Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1880-07-21
Death of Cot. Greene.

The members of the old 29th Regiment
are called upon to mourn the death of
one of their commanders. Col. William
A. Greene died at his fathers residence,
| Ms. Greene, in the town of Milford in this
county, Tuesday morning, July 18th, in
the AID year, of his age, of consumption.
Col. Greene was born in Herkimer Co.
N. Y, Sept. 13, 1888. He moved with
his parents to Milford in the summer of
1S47 where he resided until the war broke
out. Responding to the call of his coun-
try for troops young Greene then mere
boy, in company with Capt. o. D. Pease,
recruited company for the war in the
summer of 81, which was afterwards
known as Co. d, 10th Regiment, of which
company he was commissioned I'd Lieu
| tenant Nov. 81, 1861. The 10th was
mustered into service, Jan. 81, 1862, and
after few weeks spent in drill and disci-
pline the regiment left the state for active
field service, arriving on the goth of March
at Pittsburg Landing on the Tennessee
River where on the 9th of April the ter
terrible battle of Shiloh was fought. The
10th took prominent part in this action
and no company in the regiment suffer
ed more than Co. ID, its captain:receiving
his death wound there. On May Is,
Lieut.. Greene was promoted to LIST Lieut.
of Co. d, which vacancy was created by
by promotion after the death of Capt
Pease July 18th Lieut.. Greene resigned
the Lieutency ofCo. d., to accept the
position of major in the 22d, then a new
regiment which had been rendered him
by Gov. Solomon, but learning upon his
return from the south to join the 22d,
that the 10Th was about being organized,
ana being composed largely of Jefferson
county men, he was transferred at his
own request to this regiment, and COM
missioned its major Aug. 30, 1862, which
position he held until Feb II, 1868,
when he was commissioned Lieut.. Colonel
vice G. T. Thorn resigned. After Col.
ellis resignation, June 9th, '63, Col.
Greene commanded the regiment but was
not commissioned Colonel until April 1,
1864 During the time Cci Greene was
in command the 18th regiment saw
some of its severest service, both in fight
ing and marching, and the young Colonel
proved skillfull and popular command
er. Discovering that the exposure was un-
dermining his health he resigned Jan. 26,
1865, after having been in active service
over three years.
Such in brief is the military history of
Col. Greene and who shall say that it was
not an honorable and brilliant one? At
the age of 26 he was the commanding of
fcer of his regiment, having worked his
way up from the lowest commissioned Of
flee by his bravery on the field of battle |
and his close attention to duty. COL
Greene was gallant and efficient officer,
beloved by his men and respected by his
fellow officers. That he contracted the
disease of which he died while in the SER
vice of his country 30 one can doubt |
who knew the rosy checked youth of 81.
A few months since the government re-
cognizing this fact granted him pension.
Since the war Col. Greene had resided
in this county with the exception of about
a year in Kansas, following the business
of farming most of the time. He held the
office of county treasurer for one term
during the years II and ~.
He left wife and four boys to mourn
his untimely death. His funeral took
place last Thursday, and was largely at
tended by old comrades and friends from
all parts of the county.