HISTORY OF THE CHIPPEWA VALLEY - CHAPTER 30


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Transcribed and contributed to the USGenWeb Archives by Timm
Severud Ondamitag@aol.com

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Faithful Record of all Important Events, Incidents, and
Circumstances that have Transpired in the Valley of the
Chippewa from its Earliest Settlement by White People,
Indian Treaties, Organization of the Territory and State;
Also of the Counties Embracing the Valley, Senatorial,
Assembly and Congressional Districts, and a Brief
Biographical Sketch of the Most Prominent Persons in the
Settlement of the Valley. BY Thomas E. Randall 1875.  Free
Press Print.  Eau Claire, Wisconsin

CHAPTER 30

At the beginning of the war, our valley contained numerous
settlements composed mostly of Germans and Irish, but very
few of the present extensive Scandinavian population had
then located here, and those were widely separated, so that
when the call was made for the Fifteenth Regiment, to be
composed exclusively of that nationality, it was found a
difficult task to enlist a company, and only one individual
was brave enough to under take it.

O.R. Dahl was educated at a military school in Norway,
served eight years in the engineers with credits of himself
as an officer in that department, but resigned and emigrated
with his family to this country in 1853, found his way to,
and was one of the first settlers in, the town of Bloomer,
Chippewa County 1857, and encountered all the hardships and
privations incident to all who removed to the remote corner
during that terrible winter of 1856-7. Called to morn the
loss by death of the mother of his children in 1861, he made
provision for them as he could, and immediately tendered his
services to the government, and receiving a captain's
recruiting commission from Governor Randall, he set himself
to work and enlisted thirty-two good men for Company H,
Fifteenth Regiment, whom he took to Camp Randall, where, at
the organization of the company, he was defeated for the
captaincy.

But nothing daunted, he shouldered his rifle and served
seventeen months in the ranks, until the battle of Stone
River, when, for meritorious conduct, he was promoted to the
position of First Lieutenant in Company B, same regiment,
and the next day appointed Topographical Engineer in the
First Brigade, Second Division, Army of the Cumberland, and
served in that capacity with the entire satisfaction of his
superiors through all the subsequent campaigns of that
veteran army; was in all its hard fought battle until May
13, 1864, when, while making a military survey, and
separated from the main army, he was taken prisoner, and
thenceforth subject to all horrors and sufferings that
characterized the treatment of Union prisoners throughout
the South. His sketch of the Battle of Stone River, scenes
of life in Southern prisons, and map of Chippewa County are
his best-published works of art. He is one of the hundred
and forty-five, out of one thousand and three men who made
up the roster of the Fifteenth Regiment when it left
Madison, who returned from that fearful struggle into which
so many of our adopted fellow-citizens entered to save the
nation's life. On hearing of his father's capture, his
oldest son, Anthony, immediately enlisted and served in the
army of the Potomac until the end of the war. The family is
now residing in the city of Chippewa Falls.

Sixteenth Regiment

Two companies were recruited in this valley for the
regiment, the first company (G) at Eau Claire and called the
Chippewa Valley Guards, in November and December, 1861,
under the direction of Captain John R. Wheeler; the other
was consolidated with Company I and Company H was recruited
at the same place in November and December of the same year.

The regimental organization was effected under he direction
of Colonel Benjamin Allen, of North Pepin, and on January
21, 1862, was mustered into the U.S. service at Camp
Randall, and after a few weeks drill left the State for
active service, and reached St. Louis on the 14 of March,
and Pittsburg Landing, Tennessee, on the 20th; where
assigned to picket duty on the 5th of April following, and
at daybreak the next morning commenced the terrible Battle
of Shiloh, with our raw Sixteenth in the front ranks of the
army, and during all that and the following day were
constantly exposed to the enemy's fire, and sustained a loss
of two hundred and forty-five men in killed and wounded. The
regiment subsequently took part in the Battle of Holly
Springs and the second Battle of Corinth, and soon after
moved down the Mississippi from Memphis to Vicksburg, where
on the 5th of February 1864, when three full companies from
home, F, H, and K, joined them and the veterans having
reenlisted, were given a furlough home, and arrived in
Madison on the 16th of March 1864. Having reorganized and
filled up its ranks, it was assigned to the First Brigade,
Third Division, Seventeenth Army Corp, and left Cairo to
join the forces of General Sherman in his Atlanta campaign.

During the summer and fall of 1863, steps were taken by the
general government for the draft in all the States, under
the act of Congress, approved March 6, 1863, and under the
call of the President for three hundred thousand men in
October following, fourteen thousand nine hundred and
thirty-five was the quota required from this State, but as
the act contained the commutation clause, the result was
that the government obtained eight hundred and eighty
drafted men and substitutes, and $1,528, 300 from five
thousand and eighty persons who paid money rather than
enlist.

The government soon saw the error, but to retrieve the
damage resulting from so unwise a provision was no easy
matter, as nothing could more effectually abate the
enthusiasm and patriotic ardor of the people than this
commutation of three hundred dollars for a soldier. In some
localities, great sacrifices had been made to secure
volunteers, for which no credit was given, and towns and
villages already thrice decimated were called upon for the
same number of recruits, in proportion to the original
number of men able to bear arms, as districts that had done
nothing, causing a great deal of dissatisfaction. Then, too,
the poor man unable to pay the three hundred dollars, felt
that great injustice was done him; and, however patriotic he
might feel, he could not easily reconcile himself to the
idea that his life must be pitted against three hundred
dollars. Then, too, the term 'conscript' soon became to be
regarded as one of opprobrium, by many, and much prejudice
existed, not so much against the service, as the manner of
entering it.

Before this period, in the fall of 1862, John Klatt,
formerly the ferryman at Chippewa Falls, who had enlisted
with Lieutenant Richardson, finding himself unable to do the
duty as a private, on account of physical disability,
returned home, and having been educated as a soldier in
Germany, his native land, determined to raise a company,
which was assigned as Company K, to the Thirteenth Regiment,
and he was elected captain. The regiment was officered as
follows: Daniel J. Dill, Colonel; Edward M. Bartlett, of
Durand, Lieutenant Colonel; Theodore C. Spencer of Eau
Claire, Adjutant; Edwin O. Baker, of Lunn, Assistant
Surgeon. Napoleon C. Greer was another one of its captains.
This company was raised in Eau Claire County, with Charles
Buckman, of Augusta, First Lieutenant.

This regiment, it will be remembered, was sent to chastise
the Indians on our northwest frontier. Rather and
inglorious, but necessary, fatiguing, and hazardous
campaign, attended with constant alarm and great hardships,
and the boys were glad when they were ordered to Louisville,
Kentucky, though still called to wage war against a
contemptible and treacherous foe, for the guerrillas of the
South were a little less barbarous, and even less
perfidusous, than, the untamed red-skins of the wilderness.

It was immediately succeeding the depressed and unfavorable
state of public feeling occasioned by the failure of the
draft in October and November 1863, as before related, that
Captain John R. Wheeler, of Company G, Sixteenth Regiment,
returned to Eau Claire to recruit its depleted ranks.
Recruiting sergeants from all the companies previously
organized in the valley were also there, and it was
necessary that the most active operations should go forward
to obtain volunteers and avoid another impending draft. War
meetings were called in every locality, and prominent
citizens, with few exceptions, came forward with substantial
aid for the families of the married men who enlisted, while
county and town boards gave assurances that no soldier's
family should be neglected.

R.F. Wilson, chairman of the county board of Eau Claire
County, at a public meeting, gave a positive assurance that
he would attend personally to the wants of every soldier's
family in the county. The clergymen of almost every
religious denomination put forth extraordinary efforts at
the various meetings called for that purpose, to arouse the
patriotism of the people and procure enlistments, and the
wonted enthusiasm was once more awakened. With such
demonstration, Captain Wheeler's company was soon filled up,
and another under the leadership of D.C. Whipple, who
resigned as Sheriff that he might serve his country better
in the field, was at the close of the year ready to report.
The weather was terrible cold, and on their way to Sparta
the men suffered intensely.  The new company elected their
officers: D.C. Whipple, Captain; J.T. Tinker, First
Lieutenant; and M. Grover, Second Lieutenant, and were
mustered into the U.S. service on December 31, 1863, and
soon moved to Camp Randall, uniformed, and drilled until
February 26, 1864, when, the regiment being complete, they
were ordered South. Just before starting the men raised
money and presented Captain Whipple a fine sword. Orderly
Allen, afterwards Lieutenant, has kindly furnished an
account of what the company experienced and accomplished
from this time forward. He says: "From the cold snows of the
North, to the balmy skies and peach blossoms of Vicksburg,
was a pleasant change. After doing picket duty at the Black
River bridge for a month we were ordered back to Vicksburg,
from thence north on transports up the river, passing Fort
Pillow a few hours after the massacre by Forrest. Company H,
and two other companies, were landed at Columbus to assist
the colored troops in defending the fort against attack
momentarily expected from that chivalrous general, which,
however, he failed to make."

"After two weeks of hard duty, we joined the command at
Cairo, then preparing to join Sherman's army in Northern
Georgia. From Cairo to Clifton, Tennessee, on transports,
and thence by forced marches, three hundred miles across
that State, Alabama and Georgia taking position on the left
of the grand army, before Kennesaw Mountain, June 10, 1864.
We suffered terribly during this march, and many gave out by
the way, among whom were Lieutenants Grover and Tinker, who
went to the hospital."

"From this time to the 10th of September, three months, we
were constantly under arms, marching, skirmishing, and
fighting, our first exploits being in the battle about
Kennesaw, where we lost several men; then hotly pursuing the
rebels night and day, until they took refuge in their
trenches before Atlanta."

"We lay on our arms on the night of the 20th of July, the
enemy strongly fortified in front, and just at break of day
we were ordered to the charge. Grave doubts and fears were
expressed, as there were so many new recruits in the
regiment, whether it would not be better to put an old and
tried regiment in our place, but after a short consultation
it was decided to keep us where we were, for if the charge
was made, the older soldiers who were supporting them would
have no confidence in them, and they would lose all
confidence in themselves. The result showed the wisdom of
the conclusion. It was a trying moment when Colonel
Fairchild shouted the order, "Fix bayonets, forward!" Out of
the timber, down a ravine, up and across a field, over their
works, driving out Hardee's veteran's and taking some
prisoners, was but the work of a moment. Lieutenant Colonel
Reynolds coming quickly up, said to the new men, 'You are
all veterans now, boys.'"

"The General commanding the brigade sent word to General
Blair saying, 'The Wisconsin boys did nobly,' but it was
praised dearly earned. Colonel Fairchild, Lieutenant Colonel
Reynolds, Captain John Wheeler, and many other officers
wounded, but fortunately none killed. Company H. lost two
killed and seven wounded. Captain Whipple particularly
distinguished himself in this action, and a somewhat
laughable incident occurred during this charge. So great was
the excitement but little attention was paid to his efforts
to keep up with the men in line with the colors, but finally
becoming terrible in earnest, and shouting above the roar
and din of battle, he sang out, 'If you don't know what line
on the colors means, keep your eyes on the flag.' We held
the works all day under fire, and strengthened them at
night; but about noon the next day the enemy burst on our
left, and was crushing that part of our army like an egg
shell, coming boldly on until they reached the works held by
the Twelfth and Sixteenth Wisconsin, who repulsed them in
six successive terrible charges, first in front, then in
rear, and charging the sides of their works as many times.
Captain Whipple showed himself the same hero here as the day
before, but the strain was too much; constant fatigue and
anxiety and suffering from his wound, sent him to the
ambulance, and Orderly Sergeant Allen took command, there
being no commissioned officer under the company. Being
ordered to another part of the field by a forced march,
Captain Whipple again joined us and assisted in repulsing
several charges, but was soon obliged to go to the field
hospital, and E.W. Allen just commissioned, took command.

"The final battles of Jonesborough and Lovejoy's Station
closed the campaign, and with light hearts we spread our
tents in Atlanta, September 10, 1864. Our company was
reduced from ninety to twenty muskets; so severe had been
this work. Here we received a quantity of good things,
pickles, berries, condensed milk, etc., from kind friends in
Eau Claire, for which, if men ever felt grateful, we did.
But we did not rest long. Hood had gone north and was eating
our crackers, so were after him again, and for five days and
nights we chased him over mountains, rivers, and valleys,
and then were ordered back to Atlanta again, where, for the
first time in eight months, we received our pay and voted
for President, thirty-four for Lincoln and two for
McClellan. That was the kind of men that composed Company
H." Writing on this campaign, Captain Whipple says: "Allow
me to say a word Lieutenant Allen, the youngest officer in
the regiment. When commissioned, he took his place besides
the older officers, performing his duty faithfully and
bravely, and never missed a day to the close of the war."
"On the 14th of November, we stared with Sherman on his
grand march to the sea, and a month of constant marching
brought us to the gates of Savannah, where, after a short
resistance, we marched, flags flying, into the city.
Starting again we took Pototaligo, out on the Charleston
railroad, which fell in consequence, and next, our company
was at the burning of Columbia, then Cheraw, Fayetteville,
Bentonville and Goldsborough were taken, and after a few
days rest, waiting for one absent man to come up, a forced
march brought us to Raleigh."

"When Captain Whipple, who had been sent home sick, rejoined
us, how glad we were to see him!  Here the war virtually
closed. The fighting was over, but we were a long way from
home, but marching was easy now, for every day brought us
nearer to our loved ones there. On to Petersburg, Richmond,
and Washington, where, on May 23, 1865, we took part in the
grandest pageant ever seen in America, the grand review;
Mrs. Sherman throwing bouquets at our tattered and worn
colors. We were soon transferred to Louisville, Kentucky,
where on the 4th of July 1865, General Sherman took a final
farewell of us, and a few days after we were mustered out,
sent to Madison, received our final pay and discharged on
August 21, 1865, and with light hearts started for home,
never more, it is hoped, to be called to take up arms for
our beloved country against internal foes."

I have given the foregoing almost verbatim, partly because
so few have taken pains to send me their war experience on
paper, and because it is a concise narration of one of the
most remarkable campaigns in the history of the world.

To close this, how happy I am to introduce another welcome
communication, from the facile pen of the Reverend Dr.
Alfred Brunson, whose interest not only in the history of
the State, but in all that pertains to the honor and welfare
of our country, is unabated, though his hand trembles with
age as he traces patriotic thoughts on paper. Prairie du
Chien, November 28, 1874 Thomas E. Randall, Esq.,

Dear Sir - I read you numbers on history, etc., with deep
interest. The twenty-ninth number is now at hand, but one
thing about the Eagle, and the good service he rendered his
country, you must have overlooked. You remember the Sanitary
Fair got up in Chicago, towards the close of the rebellion,
for the benefit of the sick and wounded. The Eagle, at the
time, had a national fame, and to aid in raising funds upon
that occasion, a picture of the Eagle was struck off by
millions and sold for ten cents a piece, resulting in the
receipt of over $10,000, which was applied to the objects of
the Fair. By this means the Eagle contributed to the relief
of sixteen thousand or more sick and wounded soldiers; more,
perhaps, than any one man did, though it took benevolent
patriots to make him so. When the Fair was gotten up, a
friend of mine wrote to me from the State of New York, for
one of Old Abe's pictures. How many thousands of others did
so to their friends, I know not, but the incident show the
national fame of the Eagle.

Another incident: When the Eagle Company was mustered into
service, and the regiment started for the front, an editor,
speaking of it, alluded specially to the company that came
from the pinery on the Chippewa, and said, "they are
accustomed to camp life, are hardy, can endure the hardships
of war, and from habit can sleep on a saw log, if
necessary." Respectfully yours, ALFRED BRUNSON.