Article #97__________________________________________________________________________
Jun 25, 1866. Page 2, Col 3
The last number of the West Bend Post announces that its former editor and proprietor, Mr. Jacob Mann, has assumed the helm, and will in future guide this frail barque through the troubled waters of that misguided region. (Editor’s Note: Jacob Mann was the organizer of Company G of the 26th Wis. Vols, all from West Bend.)
Article #98__________________________________________________________________________
July 6, 1867. Page 1, Col 5
“THE FOURTH”
Two days ago, the Fourth of July was coming, and we buoyantly announced the programme of premeditated events. Now it is gone, and we pensively, mildly remark that the programme thus announced was carried out “and more too.” The day was comparatively cool, there was no dust, and until near night the weather was all that could be asked by any one except the vendors of lemonade and other liquids for assuaging thirst. The most important demonstration of all was the celebration at WILLIAMSBURG, which was participated in or witnessed by near five thousand persons. At an early hour in the forenoon the Sharpshooter’s Association formed in line at Turner Hall, supported by the Turners and the Helvetic Society, Preceded by Bach’s band, the procession marched to Williamsburg, and then ensued the ceremonies and festivities of the day. There was an eloquent oration on national affairs by Captain Bernhard Domschcke, there was vocal music by the male chorus of the Musical Society, and instrumental by Prof. Bach’s orchestra: there were the Puppintheuter and the Klitterbaum for the younger patriots; in the evening there were fireworks and dancing; and at all times there was lager-though the almost bracing coplaces must have noticably diminished the demand for this article here as it did elsewhere….
Howard, Oliver Otis (1830-1909), American Civil War general, who subsequently became deeply involved in helping the former slaves. Born in Leeds, Maine, he was educated at Bowdoin College and at the U.S. Military Academy, where he taught mathematics from 1857 to 1861. At the outbreak of the Civil War, Howard resigned his regular army commission and became colonel of the Third Maine Volunteers of the Union army. He took part in the Battle of Bull Run (1861); the Peninsular campaign (1862), where he lost an arm; the Battle of Antietam (1862); and the battles of Chancellorsville and Gettysburg and the Chattanooga campaign (all 1863). The following year he commanded the right wing of the celebrated march to the sea from Atlanta to Savannah, Georgia, under General William Tecumseh Sherman. He was eventually promoted to major general in the regular army.
As commissioner (1865-74) of the Freedmen’s Bureau after the war, Howard was a weak administrator, unable to prevent many abuses, but he succeeded in providing greatly needed food and medical and employment aid to millions of people. He was also instrumental in founding Howard University (named for him) and was its third president (1869-74). He later served as superintendent (1880-82) of West Point and founded the Lincoln Memorial University (1895) in Harrogate, Tennessee.
“Howard, Oliver Otis,” Microsoft (R) Encarta. Copyright (c) 1993 Microsoft Corporation. Copyright (c) 1993 Funk & Wagnall’s Corporation.
Article #99__________________________________________________________________________
Mar 16, 1869. Page 1, Col 3
Gen. Howard’s Lecture
A large audience gathered at Music Hall last evening to listen the General Howard’s lecture on “Christian Experience in the Army.” The General commenced by stating that he labored under considerable embarrassment when he appeared before an audience, for several reasons:
First, because of the universal dissatisfaction in relation to himself. Second, in relation to his manner of speaking. To illustrate the reason of his diffidence, he related the story of an old man who was introduced to him while he was at Portland filling a lecturing engagement. Upon shaking hands, the stranger remarked, “This General Howard? I confess I am disappointed in the man; fact is, I never saw a man yet who could compare with Daniel Webster.”
The General stated his lecture to be a simple recitation of Christian experiences in the army, for the benefit of other minds. He was aware that the profession of arms was not looked upon as one conducive to religious elevation, but his experience had been that the better a man morally, the better the soldier. As an instance proving the truth of the axiom, he referred to Captain Henry Vickers of the British army.
In 1850, when he was not a Christian, he belonged to the Bible Class among the cadets at West Point. Among the members of that class was the gallant McPherson, to whose memory he paid a handsome tribute. That officer always took a great interest in the exercises, and continued in the faith until the close of his eventful life at the battle of Stone River. Upon leaving the Academy at West Point he was stationed at Watervleit Arsonal, where he became acquainted with two gentlemen of superior abilities, one of them a member of the Episcopal Church, and a consistent follower of Christ. The other, however, was intemperate at times. Strong drink, in fact, had met the lecturer at every turn of his life. During his last year at the arsenal his friend resigned his position in the army and left for the South. He afterward learned that he became a Colonel in the rebel army, was killed, and left his family in destitute circumstances. He gave this as an instance of the different careers of two men equally qualified to fight the battle of life, but who from a slight deviation from the path of moral rectitude on the part of one, were widely separated in the course of time.
His fourth station was at Florida. Before his departure for that field of action he gathered his family around him, and consigned them to the protection of Almighty God. He gave a vivid picture of his feelings at parting with those he loved so dearly. Although he had always practiced family worship, he was not then a Christian. It was afterward, while stationed at Tampa, Florida, that the glorious light of true Christianity illuminated his soul. From that day to this he was a different man. He lived in a new hope-for eleven years he had enjoyed the blessings of true Christianity.
In this connection the lecturer gave interesting accounts of the lives and heroic deaths of several of the Christian generals of the Union army. He also gave his experience with the negro’s capacity for religious enjoyment, and expressed the hope that the elevation of the race would be accomplished through Christian instrumentality.
The lecture was an unadorned narration of his religious experiences in the army, giving his personal experience in reaching the point when his soul was freed from the shackles of unbelief. The General was listened to with marked interest throughout the lecture, of which we have given but a faint outline, and closed with a beautiful peroration.
The next and concluding lecture of the course will be delivered by Petroleum V. Nasby, on the 26th of next month.
Article #100__________________________________________________________________________
May 8, 1869. Page 1, Col 2
THE FUNERAL OBSEQUIES OF CAPTAIN DOMSCHCKE-
The last sad rites of respect were paid to Captain Domschcke, yesterday afternoon. Throughout the day up to the hour of the funeral Turner Hall was visited by thousands, who came to take a farewell glance at the features of the lamented dead. The casket was placed in the middle of the hall, and was draped with the Stars and Stripes, and covered with a beautiful wreath and bouquets of flowers.
At two o’clock the funeral cortege moved from Turner Hall to West Water, up West Water to Chestnut street bridge, over the bridge to East Water, Iowa East Water to South Side, from thence to Forest Home. The procession moved in the following order:
Platoon of Policemen.
Cream City Band.
Cream City Guards.
Milwaukee Zouaves.
Milwaukee Rifle Cadets.
Veterans of the Twenty-sixth Regiment.
Union Soldier’s Association.
Bach’s Band.
Detachment of Turners.
Hearse and Pall-bearers.
Managers, Editors and Employes of the DAILY HEROLD Office.
Delegations of Turners from abroad-Chicago, Racine, Madison, Manitowoc, Sheboygan and La Crosse.
Milwaukee Turners.
Turner Cadets.
South-Side Turners.
Carriages.
Directors of the German Printing Company and the Manager’s family.
Officers of the Milwaukee Light Guard.
Representatives of the Press.
City and County Officers.
Citizens.
The funeral was largely attended, and the long and solemn train spoke volumes of the feeling entertained for the lamented dead. On arriving at the grave in Forest Home, the band played a dirge after which an appropriate selection was sung. Emil Wailber, Esq., then delivered a brief and feeling eulogy on the life and character of the deceased. On the conclusion of the address a requiem was sung by the choir, after which three farewell volleys were fired by a detachment from the companies which escorted the remains to their last resting-place.
The rites over, the large assembly dispersed, with the consciousness that they had paid the last tokens of respect to one who ably defended the right; one whose name will be borne in grateful remembrance by every patriot and lover of freedom throughout the land.
Article #101__________________________________________________________________________
June 9, 1869. Page 1, Col 6
PORTRAIT OF DOMSCHCKE.-
Mr. John Goetz, a talented young artist in the employ of the well-known lithographing house of Seifert& Lawton, has just drawn on stone an excellent portrait of the lamented Bernhard Domschcke. We understand that a limited number will be printed and published in a few days.
Article #102__________________________________________________________________________
May 28, 1870. Page 1, Col 6
-The Turners will hold special services at the grave of Capt. Bernard Domschke on Decoration day.
Article #103__________________________________________________________________________
July 4, 1870. Page 1, Col 3
Reunion of the Twenty-sixth Regiment.-The numerous friends of the Twenty-sixth were notified , on Saturday, of their assemblage yesterday, by the receipt of a silk magenta badge, announcing the fact. They assembled for roll-call on Market Square soon after noon yesterday, and proceeded to the Milwaukee Garden, where an address was delivered, speeches made, and a good dinner enjoyed. This regiment did good service in the war, and the reunion was a pleasant occasion. Over two hundred of the old veterans, of German nativity, were together, and a large number of friends besides. The day and evening were given to the exchange of reminiscences of the times that tried men’s souls, and recalling “Moving incidents by flood and field.”
Article #104__________________________________________________________________________
Sept 19, 1870. Page 1, Col 2
The 26th Regiment held a meeting yesterday and completed arrangements for the Soldiers Reunion, which takes place in this city next week. (It was held Wed 28 Sept, 1870 at the Rink-ed.)
Article #105__________________________________________________________________________
April 22, 1872. Page 4, Col 8
DIED:
LANDA-
In this city, yesterday forenoon, FRANZ LANDA, Captain of the Twenty-sixth Regiment during the war.
The funeral will take place from his residence, 229 East Water street, at nine o’clock on Tuesday morning.
Article #106__________________________________________________________________________
Oct 22, 1872. Page 1, Col 1
NEWS DIGEST
…The nomination, yesterday afternoon, of General Fred. C. Winkler, of this city, as the Republican candidate for Congress from the Fourth District of Wisconsin, was a judicious set on the part of the Convention, and will meet with the cordial approbation of the Republican party. There are several substantial reasons for commending the selection of General Winkler as our standard bearer in this Congressional campaign, among which may be named the essential fact that he is perfectly qualified to acceptably discharge the duties of the position for which he has been named, and because it is a graceful compliment to our German fellow-citizens who constitute so large and respectable an element of our population. He was not in the city yesterday, and it is not known at the present writing whether he will accept the honor that the Convention bestowed upon him by a unanimous vote, but the presumption is that he will not feel at liberty to decline the call to the front now any more than he did when the war-bugles warned him that the country was in danger. No matter what may be the result of the canvass, it must be recognized as a high compliment for a young man to be designated by the dominant party of the state and nation as its candidate in the most populous and wealthy district in the state. To the people of this city who have known the General from his boyhood, he needs no introduction, but for the information of our friends in other parts of the District, we copy the brief biographical sketch of him as given in the legislative manual of 1872:
General Frederick C. Winkler was born in the city of Bremen, Germany, March 15, 1838, received an academic education; is by profession a lawyer; he came to Wisconsin with his mother in October, 1844, his father having preceded them a year and a half, and settled at Milwaukee; commenced the study of law in the office of Hon. H.L. Palmer, in 1856, and from fall of 1858 t spring of 1859, was a law student in the office of Abbot, Gregory & Pinney, at Madison, where he was admitted to the gar, in April, 1859; entered the military service during the rebellion; raised Co. B of the 26th Wis. Vols., and was commissioned Captain of the same, Sept. 3, 1862; the regiment was assigned to the 11th Corps Army of the Potomac; was during winter of 1862-63 constantly employed Judge Advocate upon court martial at corps headquarters; with the regiment, he participated in the battles of Chancellorsville and Gettysburg, and after the latter engagement became acting field officer, the Lieut. Col. and Major having been wounded. In Sept., 1863. the regiment was transferred to the west; with the forces sent under Gen. Hooker to the relief of Gen. Rosecrans; participated in the skirmishes in opening communications from Bridgeport to Chattanooga; commanded the regiment from November, 1863, participating in the engagements at Million Ridge and the campaign immediately following for the relief of Burnside, besieged at Knoxville by Longstreet; took part of the 20th (Hooker’s) Corps in the Atlanta campaign under Gen. Sherman, fighting daily skirmishes and bloody battles at Resaca, New Hope Church, Kennisaw Mountain and Peach Tree Creek; marched with Sherman to the sea and from Savannah to Goldsboro’ , fighting brisk engagements at Averysboro’ and Bentonville; was appointed Major of the Regiment in Nov, 1863, Lieut. Col., Jun 27, 1864, Col, August 17, and breveted Brigadier General, June 13, 1865; mustered out of the service with the regiment, June 28, 1865.
Article #107__________________________________________________________________________
Dec 28, 1874. Page 8, Col 4
The survivors of the 26th Rgt., WSV, hold a meeting at Boeder’s on the 10th of next month, to complete arrangements for a reunion.
Article #108__________________________________________________________________________
Jan 11, 1875. Page 8, Col 4
THE TWENTY-SIXTH.
____________
Proposed Reunion of the Surviving Veterans of Col. Jacobs’ Regiment
____________
A Sketch of Its Honorable Services in the War of the Rebellion
___________
Yesterday afternoon, about forty of the veterans of the Twenty-sixth Infantry, W.S.V., met at Raeder’s, on Fourth street, to perfect their arrangements for a reunion in this city. Col. Jacobs, Philip Schlosser, and other of the staff officers were present, and participated in the proceedings.
THEY ORGANIZE.
As an initiatory step, an organization was effected by the election of the following officers:
President-Col. Wm. H. Jacobs.
Vice-President- Adj’t. Phil. Schlosser.
Secretary-Theodore Hensel.
The President was instructed to appoint a committee to draft a constitution and by-laws with a view to permanent organization, and to appoint a committee on finance.
ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION.
The comrades decided to hold their reunion on the 2d of May, the anniversary of the battle of Chancellorsville. They have a lively remembrance of that engagement, as it was their first experience under fire.
It is recorded that on that memorable occasion the Nineteenth New York and the Twenty-Sixth were attacked by superior numbers while they were standing alone on a bare hill-top, and that, though the enemy had the advantage of a screening forest, they stood and fought unflinchingly until the rebels, who were largely superior in numbers, doubled their flanks, both right and left, and that they held their ground and reluctantly obeyed a twice repeated order of the brigade commander to retreat. At daybreak on the next morning the Twenty-sixth was placed on the extreme left, its left flank resting on the river. A spirited skirmish was kept up during the day and the ensuing night. The next morning the regiment was moved half a mile to the right, and there remained until about 3 o’clock on the morning of the 6th of May, when, the army being on the retreat, it marched to United States Ford, crossed the river, and by a long and difficult march reached its camp, near Stafford Courthouse, the same day. The losses of the regiment in this battle were 37 killed, 117 wounded, 20 taken prisoners, and 3 missing.
THE ORIGINAL ROSTER
of officers of this regiment is given as follows:
Cololel-William H. Jacobs
Lieutenant-Colonel-Charles Lehman.
Adjutant-Jacob Schlosser.
Quartermaster-F.W. Hundhausen.
Surgeon-Francis Huebschmann.
Assistant-Surgeons-S. Vandervaart and Theodore Fricke.
Chaplain-William Vette.
Company A-Captain, William George;lieutenant, August F. Mueller,
Company B-Captain, Fred. C. Winkler; lieutenants Francis Lackner and Chas. H. Doerflinger
Company C- Captain, John P. Seeman; lieutenants, Wm. F. Fuchs and Bernhard Domschcke.
Company D-Captain, August LigowskY; lieutenants, August Scheller and Herman Furstenberg
Company E-Captain, Anton Kettles; lieutenants, Chas. W. Neukirch and John F. Hogan.
Company F-Captain, Henry Baetz; lieutenants, Chas. Pizzala and Albert Walber.
Company G-Under command of Lieut. Julius Meisswinkel.
Company H-Captain, Hans Boebel; lieutenants, Joseph Wedig and Charles Vocke.
Company I-Captain, Wm. Smith; lieutenants, Henry C. Berninger and John Orth.
Company K-Captain, Louis Pelosi; lieutenant, Edward Karl.
THE REGIMENT
was formed in two weeks after Father Abraham’s call for 300,000 more. Excepting Company G, which consisted in part of native Americans, it was composed of men of German birth, or, at least, German parentage. It rendezvoused at Camp Sigel, and was there mustered into service on the 17th of September.
AFTER THE BATTLE
of Chancellorsville the regiment, under command of Lieut. Col. Boebel, Col. Jacobs not having returned from a leave of absence, marched to Goose Creek, crossed Edward’s Ferry, reached Emmetsburg on the 30th of June, and took part in the battle of Gettysburg on the first of July. The Twenty-sixth was hotly engaged. But the enemy doubled round the left flank of the division, which was without support, threw it back on the Twenty-sixth, and the brigade was ordered to fall back. The retreat, over fields and under fire of the enemy, proved fatal to many, but was conducted in good order. A stand was made on the outskirts of the town, where a short skirmish ensued, and the Twenty-sixth then acted as rear guard during the further retreat to Cemetary Hill. There it took its position behind a low stone fence, its right resting on the street. Of the officers engaged only four escaped unhurt. The total losses of the regiment in this battle was 41 killed, 137 wounded, 26 prisoners and 6 missing.
THE MARCH TO THE SEA.
On the 24th of September they moved with the Eleventh Corps for Bridgeport, Ala. Nov. 29 they marched toward Knoxville for the relief of Burnside, Capt. F. Winkler in command. They formed part of the third brigade in Sherman’s army took part in the engagements at Resaca, Dallas, Kenesaw, Peachtree Creek, Atlanta, and joined in the famous march to the sea. The members are
PROUD OF THEIR RECORD,
and will endeavor to secure a full attendance of all the survivors of the regiment. Col. Jacobs and Adjt. Schlesser will second every step of the committees toward an enjoyable re-union. Invitations will be extended to veteran organizations, and every arrangement will be perfected to insure a success of the undertaking.
Article #109__________________________________________________________________________
Feb, 13, 1875. Page 8, Col 3
At 3 o’clock to-morrow afternoon the former members of the 26th Reg’t. W.S.V. meet at Bader’s, on Fourth street, to complete arrangements for a reunion and to receive the report of the committee on permanent organization.
Article #110__________________________________________________________________________
Feb, 15, 1875. Page 5, Col 2
THE TWENTY-SIXTH
__________
Permanent Organization of the veterans-Reunion on the Fourth of July
_________
The agitation of a reunion of the veterans of the Twenty-sixth Regiment, W.S.V., resulted in quite an assemblage at Bader’s Hall, on Fourth street, yesterday afternoon. Among the
PROMINENT MEMBERS
present were Gen. Winkler, Adjutant Schlosser, Quarter-Master Hensel, Surgeon Huebschmann, Chaplain Vette, Dr. Handhausen, once quartermaster of the regiment, and a number of non-commissioned officers.
In the absence of Col. Jacobs, the president of the association, Adjutant Schlosser presided.
COMMITTEE ON CONSTITUTION.
The Committee of Constitution and By-laws reported as follows:
1. For the creation of a fund for the support of destitute veterans of the regiment.
2. Membership fee of $1 per annum to be paid by all who are able to pay it.
3. For the appointment of an executive committee of three members.
4. Authorizing such committee to decide whether applicants for aid are really deserving of support.
SEVERAL AMMENDMENTS.
Gen. Winkler thought that the creation of a fund for the destitute a subject that could be considered at some future time. It would be impracticable at the present time, as the veterans are not all residents of the city, and, as all had not yet signed the roll. He suggested that until some future period all petitions for aid should be met by contributions, and that for the present the membership fees be set apart for incidental expenses.
Further discussion resulted in the adoption of the following substitutes for the report:
1. For a permanent organization of the veterans of the Twenty-sixth Regiment to bring them into closer relations with each other, and to encourage annual reunions.
2. That to this end a membership fee of $1 is established for all who have the means to pay the same; that this fee is not obligatory to the exclusion of worthy comrades who are in destitute circumstances, and that the means so collected shall be used to defray the incidental expenses of the association.
3. That the officers of the association shall consist of a president, vice-president, secretary and treasurer, and an executive committee of three, of which the officers shall be ex-officio members.
4. That the Executive Committee shall decide whether applicants for aid are really worthy of the support they may derive.
ELECTION OF TREASURER.
As the office of treasurer had not been filled, Gen. Winkler was nominated for the position. The gentleman respectfully declined to serve because his professional duties required all the time he could command.
Capt. William Steinmann was then proposed and unanimously elected.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
The election of an Executive Committee was next in order and resulted as follows: Gen. Winkler, Joseph Schultz and Charles Trapschuh.
THE REUNION
The resolution to hold the reunion on the anniversary of the battle of Chancellorville was reconsidered, and Sunday, July 4, the anniversary of the battle of Gettysburg, named as the day of the annual celebration.
The arrangements for the reunion were assigned to the Executive Committee with instructions to report at a future meeting.
SIGNED THE ROLL
In all there are about 50 veterans of the regiment resident in the city, most of whom have signed the constitution of the association under the temporary organization. After the meeting the following added their names:
A. Hensel, F.C. Winkler, F. Huebschmann, Phillip Schlosser, Carl Weidner, W. Josef, Schultz, Gustav Vesser, Wm. A. Koch, F.W. Hundhausen, F. Huesselmann, Rudolph Wahlfart, Carl Schlie, Henry Klinker, Jacob Schwaibolch, Joka Hammen.
Article #111__________________________________________________________________________
May 31, 1875. Page 8, Col 2
This evening, survivors of the 26th Regiment met at Koch’s Hall, opposite the 2nd Ward Bank, to complete arrangements for the proposed reunion.
Article #112__________________________________________________________________________
Jun 1, 1875 Page 5 Col 1
THE TWENTY-SIXTH
Last evening, the commitees of the Twenty-sixth Regiment met at Koch’s Hall, on Third street, to perfect their arrangements for a reunion in this city on the Fourth of July.
Adjutant Schlosser stated that Col. Jacobs was unable to be present, and that he had promised to second their efforts and contribute to make the occasion a successful one.
Comrades Maschauer, Trapschuh and Berlage were named a committee on finance and Adjutant Schlosser and Trapschuh were appointed a committee to confer with the owners of parks with a view of ascertaining accomodations and terms.
Col. Osthelder, keeper of the Shooting Park, sent in a liberal proposition to entertain the comrades at his place. The tender was referred to the Committee on Park.
The meeting then adjourned until half-past 3 o’clock next Sunday afternoon, when it is expected that the committees will report and that the preliminaries of the reunion will be fully determined.
Article #113__________________________________________________________________________
Jun 7, 1875 Page 8 Col 2
TWENTY-SIXTH REGIMENT
The survivors of the Twenty-sixth Regiment met at William A. Koch’s yesterday afternoon, to learn progress in the matter of their reunion on the Fourth of July.
Among the reports that of the Committee on Finance was very satisfactory. A considerable sum had been subscribed, and the prospects were favorable to the collection of an amount that would cover the expense that the gathering would entail.
Messr. Schlosser and Trapschuh stated the result of their conferences with the owners of public gardens, and the prospects to accommodate the regiment. As the terms of Mr. Dreher, of the Milwaukee Garden, were the most liberal, his place was named as the one at which the reunion is to take place.
The Committee of Arrangements reported that they had extended an invitation to the several militia companies to [articipate in the festivities, and that the tenders were generally accepted. Invitations were also extended to Capt. Dilger, of Chicago, favorably known to the regiment as “Leather-Breeches,” and to Lieut. Col. Lackner, also of Chicago, who would undoubtedly improve the opportunity to meet their old comrades and recount their experiences in the field.
It was resolved that the comrades and their guests should meet at the West Side Turner Hall at 1 o’clock on the afternoon of the Fourth, for parade and march to the Garden. The names of the speakers, and other matters of the reunion, are to be presented in the form of a printed programme at an early day.
Article #114__________________________________________________________________________
Jul 1, 1875 Page 5 Col 1
REGIMENTAL REUNION
Yesterday, under escort of the Juneau Guard, and headed by a band, the surviving members of the Twenty-sixth Regiment, and representatives of the Fifth, Sixth, Ninth, Eleventh, and Twenty-fourth Regiments, W.S.V., marched from the West Side Turner Hall to the Milwaukee Garden, the scene of a grand reunion of the boys in blue. Many of the comrades resident in Racine, Menomonee Falls, Fond du Lac, and other cities and towns in the interior, were present and participated in the pleasures of the occasion.
There were about eighty of the plucky regiments that had battled for their country on many a field during the war for the Union, and the day was delightfully spent in recounting incidents and experiences of soldier-life during the great rebellion. The Sentinel has already recounted the services of the gallant men of the Twenty-sixth, and its readers are fully acquainted with its heroic service, without recalling them in this connection.
At the banquet in the afternoon, Gen. Winkler, Col. Jacobs, Col. Boebel, Lackner, of Racine, Dr. Vette, Dr. Huebschmann and others addressed their old comrades in brief and pithy speeches, and, in the evening, all joined in a grand ball in honor of the event. The reunion was so successful in its arrangements that there is a decided sentiment in favor of annual meetings here on the Fourth of July.
Article #115__________________________________________________________________________
March 6, 1876. Page 8, Col 4
Yesterday, members of Columbia Lodge of Knights of Pithias and survivors of the Twenty-sixth Regiment escorted the remains of Godlove Mattias to the grave.
Article #116__________________________________________________________________________
April 8, 1876. Page 8, Col 3
Yesterday, survivors of the Mexican War, George Phillips, Philip Horwitz, Caspar Dusold, and others, each received of the Government a beautiful bronze medal commemmorative of their service. The tokens are handsome in design, and form a handsome lapel ornament. The veterans also received an invitation to attend the Centennial on the occasion of a reunion of the heroes of the campaign against the greasers.
Article #117__________________________________________________________________________
Oct 8, 1877. Page 8, Col 2
Survivors of the 26th Regiment celebrated the 15th Anniversary of their departure for was at William Koch’s on Saturday last.
Article #118__________________________________________________________________________
Oct 7, 1878. Page 7, Col 2
A LOW DOWN FORGERY
(To the Editor of the Sentinel.)
The News of yesterday published a letter written in execrable English, over my signature. The letter is a forgery. The author is no doubt an aspirant for the position I now occupy, but I doubt whether such malicious productions will have the effect he desires.
J. Wechselberg.
Article #119__________________________________________________________________________
Nov 20, 1878. Page 8, Col 3
CAPT. WILLIAM GEORG.
After suffering for years from the effects of an affection of the lungs, Capt. William Georg passed away yesterday afternoon at his residence on Galena street. The citizen immigrated from Germany in 1854 and settled in this city. On the rebellion of the Southern States, he enlisted as a member of Co. A, First Wisconsin Volunteers. He subsequently aided in the organization of the Ninth Regiment and joined the Twenty-sixth Regiment. Ill-health obliged him to resign after he had served for some time and attained the rank of captain. He had always interested himself in public affairs and several years ago the people of his ward elected him to represent them in the Common Council. Of late years he conducted a place of amusement on Galena street which yielded him and his family of wife and four children a comfortable living.
Article #120__________________________________________________________________________
Dec 11, 1879. Page 8, Col 4
The committee on a reunion of the 26th Sgt Wis Vol meet at William Koch’s next Sunday afternoon.
__________________________________________________________________________
Dec 13, 1879. Page 8, Col 3
The committee on a reunion of the 26th Rgt Wis Vol meet at William Koch’s tomorrow forenoon.
__________________________________________________________________________
Dec 15, 1879. Page 8, Col 1
THE 26TH
Under call of Julius Meiswinkel, Chairman of the committee on arrangements, several of the survivors of the 26th met at No. 314 West Water st yesterday forenoon, and fixed upon the 4th of July next as the date for the annual reunion of the rgt. A general meeting was called for the 4th of Jan, when the date and other details will be discussed.
The 4th will come on Sunday next year and the committee expressed the opinion that this fact would contribute to a larger turnout, as there would be no business engagements in the way, and furthermore the railroads would reduce the fare one half. Another consideration is the fact that the day is the anniversary of the final battle of Gettysburg.
__________________________________________________________________________
Dec 16, 1879. Page 8, Col 4
All the survivors of the 26th Rgt Wis Vol will meet at William Koch’s during the afternoon of Jan 4. The reunion will be on the 4th of July, 1880.
Article #121__________________________________________________________________________
Jun 8, 1880. Page 4, Col 2
THE 26TH INFANTRY
was organized at Camp Sigel, Milwaukee. It was mustered into the United States service September 17, 1862. On the 6th of October the regiment left the State 1000 strong, and went to Washington, marched thence to Fairfax Court House, and there foined the Eleventh Army Corps, Gen. Sigel commanding. Nov 2, the regiment marched to Gainesville, and was occupied in the vicinity of this point, at different stationas, until Dec. 9, when the Eleventh Corps took up its line of March for Falmouth, opposite Fredericksburg, where it arrived on the 14th, just as Gen. Burnside was withdrawing his forces, after his unsuccessful attack on the heights of Fredericksburg. The Eleventh Corps then proceeded to Stafford Court House, where it went into camp. The ill-fated Mud Campaign in January, 1863, routed the Eleventh Corps from its winter quarters. The Twenty-sixth was left as rear guard, and was obliged to picket the entire line lately picketed by the corps. The Eleventh Corps soon returned to Stafford Court House, and remained during the winter months. During this time the Twenty-sixth acquired a jigh proficiency in drill. February 5, 1863, Capt. Baetz, of Company F, was appointed Major. On the 27th of April the Twenty-sixth broke camp; at midnight, the 28th, it crossed the Rappahannock at Kelly’s Ford, and by hard marching reached Locust Grove, a few miles west of Chancellorsville, on the 30th of April. The Eleventh Corps was put in position along the Fredericksburg pike, facing south. The line of battle was along the road. The Twenty-sixth, in the Third Divilion, was about a quarter of a mile from the extreme right. May 2 the Twenty-sixth was marched to the rear, and posted on a ridge about a quarter of a mile from the road, with a New York regiment on its left, and its right unprotected. About 5 o’clock in the afternoon a crash of musketry was heard on the right, which proved to be the enemy’s attack upon the right and rear of the brigade, which held the extreme right. The brigade was soon broken and scattered to the woods in the rear. The enemy continued his attack and succeeded in rolling up a portion of the First Division, which occupied the right, creating a great amount of confusion. Another column of the enemy passed still forther to the rear, and struck the position held by the Twenty-sixth. The enemy advanced without skirmishers, and poured in a deadly volley upon the skirmishers of the Twenty-sixth, under Capt. Pizzalla, who was instantly killed. The reserve fired a volley and retreated on the battallion, which was instantly engaged in the fiercest of struggles with the veterans on Jackson, while these two regiments-the One Hundred and Nineteenth New York, and the Twenty-sixth Wisconsin- were fighting their first battle. Posted on a bare hill-top, attacked by largely superior numbers, who had the advantage of a screening forest, they stood and fought unflinchingly until the enemy had largely doubled round their flanks, both right and left, when the twice repeated order of the brigade commander to march in retreat was obeyed. The retreat was continued to the main position of the army, near the Chancellorville House. On the 3d, the Twenty-sixth moved to the extreme left, near the river, where it engaged in a spirited skirmish on the 4th. The next day it was moved to the right, and remained until the morning of the 6th, when Hooker’s army retreated across the river, and the Eleventh Corps returned to Stafford Court House. The losses of the Twenty-sixth in this battle were 37 killed, 117 wounded, 20 taken prisoners, and 3 missing. The regiment remained in camp until the 12th of June, when orders were received to march without delay. It was ascertained that the enemy was marching on a second invasion into the loyal states. The forces of Gen. Hooker were, therefore, soon marching through Virginia. Emmettsburg, Md, was reached June 29, and on the 1st of July the fire of artillery was heard in the direction of Gettysburg. March was resumed and hastened with all possible speed. The troops passed through the town, and were at once marched for the conflict. The Third Division, Eleventh Corps, formed to the right of the First Corps, northwesterly of the town. The Twenty-sixth was placed in second line, in double column in mass. The lines then advanced. The first line became engaged, and was forced to the rear in some disorder. The Twenty-sixth became very hotly engaged, but checked the enemy’s advance, and sustained its position with admirable firmness. The brigade was finally ordered to fall back. The retreat, over open fields, proved fatal to many, but was conducted in good order. A stand was made on the outskirts of the town, where a skirmish ensued, and the Twenty-sixth then acted as rear guard during the further retreat to Cemetary Hill. There it took position behind a stone fence, its right resting on the street. Only four of the officers engaged with the regiment in this conflict escaped unhurt. The regiment did not again participate in the fight. The total losses of the regiment in the battle of Gettysburg were 41 killed, 127 wounded, 26 prisoners, and 6 missing. The regiment moved to various positions, and engaged in fatigue and other arduous duties, until Oct. 27, when it crossed the Tennessee River, and assisted in repelling the enemy’s attack on Gen Geary, at Wauhatchee, where it had 2 men wounded. In November, Col. Jacobs proceeded to Wisconsin on recruiting services. Major Winckler took command, and retained it, as Col. Jacobs soon after resigned.. On the 23d, 24th, and 25th of November the regiment was engaged at Mission Ridge, and on the 26th joined in the pursuit of the enemy, until the28th, when it returned to Parker’s Gap, and received three days’ ration, with orders to make them last six, and on the 29th started for the relief of Gen. Burnside, at Knoxville. Longstreet had retreated to Virginia, and the command marched back to Lookout Valley, remaining till Jan. 25, 1864, when it moved to Chattanooga and remained until April 23. In the Atlanta campaign, the Twenty-sixth, 417 strong, was placed in the Third Brigade, Third Division, of the Twentieth Army Corps. The regiment formed in line of Battle May 13, before Resaca, and skirmished from noon until dark. The following day it lost one man killed and three wounded. On the 15th the regiment marched to the lift of the army, where its brigade had the advance in the assault made at that point, the Twenty-sixth having the right of the first line, and being ordered to take a hill in front, which was accomplished. The regiment lost 6 killed and 40 wounded. It took part in the battle of Dallas, on the 25th of May. The regiment was posted in the second line of battle, and on the left, but afterwards moved to the front, to relieve an Ohio regiment, and remained there fighting until dark. From this time until the first of June it was employed in siege duty. It then joined the movement towards the left. The loss of the Twenty-sixth at Dallas was 17 killed and 23 wounded. The Twenty-sixth followed the enemy from point to point until it took position, on the 19th of June, before the formidable rebel works on Kenesaw Mountain. On the 22d it participated in a severe engagement, which resulted in the capture of the rebel rifle pits. The next day it moved to the right and took position on the road to Powder Spring, which it intrenched and held in the face of an incessant fire, until July 3. Its total loss was 11 killed and 36 wounded. At the battle of Peach Tree Creek, the regiment was posted first in a ravine, and then on a hill. The battle soon raged with terrible earnestness. An enfilading fire was opened upon the regiment at the same time that the rebels advanced to assail them in front. It held its position under this galling fire until the enemy were within ten paces of it, when it poured such withering volleys upon their lines that they broke, and fled in disorder. The regiment followed them closely, andestablished its line on the top of a second hill. Capt. Fuchs captured the colors of the Thirty-third Mississippi. Its loss was 9 killed and 34 wounded. Among the former were Capts. Jno. P Seeman and Robert Mueller, and Lieut. Nicholas Vollmer, Capt. William Steinmayer was wounded. The Twenty-sixth was placed in line before Atlanta, Aug. 3, and during the siege occupied a number of different positions, and took part in many skirmished, losing three men killed and four wounded. August 25 it silently withdrew to Turner’s Ferry, and returned to Atlanta after the evacuation. During the siege of Atlanta 13 of the regiment were killed. November 15 the Twenty-sixth moved forward with Gen. Sherman in his march to the sea. The army reached Savannah December 21, and in Fanuary, 1865, started towards Goldsboro. In the battle of Averysboro, March 17, Capt. Schmidt and Lieut. Klein were killed. At this battle the regiment lost 11 killed and 12 wounded. At the battle of Bentonville, March 19, the Twenty-sixth was in reserve. On the march northward, it remained in Richmond three days, and arriving in Washington, were reviewed with Sherman’s Army. The regiment was disbanded at Milwaukee June 29, 1865. Lieut. Col. Winkler was brevetted colonel and then brigadier general. Jaj Luckner wass brevetted lieutenant colonel and Captain Fuchs, major. The regiment lost by death 284 men.
Article #122__________________________________________________________________________
Sept 4, 1882. Page 3, Col 1
THE NEWS IN BRIEF
…At the reunion of the Twenty-sixth Regiment yesterday Uncle Sam’s civil service was represented by six letter-carriers, viz.: Charles Thieme, Henry Urich, William Weidner, Henry Larch, Louis Manz and Antoine Ewens, who followed the fortunes of the regiment through the war.
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Sept 4, 1882. Page 6, Col 1
THE MEMORIES OF WAR
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Veterans of the Twenty-sixth Wisconsin Meet Again.
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THE GRAND PARADE AND PICNIC
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History ofthe Regiment-Stirring Scenes at Chancellorville-Battle of Bull Run-Experience at Mission Ridge.
Yesterday was a red-letter day for the “old vet of the Twenty-sixth Wisconsin, the members, or rather the survivors, of which are in the main residents of Milwaukee County. At 2 P.M. the battle-scarred heroes assembled at the headquarters on Fourth street, just north of State, 200 strong, and headed by Zeitz’s Military Band, marched to Milwaukee Garden, where a reunion was indulged in, the battles of the war fought over again in imagery, and a jolly good time indulged in. The war-worn colors of the regiment that had been so heroically defended on many a well-fought field were displayed in the line, but they had been so rent with war’s rough usage that it was necessary that they should be covered with gauze to present even a semblance of their originality. The afternoon was spent pleasantly at the garden in social converse, enlivened by patriotic airs from the band. The scenes of the camp-fire, the march and the battle were brought vividly to mind by the presence of so many comrades of the campaign.
WAR SONGS.
The enthusiasm knew no bounds as the stirring notes of “Rally Round the Flag, Boys”, “John Brown’s Boky Lies Mouldering in the Grave”, “Dixie”,”The Star Spangled Banner”, and other well-remembered airs were played, and many a gray-haired veteran, forgetful of all else, sang himself hoarse over the chorus, and danced with the zest of a youth in his teens. At 6 o’clock the soldiers sat down to a pork-and-beans supper, in the dining-room, and in the evening the dancers took possession of the large pavilion, but this proving inadequate, the dining-room was also utilized, and at both places the votaries of Terpsichore indulged the favorite pastime until an early hour this morning.
HISTORY OF THE REGIMENT
The Twenty-sixth Regiment was mustered into the United States service Sept. 17, 1862. It was recruited in two weeks, and was composed, with the exception of Company G, of men of German birth or parentage. It left the State for the seat of war on the 16th of the following month, in command of Col. W.H. Jacobs, 1000 strong, and was assigned to the Second Brigade of the Third Division of the Eleventh Corps, Maj.-Gen. Sigel commanding. The army was engaged in a forward movement and on Nov. 2 the regiment camped on the far-famed field of Bull Run occupying Thoroughfare Gap at daybreak Nov. 3. On the 7th the regiment was advanced to New Baltimore and thence to Gainesville on the 8th. The Efeventh Corps fell back, the regiment being left at Centerville. After various movements in advance and to the rear, under the McClellan manipulation, the Eleventh Corps on the 27thof April crossed the Rappahannock at Kelly’s Ford, crossed the Rapidan at Germania Ford on the night of the 29th, and by forced marches reached Chancellorville on the afternoon of April 30, and on May 1 was drawn up in line of battle on the Fredericksburg pike, occupying a position on the extreme right of the army. A report spread that the enemy were retreating, and Gen. Sickles was sent to garass the enemy’s flight, taking with him the Second Division, including the Twenty-sixth Regiment. It was posted on a ridge a quarter of a mile from the road, with the One Hundred and Ninitieth New York Regiment on the left.
THE BRUNT OF BATTLE.
At 5 o’clock P.M. a terrific crash of artillery was heard on the right, and the well-organized columns of the enemy pressed forward. The columns of the enemy pressed forward. The brigade was at once broken and scattered to the rear. The confusion was heightened by the loose teams of the artillery, with caissons attached, which came dasheng into the midst of the flying troops. The two regiments thus posted in a most exposed position were under fire for the first time, alone on a bare hill-top attacked by a largely superior force, and yet they stood their ground and fought until the enemy had doubled their flanks, both right and left, and yet the order to retreat had to be given twice before it was obeyed. Notwithstanding this, these troops of the Eleventh Corps were assaulted by the most abusive imprecations, and newspaper correspondents charged the disasters of the day to the “cowardly Dutch”, the “flying Dutchmen”, etc. A subsequent review of the field, however, by experienced army officers convinced them that the position occupied was utterly untenable. The regiment participated in the battle of Gettysburg, losing 41 killed, 137 wounded, and 32 missing.
AT MISSION RIDGE.
On the 24th of September the regiment, with the Eleventh Corps, for Bridgeport, Ala., and took part in the battles of Wauhatchie and of Mission Ridge. Barefooted and without blankets they marched toward Knoxville to the relief of Gen. Burnside, taking part in the engagements at Resaca, Dallas, Kenesaw, Peach Tree Creek, Atlanta, Averyboro and Bentonville. On the march north they remained in Richmond three days, returning to Milwaukee June 27, and were disbanded on the 29th, 1865, with Col. F.C. Winckler in command. In an official communication to the Secretary of War, Gen. Coggswell, who commanded the brigade, said the Twenty-sixth Wisconsin was one of the finest military organizations in the service. Its original strength was 1002. It received eighty-four recruits in 1864, making a grand total of 1088; lost by death, 254; desertion, 31; transfer, 125; discharge, 232; muster out, 447.
Article #123__________________________________________________________________________
Jul 4, 1883. Page 1, Col 5
EAGLE ECHOES
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What the Noble Bird Said and Did in the Name of Freedom.
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His Plumage and Ardor Dampened in Milwaukee by a Thunder Shower.
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Parading Soldiers Drenched to the Skin, Seek Shelter in Saloons and Stores.
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Gen. Winkler’s Patriotic Oration Before the Assembled Multitude at National Park.
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Ex-President Hayes’ Address and Whittier’s Poem at a Connecticutt Gathering.
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Brilliant Pyrotechnic Display at the Soldier’s Home-Celebrations in the State and Elsewhere.
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THE DAY IN MILWAUKEE
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THE EAGLE’S DAY.
The proud bird of American freedom unfurled his pinions boldly for his annual soar yesterday morning. The heavens were blue, the sun bright and loving, and the air pure and refreshing. Soon after 1 o’clock Tuesday night, and hour’s shower cooled the ground and left the streets in the best possible condition for Fourth-of-July comfort. At sunrise the eagle shook himself and spread his great wings from ocean to ocean. Under their protecting shadow the small boy became the autocrat of the country at large. Licensed by custom carried for years in and years out, the ubiquitous urchin was transformed into a sovereign ruler of the hour. Coupled with the scream of the eagle, he succeeded in making the early day typical of the glorious independence so dear to the hearts of the citizen. Long before 6 o’clock Milwaukee reverberated with the thousand and one noises possible at the hands of patriotism. In the remote distance and nearest points the snap, fizz, and bang of the torpedo, the cracker, and bombs sounded continuously. Up to 11 o’clock there was no variation. The second hour was like the first, and the third like the second.
THEN CAME A CHANGE,
and the prospects of the day for unbroken pleasure were sadly marred. The great bank of leaden blue that had slowly curled up in the west began unfolding, and soon curtained the azure sky with the sombre shade, threatening some serious disturbance of the elements. The crowds that had assembled here, there, and everywhere hurried to shelter themselves from the burst of wind and water every moment more and more imminent. The clouds grew darker, and vivid flashes of lightening started their play. The rumble of thunder came first faint and then stronger, until it burst with a mighty crash directly overhead, and the torrents of a deluge descended. Until noon it continued, and the eagle’s plumage began to look draggled and drooping. The walks grew wet and the streets sloppy. The outlook was gloomy for the afternoon’s enjoyment. But the clouds passed over, and once more there was sunlight and beauty. The breeze grew sultry, and the ground dried rapidly, so that the glorious relaxation was resumed. The thoroughfares again became thronged. In every direction the people passed. On Grand avenue, Wisconsin, East and West Water, and Third streets,
THE DECORATIONS
were profuse, and in many cases elaborate. A number of places were dressed with evergreen trees and flags, the combination being artistic and pleasing. Along the river and in the harbor the star-spangled banners floated by thousands. From the peaks of the Chicago Yacht Club fleet the bunting streamed and flaunted. About the city from every elevated building the same handsome colors danced in the wind, and all was joy.
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SORRY SOLDIERS.
The various military companies that participated in the parade yesterday morning were somewhat tardy in putting in an appearance, and at the hour named for the procession to start, not a single uniform could be seen in the vicinity of the appointed rendezvous, although the sidewalks were thronged with jostling sight-seers. The first company to arrive was the Robert Chivas Post, No. 2, G.A.R., which took a stand on Market Square, directly in front the St. Charles Hotel. The veterans were closely followed by the Lincoln Guards and the Milwaukee Cadets presented themselves and arrangements were made for an immediate start, despite the threatening cloud-bank that was rapidly approaching from the west. The Sheridans were resplendent in their handsome new uniforms, which they had donned for the first time, and the elegantly-attired warriors cast many an anxious glance at the frowning sky. After some little delay the parade moved forward under the command of Capt. Von Schelen, the marshal of the day, and in the following order:
Marshal and aides.
Clauder’s Band.
Sheridan Guards, under command of Capt. O’Connor.
Lincoln Guards, Capt. Hughes commanding.
Milwaukee Cadets, under Capt. G.W. Johnson.
South Side Rifles, under Capt. George P. Traeumer.
Robert Chivas Post, No. 2, G.A.R.
THE LINE OF MARCH
was from Market Square north on East Water to Division, west on Division to Chestnut, west on Chestnut to Fourth, south on Fourth to Grand avenue, east on Grand avenue to East Water, south on East Water to South Water, west on South Water to Reed, south on National avenue to National Park, where the festivities were to occur. There was a slight sprinkling of rain as the cavalcade began its march, but nothing daunded, the patriotic participants pressed forward. But when Chestnut-street bridge was reached the slight sprinkle had changed into a perfect deluge, and a grand rush was made for shelter, the objective point being the old railway sheds on Chestnut, near Third street. This torrent lasted about fifteen minutes, during which time Jove himself indulged in a Fourth of July celebration on an enlarged scale , and for a brief period the noise of the popping fire-cracker was drowned by the roar of the atmospheric cannonading. Taking advantage of the first lull in the storm, the line was formed and the procession again moved forward. The cessation of hostilities on the part of the weather proved but a temporary one, and when the corner of Grand avenue and Fourth street was reached, the rain-charged clouds again drove the procession under cover, and the various saloons and stores in the neighborhood were crowdedwith the drenched yeomanry. After fifteen minutes delay
THE SUN PEEPED OUT
from behind the ragged edge of an ominous-looking cloud, and, after a brief struggle, succeeded in shining out bright and clear through the heavy, watery mist. Again the bugle sounded the call, and the uncomfortably damp troopers slowly filed into the muddy street, casting rueful glances the while at their lately glistening accoutrements, which now presented a very forlorn and wilted appearance. The line of march, upon being taken up this time, was continued to the end without a further break, Old Sol beaming his warm approval of their patriotic endurance.
PARADE PICKINGS.
The Robert Chivas Post made a creditable turnout, about 150 of the battle-scarred veterans marching manfully along to the spirited strains of the fife and frum-corps, which was composed of members of the Post.
The bugle and two of the drums used by the Robert Chivas Post are relics of the war, having accompanied the Fifth Wisconsin Regiment through all their battles.
J. H. Ryan and Louis Lapeet, of Whittier Post No. 17, of Chicago; John A. Straub, editor of The Comrade; C. J. Widvey, of Wilson Colville Post No. 38, of La Crosse, were guests of Robert Chivas Post, and participated in the parade.
There is weeping and wailing in the camp of the Sheridans on account of the disastrous drenching which the brand new uniforms received. It was pipiful to observe the sad oh-for-an-umbrella-or-rubber-coat expression which was depicted on their countenances while marching in the rain.
While the companies were forming in line on Market Square, a mischievous youngster placed a bunch of ignited fire-crackers directly under an unsuspecting Chinaman, whose almond optics were fastened on the military. When the fire-crackers began to explode the Mongolian gentleman gave a wild yell, and clapping his hand behind him as if he was shot, make a wild leap into the street. When he realized the slight extent of his injuries, and what had occasioned his fright a look of pained disgust slowly settled over his saffron-colored features, and it was plainly apparent that Fourth of July celebrationshad no further charm for his heathen mind.
The bullet-torn and powder-begrimmed battle-flag of the Ninth Wisconsin attracted much attention and was one of the features of the parade.
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ORATORS OF THE DAY
The new National Park, on the corner of Twenty-second and National avenue, was the scene of the grandest Fourth of July gathering on yesterday that Milwaukee has seen for years. The rain in the forenoon, which so interfered with the street parade, in reality was of benefit, since it laid the dust in the streets for the rest of the day without penetrating to a depth sufficient to make them muddy. Between the hours of 2 and 5 o’clock in the afternoon the facilities for selling tickets at the park gates proved wholly inadequate to meet the pressure of visitors. They surrounded the ticket office by hundreds, many having to wait half an hour before being able to procure admission. The West Side street car line did the most rushing business of the yoar. The open cars were not only crowded on and between seats, but the conductor’s foot-board on each side, was occupied by men and boys who hung on in trying situations. The horses looked as though they had been run through the river, there being no dry spot visible on their entire bodies. The conductors worked with their coats off, and had a hard time for once in their lives in collecting the fare. But those who approached the ground by rail were but a comparative small portion. Every imaginable vehicle was utilized to convey the would-be pleasure seekers, who also lined the sidewalks of the broad avenue in an endless stream. It was
A PERFECT PICTURE
-the fresh, green nature, the moving mass of humanity and the various colors of dress, represented in all imaginable shades. The elegant carriage humbly took its station behind a bus improvised from an express wagon, and the well-to-do business man perspired alongside of the coatless laborer. All was life and color and motion, and the direction was westward ho! As mentioned before, the process of entering the park gates was slow and trying, but the best of humor was manifested on all sides, and the result was a steady stream on the inner road for the grove at the further end of the extensive park. Here another animated scene came to pass. All about were seats under shady trees, which were soon occupied by a happy, drinking and conversing throng of men, women and children. The military companies had stacked their arms round about, and these were guarded by a picket who was relieved at short intervals. At 2 o’clock the crowd already numbered thousands, and still the rush did not commence till after that hour. Clauder’s brass band occupied the stand and played several national airs and medleys. At 3 o’clock
GENS. HOBART AND WINKLER
appeared on the stand, and were received with applause. Contrary to the printed programme, the reading of the Declaration of Independence by Gen. Hobart was first in order. Mr. Hobart preceded his task with a few original words, in which he spoke of the signers of the Declaration and the great peril they underwent in so doing. With the Revolution a success, they have become heroes, with the rebellion a failure, they would have ended on the gallows. The General implored his hearers not to forget the great sacrifive they made and true bravery they exhibited in that act, which led to the glorious results the Nation now enjoys. Gen. Hobart occupied perhaps fifteen minutes in the reading of the historic document, and was attentively followed by all within the reach of his voice. As he concluded and acknowledged the applause with a bow, Gen. Winkler was introduced as the speaker of the day. The General delivered a short and pertinent speech. He said that a long speech was out of place on such an occasion, and he desired to but briefly allude to the great event which resulted in the establishment of these United States among the free nations of the earth. He spoke of the heroism of the patriots in their struggle for freedom from the grasp of an empire in whose domain the sun never sets, and eulogized the memory of the brave men who did not fight for gold or riches, but really and truly for the priceless boon of liberty. He compared their resources with those of the then mother country, and added conviction to argument of the import that underlies the celebration of the ever-glorious Fourth. The General, toward the close of his remarks, spoke of another Fourth of July which was celebrated twenty years ago, when victory had crowned the loyal forces
AT GETTYSBURG
and Vicksburg. Those events had regenerated the old national holiday, and the heritage of those days was as valued with true Americans as that which comes to us from over a hundred years ago. “Do not then feel angry with your boys,” concluded Mr. Winkler, “if they distrub you on this day with firecrackers, but rather cherish the custom which commemorates the two grand struggles for our freedom.” The speaker was attentively listened to, and retired amidst applause, which had also been liberally tendered at the various good points brought out in the speech. Clauder’s band, during these exercises, played several national airs, including “The Star Spangled Banner” and “My Country,” and after finishing a piece after Gen. Winkler’s speech, the prisident arose, and announcing the programme of races, etc., dismissed the assemblage around the stand with thanks. It was not yet 4 o’clock, when the crowd made a rush for the race track, which was in tolerable condition since the rain. The sport continued throughout the afternoon, and included some creditable military evolutions, bayonet exercises, etc. The various companies appeared to excellent advantage, and caused a volley of commendations from the thousands of pleased spectators. All in all, the afternoon was one of unparalleled success, and re-imursed all outlays by a handsome overplus.
Article #124__________________________________________________________________________
Jul 30, 1883. Page 5, Col 1
What the Twenty-Sixth Wisconsin Regiment Did at Their Picnic
THE BOYS IN BLUE
The Twenty-sixth Regiment Wisconsin Volunteers enjoyed their annual picnic yesterday at Falk’s Park, and a very pleasant reunion was held. Among those present were the following members of the old regiment: Henry Klinker, Co. C; J. Lasche, Co. k; W. Weidner, Co. C; J. Hammon, Co. K; H. Sontag, sergeant major; Fritz Jansen, Co. D; A. Beitg, Co. A; A. Kepka, Co. C; Fred Scholz, Co. A; J.N. Stilp, Co. I; C. Thirnie, Co. A; J. Shutty, Co. A; H. Bremser, Co. K; A. Wapler, Co. I; C. Leitzman, Co. C; J. Schule, Co. C; Phil Bower, Co. A; A. Scharf, Co. D; J. Stanff, Co. I; F. Wolfram, Co. I; M. Ulrich, Co. I; Capt. Wm. Steinmeyer, Co. F; S. Gukenberger, Co. C; Phil Kissinger, Co. A; W. Block, Co. A; A. Kullig, Co. A; Phil Schloesser, adjutant of staff officer; L. Manz, Co. C; N. Friedrich, , Co. C; A.G. Berlascha, Co. C; H. Lorch, Co. K; A. Weldner, Co. C; Henry Ewick, Co. A; Junius Meiswinkel. Co. D; Phil Hunkel, Co. D; W. A. Koch, Co. A. There were also present members of the Second, Fifth, Sixth, Ninth and Twenty-fourth regiments, one representative of an Indiana battery, Capt. A. Tuttle, whilon king of the Cannibal Islands. Among the interesting relics of the war exhibited was the celebrated war-horse of Adjutant Philip Schloesser. This horse is a stallion, andat the beginning of his term of service was an iron-grey/ He is now almost white, but is still as lively as ever, and is apparently good for a number of years. He was eight years old when he entered the service, and is now twenty-nine years old. He was badly wounded in the neck at the battle of Chancellorsville, and the scar is plainly visible to-day. It was interesting to see with what affection the old soldiers of that regiment regarded the noble horse, and one old vet was heard to say that if that horse could only speak, what a story he could tell. He is now used as a family horse, and is very highly prized by Col. Schloesser, who watched him as he roamed around the grounds without halter or bridle. The old steed seemed to enjoy the attention and petting he received, and when his bridle was removed, cut up all manner of pranks, as if to show that he was not superannuated yet by any manner of means.
Soon after the opening of the picnic, the Twenty-sixth Regiment was captured almost entire by the Robert Chivas Post, No. 2, G.A.R., a large number of whom marched up to the Park, headed by drums and fifes, with their banners flying, surprising the old vets in the midst of their sport. An enjoyable time succeeded, numerous old army songs being sung, in both English and German. Various members of the Post were observed filling out suspicious-looking blanks, and as there is no war on hand, it is surmised they were applications for admission to the Post. Some twenty or so were filled out in a few moments and many were added later.
Among those receiving particular attention was Capt. A. Tuttle, now a resident of Honolulu, Sandwich Islands, and who has been nearly all over the globe. He is a member of George C. Meade Post, No. 5, Department of the Potomac. He went to sea at the age of 16 years, and at the age of 22 was made captain of the ship. On the breaking out of the war, he was at Hindoo, and sailed for his native land to take a hand in the struggle. He served in the army one year and three years in the navy. He is now prodecuting a claim against the Government, and during its pendency he is lecturing on the experiences of his strange life. Though he has lived the allotted three score years and the, his future plans point to another Arctic expedition, as a result of which he feels sanguine of accomplishing the northern passage, which has lured so many to failure and death.
Article #125__________________________________________________________________________
Jul 4, 1887. Page 3, Col 4
REUNION OF VETS
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A German Regiment to Reassemble.
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COMPANIES THAT WERE NEARLY ALL FROM MILWAUKEE.
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The Reunion to Take Place Aug. 27 and 28-The death a Few days Ago of Mr. Schlosser’s War Horse.
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About thirty veterans of the Twenty-sixth regiment of the Wisconsin volunteers met at Robert Chivas hall, yesterday morning at 10 o’clock, to arrange for the twenty-fifth anniversary of the regiment and a reunion of the surviving comrades. A committee consisting of P.J. Schlosser, Ferdinand Schunz, Phil. G. Hunkel, Henry Non Ewyck, Henry Klinker and Chas. Trapschuh, had been previously appointed to make arrangements. The committee was enlarged yesterday by the appointment of Hans Boebel and Wm. Steinmeyer. The meeting decided to hold the reunion on the 27th and 28th of August. The committee of arrangements will prepare a programme for the occasion this week, and mail it with an invitation to all surviving comrades.
WELCOMING RECEPTION.
On Saturday evening, Aug. 27, a reception will be given the visiting members at Robert Chivas hall. On the afternoon of Sunday, Aug. 28, those present will meet at Robert Chivas hall and march thence to Market square, where the company made its last halt twenty-five years ago, on the day it left for the front. Here a halt will be made and then the march will be resumed to Schuetzen park, where a picnic will be indulged in during the afternoon and evening. The comrades living in this city, of whom there are about 100, have arranged to entertain the visiting comrades at their homes. It is anticipated that fully 150 to 200 veterans will attend the reunion. Many members of the regiment have gone to other states, but it is anticipated that a goodly number of them will return for the reunion.
THE OLD TWENTY-SIXTH
The Twenty-sixth regiment was quickly formed and pushed to the front. Philip J. Schlosser received the commission to form the regiment, Aug. 12, 1862, and by Sept. 5 following, the necessary 1,000 men had been secured. The regiment went into camp at Camp Sigel for five weeks and was then ordered to the front. It was composed almost entirely of young men, and consequently the survivors do not average as old as do those of regiments in which the rank was older at enlistment. Company A was composed of members of different singing societies and Swiss societies, all of whom were residents of Milwaukee. Company B was composed mostly of clerks. Company C was remarkable for the large, powerful men of which it was composed. Company D was composed of outsiders from different places. Company E was from Fond du Lac; Company F from Manitowoc; Company G from West Bend. Company H was organized by Hans Boebel, and consisted of young men from Milwaukee. Company I was composed mostly of Bohemians. Company J came from Watertown and Company K was distinguished by the fact that it contained a good many actors.
THE REGIMENT’S RECORD.
The regiment during its term of service lost 249 members, one less than 25 per cent. Of that number 128 were killed in action. One old comrade who will be missed at the reunion is the old gray horse owned by P. J. Schlosser. The horse was taken to the front by Mr. Schlosser, who is manager of the Sixth ward branch of the Second ward bank, served through the war and was brought home again. On the 11th day of last month the old war-horse died, being over 33 years of age. Mr. Schlosser thought a great deal of the horse, and had given him excellent care. He died of old age on a farm at Wauwatosa, where he was being kept. For two days he had been down and could not get up. He was listless and did not seem to notice those about him. On the second day Mr. Schlosser went to see him. The old horse recognized him at once, and, putting out his fore feet, made an effort to rise. His strength was fast going and the effort, it seemed, would be too much for him, but after a few minutes’ struggle he seemed to summon all his strength for the task, and finally raise to his feet and rested his head on Mr. Schlosser’s arm. But the old veteran was too weak to stand long at his master’s side, as in days of old, and in ten minutes he became so exhausted that he was compelled to lie down, and shortly after expired. The old horse had had remarkable career, and the news of his death will be received with sincere regret by many of the members of the Twenty-sixth, who expected to see him again at the reunion.
Article #126__________________________________________________________________________
Aug 18, 1887. Page 3, Col 2
Silver Jubilee of the Twenty-Sixth.
The survivors of the Twenty-sixth regiment will celebrate the silver jubilee of their being mustered into service next Saturday, by a reunion and a camp fire. On Sunday they will march to the Shooting park where a picnic will be held, and on Monday the closing festivities will take place. The Twenty-sixth was exclusively composed of Germans, and sustained the heaviest losses at the battle of Gettysburg, where it was placed on a low, open field, without any natural protection whatever. As a part of the Eleventh corps it fought at Lookout Mountain and in the principal battles of Gen. Sherman’s campaign, including the famous march through Georgia and the Carolinas. About seventy survivors live in the city, among them Major Traemer and General Winkler.
Article #127__________________________________________________________________________
Aug 21, 1887. Page 3, Col 7
BUT FEW SURVIVE
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Reunion of theTwenty-sixth Regiment.
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COMPANIES THAT WERE ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY GERMAN.
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A Regiment Formed Almost Exclusively of Milwaukee Men-A wild Young Chicago Girl Found Here by Her Father.
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The second reunion of the Twenty-sixth Wisconsin regiment will be held on Saturday and Sunday next. On Saturday afternoon the veterans from abroad will be received at Robert Chivas hall, on Fourth street. An informal camp-fire will be held at the same place in the evening. On Sunday a picnic at Schuetzen park will be enjoyed, to be followed by a supper and sociable in the evening. There are about forty members of the regiment now residing in Milwaukee, while the other survivors are scattered all over the Union. The Twenty-sixth was distinctively a Milwaukee regiment, with the exception of Capt. Bates’ company “F”, most of which was made up of Manitowoc men. Companies “B” and “H” were composed entirely of young turners and a braver regiment did not fight in the rebellion. They went into service in 1862, 1,060 strong, including officers. Nearly all were young men and there were only about thirty married men in the regiment. The number mustered out after three years’ hard fighting was 280. The regiment held its first reunion ten years ago. Those in charge expect at least 100 to be present from Milwaukee and outside points.
The Twenty-sixth saw lots of hard fighting. It had the most exposed position at Gettysburg and lost more men in that decisive battle than any other regiment engaged, except the Second Massachusetts and an Indiana regiment. At Chancellorsville, the Twenty-sixth lost about 160. They participated at Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge, were in the Atlanta Campaign, marched with Sherman to the sea, and fought in all of the battles between Savannah and Richmond, on Sherman’s march northward.
Upon leaving Washington for home the regiment was in a disastrous railway collision. None of the members, fortunately were killed, but in the next car nearly thirty members of a Jersey battery were killed or injured. This event so frightened a negro the regiment was bringing north that he stopped right there and would not budge another step. But the boys brought several with them and one of those brought North is managing a farm at Present near Oconomowoc. He talks German like a native, is prospering and has been invited to attend the reunion.
Some of the more prominent members of the regiment are Col. Hans Boebel, Maj. Geo. P. Traeumer; Geo. Jones, now of West Bend; Phil Schlosser, of the Sixth Ward bank; Capt. William Steinmeyer, ex-commander of Chivas post; Maj. F. Lachman, now of Chicago; Capt. Henry Rauth, of St. Louis; Henry Klinker and Phil. Hunkel. The prospects are that the reunion will be a decided success and an event of great satisfaction and pleasure to the veterans.
Article #128__________________________________________________________________________
Aug 27, 1887. Page 3, Col 2
COMRADES MEET AGAIN
The Reunion To-day of the Twenty-Sixth Wisconsin-Iron Brigade
The members of the “Old Twenty-sixth” will begin to arrive in the city this morning to attend the second reunion of the regiment to be held to-day and to-morrow at Tobert Chivas post hall on Fourth street. There will be a reception at the hall to-night and a picnic at the Schuetzzen park to-morrow, to be followed in the evening by a supper. It is expected that fully 100 veterans will be present from abroad. Joseph Paider, Company I, of Kewaskum; Wm. Harusburg, Company A, Chicago, and Fred Siebold, St. Paul, arrived yesterday.
Another meeting of the committee having in charge the arrangements for the Iron Brigade reunion will be held next Tuesday evening at the Plankinton house. The reunion occurs Sept. 14, when the state fair will be in progress here, enabling those desirous of attending to obtain cheap round trip transportation.
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Aug 28, 1887. Page 3, Col 4
THE REUNION.
The fifth reunion and the twenty-fifth celebration of the Twenty-sixth regiment of the Wisconsin volunteers began with a reception and commers at Robert Chivas hall last night. About 200 veterans were in attendance last evening, but not to exceed 175 of them were members of the Twenty-sixth regiment. Though a ;large percentage of those in attendance came from Milwaukee and the state at large, quite a number have come from adjoining states to talk over the incidents and struggles in which the Twenty-sixth took a prominent and creditable part. They were a vigorous fine-looking body of men. Here and there was one who had left a leg or an arm on a Southern field, while others bore the evidence of their gallant service in scars that were not exposed.
WHERE THEY FOUGHT
The hall had been especially decorated for the occasion and about the walls were shields bearing the names of the engagements in which the regiment participated. They were Gettysburg, Chancellorsville, Atlanta, Savannah, Mission Ridge, Kenesaw Mountain, Bentonville, Averysboro, New Hope Church, Peach Tree Creek, Resaca, Wauhatchie, Knoxville. The windows were profusely decorated with foliage, while the national colors were tastily hung about the room,
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Aug 29, 1887. Page 4, Col 7
VETS AT A PICNIC
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The Reunion of the German Regiment.
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MAYOR WALLBER’S SLAP AT THE ANARCHIST TRIBE.
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Gen. Winkler Recalls Episodes in the Career of the Twenty-Sixth Regiment-Col Hans Boeble’s Stirring Speech.
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A host of friends visited the survivors of the Twenty-Sixth regiment, Wisconsin Volunteers, yesterday at their picnic in Schnetzen park. The sun was shining and the ground was hard and dry, when the tramp of the old soldier boys re-echoed along Third street at 1 P. M. in the air of a war-time melody. About 150 veterans made up the procession, which was just a block long, and perhaps fifty of these were from out of town. The total number of survivors is said to be 320. The regiment was German to a man when it was mustered into service, and yesterday, after a lapse of twenty-five years, the men were as German in their proclivities as ever. All the speeches were in German, and all the talk was in the same language, and the old soldiers from other regiments looking a little lonesome, although they were spoken to in English. The names of all the battles in which the regiment took part were posted in a circle on the trees, and between them the national colors were displayed. At 4 o’clock the veterans were photographed in a group from the grand stand, and then they moved up and were addressed by Mayor Wallber.
MAYOR WALLBER’S ADDRESS.
Mr. Wallber said that he had always taken a great interest in the most German regiment of the most German city of America, and next to the Turner volunteers, the men who composed it were best known to him. He spoke about the war and its successful issue, and the part the regiment took in it. He said that Col. Jacobs, its first commander, had been noted for his devotion to duty, Maj. Horwitz for his ability to spin yarns, and Lieut. Lehmann for his horsemanship. (Laughter.) He continued: “Men have found their way here who are not wanted, and the quicker they go the better. They have disgraced the German name, and we have to suffer for it. We take no stock in their wild theories. As we are good American citizens, we think with love of Germany. (Applause.) We respect the religious opinions and the usages of others, but we protest against being only tolerated here, nor is it true that our mission ends after having cleared away the forests. We do not want to be step-children of this republic.”(Applause.)
GEN. WINKLER.
There were calls for Gen. Winkler, and that gentleman limped to the platform and was received with cheers. He said: “Meine Lieben Kameradden! I don’t know what to say to you, except I recall a few reminiscences. Our regiment was assigned to the Eleventh corps, Gen. Sigel, commander, and together with the corps we constituted a part of the Army of the Potomac. I need not tell you how poorly that army was managed; suffice it to say that it had four different commanders in four years. The Eleventh corps was distressingly neglected from the beginning at Chancellorsville where we suffered so greatly. Our position was a mistake and we might as well have been butchered. We had no protection on our right flank. At Gettysburg we suffered from the same cause, and the first day here would have been more successful if a better disposition had been made of our force. It is a shame that in two years, when we met the enemy twice, we lost in a few minutes more than in all the battles thereafter. In Virginia things were a little better, and afterward in the West and, including the march to the sea, the upper command was better. I was repeatedly told by different commanders during the war that the Twenty-sixth was one of the finest organizations in the country. As to Oberst Jacobs, he was always honored by us, and he contributed to our success.” (Cheers.)
COL. BOEBEL’S REMARKS.
Col. Hans Boebel came forward with the assistance of his wooden leg, and made a one-minute speech that took the old veterans by storm. He said: “Jungens, wenn ich die alten Gesichter so wiedersehe, dann rappelts hier, (placing his hand over his heart.) Last uns immer unsere Schulldigkeit wie damals thun und all Schlechtigkeiten zum Teufel jugen.” The reunion came to a close yesterday.
“Young people, when I see the old faces again, then I will reside in here, (placing his hand over his heart.) Lastly to us our schoolchildren are always acting how foolish as fish, and by acting young all schoolchildren go to the Devil.
Article #129__________________________________________________________________________
Jun 28, 1888. Page 3, Col 2
Off for Gettysburg.
At half past 10 o’clock this morning some 50 survivors of the Twenty-sixth Wisconsin infantry will take the Northwestern train for Chicago, where the various delegations from the Northeastern states bound for the Gettysburg monument dedication are to rendezvous, and leave via the Baltimore & Ohio route in the afternoon. Department Commander Weis-ert accompanies the boys from here and Commanders in Chief (past and present) Fairchild and Rea, Gov. Rusk and several of his staff will also be of the party from Chicago.
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Jun 29, 1888. Page 3, Col 2
VETERANS OFF FOR GETTYSBURG
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To Participate in the Dedication of Wisconsin’s Monuments on Saturday.
Pursuant to the plan already fully noticed, some fifty survivors of the Twenty-sixth Wisconsin Volunteers left for Gettysburg yesterday forenoon, headed by the American Cadet band. The veterans marched from the place of rendezvous at the Second ward bank, carrying their old regimental colors, wreath-crowned, dipping them on Market square, where twenty-two years ago they held their last dress parade before leaving for the seat of war.
The Milwaukee party was joined by about twenty-five veterans from Madison, Waukesha, and other points, including Gen. Fairchild, who, in the absence of Gov. Rusk, will be Wisconsin’s representative in the ceremonies on Saturday when Senator Spooner will deliver an address. There are now 125 monuments on the field of Gettysburg, which covers an area of about twenty-five square miles; only a sufficient part of it, however, being reserved to provide driveways along all the principal lines of breastworks and of marches, and to furnish facilities for reaching all the monuments and other historic locations. Saturday will be Wisconsin day, when Capt. Pond, president of the state commission will turn the monuments over to Gen. Fairchild as Wisconsin’s representative, who will then present them to the memorial association, Gov. Beaver, its president making the speech of acceptance. Early in the week the monuments of several other states will be dedicated and the number erected already reaches 125. Hundreds of tents have been pitched on the field for the accommodation of Union and Confederate soldiers who will be present and many officers of both armies are already on the ground.
Article #130__________________________________________________________________________
Jul 1, 1888. Page 4, Col 4
WISCONSIN AT GETTYSBURG
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It is a sacred mission which takes surviving soldiers of the Civil war from Wisconsin to Gettysburg. That turning point of fortune to the Union forces was a field fruitful of graves for Wisconsin men and grief for Wisconsin. That delegation of gray and grizzled veterans, conspicuous for the number of empty sleeves and honorable scars which it carries goes to dedicate seven modest monuments to the memory of nearly half a thousand men from the Badger state who unsuccessfully attempted to run the awful gauntlet which death maintained for two days.
Those were fighting regiments which Wisconsin had at Gettysburg and to them is accorded in all accounts the hardest part of the bloody work there. Six regiments- the Second, Third, Fifth, Sixth, Seventh and Twenty-sixth infantry- and Company G of Berdan’s sharpshooters from this state participated in the engagement. Their aggregate loss in killed, wounded, and captured or missing from July 1 to 3 was 815. Of these 108 were killed in action, 517 were wounded and 190 were missing. From these regiments during the war death claimed 1,788 nearly 25 per cent. of the quota. Of these 812 were killed in action, 414 died from wounds and 556 from disease contracted in the service. Upon the opening of the battle of Gettysburg the six regiments could scarcely have numbered over 2,000 men fit for action, and the total loss of 815 from all sources during the two days was unparalleled in that great human slaughter pen, where 23,188 of the 85,000 Union men and 22,728 from the 70,000 Confederates engaged were killed, wounded or missing.
The battle between the infantry forces was opened by Wadsworth’s corps which contained the famous Iron Brigade in which were the Second, Sixth and Seventh Wisconsin regiments. The Second and Seventh regiments led on adouble quick loading and fixing bayonets as they ran, and as they came to the brow of a hill to the left of Gettysburg seminary met a body of the enemy which opened fire with a volley which decimated the advancing Union men fully 30 per cent. Here it was that Lieut.-Col. Stevens got hes death hurt and Gen. Lucius Fairchild received the bullet which cost him an arm. The brigade went on, drove back the revels and took and held the advantageous position the latter sought. It was at this time that the Second regiment captured Gen. Archer and 150 men. In the afternoon the rebels with large reinforcements renewed the attack and for two hours Wadsworth’s men fought for the ground until they were threatened by flank movements, when they were ordered to retire which they did inch by inch until their ammunition gave out and they were nearly surrounded when the were compelled to fall back. Upon this first day the Sixth regiment, which had been taken from the brigade to the support of a division in which the enemy had succeeded in turning a flank, checked the advance and with two New York regiments charged upon a regiment, pouring a murderous fire from a railway cut taking the position and capturing the rebel regiment. This Sixth Wisconsin also saved a New York regiment from capture by charging upon superior rebel forces in pursuit of it and driving them from the field. In the fight on July 2 and 3, the Iron Brigade supported a battery exposed to the artillery fire from the Confederates.
The Fifth regiment was brigaded in the Sixth corps under Gen. Sedgwick; the Third under “Gen. Slocum with the Twelfth corps, and the Twenty-sixth under Gen. Howard in the Eleventh Corps. Next to the regiments of the Iron Brigade the Twenty-sixth regiment suffered most severely, arriving upon the field about noon. With the exception of the Second their losses were greater than those of any other Wisconsin regiment, aggregating 217. The losses of the Third Infantry were but ten- two killed and eight wounded. The Fifth regiment, which ranks third in the losses during the whole war, came out of Gettysburg unscathed although in the action several times at different periods. Berdan’s sharpshooters sustained a loss of nine at Gettysburg.
Article #131__________________________________________________________________________
Aug 7, 1889. Page 1, Col 2
TO SHOW UP WELL
…Over 300 members of the Twenty-sixth Wisconsin regiment are expected to attend the regimental reunion at the Shooting park, Monday, Aug 26. It was almost wholly a Milwaukee regiment…(This reunion was during a large GAR encampment in Milwaukee attended by more than 100,000. Wm. Tecumseh Sherman was the featured guest-ed)
Article #132__________________________________________________________________________
Aug 27, 1889. Page 11, Col 6
Location of the reunion for the 26th during the GAR encampment: P. J. Schlosser’s Hall, corner Third street and Reservoir avenue. Entire week. Reunion Monday, Aug 26, PM at Schuetzen park. Accomodations for entire regiment.
Article #133__________________________________________________________________________
July 31, 1912.
HUGE WAR MEETING HELD 50 YEARS AGO
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July 31 Marks Semi-Centennial of Stirring Sessions Attended by 100,000 in Milwaukee.
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PATRIOTS URGED TO ENLIST
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Thousands Recruited Who Did Splendid Service in Preserving Unity of the Country.
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Fifty years ago, July 31 was a great day for Milwaukee and the whole state. A monster war meeting had been planned by the 50,000 odd inhabitants of Milwaukee with the view to expediting enlistments. Speakers of national reputation had been invited. A great parade was arranged. Many bands of music were employed. The day opened bright and clear with a salute of sixty guns and salutes were fired as trains came from various portions of the state on the St. Paul and Northwestern railroads.
It was found that the crowd would be too large for one meeting and three were arranged for. Each of the meetings had an immense audience. Between 30,000 and 40,000 people came to the city to participate in the event and nearly every one in Milwaukee was present. Up to that time it was the largest war meeting held in any northwestern state.
The war committee consisted of Col. E. H. Broadhead, Charles Haley,John Furlong, W. B. Hibbard, W. H. Jacoby, O. H. Waldo, John Lockwood and Edward ONeil. The procession was the largest that had been seen in the city. There were civic societies of various characters, Gov. Salomon, accompanied by state officers and judges of the Supreme court, the central war committee and authorities of the city, fire department, Chanber of Commerce, Young Mens association, Milwaukee Turners association, employes of the railroad shops and a multitude of citizens mounted in vehicles and on foot, participated.
Young Women at Head.
At the head of the procession was a car with thirty-four young women from the Sixth ward dressed in red, white and blue. Miss Sarah Hill representing Columbia and Miss Della Dewey, color bearer. After marching on several of the Street, the procession moved to the James Dneeland grounds, then Spring street, now Grand avenue. It was a large tract of land at that time and was completely occupied by people.
At the first stand, Governor Salomon presided. Among the nece presidents were such well known men of the state as Gen. Simon Mills of Madison, H. S. Baird of Green Bay, J. B. Koe, fatrher of the present Gen. J. H. Doe of Janesville;Gen. A. W. Starks of Baraboo, Senator William M. Dennis of Watertown, Walter D. McIndoe of Wausau, later a congressman; George H. Walker and Samuel Brown of Milwaukee, Allen Barber of Grant County, later a congressman, former Congressman M. C. Darling of Fond du Lac, and others.
After reading the list of officer, Col. Brodhead, who presided, introduced Gov. Salomon, who emphasized the importance of promptly filling the states quota recently called for by President Lincoln.We want 9,000 men and the sooner we g4et them the better, he said. Every one ought to be willing to go to support the government that has made us what we are.
Tweedy Makes Appeal.
Former Congressman John H. Tweedy, the next speaker, appealed to all who would give their services to do so without delay. It was a patriotic, stirring address and was loudly cheered. He closed with: Fellow countrymen of every name and blood, come up and lay your offerings on the altar of your country. Ten patriotic, stirring resolutions were adopted with cheers.
Former Congressman Lovejoy, a brother of the Lovejoy who lost his life at the hands of the anti-slavery element in Illinois, was the next speaker. Some one in the audience called out, Hang the abolitionists.
I am one of the abolitionists, my friend, Lovejoy responded. I am a younger man than you and I will stake my personal prowess that if you will come up here I will prove the better man of the two. His outburst was followed by loud and continuous applause.
Senator W. A. Howard of Michigan, who had a part in discovering Phil Sheridan of the regular army and urged Gov. Blair to make him colonel of a Michigan cavalry regiment, which put him on the road to one of the useful officers of the war, was next on the speakers list.
Senator Timothy O. Howe of Wisconsin, spoke with unusual power and created great enthusiasm. He was followed by Judge David Noggle of Janesville. C. Latham Sholes, inventor of the typewriter, read a poem written by A. M. Thomson, then editor of the Home League. Hartford, afterwards of the Janesville Gazette and the Milwaukee Sentinel.
Men Climb Into Trees.
At stand number two, the crowd was as large as at the first place. Men climbed into trees and on buildings in order to better see the crowd and hear what was said. At this place the late Judge Henry L. Palmer presided, and extolled the government which was born and brought forth in adversity and in a dark cloud, but which has accomplished more in the short time which it had existed, and has done more in the progress of the race than any other government on earth.
But we have lived to see the day which Webster and his compeers prayed never to see, he continued, when this great government was torn and threatened with destruction by internal and bloody insurrection. I trust we stand here today as Americans only, and that we shall not fail in taking effective measures to answer the call of our country and to send succor to our brothers in arms and peril in the south.
Among the speakers were Senator James R. Doolittle, H. Sloan of Beaver Dam, former Senator I. P. Walker of Milwaukee, J. E. Arnold, James S. Brown, democratic candidate for governor in 1857; George W. Allen, John W. Cary, Judge Arthur MacArthur, father of Lieut. Gen. Arthur MacArthur, and former Congressman Charles Billinhurst of Juneau. All made brief, earnest and patriotic addressed.
Pitkin at No. 3.
At stand No. 3, Fred W. Pitkin, president of the Young Mens association, later governor of Colorado, presided, and among the speakers were Matt. H. Carpenter, later United States senator; Winfield Smith, James G. Jenkins, recently retired as United States circuit judge, E. L. Buttrick, later colonel of a Wisconsin regiment; M. H. Finch and Fred C. Winkler, who was soon to leave as captain of a company in the Twenty-sixth Wisconsin and became a brigadier general before the war ended; State Senator T. D. Weeks of Whitewater, Cushman K. Davis, later lieutenant of the Twenty-eighth Wisconsin, afterward governor of Minnesota and United States senator; John A. Savage, another lieutenant of the Twenty-eighth, who became colonel of the Thirty-sixth and was killed at Petersburg; David G. Hooker and C. K. Martin.
Music was interspersed between these speeched, none of which were long, but all of which were productive of good results.
Among the vice-presidents at stand No. 3 were Horace Rublee, James G. Jenkins and William McNair and forty others, many of whom were young men from most of the counties in the state.
At each stand strong resolutions indorsing President Lincoln and the governments efforts to preserve the union were adopted by a rising vote, followed with enthusiastic cheers. The demonstration, which began early, lasted until the end of the day and there were smaller meetings in the evening.
Nearly All Have Died.
Nearly all of the men who had a part in that great war meeting have passed away but their good work that day will never be forgotten. That meeting had a large part in the quick recruiting of the Twentieth, Twenty-first, Twenty-second, Twenty-third, Twenty-fourth, Twenty-fifth, Twenty-sixth, Twenty-seventh, Twenty-eighth, Twenty-ninth, Thirty-first, and Thirty-second Wisconsin regiments, and those who are familiar with the history of Wisconsin men in the war, will give those regiments credit for splendid service on many fields of battle.
It is safe to say that no more important meeting was ever held in Milwaukee. It not only enthused the city and made it stronger for a successful prosecution of the war, but it enthused the whole race, every paper and every public man in the state gave it more or less attention. Recruiting officers in speaking in smaller meetings about the state, quoted some of the things said by Carpenter, Doolittle, Lovejoy and others, and recruiting officers to a greater of less extent all through the war, made that meeting a part of their conversation in getting men to enlist.
That meeting took place half a century ago.
Article #134__________________________________________________________________________
Jun 26, 1913.
State Commission Issues Roster of Men Who Fought at Gettysburg
MADISON, Wis., June 25-(Special).-
The Wisconsin commission in charge of the arrangements for taking the Wisconsin veterans of the civil war to Gettysburg for the celebration of the semicentennial of the anniversary of the battle of Gettysburg on Wednesday issued a letter of information to persons who are to take the trip and sent out transportation and identification credentials.
The commission also issued a list of names of persons who expect to take the trip. The members of the Wisconsin delegation are as follows:
(Editors note: included here are only the names of 26th Regiment attendees. There were many others not listed here.)
Allenton-William Sery, Company G.
Appleton-Nicholas Kolnger, Company C; Charles Baye, Company C; August Nitschke, Company A.
Cedarburg-William H. Rintleman, Company A; Charles Gottschalk, Company B; Herman Schultz, Company B.
Cleveland- Peter Hoffman, Company C.
Fall Creek- August Luedke, Company E.
Fontana- Clark B. Hollister, Company B.
Fountain City- Mathew Dambach, company B.
Hancock- Frans Friedrich, company I.
Haugen-Frank Rezarch, Company I.
Juneau- William Lueck, company A.
Kenosha- Peter Wirshem, company C,
Kiehl-Jacob Mahloch, company H
Madison-H.L. Farr, company H.
Manitowoc-Henry Wank, company F.
Merrill-Edward Carl, company K; Phipp Zipp, company E.
Milwaukee-Frederick C. Winkler, colonel; Albert Kittle, company B; Henry Fink, company B; Theodore Koerner, company K; Charles J. Trapschuh, Company A; Carl F. O. Kindt, Company C; Henry W. Rintleman, company A; Ferdinand Scholz, company A; John Hammen, company K.
Omro-Paul Van de Plassch, company B.
Plymouth-Ernst Schreiber, company I.
Prarie du Sac-Peter Schneller, company H.
Racine- Jacob Schneeberger, company D, Peter Lersch, company D, John Wemmert, company D,.
Reedsville-Ferdinand Haese, company F.
Sheboygan-John Steffen, company H, Martin Kohn, company H.
Watertown-William Schumacher, company B.
West Bend-George W. Jones, company G; Gottlieb Metzner, company G; Mathias Regner, company E.
Whitehall-George Dascher, company K.
Article #135__________________________________________________________________________
Mar 23, 1921. Page 1, Col 8
GEN. WINKLER, NOTED LAWYER, DIES IN WEST
Aged Patriot and Milwaukee Pioneer passes away at Los Angeles, Cal.
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A life devoted to the service of mankind and America came to a close at Los Angeles Tuesday afternoon when Gen. Frederick C. Winkler, civil war veteran and for more than fifty years one of Wisconsin’s foremost attorneys, succumbed to illness which had troubled him for many months.
Gen. Winkler left on Nov. 2 for Los Angeles to spend the winter at the home of his daughter and in an effort to recuperate his failing health. The remains are expected to arrive in Milwaukee on Sunday and will be buried here.
For almost eighty years Gen. Winkler has been an active factor in Milwaukee’s progress. A distinguished member of the bar, a business executive of ability, for half a century a staunch republican who placed public service above personal advancement, and always a loyal American from first to last, he held numerous positions of public trust.
Born in Germany
Born eighty-three years ago at Bremen, Germany, Gen. Winkler came to Milwaukee when he was 6 years old. His father, Carl Winkler, was one of the city’s pioneer druggists, his store standing on Spring street, which in later days has become Grand avenue.
The young Fred Winkler, after completing his school course began the study of law first in the office of H. L. Palmer and completing his course in the office of Abbott, Gregory, and Pinney at Madison. He was admitted to the bar in 1859 and argued his first case before the State Supreme court in 1860.
A year later the storm of civil war burst, and the young attorney at once became a military man. Taking an active part in organization of the Twenty-sixth Wisconsin infantry regiment which was organized in Milwaukee, he left for the front as captain of Company B.
Served With Schurz.
While the regiment was at Gettysburg, Capt. Winkler was attached to the staff of Gen. Carl Schurz. After the battle of Chickamauga, the regiment was sent from the army of the Potomac to the relief of Gen. Rosecrans at Chattanooga, and until the close of the war Capt. Winkler was in command, being advanced to the rank of colonel. After the spring of 1864 Col. Winkler’s regiment took part in all of Gen. Sherman’s campaigns. Col. Wood, then commander of the brigade, later singled out Col. Winkler’s regiment for special commendation for bravery.
The regiment marched with Sherman to the sea, and later took part in the grand review in Washington, after which the men returned to Wisconsin in June, 1865, and Col. Winkler was brevet brigadier general of volunteers “for meritorious service”. Gen. William Cogswell of Massachusetts, in his final report to the war department, mentioned the Twenty-sixth Wisconsin as one of the finest military organizations in the service.
Head of Law Firm.
Returning to Milwaukee, Gen. Winkler resumed the practice of law, and for many years was the senior member of the firm of Winkler, Flanders, Smith, Bottum, & Vilas. About eight years ago he retired from active practice, but still continued to make regular visits to his office.
Immediately after the civil war, Gen. Winkler became active in political circles and for more than half a century he was one of the leaders among Wisconsin republicans. In 1873 he was an unsuccessful candidate for congress.
In 1880, as head of the Wisconsin delegation to the national convention, he led in the movement which broke a long deadlock and culminated in the nomination and election of James A. Garfield of Ohio as president. At other national conventions and at innumerable state gatherings of the party he was on of the central figures.
Backed War Stand.
In 1916, when the European war hung like a cloud over the American political situation Mr. Winkler forsook his traditional political affiliations to declare his unqualified support of the principle of strict neutrality which had been laid down by President Wilson for the American people to follow. “Let us steer closely in the course of our duty according to our best light, extending a generous hand to relieve the suffering but withholding it sternly from participation in the strife,” he said, declaring his adherence to Mr. Wilson’s course. On the occasion of President Wilson’s visit to Milwaukee early in 1916, Gen. Winkler was selected as the one man best representing the spirit of Milwaukee to voice the city’s greeting to the nation’s leader, and he was made chairman of the mass meeting at which the president spoke.
Lauded by Roosevelt.
Gen. Winkler’s stern Americanism and proved business ability have brought him tribute upon tribute from his fellow citizens. Upon the occasion of the presentation of an oil portrait, painted without his knowledge to the…ices to the city, to his profession, to his country and to mankind.
But the praise was not confined to the lops of his townsmen.
On May 29, 1918, when the world war was at its height, former President Roosevelt, addressing a concourse of Milwaukeeans, said:
“I asked that there should be with me on the platform a man whom I have always considered a model for me and my sons to follow as an American citizen of the highest and best type, as representing the kind of Americanism I preach- Gen. Winkler. The general remembers that in 1864 there were men of little faith who, having put their hand to the plow, looked back and asked that the war be stopped, and if men like Gen. Winkler had been willing to have that kind of peace, the war would have been ended right away, but only for a couple of months”
Drew City Commission Law.
Always an active advocate of improvement in public service, Gen. Winkler took a prominent part in the civil service reform movement, and helped to draft the Milwaukee fire and police commission law in 1883. He was one of the council of the Civil Service Reform league, and president of the Wisconsin league.
An able lawyer, with an extensive practice both in the state and federal courts, he sought diligently to improve the profession. He was a former president of the Milwaukee and Wisconsin Bar associations, as well as a former vice-president of the American Bar association.
He was a member of the Phantom Milwaukee, and Old Settlers Clubs and of the G. A. R., and was also an active worker in the Military Order of the Loyal Legion.
Gen. Winkler was married in 1864 to Miss Frances M. Wightman, who died five years ago. He is survived by five daughters and three sons, William K. Winkler, Mrs. H. B. Hitz, Mrs. H. B. Ogden and Katherine and Rosalie Winkler, all of Milwaukee, P. W. Winkler of Oak Park, Ill., Henry O. Winkler and Mrs. Walter V. Brem, Los Angeles. He also leaves nineteen grandchildren and a sister, Mrs. Louis Schuchardt.
Friends Voice Tribute.
Heartfelt tributes were voiced Tuesday night by Gen. Winkler’s friends and lifelong associates.
“Of course, at his age the news of Gen. Winkler’s death couldn’t come as a surprise,” said Gen. Charles King. “However, his death is a distant loss to the state of Wisconsin. It will be particularly felt by the members of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion, of which he was its commander and always one of the most distinguished and active men. I am not surprised, but deeply pained, to hear the news of his death.”
E. H. Bottum, one of his first associates in business and closest of friends, said: “His life was an open book. All those around him knew him intimately. He was a great lawyer, probably the most successful in the state. He had a calm, quiet and serene character. He was forceful, benevolent, honorable, steadfast, and wise. He could probably be credited with the election of President Garfield. As a delegate of the convention he influenced the Wisconsin delegation to vote for Garfield after the convention failed to nominate any one following the deadlock over the vote on Gen. Sherman of Ohio.”
Recalls Early Days.
On the occasion of his seventy-eighth birthday, on March 15, 1916, Gen. Winkler took time from the congratulations of his friends to muse over the growth of Milwaukee and the part he had played in its development.
“It is now more than seventy-one years since I came, or rather was brought to the then straggling little town of Milwaukee,” he said. “Two thousand years ago Julius Caesar said ‘All Gaul is divided into three parts’. So it was with Milwaukee then. Milwaukee proper lay between the river and the lake. Kilbourntown held the corner of Third and Chestnut streets at its center, and Walker’s Point crowned the hills to the south. Wide stretches of river and marsh separated the sections. Each believed itself to be the chosen spot of destiny and none realized how soon and completely they would be one.
The general saw docks built along the river banks, factories and stores come, bridges span the rivers and connect the communities, railroads enter from north and south and horse cars and then electric cars course over the city’s streets. Before his eyes and with his aid the city had grown to be one of the largest in the nation.
Modesty of Greatness.
Gen. Winkler was modest concerning the part he has played in the development of Milwaukee. It was the modesty of a big man.
“I have lived here all these years, one little component of the city’s rapidly expanding population,” he said. “I once knew nearly everybody, but that was long ago. I have received many kindnesses from the people of Milwaukee and I return it affectionately , whether I know them all or not. I have lived a quiet life, but I have taken a keen interest in public affairs. I have stood by my party, though not a strong partisan. Such has been my part.”
Article #136__________________________________________________________________________
Thurs. Mar 24, 1921 Page 1 , Col 4
Gen. Winkler Will Be Buried Monday
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The funeral of Gen. Frederick C. Winkler, who died in California Tuesday night will be held Monday afternoon from the residence, 131 Eleventh street. Complete plans for the services have not yet been arranged. The body of Gen. Winkler, accompanied by his two daughters, Katherine and Rosale, is expected to arrive in Milwaukee Sunday night.
Thurs. Mar 24, 1921 Page 10 , Col 1
Gen. Winkler Dead.
With the death of Gen. Frederick C. Winkler, one of Wisconsin’s men of real mark passed to his reward. A tried and true man, soldier, citizen and patriot upon whose bier his fellow citizens may lay as meaning emblems in all reverence and sincerity their wreaths of cypress and Laurel and the American flag.
A high sense of the obligations of citizenship was perhaps the distinctive trait of Gen. Winkler’s life as our Wisconsin public has known it for half a century.
At every public crisis, on every public question, he first took counsel with his conscience and understanding to determine what was right, honorable, and serviceable for the greatest number of his fellow Americans, and having once set his course by the lodestar of the higher duty as he saw it, he followed it steadfastly, unselfishly and with the devotion to principle and civic duty which inspired him as a young man to offer all he had and all he was to the service of his country when Lincoln called for volunteers to save the union.
A man of so high a reputation for intellectual integrity and unselfish rectitude of purpose becomes a pattern for other right intending men; and Gen. Winkler’s adhesion became as a tower of strength to any cause or side of a question to which he gave his support.
Men knew that he had thought the thing out carefully in all its bearings with the mental honesty to give unprejudiced thought to both sides of the question, and that the chances were in favor of the soundness of his well-matured judgment.
In a democratic country like ours, where opinions honestly held should be respected for their honesty even by those who believe them to be mistaken-a country where fair, intelligently formed public opinion is supposed to govern Gen. Winkler’s habit of deliberate unbiased judgment in those regards was undoubtedly, by our theory of government, the right and ideal way.
It was an eminent fairness of understanding, a constant effort first to see what was right, and then to do it undeterred by prejudice and the smaller partisanship, that marked Lincoln’s firm but wisely tolerant political career.
The qualities for which Gen. Winkler was known and respected in his state had made him a man of note and credit in the country at large. In 1918 the late Theodore Roosevelt, when on a visit to this city, paid him this characteristic tribute:
“I asked that there should be with me on the platform a man whom I have always considered a model for me and my sons to view as an American citizen of the highest and best type as representing the kind of Americanism I preach, Gen. Winkler.
Gen. Winkler’s standing with the bar, national and state, was in the years of his active and prominent service of his profession as high as his credit as the upright, loyal American citizen.
A man of modest, dignified respect compelling presence, a strong and true friend, those who were privileged to know Gen. Winkler in the more intimate sense can speak most warmly and graphically of him on the personal and social side.
It may be said in all sincerity that few of Wisconsin’s leading men have left, by their speech and characters, a more useful and wholesome impression upon the thought and standards of civic right thinking and right living of the men of their time and community than this patriotic and upright citizen whose name has passed to the roll of Wisconsin’s honored dead.
Thurs. Mar 24, 1921 Page 14 , Col 1
WINKLER REMAINS DUE HERE SUNDAY
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Plans Are Laid for Funeral of Noted Milwaukee Man.
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Preparations were made on Wednesday for receiving the body of Gen Frederick C. Winkler, scheduled to arrive in Milwaukee on Sunday from Los Angeles, Cal., where the former Wisconsin pioneer and leader of the state bar died on Tuesday.
Friends and business associates who were intimate with him prior to his retirement from the practice of law eight years ago are expected to pay tribute upon the arrival of the remains , it was said on Wednesday. While funeral arrangements were not announced following the announcement of his death, it is understood that representatives of organizations in which he took an active interest until his departure several months ago will take part in the ceremonies.
He was a member of the Phantom Milwaukee and Old Settlers clubs, the G.A R., the Military Order of the Loyal Legion, and various the organizations which are expected to participate in the last rites.
Funeral services will be attended by many of the most prominent professional men of the city and state it was indicated on Wednesday when expressions of regret at his death were made by numerous leaders, by the professions, as well as by business men with whom he had established intimate contact during his career.
His death was especially mourned by members of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of which he became a member shortly after the close of the Civil War and in which his interest remained until the time of his death.
Whether funeral arrangements will be placed in charge of Civil War veterans of members of the Bar association could not be determined on Wednesday, but it was considered probable that a special escort will be provided for the remains upon their arrival here and again at the funeral.
Services will probably be held at his church in order to accommodate the large attendance expected from Milwaukee and other Wisconsin cities.
The immediate cause of this death was not made known here in the announcement, although he had been in ill health for some time which caused him to spend the winter at the home of a daughter in California. Gen Winkler left Milwaukee last November.
At that time the condition of his health was such as to cause concern among his friends, although it was not considered of a serious nature. The announcement here of his death, however, was not received with surprise by his friends because of his advanced age.
Article #137__________________________________________________________________________
Approx. Fri. Mar 25, 1921 Page 14 , Col 3
WINKLER REMAINS TO ARRIVE SUNDAY
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Arrangements for Funeral of Noted Pioneer Are Made.
________
The remains of Gen. Frederick C. Winkler, distinguished soldier and lawyer, are expected to arrive in Milwaukee Sunday night.
The funeral will be held from the residence, 121 Eleventh Street, at 2:30 p.m. on Monday. Interment will be at Forest Home cemetery. The Rev. A. H. Lord, St. James’ Episcopal Church will officiate.
In accordance with the custom of the Bar Association, the death of Gen Winkler …(illegible)… on Tuesday, was announced to…
The following will be live pallbearers at the funeral: William H. Schurchardt, Charles F. Fawcett, Judge F. A. Geiger, Mitchell Meckie, Edwin L. Smith and C. F. Winkler, Greenville, Ala.
Honorary pallbearers will be as follows: Judge James G. Jenkins, Gen. Charles King, George E. Markham, E. J. Lindsay, L. J. Petit, Charles E. Wild, Fred Vogel, Jr., E. H. Bottum, Henry Fink, John A. Butler, William D. Van Dyke, H. F. Whitcomb, Judge Lawrence W. Halsey, Christian Doerfler, Judge E. T. Fairchild and C. H. Vanalstyne.
Names of members of the Milwaukee Bar association to act as representatives at Gen. Winkler’s funeral follow: Judge Oscar M. Fritz, Judge Gustave C. Gehrs, Judge John J. Gregory, Judge Walter Schinz, Judge A. C. Backus, Judge Orren T. Williams, Judge Henry Cummings, E. S. Mack, W. C. Quarles, Frank M. Hoyt, Robert Wild, Charles M. Morris, Nathan Glicksman, Lawrence Olwell, F. E. McGovern, W. H. Bennett, Willett M. Spooner, W. E. Black, Edgar L. Wood, and Francis Bloodgood.
After a meeting Saturday afternoon of members of the E. B. Wolcott post of the Grand Army of the Republic, tribute was paid to Gen. Winkler, deceased, who was a member of the post.
President Campbell of the City club has appointed John A. Butler, Frederic C. Morehouse, and Fred S. Rust, former presidents and seven members of the board of directors to represent the club at Gen. Winkler’s funeral. Gen. Winkler was a charter member of the club.
Article #138__________________________________________________________________________
Mon. Mar 28, 1921 Page 2 , Col 6
CITY IN TRIBUTE AT WINKLER BIER
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Large Crowd Assembles as Lawyer and Soldier Is Buried.
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Representatives of leading civic and patriotic organizations of Milwaukee assembled Monday afternoon to pay honor to the late Gen. Frederick C. Winkler, distinguished lawyer and soldier, who died at Los Angeles last Tuesday.
The Rev. A. H. Lord of St. James’ Episcopal church officiated at the simple services held at the residence, 131 Eleventh Street. Interment took place at Forest Home cemetery.
Delegations from the Milwaukee Bar association, the City club, and E. B. Wolcott post, G. A. R., took a prominent part in the funeral ceremony.
Active pallbearers were William H. Schuchardt, Charles F. Fawcett, Judge F. A. Geiger, Mitchell Mackie, Edwin L. Smith and C. F. Winkler, Greenville, Ala.
Honorary pallbearers included Judge James G. Jenkins, Gen. Charles King, George E. Markham, E. J. Lindsay, L. J. Petit, Charles E. Wild, Fred Vogel, Jr., E. H. Bottum, Henry Fink, John A. Butler, William D. Van Dyke, and H. F. Whitcomb.
Mon. Mar 28, 1921 Page 5 , Col 6
WINKLER FUNERAL TO BE HELD MONDAY
Remains of Noted Soldier and Lawyer Reach City.
Last rites for Gen. Frederick C. Winkler, famous soldier and distinguished lawyer, who died in Los Angeles last Tuesday, will be said on Monday.
The remains of the noted pioneer arrived in the city from California Sunday afternoon and the funeral will be held from the residence, 131 Eleventh street, at 2:30 o’clock Monday afternoon. The Rev. A. H. Lord, pastor of St. James’ Episcopal church, will officiate. Burial will be in Forest Home cemetery.
Following the long established practice of the Milwaukee Bar association, of which Gen. Winkler was a member, the death of Gen. Winkler was announced in all of the courts of Milwaukee county on Saturday by members of the association and the announcements made part of the permanent records of the courts.
The Bar association has also selected a delegation of its leading members to act as association representatives at the funeral Monday afternoon. Active and honorary pallbearers have been chosen from among the most prominent of Milwaukeeans.
Three former presidents and seven directors of the City club have been selected to represent the organization at the services. Gen Winkler was a charter member of the City club. Tribute to Gen. Winkler was paid Saturday afternoon by E. B. Wolcott post of the Grand Army of the Republic, of which post Gen. Winkler was a member.
Article #139__________________________________________________________________________
Tues. Mar 29, 1921 Page 5 , Col 6
WINKLER FUNERAL IMPRESSIVE AFFAIR
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Following a simple, though impressive ceremony, the remains of Gen. Frederick C. Winkler, distinguished patriot and noted lawyer, were laid to rest Monday afternoon in Forest Home cemetery.
Funeral services were held from the residence, 131 Eleventh street. The Rev. A. H. Lord, pastor of St. James’ Episcopal church, who officiated, briefly recounted the achievements of a lifetime devoted to the service of America, both in war and in peace.
Participating in the funeral ceremony were representatives of the Milwaukee Bar association, Grand Army of the Republic and the City club, in all of which organizations the late Gen. Winkler was an active member.
Article #140__________________________________________________________________________
Wed. Jan 14, 1925 Page ? , Col 8
HENRY FINK, 84, WILL BE LAID TO REST TOMORROW
Veteran Leader Dies of Car Injuries
Funeral services for Henry Fink, 84, veteran public official and political leader who died yesterday at Columbia hospital as the result of injuries suffered on Saturday when he was struck by a street car, will be held tomorrow at 3 p.m. at the undertaking rooms of Phil J. Weiss, 815 Farwell avenue.
Christian Science services will be followed by ceremonies under the direction of E. B. Wolcot Post No. 1, G. A. R., of which he was a member. Burial will be made at Forest Home cemetery.
Pneumonia which set in as a result of the shock of accident, in which he suffered a fractured collar bone and two broken ribs, was the direct cause of his death, physicians said. He had been unconscious since Monday.
Mr. Fink was collector of internal revenue for a quarter of a century, retiring in 1914 and living quietly at his home since that time. Altogether, his public career covered forty-four years. He was a county supervisor, state legislator, United States marshall and collector of internal revenue.
Born in Bavaria, Germany, on Sept. 7, 1840, he came to America with his parents in 1852, and lived on a farm south of Milwaukee until the outbreak of the civil war, when he enlisted as a private in Company B, Twenty-sixth Wisconsin Infantry, and was seriously wounded in the battle of Chancellorville.
He was married twice, his first wife dying in 1883. His second wife, formerly Miss Rosa Blankenhorn of Cedarburg, survives him. He is also survivied by three children, Edward and Emma of Milwaukee and Albert of Racine.
Article #141__________________________________________________________________________
Fri. Jan 16, 1925 Page 4 , Col 4
Prominent Citizens At Henry Fink Rites
Funeral services for Henry Fink, 84, veteran public official, who died Tuesday from injuries suffered in a street car accident last Saturday, were held at P. J. Weiss’ funeral establishment, Farwell avenue and Kane place, yesterday.
Honorary pallbearers were Judge Ferdinand A. Geiger, S.C. Herbat, Gustave Pabst, Charles F. Pfister, John Hoff, Robert Wild and D. McK. Sinclair. E. B. Wolcott post of the G.A.R. was represented by Frank Walsh, Charles Kayser, Paul Kackendahl, Frank Fox, Bernhardt Elring and John Luick. Active pallbearers, nephews and relatives of Mr. Fink, were Irving Fink, Edgar Fink, Edwin Fink, E. M. Krembs, Lysander Armstrong and A.A. Arras.
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BIBLIOGRAPHY OF INFORMATION CONCERNING THE 26TH REGIMENT
1. Winkler, Frederick C. and Frances Wightman, Letters of Frederick C. Winkler, 1862 to 1865, Publisher unknown, 1963.
2. Domschcke, Bernard, Twenty Months in Captivity, Memoirs of a Union Officer in Confederate Prison, Edited and Translated by Frederic Trautmann, Associated University Presses, 1987
3.Barnard, George N., George N. Barnard, Photographer of Sherman’s Campaign, Hallmark Cards, Inc., 1990. (Contains photos of battle fields from Sherman’s campaigns. No photos of the 26th Regt.)
4. Wicksberg, Charles, 1841-1864, Civil War Letters of Sgt. Charles Wicksberg, Co. H, 26th Rgt. Wis. Vol., 1961. Wisconsin Historical Society Library Pamphlet Collection #93-2322. Historical Notes by Donald A Woods. (Approx 40 letters)
5. Milwaukee Sentinel. Most of the articles in this work were obtained by using the Sentinel index in the Milwaukee Central Library. There are two indexes. One covers the period from the paper’s founding in about 1843 until 1880. The other covers the period from 1880 to 1890.
6. Civil War Letters of Adam Muenzenberger, Company A, 26th Regiment Wisconsin Volunteers, Oct 1862 to November, 1863. Translated by Clara M. Lamers and William M. Lamers, 1933. Obtained from the Wisconsin State Historical Society.
7. 26th Infantry Regiment Morning Reports Company E, 1863-1864. Wisconsin State Historical Society.
The last number of the West Bend Post announces that its former editor and proprietor, Mr. Jacob Mann, has assumed the helm, and will in future guide this frail barque through the troubled waters of that misguided region. (Editor’s Note: Jacob Mann was the organizer of Company G of the 26th Wis. Vols, all from West Bend.)
Article #98__________________________________________________________________________
July 6, 1867. Page 1, Col 5
“THE FOURTH”
Two days ago, the Fourth of July was coming, and we buoyantly announced the programme of premeditated events. Now it is gone, and we pensively, mildly remark that the programme thus announced was carried out “and more too.” The day was comparatively cool, there was no dust, and until near night the weather was all that could be asked by any one except the vendors of lemonade and other liquids for assuaging thirst. The most important demonstration of all was the celebration at WILLIAMSBURG, which was participated in or witnessed by near five thousand persons. At an early hour in the forenoon the Sharpshooter’s Association formed in line at Turner Hall, supported by the Turners and the Helvetic Society, Preceded by Bach’s band, the procession marched to Williamsburg, and then ensued the ceremonies and festivities of the day. There was an eloquent oration on national affairs by Captain Bernhard Domschcke, there was vocal music by the male chorus of the Musical Society, and instrumental by Prof. Bach’s orchestra: there were the Puppintheuter and the Klitterbaum for the younger patriots; in the evening there were fireworks and dancing; and at all times there was lager-though the almost bracing coplaces must have noticably diminished the demand for this article here as it did elsewhere….
Howard, Oliver Otis (1830-1909), American Civil War general, who subsequently became deeply involved in helping the former slaves. Born in Leeds, Maine, he was educated at Bowdoin College and at the U.S. Military Academy, where he taught mathematics from 1857 to 1861. At the outbreak of the Civil War, Howard resigned his regular army commission and became colonel of the Third Maine Volunteers of the Union army. He took part in the Battle of Bull Run (1861); the Peninsular campaign (1862), where he lost an arm; the Battle of Antietam (1862); and the battles of Chancellorsville and Gettysburg and the Chattanooga campaign (all 1863). The following year he commanded the right wing of the celebrated march to the sea from Atlanta to Savannah, Georgia, under General William Tecumseh Sherman. He was eventually promoted to major general in the regular army.
As commissioner (1865-74) of the Freedmen’s Bureau after the war, Howard was a weak administrator, unable to prevent many abuses, but he succeeded in providing greatly needed food and medical and employment aid to millions of people. He was also instrumental in founding Howard University (named for him) and was its third president (1869-74). He later served as superintendent (1880-82) of West Point and founded the Lincoln Memorial University (1895) in Harrogate, Tennessee.
“Howard, Oliver Otis,” Microsoft (R) Encarta. Copyright (c) 1993 Microsoft Corporation. Copyright (c) 1993 Funk & Wagnall’s Corporation.
Article #99__________________________________________________________________________
Mar 16, 1869. Page 1, Col 3
Gen. Howard’s Lecture
A large audience gathered at Music Hall last evening to listen the General Howard’s lecture on “Christian Experience in the Army.” The General commenced by stating that he labored under considerable embarrassment when he appeared before an audience, for several reasons:
First, because of the universal dissatisfaction in relation to himself. Second, in relation to his manner of speaking. To illustrate the reason of his diffidence, he related the story of an old man who was introduced to him while he was at Portland filling a lecturing engagement. Upon shaking hands, the stranger remarked, “This General Howard? I confess I am disappointed in the man; fact is, I never saw a man yet who could compare with Daniel Webster.”
The General stated his lecture to be a simple recitation of Christian experiences in the army, for the benefit of other minds. He was aware that the profession of arms was not looked upon as one conducive to religious elevation, but his experience had been that the better a man morally, the better the soldier. As an instance proving the truth of the axiom, he referred to Captain Henry Vickers of the British army.
In 1850, when he was not a Christian, he belonged to the Bible Class among the cadets at West Point. Among the members of that class was the gallant McPherson, to whose memory he paid a handsome tribute. That officer always took a great interest in the exercises, and continued in the faith until the close of his eventful life at the battle of Stone River. Upon leaving the Academy at West Point he was stationed at Watervleit Arsonal, where he became acquainted with two gentlemen of superior abilities, one of them a member of the Episcopal Church, and a consistent follower of Christ. The other, however, was intemperate at times. Strong drink, in fact, had met the lecturer at every turn of his life. During his last year at the arsenal his friend resigned his position in the army and left for the South. He afterward learned that he became a Colonel in the rebel army, was killed, and left his family in destitute circumstances. He gave this as an instance of the different careers of two men equally qualified to fight the battle of life, but who from a slight deviation from the path of moral rectitude on the part of one, were widely separated in the course of time.
His fourth station was at Florida. Before his departure for that field of action he gathered his family around him, and consigned them to the protection of Almighty God. He gave a vivid picture of his feelings at parting with those he loved so dearly. Although he had always practiced family worship, he was not then a Christian. It was afterward, while stationed at Tampa, Florida, that the glorious light of true Christianity illuminated his soul. From that day to this he was a different man. He lived in a new hope-for eleven years he had enjoyed the blessings of true Christianity.
In this connection the lecturer gave interesting accounts of the lives and heroic deaths of several of the Christian generals of the Union army. He also gave his experience with the negro’s capacity for religious enjoyment, and expressed the hope that the elevation of the race would be accomplished through Christian instrumentality.
The lecture was an unadorned narration of his religious experiences in the army, giving his personal experience in reaching the point when his soul was freed from the shackles of unbelief. The General was listened to with marked interest throughout the lecture, of which we have given but a faint outline, and closed with a beautiful peroration.
The next and concluding lecture of the course will be delivered by Petroleum V. Nasby, on the 26th of next month.
Article #100__________________________________________________________________________
May 8, 1869. Page 1, Col 2
THE FUNERAL OBSEQUIES OF CAPTAIN DOMSCHCKE-
The last sad rites of respect were paid to Captain Domschcke, yesterday afternoon. Throughout the day up to the hour of the funeral Turner Hall was visited by thousands, who came to take a farewell glance at the features of the lamented dead. The casket was placed in the middle of the hall, and was draped with the Stars and Stripes, and covered with a beautiful wreath and bouquets of flowers.
At two o’clock the funeral cortege moved from Turner Hall to West Water, up West Water to Chestnut street bridge, over the bridge to East Water, Iowa East Water to South Side, from thence to Forest Home. The procession moved in the following order:
Platoon of Policemen.
Cream City Band.
Cream City Guards.
Milwaukee Zouaves.
Milwaukee Rifle Cadets.
Veterans of the Twenty-sixth Regiment.
Union Soldier’s Association.
Bach’s Band.
Detachment of Turners.
Hearse and Pall-bearers.
Managers, Editors and Employes of the DAILY HEROLD Office.
Delegations of Turners from abroad-Chicago, Racine, Madison, Manitowoc, Sheboygan and La Crosse.
Milwaukee Turners.
Turner Cadets.
South-Side Turners.
Carriages.
Directors of the German Printing Company and the Manager’s family.
Officers of the Milwaukee Light Guard.
Representatives of the Press.
City and County Officers.
Citizens.
The funeral was largely attended, and the long and solemn train spoke volumes of the feeling entertained for the lamented dead. On arriving at the grave in Forest Home, the band played a dirge after which an appropriate selection was sung. Emil Wailber, Esq., then delivered a brief and feeling eulogy on the life and character of the deceased. On the conclusion of the address a requiem was sung by the choir, after which three farewell volleys were fired by a detachment from the companies which escorted the remains to their last resting-place.
The rites over, the large assembly dispersed, with the consciousness that they had paid the last tokens of respect to one who ably defended the right; one whose name will be borne in grateful remembrance by every patriot and lover of freedom throughout the land.
Article #101__________________________________________________________________________
June 9, 1869. Page 1, Col 6
PORTRAIT OF DOMSCHCKE.-
Mr. John Goetz, a talented young artist in the employ of the well-known lithographing house of Seifert& Lawton, has just drawn on stone an excellent portrait of the lamented Bernhard Domschcke. We understand that a limited number will be printed and published in a few days.
Article #102__________________________________________________________________________
May 28, 1870. Page 1, Col 6
-The Turners will hold special services at the grave of Capt. Bernard Domschke on Decoration day.
Article #103__________________________________________________________________________
July 4, 1870. Page 1, Col 3
Reunion of the Twenty-sixth Regiment.-The numerous friends of the Twenty-sixth were notified , on Saturday, of their assemblage yesterday, by the receipt of a silk magenta badge, announcing the fact. They assembled for roll-call on Market Square soon after noon yesterday, and proceeded to the Milwaukee Garden, where an address was delivered, speeches made, and a good dinner enjoyed. This regiment did good service in the war, and the reunion was a pleasant occasion. Over two hundred of the old veterans, of German nativity, were together, and a large number of friends besides. The day and evening were given to the exchange of reminiscences of the times that tried men’s souls, and recalling “Moving incidents by flood and field.”
Article #104__________________________________________________________________________
Sept 19, 1870. Page 1, Col 2
The 26th Regiment held a meeting yesterday and completed arrangements for the Soldiers Reunion, which takes place in this city next week. (It was held Wed 28 Sept, 1870 at the Rink-ed.)
Article #105__________________________________________________________________________
April 22, 1872. Page 4, Col 8
DIED:
LANDA-
In this city, yesterday forenoon, FRANZ LANDA, Captain of the Twenty-sixth Regiment during the war.
The funeral will take place from his residence, 229 East Water street, at nine o’clock on Tuesday morning.
Article #106__________________________________________________________________________
Oct 22, 1872. Page 1, Col 1
NEWS DIGEST
…The nomination, yesterday afternoon, of General Fred. C. Winkler, of this city, as the Republican candidate for Congress from the Fourth District of Wisconsin, was a judicious set on the part of the Convention, and will meet with the cordial approbation of the Republican party. There are several substantial reasons for commending the selection of General Winkler as our standard bearer in this Congressional campaign, among which may be named the essential fact that he is perfectly qualified to acceptably discharge the duties of the position for which he has been named, and because it is a graceful compliment to our German fellow-citizens who constitute so large and respectable an element of our population. He was not in the city yesterday, and it is not known at the present writing whether he will accept the honor that the Convention bestowed upon him by a unanimous vote, but the presumption is that he will not feel at liberty to decline the call to the front now any more than he did when the war-bugles warned him that the country was in danger. No matter what may be the result of the canvass, it must be recognized as a high compliment for a young man to be designated by the dominant party of the state and nation as its candidate in the most populous and wealthy district in the state. To the people of this city who have known the General from his boyhood, he needs no introduction, but for the information of our friends in other parts of the District, we copy the brief biographical sketch of him as given in the legislative manual of 1872:
General Frederick C. Winkler was born in the city of Bremen, Germany, March 15, 1838, received an academic education; is by profession a lawyer; he came to Wisconsin with his mother in October, 1844, his father having preceded them a year and a half, and settled at Milwaukee; commenced the study of law in the office of Hon. H.L. Palmer, in 1856, and from fall of 1858 t spring of 1859, was a law student in the office of Abbot, Gregory & Pinney, at Madison, where he was admitted to the gar, in April, 1859; entered the military service during the rebellion; raised Co. B of the 26th Wis. Vols., and was commissioned Captain of the same, Sept. 3, 1862; the regiment was assigned to the 11th Corps Army of the Potomac; was during winter of 1862-63 constantly employed Judge Advocate upon court martial at corps headquarters; with the regiment, he participated in the battles of Chancellorsville and Gettysburg, and after the latter engagement became acting field officer, the Lieut. Col. and Major having been wounded. In Sept., 1863. the regiment was transferred to the west; with the forces sent under Gen. Hooker to the relief of Gen. Rosecrans; participated in the skirmishes in opening communications from Bridgeport to Chattanooga; commanded the regiment from November, 1863, participating in the engagements at Million Ridge and the campaign immediately following for the relief of Burnside, besieged at Knoxville by Longstreet; took part of the 20th (Hooker’s) Corps in the Atlanta campaign under Gen. Sherman, fighting daily skirmishes and bloody battles at Resaca, New Hope Church, Kennisaw Mountain and Peach Tree Creek; marched with Sherman to the sea and from Savannah to Goldsboro’ , fighting brisk engagements at Averysboro’ and Bentonville; was appointed Major of the Regiment in Nov, 1863, Lieut. Col., Jun 27, 1864, Col, August 17, and breveted Brigadier General, June 13, 1865; mustered out of the service with the regiment, June 28, 1865.
Article #107__________________________________________________________________________
Dec 28, 1874. Page 8, Col 4
The survivors of the 26th Rgt., WSV, hold a meeting at Boeder’s on the 10th of next month, to complete arrangements for a reunion.
Article #108__________________________________________________________________________
Jan 11, 1875. Page 8, Col 4
THE TWENTY-SIXTH.
____________
Proposed Reunion of the Surviving Veterans of Col. Jacobs’ Regiment
____________
A Sketch of Its Honorable Services in the War of the Rebellion
___________
Yesterday afternoon, about forty of the veterans of the Twenty-sixth Infantry, W.S.V., met at Raeder’s, on Fourth street, to perfect their arrangements for a reunion in this city. Col. Jacobs, Philip Schlosser, and other of the staff officers were present, and participated in the proceedings.
THEY ORGANIZE.
As an initiatory step, an organization was effected by the election of the following officers:
President-Col. Wm. H. Jacobs.
Vice-President- Adj’t. Phil. Schlosser.
Secretary-Theodore Hensel.
The President was instructed to appoint a committee to draft a constitution and by-laws with a view to permanent organization, and to appoint a committee on finance.
ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION.
The comrades decided to hold their reunion on the 2d of May, the anniversary of the battle of Chancellorsville. They have a lively remembrance of that engagement, as it was their first experience under fire.
It is recorded that on that memorable occasion the Nineteenth New York and the Twenty-Sixth were attacked by superior numbers while they were standing alone on a bare hill-top, and that, though the enemy had the advantage of a screening forest, they stood and fought unflinchingly until the rebels, who were largely superior in numbers, doubled their flanks, both right and left, and that they held their ground and reluctantly obeyed a twice repeated order of the brigade commander to retreat. At daybreak on the next morning the Twenty-sixth was placed on the extreme left, its left flank resting on the river. A spirited skirmish was kept up during the day and the ensuing night. The next morning the regiment was moved half a mile to the right, and there remained until about 3 o’clock on the morning of the 6th of May, when, the army being on the retreat, it marched to United States Ford, crossed the river, and by a long and difficult march reached its camp, near Stafford Courthouse, the same day. The losses of the regiment in this battle were 37 killed, 117 wounded, 20 taken prisoners, and 3 missing.
THE ORIGINAL ROSTER
of officers of this regiment is given as follows:
Cololel-William H. Jacobs
Lieutenant-Colonel-Charles Lehman.
Adjutant-Jacob Schlosser.
Quartermaster-F.W. Hundhausen.
Surgeon-Francis Huebschmann.
Assistant-Surgeons-S. Vandervaart and Theodore Fricke.
Chaplain-William Vette.
Company A-Captain, William George;lieutenant, August F. Mueller,
Company B-Captain, Fred. C. Winkler; lieutenants Francis Lackner and Chas. H. Doerflinger
Company C- Captain, John P. Seeman; lieutenants, Wm. F. Fuchs and Bernhard Domschcke.
Company D-Captain, August LigowskY; lieutenants, August Scheller and Herman Furstenberg
Company E-Captain, Anton Kettles; lieutenants, Chas. W. Neukirch and John F. Hogan.
Company F-Captain, Henry Baetz; lieutenants, Chas. Pizzala and Albert Walber.
Company G-Under command of Lieut. Julius Meisswinkel.
Company H-Captain, Hans Boebel; lieutenants, Joseph Wedig and Charles Vocke.
Company I-Captain, Wm. Smith; lieutenants, Henry C. Berninger and John Orth.
Company K-Captain, Louis Pelosi; lieutenant, Edward Karl.
THE REGIMENT
was formed in two weeks after Father Abraham’s call for 300,000 more. Excepting Company G, which consisted in part of native Americans, it was composed of men of German birth, or, at least, German parentage. It rendezvoused at Camp Sigel, and was there mustered into service on the 17th of September.
AFTER THE BATTLE
of Chancellorsville the regiment, under command of Lieut. Col. Boebel, Col. Jacobs not having returned from a leave of absence, marched to Goose Creek, crossed Edward’s Ferry, reached Emmetsburg on the 30th of June, and took part in the battle of Gettysburg on the first of July. The Twenty-sixth was hotly engaged. But the enemy doubled round the left flank of the division, which was without support, threw it back on the Twenty-sixth, and the brigade was ordered to fall back. The retreat, over fields and under fire of the enemy, proved fatal to many, but was conducted in good order. A stand was made on the outskirts of the town, where a short skirmish ensued, and the Twenty-sixth then acted as rear guard during the further retreat to Cemetary Hill. There it took its position behind a low stone fence, its right resting on the street. Of the officers engaged only four escaped unhurt. The total losses of the regiment in this battle was 41 killed, 137 wounded, 26 prisoners and 6 missing.
THE MARCH TO THE SEA.
On the 24th of September they moved with the Eleventh Corps for Bridgeport, Ala. Nov. 29 they marched toward Knoxville for the relief of Burnside, Capt. F. Winkler in command. They formed part of the third brigade in Sherman’s army took part in the engagements at Resaca, Dallas, Kenesaw, Peachtree Creek, Atlanta, and joined in the famous march to the sea. The members are
PROUD OF THEIR RECORD,
and will endeavor to secure a full attendance of all the survivors of the regiment. Col. Jacobs and Adjt. Schlesser will second every step of the committees toward an enjoyable re-union. Invitations will be extended to veteran organizations, and every arrangement will be perfected to insure a success of the undertaking.
Article #109__________________________________________________________________________
Feb, 13, 1875. Page 8, Col 3
At 3 o’clock to-morrow afternoon the former members of the 26th Reg’t. W.S.V. meet at Bader’s, on Fourth street, to complete arrangements for a reunion and to receive the report of the committee on permanent organization.
Article #110__________________________________________________________________________
Feb, 15, 1875. Page 5, Col 2
THE TWENTY-SIXTH
__________
Permanent Organization of the veterans-Reunion on the Fourth of July
_________
The agitation of a reunion of the veterans of the Twenty-sixth Regiment, W.S.V., resulted in quite an assemblage at Bader’s Hall, on Fourth street, yesterday afternoon. Among the
PROMINENT MEMBERS
present were Gen. Winkler, Adjutant Schlosser, Quarter-Master Hensel, Surgeon Huebschmann, Chaplain Vette, Dr. Handhausen, once quartermaster of the regiment, and a number of non-commissioned officers.
In the absence of Col. Jacobs, the president of the association, Adjutant Schlosser presided.
COMMITTEE ON CONSTITUTION.
The Committee of Constitution and By-laws reported as follows:
1. For the creation of a fund for the support of destitute veterans of the regiment.
2. Membership fee of $1 per annum to be paid by all who are able to pay it.
3. For the appointment of an executive committee of three members.
4. Authorizing such committee to decide whether applicants for aid are really deserving of support.
SEVERAL AMMENDMENTS.
Gen. Winkler thought that the creation of a fund for the destitute a subject that could be considered at some future time. It would be impracticable at the present time, as the veterans are not all residents of the city, and, as all had not yet signed the roll. He suggested that until some future period all petitions for aid should be met by contributions, and that for the present the membership fees be set apart for incidental expenses.
Further discussion resulted in the adoption of the following substitutes for the report:
1. For a permanent organization of the veterans of the Twenty-sixth Regiment to bring them into closer relations with each other, and to encourage annual reunions.
2. That to this end a membership fee of $1 is established for all who have the means to pay the same; that this fee is not obligatory to the exclusion of worthy comrades who are in destitute circumstances, and that the means so collected shall be used to defray the incidental expenses of the association.
3. That the officers of the association shall consist of a president, vice-president, secretary and treasurer, and an executive committee of three, of which the officers shall be ex-officio members.
4. That the Executive Committee shall decide whether applicants for aid are really worthy of the support they may derive.
ELECTION OF TREASURER.
As the office of treasurer had not been filled, Gen. Winkler was nominated for the position. The gentleman respectfully declined to serve because his professional duties required all the time he could command.
Capt. William Steinmann was then proposed and unanimously elected.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
The election of an Executive Committee was next in order and resulted as follows: Gen. Winkler, Joseph Schultz and Charles Trapschuh.
THE REUNION
The resolution to hold the reunion on the anniversary of the battle of Chancellorville was reconsidered, and Sunday, July 4, the anniversary of the battle of Gettysburg, named as the day of the annual celebration.
The arrangements for the reunion were assigned to the Executive Committee with instructions to report at a future meeting.
SIGNED THE ROLL
In all there are about 50 veterans of the regiment resident in the city, most of whom have signed the constitution of the association under the temporary organization. After the meeting the following added their names:
A. Hensel, F.C. Winkler, F. Huebschmann, Phillip Schlosser, Carl Weidner, W. Josef, Schultz, Gustav Vesser, Wm. A. Koch, F.W. Hundhausen, F. Huesselmann, Rudolph Wahlfart, Carl Schlie, Henry Klinker, Jacob Schwaibolch, Joka Hammen.
Article #111__________________________________________________________________________
May 31, 1875. Page 8, Col 2
This evening, survivors of the 26th Regiment met at Koch’s Hall, opposite the 2nd Ward Bank, to complete arrangements for the proposed reunion.
Article #112__________________________________________________________________________
Jun 1, 1875 Page 5 Col 1
THE TWENTY-SIXTH
Last evening, the commitees of the Twenty-sixth Regiment met at Koch’s Hall, on Third street, to perfect their arrangements for a reunion in this city on the Fourth of July.
Adjutant Schlosser stated that Col. Jacobs was unable to be present, and that he had promised to second their efforts and contribute to make the occasion a successful one.
Comrades Maschauer, Trapschuh and Berlage were named a committee on finance and Adjutant Schlosser and Trapschuh were appointed a committee to confer with the owners of parks with a view of ascertaining accomodations and terms.
Col. Osthelder, keeper of the Shooting Park, sent in a liberal proposition to entertain the comrades at his place. The tender was referred to the Committee on Park.
The meeting then adjourned until half-past 3 o’clock next Sunday afternoon, when it is expected that the committees will report and that the preliminaries of the reunion will be fully determined.
Article #113__________________________________________________________________________
Jun 7, 1875 Page 8 Col 2
TWENTY-SIXTH REGIMENT
The survivors of the Twenty-sixth Regiment met at William A. Koch’s yesterday afternoon, to learn progress in the matter of their reunion on the Fourth of July.
Among the reports that of the Committee on Finance was very satisfactory. A considerable sum had been subscribed, and the prospects were favorable to the collection of an amount that would cover the expense that the gathering would entail.
Messr. Schlosser and Trapschuh stated the result of their conferences with the owners of public gardens, and the prospects to accommodate the regiment. As the terms of Mr. Dreher, of the Milwaukee Garden, were the most liberal, his place was named as the one at which the reunion is to take place.
The Committee of Arrangements reported that they had extended an invitation to the several militia companies to [articipate in the festivities, and that the tenders were generally accepted. Invitations were also extended to Capt. Dilger, of Chicago, favorably known to the regiment as “Leather-Breeches,” and to Lieut. Col. Lackner, also of Chicago, who would undoubtedly improve the opportunity to meet their old comrades and recount their experiences in the field.
It was resolved that the comrades and their guests should meet at the West Side Turner Hall at 1 o’clock on the afternoon of the Fourth, for parade and march to the Garden. The names of the speakers, and other matters of the reunion, are to be presented in the form of a printed programme at an early day.
Article #114__________________________________________________________________________
Jul 1, 1875 Page 5 Col 1
REGIMENTAL REUNION
Yesterday, under escort of the Juneau Guard, and headed by a band, the surviving members of the Twenty-sixth Regiment, and representatives of the Fifth, Sixth, Ninth, Eleventh, and Twenty-fourth Regiments, W.S.V., marched from the West Side Turner Hall to the Milwaukee Garden, the scene of a grand reunion of the boys in blue. Many of the comrades resident in Racine, Menomonee Falls, Fond du Lac, and other cities and towns in the interior, were present and participated in the pleasures of the occasion.
There were about eighty of the plucky regiments that had battled for their country on many a field during the war for the Union, and the day was delightfully spent in recounting incidents and experiences of soldier-life during the great rebellion. The Sentinel has already recounted the services of the gallant men of the Twenty-sixth, and its readers are fully acquainted with its heroic service, without recalling them in this connection.
At the banquet in the afternoon, Gen. Winkler, Col. Jacobs, Col. Boebel, Lackner, of Racine, Dr. Vette, Dr. Huebschmann and others addressed their old comrades in brief and pithy speeches, and, in the evening, all joined in a grand ball in honor of the event. The reunion was so successful in its arrangements that there is a decided sentiment in favor of annual meetings here on the Fourth of July.
Article #115__________________________________________________________________________
March 6, 1876. Page 8, Col 4
Yesterday, members of Columbia Lodge of Knights of Pithias and survivors of the Twenty-sixth Regiment escorted the remains of Godlove Mattias to the grave.
Article #116__________________________________________________________________________
April 8, 1876. Page 8, Col 3
Yesterday, survivors of the Mexican War, George Phillips, Philip Horwitz, Caspar Dusold, and others, each received of the Government a beautiful bronze medal commemmorative of their service. The tokens are handsome in design, and form a handsome lapel ornament. The veterans also received an invitation to attend the Centennial on the occasion of a reunion of the heroes of the campaign against the greasers.
Article #117__________________________________________________________________________
Oct 8, 1877. Page 8, Col 2
Survivors of the 26th Regiment celebrated the 15th Anniversary of their departure for was at William Koch’s on Saturday last.
Article #118__________________________________________________________________________
Oct 7, 1878. Page 7, Col 2
A LOW DOWN FORGERY
(To the Editor of the Sentinel.)
The News of yesterday published a letter written in execrable English, over my signature. The letter is a forgery. The author is no doubt an aspirant for the position I now occupy, but I doubt whether such malicious productions will have the effect he desires.
J. Wechselberg.
Article #119__________________________________________________________________________
Nov 20, 1878. Page 8, Col 3
CAPT. WILLIAM GEORG.
After suffering for years from the effects of an affection of the lungs, Capt. William Georg passed away yesterday afternoon at his residence on Galena street. The citizen immigrated from Germany in 1854 and settled in this city. On the rebellion of the Southern States, he enlisted as a member of Co. A, First Wisconsin Volunteers. He subsequently aided in the organization of the Ninth Regiment and joined the Twenty-sixth Regiment. Ill-health obliged him to resign after he had served for some time and attained the rank of captain. He had always interested himself in public affairs and several years ago the people of his ward elected him to represent them in the Common Council. Of late years he conducted a place of amusement on Galena street which yielded him and his family of wife and four children a comfortable living.
Article #120__________________________________________________________________________
Dec 11, 1879. Page 8, Col 4
The committee on a reunion of the 26th Sgt Wis Vol meet at William Koch’s next Sunday afternoon.
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Dec 13, 1879. Page 8, Col 3
The committee on a reunion of the 26th Rgt Wis Vol meet at William Koch’s tomorrow forenoon.
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Dec 15, 1879. Page 8, Col 1
THE 26TH
Under call of Julius Meiswinkel, Chairman of the committee on arrangements, several of the survivors of the 26th met at No. 314 West Water st yesterday forenoon, and fixed upon the 4th of July next as the date for the annual reunion of the rgt. A general meeting was called for the 4th of Jan, when the date and other details will be discussed.
The 4th will come on Sunday next year and the committee expressed the opinion that this fact would contribute to a larger turnout, as there would be no business engagements in the way, and furthermore the railroads would reduce the fare one half. Another consideration is the fact that the day is the anniversary of the final battle of Gettysburg.
__________________________________________________________________________
Dec 16, 1879. Page 8, Col 4
All the survivors of the 26th Rgt Wis Vol will meet at William Koch’s during the afternoon of Jan 4. The reunion will be on the 4th of July, 1880.
Article #121__________________________________________________________________________
Jun 8, 1880. Page 4, Col 2
THE 26TH INFANTRY
was organized at Camp Sigel, Milwaukee. It was mustered into the United States service September 17, 1862. On the 6th of October the regiment left the State 1000 strong, and went to Washington, marched thence to Fairfax Court House, and there foined the Eleventh Army Corps, Gen. Sigel commanding. Nov 2, the regiment marched to Gainesville, and was occupied in the vicinity of this point, at different stationas, until Dec. 9, when the Eleventh Corps took up its line of March for Falmouth, opposite Fredericksburg, where it arrived on the 14th, just as Gen. Burnside was withdrawing his forces, after his unsuccessful attack on the heights of Fredericksburg. The Eleventh Corps then proceeded to Stafford Court House, where it went into camp. The ill-fated Mud Campaign in January, 1863, routed the Eleventh Corps from its winter quarters. The Twenty-sixth was left as rear guard, and was obliged to picket the entire line lately picketed by the corps. The Eleventh Corps soon returned to Stafford Court House, and remained during the winter months. During this time the Twenty-sixth acquired a jigh proficiency in drill. February 5, 1863, Capt. Baetz, of Company F, was appointed Major. On the 27th of April the Twenty-sixth broke camp; at midnight, the 28th, it crossed the Rappahannock at Kelly’s Ford, and by hard marching reached Locust Grove, a few miles west of Chancellorsville, on the 30th of April. The Eleventh Corps was put in position along the Fredericksburg pike, facing south. The line of battle was along the road. The Twenty-sixth, in the Third Divilion, was about a quarter of a mile from the extreme right. May 2 the Twenty-sixth was marched to the rear, and posted on a ridge about a quarter of a mile from the road, with a New York regiment on its left, and its right unprotected. About 5 o’clock in the afternoon a crash of musketry was heard on the right, which proved to be the enemy’s attack upon the right and rear of the brigade, which held the extreme right. The brigade was soon broken and scattered to the woods in the rear. The enemy continued his attack and succeeded in rolling up a portion of the First Division, which occupied the right, creating a great amount of confusion. Another column of the enemy passed still forther to the rear, and struck the position held by the Twenty-sixth. The enemy advanced without skirmishers, and poured in a deadly volley upon the skirmishers of the Twenty-sixth, under Capt. Pizzalla, who was instantly killed. The reserve fired a volley and retreated on the battallion, which was instantly engaged in the fiercest of struggles with the veterans on Jackson, while these two regiments-the One Hundred and Nineteenth New York, and the Twenty-sixth Wisconsin- were fighting their first battle. Posted on a bare hill-top, attacked by largely superior numbers, who had the advantage of a screening forest, they stood and fought unflinchingly until the enemy had largely doubled round their flanks, both right and left, when the twice repeated order of the brigade commander to march in retreat was obeyed. The retreat was continued to the main position of the army, near the Chancellorville House. On the 3d, the Twenty-sixth moved to the extreme left, near the river, where it engaged in a spirited skirmish on the 4th. The next day it was moved to the right, and remained until the morning of the 6th, when Hooker’s army retreated across the river, and the Eleventh Corps returned to Stafford Court House. The losses of the Twenty-sixth in this battle were 37 killed, 117 wounded, 20 taken prisoners, and 3 missing. The regiment remained in camp until the 12th of June, when orders were received to march without delay. It was ascertained that the enemy was marching on a second invasion into the loyal states. The forces of Gen. Hooker were, therefore, soon marching through Virginia. Emmettsburg, Md, was reached June 29, and on the 1st of July the fire of artillery was heard in the direction of Gettysburg. March was resumed and hastened with all possible speed. The troops passed through the town, and were at once marched for the conflict. The Third Division, Eleventh Corps, formed to the right of the First Corps, northwesterly of the town. The Twenty-sixth was placed in second line, in double column in mass. The lines then advanced. The first line became engaged, and was forced to the rear in some disorder. The Twenty-sixth became very hotly engaged, but checked the enemy’s advance, and sustained its position with admirable firmness. The brigade was finally ordered to fall back. The retreat, over open fields, proved fatal to many, but was conducted in good order. A stand was made on the outskirts of the town, where a skirmish ensued, and the Twenty-sixth then acted as rear guard during the further retreat to Cemetary Hill. There it took position behind a stone fence, its right resting on the street. Only four of the officers engaged with the regiment in this conflict escaped unhurt. The regiment did not again participate in the fight. The total losses of the regiment in the battle of Gettysburg were 41 killed, 127 wounded, 26 prisoners, and 6 missing. The regiment moved to various positions, and engaged in fatigue and other arduous duties, until Oct. 27, when it crossed the Tennessee River, and assisted in repelling the enemy’s attack on Gen Geary, at Wauhatchee, where it had 2 men wounded. In November, Col. Jacobs proceeded to Wisconsin on recruiting services. Major Winckler took command, and retained it, as Col. Jacobs soon after resigned.. On the 23d, 24th, and 25th of November the regiment was engaged at Mission Ridge, and on the 26th joined in the pursuit of the enemy, until the28th, when it returned to Parker’s Gap, and received three days’ ration, with orders to make them last six, and on the 29th started for the relief of Gen. Burnside, at Knoxville. Longstreet had retreated to Virginia, and the command marched back to Lookout Valley, remaining till Jan. 25, 1864, when it moved to Chattanooga and remained until April 23. In the Atlanta campaign, the Twenty-sixth, 417 strong, was placed in the Third Brigade, Third Division, of the Twentieth Army Corps. The regiment formed in line of Battle May 13, before Resaca, and skirmished from noon until dark. The following day it lost one man killed and three wounded. On the 15th the regiment marched to the lift of the army, where its brigade had the advance in the assault made at that point, the Twenty-sixth having the right of the first line, and being ordered to take a hill in front, which was accomplished. The regiment lost 6 killed and 40 wounded. It took part in the battle of Dallas, on the 25th of May. The regiment was posted in the second line of battle, and on the left, but afterwards moved to the front, to relieve an Ohio regiment, and remained there fighting until dark. From this time until the first of June it was employed in siege duty. It then joined the movement towards the left. The loss of the Twenty-sixth at Dallas was 17 killed and 23 wounded. The Twenty-sixth followed the enemy from point to point until it took position, on the 19th of June, before the formidable rebel works on Kenesaw Mountain. On the 22d it participated in a severe engagement, which resulted in the capture of the rebel rifle pits. The next day it moved to the right and took position on the road to Powder Spring, which it intrenched and held in the face of an incessant fire, until July 3. Its total loss was 11 killed and 36 wounded. At the battle of Peach Tree Creek, the regiment was posted first in a ravine, and then on a hill. The battle soon raged with terrible earnestness. An enfilading fire was opened upon the regiment at the same time that the rebels advanced to assail them in front. It held its position under this galling fire until the enemy were within ten paces of it, when it poured such withering volleys upon their lines that they broke, and fled in disorder. The regiment followed them closely, andestablished its line on the top of a second hill. Capt. Fuchs captured the colors of the Thirty-third Mississippi. Its loss was 9 killed and 34 wounded. Among the former were Capts. Jno. P Seeman and Robert Mueller, and Lieut. Nicholas Vollmer, Capt. William Steinmayer was wounded. The Twenty-sixth was placed in line before Atlanta, Aug. 3, and during the siege occupied a number of different positions, and took part in many skirmished, losing three men killed and four wounded. August 25 it silently withdrew to Turner’s Ferry, and returned to Atlanta after the evacuation. During the siege of Atlanta 13 of the regiment were killed. November 15 the Twenty-sixth moved forward with Gen. Sherman in his march to the sea. The army reached Savannah December 21, and in Fanuary, 1865, started towards Goldsboro. In the battle of Averysboro, March 17, Capt. Schmidt and Lieut. Klein were killed. At this battle the regiment lost 11 killed and 12 wounded. At the battle of Bentonville, March 19, the Twenty-sixth was in reserve. On the march northward, it remained in Richmond three days, and arriving in Washington, were reviewed with Sherman’s Army. The regiment was disbanded at Milwaukee June 29, 1865. Lieut. Col. Winkler was brevetted colonel and then brigadier general. Jaj Luckner wass brevetted lieutenant colonel and Captain Fuchs, major. The regiment lost by death 284 men.
Article #122__________________________________________________________________________
Sept 4, 1882. Page 3, Col 1
THE NEWS IN BRIEF
…At the reunion of the Twenty-sixth Regiment yesterday Uncle Sam’s civil service was represented by six letter-carriers, viz.: Charles Thieme, Henry Urich, William Weidner, Henry Larch, Louis Manz and Antoine Ewens, who followed the fortunes of the regiment through the war.
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Sept 4, 1882. Page 6, Col 1
THE MEMORIES OF WAR
________
Veterans of the Twenty-sixth Wisconsin Meet Again.
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THE GRAND PARADE AND PICNIC
________
History ofthe Regiment-Stirring Scenes at Chancellorville-Battle of Bull Run-Experience at Mission Ridge.
Yesterday was a red-letter day for the “old vet of the Twenty-sixth Wisconsin, the members, or rather the survivors, of which are in the main residents of Milwaukee County. At 2 P.M. the battle-scarred heroes assembled at the headquarters on Fourth street, just north of State, 200 strong, and headed by Zeitz’s Military Band, marched to Milwaukee Garden, where a reunion was indulged in, the battles of the war fought over again in imagery, and a jolly good time indulged in. The war-worn colors of the regiment that had been so heroically defended on many a well-fought field were displayed in the line, but they had been so rent with war’s rough usage that it was necessary that they should be covered with gauze to present even a semblance of their originality. The afternoon was spent pleasantly at the garden in social converse, enlivened by patriotic airs from the band. The scenes of the camp-fire, the march and the battle were brought vividly to mind by the presence of so many comrades of the campaign.
WAR SONGS.
The enthusiasm knew no bounds as the stirring notes of “Rally Round the Flag, Boys”, “John Brown’s Boky Lies Mouldering in the Grave”, “Dixie”,”The Star Spangled Banner”, and other well-remembered airs were played, and many a gray-haired veteran, forgetful of all else, sang himself hoarse over the chorus, and danced with the zest of a youth in his teens. At 6 o’clock the soldiers sat down to a pork-and-beans supper, in the dining-room, and in the evening the dancers took possession of the large pavilion, but this proving inadequate, the dining-room was also utilized, and at both places the votaries of Terpsichore indulged the favorite pastime until an early hour this morning.
HISTORY OF THE REGIMENT
The Twenty-sixth Regiment was mustered into the United States service Sept. 17, 1862. It was recruited in two weeks, and was composed, with the exception of Company G, of men of German birth or parentage. It left the State for the seat of war on the 16th of the following month, in command of Col. W.H. Jacobs, 1000 strong, and was assigned to the Second Brigade of the Third Division of the Eleventh Corps, Maj.-Gen. Sigel commanding. The army was engaged in a forward movement and on Nov. 2 the regiment camped on the far-famed field of Bull Run occupying Thoroughfare Gap at daybreak Nov. 3. On the 7th the regiment was advanced to New Baltimore and thence to Gainesville on the 8th. The Efeventh Corps fell back, the regiment being left at Centerville. After various movements in advance and to the rear, under the McClellan manipulation, the Eleventh Corps on the 27thof April crossed the Rappahannock at Kelly’s Ford, crossed the Rapidan at Germania Ford on the night of the 29th, and by forced marches reached Chancellorville on the afternoon of April 30, and on May 1 was drawn up in line of battle on the Fredericksburg pike, occupying a position on the extreme right of the army. A report spread that the enemy were retreating, and Gen. Sickles was sent to garass the enemy’s flight, taking with him the Second Division, including the Twenty-sixth Regiment. It was posted on a ridge a quarter of a mile from the road, with the One Hundred and Ninitieth New York Regiment on the left.
THE BRUNT OF BATTLE.
At 5 o’clock P.M. a terrific crash of artillery was heard on the right, and the well-organized columns of the enemy pressed forward. The columns of the enemy pressed forward. The brigade was at once broken and scattered to the rear. The confusion was heightened by the loose teams of the artillery, with caissons attached, which came dasheng into the midst of the flying troops. The two regiments thus posted in a most exposed position were under fire for the first time, alone on a bare hill-top attacked by a largely superior force, and yet they stood their ground and fought until the enemy had doubled their flanks, both right and left, and yet the order to retreat had to be given twice before it was obeyed. Notwithstanding this, these troops of the Eleventh Corps were assaulted by the most abusive imprecations, and newspaper correspondents charged the disasters of the day to the “cowardly Dutch”, the “flying Dutchmen”, etc. A subsequent review of the field, however, by experienced army officers convinced them that the position occupied was utterly untenable. The regiment participated in the battle of Gettysburg, losing 41 killed, 137 wounded, and 32 missing.
AT MISSION RIDGE.
On the 24th of September the regiment, with the Eleventh Corps, for Bridgeport, Ala., and took part in the battles of Wauhatchie and of Mission Ridge. Barefooted and without blankets they marched toward Knoxville to the relief of Gen. Burnside, taking part in the engagements at Resaca, Dallas, Kenesaw, Peach Tree Creek, Atlanta, Averyboro and Bentonville. On the march north they remained in Richmond three days, returning to Milwaukee June 27, and were disbanded on the 29th, 1865, with Col. F.C. Winckler in command. In an official communication to the Secretary of War, Gen. Coggswell, who commanded the brigade, said the Twenty-sixth Wisconsin was one of the finest military organizations in the service. Its original strength was 1002. It received eighty-four recruits in 1864, making a grand total of 1088; lost by death, 254; desertion, 31; transfer, 125; discharge, 232; muster out, 447.
Article #123__________________________________________________________________________
Jul 4, 1883. Page 1, Col 5
EAGLE ECHOES
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What the Noble Bird Said and Did in the Name of Freedom.
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His Plumage and Ardor Dampened in Milwaukee by a Thunder Shower.
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Parading Soldiers Drenched to the Skin, Seek Shelter in Saloons and Stores.
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Gen. Winkler’s Patriotic Oration Before the Assembled Multitude at National Park.
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Ex-President Hayes’ Address and Whittier’s Poem at a Connecticutt Gathering.
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Brilliant Pyrotechnic Display at the Soldier’s Home-Celebrations in the State and Elsewhere.
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THE DAY IN MILWAUKEE
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THE EAGLE’S DAY.
The proud bird of American freedom unfurled his pinions boldly for his annual soar yesterday morning. The heavens were blue, the sun bright and loving, and the air pure and refreshing. Soon after 1 o’clock Tuesday night, and hour’s shower cooled the ground and left the streets in the best possible condition for Fourth-of-July comfort. At sunrise the eagle shook himself and spread his great wings from ocean to ocean. Under their protecting shadow the small boy became the autocrat of the country at large. Licensed by custom carried for years in and years out, the ubiquitous urchin was transformed into a sovereign ruler of the hour. Coupled with the scream of the eagle, he succeeded in making the early day typical of the glorious independence so dear to the hearts of the citizen. Long before 6 o’clock Milwaukee reverberated with the thousand and one noises possible at the hands of patriotism. In the remote distance and nearest points the snap, fizz, and bang of the torpedo, the cracker, and bombs sounded continuously. Up to 11 o’clock there was no variation. The second hour was like the first, and the third like the second.
THEN CAME A CHANGE,
and the prospects of the day for unbroken pleasure were sadly marred. The great bank of leaden blue that had slowly curled up in the west began unfolding, and soon curtained the azure sky with the sombre shade, threatening some serious disturbance of the elements. The crowds that had assembled here, there, and everywhere hurried to shelter themselves from the burst of wind and water every moment more and more imminent. The clouds grew darker, and vivid flashes of lightening started their play. The rumble of thunder came first faint and then stronger, until it burst with a mighty crash directly overhead, and the torrents of a deluge descended. Until noon it continued, and the eagle’s plumage began to look draggled and drooping. The walks grew wet and the streets sloppy. The outlook was gloomy for the afternoon’s enjoyment. But the clouds passed over, and once more there was sunlight and beauty. The breeze grew sultry, and the ground dried rapidly, so that the glorious relaxation was resumed. The thoroughfares again became thronged. In every direction the people passed. On Grand avenue, Wisconsin, East and West Water, and Third streets,
THE DECORATIONS
were profuse, and in many cases elaborate. A number of places were dressed with evergreen trees and flags, the combination being artistic and pleasing. Along the river and in the harbor the star-spangled banners floated by thousands. From the peaks of the Chicago Yacht Club fleet the bunting streamed and flaunted. About the city from every elevated building the same handsome colors danced in the wind, and all was joy.
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SORRY SOLDIERS.
The various military companies that participated in the parade yesterday morning were somewhat tardy in putting in an appearance, and at the hour named for the procession to start, not a single uniform could be seen in the vicinity of the appointed rendezvous, although the sidewalks were thronged with jostling sight-seers. The first company to arrive was the Robert Chivas Post, No. 2, G.A.R., which took a stand on Market Square, directly in front the St. Charles Hotel. The veterans were closely followed by the Lincoln Guards and the Milwaukee Cadets presented themselves and arrangements were made for an immediate start, despite the threatening cloud-bank that was rapidly approaching from the west. The Sheridans were resplendent in their handsome new uniforms, which they had donned for the first time, and the elegantly-attired warriors cast many an anxious glance at the frowning sky. After some little delay the parade moved forward under the command of Capt. Von Schelen, the marshal of the day, and in the following order:
Marshal and aides.
Clauder’s Band.
Sheridan Guards, under command of Capt. O’Connor.
Lincoln Guards, Capt. Hughes commanding.
Milwaukee Cadets, under Capt. G.W. Johnson.
South Side Rifles, under Capt. George P. Traeumer.
Robert Chivas Post, No. 2, G.A.R.
THE LINE OF MARCH
was from Market Square north on East Water to Division, west on Division to Chestnut, west on Chestnut to Fourth, south on Fourth to Grand avenue, east on Grand avenue to East Water, south on East Water to South Water, west on South Water to Reed, south on National avenue to National Park, where the festivities were to occur. There was a slight sprinkling of rain as the cavalcade began its march, but nothing daunded, the patriotic participants pressed forward. But when Chestnut-street bridge was reached the slight sprinkle had changed into a perfect deluge, and a grand rush was made for shelter, the objective point being the old railway sheds on Chestnut, near Third street. This torrent lasted about fifteen minutes, during which time Jove himself indulged in a Fourth of July celebration on an enlarged scale , and for a brief period the noise of the popping fire-cracker was drowned by the roar of the atmospheric cannonading. Taking advantage of the first lull in the storm, the line was formed and the procession again moved forward. The cessation of hostilities on the part of the weather proved but a temporary one, and when the corner of Grand avenue and Fourth street was reached, the rain-charged clouds again drove the procession under cover, and the various saloons and stores in the neighborhood were crowdedwith the drenched yeomanry. After fifteen minutes delay
THE SUN PEEPED OUT
from behind the ragged edge of an ominous-looking cloud, and, after a brief struggle, succeeded in shining out bright and clear through the heavy, watery mist. Again the bugle sounded the call, and the uncomfortably damp troopers slowly filed into the muddy street, casting rueful glances the while at their lately glistening accoutrements, which now presented a very forlorn and wilted appearance. The line of march, upon being taken up this time, was continued to the end without a further break, Old Sol beaming his warm approval of their patriotic endurance.
PARADE PICKINGS.
The Robert Chivas Post made a creditable turnout, about 150 of the battle-scarred veterans marching manfully along to the spirited strains of the fife and frum-corps, which was composed of members of the Post.
The bugle and two of the drums used by the Robert Chivas Post are relics of the war, having accompanied the Fifth Wisconsin Regiment through all their battles.
J. H. Ryan and Louis Lapeet, of Whittier Post No. 17, of Chicago; John A. Straub, editor of The Comrade; C. J. Widvey, of Wilson Colville Post No. 38, of La Crosse, were guests of Robert Chivas Post, and participated in the parade.
There is weeping and wailing in the camp of the Sheridans on account of the disastrous drenching which the brand new uniforms received. It was pipiful to observe the sad oh-for-an-umbrella-or-rubber-coat expression which was depicted on their countenances while marching in the rain.
While the companies were forming in line on Market Square, a mischievous youngster placed a bunch of ignited fire-crackers directly under an unsuspecting Chinaman, whose almond optics were fastened on the military. When the fire-crackers began to explode the Mongolian gentleman gave a wild yell, and clapping his hand behind him as if he was shot, make a wild leap into the street. When he realized the slight extent of his injuries, and what had occasioned his fright a look of pained disgust slowly settled over his saffron-colored features, and it was plainly apparent that Fourth of July celebrationshad no further charm for his heathen mind.
The bullet-torn and powder-begrimmed battle-flag of the Ninth Wisconsin attracted much attention and was one of the features of the parade.
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ORATORS OF THE DAY
The new National Park, on the corner of Twenty-second and National avenue, was the scene of the grandest Fourth of July gathering on yesterday that Milwaukee has seen for years. The rain in the forenoon, which so interfered with the street parade, in reality was of benefit, since it laid the dust in the streets for the rest of the day without penetrating to a depth sufficient to make them muddy. Between the hours of 2 and 5 o’clock in the afternoon the facilities for selling tickets at the park gates proved wholly inadequate to meet the pressure of visitors. They surrounded the ticket office by hundreds, many having to wait half an hour before being able to procure admission. The West Side street car line did the most rushing business of the yoar. The open cars were not only crowded on and between seats, but the conductor’s foot-board on each side, was occupied by men and boys who hung on in trying situations. The horses looked as though they had been run through the river, there being no dry spot visible on their entire bodies. The conductors worked with their coats off, and had a hard time for once in their lives in collecting the fare. But those who approached the ground by rail were but a comparative small portion. Every imaginable vehicle was utilized to convey the would-be pleasure seekers, who also lined the sidewalks of the broad avenue in an endless stream. It was
A PERFECT PICTURE
-the fresh, green nature, the moving mass of humanity and the various colors of dress, represented in all imaginable shades. The elegant carriage humbly took its station behind a bus improvised from an express wagon, and the well-to-do business man perspired alongside of the coatless laborer. All was life and color and motion, and the direction was westward ho! As mentioned before, the process of entering the park gates was slow and trying, but the best of humor was manifested on all sides, and the result was a steady stream on the inner road for the grove at the further end of the extensive park. Here another animated scene came to pass. All about were seats under shady trees, which were soon occupied by a happy, drinking and conversing throng of men, women and children. The military companies had stacked their arms round about, and these were guarded by a picket who was relieved at short intervals. At 2 o’clock the crowd already numbered thousands, and still the rush did not commence till after that hour. Clauder’s brass band occupied the stand and played several national airs and medleys. At 3 o’clock
GENS. HOBART AND WINKLER
appeared on the stand, and were received with applause. Contrary to the printed programme, the reading of the Declaration of Independence by Gen. Hobart was first in order. Mr. Hobart preceded his task with a few original words, in which he spoke of the signers of the Declaration and the great peril they underwent in so doing. With the Revolution a success, they have become heroes, with the rebellion a failure, they would have ended on the gallows. The General implored his hearers not to forget the great sacrifive they made and true bravery they exhibited in that act, which led to the glorious results the Nation now enjoys. Gen. Hobart occupied perhaps fifteen minutes in the reading of the historic document, and was attentively followed by all within the reach of his voice. As he concluded and acknowledged the applause with a bow, Gen. Winkler was introduced as the speaker of the day. The General delivered a short and pertinent speech. He said that a long speech was out of place on such an occasion, and he desired to but briefly allude to the great event which resulted in the establishment of these United States among the free nations of the earth. He spoke of the heroism of the patriots in their struggle for freedom from the grasp of an empire in whose domain the sun never sets, and eulogized the memory of the brave men who did not fight for gold or riches, but really and truly for the priceless boon of liberty. He compared their resources with those of the then mother country, and added conviction to argument of the import that underlies the celebration of the ever-glorious Fourth. The General, toward the close of his remarks, spoke of another Fourth of July which was celebrated twenty years ago, when victory had crowned the loyal forces
AT GETTYSBURG
and Vicksburg. Those events had regenerated the old national holiday, and the heritage of those days was as valued with true Americans as that which comes to us from over a hundred years ago. “Do not then feel angry with your boys,” concluded Mr. Winkler, “if they distrub you on this day with firecrackers, but rather cherish the custom which commemorates the two grand struggles for our freedom.” The speaker was attentively listened to, and retired amidst applause, which had also been liberally tendered at the various good points brought out in the speech. Clauder’s band, during these exercises, played several national airs, including “The Star Spangled Banner” and “My Country,” and after finishing a piece after Gen. Winkler’s speech, the prisident arose, and announcing the programme of races, etc., dismissed the assemblage around the stand with thanks. It was not yet 4 o’clock, when the crowd made a rush for the race track, which was in tolerable condition since the rain. The sport continued throughout the afternoon, and included some creditable military evolutions, bayonet exercises, etc. The various companies appeared to excellent advantage, and caused a volley of commendations from the thousands of pleased spectators. All in all, the afternoon was one of unparalleled success, and re-imursed all outlays by a handsome overplus.
Article #124__________________________________________________________________________
Jul 30, 1883. Page 5, Col 1
What the Twenty-Sixth Wisconsin Regiment Did at Their Picnic
THE BOYS IN BLUE
The Twenty-sixth Regiment Wisconsin Volunteers enjoyed their annual picnic yesterday at Falk’s Park, and a very pleasant reunion was held. Among those present were the following members of the old regiment: Henry Klinker, Co. C; J. Lasche, Co. k; W. Weidner, Co. C; J. Hammon, Co. K; H. Sontag, sergeant major; Fritz Jansen, Co. D; A. Beitg, Co. A; A. Kepka, Co. C; Fred Scholz, Co. A; J.N. Stilp, Co. I; C. Thirnie, Co. A; J. Shutty, Co. A; H. Bremser, Co. K; A. Wapler, Co. I; C. Leitzman, Co. C; J. Schule, Co. C; Phil Bower, Co. A; A. Scharf, Co. D; J. Stanff, Co. I; F. Wolfram, Co. I; M. Ulrich, Co. I; Capt. Wm. Steinmeyer, Co. F; S. Gukenberger, Co. C; Phil Kissinger, Co. A; W. Block, Co. A; A. Kullig, Co. A; Phil Schloesser, adjutant of staff officer; L. Manz, Co. C; N. Friedrich, , Co. C; A.G. Berlascha, Co. C; H. Lorch, Co. K; A. Weldner, Co. C; Henry Ewick, Co. A; Junius Meiswinkel. Co. D; Phil Hunkel, Co. D; W. A. Koch, Co. A. There were also present members of the Second, Fifth, Sixth, Ninth and Twenty-fourth regiments, one representative of an Indiana battery, Capt. A. Tuttle, whilon king of the Cannibal Islands. Among the interesting relics of the war exhibited was the celebrated war-horse of Adjutant Philip Schloesser. This horse is a stallion, andat the beginning of his term of service was an iron-grey/ He is now almost white, but is still as lively as ever, and is apparently good for a number of years. He was eight years old when he entered the service, and is now twenty-nine years old. He was badly wounded in the neck at the battle of Chancellorsville, and the scar is plainly visible to-day. It was interesting to see with what affection the old soldiers of that regiment regarded the noble horse, and one old vet was heard to say that if that horse could only speak, what a story he could tell. He is now used as a family horse, and is very highly prized by Col. Schloesser, who watched him as he roamed around the grounds without halter or bridle. The old steed seemed to enjoy the attention and petting he received, and when his bridle was removed, cut up all manner of pranks, as if to show that he was not superannuated yet by any manner of means.
Soon after the opening of the picnic, the Twenty-sixth Regiment was captured almost entire by the Robert Chivas Post, No. 2, G.A.R., a large number of whom marched up to the Park, headed by drums and fifes, with their banners flying, surprising the old vets in the midst of their sport. An enjoyable time succeeded, numerous old army songs being sung, in both English and German. Various members of the Post were observed filling out suspicious-looking blanks, and as there is no war on hand, it is surmised they were applications for admission to the Post. Some twenty or so were filled out in a few moments and many were added later.
Among those receiving particular attention was Capt. A. Tuttle, now a resident of Honolulu, Sandwich Islands, and who has been nearly all over the globe. He is a member of George C. Meade Post, No. 5, Department of the Potomac. He went to sea at the age of 16 years, and at the age of 22 was made captain of the ship. On the breaking out of the war, he was at Hindoo, and sailed for his native land to take a hand in the struggle. He served in the army one year and three years in the navy. He is now prodecuting a claim against the Government, and during its pendency he is lecturing on the experiences of his strange life. Though he has lived the allotted three score years and the, his future plans point to another Arctic expedition, as a result of which he feels sanguine of accomplishing the northern passage, which has lured so many to failure and death.
Article #125__________________________________________________________________________
Jul 4, 1887. Page 3, Col 4
REUNION OF VETS
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A German Regiment to Reassemble.
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COMPANIES THAT WERE NEARLY ALL FROM MILWAUKEE.
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The Reunion to Take Place Aug. 27 and 28-The death a Few days Ago of Mr. Schlosser’s War Horse.
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About thirty veterans of the Twenty-sixth regiment of the Wisconsin volunteers met at Robert Chivas hall, yesterday morning at 10 o’clock, to arrange for the twenty-fifth anniversary of the regiment and a reunion of the surviving comrades. A committee consisting of P.J. Schlosser, Ferdinand Schunz, Phil. G. Hunkel, Henry Non Ewyck, Henry Klinker and Chas. Trapschuh, had been previously appointed to make arrangements. The committee was enlarged yesterday by the appointment of Hans Boebel and Wm. Steinmeyer. The meeting decided to hold the reunion on the 27th and 28th of August. The committee of arrangements will prepare a programme for the occasion this week, and mail it with an invitation to all surviving comrades.
WELCOMING RECEPTION.
On Saturday evening, Aug. 27, a reception will be given the visiting members at Robert Chivas hall. On the afternoon of Sunday, Aug. 28, those present will meet at Robert Chivas hall and march thence to Market square, where the company made its last halt twenty-five years ago, on the day it left for the front. Here a halt will be made and then the march will be resumed to Schuetzen park, where a picnic will be indulged in during the afternoon and evening. The comrades living in this city, of whom there are about 100, have arranged to entertain the visiting comrades at their homes. It is anticipated that fully 150 to 200 veterans will attend the reunion. Many members of the regiment have gone to other states, but it is anticipated that a goodly number of them will return for the reunion.
THE OLD TWENTY-SIXTH
The Twenty-sixth regiment was quickly formed and pushed to the front. Philip J. Schlosser received the commission to form the regiment, Aug. 12, 1862, and by Sept. 5 following, the necessary 1,000 men had been secured. The regiment went into camp at Camp Sigel for five weeks and was then ordered to the front. It was composed almost entirely of young men, and consequently the survivors do not average as old as do those of regiments in which the rank was older at enlistment. Company A was composed of members of different singing societies and Swiss societies, all of whom were residents of Milwaukee. Company B was composed mostly of clerks. Company C was remarkable for the large, powerful men of which it was composed. Company D was composed of outsiders from different places. Company E was from Fond du Lac; Company F from Manitowoc; Company G from West Bend. Company H was organized by Hans Boebel, and consisted of young men from Milwaukee. Company I was composed mostly of Bohemians. Company J came from Watertown and Company K was distinguished by the fact that it contained a good many actors.
THE REGIMENT’S RECORD.
The regiment during its term of service lost 249 members, one less than 25 per cent. Of that number 128 were killed in action. One old comrade who will be missed at the reunion is the old gray horse owned by P. J. Schlosser. The horse was taken to the front by Mr. Schlosser, who is manager of the Sixth ward branch of the Second ward bank, served through the war and was brought home again. On the 11th day of last month the old war-horse died, being over 33 years of age. Mr. Schlosser thought a great deal of the horse, and had given him excellent care. He died of old age on a farm at Wauwatosa, where he was being kept. For two days he had been down and could not get up. He was listless and did not seem to notice those about him. On the second day Mr. Schlosser went to see him. The old horse recognized him at once, and, putting out his fore feet, made an effort to rise. His strength was fast going and the effort, it seemed, would be too much for him, but after a few minutes’ struggle he seemed to summon all his strength for the task, and finally raise to his feet and rested his head on Mr. Schlosser’s arm. But the old veteran was too weak to stand long at his master’s side, as in days of old, and in ten minutes he became so exhausted that he was compelled to lie down, and shortly after expired. The old horse had had remarkable career, and the news of his death will be received with sincere regret by many of the members of the Twenty-sixth, who expected to see him again at the reunion.
Article #126__________________________________________________________________________
Aug 18, 1887. Page 3, Col 2
Silver Jubilee of the Twenty-Sixth.
The survivors of the Twenty-sixth regiment will celebrate the silver jubilee of their being mustered into service next Saturday, by a reunion and a camp fire. On Sunday they will march to the Shooting park where a picnic will be held, and on Monday the closing festivities will take place. The Twenty-sixth was exclusively composed of Germans, and sustained the heaviest losses at the battle of Gettysburg, where it was placed on a low, open field, without any natural protection whatever. As a part of the Eleventh corps it fought at Lookout Mountain and in the principal battles of Gen. Sherman’s campaign, including the famous march through Georgia and the Carolinas. About seventy survivors live in the city, among them Major Traemer and General Winkler.
Article #127__________________________________________________________________________
Aug 21, 1887. Page 3, Col 7
BUT FEW SURVIVE
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Reunion of theTwenty-sixth Regiment.
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COMPANIES THAT WERE ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY GERMAN.
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A Regiment Formed Almost Exclusively of Milwaukee Men-A wild Young Chicago Girl Found Here by Her Father.
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The second reunion of the Twenty-sixth Wisconsin regiment will be held on Saturday and Sunday next. On Saturday afternoon the veterans from abroad will be received at Robert Chivas hall, on Fourth street. An informal camp-fire will be held at the same place in the evening. On Sunday a picnic at Schuetzen park will be enjoyed, to be followed by a supper and sociable in the evening. There are about forty members of the regiment now residing in Milwaukee, while the other survivors are scattered all over the Union. The Twenty-sixth was distinctively a Milwaukee regiment, with the exception of Capt. Bates’ company “F”, most of which was made up of Manitowoc men. Companies “B” and “H” were composed entirely of young turners and a braver regiment did not fight in the rebellion. They went into service in 1862, 1,060 strong, including officers. Nearly all were young men and there were only about thirty married men in the regiment. The number mustered out after three years’ hard fighting was 280. The regiment held its first reunion ten years ago. Those in charge expect at least 100 to be present from Milwaukee and outside points.
The Twenty-sixth saw lots of hard fighting. It had the most exposed position at Gettysburg and lost more men in that decisive battle than any other regiment engaged, except the Second Massachusetts and an Indiana regiment. At Chancellorsville, the Twenty-sixth lost about 160. They participated at Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge, were in the Atlanta Campaign, marched with Sherman to the sea, and fought in all of the battles between Savannah and Richmond, on Sherman’s march northward.
Upon leaving Washington for home the regiment was in a disastrous railway collision. None of the members, fortunately were killed, but in the next car nearly thirty members of a Jersey battery were killed or injured. This event so frightened a negro the regiment was bringing north that he stopped right there and would not budge another step. But the boys brought several with them and one of those brought North is managing a farm at Present near Oconomowoc. He talks German like a native, is prospering and has been invited to attend the reunion.
Some of the more prominent members of the regiment are Col. Hans Boebel, Maj. Geo. P. Traeumer; Geo. Jones, now of West Bend; Phil Schlosser, of the Sixth Ward bank; Capt. William Steinmeyer, ex-commander of Chivas post; Maj. F. Lachman, now of Chicago; Capt. Henry Rauth, of St. Louis; Henry Klinker and Phil. Hunkel. The prospects are that the reunion will be a decided success and an event of great satisfaction and pleasure to the veterans.
Article #128__________________________________________________________________________
Aug 27, 1887. Page 3, Col 2
COMRADES MEET AGAIN
The Reunion To-day of the Twenty-Sixth Wisconsin-Iron Brigade
The members of the “Old Twenty-sixth” will begin to arrive in the city this morning to attend the second reunion of the regiment to be held to-day and to-morrow at Tobert Chivas post hall on Fourth street. There will be a reception at the hall to-night and a picnic at the Schuetzzen park to-morrow, to be followed in the evening by a supper. It is expected that fully 100 veterans will be present from abroad. Joseph Paider, Company I, of Kewaskum; Wm. Harusburg, Company A, Chicago, and Fred Siebold, St. Paul, arrived yesterday.
Another meeting of the committee having in charge the arrangements for the Iron Brigade reunion will be held next Tuesday evening at the Plankinton house. The reunion occurs Sept. 14, when the state fair will be in progress here, enabling those desirous of attending to obtain cheap round trip transportation.
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Aug 28, 1887. Page 3, Col 4
THE REUNION.
The fifth reunion and the twenty-fifth celebration of the Twenty-sixth regiment of the Wisconsin volunteers began with a reception and commers at Robert Chivas hall last night. About 200 veterans were in attendance last evening, but not to exceed 175 of them were members of the Twenty-sixth regiment. Though a ;large percentage of those in attendance came from Milwaukee and the state at large, quite a number have come from adjoining states to talk over the incidents and struggles in which the Twenty-sixth took a prominent and creditable part. They were a vigorous fine-looking body of men. Here and there was one who had left a leg or an arm on a Southern field, while others bore the evidence of their gallant service in scars that were not exposed.
WHERE THEY FOUGHT
The hall had been especially decorated for the occasion and about the walls were shields bearing the names of the engagements in which the regiment participated. They were Gettysburg, Chancellorsville, Atlanta, Savannah, Mission Ridge, Kenesaw Mountain, Bentonville, Averysboro, New Hope Church, Peach Tree Creek, Resaca, Wauhatchie, Knoxville. The windows were profusely decorated with foliage, while the national colors were tastily hung about the room,
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Aug 29, 1887. Page 4, Col 7
VETS AT A PICNIC
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The Reunion of the German Regiment.
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MAYOR WALLBER’S SLAP AT THE ANARCHIST TRIBE.
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Gen. Winkler Recalls Episodes in the Career of the Twenty-Sixth Regiment-Col Hans Boeble’s Stirring Speech.
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A host of friends visited the survivors of the Twenty-Sixth regiment, Wisconsin Volunteers, yesterday at their picnic in Schnetzen park. The sun was shining and the ground was hard and dry, when the tramp of the old soldier boys re-echoed along Third street at 1 P. M. in the air of a war-time melody. About 150 veterans made up the procession, which was just a block long, and perhaps fifty of these were from out of town. The total number of survivors is said to be 320. The regiment was German to a man when it was mustered into service, and yesterday, after a lapse of twenty-five years, the men were as German in their proclivities as ever. All the speeches were in German, and all the talk was in the same language, and the old soldiers from other regiments looking a little lonesome, although they were spoken to in English. The names of all the battles in which the regiment took part were posted in a circle on the trees, and between them the national colors were displayed. At 4 o’clock the veterans were photographed in a group from the grand stand, and then they moved up and were addressed by Mayor Wallber.
MAYOR WALLBER’S ADDRESS.
Mr. Wallber said that he had always taken a great interest in the most German regiment of the most German city of America, and next to the Turner volunteers, the men who composed it were best known to him. He spoke about the war and its successful issue, and the part the regiment took in it. He said that Col. Jacobs, its first commander, had been noted for his devotion to duty, Maj. Horwitz for his ability to spin yarns, and Lieut. Lehmann for his horsemanship. (Laughter.) He continued: “Men have found their way here who are not wanted, and the quicker they go the better. They have disgraced the German name, and we have to suffer for it. We take no stock in their wild theories. As we are good American citizens, we think with love of Germany. (Applause.) We respect the religious opinions and the usages of others, but we protest against being only tolerated here, nor is it true that our mission ends after having cleared away the forests. We do not want to be step-children of this republic.”(Applause.)
GEN. WINKLER.
There were calls for Gen. Winkler, and that gentleman limped to the platform and was received with cheers. He said: “Meine Lieben Kameradden! I don’t know what to say to you, except I recall a few reminiscences. Our regiment was assigned to the Eleventh corps, Gen. Sigel, commander, and together with the corps we constituted a part of the Army of the Potomac. I need not tell you how poorly that army was managed; suffice it to say that it had four different commanders in four years. The Eleventh corps was distressingly neglected from the beginning at Chancellorsville where we suffered so greatly. Our position was a mistake and we might as well have been butchered. We had no protection on our right flank. At Gettysburg we suffered from the same cause, and the first day here would have been more successful if a better disposition had been made of our force. It is a shame that in two years, when we met the enemy twice, we lost in a few minutes more than in all the battles thereafter. In Virginia things were a little better, and afterward in the West and, including the march to the sea, the upper command was better. I was repeatedly told by different commanders during the war that the Twenty-sixth was one of the finest organizations in the country. As to Oberst Jacobs, he was always honored by us, and he contributed to our success.” (Cheers.)
COL. BOEBEL’S REMARKS.
Col. Hans Boebel came forward with the assistance of his wooden leg, and made a one-minute speech that took the old veterans by storm. He said: “Jungens, wenn ich die alten Gesichter so wiedersehe, dann rappelts hier, (placing his hand over his heart.) Last uns immer unsere Schulldigkeit wie damals thun und all Schlechtigkeiten zum Teufel jugen.” The reunion came to a close yesterday.
“Young people, when I see the old faces again, then I will reside in here, (placing his hand over his heart.) Lastly to us our schoolchildren are always acting how foolish as fish, and by acting young all schoolchildren go to the Devil.
Article #129__________________________________________________________________________
Jun 28, 1888. Page 3, Col 2
Off for Gettysburg.
At half past 10 o’clock this morning some 50 survivors of the Twenty-sixth Wisconsin infantry will take the Northwestern train for Chicago, where the various delegations from the Northeastern states bound for the Gettysburg monument dedication are to rendezvous, and leave via the Baltimore & Ohio route in the afternoon. Department Commander Weis-ert accompanies the boys from here and Commanders in Chief (past and present) Fairchild and Rea, Gov. Rusk and several of his staff will also be of the party from Chicago.
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Jun 29, 1888. Page 3, Col 2
VETERANS OFF FOR GETTYSBURG
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To Participate in the Dedication of Wisconsin’s Monuments on Saturday.
Pursuant to the plan already fully noticed, some fifty survivors of the Twenty-sixth Wisconsin Volunteers left for Gettysburg yesterday forenoon, headed by the American Cadet band. The veterans marched from the place of rendezvous at the Second ward bank, carrying their old regimental colors, wreath-crowned, dipping them on Market square, where twenty-two years ago they held their last dress parade before leaving for the seat of war.
The Milwaukee party was joined by about twenty-five veterans from Madison, Waukesha, and other points, including Gen. Fairchild, who, in the absence of Gov. Rusk, will be Wisconsin’s representative in the ceremonies on Saturday when Senator Spooner will deliver an address. There are now 125 monuments on the field of Gettysburg, which covers an area of about twenty-five square miles; only a sufficient part of it, however, being reserved to provide driveways along all the principal lines of breastworks and of marches, and to furnish facilities for reaching all the monuments and other historic locations. Saturday will be Wisconsin day, when Capt. Pond, president of the state commission will turn the monuments over to Gen. Fairchild as Wisconsin’s representative, who will then present them to the memorial association, Gov. Beaver, its president making the speech of acceptance. Early in the week the monuments of several other states will be dedicated and the number erected already reaches 125. Hundreds of tents have been pitched on the field for the accommodation of Union and Confederate soldiers who will be present and many officers of both armies are already on the ground.
Article #130__________________________________________________________________________
Jul 1, 1888. Page 4, Col 4
WISCONSIN AT GETTYSBURG
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It is a sacred mission which takes surviving soldiers of the Civil war from Wisconsin to Gettysburg. That turning point of fortune to the Union forces was a field fruitful of graves for Wisconsin men and grief for Wisconsin. That delegation of gray and grizzled veterans, conspicuous for the number of empty sleeves and honorable scars which it carries goes to dedicate seven modest monuments to the memory of nearly half a thousand men from the Badger state who unsuccessfully attempted to run the awful gauntlet which death maintained for two days.
Those were fighting regiments which Wisconsin had at Gettysburg and to them is accorded in all accounts the hardest part of the bloody work there. Six regiments- the Second, Third, Fifth, Sixth, Seventh and Twenty-sixth infantry- and Company G of Berdan’s sharpshooters from this state participated in the engagement. Their aggregate loss in killed, wounded, and captured or missing from July 1 to 3 was 815. Of these 108 were killed in action, 517 were wounded and 190 were missing. From these regiments during the war death claimed 1,788 nearly 25 per cent. of the quota. Of these 812 were killed in action, 414 died from wounds and 556 from disease contracted in the service. Upon the opening of the battle of Gettysburg the six regiments could scarcely have numbered over 2,000 men fit for action, and the total loss of 815 from all sources during the two days was unparalleled in that great human slaughter pen, where 23,188 of the 85,000 Union men and 22,728 from the 70,000 Confederates engaged were killed, wounded or missing.
The battle between the infantry forces was opened by Wadsworth’s corps which contained the famous Iron Brigade in which were the Second, Sixth and Seventh Wisconsin regiments. The Second and Seventh regiments led on adouble quick loading and fixing bayonets as they ran, and as they came to the brow of a hill to the left of Gettysburg seminary met a body of the enemy which opened fire with a volley which decimated the advancing Union men fully 30 per cent. Here it was that Lieut.-Col. Stevens got hes death hurt and Gen. Lucius Fairchild received the bullet which cost him an arm. The brigade went on, drove back the revels and took and held the advantageous position the latter sought. It was at this time that the Second regiment captured Gen. Archer and 150 men. In the afternoon the rebels with large reinforcements renewed the attack and for two hours Wadsworth’s men fought for the ground until they were threatened by flank movements, when they were ordered to retire which they did inch by inch until their ammunition gave out and they were nearly surrounded when the were compelled to fall back. Upon this first day the Sixth regiment, which had been taken from the brigade to the support of a division in which the enemy had succeeded in turning a flank, checked the advance and with two New York regiments charged upon a regiment, pouring a murderous fire from a railway cut taking the position and capturing the rebel regiment. This Sixth Wisconsin also saved a New York regiment from capture by charging upon superior rebel forces in pursuit of it and driving them from the field. In the fight on July 2 and 3, the Iron Brigade supported a battery exposed to the artillery fire from the Confederates.
The Fifth regiment was brigaded in the Sixth corps under Gen. Sedgwick; the Third under “Gen. Slocum with the Twelfth corps, and the Twenty-sixth under Gen. Howard in the Eleventh Corps. Next to the regiments of the Iron Brigade the Twenty-sixth regiment suffered most severely, arriving upon the field about noon. With the exception of the Second their losses were greater than those of any other Wisconsin regiment, aggregating 217. The losses of the Third Infantry were but ten- two killed and eight wounded. The Fifth regiment, which ranks third in the losses during the whole war, came out of Gettysburg unscathed although in the action several times at different periods. Berdan’s sharpshooters sustained a loss of nine at Gettysburg.
Article #131__________________________________________________________________________
Aug 7, 1889. Page 1, Col 2
TO SHOW UP WELL
…Over 300 members of the Twenty-sixth Wisconsin regiment are expected to attend the regimental reunion at the Shooting park, Monday, Aug 26. It was almost wholly a Milwaukee regiment…(This reunion was during a large GAR encampment in Milwaukee attended by more than 100,000. Wm. Tecumseh Sherman was the featured guest-ed)
Article #132__________________________________________________________________________
Aug 27, 1889. Page 11, Col 6
Location of the reunion for the 26th during the GAR encampment: P. J. Schlosser’s Hall, corner Third street and Reservoir avenue. Entire week. Reunion Monday, Aug 26, PM at Schuetzen park. Accomodations for entire regiment.
Article #133__________________________________________________________________________
July 31, 1912.
HUGE WAR MEETING HELD 50 YEARS AGO
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July 31 Marks Semi-Centennial of Stirring Sessions Attended by 100,000 in Milwaukee.
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PATRIOTS URGED TO ENLIST
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Thousands Recruited Who Did Splendid Service in Preserving Unity of the Country.
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Fifty years ago, July 31 was a great day for Milwaukee and the whole state. A monster war meeting had been planned by the 50,000 odd inhabitants of Milwaukee with the view to expediting enlistments. Speakers of national reputation had been invited. A great parade was arranged. Many bands of music were employed. The day opened bright and clear with a salute of sixty guns and salutes were fired as trains came from various portions of the state on the St. Paul and Northwestern railroads.
It was found that the crowd would be too large for one meeting and three were arranged for. Each of the meetings had an immense audience. Between 30,000 and 40,000 people came to the city to participate in the event and nearly every one in Milwaukee was present. Up to that time it was the largest war meeting held in any northwestern state.
The war committee consisted of Col. E. H. Broadhead, Charles Haley,John Furlong, W. B. Hibbard, W. H. Jacoby, O. H. Waldo, John Lockwood and Edward ONeil. The procession was the largest that had been seen in the city. There were civic societies of various characters, Gov. Salomon, accompanied by state officers and judges of the Supreme court, the central war committee and authorities of the city, fire department, Chanber of Commerce, Young Mens association, Milwaukee Turners association, employes of the railroad shops and a multitude of citizens mounted in vehicles and on foot, participated.
Young Women at Head.
At the head of the procession was a car with thirty-four young women from the Sixth ward dressed in red, white and blue. Miss Sarah Hill representing Columbia and Miss Della Dewey, color bearer. After marching on several of the Street, the procession moved to the James Dneeland grounds, then Spring street, now Grand avenue. It was a large tract of land at that time and was completely occupied by people.
At the first stand, Governor Salomon presided. Among the nece presidents were such well known men of the state as Gen. Simon Mills of Madison, H. S. Baird of Green Bay, J. B. Koe, fatrher of the present Gen. J. H. Doe of Janesville;Gen. A. W. Starks of Baraboo, Senator William M. Dennis of Watertown, Walter D. McIndoe of Wausau, later a congressman; George H. Walker and Samuel Brown of Milwaukee, Allen Barber of Grant County, later a congressman, former Congressman M. C. Darling of Fond du Lac, and others.
After reading the list of officer, Col. Brodhead, who presided, introduced Gov. Salomon, who emphasized the importance of promptly filling the states quota recently called for by President Lincoln.We want 9,000 men and the sooner we g4et them the better, he said. Every one ought to be willing to go to support the government that has made us what we are.
Tweedy Makes Appeal.
Former Congressman John H. Tweedy, the next speaker, appealed to all who would give their services to do so without delay. It was a patriotic, stirring address and was loudly cheered. He closed with: Fellow countrymen of every name and blood, come up and lay your offerings on the altar of your country. Ten patriotic, stirring resolutions were adopted with cheers.
Former Congressman Lovejoy, a brother of the Lovejoy who lost his life at the hands of the anti-slavery element in Illinois, was the next speaker. Some one in the audience called out, Hang the abolitionists.
I am one of the abolitionists, my friend, Lovejoy responded. I am a younger man than you and I will stake my personal prowess that if you will come up here I will prove the better man of the two. His outburst was followed by loud and continuous applause.
Senator W. A. Howard of Michigan, who had a part in discovering Phil Sheridan of the regular army and urged Gov. Blair to make him colonel of a Michigan cavalry regiment, which put him on the road to one of the useful officers of the war, was next on the speakers list.
Senator Timothy O. Howe of Wisconsin, spoke with unusual power and created great enthusiasm. He was followed by Judge David Noggle of Janesville. C. Latham Sholes, inventor of the typewriter, read a poem written by A. M. Thomson, then editor of the Home League. Hartford, afterwards of the Janesville Gazette and the Milwaukee Sentinel.
Men Climb Into Trees.
At stand number two, the crowd was as large as at the first place. Men climbed into trees and on buildings in order to better see the crowd and hear what was said. At this place the late Judge Henry L. Palmer presided, and extolled the government which was born and brought forth in adversity and in a dark cloud, but which has accomplished more in the short time which it had existed, and has done more in the progress of the race than any other government on earth.
But we have lived to see the day which Webster and his compeers prayed never to see, he continued, when this great government was torn and threatened with destruction by internal and bloody insurrection. I trust we stand here today as Americans only, and that we shall not fail in taking effective measures to answer the call of our country and to send succor to our brothers in arms and peril in the south.
Among the speakers were Senator James R. Doolittle, H. Sloan of Beaver Dam, former Senator I. P. Walker of Milwaukee, J. E. Arnold, James S. Brown, democratic candidate for governor in 1857; George W. Allen, John W. Cary, Judge Arthur MacArthur, father of Lieut. Gen. Arthur MacArthur, and former Congressman Charles Billinhurst of Juneau. All made brief, earnest and patriotic addressed.
Pitkin at No. 3.
At stand No. 3, Fred W. Pitkin, president of the Young Mens association, later governor of Colorado, presided, and among the speakers were Matt. H. Carpenter, later United States senator; Winfield Smith, James G. Jenkins, recently retired as United States circuit judge, E. L. Buttrick, later colonel of a Wisconsin regiment; M. H. Finch and Fred C. Winkler, who was soon to leave as captain of a company in the Twenty-sixth Wisconsin and became a brigadier general before the war ended; State Senator T. D. Weeks of Whitewater, Cushman K. Davis, later lieutenant of the Twenty-eighth Wisconsin, afterward governor of Minnesota and United States senator; John A. Savage, another lieutenant of the Twenty-eighth, who became colonel of the Thirty-sixth and was killed at Petersburg; David G. Hooker and C. K. Martin.
Music was interspersed between these speeched, none of which were long, but all of which were productive of good results.
Among the vice-presidents at stand No. 3 were Horace Rublee, James G. Jenkins and William McNair and forty others, many of whom were young men from most of the counties in the state.
At each stand strong resolutions indorsing President Lincoln and the governments efforts to preserve the union were adopted by a rising vote, followed with enthusiastic cheers. The demonstration, which began early, lasted until the end of the day and there were smaller meetings in the evening.
Nearly All Have Died.
Nearly all of the men who had a part in that great war meeting have passed away but their good work that day will never be forgotten. That meeting had a large part in the quick recruiting of the Twentieth, Twenty-first, Twenty-second, Twenty-third, Twenty-fourth, Twenty-fifth, Twenty-sixth, Twenty-seventh, Twenty-eighth, Twenty-ninth, Thirty-first, and Thirty-second Wisconsin regiments, and those who are familiar with the history of Wisconsin men in the war, will give those regiments credit for splendid service on many fields of battle.
It is safe to say that no more important meeting was ever held in Milwaukee. It not only enthused the city and made it stronger for a successful prosecution of the war, but it enthused the whole race, every paper and every public man in the state gave it more or less attention. Recruiting officers in speaking in smaller meetings about the state, quoted some of the things said by Carpenter, Doolittle, Lovejoy and others, and recruiting officers to a greater of less extent all through the war, made that meeting a part of their conversation in getting men to enlist.
That meeting took place half a century ago.
Article #134__________________________________________________________________________
Jun 26, 1913.
State Commission Issues Roster of Men Who Fought at Gettysburg
MADISON, Wis., June 25-(Special).-
The Wisconsin commission in charge of the arrangements for taking the Wisconsin veterans of the civil war to Gettysburg for the celebration of the semicentennial of the anniversary of the battle of Gettysburg on Wednesday issued a letter of information to persons who are to take the trip and sent out transportation and identification credentials.
The commission also issued a list of names of persons who expect to take the trip. The members of the Wisconsin delegation are as follows:
(Editors note: included here are only the names of 26th Regiment attendees. There were many others not listed here.)
Allenton-William Sery, Company G.
Appleton-Nicholas Kolnger, Company C; Charles Baye, Company C; August Nitschke, Company A.
Cedarburg-William H. Rintleman, Company A; Charles Gottschalk, Company B; Herman Schultz, Company B.
Cleveland- Peter Hoffman, Company C.
Fall Creek- August Luedke, Company E.
Fontana- Clark B. Hollister, Company B.
Fountain City- Mathew Dambach, company B.
Hancock- Frans Friedrich, company I.
Haugen-Frank Rezarch, Company I.
Juneau- William Lueck, company A.
Kenosha- Peter Wirshem, company C,
Kiehl-Jacob Mahloch, company H
Madison-H.L. Farr, company H.
Manitowoc-Henry Wank, company F.
Merrill-Edward Carl, company K; Phipp Zipp, company E.
Milwaukee-Frederick C. Winkler, colonel; Albert Kittle, company B; Henry Fink, company B; Theodore Koerner, company K; Charles J. Trapschuh, Company A; Carl F. O. Kindt, Company C; Henry W. Rintleman, company A; Ferdinand Scholz, company A; John Hammen, company K.
Omro-Paul Van de Plassch, company B.
Plymouth-Ernst Schreiber, company I.
Prarie du Sac-Peter Schneller, company H.
Racine- Jacob Schneeberger, company D, Peter Lersch, company D, John Wemmert, company D,.
Reedsville-Ferdinand Haese, company F.
Sheboygan-John Steffen, company H, Martin Kohn, company H.
Watertown-William Schumacher, company B.
West Bend-George W. Jones, company G; Gottlieb Metzner, company G; Mathias Regner, company E.
Whitehall-George Dascher, company K.
Article #135__________________________________________________________________________
Mar 23, 1921. Page 1, Col 8
GEN. WINKLER, NOTED LAWYER, DIES IN WEST
Aged Patriot and Milwaukee Pioneer passes away at Los Angeles, Cal.
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A life devoted to the service of mankind and America came to a close at Los Angeles Tuesday afternoon when Gen. Frederick C. Winkler, civil war veteran and for more than fifty years one of Wisconsin’s foremost attorneys, succumbed to illness which had troubled him for many months.
Gen. Winkler left on Nov. 2 for Los Angeles to spend the winter at the home of his daughter and in an effort to recuperate his failing health. The remains are expected to arrive in Milwaukee on Sunday and will be buried here.
For almost eighty years Gen. Winkler has been an active factor in Milwaukee’s progress. A distinguished member of the bar, a business executive of ability, for half a century a staunch republican who placed public service above personal advancement, and always a loyal American from first to last, he held numerous positions of public trust.
Born in Germany
Born eighty-three years ago at Bremen, Germany, Gen. Winkler came to Milwaukee when he was 6 years old. His father, Carl Winkler, was one of the city’s pioneer druggists, his store standing on Spring street, which in later days has become Grand avenue.
The young Fred Winkler, after completing his school course began the study of law first in the office of H. L. Palmer and completing his course in the office of Abbott, Gregory, and Pinney at Madison. He was admitted to the bar in 1859 and argued his first case before the State Supreme court in 1860.
A year later the storm of civil war burst, and the young attorney at once became a military man. Taking an active part in organization of the Twenty-sixth Wisconsin infantry regiment which was organized in Milwaukee, he left for the front as captain of Company B.
Served With Schurz.
While the regiment was at Gettysburg, Capt. Winkler was attached to the staff of Gen. Carl Schurz. After the battle of Chickamauga, the regiment was sent from the army of the Potomac to the relief of Gen. Rosecrans at Chattanooga, and until the close of the war Capt. Winkler was in command, being advanced to the rank of colonel. After the spring of 1864 Col. Winkler’s regiment took part in all of Gen. Sherman’s campaigns. Col. Wood, then commander of the brigade, later singled out Col. Winkler’s regiment for special commendation for bravery.
The regiment marched with Sherman to the sea, and later took part in the grand review in Washington, after which the men returned to Wisconsin in June, 1865, and Col. Winkler was brevet brigadier general of volunteers “for meritorious service”. Gen. William Cogswell of Massachusetts, in his final report to the war department, mentioned the Twenty-sixth Wisconsin as one of the finest military organizations in the service.
Head of Law Firm.
Returning to Milwaukee, Gen. Winkler resumed the practice of law, and for many years was the senior member of the firm of Winkler, Flanders, Smith, Bottum, & Vilas. About eight years ago he retired from active practice, but still continued to make regular visits to his office.
Immediately after the civil war, Gen. Winkler became active in political circles and for more than half a century he was one of the leaders among Wisconsin republicans. In 1873 he was an unsuccessful candidate for congress.
In 1880, as head of the Wisconsin delegation to the national convention, he led in the movement which broke a long deadlock and culminated in the nomination and election of James A. Garfield of Ohio as president. At other national conventions and at innumerable state gatherings of the party he was on of the central figures.
Backed War Stand.
In 1916, when the European war hung like a cloud over the American political situation Mr. Winkler forsook his traditional political affiliations to declare his unqualified support of the principle of strict neutrality which had been laid down by President Wilson for the American people to follow. “Let us steer closely in the course of our duty according to our best light, extending a generous hand to relieve the suffering but withholding it sternly from participation in the strife,” he said, declaring his adherence to Mr. Wilson’s course. On the occasion of President Wilson’s visit to Milwaukee early in 1916, Gen. Winkler was selected as the one man best representing the spirit of Milwaukee to voice the city’s greeting to the nation’s leader, and he was made chairman of the mass meeting at which the president spoke.
Lauded by Roosevelt.
Gen. Winkler’s stern Americanism and proved business ability have brought him tribute upon tribute from his fellow citizens. Upon the occasion of the presentation of an oil portrait, painted without his knowledge to the…ices to the city, to his profession, to his country and to mankind.
But the praise was not confined to the lops of his townsmen.
On May 29, 1918, when the world war was at its height, former President Roosevelt, addressing a concourse of Milwaukeeans, said:
“I asked that there should be with me on the platform a man whom I have always considered a model for me and my sons to follow as an American citizen of the highest and best type, as representing the kind of Americanism I preach- Gen. Winkler. The general remembers that in 1864 there were men of little faith who, having put their hand to the plow, looked back and asked that the war be stopped, and if men like Gen. Winkler had been willing to have that kind of peace, the war would have been ended right away, but only for a couple of months”
Drew City Commission Law.
Always an active advocate of improvement in public service, Gen. Winkler took a prominent part in the civil service reform movement, and helped to draft the Milwaukee fire and police commission law in 1883. He was one of the council of the Civil Service Reform league, and president of the Wisconsin league.
An able lawyer, with an extensive practice both in the state and federal courts, he sought diligently to improve the profession. He was a former president of the Milwaukee and Wisconsin Bar associations, as well as a former vice-president of the American Bar association.
He was a member of the Phantom Milwaukee, and Old Settlers Clubs and of the G. A. R., and was also an active worker in the Military Order of the Loyal Legion.
Gen. Winkler was married in 1864 to Miss Frances M. Wightman, who died five years ago. He is survived by five daughters and three sons, William K. Winkler, Mrs. H. B. Hitz, Mrs. H. B. Ogden and Katherine and Rosalie Winkler, all of Milwaukee, P. W. Winkler of Oak Park, Ill., Henry O. Winkler and Mrs. Walter V. Brem, Los Angeles. He also leaves nineteen grandchildren and a sister, Mrs. Louis Schuchardt.
Friends Voice Tribute.
Heartfelt tributes were voiced Tuesday night by Gen. Winkler’s friends and lifelong associates.
“Of course, at his age the news of Gen. Winkler’s death couldn’t come as a surprise,” said Gen. Charles King. “However, his death is a distant loss to the state of Wisconsin. It will be particularly felt by the members of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion, of which he was its commander and always one of the most distinguished and active men. I am not surprised, but deeply pained, to hear the news of his death.”
E. H. Bottum, one of his first associates in business and closest of friends, said: “His life was an open book. All those around him knew him intimately. He was a great lawyer, probably the most successful in the state. He had a calm, quiet and serene character. He was forceful, benevolent, honorable, steadfast, and wise. He could probably be credited with the election of President Garfield. As a delegate of the convention he influenced the Wisconsin delegation to vote for Garfield after the convention failed to nominate any one following the deadlock over the vote on Gen. Sherman of Ohio.”
Recalls Early Days.
On the occasion of his seventy-eighth birthday, on March 15, 1916, Gen. Winkler took time from the congratulations of his friends to muse over the growth of Milwaukee and the part he had played in its development.
“It is now more than seventy-one years since I came, or rather was brought to the then straggling little town of Milwaukee,” he said. “Two thousand years ago Julius Caesar said ‘All Gaul is divided into three parts’. So it was with Milwaukee then. Milwaukee proper lay between the river and the lake. Kilbourntown held the corner of Third and Chestnut streets at its center, and Walker’s Point crowned the hills to the south. Wide stretches of river and marsh separated the sections. Each believed itself to be the chosen spot of destiny and none realized how soon and completely they would be one.
The general saw docks built along the river banks, factories and stores come, bridges span the rivers and connect the communities, railroads enter from north and south and horse cars and then electric cars course over the city’s streets. Before his eyes and with his aid the city had grown to be one of the largest in the nation.
Modesty of Greatness.
Gen. Winkler was modest concerning the part he has played in the development of Milwaukee. It was the modesty of a big man.
“I have lived here all these years, one little component of the city’s rapidly expanding population,” he said. “I once knew nearly everybody, but that was long ago. I have received many kindnesses from the people of Milwaukee and I return it affectionately , whether I know them all or not. I have lived a quiet life, but I have taken a keen interest in public affairs. I have stood by my party, though not a strong partisan. Such has been my part.”
Article #136__________________________________________________________________________
Thurs. Mar 24, 1921 Page 1 , Col 4
Gen. Winkler Will Be Buried Monday
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The funeral of Gen. Frederick C. Winkler, who died in California Tuesday night will be held Monday afternoon from the residence, 131 Eleventh street. Complete plans for the services have not yet been arranged. The body of Gen. Winkler, accompanied by his two daughters, Katherine and Rosale, is expected to arrive in Milwaukee Sunday night.
Thurs. Mar 24, 1921 Page 10 , Col 1
Gen. Winkler Dead.
With the death of Gen. Frederick C. Winkler, one of Wisconsin’s men of real mark passed to his reward. A tried and true man, soldier, citizen and patriot upon whose bier his fellow citizens may lay as meaning emblems in all reverence and sincerity their wreaths of cypress and Laurel and the American flag.
A high sense of the obligations of citizenship was perhaps the distinctive trait of Gen. Winkler’s life as our Wisconsin public has known it for half a century.
At every public crisis, on every public question, he first took counsel with his conscience and understanding to determine what was right, honorable, and serviceable for the greatest number of his fellow Americans, and having once set his course by the lodestar of the higher duty as he saw it, he followed it steadfastly, unselfishly and with the devotion to principle and civic duty which inspired him as a young man to offer all he had and all he was to the service of his country when Lincoln called for volunteers to save the union.
A man of so high a reputation for intellectual integrity and unselfish rectitude of purpose becomes a pattern for other right intending men; and Gen. Winkler’s adhesion became as a tower of strength to any cause or side of a question to which he gave his support.
Men knew that he had thought the thing out carefully in all its bearings with the mental honesty to give unprejudiced thought to both sides of the question, and that the chances were in favor of the soundness of his well-matured judgment.
In a democratic country like ours, where opinions honestly held should be respected for their honesty even by those who believe them to be mistaken-a country where fair, intelligently formed public opinion is supposed to govern Gen. Winkler’s habit of deliberate unbiased judgment in those regards was undoubtedly, by our theory of government, the right and ideal way.
It was an eminent fairness of understanding, a constant effort first to see what was right, and then to do it undeterred by prejudice and the smaller partisanship, that marked Lincoln’s firm but wisely tolerant political career.
The qualities for which Gen. Winkler was known and respected in his state had made him a man of note and credit in the country at large. In 1918 the late Theodore Roosevelt, when on a visit to this city, paid him this characteristic tribute:
“I asked that there should be with me on the platform a man whom I have always considered a model for me and my sons to view as an American citizen of the highest and best type as representing the kind of Americanism I preach, Gen. Winkler.
Gen. Winkler’s standing with the bar, national and state, was in the years of his active and prominent service of his profession as high as his credit as the upright, loyal American citizen.
A man of modest, dignified respect compelling presence, a strong and true friend, those who were privileged to know Gen. Winkler in the more intimate sense can speak most warmly and graphically of him on the personal and social side.
It may be said in all sincerity that few of Wisconsin’s leading men have left, by their speech and characters, a more useful and wholesome impression upon the thought and standards of civic right thinking and right living of the men of their time and community than this patriotic and upright citizen whose name has passed to the roll of Wisconsin’s honored dead.
Thurs. Mar 24, 1921 Page 14 , Col 1
WINKLER REMAINS DUE HERE SUNDAY
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Plans Are Laid for Funeral of Noted Milwaukee Man.
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Preparations were made on Wednesday for receiving the body of Gen Frederick C. Winkler, scheduled to arrive in Milwaukee on Sunday from Los Angeles, Cal., where the former Wisconsin pioneer and leader of the state bar died on Tuesday.
Friends and business associates who were intimate with him prior to his retirement from the practice of law eight years ago are expected to pay tribute upon the arrival of the remains , it was said on Wednesday. While funeral arrangements were not announced following the announcement of his death, it is understood that representatives of organizations in which he took an active interest until his departure several months ago will take part in the ceremonies.
He was a member of the Phantom Milwaukee and Old Settlers clubs, the G.A R., the Military Order of the Loyal Legion, and various the organizations which are expected to participate in the last rites.
Funeral services will be attended by many of the most prominent professional men of the city and state it was indicated on Wednesday when expressions of regret at his death were made by numerous leaders, by the professions, as well as by business men with whom he had established intimate contact during his career.
His death was especially mourned by members of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of which he became a member shortly after the close of the Civil War and in which his interest remained until the time of his death.
Whether funeral arrangements will be placed in charge of Civil War veterans of members of the Bar association could not be determined on Wednesday, but it was considered probable that a special escort will be provided for the remains upon their arrival here and again at the funeral.
Services will probably be held at his church in order to accommodate the large attendance expected from Milwaukee and other Wisconsin cities.
The immediate cause of this death was not made known here in the announcement, although he had been in ill health for some time which caused him to spend the winter at the home of a daughter in California. Gen Winkler left Milwaukee last November.
At that time the condition of his health was such as to cause concern among his friends, although it was not considered of a serious nature. The announcement here of his death, however, was not received with surprise by his friends because of his advanced age.
Article #137__________________________________________________________________________
Approx. Fri. Mar 25, 1921 Page 14 , Col 3
WINKLER REMAINS TO ARRIVE SUNDAY
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Arrangements for Funeral of Noted Pioneer Are Made.
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The remains of Gen. Frederick C. Winkler, distinguished soldier and lawyer, are expected to arrive in Milwaukee Sunday night.
The funeral will be held from the residence, 121 Eleventh Street, at 2:30 p.m. on Monday. Interment will be at Forest Home cemetery. The Rev. A. H. Lord, St. James’ Episcopal Church will officiate.
In accordance with the custom of the Bar Association, the death of Gen Winkler …(illegible)… on Tuesday, was announced to…
The following will be live pallbearers at the funeral: William H. Schurchardt, Charles F. Fawcett, Judge F. A. Geiger, Mitchell Meckie, Edwin L. Smith and C. F. Winkler, Greenville, Ala.
Honorary pallbearers will be as follows: Judge James G. Jenkins, Gen. Charles King, George E. Markham, E. J. Lindsay, L. J. Petit, Charles E. Wild, Fred Vogel, Jr., E. H. Bottum, Henry Fink, John A. Butler, William D. Van Dyke, H. F. Whitcomb, Judge Lawrence W. Halsey, Christian Doerfler, Judge E. T. Fairchild and C. H. Vanalstyne.
Names of members of the Milwaukee Bar association to act as representatives at Gen. Winkler’s funeral follow: Judge Oscar M. Fritz, Judge Gustave C. Gehrs, Judge John J. Gregory, Judge Walter Schinz, Judge A. C. Backus, Judge Orren T. Williams, Judge Henry Cummings, E. S. Mack, W. C. Quarles, Frank M. Hoyt, Robert Wild, Charles M. Morris, Nathan Glicksman, Lawrence Olwell, F. E. McGovern, W. H. Bennett, Willett M. Spooner, W. E. Black, Edgar L. Wood, and Francis Bloodgood.
After a meeting Saturday afternoon of members of the E. B. Wolcott post of the Grand Army of the Republic, tribute was paid to Gen. Winkler, deceased, who was a member of the post.
President Campbell of the City club has appointed John A. Butler, Frederic C. Morehouse, and Fred S. Rust, former presidents and seven members of the board of directors to represent the club at Gen. Winkler’s funeral. Gen. Winkler was a charter member of the club.
Article #138__________________________________________________________________________
Mon. Mar 28, 1921 Page 2 , Col 6
CITY IN TRIBUTE AT WINKLER BIER
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Large Crowd Assembles as Lawyer and Soldier Is Buried.
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Representatives of leading civic and patriotic organizations of Milwaukee assembled Monday afternoon to pay honor to the late Gen. Frederick C. Winkler, distinguished lawyer and soldier, who died at Los Angeles last Tuesday.
The Rev. A. H. Lord of St. James’ Episcopal church officiated at the simple services held at the residence, 131 Eleventh Street. Interment took place at Forest Home cemetery.
Delegations from the Milwaukee Bar association, the City club, and E. B. Wolcott post, G. A. R., took a prominent part in the funeral ceremony.
Active pallbearers were William H. Schuchardt, Charles F. Fawcett, Judge F. A. Geiger, Mitchell Mackie, Edwin L. Smith and C. F. Winkler, Greenville, Ala.
Honorary pallbearers included Judge James G. Jenkins, Gen. Charles King, George E. Markham, E. J. Lindsay, L. J. Petit, Charles E. Wild, Fred Vogel, Jr., E. H. Bottum, Henry Fink, John A. Butler, William D. Van Dyke, and H. F. Whitcomb.
Mon. Mar 28, 1921 Page 5 , Col 6
WINKLER FUNERAL TO BE HELD MONDAY
Remains of Noted Soldier and Lawyer Reach City.
Last rites for Gen. Frederick C. Winkler, famous soldier and distinguished lawyer, who died in Los Angeles last Tuesday, will be said on Monday.
The remains of the noted pioneer arrived in the city from California Sunday afternoon and the funeral will be held from the residence, 131 Eleventh street, at 2:30 o’clock Monday afternoon. The Rev. A. H. Lord, pastor of St. James’ Episcopal church, will officiate. Burial will be in Forest Home cemetery.
Following the long established practice of the Milwaukee Bar association, of which Gen. Winkler was a member, the death of Gen. Winkler was announced in all of the courts of Milwaukee county on Saturday by members of the association and the announcements made part of the permanent records of the courts.
The Bar association has also selected a delegation of its leading members to act as association representatives at the funeral Monday afternoon. Active and honorary pallbearers have been chosen from among the most prominent of Milwaukeeans.
Three former presidents and seven directors of the City club have been selected to represent the organization at the services. Gen Winkler was a charter member of the City club. Tribute to Gen. Winkler was paid Saturday afternoon by E. B. Wolcott post of the Grand Army of the Republic, of which post Gen. Winkler was a member.
Article #139__________________________________________________________________________
Tues. Mar 29, 1921 Page 5 , Col 6
WINKLER FUNERAL IMPRESSIVE AFFAIR
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Following a simple, though impressive ceremony, the remains of Gen. Frederick C. Winkler, distinguished patriot and noted lawyer, were laid to rest Monday afternoon in Forest Home cemetery.
Funeral services were held from the residence, 131 Eleventh street. The Rev. A. H. Lord, pastor of St. James’ Episcopal church, who officiated, briefly recounted the achievements of a lifetime devoted to the service of America, both in war and in peace.
Participating in the funeral ceremony were representatives of the Milwaukee Bar association, Grand Army of the Republic and the City club, in all of which organizations the late Gen. Winkler was an active member.
Article #140__________________________________________________________________________
Wed. Jan 14, 1925 Page ? , Col 8
HENRY FINK, 84, WILL BE LAID TO REST TOMORROW
Veteran Leader Dies of Car Injuries
Funeral services for Henry Fink, 84, veteran public official and political leader who died yesterday at Columbia hospital as the result of injuries suffered on Saturday when he was struck by a street car, will be held tomorrow at 3 p.m. at the undertaking rooms of Phil J. Weiss, 815 Farwell avenue.
Christian Science services will be followed by ceremonies under the direction of E. B. Wolcot Post No. 1, G. A. R., of which he was a member. Burial will be made at Forest Home cemetery.
Pneumonia which set in as a result of the shock of accident, in which he suffered a fractured collar bone and two broken ribs, was the direct cause of his death, physicians said. He had been unconscious since Monday.
Mr. Fink was collector of internal revenue for a quarter of a century, retiring in 1914 and living quietly at his home since that time. Altogether, his public career covered forty-four years. He was a county supervisor, state legislator, United States marshall and collector of internal revenue.
Born in Bavaria, Germany, on Sept. 7, 1840, he came to America with his parents in 1852, and lived on a farm south of Milwaukee until the outbreak of the civil war, when he enlisted as a private in Company B, Twenty-sixth Wisconsin Infantry, and was seriously wounded in the battle of Chancellorville.
He was married twice, his first wife dying in 1883. His second wife, formerly Miss Rosa Blankenhorn of Cedarburg, survives him. He is also survivied by three children, Edward and Emma of Milwaukee and Albert of Racine.
Article #141__________________________________________________________________________
Fri. Jan 16, 1925 Page 4 , Col 4
Prominent Citizens At Henry Fink Rites
Funeral services for Henry Fink, 84, veteran public official, who died Tuesday from injuries suffered in a street car accident last Saturday, were held at P. J. Weiss’ funeral establishment, Farwell avenue and Kane place, yesterday.
Honorary pallbearers were Judge Ferdinand A. Geiger, S.C. Herbat, Gustave Pabst, Charles F. Pfister, John Hoff, Robert Wild and D. McK. Sinclair. E. B. Wolcott post of the G.A.R. was represented by Frank Walsh, Charles Kayser, Paul Kackendahl, Frank Fox, Bernhardt Elring and John Luick. Active pallbearers, nephews and relatives of Mr. Fink, were Irving Fink, Edgar Fink, Edwin Fink, E. M. Krembs, Lysander Armstrong and A.A. Arras.
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BIBLIOGRAPHY OF INFORMATION CONCERNING THE 26TH REGIMENT
1. Winkler, Frederick C. and Frances Wightman, Letters of Frederick C. Winkler, 1862 to 1865, Publisher unknown, 1963.
2. Domschcke, Bernard, Twenty Months in Captivity, Memoirs of a Union Officer in Confederate Prison, Edited and Translated by Frederic Trautmann, Associated University Presses, 1987
3.Barnard, George N., George N. Barnard, Photographer of Sherman’s Campaign, Hallmark Cards, Inc., 1990. (Contains photos of battle fields from Sherman’s campaigns. No photos of the 26th Regt.)
4. Wicksberg, Charles, 1841-1864, Civil War Letters of Sgt. Charles Wicksberg, Co. H, 26th Rgt. Wis. Vol., 1961. Wisconsin Historical Society Library Pamphlet Collection #93-2322. Historical Notes by Donald A Woods. (Approx 40 letters)
5. Milwaukee Sentinel. Most of the articles in this work were obtained by using the Sentinel index in the Milwaukee Central Library. There are two indexes. One covers the period from the paper’s founding in about 1843 until 1880. The other covers the period from 1880 to 1890.
6. Civil War Letters of Adam Muenzenberger, Company A, 26th Regiment Wisconsin Volunteers, Oct 1862 to November, 1863. Translated by Clara M. Lamers and William M. Lamers, 1933. Obtained from the Wisconsin State Historical Society.
7. 26th Infantry Regiment Morning Reports Company E, 1863-1864. Wisconsin State Historical Society.