USA > Wisconsin > Grant County > History of Grant County, Wisconsin, preceded by a history of Wisconsin > Part 90
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On the 23d, two days after the battle of Bull Run, the regiment went into camp near Fort Corcoran, where they remained until August 27, when they were transferred from Gen. Sher- man's command to that of Brig. Gen. Rufus King, which afterward consisted of the Second, Sixth and Seventh Wisconsin and Nineteenth Indiana Regiments, and was known as the " Iron Brigade." Thus organized, they crossed the Potomac on the 5th of September, and, after assist- ing in the construction of Fort Marcy, re-crossed the river, and, October 5, went into winter quarters at Fort Tillinghast, on Arlington Heights, Va. Here they remained until March 10, 1862, when they took part in the battle of Manassas. Nothing of great importance occurred until the forenoon of the 28th of August. They were marching on the Warrenton Turnpike, near Gainesville, on this morning, when they met the enemy and fought the battle of Gaines- ville. Of this battle, where the brigade earned the title of "Iron Brigade of the West," we take the following from the author quoted heretofore : "This was one of the bloodiest battles of the war, and was fought by the 'Iron Brigade' alone, only receiving aid when the heaviest fighting was over. While marching toward Centerville, a battery of the enemy opened on the brigade, when the Second Regiment was ordered to face to the left and march obliquely to the rear and take the enemy in the flank. As they rose on an intervening hill, a severe fire was.
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opened upon them on the right flank by the rebel infantry. The left wing was advanced to bring the regiment facing the enemy, when the fire was returned, and, for fifteen minutes, a tre- mendous storm of shot was kept up by the contending forces, a brigade of the enemy being engaged by the Second Wisconsin. The Second held its ground, when the Nineteenth Indiana came up on its left. The enemy were re-enforced, and the Sixth and Seventh Wisconsin went into line, and the whole brigade continued the fight until darkness put an end to the contest." Among the rebel forces engaged was the famous 'Stonewall Brigade,' which had never before had to fall back. The casualties were frightful. Company C suffered severely. The field offi- cers of the Seventh were all wounded, and the command of the regiment devolved upon Capt. Callis. The brigade remained on the field removing the wounded until about midnight, when they were ordered to retreat to Manassas Junction." Full many a quiet Wisconsin homestead will have cause ever to remember the battle of Gainesville.
On the 29th, the regiment was engaged on the battle-field of Bull Run as support to a bat- tery, the Second and Seventh Regiments being temporarily consolidated. On the retreat of the army after the battle of the 30th, the "Iron Brigade " acted as rear guard, covering the retreat, the Second being the last regiment to cross the Stone Bridge. Retiring with the rest of the army, the Second went into camp at Upton's Hill, near Washington, on the 2d of September.
The Second Regiment also participated in the movements of the army under the command of Gen. MeClellan, and on the 14th of September, with the remainder of the brigade, was assigned the duty of storming Turner's Pass, of South Mountain, where the enemy was strongly posted in a gorge. They were routed and driven from the pass with heavy loss. At the battle of Antietam, which occurred three days later, the Second went into the fight with 150 men and lost 91. This battle was always considered as one of the bloodiest of the war, and for the brav- ery and endurance shown by the "Iron Brigade" that day, Gen. MeClellan pronounced them equal to the best troops in the world. The regiment, with the brigade to which it was attached, participated in the battle of Fredericksburg, but, aside from a little skirmishing, did not be- come engaged with the enemy. During the winter, the Second was engaged in several profit- able expeditions in Virginia, under Col. Fairchild. July 1, 1863, after marching 160 miles through Virginia and Maryland, they found themselves near Gettysburg.
The Second, having that day the head of the column, were the first to meet the enemy. Orders were received to support Buford's cavalry. Coming to the brow of a hill, behind which a strong body of the enemy were posted, the Second received a volley that cut down thirty per cent of their numbers. But, nothing daunted, they dashed upon the enemy's center. and crushed it, checking the rebel advance. At the end of this day's fight but two officers and two men were all that were left unharmed in Company C. At this date the loss of the Second Regiment in killed, wounded and missing amounted to 652. The next year the " Iron Brigade " participated in the battles of the Wilderness and Spottsylvania Court House, after which the Second Regiment, having been reduced to less than 100 men, was detailed as provost guard to the Fourth Division, Fifth Army Corps. The battle-scarred members of the regiment followed the destinies of that division in the great movement to the left, arriving June 6, at Bottom's Bridge. on the Chieka- hominy, where they remained until the expiration of their term of service. Those absent on detached service were recalled, and June 11, 1864, the regiment took its departure for home, arriving in Madison on the 18th. There they were received by the citizens, and a splendid col- lation served in the park. The last company was mustered out on the 2d of July, 1864.
Below is given the complete record of Company C, the pioneer company from Grant County, from the date of their enlistment until discharged, June 1864.
COMPANY C, SECOND WISCONSIN VOLUNTEERS.
Commissioned Officers .- David McKee, Captain, discharged March 28, 1862, for the pur- pose of accepting a commission as Lieutenant Colonel of Fifteenth Wisconsin Volunteers ; killed at Murfreesboro.
C. K. Dean, First Lieutenant, appointed Adjutant of Second Wisconsin Volunteers, June 15, 1861.
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William Booth, Second Lieutenant, promoted to First Lieutenant, Company C, Second Wisconsin Volunteers, February 28, 1862; resigned January, 1863.
Sergeants .- First, Richard E. Carter, transferred to regimental band June 18, 1861.
Second, George W. Gibson, appointed First Sergeant June 18, 1861 ; promoted to Second Lieutenant, February 28, 1862, vice Booth, promoted to Captain, March 28, 1862; wounded.
Third, Frank Neavill, appointed First Sergeant February 28, 1862, vice Gibson, pro- moted ; killed at the battle of Gainesville August 28, 1862.
Fourth, Levi Showalter, appointed First Sergeant August 28, 1862, vice Neavill, killed ; promoted to Second Lieutenant January 3, 1863 ; wounded.
Fifth, Asa B. Griswold, appointed Sergeant Major August 18, 1861; died in hospital October 11, 1861.
Corporals .- First, Thomas Barnett, Sergeant, June 18, 1861, vice Carter, transferred ; discharged September 22, 1862; received appointment as Second Lieutenant, in Company C, Twenty-fifth Wisconsin Volunteers.
Second, Sam'l Booth, appointed Sergeant March 28, 1862, vice Kellogg, promoted ; wounded. Third, Henry R. Neavill ; killed at battle of Antietam September 17, 1862.
Fourth, George Holloway ; killed at battle of Antietam September 17, 1862.
Fifth, George L. Hyde, discharged October 13, 1861 ; reason, gunshot wound.
Sixth, Alpheus Currant, reduced to the ranks at his own request March, 1862; re-enlisted as a veteran volunteer.
Seventh, Belknap Fuqua ; died in prison at Richmond of wounds received at Bull Run July 21, 1861.
Eighth, Spencer M. Train, appointed Sergeant October 9, 1862, vice Liscum, promoted ; died August 25, 1863, of wounds received at Gettysburg July 1, 1863.
Privates-Richard Armstrong; Martin J. Barnhisel, died October 8, 1862, of wounds re- ceived at Gainesville August 28, 1862; Joseph Brown, killed in the battle of Gainesville August 28, 1862; John L. Bower, lost arm in the battle of Gainesville August 28, 1862, discharged October 3, 1862; John H. Durgess, died in the hospital at Alexandria, Va., July 22, 1862; George Beasley, killed in the battle of Antietam September 17, 1862; Calvin M. Brooks, wounded; Joseph Bock, discharged May 28, 1863 ; reason, gunshot wound; Matthias Baker, wounded; William E. Bouldin, wounded; Louis Budler, discharged December 3, 1862; reason, gunshot wound received at Gainesville August 28, 1862; D. L. Barton, killed at battle of Gettysburg July 1, 1863; James H. Branham, lost arm at the battle of Gainesville August 28, 1862; discharged December 30, 1862; George Booth, discharged January 17, 1863; Jonathan Booth, discharged May 29, 1862, disability; Frederick Burmaster, discharged Jan- uary 3, 1863; reason, gunshot wound received at the battle of Gainesville August 28, 1862 ; Thomas S. Brookins, transposed to the Veteran Reserved Corps March 22, 1864; Thomas D. Cox, killed at the battle of Bull Run July 21, 1861; George B. Carter, transferred to the regi- mental band June 18, 1861; Andrew J. Curtis, discharged January 16, 1863; reason, gunshot wound received at the battle of Gainesville August 28, 1862; William S. Crosley, promoted to Corporal September 18, 1862, appointed Sergeant July 1, 1863, transferred to the Invalid Corps December 12, 1863, died December 16, 1863; Michael Cook, promoted to Corporal June, 1862, died September 16, 1862, of wounds received at battle of Gainesville August 28, 1862 ; James F. Chase, wounded; George Coullard; William Y. Cunningham, appointed Corporal Sep- tember, 1862, taken prisoner at Gettysburg July 1, 1863; reported dead; John Coonce, trans- ferred to the Invalid Corps July 1, 1863 ; wounded; John Cahill, discharged January 17, 1863, reason, gunshot wound received at Gainesville August 28, 1862; Theodore B. Day, transferred to the Invalid Corps for reason of a gunshot wound received at the battle of Gainesville August 28, 1862; John Doyle, re-enlisted as a veteran volunteer February 22, 1864; William R. Doty, deserted while in action, July 21, 1861; Jefferson C. Dillon, promoted to Corporal August, 1863; appointed Sergeant December 31, 1863; wounded; Daniel Eldred, re-enlisted as a veteran volunteer February 22, 1864 ; Henry Evan ; George W. Fritz, promoted to Corporal Sep-
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HISTORY OF GRANT COUNTY.
tember 17, 1862; appointed Sergeant July 1, 1863 ; supposed to have been killed at the battle of the Wilderness Ridge May 5, 1864 ; John Fry ; William M. Foster, discharged October 25, 1862; reason, gunshot wound received at Gainesville August 28, 1862; William Frawley, wounded ; William J. Gleason; Casper Gadient; James Gow, appointed Color Sergeant August, 1861; appointed First Sergeant June 3, 1863; killed at the battle of Gettys- burg July 1, 1863; Richard Graves, wounded; Charles A. Garvin, wounded ; transferred to the Invalid Corps ; David Gudger, promoted to Corporal January, 1863; killed at the battle of Gettysburg July 1, 1863; George B. Hyde, promoted to Corporal June, 1862; died September 10, 1862, of wounds received at Gainesville August 28, 1862; Charles Hilgers, transferred to the Invalid Corps February 15, 1864; reason, gunshot wound received at the battle of Gettysburg July 1, 1863; Benjamin F. Hyde, transferred to the Invalid Corps November 28, 1863; James Hughes, promoted to Corporal May, 1862; dis- charged January 23, 1863 ; reason, gunshot wound received at battle of Gainesville August 28, 1862; George T. Jones, discharged August 26, 1861, for disability ; Edward P. Kellogg, appointed Sergeant February 28, 1862, vice Gibson promoted ; appointed Second Lieutenant March 28, 1862, vice Gibson promoted ; died September 9, 1862 of wounds received at the battle of Gainesville, August 28, 1862; Valorous F. Kinney, discharged August 24, 1863; reason, gunshot wound received at Gettysburg July 1, 1863; Otto Ludwig, killed at the battle of Gettysburg July 1, 1863; Frank H. Liscum, appointed Corporal June 28, 1861; appointed Sergeant October 9, 1862; Second Lieutenant October 21, 1862, vice Kellogg, deceased; appointed First Lieutenant January 3, 1863, vice Booth dis- charged ; wounded ; Louis Fafont, died June 9, 1863, by broken neck ; R. H. McKinsie, killed at the battle of Antietam September 7, 1862 ; John W. Miles, re-enlisted as veteran volunteer March 10, 1864; Charles Manning, transferred to the Invalid Corps, July 1, 1863 ; reason, gunshot wound ; Henry Miller, discharged November, 21, 1861, for disability ; E. K. McCord, discharged October 15, 1861, for disability ; Spencer Mead, discharged November 24, 1862 ; reason, gunshot wound received at Gainesville August 28, 1862; George W. Nevans, discharged March 21, 1863 ; reason, wound received at the battle of Gainesville August 28, 1862 ; Henry W. Northup, wounded ; Frank Nichols ; James H. Neavill ; F. Pittygrove, wounded ; Robert S. Pittinger, killed at the battle of Gainesville, August 28, 1862; Samuel Peyton, discharged May 6, 1863; reason, wounds received at the battle of Gainesville, August 28, 1862; Alson Parody, discharged Feb. 11, 1864; reason, wounds received at Gettysburg July 1, 1863; Fritz Reckler, wounded ; William B. Reed, discharged January, 1863, for reason of wounds received at the battle of Gainesville August 28, 1862; John W. Raines, discharged November 30, 1862, for reason of wounds received at the battle of Gainesville August 28, 1862; Henry Rhode, re enlisted as veteran volunteer ; R. J. Simpson, killed at the battle of Antietam September 17, 1863 ; George A. Stephenson ; David Strong, discharged March, 1862, on account of disability ; J. H. Stubbs, appointed Corporal July 1, 1863; Joseph Schilling, wounded ; John Schmidt, killed at the battle of Gainesville August 28, 1862; R. S. Stevenson, killed at the battle of Antietam September 17, 1862; Samuel Sprague, appointed Corporal July 1, 1863 ; wounded; W. H. Snodgrass, appointed Corporal November, 1863 ; wounded ; John St. John, died October 8, 1862, of wounds received at the battle of Gainesville August 28, 1862; Albert W. Speas, died in hospital April 23, 1862, of small-pox ; Newton Wilcox, killed at the battle of Gainesville August 28, 1862; George M. Wilson, appointed Corporal September 17, 1862; discharged January 6, 1863, on account of wound received at the battle of Antietam September 17, 1862 ; Philo B. Wright, appointed Corporal January, 1863; appointed Color Sergeant June 28, 1863 ; appointed First Sergeant, vice Gow, killed July 1, 1863 ; discharged May 25, 1864; Orlando Waldorf, appointed Corporal January, 1863, and Sergeant July 1, 1863 ; wounded; Welland Weibel, died in prison at Richmond, Va., of wounds received at the battle of Bull Run July 21, 1861; Francis M. Waldorf, died December 13, 1862, of typhoid fever; Albert Waldorf, died November 26, 1862, of wounds received at the battle of Gainesville August 28, 1862; Oscar Wilcox, discharged November 15, 1863, for disability.
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HISTORY OF GRANT COUNTY.
Recruits-William A. Ewing, killed at the battle of Gettysburg July 1, 1863; A. H. Barber, wounded at the battle of Antietam ; discharged May 15, 1863 ; John Bower, discharged December 12, 1862, for disability ; C. L. Black, discharged May 30, 1862, for disability ; E. K. Housley, died May 16, 1862, of typhoid fever ; James W. Hyde, died of wounds received at Spottsylvania Court House.
In the meantime, Grant County, with an ardor hardly equaled and never surpassed in any section of the State, was preparing her bravest and best and sending them forth to battle, by hundreds and thousands.
On the day of the departure of Capt. McKee's company for Madison, the second company (Capt. Limbocker's) was presented with an elegant flag by the ladies of Platteville. This com- pany soon after left for Fond du Lac, where it was mustered into the Third Regiment Wisconsin Volunteers.
Still they came, and the war fever raged with unabated violence throughout the county. Every hamlet had it, every family. The only question was, How soon can we go ? Then came the President's call for more troops, and company after company was organized in such rapid succession that the historian of these late days finds it difficult to keep up with the swift march of events at this period. The " Union Guards," which had been organized at Lancaster imme- diately after the departure of Capt. McKee's company, organized for active service and elected the following officers : Captain, J. B. Callis ; First Lieutenant, S. Woodhouse ; Second Lieu- tenant, H. F. Young. At Platteville another company had been organized under command of Capt. Nasmith ; still another had been organized at Fennimore by a combination of parts of Wingville and Fennimore companies, and Capt. Mark Finnicum elected Captain. These three companies left for Madison in August and were mustered into the Seventh Regiment Wisconsin Volunteers. Rev. Capt. Palmer's company, from Lancaster, and a second organized at Platte- ville, with Capt. C. F. Overton in command, were ordered to Milwaukee and assigned to the Tenth Regiment Wisconsin Volunteers, and went into camp at Camp Holton. The Sixth Regi- ment contained also a goodly number of Grant County men. So grand had been the patriotic ontpouring from this county, that, by the latter part of September, 1861, "Old Grant" had furnished over one thousand men to help save the Union.
July 1, 1862, another call for 300,000 troops was issued by the President. Nobly did the county respond to this call, notwithstanding that recruits had been going forward in almost a steady stream to fill up the depleted ranks of the old regiments, and that 1,447 men had already been sent out, or nearly a twentieth part of the entire population of the county. No sooner was it known that the country was in need of more defenders than every nerve was strained to fill the quota under the new call.
On the night of August 9, a monster mass meeting was held at Lancaster, which was par- ticipated in by a number of the surrounding towns. Senator Virgin was chosen Chairman and the usual resolutions passed, among others one requesting the Supervisors of the county to raise by tax the sum of $5,000, to be used in rendering assistance to the families of enlisted men. The members of the County Board being present, assembled after the meeting, and passed the following resolution :
Resolved, That this Board of Supervisors will order levied at their November session this year, a special county tax, not to exceed one and a quarter mills on the dollar of taxable property of the county, amounting to about $5,000. Said sum so raised shall be applied to assist in the support of the families of men who have volun- teered, or may hereafter volunteer, leaving no male member of their family at home over the age of eighteen, to take care of such families of volunteers, and such families being in absolute need of assistance ; also, to assist such families as have been deprived of their head (husband or father) by the accidents of war, leaving no one on whom the family can rely for support ; and in no case can such relief exceed the sum of $5 per month pay to any family.
Eight companies were soon reported full or nearly so, namely : McDermott's, Farquhar- son's, Scott's, Swan's, Nash's, Harlocker's, Earnhardt's and Frank's. It was proposed to organize a Grant County regiment, but owing to the shortness of the time, this project was not carried out. Of the above companies, McDermott's was mustered into the Twentieth Regiment, at Madison, forming Company C of that organization, Harlocker's making Company I of the
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HISTORY OF GRANT COUNTY.
same; Farquharson's, Scott's, Swann's and Nash's into the Twenty-fifth, making Companies C, E, H and I respectively, while the remaining companies-Earnhardt's and Frank's, with another company formed under Capt. Burdick-were mustered into the Thirty-third Regiment, forming Companies D, B and G. These full companies, together with other enlistments, brought the .number of volunteers sent from Grant County up to over twenty-two hundred, or about one- fifteenth of its entire population.
Hon. J. L. Pickard, State Superintendent of Public Instruction, at the commencement of recruiting under this call, had authorized Lieut. Col. Nasmith, of the Twenty-fifth Regiment, to draw on him for $100, to be used for the benefit of the sick and wounded of the first company raised in Grant County for that regiment. Capt. Swan's "Potosi Badgers" carried off the prize, being just four hours ahead of a company organized at Platteville under the efforts of Messrs. Scott and Smelker.
In addition to the above-mentioned companies, a cavalry company had been organized by Capt. R. R. Wood, at Patch Grove, in the latter part of 1861, which company was ordered into camp at Milwaukee, where it was mustered into the Second Regiment Wisconsin Cavalry, form- ing Company A of the regiment.
Still the call came for more troops, draining the country of its bone and sinew. During the dark days of 1863-64, Grant County continued to send squad after squad of recruits to fill up the ranks of the depleted regiments at the front.
Nor were the boys at the front neglected. Soldiers' Aid Societies were organized in every city, village and township, the ladies, God bless them, vieing with each other in their efforts to alleviate, in such a manner as possible, the trials and privations of the county's representatives down in Dixie. Many a soldier boy's heart has jumped with joy, as boxes laden with warm clothing, pocket comforts, or delicacies to which he had long been a stranger, came fresh from the far-off Northern home, accompanied by the kind wishes and sweet sympathy of the loving hearts waiting and watching "for the return of peace." The story of women in the war can never be told, for every one of the gentler sex who, through active, untiring exertions in behalf of the brave soldier boys, has had her name high blazoned on the tablets of fame; there are hundreds, thousands of earnest workers, whose exertions were just as untiring, whose work was pursued with the same patriotic energy, yet whose deeds remain untold, and their lives unsung, and remembered only by the weary hearts whose sufferings were relieved, and their arm made stronger to strike for the Union, by the humble efforts of these unknown Sisters of Charity, whose church was their country, and whose charge included in its far-sweeping confines, every defender of the assailed Union. Again, rises the cry, echoed in every soldier's heart, "God bless the women of the war."
Upon the organization of the Forty-first Regiment-one hundred day men-in 1864, Grant was represented by one company, under the command of Capt. P. J. Schlosser.
This was followed soon after by two more companies, the first under the command of Capt. Likens, being mustered in as Company H, of the Forty-third; the second, Capt. C. H. Baxter, was assigned to the Forty-seventh, making Company K, of that regiment.
Thus nobly did Old Grant respond to the repeated calls for National defenders. Never looking back or counting the consequences, until the once populous county began to show serious evidences of this steady drain. A single evidence of this unhesitating outpouring, is taken from the Herald of September 6, 1864, which, speaking of the town of Paris, says: "This town polled one hundred and one votes in 1860, and spared eighty-seven volunteers previous to the 500,000 call. Under the last call, upon which the draft is pending, seventeen more have volunteered for other towns, making one hundred and four in all. There are left in the town three single men and twenty-nine married men; all between the ages of twenty and forty-five. Of those left, at least seven are unfit for duty, leaving but twenty-five able-bodied men in the town. The draft quota of that town is seven or eight, or about one-third of what is left."
As it was with Paris, so it was in every section of the county. The country is in danger ! was the rallying cry, and never was it raised in vain. To-day Grant County has the proud
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HISTORY OF GRANT COUNTY.
honor of heading the list of counties of this State in the furnishing of men for the suppression of the rebellion.
THE DRAFT.
Following upon the heels of the President's second call for 300,000 men, in 1862, came another call for 300,000 drafted militia from those districts which could not at once raise volun- teers enough to fill their quota under both calls. The time allowed for enlistments was so short that the last call was virtually an order for a draft forthwith. The State was divided into dis- tricts coinciding with the Congressional Districts, with a Commissioner and Surgeon for each district. The Commissioner for the Third, in which was included Grant County, was Stephen O. Paine, of Platteville, the examining Surgeon being Dr. J. W. Hyde, of Lancaster. The enrollment of those liable to draft in the different counties was placed in the hands of the Sheriff of each county; this enrollment was to be finished by the 1st of September. The quota of Grant County up to and under these calls was 1714, or 505 above the number enlisted. Spurred by the necessity of avoiding, if possible, compulsory service, the county responded, by raising volunteers to the number of 500, over and above the quota called for, and thus put all danger of this and supposably a future draft out of the question. Speaking of this wonderful success in securing enlistments, the Herald of August 28, 1862, says: "We have already fur- nished in Grant County about 500 men above our full quota, and so gone beyond the posssibility of draft for the future. Grant County is, therefore, a safe place of refuge for those who fear a draft, just as safe as Canada, although we do not wish this statement to be taken as an invita- tion for all sneaks to make this county their asylum, we need hundreds of laborers here; our lead mines are nearly deserted; labor must be very dear, and the profits of capital and labor heavy for some months."
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