Monroe County, Wisconsin - Chapter 11: Monroe County in the Civil War by William H. Blyton, 1912

Chapter 11: Monroe County in the Civil War by William H. Blyton

When the news was received of the fall of Fort Sumter the general feeling of indignation felt by the North did not escape the citizens of this young, but loyal county, and at no place in the United States was the president's call for troops more promptly responded to. Six full companies of volunteer soldiers w^ere organized and a part of the seventh furnished by this county, together with a large number of men in different companies in several of the regiments. In all, there were 927 men who w^ent from JMonroe county during the war, and of this number 141 gave up their lives in the service of their country.

This is a remarkable record ; Monroe county did its full share and a little more, as will readily be seen when the fact is remembered that in the census report for 1860 the entire population of the county, men, women and children, numbered about 8,407 souls, and the male population between the ages of fifteen and fifty was only 2,220, together with the further fact that the county w^as only seven years of age, having been organized March 21, 1854 ; and that when war was declared the assessed valuation of the entire property of the county, real and personal, was but $1,477,745.

In view of the foregoing, it seems that it may be said that Monroe county did more than her full share and made for herself during the AVar of '61 a record that any and all of her citizens may refer to with pride. We feel that w^e are justified in boasting of our volunteer soldiers, who Avere citizens before they became soldiers.

The population of the county now is 28,881, as against 8,407 in 1860, and the assessed A'aluation of our real and personal property is $25,921,265, as against $1,477,745 in 1860, which is suggestive of the truth of the oft repeated saying that we live in a progressive age, and as a new generation stands in our places, let them be taught that the Union soldier has done much ill AVar and in Peace. That in every avenue of life soldiers are nuiiihcred still l)y the thousands, and the lessons of patriotism should not be lost ui)on our children or our children's children, and they should be made to feel that the blessing enjoyed in a free country depend upon the loj'alty, patriotism, and intelligence of its people.

The history of the troops which went from this county into the war is necessarily the history of the various regiments in which its citizens enlisted ; in order to fully record the great service which was rendered in that struggle by our own people, the history of some of the regiments in which companies enlisted from this county is given in this chapter; it is a remarkable record, the record of hardships, bravery and good American patriotism under all circumstances, and one which has formed no small part of the remarkable history of AVisconsin troops during the Rebellion. There were several regiments in which nearly whole companies came from ^Monroe county, notably Company A, Third Cavalry, which was almost entirely from this county; Company I, Fourth Cavalry, and a large number in Company F, Fourth Cavalry; some twenty-tive or six in the First Battery, Light Artillery; quite a number enlisted in the Sixth Infantry in A'arious companies; Company C of the Eighteenth Infantry ; Company C of the Nineteenth Infantry, a large number in Company D of the same regiment ; Company D of the Twenty-tifth Regiment of Infantry, also a large number of Company F; Company C, Twenty-sixth Infantry; Company K, Fortythird Infantry: Company I, Forty-eighth Infantry; Company B. Fiftietli Infantry, and Company A, Fifty-first Infantry.

The Sixth Infantry

The Sixth Regiment was organized at Camp Randall in -June. 1861, and mustered into the United States service July 13th : left the state July 27th, reaching AVashington August 8th. This regiment, in connection with the Second AVisconsin. Fiflh Wisconsin and Nineteenth Indiana, composed Gen. Rufus King's First Brigade and throughout the war the Second, Sixth and Seventh AA^isconsin Regiments served in the same organization, and became knoAvn the world over as ''The Iron Brigade," and their services throughout that struggle were rendered as brigade and not as regiments.

These three "Wisconsin regiments had absolute confidence in one another; the men to a great extent were personally acquainted; their campaigns extended over a comparatively small section of the country ; they became familiar with the army against which they Avere called upon to battle. During the four years they were in close proximity to the powerful armj'^ led by the most brilliant officers of the Confederacy; they knew that a march of a day or two in its direction meant skirmishing, if not a battle. It was necessary throughout these years in which history was made that men of this brigade be ready for battle all of the time.

Another circumstance is found in the fact that from the first to the last, the brigade was commanded by a soldier who knew how to command and Avho knew how to get the best possible work from his men. General King was a graduate of West Point. A thorough disciplinarian, and his work during the few months in which he had command was invaluable in preparing the brigade for its future services.

He M'as succeeded by Gen. John Gibbons in ^lay, 1862, who continued the work of making his brigade regular army soldiers, and they were regulars in fact as well as in name ; not only were the men well drilled and well instructed, but the field and line officers were made efficient, so that when General Gibbon was placed in the command of a division after the battle of Antietam, all of the surviving colonels of the brigade were competent to take his place. Meredith of the Nineteenth Indiana and Cutler of the Sixth Wisconsin were made brigadiers, and had experience as commanders of the brigade. They folloAved as closely as they could in the footsteps of Gibbon. Then came Colonel Robinson, of the Seventh Wisconsin, and then Colonel Bragg, of the Sixth. Colonel Bragg had been a remarkably close student of Gibbon's methods and soon after assuming the command he was made a brigadier general. When he left the command in February, 1865, an officer who had left AVisconsin as a first lieutenant and had reached the rank of colonel of the Sixth Wisconsin, succeeded him, and ])ecame a brigadier general by brevet because of his splendid management in the closing campaign of the war, this was Gen. John A. Kellogg.

Aside from the battles of the Army of the Potomac in the spring and summer of 1862 on the Potomac, this brigade missed none of the great and small battles of the Army of the Potomac. Its opportunities for winning credit and thinning its ranks were greater than were offered to any other Wisconsin regiments sent to the war, and the statement is here emphasized that any other four Wisconsin regiments similarly situated, similarly commanded, kept together throughout the war and given the same opportunity to win distinction Avoiild, without any kind of donbt, liave won tho sanio rank and licen given tlic same erodit. After spending the winter of 18()l-2 on Arlington Heights, the brigade broke eainp ]Mareli 10, 1862, joined in the march of Mc- Clellan's great army on Centerville and IManassas.

The first great battle in which the brigade played a i)r()ininent part was in Gainsville, Va., August 28, 1862; it was the beginning of a series of battles in Uie vicinity of Bull Run battle tield of the year before; here Jackson's corps had destroyed millions of dollars worth of property at Manassas and had turned back to join the balance of Lee's army. Gibl)on's brigade consisted of Ihe four regiments named and Hattery B; for hours faced antl fought Stonewall Jackson's army corps of nearly thirty-six regiments. The only help it had for a portion of the time being the Fifty-sixth Pennsylvaiiia and the Seventy-sixth NeAV Yorl: on the right (tf the line. The brigade entered the engagement with 2,200 men and its loss, killed and wounded, was 800, but in that battle it won a name for good soldiership.

The next engagement was South ^Mountain, "Sid., September 14: in this battle the brigade charged upon the high mountain in the face of a much larger force and won the signal victory. In this battle its conduct was witnessed by the corps commander. Gen. Joseph Hooker, and Gen. George B. JMcClellan, conunander of the Army of the Potomac, and it was in this battle that it was given thr name of the "Iron Brigade." General ]\lc('lellan asked, "Whose troops are these?" As he saw Ihe l)i'igade charge upon the mountain, Avhen told by General Hooker that it was Gibbon's western brigade, he remarked, "They are men of iron." as the story goes. AVithin a few days Cincinnati ]iapers were received in which the western men Avere spoken of as the "Iron Brigade." There are different stories as to how the brigade received its name, but General Bragg, who grew up with tlie organization, said tliat in his belief it was the war correspondents and he thought it was a con-espondent of a Cincinnati paper who gave the comni.iiKi the name it has held (>ver since.

At the first battle of Fredericksburg, in December, 1862. when tlie brigade was in Franklin's grand division, on the left, and while it was under fire two days and lost considerable nund)er of men, it was not the disastrous kind of an (>ncounter it had experienced in previous battles.

Hooker's campaig'n began iu the last week of April, 18G3, when it made its remarkable charge in pontoon boats across the Rappahannock river at Fitzhugh Crossing, charged the heights on the opposite side of the river, drove the enemy, took possession, fortified and held the place until General Hooker's men had crossed the riA'er and got on the left flank of Lee's army, when the brigade recrossed the river and marched to join the main army at Chancellorsville, where it participated in the fight and joined in another retreat on the safe side of the Rappahannock. A short time later it participated in the three bloody days of the battle of Gettysburg, beginning July 1. 1862. At this time it was the First Brigade, First Division, First Army Corps, Gen. Solomon Meredith being in command. It is claimed by some authority that the Wisconsin brigade and Pennsylvania infantry opened fire in that battle at about the same time.

The authorities of ])oth states claim that their soldiers were the first to begin the infantry fighting, but the fact is that they belonged to the same division and marched into the fight at the same time. In the first day's fight the brigade's loss was very great in officers and men, and lost more than one-third of its troops in killed and wounded. During the balance of the two days' battle it was on Gulp's Hill, behind strong entrenchments. It was called into action several times and saw the never-to-beforgotten charge made by the Confederates under Gen. George E. Pickett.

After Meade's fruitless campaign in November, 1863, the brigade returned to its quarters with the rest of the corps at Culpeper Court House, and on the 1st of January the Sixth and Seventh regiments re-enlisted for three years more or during the war, and were given thirty days' furlough, returning to Wisconsin as regiments. Their reception by the people of the state constituted one of the great events in the lives of the young soldiers. At the end of the thirty days the two regiments returned to the brigade and iu May. 1864, it, with the rest of the army, plunged into the AVilderness campaign on ]\Iay 5, 1864, and they were not out of the hearing of hostile guns until the surrender of Lee's army at Appomattox, April 9, 1865. It was in the forefront in the two days' battle of the Wilderness proper, at Laurel's Hill, Spottsylvania, Bethesda Church, in North Anna, Cold Harbor, the Siege of Petersburg, the three days' battle of Weldon railroad beginning August 18th, and ending on the 21st; the battles of Hatcher's Run, Gravely Run,

Five Forks and Appomattox. Tlie brigade took its place in the grand revicAV in AVasliington after the "war, and two months later returned to the state and was mustered out of the service.

The Eighteenth Infantry

The Eighteenth Infantry was ordered to Camp Sigel. ^U\- waukee, January 7, 1862. It completed its organization and was mustered into the service and left the state about the last of March, 1862, reaching Pittsburg Landing April 5, and went into the Battle of Shiloh the next day. It was surprised by the Confederates early in the morning of April 6th, and, although it was poorly drilled and wholly unprepared for service, yet Avithin a week it Avas forced into one of the greatest battles of the war and took up the work of fighting, and made a creditable record, losing many valuable officers, including the colonel and a large number of men. Col. S. H. Alban was killed early in the engagement; Lieut. Col. S. AV. Beall, who had been lieutenant governor of AVisconsin. Avas severely Avounded, and Maj. J. AV. Crain Avas killed. In this battle, the Eighteenth lost tAventy-five killed and ninety-one Avounded. Jn the folloAVing October it Avas in the battle of Corinth, again losing heavily in killed and Avounded. 1)ut adding greatly to its reputation as a fighting regiment. Capt. Gabrial Bouck, of the Second AVisconsin, Avas made colonel to succeed Colonel Alban. killed at Shiloh. The Eighteeutli Avas one of AVisconsin's regiments at the battle and siege of Vicksburg. The regiment reached Chattanooga in time to take part in the battle of Alission Ridge, November 25, 1863, and from there Avent to Iluntsville. Avhcre it remained on guard and outpost duty until 'May. 1864. ]\Iost of its duty from that time to the end ol' the war consisted of important guard and outpost duty, aside from tiic i)arl it took in 1iu^ Confederate attack on Alloona I'ass. There Avere stored at this pass an immense quantity of aniiy supplies. The Confederate army needed these supplies and they attacked Avith great force and A'igor. ])ut the small force of Union troops stationed there fought as soldiers are seldom called upon to fight. Here the Eighteenth Avon for itself great praise and great distinction. It Avas in this battle that General Slu>rman signaled to General Corse from KenesaAv AFountain to hold the position, for he Avas coming. From this dispatch came that Avouderful old song. ''Hold the Fort, for T am Coming." General Corse had received, previous to this message, seA'eral Avounds and signaled l)ack to Sherman, "I have lost an ear, part of a cheek and am Avounded in one arm.

but I will hold the fort until Hades freezes over." It was one of the sharpest battles of that kind fought during- the war, and to this day many wonder how that small force could check and drive back a whole division of Confederates.

AVhile the Eighteenth did not march with Sherman to the sea, it joined Sherman's' army by traveling on boats and railroads, reaching it the last of March, and was with him until Raleigh, the capital of North Carolina, surrendered, soon after which Johnston and his army laid down their arms. The Eighteenth had three colonels, J. S. Alban, Gabrial Bouck and Charles H. Jackson.

The Nineteenth Infantry

The Nineteenth was organized at Camp I tley, Racine, l)ut in April, 1862, was ordered to Camp Randall to guard prisoners taken at Shiloh. Early in June of tliat year the regiment proceeded to Virginia.

This regiment was given a larger amount of our post and guard duty than most of the regiments, though it was in all ways an excellent command, and both officers and men were anxious for more service; Init this important duty had to be placed in good hands and this regiment was thoroughly to be depended upon, and did work in a manner to bring praise from its superior officers.

It was stationed at Norfolk for some time and again was stationed at Suffolk, Va. It was engaged in several battles in front of Richmond and Petersburg, and lost in killed twentynine, died of wounds twelve, died of disease 107. Horace R. Sanders, of Racine, was the first colonel, and S. K. Voughan the second colonel. The regiment had only these two colonels. It was mustered out of the service August 9, 1865.

The Twenty-Fifth Infantry

This regiment was organized at LaCrosse, AVis., in September, 1862, and as soon as it was mustered into the service was sent to Minnesota to aid in the Indian War prevailing there at that time. It returned to Madison in January, 1863, and left for Kentucky February 17th of the same year. It was commanded by a jMonroe county man. Col. ]\Iilton Montgomery, and the history of this regimeiit is of peculiar interest inasmuch as nearly one whole company, D, and a great part of another, F, Avere composed of Alonroe county citizens.

Tlie Tweiity-fiftli had quite an experience in ^Minnesota in the Indian campaign, after which, as has been stated, it returned to Madison and was sent soutli in ISfi:}. and became a part of the Sixteenth Army Corps and joined Grant's army at Vicksburg early in June, remaining there until after the surrender and performing well every duty assigned to it. It was one of the regiments wliieh participated in this memorable march of General Sherman from Chattanooga to Atlanta, and from there to the sea: It saw hard service throughout this camjiaign, and the regiment was depended upon, on numerous occasions, for very important duty, and was fref(uently engaged in severe battles. AVhile its losses in killed and wounded were not as great as many of the regiments, it lost from disease a larger number than any other regiment from the state. The records of Company D showing a large percentage of Monroe county men who died of disease. This is the regiment of Avhich Jeremiah 31. Rusk was lieutenant colonel. He went out with it as major. l)ecame lieutenant colonel, and as such commanded it in many of its campaigns and battles, and was promoted to brevet brigadier and for some time commanded the brigade. General Rusk told this story on himself: While going through North Carolina in command of a brigade his troops went in the x^i'ie forests to camp and when, two days later, it In-oke camp, nearly every man, because of the piteh ])ine smoke, was nearly as dark skinned as the colored people. AVhile General Rusk was riding at the head of his brigade, his face nearly as black as a crow's wing, he heard some southern people by the roadside say: ''For Gaud sake, if the Yankees haven't been obliged to put niggers in command of their brigades." Colonel ^Montgomery of this regiment lost an arm in action, and for gallant and meritorious conduct was made a brigadier general 1)y brevet. The Twentyfifth's losses in killed and wounded Avas forty-two. and of its number 376 died of disease. It was one of Wisconsin's famous regiments, which left a glorious record (if its services. It was mustered out on June 7, I860.

The Thirty-Sixth Regiment

Till' Thirty-sixth regiment was organized \inder the president's first call in 1864, and was Ww first to respond. It left ]\[adison ]\lay '10, 1864, and joined the Army of the Potomac at Spottsylvania, Va.. a Aveek later. It went directly into the line of battle when it reached that place, and Avas soon taken into the thick of the fight and acquitted itself as if its soldiers had been veterans. From that time until the end of the war the Thirtysixth regiment was given the hardest service, and was ordered into all of the battles recorded up to and including Appomattox.

It had for its colonel, Frank A. Haskell, who left the state in 1861 as adjutant of the Sixth Wisconsin, and Avas General Gibbon's adjutant general. At the battle of Gettysburg, while serving on General Gibbon's staff as a captain, command of the entire army corps devolved upon him for a brief space of time. Generals Hancock, Gibbon and AA^ebb had been wounded and Haskell assumed the responsiliility of directing the corps in the engagement. At the battle of Cold Harbor, where his regiment did great execution and met Avitli distressing losses. Colonel Haskell, while at the head of his command, standing on the breast work and as he was about to give a command to charge, was instantly killed. Two days before that he had been recommended for promotion to brigadier general. He was, without doubt, one of the most soldierly and manly men from this state. Though its services extended for only a year, the losses of this regiment were much greater than two-thirds of the three years' regiments.

It had four different colonels, Haskell, who was killed; Col. John A. Savage was mortally wounded, and Col. Harvey M. Brown was erroneously reported killed at Petersburg. Col. Clement E. A\"arner lost an arm, and a number of captains and lieutenants were killed. More than half of the thousand men that Colonel Haskel hurried to the front early in 1864 were killed or wounded. The regiment lost in one year seventy-nine killed, forty-seven died of wounds, and 168 died of disease. It is not surprising that the survivors of the Thirty-sixth AVisconsin are proud to have been of such a regiment.

The Forty-Third Regiment

This regiment was recruited and organized under the direction of Col. Amasa Cobb, formerly of the Fifth AVisconsin. It left ]\Iilwaukee for the field on the 9th of October, 1861, under orders to report at Nashville, Tenn., to General Sherman. From Nashville they moved by rail and encamped on the 15th of October at Johnsonville, the terminus of the military railroad connected with Nashville and situated 110 miles from Paducah, on the Tennessee river. Here Colonel Cobb was appointed post commander and Lieutenant Colonel Paine assumed command of the regiment. This important post, at which was collected immense quantities of stores, was then menaced by the approach of rebel forces under General Hood, and from the 4tli to the 6th of November the regiment was exposed to the fire of tinrebel gnns, planted on the opposite bank of the Tennessee, losingone man killed and one wounded.

The ForlN-third left Johnsonville on the morning of the 30tli of November, and marched l»y Avay of Waxcrly through an unbroken wilderness and arrived on the 4th of December at Clarksville, on the Cumberland river. Embarking at ( bii-k'sville on the 28th they ]-eached Nashville at 10 in the evening. They landed the next morning and remained in the city awaiting transportation until the evening of the 21st of January. I8ti5. when they left Nashville by rail and arrived at Dechard. Tenn., where six companies of the regiment went to camp riiid tour companies, under command of ^Major Hrightman. being detadu'd to guard the Elk river brigade.

The regiment was employed at that station in i>ost and guard duty on the line of the Nashville and Chattanooga railroad until the beginning of June, Avhen it was moved to Nashville, at whidi place it was mustered out of the service June 24. 1865, arriving soon after in Milwaukee, where they Avere paid and disbanded.

The Forty-Eighth Regiment

Was organiz(?d at ^lihvaukec during tin- months of Februai-y and ]\rarch, 1865. Eight companies oi' the i-i-giment under tlic command of Lieutenant Colonel Shears left ^Milwaukee on the 2nd of ]\rarch under orders to report at Benton Barracks, Missouri, at which place it received orders on the 28th of ^Marcli to proceed to Paola, Kan. I^pon its arrival llicre tlu^ (-oui])anies were sent in different directions to detached duly, and on the 19th of July Colonel Pearsall was assigned to the command of all the troops in and west of Neosho Valley, Kan., including tiie station on Osage iMission, with headquarters at Humboldt. Kan. Orders were received on the lOth of August for the regiment to proceed to Lawrence, hut on account of heavy rains the march was delayed until the l!Jtii. arriving at Lawrence, Kan., on Sejv teniber 5th. I'pon its an-ival at Lawriuice the regiment Avas again assigned on delacln-d service, companies being sent to occupy different places. Companies B. D. F and I, Avere nuistered out at LeaA^euAvorth, Kan., on the lllh of February, 1866, and reached ]\Iadison on the 23r(l. The balance of the companies Avere mustered out on the 24th of ]\Iarcli, 1866, and arriA-ed at INIadison on the 28th, Avher(» they Avere ])aid and disbanded.

The Fiftieth Regiment

The Fiftieth AViseonsiii was organized under tlie supervision of John G. Clark, of Lancaster; left Madison by companies the latter part of March and the beginning of April, 1865, and on arriving at St. Louis, ]\Io.. the companies were assigned to Benton Barracks. On the 11th of October, Colonel Clark assumed command of the ])()st at Fort Leavenworth, Kan., where the regiment w^as stationed until the expiration of its term of service. Company E was ordered to report at INIadison, AVis., where it was mustered out and discharged on the 19th of April, 1866. The balance of the regiment remained in garrison at Fort Rice until the 31st of May, 1866, when Companies A, B, C and D, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel McDermott set out for home, reaching Madison, AYis.. on the 12th of May, 1866. Companies F, G, H. I and K, under the command of Colonel Clark, left Fort Rice on the 3rd of June and arrived at Madison on the 14th of June, and here the whole army was immediately mustered out, paid and disbanded.

The Fifty-First Regiment

Six companies of this regiment were recruited under Col. Leonard ]\Iartin and were organized at Camp Washburn, Milwaukee, during the months of February, March, April and May, 1865, and were sent to Benton Barracks, Mo., the last company being organized on the 29th of April, in that year. The four junior companies not having left the state, they were mustered out and discharged at Milwaukee on the 6th of IMay under general orders from the War Department for the reduction of the army. On the 7th of April Company B was placed on temporary duty at St. Louis, and on the 8th of May Companies A, C, E and F were ordered to Warrensburg, Mo. These companies were then stationed along the line of the Pacific railroad, and were occupied in guarding the construction of this road from Holden to Pleasant Hill. Company B reached the regiment on the 21st of June. In accordance with the special orders from the War Department June 10, 1865, the Fifty-third Wisconsin, consisting of four companies, was consolidated with the Fifty-first regiment and was mustered out at Madison in companies, the last company being disbanded on the 30th of August, 1865.

Third Cavalry

On the 26th day of March, 1862, the regiment left the state under orders to rejiort at St. Louis. Th(\v took Ihc ti-aiii for Chicago and had arrived within three nnles of that cily when they met with a terrible disaster. The cars were running i-apidly and several of them were thrown from the track. Twelve men were instantly killed, and twenty-eight wounded. On the morning of the 27th they arrived in Chicago and took the cars for St. Louis, wher(^ they arrived the 28th, and marched to the fair grounds, near Benton Barracks. ^lay 22nd, 1862. they took three steamers up the ^Missouri for Leavenworth, Kan., arriving IMay 27th. They had previously drawn ^Merrill's carbines at St. Louis and sabres at Janesville. They camped on the blue grass near Fort Lea\ eiiworth, and there drew their horses and eiiuij)- ments, and in the city their revolvers. Colonel Barstow was appointed provost marshal of Kansas, and in the beginning of June the regiment was stationed, by detachments, in different parts of the state, extending from the Nebraska line on the north to Fort Scott on the south. The nature of the service was chiefly to hunt up and expel the jayhawkers and bushwhackers of that region. Companies C, F, I and ]\I were sent, June 12th, from Fort Leavenworlh to Fort Scott, Avhere they aii-ived on the 17th. This inai'ch is worthy of record, as it was accomplished in five days without the loss of a man or horse, the distance being 180 miles. Fort Scott was now the outpost of the forces, and ]Major Ilenning took command of the post. Company T was sent to occupy Carthage, Mo., sixty-five miles from Foi-t S^-ott. Captain Conkey in t-onnnand.

Company C Avas sent to Trading Post, thirty-five miles north of Fori Scoit. (Hi llie border. Bands of rebels were jtrowling about the territory. Captain Conkey followed one jiarty, with a snuiU force, from Carthage, and finding himself in danger, charged through their camj) of 2.000 one morning before daylight and escaped. Colonel Barstow unexpectedly met the same band at ]Montevallo. and routing them, fell back to F(n"t Scott, where an attack was expected. But General Salomon's arrival, on liis retui-n from the Indian country, made the post seeure. General Blunt arriving, Comjianies V and T, Lieutenant Willets in command, joined an expedition in ])ursuit of the enemy. At Taberville they had an engagement witli liim. and Company I being in front, showed so nmch bravery that Colonel Cloud commendctl them in his official report. They took ])art also

Early in Sci)teinber, Companies I and ]M were substituted, at Fort Scott, for C and F, ]\Iajor Henning still commanding. They were constantly engaged in scouting expeditions, and as escorts for trains to General Blunt 's army in southwest ^lissouri, until January, 1863. when Companies C and G were added to th(^ command, and remained till July, at which date Company G was ordered to report to Lieutenant-Colonel AVhite, who then had cniiuiiand of the regiment.

Meanwhile the first and third battalions, under ]\Iajor Schroeling, were engaged in such varied movements as were common to a state of border warfare. In June, 1862, a disposition was made of them at ditit'erent points, thus: Company D was sent to Atchison, G to Shawnee, and L to Aubrey; Companies B and H guarded Fort Leavenworth ; at Leavenworth City, A, E and K performed provost duty besides scouting in the border counties of Missouri. The infamous Quantrell, Avith his guerillas, was often found and fought by them.

September 13 six companies Avent to Indian Creek, in southwest Missouri, and joined the command of General Salomon. In his brigade they took part in the battle of Cane Hill, the last of November, and in that of Prairie Grove, December 7th, to be described hereafter. Subsequently tlicy went to Cane Hill again, thence to Van Buren on a raid, driving out a Texas regiment and capturing several steamboats. During the Avinter of 1862-63 they Avere a part of the time at Elm Spring ]\Iills, and ]\Iarmaduke being engaged in raiding through the country, they Avere continually on the alert to intercept and dislodge him. They Avere noAV in Arkansas and then in ^Missouri, on short marches and on long ones - at one time moving from Forsyth, Missouri, to Springfield, 256 miles, in four days, AA^thout taking forage or rations. June 22nd they Avere separated from the rest of the command and marched to Fort Scott, camping there July 5th, the day after the fall of Vicksburg.

The other companies of the regiments B, C, H. I and ]M, in the preceding month of ]\Iay, under the command of Captain Stout, marched to Fort Blunt, in the Cherokee Nation, as an escort for the post supply train. A heavy force of some 1,500 Texans and Indians under the rebel general. Cooper, attacked them on the 30th of May, Avhen they were only four miles from the fort. The enemy Avas repulsed, the national troops losing five men killed and Avounded. June 4th they again set out from

Fort lUuiit as I'si-ort lo tlir rcliiniiii^- train, and un the 2()th turned about as escort to a large train of supplies to the fort. At Cabin Creek, on the 27th. the ichd General Cooper again attacked them with a nuich snpcrior force. The enemy, however, were (liixcn lil'ls' miles across the Verdigris river. Reaching Fort Hlunl they were attached to the Third brigade, army of the frontier, .luly 16th tlie}' marched soutli. nndei- tlie lead of General Blunt. The next day they had a battle at Honey Springs, where the I'ebels under Coo])ei' and Stamlwaite lost numy i)risoners anol their wiu)le artillery. Afterward they crossed the Arkansas river aiul i)ursued the enemy, having some skirmishes, and on the 19tli returned to Fort Blunt \\ith tli<' army.

The early holder warfare led to the formation of several Indian regiments, composed in general of the arms-bearing refuges among the Indians that could be obtained for the service of the United States. The Thii-d AVisconsin Cavalry had some connection with these regiments, i)articularly the Third, wliieh was recruited on the frontier of .Missouri and Kansas, ^ir. F. II. Ely, of the Third Wisconsin Cavalry, was first detailed for special service, and then ordered by General Blunt, November 15, 1862, to take command of Company G, Third Indian Regiment, as first lieutenant. The First Battalion was with this regiment in the battle of Honey Springs, or Elk Creek.

Fourth Cavalry

This regiment was originally organized as the Fourth Regiment of infantry about the 6th of June, 1861, at Camp Utley, Racine. On the 15th day of July, 1861, they left the state under orders to report at Baltimore, ]\Id., where they arrived on the 2:^rd. After detached duty, which separated the companies i)f the regiment, they were reunited on the 5th of August and Avent into camp thirty miles north of AVashington. Here they renmined engaged in drill until the 4th day of Novendx'r. when the regiment took part in an expedition on the eastern shore of Virginia under General Lockwood. wliiili accomplished no result. Upon its return the regiment Avas plaeed in liari'acks in the city of Kaltimoi-e, where it i-eniained until V'ebruary, lS(i2. It was orch-red on board of transports at Newport News, Virginia, and sailed south to join the army of the Gulf, and arrived at Ship Island, ^Mississippi, on the bilh of .March. There the reginu'nt' was assigned to the Second bi'iL;a<le of the (inlf department, lirig. -General Thomas Williams connnantling. Here it remained in camp until the 16th of April, and on that day. with tlie Fourth

Wisconsin, Sixth Michigan and Twenty-first Indiana regiments, went on board the ship Great Republic, which was the next day towed by Jackson toward the Mississippi river and anchored off the southwest pass to await the action of the fleet which had gone up the river to attack Forts Jackson and St. Phillips. Here they witnessed in the distance that terrible bombardment whose lightnings and battle clouds filled the heavens as with a tempest. The bombardment opened April 18th under Captain Farragut. The forts were damaged but before being captured it was decided to pass them and go on to New Orleans, which was done on the 24th, the chain boom obstruction over the river having first been passed and the rebel fleets silenced and the guns of the forts were partially silenced. The land forces were ordered to sail around by a more shallow passage through the Bay of Ronde and strike the river in the rear of the forts. The Fourth Wisconsin was transferred from the Colorado to the Great Republic and on the 26th started with other troops for Sable Island. The expedition was successful and the Fourth Wisconsin received high praise from Gen. Benjamin F. Butler, who was in command of that district. On the 29th the companies of the Fourth AA^isconsin were assembled from the gunboats and in connection with the Thirty-first Massachusetts Avere the first troops to land in New Orleans. With colors flying, their feet keeping time to ''Yankee Doodle" as they marched to the custom house and took forceable possession, the Fourth Wisconsin occupying principally the post office. Here it remained until the 8tli of May, performing the duty of provost guard in the city. On that day six companies embarked on the transport Burton, steamed up the Mississippi river thirty-five miles and landed on the left bank. Just before daylight they started with part of the Sixth Michigan for the Jackson and Mississippi railroad after a difficult and dangerous march through cypress swamps and difficult roads and having a little brush with the outpost of the enemy. On the 18th they reached, in boats, the vicinity of Warrenton at 5 :00 in the afternoon and tied up at that place in sight of the rebel works. After some skirmishing the regiment proceeded on the river to Baton Rouge, wdiere it landed and remained until the 17th of June. On the 5th of June General AYilliam's order was issued directing the commanders to turn fugitive slaves out of their camps and keep them out. Colonel Paine refused to obey this order and was placed under arrest. Colonel Paine considered that by turning these fugitives out that he was violating the act of congress which provided an officer from employing trooi)s under his coiiiitiaiKl to return fugitivL's from services or labor and that by turning them away from the protection of these troops he was violating that act. The regiment stood by the colonel and was highly indignant, and on the 17th of June it was so modified that he again assumed connnand and the regiment embarked on the second expedition to Vicksburg. At Grand Gulf they burned every building and in the night embarked for Vicksburg, which Avas reached on the 2r)th. Soon after the arrival at Vicksburg it was decided to dig a canal from the jNIississippi river above the city, the neck of land opposite to the river below, and part of this work was then under the direction of Captain Bailey. Negroes Avere conscripted from all the plantations along the river for this work. Jt was continued up until July 14th, when, owing to the fearful loss of life from disease contracted in the low, wet ground, the Avork Avas abandoned on July 14th. On that same day Capt. John AV. Lynn, of Company I, AA'ith tAventy men, tAvo from each company, crossed to the fleet aboA'e Vicksburg and Avent on board the gunboat "Tyler," and the next morning started up the Yazoo river to perform the duty of sharpshooters. AYIien near Old River the rebel ram Arkansas Avas met and the Tyler turned about. A running fight folloAved on th(> ^lississippi riA^er in Avhieli the ])rave eaptaiu and five men were torn to ])ieces by a sliell and six others AvoundiMJ. The ram ran through Poilei-'s ii<'et fo Vicksburg. The Fourth AVisconsin Avas sent undei- flie commaiul of ('()lon(4 Paine to the ])oint opposite the toAvn to jorevent the crossing of the rebels. AVliile here they AAntnessed the bombardment of the city by the eomliined fleets of Farragut and Davis, Avliieh Avas a ttM'riI)le scene. Tlie regiment steamed doAvn the river and landed at Baton Rouge on the 26th after the bombardment, the expedition having suffered much from disease, and on the 31st of July Colonel Paine, in obedience to ordei-s, started for Ncav Orleans to i'e]>ort arrest of General Butler. On the morning of August ')1h an advance Avas made to meet ihc confederates under General Breckenridge, avIio was repulsed Avith great loss. Tn this battle General AVilliams w^as killed and Colonel Paine Avas sunnnonod to Ncav Orleans by General l^utler and i)laced in command to return to Baton Rouge and burn the city to the ground. The next night at 12:00 o'clock Colonel Paine reached the city, found that the rebels liad retreated and fhat fhe federal troops had changed their i)osition and Avere Avaiting another attack. Colonel Paine held the city until the ITlli of August. Avhen he received information from General Butler tliat Batou Rouge Avould be again attacked on the

ISth of August. The Colonel had also learned the same thing from his scouts and was prepared. All spare baggage was ordered on board the transport, signals were arranged for by day and night, all state prisoners were taken to the boats and sent down the river. On the 18th the enemy approached the works on the southeast but were easily repulsed by the gunboats. On the 19th the colonel posted notices requiring all residents to leave the city on the following day, and directed that the buildings should be burned on the 20ih unless the order was rescinded by General Butler. Before daylight on the 20th an order was received, dated the 19th, from General Butler, rescinding the order to burn the city. The town was thus saved, for which the people of Louisiana may be forever grateful to the generous heart of Col. Halbert E. Paine, of the Fourth Wisconsin. On tlie 21st the city was evacuated. The regiment did some service at different points during September, October and November, and on the 19th of December returned to Baton Rouge, Major Boardman in command. The regiment afterwards participated in that famous siege of Fort Hudson and lost very heavily. It had been converted into a cavalry regiment in 1863, and as such it took rank with the best cavalry regiments in the service. Most of its service was in ^Missouri, Louisiana and Tennessee, and at the close of the war it went with the army destined for Texas and served there until 18G6. The Fourtli had a longer term of service than any other regiment sent from AYisconsin to the war. From its ranks there came four generals : Gen. Harrison Cubart, Gen. 0. H. LaGrange, Gen. Joseph Bailey, who rendered the county great service, and Gen. Ilalbert E. Paine, who served several terms in congress and held various positions in civil life. To have served in the bonny Fourth Wisconsin was an honor to any man. The Fourth had as colonels, and they were all superb soldiers and officers, Halbert E. Paine, S. A. Bean, Fred E. Boardman, Joseph Bailey, AVebster Moore and N. F. Craigne. The regiment lost in battle 103, and from disease 261. It was mustered out of the service on the 28th of Alay, 1866, at Brownsville, jNIinnesota, and was sent to Madison, up the river, arriving there on the 16th of June, 1866, where this veteran cavalry regiment was soon afterward paid off and disbanded.

The Rehelltox

A carci'ul scai-t-li lia.s been iiuttlc tliroiigli .ill ;i\ail;il)lo rci-urils, including the report of the adjutaiil general of AViseonsin for 1865, and the roster of AViseonsin volunteers published by authority of the legislature in 1886; we have endeavored to give here as accurate a list as is ])()ssibl(' of tlic naiiic of e\ery man who volunteered or Avas drafted from IMonroe county during that great struggle; owing to the similarit>' in names of towns in different counties some confusion has resulted, ])ut llir following roster is believ(>d to be correct.

Officers And Enlisted Men 117

The Third AYisconsin cavalry was reorganized in 1864 and a large number of IMonroe County men re-enlisted. All from original Company '"A": Barker, Peter R., Leon; Billings, Fredrick, Sparta; Blake, Albert J., Sparta; Butterfield, LaFayette, Sparta; Chadsey. Joseph, Leon ; Farwell, Corydon, J.. Sparta ; Gates, Charles F., Sparta; Gilbert, Thomas, Athens; Grummons, John, Leon; Hollenbeck , Henry D., Sparta; Howland, Herman, Sparta; Hubbard, Charles B., Sparta ; Hubbard, AYatts AY., Sparta ; Johnson, Fredrick H., Adrian ; Kidney, Albert J. H., Sparta ; LaBare, Charles, Sparta; McMillan, Wm. F., Sparta; McQueen, Samuel,

Fourth Regiment Cavalry

Company ''D" - Lock, Henry F., Sparta, from Co. "I" Yoi. Corp; McLain, Eleazer P., Sparta; from Co. "I" A^et. Corp: AValworth, Ilartwell C., Tomah, from Co. "T" A^^t. Corp.

Company ''I" - John AA^. Lynn, captain, Sparta; Levi R. Blake, captain, Sparta ; Capt. Daniel G. Jewett, Sparta ; Capt. Jas. B. Farn.sworth. Tomah; First Lieut. ]\Iyron P. Chas, Sparta: See. Lieut. Ansyl A. AYest, Sparta; Alger, Josiah, Leon; Alton, ]\Iichael C., Adrian, transferred to Co. "A"'; Ayers. Anson, Angelo ; Ayres, Albert, Leon ; Bacon, Amos, Leon ; Baker, Cliarles, Ridgeville. transferred to Co. "A"; Baker, Hugh, Ridgeville, transferred to Co. "C"; Baker, George R., Tomah. transferred to Co. "A"; Beekwith, Joseph, Sparta; transferred to Co. ''A"; Beardsley, George L., Tomah ; Blake, Albert IL, Sparta, transferred to 20th Inf. ; Bloss, Charles, Greenfield, transferred to Co.

Officers And Enlisted Men 119

''A"; Boring, LaFayette, Ontario; Boyle, John, Wilton, transferred to Co. "A"; Brist, Mandly ^Y., AVilton ; Bush, Wm. J., Tomah ; Chandler, John L., Greenfield; Cole, John N., Cataract; Gray, Parkman, Sparta, transferred to Co. "A"; Davidson, Joseph H., Leon; English, Isaac, Tomah; Farley, AVilliara E., Sparta; Getman, Lorenzo, Lincoln, transferred to Co. "A"; Getman, Hiram, Lincoln, transferred to Co. ''A"; Gillett, Theo. W., Tomah; Gilson, William, Tomah; Gleason, Emanuel P., LaFayette, transferred to Co. "A"; Graham, Miller, Sheldon; Greenman, James, Wilton ; Grenzo, John, Wilton ; Hall, Joseph, Tomah, first lieutenant, May 30, 1864; Hall, Benjamin F., Sparta; Hall, Archibald G., Leon; Hall, Joseph R., Leon; Haynes, Sanford A., Tomah; transferred to Co. "A"; Hill, Jacob, Sparta; Hodgkins, Edward I., Sparta ; Hubbard, Charles S., AA^ilton, transferred to Co. "A"; Hull, Edward, Sparta; Jackson, William S., Tomah, transferred to Co. "A"; Jewell, Isaac, Roaring Creek; Johnston, Clayton M., Tomah; Jones, Ransom, Sparta; Kennedy, John, Sparta; Kerr, Alexander, Tomah, transferred to Co. "A"; Knight, Charles A., Tomah, transferred to Co. ''A"; Large, Jacob I., Tomah; Matteson, John P., Cataract; McClure, John B., Sparta; McLain, Eleazor P.. Cataract, transferred to Co. "D"; Meadows, William C, Sparta ; Osborn, George I., Sparta, transferred to Co. ''C"; Pangburn, William, Sparta; Perry, John T., Roaring Creek; Putnam, Lucius M., Sparta, transferred to Co. "A"; Ralston, AYilliam H., LaFayette; Rathbun, Dewey, Leon; Rice, Wellington, Ridgeville ; Robertson, Rufus A., Sparta ; Rockwood, James H., Leon ; Rockwood, Theodore H., Adrian ; Root, Jason, Tomah, transferred to Co. "A"; Smith, John, Adrian, transferred to Co. "A"; Spaulding, Charles D., Tomah; Skinner, John B., Portland; transferred to Co. "A"; Tolles, William, Wilton, transferred to Co. ^'A"; Turner, Jonathan F., Adrian, transferred to Co. '^A"; Van Arnum, LaFayette, Cataract; Van Kirk, John, Angelo ; Walker, Harlow S., Cataract ; Weed, William D., Tomah ; Yoemans, W^illiam H., Sparta ; Yoemans, James H., Sparta.

Sixth Regiment Infantry

Company "K" - Andress, Alonzo L., Tunnel City; Conway, Thomas, Lincoln; Cuimnings, Daniel, Sparta: Dowing, George AY., Sparta, from Company "IT": Hancock, AVilliam D., Clifton;

Sixteenth Regiment Infantry

Company "C" - Kelly, Jeremiah, Glendale, from Company "F," V. C. ; Lyman, Jeremiah, Glendale ; Pearsoll, James I., Glendale ; Rowin, Robert, Glendale, from Company "F"; Saddoris, Samuel, Summit, from Company "F"; Teed, Truman, Glendale.

Seventeenth Regiment Infantry Eighteenth Regiment Infantry

Comi)any "K'' - Jewell. John D.. Sjiarta. from Company ''D": Kapi)ing. Christian. Eaton; Lown, William II.. (Jreenfield, from Company '"D"; Lang, Daniel H., AVellington, from Company "D"; Danderlin. Isaac S., Greenfield, from Company *'D."

Nineteenth Regiment Infantry Officers And Enlisted Men 125

Company "D" - Allendorf, Peter. Angelo; Clifford. Charles C, Sparta, from Company "G"; Cooper, Silas J., Sheldon; Hollenbeck, AA^illiam A., Lincoln, from Company "G"; Hoskins, Marvin, Lincoln, from Company "G"; Hubbard, Richard, Ridgeville ; Mallory, Rodney D., Lincoln ; Meyer, Christian, Ridgeville, from Company "G"; Robson, John, Leon, from Company "G"; Sabls, Charles F.. Leon; Shanklin. Ridgeville, from Company "G"; Sherwin, Bissels, Angelo; AVilson, Roger J., Leon, from Company "G."

Company "K" - Bist, AVilliam. Sparta, transferred to Company "C"; Close, AVilsey J., Sparta, transferred to Company "C"; Hazelton, James A., Sparta: Hill. Alher B., Sparta, transferred to Company "'('."

Fifty-Second Regiment Infantry

Company "A" - Banker, Stephen 0., Sparta; Edwards, "William A., Sparta; Fairbanks, Abram F., LaFayette; Hubbard, Jobez, Lincoln; ]Mumford, James R., Sparta; Nolan, John, Leon; Perry, Leauder, Leon; Talbot, Robert A., Sparta; West, Henry C, Sparta.