Ozaukee County's
War History
by Daniel E. McGinley

as extracted from THE PORT WASHINGTON STAR
May 13, 1896



The First Year of War

On the 14th of April, 1861, a dark, gloomy, rainy day, typical of the war clouds which then darkened the political sky, a crowd of men and boys hung around a certain village post office in Ozaukee county, awaiting the arrival of the belated daily mail. At that time there was neither a railroad or a telegraph line in the county; and the great lumbering stage, which daily passed through on its way to and from Milwaukee, carried the mails, express matter and passengers. At that season of the year, when the roads were deep with mud and sometimes almost impassable, the stage was often behind time, as was the case on that memorable evening.

For days, weeks and months the mails had been burdened with bad news. They had brought us tidings of the war talk, and the preparations for war, in which the slaveholders were indulging; and from the day the immortal Lincoln had been inaugurated president, the coming of the stage with its daily budget of news had been anxiously watched for by those who had the welfare of our country at heart. On this evening the waiting crowd was as usual busily engaged in discussing the crisis in our national affairs, and as was usually the case in gatherings of that kind in this county, those who believed in "state rights" - the right of a state to secede from the Union and set up a government of its own, or join another government, whenever it saw fit to do so, - were largely in the majority, and in the course of the discussion the "Black Abolitionist President," as they were pleased to dub Pres. Lincoln, was denounced in language more forcible than elegant.

At length the mud-covered stage, drawn by foaming horses and rolling on its great springs like a ship in a storm, clattered up to the door. "What news tonight, driver?" "News enough," gruffly answered that individual, as he reached down into the boot of the stage for the mail-bag, "the Southerners have bombarded and captured Ft. Sumpter!" For a moment there was a death-like silence, and then the "state rights" men gave expression to their delight, while intelligent, thoughtful men turned away with sad hearts, for they knew that this outrage on the old flag - this open, armed rebellion against our Federal government, meant war - civil war - war between neighbors - war between brothers - war in its most horrible form.

In Ozaukee county, as elsewhere in the loyal states, the news of the fall of Ft. Sumpter sent a thrill of indignation through every loyal heart; while on the other hand the "state rights" people, or "Southern sympathizers," were jubilant. The action of our Federal government was awaited with feverish anxiety, and when the stage brought us President Lincoln's call for 75,000 volunteers to put down the rebellion, the excitement was intense. The "Sympathizers" were wrathy, loud-mouthed and foul-mouthed; and openly preached treason, advocating "state rights," and reviling Lincoln in the vilest terms. The people proceeded to array themselves on either side, and it soon became apparent that the Union party was outnumbered in Ozaukee county.

But in spite of that fact, - in spite of treasonable speech and intimidation at home, - scores of Ozaukee's loyal sons were ready to answer the first call for volunteers; and what the patriots of the county lacked in numbers they made up in enthusiasm, which was only increased and intensified by abuse and persecution from their disloyal neighbors. Wisconsin's quota of the 75,000 volunteers was one regiment of 1,000 men, and although many times that number were ready to go, no more would be accepted by the general government. In the ranks of that first regiment, Ozaukee county sent its full quota; and when later more volunteers were called for, patriots from Ozaukee marched to the front in ranks of the 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th regiments of volunteer infantry.

Time passed, bringing with it the disasters to the Union arms in Virginia and Missouri, and all began to see that the war was not going to be the holiday affair predicted by many; and the volunteers who answered the second and third calls knew full well that they were entering upon a long, sanguinary conflict, and that there were great odds against their ever returning home unimpaired in health and whole in limb. Every week, every day the situation became more serious, and the anxiety of the mothers, wives, and sweethearts of the boys at the front increased until it became agonizing. Day after day, the stage rolled up to the door of each post office with news that was almost disheartening, but which only increased the patriotic fervor and hurried new recruits to the seat of war.

Peter Spehn, then as now a worthy citizen of Grafton, refused a reelection as register of deeds in which capacity he was then serving the county, and raised Co. "I" of the 9th Wis. infantry, the first German regiment recruited in this state. Part of the company was recruited in this county and made a good record, a number of them dying for their adopted country. In the ranks of the 12th, 13th and 14th regiments marched brave boys from Ozaukee who were a credit to it. When the 2nd Wis. Battery was organized a score or more Ozaukee boys were on its rolls and did good service for three years. Charles Beger, of Port Washington, who enlisted as a private in this battery, came home its captain in 1865. A number of Ozaukee boys enlisted in the 7th and 9th batteries and served their country faithfully.

In the fall of 1861 the war fever took a firm hold in Ozaukee county. War meetings were held and recruiting received a fresh impetus. In addition to several officers who picked up volunteers in this county for other regiments, G.C. Williams, a Port Washington attorney, secured a recruiting commission, and in the months of September and October succeeded in raising the Ozaukee Rifles, the only full company recruited in this county, and which became the original company "K" of the 16th Wis. infantry. This was a fine company of men of which I will try to give a brief history in future issues of THE STAR.

Thus we find that by the close of 1861, Ozaukee had furnished at least 300 volunteers for the Union army, and was doing her duty admirably. During the winter, recruiting continued and Ozaukee boys volunteered to serve their country in the ranks of the 17th and 19th Wis. infantry regiments, and over two score of gallant Ozaukeeans rode away in the ranks of the 1st, 2d, 3rd Wis. cavalry regiments, in the latter of which John C. Schroeling, our present county clerk, was a major.

On Easter Sunday morning, April 6, 1862, the Ozaukee Rifles, with the balance of their regiment, the 16th Wis., were among the first to exchange vollies with the rebels on the famous field of Shiloh, the first great battle of the war, and one of the most determinedly fought, most sanguinary and most decisive of the whole conflict. Rumors that a great battle was in progress near Pittsburg Landing, Tenn., in which the 16th regiment was heavily engaged, reached this county on the evening of April 7th. Next day the news was confirmed, and for several days the post offices in different parts of the county were besieged by crowds of the relatives and friends of the members of the Ozaukee Rifles, and when the list of killed and wounded was received the scenes were often heartrending. The Ozaukee Rifles had borne a noble part in winning the first great victory of the war, but the victory was won at a great sacrifice, the loss of the company being eleven killed or mortally wounded, and fifteen wounded. This large list of killed and wounded tells the story of how gallantly our Ozaukee boys fought on that fated field; but it also tells of a number of homes made desolate, of numerous loved ones bereaved; and those who died at Shiloh are still mourned for in many an Ozaukee county home.

Recruiting was lively during the summer of 1862. A number of Ozaukee boys enlisted in the 21st and 23rd Wisconsin regiments; and when the "Milwaukee regiment," as the 24th Wisconsin was called, was organized, fully one-half of Company "H" were boys from this county. The boys of Co. "H" were gallant fellows and made a proud record. In the second German regiment, the 26th Wisconsin were enrolled some forty of our German boys, who from Chancellorsville to Bentonville fought like heroes for the Union, many of them offering up their lives that freedom might reign in the land of their adoption.

In May and June came the disastrous defeats of McClellan's army on the Virginian Peninsula. These disasters were heavy blows to the Union cause, and as they depressed the spirits of the loyal they correspondingly elated the "Sympathizers." But the loyal people though cast down were not disheartened. A Fourth-of-July orator, speaking at a picnic at Port Washington that year, gave utterance to the following prophetic words, which aptly illustrate the thoughts of patriots in those memorable, trying days: "Though McClellan may have met with serious reverses; though we may meet defeat and disaster on many a future field; though the war may continue for many long years more, the right will triumph in the end; and the old flag will float over freemen from the Atlantic to the Pacific, and from Lake Superior to the Gulf of Mexico."

Would that I could describe the soul-stirring scenes and events of those war days so that the reader could catch some of the inspiration and enthusiasm that then strengthened loyal arms and hearts. But my command of the language is inadequate to picture the exciting, patriotic and pathetic scenes that trooped by in crowded and almost endless procession: - The call for volunteers - the war meetings - the martial music in the streets - the company drills - the departure for the seat of war - the enthusiasm of the boys in blue - the proud but sad faces in the groups of friends - the goodbyes - the last wave of hat or handkerchief - the last glimpse at the turn in the road - the shrill strains of "The Girl I Left Behind Me" fading away in the distance - the sobbing mothers, wives, sisters and sweethearts who hoped for the best but feared the worst!

Then the precious letters from the boys at the front - the rumors of battle - the terrible suspense - the prayers - the anxious, tear stained faces at the postoffice - the long lists of killed, wounded and missing - the weeping relatives - the vacant chairs - desolation!

Yes, those were sad days, those were pathetic scenes; but running through all, and mingling with sadness and pathos, there was a consoling, brightening, elevating flood of heroism - of self-sacrificing devotion - of unselfish, patriotic energy, to the surface of which - out into the sunshine of life, floated so many of the noble, pure and grand virtues of the human mind and body that make men admirable - superb!