Pvt. James Monroe Divan served in the 5th Wisconsin Light Artillery and was in a string of big battles in several states - Perryville, Stones River, Chickamauga, Chattanooga, then several in the Atlanta Campaign.

Divan served from Sept. 15, 1861, to Sept. 30, 1864.

He was from the Town of Cadiz in southwestern Green County, died at age 93 on April 10, 1936, and is buried at Browntown in the township.

The 5th Light Artillery was heavily composed of soldiers from Cadiz and Monroe. It was mustered in Oct. 10, 1861, at Racine, and trained for seven months there. It left the state for St. Louis, Mo., March 15, 1862.

Its first duty was in the fortifications of New Madrid and Island No. 10 until April 19, 1862. The complex battle had begun Feb. 28 and ended April 8.

Divan and the 5th were in the siege of Corinth, Miss., from April 29 to May 30, then were in pursuit of the forces of Gen. Braxton Bragg and fought at Perryville, Ky., on Oct. 8. And in the battle of Stones River, Tenn., Dec. 30-31, 1862. The 5th's first captain, Oscar Pinney of Monroe, was wounded there, and died of those wounds on Feb. 17, 1863.

In 1863, the 5th fought at Chickamauga, Ga., Sept. 19-20, and at Chattanooga, Tenn., Nov. 23-25.

In 1864, the battery was in Atlanta Campaign, which was May 1 to Sept. 8. Battles for Divan and the 5th included Resaca May 14-15; Dallas, New Hope Church and Allatoona Hills May 25- to June 5; Peach Tree Creek July 19-20; the siege of Atlanta July 22 to Aug. 25; and finally Jonesboro Aug. 31 and Sept. 1.

Researched and submitted by Tom Mueller, PCC and Department GRO

Last Updated: 5 Nov 2022