The Thirty-Sixth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, 1st Brigade, 2d Division, 2d Army Corps, Army of the Potomac : an authentic record of the regiment from its organization to its muster out ...

              THIRTY-SIXTH WISCONSIN VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 369
in0, a part of 1861 he attended the village school at Princeton,
doing chores for his board at the Freeman House and working
in the harvest fields to replenish his wardrobe for another term in
teaching the same school, after which he returned to the Treat
store and finished his apprenticeship. Then came the first draft
of the war.  His only brother, who had remained Avith the parents,
then settled in the heavily timbered region
fifteen miles west of AVausau, and Avho
was indispensable at home, was draAvn.
Ferdinand, therefore, presented himself
at the provost marshal's as a substitute,
was examined and accepted, and given
a ten days" leave to procure three hundred dollars in lieu of going in person.
This sum he borrowed of his employer
and paid to the government. The load
of debt weighed so heavily on his mind
that he, when the next call was made,
induced a returned veteran, O. N. Russell, to raise a company. Forty young
men of Princeton and vicinity enlisted,
joined forces with Captain P. B. Burwell
of Dane County, and formed Company F
of the Thirty-sixth Regiment Wisconsin
Volunteers. He was mustered into service March 3d, 1864; in April was appointed fifth sergeant, and later first sergeant. Sergeant Wilde went with the
regiment to the front and participated in
the historic charge made on the first of
June at Cold Harbor, when the regiment made the record of losing in killed and Avounded sixty-
nine per cent, of the number engaged, being one of, if not the
greatest, per cents, of loss of any regiment in the service. Sergeant Wilde was at his post from the beginning of the charge,
and when, within some dozen rods of the intrenchments the little
cluster of men in front of him stopped, seeing it AA'ould be certain
death to stand there, he ordered the men forward, all going with
a cheer. Those not hit reached the breastAvorks and laid down
under it, waiting for the second line of attack, neA'er doubting
that the works were to be captured that day. A second attack
not being made the sergeant and his men Avere captured.
Sergeant AA'ilde was reported killed, and it was so stated to
his parents and friends. Late in August a paroled prisoner
brought news that he and seA'eral others were prisoners at Andersonville,   Georgia.    After  his  capture  he  Avas  taken  to   Libby
Lieut. Ferdinand a. wilde
1861.