The 50th Wisconsin was organized at Camp Randall in Madison, Wisconsin, by Colonel John G. Clark and mustered into Federal service between March and April 1865 with a total of 958 men.

Leaving Madison, they arrived at St. Louis, Missouri, where they were assigned quarters at Benton Barracks.

[3] The regiment moved on to Kansas City and then to Fort Leavenworth, where they assisted in quelling a mutiny in the 6th West Virginia Cavalry,[2] which took place in July 1865 after the cavalry regiment refused orders to fight Native Americans and instead demanded to return home.

[4] For this, the 50th received an adulatory acknowledgement by Brigadier General Charles J. Stolbrand praising their "steadiness and devotion to duty".

[2] The regiment would later depart for Fort Rice in the Dakota Territory – with Col. Clark placed in command of the post[2] – where they arrived on October 10, 1865, and were stationed until May 1866.