The 3rd Wisconsin Cavalry Regiment was organized at Janesville, Wisconsin, from November 30, 1861, to January 31, 1862, and was mustered in on January 28, 1862, under the command of Colonel William Augustus Barstow.

The regiment was attached to Solomon's 1st Brigade, Herron's 1st Division, Army of the Frontier, Department of Missouri, to November 1862.

Cavalry Command, Herron's Division, Army of the Frontier, to June 1863.

Unassigned, District of the Frontier, VII Corps, Department of Arkansas, to April 1864.

4th Brigade, Cavalry Division, VII Corps, to February 1865.

Cavalry Brigade, Post of Little Rock, VII Corps, to April 1865.

All but two companies of the 3rd Wisconsin Cavalry mustered out of service at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, on September 29, 1865.

Moved to St. Louis, Mo., March 26–28, 1862, and duty at Benton Barracks, Mo., until May 23.

1st and 3rd Battalions in Blount's Campaign in Missouri and Arkansas against Raines and Parsons September to December 1862.

Expedition over Boston Mountains to Van Buren, Ark., December 27–29.

Scouting in southwest counties of Missouri and northwest Arkansas, and operating against Patty's, Livingston's and Quantrill's guerrillas, with numerous skirmishes in Barton, Jasper and Newton Counties.

Clapper's Saw Mill, near Crooked Creek, Indian Territory, March 31 (detachment).

Companies B, O, H, I, and M marched to Fort Blount, Cherokee Nation, as escort to train, May 14–30.

At Schuyleyville, Cherokee Nation, until October· Expedition through Jackson, Cass, Johnson and Lafayette Counties September 8–23 (Companies B and L).

Veterans on furlough March 30-June 16, then moved to Little Rock via St. Louis, Memphis and Devall's Bluff June 16-July 27.

Expedition up White River to Devall's Bluff December 13–15, 1864.

Moved to St. Louis, Mo., June 3, thence to Rolla and Springfield, Mo., and marched to Fort Leavenworth, Kan., July 18-August 3.

Companies A, C, D, F, and M served detached in District of the Border October 1863 to January 1864.

Arkansas Creek near Fort Larned November 13, 1863 (detachment).

Companies F and H on expedition to explore country from Fort Riley, Kan., to Denver, Colo., Smoky Hill Route, March to July 1865.