History of Green County, Wisconsin. Together with sketches of its towns and villages, educational, civil, military and political history; portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens, Part 69

Author: Union publishing company, Springfield, Ill., pub. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Springfield, Ill., Union publishing company
Number of Pages: 1168

USA > Wisconsin > Green County > History of Green County, Wisconsin. Together with sketches of its towns and villages, educational, civil, military and political history; portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens > Part 69

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The "Iron Brigade," on the 6th of February, 1865, broke camp and took part in the engage- ment near Dabney's Mill, on Hatcher's Run. In this affair, the third division of Gen. Crawford, of the 5th corps, took the advance, and bore the brunt of the fight on the 6th and 7th of February. Our Wisconsin regiments fought with their ac- customed gallantry ; and their loss was very severe. The loss of the division was about thirty-seven officers, and 1,143 men, an aggre- gate of 1,180 out of about 4,000 who went into action. The loss of the 7th regiment in the battle at Dabney's Mill, on the 6th and 7th of

February, 1865, as reported by Lieut-Col. Rich- ardson, is as follows : Four killed, and nine- teen wounded. Returning to camp near the Military railroad, they remained until ordered, in the middle of February, to proceed to Balti- more. On arriving at City Point, the order, so far as it related to the 6th and 7th regiments, was countermanded ; and the two regiments were ordered to return to their old camp, when, by order of Gen. Crawford, they were re-organ- ized as the "First Provisional Brigade," and placed under the command of Col. Kellogg, of the 6th, Lieut-Col. Kerr assuming command of the regiment. March 5, the 91st New York Heavy Artillery were added, making the brigade about 3,000 men. Here they remained until the opening of the final campaign, which resulted in the capture of Gen. Lee.

On the morning of the 29th of March, 1865, the brigade broke camp near the Military rail- road, and moved to near Boydtown plank-road. Here line of battle was formed; the 6th and 7th Wisconsin forming the first line, in rear of the second brigade. The enemy being driven from his position, the brigade was ordered to a point near the road ; the 7th Wisconsin, under Lieut. Col. Richardson, being placed on the road, and the balance of the brigade about eighty rods to the rear, in line of battle, where they re- mained during the night, and next day advanced to the road, and threw up breastworks. On the 31st the brigade moved from the breast- works, in a northwesterly direction, across Gravelly Run, where it was massed in column of regiments for a short time, when it was or- dered to deploy into line of battle to the right of the second brigade. Before this movement was accomplished, only the 6th and 7th Wis- consin being in line, Col. Kellogg, in command of the brigade, was ordered to arrest the men from the front line, who were falling back in confusion. This conld not be done, as the fly- ing troops broke through his line, and threw it into confusion. The 6th and 7th were ordered

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HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY.

to close their intervals, form into line of battle, and open fire on the enemy ; which was done, and continued until the enemy had turned both flanks, and were firing on the flanks and rear. The 7th Wisconsin changed front, so as to meet the fire on their flank ; but, the enemy appear- ing in strong force in the rear, the brigade re- tired across Gravelly Run in as good order as possible, being somewhat broken up by being compelled to fight their way back. The 6th and 7th were formed on the front line next to the creek, near the bridge, where they remained dur- ing the rest of the engagement. The brigade was re-formed in the rear of their first position, and ordered to lie down, and were afterwards moved forward on the battle-field, and encamped. The fifth corps had been ordered to report to Gen Sheridan, at Dinwiddie Court House. On the 1st of April, the brigade moved in line of battle in a westerly direction to the vicinity of the Gravelly Run church. In the afternoon the 7th regiment occupied the advance line on the left of the brigade, with the 6th Wisconsin on the right. Companies Band E of the 7th were deployed as skirmishers, covering the brigade front, advancing in line of battle. The enemy's advance was driven through the woods, back upon their entrenclients at Five Forks, Gen. Sheridan ordered Col. Richardson to move over the enemy's works, which the gallant col- onel obeyed, wheeling to the right, and charg- ing the enemy through the open field, driving them through the woods, following their re- treating columns, and again charging them through a second open field. Night coming ou, the brigade fell back two miles, and went into position behind the breastworks captured from the enemy. This was the part taken by the 6th and 7th Wisconsin in the famous battle of Five Forks.

On the 2d, the brigade advancing to the South Side railroad, found the position abandoned by the enemy. This was about thirteen miles from Petersburg. Continuing to advance rap-

idly in a westerly direction, the enemy were found intrenched on the Burkesville road. The brigade was deployed to the right of the road, in two lines ; and the 7th, under Col. Richard- son, were deployed as skirmishers, with orders to cover the entire front of the line of battle. The enemy, after dark, opened fire on their lines, which was replied to; and the command ad- vanced, and halted within a few rods of their breastworks, where they lay on their arms all night. During the night the enemy abandoned their works. Pursuit was made ; but they were not overtaken, and the brigade went into bivouac. On the morning of the 4th pursuit was resumed ; and Jettersville station, on the Danville railroad, was reached in the afternoon, which was found occupied by Gen. Sheridan's cavalry, and the enemy in strong force just be- yond. Here the brigade formed in line of battle, the men weary and footsore, having traveled all day, and labored all night, throwing up breastworks. Here they rested, waiting for an attack, until the 6th, when the enemy was found to have again taken flight. Following him during the 6th and 7th, on the west side of the Appomatox, they reached High Railroad Bridge, where the found the enemy had crossed, and set the bridge on fire. On the 8th, a long and tiresome forced march was made by the brigade, being much impeded by the wagon trains of the the twenty-fourth corps. They encamped in line of battle that night. On the 9th, pursuit was again resumed ; and the gallant "Iron Brigade" had the proud satisfaction of assisting in the capture of the famous army of Gen. Lee at Appomattox Court House.

In the short campaign from March 29 to April 9, the casualties in the 6th and 7th regiments were as follows: Sixth regiment, killed, or died of wounds, sixteen ; 7th regiment, killed, or died of wounds, eighteen ; wounded, fifty- two. After the surrender of the rebel forces moved to Black and White's station, on the . under Gen. Lee, the brigade, on the 11th of April,

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HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY.

Petersburg & Lynchburg Railroad, and went into camp, where they remained until the corps com- manders were ordered to march their respective commands to Washington. They arrived there, and participated in the grand review on the 23d of May, and went into camp till the 17th of June, when they left Washington to report to Major-Gen. Logan, at Louisville, Ky., where they arrived on the 22d f June. Here they were organized into the "1" gincial Division" of Gen. Morrow,-the 7th regiment in the first and the 6th in the second brigade ; the latter being placed under the command of Col. Kel- logg of the 6th, who, at the muster-out of Gen. Morrow, was assigned to the command of the division. The 7th was mustered out, and started for Wisconsin on the 2d of July, arriving on the 5th at Madison, where it was received by the State authorities, and was soon after paid off, and the regiment disbanded. The 6th was mustered out on the 14th, and arrived at Madison on the 16th, and were publicly received, paid, and the regiment disbanded. Col. Kel- logg, the last brigade commander, issued a final order, dissolving the organization of the "Iron Brigade;" and the gallant corps, which had be- come the pride of our State, ceased to exist. Its history forms one of the brightest pages in our National records. Col. Kellogg of the 6th, was subsequently breveted brigadier-geneaal, and Lient-Col. Richardson of the 7th, was bre- veted colonel, and subsequently brigadier-gen- eral, for gallant and meritorious services in the final operations of the Army of the Potomac, particularly at the battle of Five Forks.

EIGIITH WISCONSIN REGIMENT.

The 8th regiment was called into camp from the 1st to the 16th of September, 1861, and placed under the command of Col. Robert C. Murphy, of St. Croix Falls. The other field and staff officers were, George W. Robinson, lieutenant-colonel; J. W. Jefferson, major; Ezra T. Sprague, adjutant; F. L. Billings, quarter- master; S. P. Thornhill, surgeon; W. Hobbins

and J. S. Murta, assistants; and W. McKinley, chaplain. The companies were from the coun- ties of Waupaca, Sheboygan, Eau Claire, Craw- ford, La Crosse, Racine and from Fox Lake, Fitchburg, Janesville and Belleville. The numerical strength of the regiment when it left Camp Randall was 966 men, and it was mustered into service by companies, by Major Brooks.

After being fully equipped (with the excep- tion of arms), on the 30th of September, Col. Murphy received notice that he had been as- signed, with his command, to Major-Gen. Fre- mont's division. On the Ist of October, orders were received to move forward to St. Louis, at which place they arrived October 13. The fine appearance of the regiment elicited universal praise. It was received at St. Louis by the IIon. S. Cameron, secretary of war, and Adju- tant-Gen. L. Thomas, who paid it a bigh com- pliment. This was the first regiment that had passed in that direction from the State. The next day after their arrival, an order came for them to move forward to Pilot Knob with the certainty of meeting the enemy. They went forward, and on the 21st took part in the battle of Frederickstown. The regiment was held as a reserve.

The 8th regiment, from the time of their de- parture from the State, up to the middle of January, with the exception of the skirmish at Frederickstown, in the autumn of 1861, was principally engaged in guarding railroad bridges and other general duties in the southern portion of Missouri and in Arkansas. On the 16th of January they left Camp Curtis, arriving at Cairo the next day. From Cairo they were ordered to Point Pleasant, Mo., to participate in the attack on Island No. 10, whence they marched, on the 7th of April, to New Madrid.

Shortly after the reduction of this island, they were ordered to Corinth, and arrived at Pittsburg Landing on the 22d of April, when they at once took their place in the army

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HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY.

destined for the reduction of Corinth. On the 9th of May, at the battle of Farmington, the 8th regiment, under the command of Lieut .- Col. Robbins, lost in killed, three (of whom two were commissioned officers), and sixteen wounded, and one missing. On the 28th of May, leaving Farmington, the regiment, under the command of Lieut .- Col. Robbins-Col. Mur- phy being in charge of the brigade- went into action before Corinth, and, by their steady courage and demeanor, demonstrated their bravery under a heavy fire, losing, in this action, two killed and five wounded. This was the last effort of the rebels to defend the city, which was entered by our troops two days afterwards.

Subsequently they were ordered to Iuka, where they remained until the approach of the rebels under Price and Van Dorn, when they were again ordered to Corinth, and took part in the second battle of Corinth, on the 3d and 4th of October. During this battle, while Col. Murphy was absent, Lieut .- Col. Robbins and Major Jefferson were wounded, and carried from the field; and the command of the regiment devolved upon Capt. Britton, who nobly con- ducted the action. Their loss in this battle was fourteen killed, seventy-five wounded, and two missing. After joining in the pursuit of the rebels which followed this battle, they returned to Corinth on the 14th of October, after which time they were stationed in the vicinity of Waterford, Miss.

The 8th nobly earned the encomiums be- stowed upon it. Its record is such that Wis- consin may feel proud of the "Eagle" regi- ment.

On the 8th of December, the regiment was at Waterford, Miss., in the left wing of the Army of the Tennessee, under the command of Major-Gen. U. S. Grant.

The 8th regiment, in January, 1863, moved from La Grange, by way of Corinth, to Ger- mantown, Tenn., where they were employed in

building fortifications, and guard duty, until March 11, when they marched to Memphis, and joined the forces intended by Gen. Grant to operate against Vicksburg, which were being concentrated near Helena. Lieut .- Col. Robbins was commissioned as colonel in the place of Col. Murphy dismissed. The regiment with other attacked the enemy, and, on the 14th of May, took possession of Jackson, the capital of Mississippi. They Men proceeded to Walnut Hills, forming the extreme right of the invest- ing force around Vicksburg. Here they took a part in the assault on the enemy's works. The regiment participated in many skirmishes with some loss, and on the 26th of September moved to Black River bridge, and went into camp, and remained until October 13. The 8th regiment, on the 27th of January, 1864, proceeded to Vicksburg, by way of Mem- phis, and encamped near Black River bridge on the 3d of February. They took part in Sher- man's famous Meridian expedition, marching as far as Canton, Miss., and returning to Black River bridge, thence to Vicksburg, on the 5th of March. Here the regiment consented to re- main and take part in Gen Smith's projected expedition up the river to co-operate with Gen. Banks. The regiment expected to be sent home on veteran furlough, but remained at the especial request of Gen. Sherman. Leaving Vicksburg March 10, they passed down the Mississippi and up the Red river, to Simms- port, and landed. The brigade advanced and charged upon the rebels at Fort Scurvy, captur- ing several prisoners, and some military stores. Continuing up the river, they attacked and cap- tured Fort De Russy, after a short resistance. Here they were joined by the fleet, when they proceeded to Alexandria, and thence to Hen- derson Hill, where they found the rebels posted with artillery. A detour of fifteen miles was made in order to attack the enemy on the rear. About midnight, Gen. Mower succeeded in capturing the whole rebel force (350 strong), with four guns and 400 horses, and other muni-

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HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY.

tions of war. After a number of marches with Gen. Smith's army and a part of Gen. Bank's force, they received the attack of the enemy, and, after four hours hard fighting, drove him from the field. Our forces subsequently re- treated to Grand Encore, and thence to Alex- andria.

The 8th participated in an action at Natchi- toches, and also at Cloutersville, where the rebels were driven baek in confusion. On the 4th of May, the 8th were deployed as skirmish- ers, and drove the enemy ten miles. At Bayou La Mourie, the enemy annoyed them by contin- uous artillery and musketry fire. They also took part in an action at Mansura, and also Calhan's Plantation, and Bayou De Glaise ; after which Gen. Smith's army returned to the mouth of Red river, and, embarking, reached Vicksburg on the 24th, and went into camp. The rebels having attempted to blockade the Mississippi at Columbia, Ark., on the 6th of June, Gen. Smith sent forward a division of 1,500 infantry, and a battery in charge of Gen. Mower. The enemy were found, and an engage- ment ensued. The enemy were driven from their position, and pursued several miles. In this action, known as the "Battle of Chicot," the regiment had three killed, and sixteen wounded. The command proceeded up the. river to Memphis, and went into camp. Here the veterans were allowed to proceed to Wis- consin on thirty days' furlough. The remainder of the regiment moved to La Grange, and in July took part in the expedition into Mississippi, and participated in the engagements near Tupelo. They returned to Memphis after a march of 260 miles. Here they were joined by the regiment from veteran furlough. Subsequently the 8th marched from Memphis to Mississippi with the forces of Gen. A. J. Smith. On the 2d of September, they proceeded to White river and to Duvall's Bluff, thence to Brownsville, in pursuit of Gen. Price, and reached Cape Girardeau, October 1. On the 5th, they left for St.

Louis, where the regiment was newly clothed and equipped. Re-embarking on transports, they reached Jefferson City, and thenee to Lamoine Bridge. From this place, they were assigned on the expeditionary army against Gen. Price through Kansas. Learning of the defeat and dispersion of Price's forces, they re- turned, reaching Benton Barracks November 15. On the 23d of November, they proceeded to Nashville to re-enforce Gen. Thomas, and took part in the battle on the 15th and 16th of December. In this action, the regiment captured a six-gun battery, about 400 prisoners, and two stands of colors. Their losses were, ten, killed; fifty-two wounded. The regiment joined in the pursuit, marching 150 miles, and finally encamp- ed at Clifton, Tenn., on the 22d of January, 1865.

The 8th regiment joined the pursuit of the enemy after the battle of Nashville, marched 150 miles and encamped at Chifton, Tenn. On the 2d of January, 1865, they moved to East- port Embarking on the 6th of February, they proceeded, with the sixteenth corps, down the Tennessee to Cairo, and thence to New Orleans, and went into camp five miles below that city. On the 5th of March they moved in transports to take part in the investment of the defenses of Mobile, landing at Dauphin Island, and from thence proceeded up Fish river, ten miles, and went into camp. On the 25th they moved, and took position in the lines before the Spanish fort. Here they were engaged in fortifying, and the performance of picket duty, until the evacuation of the fort, on the 9th of April, when they moved to a position before Fort Blakely, and took part in the charge on that place with a small loss. After the surrender, the regiment marched 180 miles to Montgomery, Ala., where they remained until the 10th of May, when they marched by way of Selma, and took cars for Uniontown, on the Alabama & Mississippi Railroad. Here they went into camp, and remained until orders were received

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HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY.

for their muster out. This was done at Demop- olis, Ala., on the 5th of September, and the regiment reached Madison on the 13th, where they received their pay, and were formally dis- banded.

The Sth was known as the "Eagle Regiment," from the fact that a live eagle was carried through all its campaigns, up to the return of the non-veterans in 1864. This bird was taken from the parent nest in Chippewa Co., Wis., by an Indian, whe disposed of it to a gentleman in Eau Claire county, from whom it was pur- chased by members of Capt. Perkin's company, Eau Claire Eagles, by whom it was presented to the regiment while organizing in 1861. It is needless to say that it was instantly adopted as the regimental pet, and was christened " Old Abe." A perch was prepared and the royal bird was borne with the regiment on all its marches, and into every battle in which the gallant 8th was engaged, up to the muster-out of the non-veterans. Perched on his standard, above the heads of the men, the bird was more than once the mark for rebel bullets, but, luck- ily, escaped unharmed, with the exception of the loss of a few feathers shot away. He re- turned with the non-veterans in 1864, and was presented.to the State, and placed in charge of the quartermaster's department, and every care necessary bestowed on him. At the great Chicago fair in 1863, "Old Abe" was exhibited, and his photographs disposed of, realizing the amount of about $16,000. He was also exhib- ited at the Milwaukee fair with profitable re- sults. We are told that the sum netted to these charitable objects was about $20,000. He oc- casionally breaks from his fetters, and soars into his native element; but he has become so far domesticated, that he is casily recovered. Occasionally the music of a band, or the noise of a drum, will reach his ear, when he will in- stantly listen, and will respond with his charac- teristic scream, probably recognizing the strain as one with which the battle field has made his ear familiar. "Old Abe" has become celebrated

in our military annals ; and his history is inex- tricably interwoven with that of the brave and gallant regiment who bore him triumphantly through the field of strife.

Reference has been made to the 8th Wis- consin as the "Eagle Regiment." Some ac- count of this "eagle," from whom the regiment derived its name, will prove interesting.

""'Old Abe' was captured in the spring of 1861, in Chippewa Co., Wis., by an Indian, by the name of A-ge-mah-me-ge-zhig, of the Lake Flambeau tribe of the Chippewa Indians. The Indian sold the eagle to D. McCann, for a bushel of corn. Mr. McCann concluded that his eagle should go the wars. He took him to Chippewa Falls, and from thence to Eau Claire. The eagle being then about two months old, he sold it for $2.50 to company C, 8th Wisconsin regiment. The eagle was soon sworn into ser- vice by putting around his neck red-white-and- blue-ribbons, and on his breast a rosette of the same colors. The company, commanded by Capt. J. E. Perkins, and James McGennis, the eagle-bearer, left for Madison on the 6th of September, 1861. They arrived at La Crosse in the evening of the next day. The fact that a company was coming with a live eagle brought a great crowd to the wharf. A salute from the 1st Wisconsin Battery was fired, followed by cheers from the crowd and soldiers, 'The eagle, the eagle ! hurrah for the eagle !' Arriving at Madison on the 8th of September, the company marched direct to Camp Randall, the band playing Yankee Doodle, amidst great shouting from the 7th regiment and part of the 8th. The company entered the gate ; and the eagle, as if by instinct, spread his wings, took hold of one of the small flags attached to his perch, in his beak, and carried it in that position to the colonel's quarters. The excitement knew no bounds ; shout after shout was heard from the crowd. Deep and strong was the conviction that the eagle had a charmed life.

"In camp he was visited by thousands, among them the highest dignitaries of civil and mili-

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HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY.

tary life. Capt. Perkins named him 'Old Abe,' in honor of Abraham Lincoln. By a vote of the company, the Eau Claire Badgers, its origi- nal name was changed to Eau Claire Eagles ; and by general expression of the people, the 8th Wisconsin was called the 'Eagle Regiment.'

"On the 12th of October, 1861, the regiment- left Camp Randall. At Chicago, St. Louis, and in fact everywhere, 'Old Abe' attracted great attention. Five hundred dollars were at one time offered for him, and at another, a farm worth $5,000 but, of course, in vain. His feathers are scattered all over the Union, so great the de- mand for them. 'Old Abe' was seen in all his glory, when the regiment was engaged in battle. At such times, he was always found in his place at the head of company C. In the midst of the roaring of cannon, the crack of the musket, and the roll of smoke, "Old Abe," with spread pin- ions, would jump up and down on his perch, uttering wild and fearful screams. The fiercer and louder the storm of battle, the fiercer, wilder and louder his screams. "Old Abe" was with the command in nearly every action,-about twenty-two battles, and sixty skirmishes. It is a remarkable fact that not a color bearer or eagle bearer, of the 8th, was shot down. The veterans were mustered out of the United States service, at Memphis, Sept. 16, 1864. It was there decided that "Old Abe" should be given to the State of Wisconsin. The regiment ar- rived in Madison on the 26th. The eagle was received by the governor from Capt. Wolf. The famous bird has since paid the debt of nature, and now reposes as an object of curiosity, in a glass case, on an elegant pedestal, in the rotunda of the capitol.

Men in the Eighth Regiment, from Green County.

Lewis G. Armstrong, John Warner, William Chatwood, John W. Smith, Edwin B. White, George R. Ames, Laben L. Ames, John Burr, Ellis Day, Charles L. Gilbert, Joel W. Walker, James M. McNair, James Peterson, Stephen Estee, Alonzo W. Morley, Andrew Wood, G.

T. Vermilion, Walter S. Heal, R. A. Barber, William E. Barnes, Charles Baxter, Julius Behr, Russell Brownell, Abraham Burt, James C. Chamberlain, Sanford Cluxton, Charles Corse, John R. Devlin, Daniel S. Edwards, Lewis Ellis, James Gilbert, Thomas Green, Jesse Ham, Lu- ther Havens, Nelson Heal, J. Jerryham, Cassius M. Jones, John F. Jones, William H. H. Jones, David Lewis, Joseph Lewis, David K. Loomis, Orson B. Loomis. Henry E. Mahar, Christopher C. Noggle, Edwin H. Oleson, Henry Oliver, Mr. Parker, Benjamin F. Peregoy, John M. Powell, William Ross, Milton Ross, William R. Raymer, Irvin Robison, John L. Russel, Jacob S. Ruther- ford, Robert Spears, William Stevens, Ferris Thompson, Otis Thompson, John Waldo and Pliny II. White.

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History of Green County, Wisconsin. Together with sketches of its towns and villages, educational, civil, military and political history; portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens, Part 69

Author: Union publishing company, Springfield, Ill., pub. [from old catalog] Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Springfield, Ill., Union publishing company Number of Pages: 1168

Author: Union publishing company, Springfield, Ill., pub. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Springfield, Ill., Union publishing company
Number of Pages: 1168