Ozaukee County's
War History
by Daniel E. McGinley

as extracted from THE PORT WASHINGTON STAR
June 20, 1896



The Ozaukee Rifles
Chapter 1

"From their peaceful homes in the far Northwest
They hastened long ago,
To rescue the Union's starry flag
From the clutch of the traitor foe;
And the tramp of their marching column
A hopeful promise gave,
Ere Sumter's echoes ceased to ring
O'er Michigan's startled wave."

In September, 1861, Geo. C. Williams, a lawyer of Port Washington, secured a commission and commenced recruiting the "Ozaukee Rifles," which subsequently became Company "K," of the Sixteenth Regiment of Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry. With but a very few exceptions the members of the "Rifles" were splendid specimens of the American soldier, were brimming over with patriotism, and entered the service with the determination to sacrifice, if need be, their fortunes, health, limbs and lives for their country. If the history of this company was properly written it would be very interesting as it saw a great deal of hard service, lost heavily in battle and by disease, and was very unfortunate in other ways, but nevertheless made a record of which its surviving members are justly proud.

At the time the "Rifles" came into existence the war had become a much graver reality than most people had supposed it would when Ft. Sumter's guns bade defiance to rebellion, and the boys who enlisted then knew full well that their work at the front would be anything but a holiday parade, as some of the earlier volunteers had expected theirs would be. The Union defeats at Bull Run and Wilson's Creek had shown the Federal government that its small army was totally unable to cope with the gigantic rebellion, and had told the North and the world that the slaveholders were in earnest, and that the war would be a long, bloody and costly one.

An intense excitement or patriotic fervor was pervading our state at this time, the shrill music of the fife and the roll of the drum were resounding along the streets of the cities, on the village greens, and through the country lanes; and although they were aware that the chances were greatly against their safe return, thousands of young men and boys were hurrying to the front in response to the calls for volunteers to serve "three years or during the war." Previous to this time, Ozaukee boys had left the county, singly and in small squads, to enlist in organizations from other counties, but now when a movement was on foot to raise a whole company within the county, local pride was touched and the boys flocked so quickly around the standard of the "Ozaukee Rifles" that it was nearly full at the end of four weeks. The first members of the "Rifles" were sworn in on September 19, and enough had been enrolled by October 15, to warrant the acceptance of the company by the Governor.

The headquarters of the Rifles were in the old Arcade Hall, Port Washington, and the members were quartered in different hotels and boarding houses. Enough of musicians were soon enrolled to form a fife and drum corps, but the inspiring music of which they boys marched proudly and enthusiastically, their enthusiasm being very catching, as many a recruit could aver. Here is an example. James Wilson, a young, married Irishman, then living in the town of Scott, came to Port Washington on business. On his way home he me the "Rifles" marching into town after an afternoon's drill, and was so captivated by the martial music, flaunting colors and the fine appearance of the company, that he fell in love with it on the spot, and hurrying home he told his wife that he must go to the war in that company. Next day he became one of the Rifles, and gave his life for his adopted country, at the front May 23, 1862.

The vacant lots which then abounded in the outskirts of the town made very good drill and parade grounds, where the company spent many long hours learning the rudiments of the drill, so essential in the education of the soldier. Sometimes they took long marches out into the country for the two-fold purpose of becoming accustomed to marching and of gathering in recruits.

In the second week of October the company elected its officers. The commissioned officers chosen were:

Geo. C. Williams, of Port Washington, Captain.
Rich. P. Derrickson, of Grafton, 1st Lieutenant.
David F. Vail, of Port Washington, 2nd Lieutenant.

The sergeants: John L. Derrickson, of Grafton; Edward D. Bradford, of Fredonia; John Gough, of Saukville; Lorenzo D. Osgood, Milo M. Whedon, of Port Washington.

The corporals: Ephriam Cooper, of Grafton; Louis C. DeCoudres, Sam'l Gunther and Thomas E. Wildman, of Port Washington; John Goggin and John P. McGinley, of Saukville; Geo. W. Hedding and Orlando J. Valentine, of Fredonia.

The privates enrolled previous to the departure of the company for the state camp were: John Bristol, Jerome Case, John and Wm. Clark, John Cody, Robt. A. and Wm. W. Coleman, Anth. Collins, Wm. and Geo. D. Cooper, A.J. Cowen, Stewart Daniels, Wallace W. Davis, Chr. Benson, Allen Godfrey, F.C. Kerner, Nils Livson, Thos. Manning, John Murphy, Lars Nelson, Ole Oleson and James Wilson No. 1, of Grafton.

Nic. Colling, Edmund Gee, John Hennessey, G. Janish, Jos. Johann, R.C. Kann, Dennis Mangin, Corn. Murphy, Wm. E. Pierce, Wm. Richards, Tax. W. Shaw, Ogden Tomlinson, Wm. A. and Stoel H. Tousley, James Toole, Pat. Walsh No. 1, L. W. White and Samuel H. Wildman, of Port Washington.

Pat. Carroll, Chas. W. and Lyman W. Chapman, Rich. Goggin, Robt. B. Ingersoll, Pat. Keogh, Thos. Murphy, James O'Hare, Samuel Orcutt, Wm. H. Pawlett, D.B. Raynor, James Reeves, Chas. and Henry Thomas and Pat. Walsh No. 2, of Saukville.

Peter Beckus, Chas. W. Brott, Augustus Hyde, Rich. Kershaw, Edward M. O'Neill, Jacob Smith and Benj. Walker of Fredonia.

James Wilson No. 2, of Scott; Rich. J. Powers of Milwaukee; Jonathan W. Pulford of Plymouth; and Chas. H. Townsend of Mequon.

The privates enrolled after the company reached the camp were: Chas. A. Ayres, Isaac G. Kendall and E.D. King, of Grafton; E.B. Brewster, David Porter, Henry C. Ramsey, Selby Trumbull and Thomas Wildman, Sr., of Port Washington; Charles Gatfield of Fredonia; Wm. Goggin, of Saukville; John Beard, Mansel Barnes, Hiram Franklin, Steph. Golather, James H. Rooney, John Turner and Louis Wert, of Dane county; A.B. Hunt, of Beloit; John R. Burge, of Farmington; Philander Watkins, of Saxeville; and O.B. Underhill and John J. Vincent, whose residence was not given.

There were 104 in all, 66 of whom were born in the United States, 11 in Germany, 9 in Ireland, 8 in the British Dominions, 4 in Norway, two in England, one in Scotland and the nativity of three is unknown. Their ages ranged from 15 to 55, and averaged 26 years. The married members numbered 32, 16 of whom were killed or died in the service, while others died after the war of diseases contracted in the army.

The loyal ladies of Port Washington and vicinity took a deep interest in the "Rifles," and did a great deal for the pleasure and comfort of its members. They made handsome rosettes of red, white and blue silk ribbon, which became the bade of the company, a rosette being constantly worn on the breast of each member until they received their uniforms in Camp Randall. The ladies also made "housewives" and other camp necessaries for the members, and collected money enough to purchase a beautiful silk flag, which they had suitably inscribed, and which was presented to the Rifles one October evening. Mrs. A.M. Blair, wife of a Port Washington attorney, in an appropriate address presented the flag in the name of the ladies, and Capt. Williams accepted it for the company, in a short speech which bristled with patriotic utterances and great promises.

On the 22nd of November, 1861, the Ozaukee Rifles left the county under orders to report at Camp Randall, Madison, Wis. The company was conveyed to Milwaukee by the ill-fated steamer Sea-Bird and thence by rail to its destination. One member deserted at Port Washington and one in Milwaukee, but neither of their names appears in the foregoing roster of the company.