Company A of the 11th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment was organized in September 1861. Originally named the Watson Guards, the unit was composed largely of farmers from Dane County and was led by Captain Daniel E. Hough. As part of the 11th Regiment, they trained at Camp Randall through November, when they set out for the St. Louis area. They spent the winter of 1861-1862 guarding bridges and lines of communication. With the coming of spring, the 11th moved out and took part in movements and skirmishes throughout Missouri and Arkansas. On July 7, they saw their first significant action at Bayou Cache, Arkansas, where the regiment lost seven men, none from Company A. The men continued marching around the area and participating in light skirmishes throughout the summer and fall of 1862 before settling in at Patterson, Missouri for the winter.
The following spring they marched into Tennessee and Louisiana, before moving on to Vicksburg. As part of the 13th Corps under General John McClernand, the men of the 11th played a significant role in the Battle of Port Gibson on May 1. Two weeks, later the regiment was held in reserve during the battle of Champion Hill. The Confederate forces fled from that battle to fortifications at the Black River Bridge where the 11th saw significant action. The battle took place on May 17 and Company A was sent in first as skirmishers. Captain Hough, who personally led the men, was mortally wounded along with 1st Lieutenant William Freeman. Upon their deaths, Sergeant Luther T. Park was promoted to 1st Lieutenant and led the Company throughout the rest of the war.
The 11th Regiment took part in the subsequent siege of Vicksburg through its surrender on July 4, 1863. Following that victory, the men took part in the attack on Jackson, Mississippi under General William T. Sherman. Upon a reorganization of the 13th Corps, the men of the 11th were sent to Louisiana. In the remainder of the year they saw light action in that state, and in Texas. As their terms of enlistment began expiring in early 1864, more than seventy-five percent of the men in the 11th Regiment re-enlisted, earning the unit the status of “veteran” regiment and a brief furlough at home in March and April. The unit returned to Louisiana and remained there until February 1865 when it was called to take part in the campaign against Mobile, Alabama. Along the way they saw brief action at Spanish Fort before taking a more active role in the battle at Fort Blakeley. The regiment advanced to Mobile, where they served as part of the occupation force until being mustered out on September 4, 1865. They returned to Madison on September 18 and were officially disbanded on the 28th.
