News Articles about the Beating Death of Peter J. Bellinger by

Civil War Soldiers in New Lisbon, Juneau Co., WI

Compiled by Jackie Martin Hufschmid

 

 

[Special Dispatch to the Chicago Tribune]

Milwaukee, Sept. 11

            A serious shooting affray occurred at New Lisbon last evening, resulting in the death of two men and seriously wounding of three others. Mr. Bellinger, of the firm of Hewitt & Co., of this city, having stopped at that place for a night, became engaged in a political discussion which speedily brought on a quarrel.  One or two soldiers interfered, when Bellinger drew a revolver and shot one of the soldiers, killing him instantly, at the same time wounding three others.  Bellinger ran after them, firing, but was pursued by several soldiers and shot dead.  The name of the soldier killed was E. Olson; wounded, J. P. Elgin and Edward Webber, seriously, Charles Cummings, slightly.  Mr. Bellinger was about thirty years of age and very generally liked among his acquaintances, of strong partizan (sic) views and passionate in discussion.

Janesville Daily Gazette, [Janesville, WI] dated 12 Sep 1863

 

 

From the Daily Wisconsin

THE AFFRAY AT NEW LISBON

 

Particulars from an Eye-Witness

 

            The following particulars in regard to this affair, we have gathered from H. B. Freeman, agent of H. S. Bradley & Co., of this city, who was in New Lisbon at the time of the affray, and saw the greater part of it:

            P. J. Bellinger, who, as we have already stated, was of the firm of A. B. Hewitt & Co., had visited New Lisbon on business, and on the evening of the 10^th inst., between seven and eight o’clock, met, in the street near the post office, a Dr. Secor, of that place, and being acquainted with him, entered into conversation with him.  The conversation soon turned upon the war, and Bellinger, becoming excited, denounced the administration in unmeasured terms, accused it of unnecessarily making war upon the south, and, by his whole manner conveying the idea that he was much more in sympathy with the rebels than with the government.  The doctor remonstrated with him as being too severe, and, knowing something of his passionate nature, tried to calm him, but, seeing that he was very much excited, and fearing trouble, he left him.  In the meantime quite a crowd had collected, among which were a number of soldiers of the 30^th regiment, who, upon the doctor leaving, took up the conversation quite spiritedly.

            Bellinger then become still more excited, and going out in to the street, loaded his piston, saying to the soldiers, “I can whip the whole of Co. C, 30^th regiment; and, damn you, if you follow me I’ll shoot you.:”  He then went in to the store of a Mr. Roth, the soldiers following him to the door, and wanting him to come out.  This he refused to do.  Roth then went out, and, locking the door after him, fastened Bellinger in.

            This enraged the soldiers very much, and they declared they would have him out, and, running around to the rear of the store, broke in one of the windows.  Bellinger seeing his danger, jumped out of the front window and ran for the Georgia House, the soldiers following close upon his heels.  Mr. Freeman, fearing trouble, started away from the crowd, but had gone only a few steps when he heard six pistol shots in rapid succession, and turning about found that one solder was killed and three were wounded.  The soldiers then caught Bellinger, and, throwing him upon the ground, pounding him very severely.  They then let him go, and he ran in to the bar-room.

            After he got into the house, the soldiers learned that one of their number was killed, and the scene that was then presented, says our informant, was fearful. The soldiers were frantic, some with rage and some with grief – some vowing vengeance, and others crying like children, and bewailing their dead comrade in most piteous terms, saying he has killed peaceable man – a soldier in the service of this county.

            They then made a rush into the bar-room for him, but the captain, and a number of citizens got him down by the bar, and forming a line in front of him, thus kept off the soldiers for an hour and a half, in the meanwhile trying to pacify them by telling them that justice should be done.

            A portion of them finally went out, and it was hoped the danger was over, but I a short time some dozen or more returned, and, rushing in blew out the lights, and seizing Bellinger dragged him in to the street, and again beat him dreadfully.  He lay for some minutes apparently dead, but suddenly got up and ran some thirty or forty rods, but was again pursued and overtaken, and this time literally beaten to death.

            The soldier killed was shot in the chest; the one most severally wounded was shot in the side, the ball striking a rib obliquely and glancing off. Of the other solder shot one was hit in the forehead and the other in the mouth, the balls striking in such a way as not to do much injury.

            The captain and a sergeant of the company, together with the citizens, made every effort to protect Bellinger from the soldiers.  A woman by the name of Elwood showed remarkable bravery and presence of mind.  Placing herself between the soldiers and Bellinger, she declared that none should touch him, except they first passed over her dead body.  The soldiers, however, were so much infuriated by what Bellinger had said, and by his killing and wounding some of their number, that they would not be restrained, and the tragedy terminated as we have said.

            The sadest (sic) part of it is, that the  soldier killed, was in no way connected with the affair, but had just come up to see what was going on, and had but just entered the crowd when he received the fatal shot.

            This sad tragedy is another fearful comment upon the danger of carrying weapons in private life; but for Bellinger’s pistol this terrible scene would not have been enacted, as the soldiers had no weapons, and showed no desire to commit any fatal injury upon Bellinger until he had fired upon them.

 

Janesville Daily Gazette, [Janesville, WI] dated 14 Sep 1863

 

 

Why Bellinger was Shot

Correspondence of the Daily Wisconsin

NEW LISBON, Juneau Co., Wis, Sept. 11

 

            For the last three days, Mr. P. J. Bellinger, of the firm of A. B. Hewitt & Co., of Milwaukee, has been stopping here.  During the time he exhibited a revolver on the streets, frequently discharging it, at the same time asserting that he could kill a man easy, &e.  Last evening he had several altercations with citizens and soldiers, and took occasion to denounce the government, &e., and threatening to shoot a soldier.  He was seen to go out into the street and load his revolver, and then turn round and said that “he was enough for the 30^th regiment,” &e.  The soldiers undertook to arrest him for his threats.

            He ran into the store of A. Roth, and was pursued by the soldiers. Roth locked the store and blew out the lights.  The solders went into the back door.  Bellinger jumped through the front window, ran across the street and was there arrested.  He turned and fired some six or seven shots, killing a soldier by the name of Ebrace Oleson, who was standing across the street in conversation with a citizen, and wounding Bernhant severely.

            Ed. Miller and Charles Cummins were slightly wounded.  The soldiers, on seeing their comrades killed and counted, seized Bellinger and killed him in the street.  All is quiet this morning, and there is no danger of any further difficulty.  The above are the facts.

                                    A RESIDENT OF NEW LISBON

 

Janesville Daily Gazette, [Janesville, WI] dated 15 Sep 1863

 

 

 

Correct Particulars of the New Lisbon Affray.

New Lisbon, Sept. 13

            Friend Cramer:  I am well aware that the unfortunate affair that occurred in the village on the evening of the 10^th inst. has created no little excitement in Milwaukee, as it undoubtedly will in every town and city in the state.  Knowing that all kinds of reports will be circulated and published in various newspapers, I consider it due to the officers of company C, and the citizens, (of this usually quiet village), that the plain and simple facts, without coloring, be set forth to the public.  I believe that such a statement of the most essential facts has been made and published in your issue of the 12^th instant by one of your own citizens, who was an eye-witness, and must have been entirely disinterested.  The article referred to I wish you would publish again, (headed thus: The affray at New Lisbon from an eye witness, and corroborated by the undersigned citizens who saw  more or less of it,) with the corroborating statement of many citizens, whose names and their positions you are at liberty to publish.

            The names marked with a *, are the ones that struggled to their utmost to same Bellinger.

            I also wish to request all your exchanges, and all the city papers, to publish this article, together with the corroborating testimony of the citizens, many of whom witnessed the whole affair from its commencement to its awful end.

            Yours, with respect,       E. C. SAGE

 

            NEW LISBON, Sept. 12, 1863 – We the undersigned citizens of New Lisbon, having read the article in your paper (of this day) based upon the account of H. B. Freeman, do fully concur in his statement of the facts in the premises.  And we are heartily thankful that a candid and reliable citizen of your city was present to give the facts to the public.

                        Yours with respect,

                        *J. Ramsey, merchant

                        *E. C. Sage, ch’n board of supervisors

                          C. Boun?, P. M.

                          V. E. Smith, produce dealer

                          G. Hinton, Dep. P. M.

                        *L. C. Wescott, hardware

                          M. B. Heath,

                          L. E. Sexton, dep. U. S. Collector

                          J. G. Parker, justice peace

                          D. Schermerhorn, justice peace

                          N. Reynolds

                          M. Goodell, merchant

                          R. Kittle

                          U? Les, side supervisor

                          N. M. Pool

                          A. Radell

                          James C. Low

A.     M. Hill

E. G. Little, M. D.

E. D. Sage

J. L. Austin

*S. W. Squires

 C. L. Leach & C. Smith, shoe and leather dealers

*J. T. Heath, county surveyor

 

            Janesville Daily Gazette, [Janesville, WI] dated 16 Sep 1863

 

 

The New Lisbon Homicides

            It is a little astonishing to read the ravings of the Milwaukee News and the Chicago Times over the death of Peter Bellinger at New Lisbon, when we recollect that these same papers exhibited no sorrow at all at the fate of eighty or ninety people at Lawrence, murdered in the night, in cold blood, by rebel ruffians.   One at least of these papers, and we believe both of the, justified, excused or palliated the Lawrence massacre.  They did not then desire to hold the border counties of Missouri responsible for the raid of Quantrel, although that band of human fiends came from within those limits, and marched directly from their midst to their bloody work.  Not at all – that was an idea worthy only of fanatical Jim Lane; but now, we perceive, that the Milwaukee News wants the people of New Lisbon held responsible for the murder of Bellinger.   It is in a hurry for vengeance, and can scarcely wait the progress of the law; but it could look upon the eighty murdered people of Lawrence and the smoking ruins of the town with composure.  It did not urge expedition then in tracking up Quantrel and his villains, but rather rejoiced that Schofield, by a military order, screened them from the righteous retribution which they so richly merited.  What is the reason of this difference: - it is because Bellinger was a copperhead, and the people of Lawrence were supposed to be republicans.  That is the whole of it.

            We call attention to this remarkable manifestation of partisan blindness only for reprobating it. We desire all murders punished, according to their degree of criminality.  If Peter Bellinger was murdered in cold blood, without provocation, let the perpetrators of the deed answer to the extent of the law.  It is not necessary that the people of the state should be excited to cut each others’ throats over this affair; nor is there any reason for asking, as the News does, whether it is not “time for the people of Wisconsin to know whether their best men are to be clubbed to death in the public streets with impunity.”   The News may think to make some political capital out of this unfortunate affair, but among the wise and candid, its course, so far as it tends to such a state of things in Wisconsin, will be looked upon with disgust and reprobation.

            The statement of the citizens of New Lisbon, which we have published, indicates plainly that there are two sides to the matter of Bellinger’s death.  It is plain that he killed a man and wounded others before he was harmed.  As the News has nothing to say about the slaughter of an unarmed soldier, who had taken no part in the affray, we are left to suppose that killing a soldier is considered of little consequence. It is evident that Bellinger threatened the soldiers with a revolver in his hand previously, that he had made himself conspicuous during a whole day by the abuse of all who did not agree with him politically, and that he was especially vindictive towards the soldiers.  It is know, too, that he was habitually violet, passionate and offensive in parading his copperheadism in his usual daily intercourse with the public.  Under such circumstances it will be vain for the News to make a martyr of Bellinger, or to gain anything politically by its appeals to the passions of the multitude.  The law will take its course, and n good citizens should in this case, as in all others of a like nature, seek rather to allay feeling than to excite it.

 

Janesville Daily Gazette, [Janesville, WI] dated 18 Sep 1863

 

 

 

THE BELLINGER AFFAIR. – Major Clowney, of Gen. Pope’s staff, who was sent to New Lisbon to investigate the facts in relation to the late tragedy at that place, reports that nine soldiers were more or less implicated in the killing of Bellinger, and that they were placed under arrest and sent to Camp Randall at Madison, subject to civil requisition.  Subsequently the sheriff of Juneau county made application for five of the prisoners, and an order was issued to deliver them up to him, and they will be taken to Juneau county for trail.

            It is eminently proper that all the circumstances of this affair would receive a full judicial investigation.

            From the first, this affair has been but a hollow source of political capital, and the use that has been made of it is conclusive evidence of the straits to which the renegade democracy of the Ryan school are reduced.  The promptness with which the military authorities have proceeded in the matter, and the ample facilities they have afforded the civil authorities, must disarm the News and its confreres of this poor weapon. - Wisconsin

 

Janesville Daily Gazette, [Janesville, WI] dated 25 Sep 1863

 

 

 

The New Lisbon Murder

A Full and Authentic Statement of the Facts

 

            Geo. Wright, Esq., a respected citizen of this city, returned from New Lisbon, yesterday afternoon, with the remains of Mr. Bellinger.  Mr. Wright furnishes us with the following statement of facts.

            He left Milwaukee for New Lisbon on Friday noon’s train, for the purposing of preparing the body, and arrival there about 7 p.m.  He found the body of the murdered man lying in a storehouse in a horribly mutilated state.  With the assistance of the undertaker he proceeded at once to deposit the mangled remains in the casket.   Mr. Wright then proceeded to gather all the details relating to the melancholy affair, from the citizens and eye-witnesses.  For that purpose he conversed with all the leading citizens and personally looked over the whole locality where the scene occurred.  The following is a reliable and impartial statements of all the facts bearing upon the transaction.

            Mr. Bellinger first met Dr. Secor, who was a previous acquaintance, at the post office early in the evening.  The two walked down the street together, conversing pleasantly upon political topics, the Doctor saying that he thought Bellinger a “copperhead” and the latter returning the compliment by telling the Dr. he thought him an abolitionist. This was all said in a quiet, friendly manner.

            The remark of Dr. Secor as to Bellinger being a “copperhead” was accidentally overheard by one or more soldiers passing the same way on the street.   As the Dr. and Bellinger reached the locality opposite the Georgia House the two parted, Bellinger turning to go to the hotel.  At this moment the soldiers approached and one soldier crowded another against Bellinger, pushing him into the gutter, and calling him a “copperhead.”  This was several times repeated, Bellinger making no resistance.  Finally being deeply incensed at the unprovoked ill-treatment, he said if they meant to attack him he would stand his hand with the whole company.  He then left, but fearing that he would be followed up, he went up town and loaded his revolver, saying that he should shoot them if necessary to prevent another such outrageous assault upon him.

            Soon after, he went into the store of Mr. Roth, a personal friend.  The party of soldiers followed him in, clamoring for his arrest, on the ground that he had threatened to shoot them.  Mr. Roth assured the soldiers that if they would go out and let him alone, their desires should be gratified.  He got the soldiers out, when to protect Bellinger from further insult or injury, he extinguished the lights and went out himself, locking Bellinger up inside alone.  The soldiers not thus to be foiled, then repaired to the rear of the store and broke in, whereupon Bellinger broke the front show windows and ran for the Georgia House, pursued by the soldiers.  The door being fastened, he could not get in to the hotel before the soldiers caught him. 

            It is the unanimous belief that at this time Bellinger believed that his pursuers meant to kill him, and for this there was sufficient ground for apprehension.  Bellinger was violently seized, when a struggle commenced the whole party of assailants attacking him.   Bellinger drew his revolver while he was in the actual grasp of one or more of the soldiers and while struggling in vain to get away.  He fired apparently at random, exploding every cap on the pistol, discharging four of the barrels, killing one and wounding three others.  He was so hampered that he could not have controlled his aim had he so intended.  In the terror of the moment occasioned by firing of the pistol, Bellinger extricated himself and got into the hotel. The soldiers followed.  By this time several of the leading citizens had come to his rescue, and placed themselves in front of Bellinger for his protection by standing behind them.  In this brief interval Bellinger seemed to realize that there was but little hope for his life.  He apparently had no confidence in the power of the citizens to protect him.  He stood trembling and terror-stricken and his assailants were infuriated.  He hastily drew from his pockets all of his personal effects, including his watch and purse, and handed them to a personal friend.  The struggle for his protection between the citizens continued for an hour.  At a critical moment during the conflict, one of the girls employed at the house, nobly threw herself between the victims and the soldiers and declared they must kill her before they killed him.  At last the assailants extinguished all the lamps, seized the citizens by the feet, dragging them down.  Bellinger was then mercilessly dragged into the streets his head beaten with clubs and left for dead.  One of them not satisfied, remarked that he would “give him another blow.”   Bellinger at this moment rose to his feet apparently delirious, exclaiming, “I am not yet dead!”  At the same instance he struck a terrible blow at the soldier before him, felling him to the ground, and ran fifteen rods directly against a woodpile, as if blind or crazed, and fell.  Here the crowd of soldiers rushed upon him and beat his brains out.  His last words, uttered at the time, were: “Don’t boys! O dear!”

            Here he was left the citizens keeping away for about an hour, when two or three gentleman approached and removed him to a cooper’s shop, whence on Friday the body was taken to the store house where it was found. The corpse was in as presentable a shape as its mangled condition would admit.

            The facts above given are stated wholly and strictly in accordance with the information received by Mr. Wright from parties present, and may be implicitly relied upon as substantially correct as to all the circumstances of this sad affair.

            When the body reached the depot in this city yesterday, a large concourse of friends and citizens were present.  Considerable feeling was manifested in the city yesterday among all classes of people at the wicked and wanton outrage.

            Mr. Bellinger was a man of high and noble impulses, uniformly reserved but agreeable in his intercourse with his fellow-man and of good personal habits.  He was not addicted to profane language nor to offensive manners in his social or political intercourse.   He was last spring chosen railroad commissioner for the seventh ward unanimously, was a worthy member of one of our masonic lodges and of other associations. 

 

 

Appleton Crescent, [Appleton, WI] dated 26 Sep 1863

THE BELLINGER MURDER – The grand jury of Juneau county having failed to find indictments against the soldiers charged with killing of Mr. Billinger (sic) at New Lisbon last fall, they will now be tried by court martial. It is said the most prominent one in the affray has escaped.

 

Janesville Daily Gazette, [Janesville, WI] dated 04 Dec 1863

 

 

 

            Henry Beardsly a soldier of the 30^th regiment, is on trail before a court martial for the murder of Bellinger at New Lisbon, last fall.  The reader will recollect the case as having created considerable political excitement at the time.  The grand jury of Juneau county failed to find an indictment against any one, and now the military authorities have taken the matter in hand at Milwaukee.

 

Janesville Daily Gazette, [Janesville, WI] dated 25 Sep 1863

 

 

 

One of the soldiers of the 30^th Regiment says the Sentinel, named James Davis, concerned in the Bellinger murder, who after his conviction by court martial, ran the guard and made his escape from camp Reno in Milwaukee, was caught on Monday at Camp Washburn.  He had enlisted with the hundred day men.  He was sentenced to be imprisoned in the military prison at Alton, Illinois, during the remainder of his term in the United States service, and to be then drummed out of camp and surrendered to the civil authorities.  He was taken to Alton Wednesday.

 

Janesville Weekly Gazette, [Janesville, WI] dated 24 Jun 1864

 

 

NOTE:  The soldiers involved did not reside in Juneau County.