Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 211, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 September 1911 — AROUND CAMP THE FIRE [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

AROUND CAMP THE FIRE

TWELFTH WISCONSIN IN WAR

Company Was Fortunate to Participate in Several Expeditions and Won Much Distinction. Governor Randall called for the Twelfth Wisconsin some time in September. 1861, and it was organised at Camp Randall in October, with Col. George E. Bryant In command and De Witt C. Poole, now in the regular army, as lieutenant colonel, both s of whom had served in the First Wisconsin, writes Lieut Col. J. A. Watrous. TJ. S. A., in the Milwaukee Sentinel. “Who shall be major?’’ was asked. The governor was disposed to go to one of the regiments that had gone out soon after Uncoin's first call for that officer. Early In September the Second Wisconsin Infantry moved from Camp Kalorama, then several miles from the center of Washington, but now a beautiful portion of the capital city, to Chain Bridge, and from there across the Potomac river into Virginia, where ft was expected that the enemy was preparing to fight. It was customary for officers in that vicinity to ride out toward the Confederate Jine to investigate and see the sights. One warm afternoon CapL

William E. Strong of Company F. Second Wisconsin, rode out. When he cgme back he had a blood curdling story to tell that attracted much attention. He had suddenly run into a squad of several Confederates and, singe handed and alone, had whipped them, killing one or two and wounding others. As you know, that was. early In the war and an incident of that kind, at that time, was a big thing. Governor Randall and other Wisconsin people had seen the accounts of Captain Strong’s encounter with the enemy and it did not take long to decide that be should be major of the new regiment then forming, and he was appointed. The major was soon detailed as an Inspecting officer and on special duty most of the time, reaching the responsible place of Inspector general of the Sevententh corps. At the end of the war he was a brevet brigadier general The Twelfth left Madison the second week in January. 1862, and went direct to Weston, Mo., traveling from Hannibal, 236 miles, in open freight cars when the thermometer indicated 15 degrees below zero, and there was no fire in the cars. It did a great deal of guard duty in Missouri and Kansas, and participated in various expeditions until May of that year, when it went to Tennessee. It was its fortune to participate in several important raids and to be assigned to responsible positions in that state during the next three months. In these raids the Twelfth ran up against the enemy several times and won a good name. When the Vicksburg campaign came the Twelfth took its place with the attacking force and was on duty until Pemberton’s surrender, and then joined Sherman in his campaign against Jackson. Colonel Bryant was in command of the brigade. From the capture of Jackson until the opening of the campaign in 1864 the Twelfth kept up its reputation as a raider and a guarder of railways, frequently getting into hot skirmishes, losing a considerable number of men. At the affair at Bolton station, during Sherman's Meridian expedition, a sb ell-ex-ploded in Company 1. killing one man and wounding five others. The regiment re-enlisted In March. 1864. At the expiration of 30 days in Wisconsin ft was ordered to the front and joined the army on the way to Atlanta.* June 8, and from that time until the end of the campaign was almost constantly close to the front line of battles. The losses of the regiment from the time it joined Sherman In June until July 14. were eight killed and 1* wounded. The part. taken by the Twelfth at what was then called Bald Hill, but now known as Leggett Hill, in honor of an Ohio general who commanded the division, gave that regiment a test that few,

A Shell Exploded in Company I.