1890 Portrait & Bio Album of Green Lake, Marquette & Waushara Counties War for the Union
War For The Union
The first call for troops was made in April, 1861. Company G, 5th Wisconsin Infantry was organized in Green Lake County during that month, and was originally known as the "Berlin Light Guard." Its first captain was W.A. Bugh who ranked from April 30, 1861. He was wounded at Williamsburg, and September 6, 1862, was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel of the 32d Wisconsin Infantry. Louis G. Strong ranked as First Lieutenant from April 30, 1861, and was promoted to Captain September 6, 1862. He was killed in action May 3, 1863, at Fredericksburg, Va. George E. Hilton enlisted in April, 1861, as First Sergeant. He was made First Lieutenant Dec. 23, 1862, and promoted to Captain May 24, 1863. He died May 18, 1864, of wounds received at Spottsylvania, Va.; William H. Kees enlisted in April 1861, as Sergeant; was promoted to Second Lieutenant May 4, 1863, and to Captain, June 17, 1864, serving to the close of the War. Henry K.W. Ayres was mustered as Second Lieutenant April 30, 1861, and discharged Aug. 7, 1862. His discharge was revoked by order of the War Department and he was re-commissioned to date Aug. 7, 1862. He was discharged Dec. 23, 1862, and promoted to First Lieutenant, V.R.C., March 18, 1864. Samuel Y. Naylor enlisted April 1861, as Sergeant; was promoted to First Sergeant; and to Second Lieutenant May 4, 1863, serving to the end of the war.
Company I, 11th Wisconsin Infantry was organized in the fall of 1861, a Green Lake County company known as the "North Wisconsin Tigers." Allen J. Whittier, the first Captain, ranked from Oct. 8, 1861, and resigned Feb. 18, 1864. Nelson R. Doan, who succeeded Captain Whittier March 22, 1864, enlisted Oct. 18, 1861. From First Sergeant he was promoted to Second Lieutenant, March 8, 1862; to First Lieutenant Nov. 12, 1863. He was wounded at Bayou Cache, and mustered out Sept. 4, 1865. De Witt Benham enlisted Aug. 11, 1861, and ranked as First Lieutenant from Oct. 8, 1861, resigning March 7, 1862. Jerome Chesbro ranked as Second Lieutenant from Oct. 8, 1861, was promoted to First Lieutenant March 8, 1862; and died May 3, 1863. Henry C. Welcome enlisted Sept. 20, 1861; was promoted from First Sergeant to First Lieutenant March 22, 1864, and was mustered out Sept. 4, 1865. Harvey H. Hopkins enlisted Oct. 5, 1861, and was First Sergeant and Second Sergeant;; he was promoted to Second Lieutenant Sept. 1, 1865, and was mustered out Sept. 4, 1865; he was wounded at Bayou Cache.
Company A, 16th Wisconsin Infantry, originally known as the "Waushara and Green Lake County Rangers," was mustered in the fall of 1861. Edward Sax, the first Captain, enlisted Sept. 3, 1861, and ranked from November 8 following; killed at Shiloh, April 6, 1862. George A. Spurr enlisted Aug. 29, 1861; became Second Lieutenant Nov. 8, 1861, and was promoted to Captain April 7, 1862. He resigned July 5, 1862. John W. Contauch enlisted September 30, 1861; Sergeant; wounded at Corinth; was promoted to Second Lieutenant April 7, 1862, to First Lieutenant a month later, and to Captain September 4, 1862. He resigned March 24, 1863. Anthony Gallagher enlisted Sept. 9, 1861; was Sergeant and First Sergeant; became Second Lieutenant Sept. 4, 1862, was First Lieutenant Nov. 24, 1862. He was promoted to Captain March 24, 1863, and resigned Jan. 22, 1864. James A. Biggert enlisted Aug. 30, 1861; was First Sergeant; was wounded at Corinth and Atlanta; was promoted to Second Lieutenant June 30, 1863, and to First Lieutenant Aug. 13, 1863. He was promoted to Captain Feb. 20, 1864, and served until mustered out July 12, 1865. Oscar F. Silver enlisted Aug. 22, 1861; was promoted to First Lieutenant Nov. 8, 1881, [sic: obviously a printing error] and resigned March 31, 1862. Colly Smith enlisted Sept. 9, 1861; was First Sergeant; became First Lieutenant April 7, 1862; was wounded at Shiloh, and died of his wounds May 6, 1862. Austin C. Lathrop enlisted Oct. 25, 1861; was Sergeant; became Second Lieutenant May 7, 1862; and First Lieutenant Sept. 4, 1862. He resigned Nov. 24, 1862. George W. Graves enlisted October 16, 1861; was Corporal, Sergeant and First Sergeant; became Second Lieutenant Aug. 13, 1863, and First Lieutenant March 4, 1864. He was mustered out at the expiration of his term Dec. 19, 1864. Jay Tower enlisted Sept. 6, 1861; was Corporal, Sergeant and First Sergeant; became First Lieutenant Jan. 19, 1865, and was mustered out July 12, 1865. Dennison D. Labar enlisted Aug. 18, 1861; was First Sergeant; became Second Lieutenant March 24, 1864; was mustered out at the expiration of his term Dec. 19, 1864, Edward G. Waring enlisted Oct. 16, 1861; was Corporal, Sergeant and Sergeant Major; became Second Lieutenant April 18, 1865, and was mustered out July 12 following.
The 3d Battery Wisconsin Light Artillery was also organized in Green Lake County in the fall of 1861. Lee H. Drury enlisted Aug. 20, 1861; was wounded at Chicjamauga. He ranked as Captain from Sept. 6, 1861; was mustered out Oct. 10, 1864; became major of the 1st Heavy Artillery. Courtland Livingston enlisted Sept. 6, 1861, and ranked as Senior First Lieutenant from that date. He resigned Feb. 16, 1864. Hiram F. Hubbard enlisted Aug. 20, 1861; became Second Lieutenant Sept. 6, 1861; Junior First Lieutenant Aug. 19, 1862; was mustered out Oct. 10, 1864, at the expiration of his term of service. James T. Purdy enlisted Aug. 28, 1861; became Junior First Lieutenant Sept. 6, 1861; resigned Aug. 18, 1862. Henry Courier enlisted Sept. 5, 1861; was Sergeant, First Sergeant; became Senior Second Lieutenant July 10, 1862; was promoted to Junior First Lieutenant March 8, 1864; and was mustered out at the expiration of his term, Oct. 10, 1864. Albert LeBrun enlisted Aug. 28, 1861; became Senior Second Lieutenant Sept. 6, 1861; and resigned Nov. 15, 1862. Webster J. Colburn enlisted Sept. 4, 1861; was Sergeant and First Sergeant; became Junior Second Lieutenant Aug. 19, 1862, and Senior Second Lieutenant March 8, 1864; was promoted to Captain and A.Q.M., United States Volunteers, Sept. 19, 1864; breveted Major March 13, 1865; mustered out June 5, 1866. Joseph W. Waite enlisted Aug. 26, 1861; was Corporal, Sergeant, First Sergeant, became Junior Second Lieutenant March 8, 1864; and Junior First Lieutenant Oct. 6, 1864; was mustered out July 3, 1865.
Company H, 18th Wisconsin Infantry was organized in Green Lake County at the very beginning of the year 1862. David H. Saxton ranked as captain from Jan. 4, 1862. He was taken prisoner at Shiloh; resigned July 24, 1863. Riley P. Colt enlisted Nov. 5, 1861; Second Lieutenant June 10, 1862; First Lieutenant March 30, 1863; Captain July 26, 1863; mustered out July 18, 1865. Sidney D. Woodworth ranked as First Lieutenant from Jan. 4, 1862; was taken prisoner at Shiloh; resigned March 30, 1863. Maurice Gay enlisted Jan. 15, 1862; was Corporal and Sergeant; First Lieutenant, March 30, 1863; First Lieutenant July 21, 1863; mustered out July 18, 1865. Thomas H. Wallace ranked as Second Lieutenant from Jan. 4, 1862; and died June 7, 1862.
The 12th Wisconsin Light Artillery contained some members from this territory.
Company C, 32d Wisconsin Infantry, was organized in Green Lake County in 1862.
Joseph H. Caselton ranked as Captain from Sept. 6, 1862; was promoted to Major June 6, 1864. Wiley B. Arnold enlisted Aug. 6, 1862; was First Sergeant; Second Lieutenant Jan. 28, 1863; First Lieutenant March 31, 1864; Captain Aug. 13, 1864; mistered out June 12, 1865. James H. Hubbard ranked as First Lieutenant from Sept 6, 1862; was discharged Nov. 2, 1863, for disability. Alfred L. Tucker was Sergeant in Company H, 18th Wisconsin Infantry; became Second Lieutenant Aug. 12, 1862; resigned Jan. 28, 1863, on account of disability; reinlisted Nov. 18, 1863, in this company; became Second Lieutenant May 24, 1864; First Lieutenant Aug. 13, 1864; was mustered out June 12, 1865. Josiah Brown enlisted Aug. 13, 1862; was Sergeant and First Sergeant; Second Lieutenant Aug. 13, 1864; resigned April 1, 1865. Lorenzo S. Knox enlisted Aug. 12, 1862; Sergeant and First Sergeant; Second Lieutenant April 20, 1865; mustered out June 12, 1865. Sidney C. Woodworth ranked as Captain of Company C, 38th Wisconsin Infantry from April 15, 1864. (See Company H, 18th Wisconsin Infantry). Was transferred to V.R.C. Oct. 13, 1864; mustered out Nov, 9, 1865. None of the other officers were from this territory, though the company contained many enlisted men from Green Lake, Waushara, and adjoining counties.
Albert G. Dinsmore ranked as Captain of Company C, 41st Wisconsin Infantry from June 9, 1864. He enlisted May 7, 1864, and was mustered out Sept. 23, 1864, at the expiration of his term of service. The company contained many Green Lake men, but no other officers from the counties treated in this work. Capt. Dinsmore became Second Lieutenant of Company B, 49th Wisconsin Infantry, Jan. 27, 1865; and Captain, February 22, following. George H. Stansbury enlisted Feb. 6, 1865; was First Sergeant; became Second Lieutenant July 29, 1865; and was mustered out Nov. 1, 1865. David H. Saxton ranked as Captain of Company I, 1st Heavy Artillery, from Oct. 20, 1864; mustered out June 26, 1865.
Many Waushara County men were in some of the organizations above mentioned; some Marquette County men. Repeated applications to men in these two counties, who ought to be able to furnish much interesting data concerning the part played by their counties in the Civil War have to date, failed to receive any replies whatever. The soldiers from Marquette and Waushara were brave and true, and it is with deep regret that the writer finds himself obliged thus to explain the absence of a more detailed account of their services.
Many of the "boys" who went out to battle for the Union, with only the benediction of a mother's tears and prayers, came back to that mother's arms shrined in glory. Many returned dismembered, maimed and scarred and still bear the marks received in that deadly internecine strife. But there were many who came not back. They fell by the wayside, or from the prison and battlefield crossed over and mingled with the ranks of the grand army "beyond the river." Their memory is held in sacred keeping. Some sleep beside their ancestors in the village church-yards, where the violets on their mounds speak not alone of womanly sweetness, but in tender accents of the devotion of those who sleep below. Their memory, too, is immortal; beautiful as the crown of gold the sunset lays upon the mountain tops in the far-off South - as the glowing sheen it casts over the bosoms of their beloved prairies. Some sleep in unknown graves in the land of cotton and of cane. But the same trees which shade the sepulcher of their foemen shade their tombs also; the same birds carol their matins to both; the same flowers sweeten the air with their fragrence and the same daisies cover the graves of both, as the breezes toss them into rippling eddies. Neither is forgotten. Both are remembered as they slumber there in peaceful, glorious rest.
"Winds of summer, oh! whisper low
Over the graves where the daisies grow,
Blossoming flowers and songs of bees,
Sweet ferns tossed on summer's breeze-
Floating shadows and golden lights,
Dewy mornings and radiant nights-
All the bright and beautiful things
That gracious and bountiful summer brings,
Fairest and sweetest that earth can bestow,
Brighten the graves where the daisies grow."
And the living - you know them, the veterans, members of the several Grand Army posts in Green Lake, Marquette and Waushara Counties - some of them scarred, some of them halt, some armless, some legless, a few hale and hearty; all remembering the scenes of the war as most old men are prone to remember the scenes of their childhood; all proud to don the army blue, to march under the old flag and to know in their innermost hearts that they and such as they, at the sacrifice of life and health, preserved the integrity of our National Government and insured the perpetuity of our national institutions.
