant duty. There has some boys come in that have slight wounds.
February 8, 1865
And fine day & most all the sleet has melted which makes the ground verry soft and where there is any travel, tis muddy. One of the boys of our Co was into camp today [& he corroborates the report of] Lieut Alexander being wounded & Prisnor & Corporal [George] Atkinson slightly wounded, the former of Co. H & the latter of our Co. F. As near as I can find out only 3 have been killed out of the Regt and some 10 or 12 wounded. But tis said that our Regt has lost the least of any in the Brigade by them being on skirmish line most of the time. Our Co has come out bully so far. They say our troops are fortifying & are likely to stay & that we will have to go out there if they do.236
Four Years With the Iron Brigade Page 49