USA > Wisconsin > Sauk County > A standard history of Sauk County, Wisconsin, Volume I > Part 37
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COMPANY K, TWENTY-SIXTH REGIMENT
About half the members of Company K, of the Twenty-sixth Regi- ment, were recruited from the Towns of Honey Creek, Prairie du Sac and Troy. The regiment, which was in command of Col. W. H. Jacobs, was mustered in at Camp Sigel, Milwaukee, in September, 1862. and proceeded to Washington during the following month. Their first battle was at Chancellorsville, at which the loss was 37 killed, 117 wounded, and 23 prisoners and missing. The regiment also suffered severely at
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Gettysburg, where but four of its officers escaped unhurt. In October, 1863, the Twenty-sixth joined the Army of the Cumberland and in the following month took part in the engagements on Mission Ridge. The following spring and summer saw it fighting at Resaca, Dallas and Kenesaw Mountain; at Peach Tree Creek and before Atlanta. In De- cember the Twenty-sixth participated in the operation before Savannah and for the following three months was in the movements through the Carolinas. Its last active service was at the engagement near Avery- boro, North Carolina, in March, 1865. The muster-out occurred in Washington, June 13th, following.
The death loss in the Twenty-sixth was unusually large. The official figures place it at 249, of which 128 were killed in action. The latter class of casualties included the following officers of Company K. Capt. August Schueler, Chancellorsville; Serg. Otto Bernhard, Peach Tree Creek; Corp. George Regenbrecht, Gettysburg; Corp. August Fleck, Chaneellorsville.
Company K was officered as follows: Captains-Louis Pelosi, re- signed March 12, 1863; August Schueler, wounded at Chaneellorsville, May 2, 1863, his leg being amputated on the field, from the effects of which he died; Edward Carl, resigned September 26, 1864; Frederick Koerner, discharged November 4, 1864; Casper Buechner, mustered out with regiment, June 13, 1865. First lieutenants-Jacob Heip, re- signed November 19, 1862; H. J. Berninger wounded at Chancellors- ville, losing his leg above the knee; resigned February 26, 1863; Charles H. Doerflinger, discharged February 25, 1864; F. Koerner, wounded at New Hope Church, May 25, 1864, and promoted as above. Second lieutenants-Edward Carl, promoted from Company D; Henry Greve, promoted from Company E; Christian Phillip, promoted from Com- pany F; afterward promoted as captain of Company I and killed at the battle of Resaea, May 15, 1864.
COL. DAVID K. NOYES, FORTY-NINTH REGIMENT
Though the representation from Sauk County in the Forty-ninth Regiment was small, its history is of local interest because of the lead- ing connection of David K. Noyes with it. He had just missed service as a soldier of the Mexican war, when a very young man, and for fourteen years previous to the outbreak of the Civil war had been engaged in the practice of the law and newspaper work at Baraboo. Prominent from the first as a home organizer of the Union forces, lie was commis- sioned first lieutenant of Company A, Sixth Wisconsin, in April, 1861, and in the following autumn was promoted to the captaincy. He was so severely wounded at Antietam as to necessitate the amputation of his right foot. A few months afterward, however, in January, 1863, he was appointed the chief recruiting officer of the state, from which posi-
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tion he resigned in July, 1864. In the following winter he was com- missioned major of the newly organized forty-ninth, which left the state in March, 1865, for Benton Barracks, Missouri, and a few days afterward moved to Rolla, that state. Major Noyes had command of the regiment until the middle of April, when he was detailed on court mar- tial and commission duty to St. Louis, where he remained until Septem- ber. The regiment having been ordered to that city, Major Noyes was again placed in command. He was honorably discharged in No- vember, with the commission of lieutenant colonel. Colonel Noyes was postmaster of Baraboo, was the first state treasury agent in Wisconsin, and was otherwise honored as a public official and private citizen.
THE CAPTURE OF JEFF DAVIS
Company F, of the First Cavalry, was recruited in Sauk County, and saw hard service in the Army of the Cumberland opposed to the famous Wheeler horsemen, as well as with Sherman in Tennessee and Alabama. It was present at the surrender of Montgomery, and aided in the capture of Fort Tyler, in April, 1865. The history of the First Cavalry is of particular interest on account of the leading part its members took in the capture of Jefferson Davis, the deposed president of the Confederacy. John G. Kleinlein was then a private of Company F and was among the most eager in running down the ex-chief. The capture (at which Mr. Kleinlein was present) was effected May 10, 1865. Henry Harnden was the lieutenant colonel in charge of the pursuing squad, and is the author of a book in which he tells of the exciting scenes attending the capture.
"Toward the close of the war," he says, "Davis disappeared and for days and days the Union squad was on the trail of the fleeing Confed- erate. When they came upon the party Davis wore a common slouched hat, nice fine boots, coat and pants of light blue English broadcloth; taking all circumstances into consideration, he was neatly dressed. It is said that Corporal Munger of the Fourth Michigan Cavalry first said 'halt' to Davis, but he did not then know that it was Davis. It was after- wards reported that Davis was wearing hoopskirts in disguise, but Harn- den says this is not true.
"Davis was taken to Macon under guard and from there to Savannah; then to Old Point, Virginia. He was kept a prisoner for several months, Governor Upham of Wisconsin, then a lieutenant in the United States army, being one of the officers to guard him. Davis was finally released on bail, Horace Greeley and others going on his bond. The First Wis- consin Cavalry was mustered out September 1, 1865."
JOHN G. KLEINLEIN
Mr. Kleinlein is one of the few survivors of that episode, and for a number of years has resided at Prairie du Sac in a houseboat, fishing,
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hunting and acting as a guide to sportsmen and pleasure seekers in that ยท region. His simple habits and the pension be draws from the Govern- ment have enabled him to live, not uncomfortably, and certainly in the enjoyment of good health, considering his age.
THE CAVALRY COMPANIES
The officers of Company F, First Cavalry, were as follows: John Hyde resigned April 30, 1863; James M. Comstock, mustered out Sep- tember 31, 1864; Milton Martin, mustered out with the regiment, July 19, 1865. First lieutenants-Newton Jones, promoted from Company M; Peter J. Williamson, mustered out October 31, 1864; Milton Martin, promoted; Charles F. Perry, mustered out with his regiment. Second lieutenants-Henry W. Getchell, died at Little Rock, Arkansas, Sep- tember 13, 1862; John L. Church, mustered out October 31, 1864; Wil- liam E. Lamb, mustered out with his regiment.
Company F, of the Third Cavalry, was raised in Sauk County, mostly in Baraboo; was mustered in January 31, 1862, at Camp Barstow, Janes- ville, and while en route for St. Louis sustained a loss of twelve killed and twenty-eight injured in a railway accident near Chicago. With the exception of an engagement at Baxter Springs, in 1863, when Company I was surprised by Quantrell raiders, the casualties of the regiment did not exceed these during any action of the Civil war. The operations of the Third Cavalry mostly consisted in expedition and raids against irregular bands of mounted Confederates, and Cherokee Indians allied to the Confederacy. Most of the command re-enlisted in 1864, was stationed thereafter at Fort Insley, Missouri, and mustered out at Fort Leavenworth in September, 1865. The deaths in Company F were mostly from disease.
The officers of Company F, of the Third Cavalry, were: Captains- David S. Vittum, promoted lieutenant colonel March 9, 1865, and re- signed July 17th following; Charles W. Porter, resigned June 19, 1865; Leonard P. Luce, mustered out with regiment. First lieutenants-Asa Wood, resigned May 5, 1862; W. J. Plows, resigned December 8, 1862; Clark B. Wilsey, resigned August 10, 1864; W. Porter and L. P. Luce, promoted; Quimby Loveland, mustered out with regiment. Second lieutenants-Charles O. Ferris, mustered out April 9, 1862; Seth H. Craig, transferred to Company K; C. B. Wilsey and C. W. Porter. promoted; Eli M. Cooper, mustered out February 7, 1865; Q. Loveland, promoted; Henry Southard, mustered out with regiment.
COLONEL VITTUM, OF THE THIRD CAVALRY
Colonel Vittum raised Company F and served as its captain until he was promoted to be lieutenant colonel in March, 1865. He was a
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New Hampshire man; came to Wisconsin in 1851, and, after stopping in Milwaukee for a short time, came to Baraboo in August of that year. Although a member of the bar, his mind was more of a business than a professional type, and for several years before the war he made quite a fortune in his land investments and dealings. In 1853-54 he also served as state senator, representing the counties of Sauk, Juneau, Adams and Marquette. After the war he returned to business pursuits, became interested in the Island Woolen Mill and organized the First National Bank of Baraboo, continning its president until his death, April 10, 1880.
THE SIXTH BATTERY
The Sixth Battery was recruited chiefly in the Town of Spring Green and was mustered into the service of the United States at Camp Utley, Racine, October 2, 1861. It left the state for St. Louis in the following March. It took part in the siege of Island No. 10, was before Corinth and Vicksburg, participated in the battle of Champion Hills, was in the grand assault at Mission Ridge, and was mustered out of the service July 18, 1865. Although the Sixth Battery was composed mostly of Spring Green men, quite a number enlisted from Richland County. Its captains were: Henry Dillon, mustered out October 10, 1864; Thomas R. Hood, resigned May 17, 1865; James B. Simpson, mustered out with battery July 3, 1865.
MEMORIES OF LINCOLN
Civil war times seem far in the distance of time, so many great events of peace and war having occurred to obseure them, but even with the passage of more than half a century the fame of Lincoln is yet mellow and bright, and the few yet spared who came into touch with him, how- ever slight, are proud to tell of their experiences.
NEWS OF THE ASSASSINATION AT BARABOO
Miss Eliza Chapman tells how the heart-rending news of Lincoln's assassination first reached Baraboo and how it was received. She says : "The ery of 'on to Richmond' had become a reality. April 3, 1865, saw General Grant's forces enter the capitol of the Southern Con- federacy, and plant the stars and stripes once more upon her soil. The 9th of the same month General Lee surrendered to General Grant at the Appomattox Court House. Victory crowned all our banners, and peace was assured. The north was wild with joy. All at once from out the startled air came the appalling intelligence of President Lincoln's assas- sination-on the night of the 14th of the same month, shot through the
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head at Ford's Theater in Washington. W. H. Seward, secretary of state, in the privacy of his sick chamber, was the victim of an assassin's dagger. A conspiracy had been formed to take the lives of the president, vice president, all the members of the cabinet and General Grant. So skilfully had it been planned, that it doubtless had been all accomplished ere General Lee's surrender had reached us, as news at that time traveled slowly, Kilbourn being our nearest telegraph station.
"A man from Kilbourn first brought word of the assassination on the afternoon of the 15th and doubtless first told it in Dr. Mills' drug store, which stood where now the Corner drug store stands. Dr. Mills remembers that he and Professor Hutchins were standing in the store talking of the president when the news was first told. Many of our citizens hardly took in the situation until the danger was past. Among those who did, consternation gave way to horror. Men meeting on the street grasped hands and gazed at each other in the agony of mute despair, while their tears fell like rain. Old Glory wrapped in crepe hung mournfully at half mast from the liberty pole at the northeast corner of the court house park, while church bells tolled dismally. In the midst of our triumph the God of battles had given us over to our foes. Before the north could organize, those southern hordes, fired with hatred and revenge, would be upon us. We remembered Mankato and St. Cloud and felt we were not safe from tomahawk and scalping knife.
"Then came the glad tidings that the plot had partly miscarried. Vice-president Johnson was safe and had taken the oath of office. Secre- tary Seward was the only member of the cabinet that had suffered and he would live. Again our good old ship of state was safe. But Lincoln, the venerated of every loyal citizen, who ever had malice for none and charity for all, was gone forever from us. Memorial services were held in the court house in his honor, Rev. Warren Cochran being the speaker of the occasion."
A LINCOLN GUARD OF HONOR
The veteran soldier, George Claridge, now seventy-five years of age, who was a guard of honor at Lincoln's bier, both at the White House and the capitol, has been a resident of Franklin Township and the Village of Spring Green since he was eight years of age. Of English birth and parentage, he came to America with other members of the family in 1850. He had a farm training and a meager education in the country schools of Franklin Township when, at the age of twenty- two, he enlisted in Company A, Thirty-sixth Wisconsin Infantry. He was in the engagements at Spottsylvania Court House and Cold Harbor; on the fifth of June, 1864, sustained a scalp wound, and three days later was shot through the side. For eight months he was in a Wash- ington hospital and on partially recovering was transferred to Company
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A of the Tenth Regiment Veteran Reserves. At the death of Lincoln, April 15, 1865, that company was selected as a Guard of Honor to accompany the body of the murdered President from the White House to the capitol, where it lay in state. The Ninth and Tenth Veteran Reserves were assigned to guard duty at the Arsenal Prison, while the conspirators, who had been involved in the plan to kill Lincoln and various members of his cabinet, were on trial. They guarded the prison on alternate days. A guard stood at the cel! door of each prisoner for. two hours at a time, and no man was allowed to perform that duty but once. It fell to the lot of Mr. Claridge to guard David E. Harold, who held the horse while Powell, alias Lewis Payne, attacked Secretary William E. Seward with a knife while the venerable statesman was on a sick bed. (See Century Magazine, 1896.) Harold fled with John Wilkes Booth, who had shot President Lincoln the same night. Harold was taken when Booth was killed some days afterward.
The veteran soldier of Spring Green has naturally treasured all the mementoes of that historie occasion. Most precious of all are the uniform (including the white gloves) and the old musket with the fixed bayonet, with which he appeared at the side of Lincoln's coffin. Some years ago, at one of the soldier's reunions, Mr. Claridge attended a gathering accoutered exactly as he was upon that sad guard duty fifty-two years before, and received an ovation well merited. The old soldier also appeared in uniform upon several occasions while the young men of Sauk County were in partial training preparatory to "doing their best" in the world's war.
BARABOO TRIPLETS NAMED BY LINCOLN
There are three brothers, now in their fifty-fourth year, who were born in Vermont on the same day and have therefore almost a unique standing in the world. Their case is thus set forth by the Baraboo News of February 18, 1909: "One of the interesting incidents in connection with the Lincoln celebration is in regard to the naming of the Haskins brothers, triplets, by Lincoln. They were born in South Starksboro, Addison county, Vermont, May 24, 1864, that being the fifty-fourth birthday anniversary of Queen Victoria. When the unusual event of three sons arriving at the Haskins home occurred, a letter was sent to the great president asking him if he would not name the sons. He at once replied and sent the names of Simon Cameron, who was secretary of war, Gideon Wells, who was secretary of the navy, and Abraham Lincoln for himself. The three sons are residents of Baraboo and are among the oldest triplets living.
"According to a note from James H. Grace of Starksboro, Vermont, the letter was sent to Mr. Lincoln by A. M. Hawkins of Starksboro. The News wrote to Mr. Grace asking about the letter and circumstances Vol. 1 23
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and in reply he said he knew of the incident, but did not know what had become of the letter. Louisa E. Grace, a sister of the writer of the letter, was the mother of the Haskins brothers. She died when they were quite young.
"Lincoln Haskins, of Baraboo, says that the family is of English descent and the ancestors came to America long ago. He also says his father was not in the army, as sometimes reported.
"In his letter to the News Mr. Grace said that E. W. J. Hawkins, secretary of the Burlington Mutual Fire Insurance Company of Burl- ington, Vermont, might know of the letter. He is a son of Postmaster
THE HASKINS TRIPLETS Gideon Simon
Lincoln
Hawkins of Starksboro where the triplets were born. He says that his father received such a letter but does not know what became of it. He also says that his father was not only postmaster for thirty-five years, but selectman at Starksboro during most of the time of the war. As such an officer he had charge of the enlistments of men to fill the quotas ordered by the president. As Mr. Hawkins remembers it, the father of the triplets was enlisted by the postmaster and the triplets were born while the father was at the front. This does not agree with the opinion of Lincoln Haskins, so the reader must take the two ideas for what they are worth. It would be an interesting bit of history to have the story cleared up. In closing his letter, Mr. Hawkins says that his
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father wrote a letter to the president in the spirit of loyalty and the names were accordingly given.
"The News also wrote to Miss Ida M. Tarbell of New York City, as she has written so much, and ably, too, about the martyred president. She replies that she knows nothing of the letter. A letter from Annie A. Nums, secretary to Dr. R. G. Thwaites, of the historical library at Madison, says that there is no such word as Haskins in the Nicolay & Hay's Lincoln index ; so they have probably not mentioned the matter."
WHEN THEY SAW LINCOLN
A number of persons residing in and near Baraboo saw Lincoln at different times during his life. It will be interesting to devote a line or two to each of these.
Hon. Franklin Johnson saw the young debater when he came from Illinois to speak at the first state fair in Milwaukee. That was in 1859.
Gustave Scharnke, of Ableman, saw and heard Lincoln when he made a speech in Pittsburg while on his way to Washington after his first election.
When George B. Gibbons was a soldier at Fort Monroe during the war Lincoln visited the fortress.
During the stirring campaign of 1860 Lincoln spoke in Chicago and former Mayor John Hull saw him there.
Col. D. E. Welch was in command of a portion of the guard at the time of Lincoln's second inauguration.
Alexander Toole heard Lincoln speak at Pittsfield, Illinois, in 1858.
D. W. Worth saw Lincoln when he went to Appomattox and at the grand review at Washington.
C. C. Allen formerly resided near Springfield, Illinois, and saw Lincoln a number of times. He knew him as a lawyer and was at Springfield when the martyred president was buried.
Davis Hackett, of Baraboo, is among those who saw President Lin- coln, which was at the time of the second inauguration. Mr. Hackett was in Washington at the time of the funeral of Lincoln.
J. H. Carpenter, of Spring Green, was lieutenant in a company that escorted Lincoln to the capitol at the time of the second inauguration.
Edward Mabbott, of Spring Green, saw Lincoln at St. Louis.
J. F. Morrow, of Spring Green, saw Lincoln and Grant at Peters- burg ten days before the assassination.
J. II. Dudley, of Durwards Glen, saw Lincoln lying in state at Buffalo.
A. Fry saw Lincoln at Chaffin's farm in Virginia and also at Rich- mond.
Mrs. Henry Mertzke saw Lincoln at the state fair in Milwaukee in 1859.
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Amos Barron, of Lyons, saw Lincoln at Maryland Heights and at Stafford Courthouse.
The late Philip Check saw Lincoln the first time at Bailey's Cross Roads and the next time after the second battle of Bull Run. Many of the defeated soldiers rested in the streets and lawns of Washington, and those about the White House were refreshed by Mr. Lincoln as he went back and forth with a pail of water, continuing the kindness late into the night.
A. J. Spahr was detailed as a guard when Lincoln lay in state in Chicago.
Henry Pigg saw Lincoln after the Seven Days' fight.
SOLDIERS' MONUMENT AT BARABOO
One of the most notable patriotie memorials to be seen in Sauk County is the beautiful monument of gray granite in the courthouse square. It is the product of the joint activities of the local Grand Army of the Republic Post and the Women's Relief Corps. In the fall of 1894 Women's Relief Corps, No. 36, under its president, Mrs. Cath- erine Cheek, started the movement by pledging the sum of $1,000 for such a memorial. That body appointed a special committee to co-oper- ate with one from Joe Hooker Post No. 9, Grand Army of the Republic, and their united efforts were so successful that the monument was dedicated May 30, 1897. The details were arranged by these committees under the direction of Mrs. Check and Charles Bender. The dedicatory exercises on the day named comprised a musical programme under the direction of Prof. J. E. Collins, an oration by Eugene S. Elliott, of Milwaukee, and collective ceremonies by the Women's Relief Corps, Grand Army of the Republic, civie societies and the pupils of the public schools. Reedsburg, North Freedom, Prairie du Sae, Sauk City and other towns in the county, participated in the exercises, as was most fitting.
On the east face of the monument is the inscription : "Erected to the memory of Sauk County soldiers in the War of the Union, by Joe Hooker Post No. 9, Department of Wisconsin, G. A. R .; the Women's Relief Corps No. 36, and Citizens of Sauk County. 1896."
On the west face: "Sauk County furnished full companies-Co. A, 6th Infantry ; Co. B, 12th; Co. H, 17th ; Co. F, 23d; Co. F, 3d Cavy. Parts of companies-1st Heavy Artly., 6th and 12th Light Arty .; 1st, 4th, 7th, 11th, 14th, 18th, 26th, 36th, 40th, 42d, 46th, 49th Infy .; 1st and 2d Cavy. Total number of men, 1,646. Killed and died in service, 285."
On the south face of the monument is cut the Grand Army of the Republice shield and star, and on the north face, the insignia of the Women's Relief Corps.
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COL. W. A. WYSE
When the war broke out, there was a vigorous Freshman in attend- ance at the University of Wisconsin who was then in his seventeenth year. On April 17, 1861, W. A. Wyse, the youth mentioned, enlisted in Company K, First Wisconsin Regiment of Volunteers, for the three months' service. Being discharged in August, he re-enlisted during October, in Company K, Thirteenth Wisconsin, for three years. At the expiration of the long term, he was not even then satisfied and in January, 1864, veteranized ; was mustered out at San Antonio, Texas, and when finally discharged on December 27th of the last year of the war was a sergeant in the Union army. He was then in his twenty- second year.
After the Civil war was over Sergeant Wyse studied law, was admitted to the bar, obtained a good practice at Reedsburg and high professional standing everyhere, served as district attorney of the county, and as mayor of his home city for eight years, and became a leader in Masonry and the affairs of the Grand Army of the Republic. He was also prominent in municipal reform and was at one time presi- dent of the State League. But when all has been said regarding Colonel Wyse's varied and broad record, it is as a patriotic and military character that he has become best known. He became an active member of Post No. 13, Grand Army of the Republic, at Reedsburg, in 1880; served as its commander for several terms; was advaneed to the position of quartermaster general on the staff of Department Commander Weis- sert ; was elected to the head of the State Department in 1917, and has since conducted its affairs with characteristic energy and judgment.
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