Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1882-08-03
A War Romance.

iSoNJ ASt SO4sisS Cdfty III LAS Wal, baS
the Belle City Rifles, of Racine,
which became Co. E. of the second
infantry. It was composed almost
wholly OF young men-many as young
as sixteen and seventeen years.
Among them was W. II. Uphan a
mere boy. The 2nd was the only
Wisconsin regiment in the first Bull
Rum battle. While it made an exceIl-
ent record its losses we're severe.
The telegraph brought the tidings-
"W. III. Upham, killed" Solemn
funeral services were held at his home
and he was sincerely mourned. A
week from the date of the battle, the
9th Wisconsin passed through Racine
on its way to Washington. A thous-
and people or more were at the train
that balmy Sunday afternoon to cheer
the men whose love Of country took
them to the war. In the dense crowd
was lady whose eyes filed with tears
as she tried to cheer the 9th boys on
their way to the front Iu answer to
an enquiry she informed a Co E. boy
that she had Just attended the funeral
Of brother who was killed at the
great battle. Those who saw the
sorrowing lady will remember how
sorry the soldiers we're, and how they
promised to avenge MS death. A
month or two after the battle word
came from Richmond that Upham was
not dead, but prisoner. He had
been shot through the neck, the bullet
coming out so near his backbone as to
take away portion Of it. The poor
fellow laid in that abode of misery and
want until the next February. When
he was released he went to Wash
ington. About the first man he
met whom he knew was James r.
Doolittle, then a senator of the United
States from Wisconsin. The senator
resided at Racine, and knew and ad
mired all the young men who went out
in that first company After a needed
rest of a day, Senator Doolittle
accompanied young Upham on visit
to President Lincoln. The gaeat
statesman-whose purity and ability
the country has never seen surpassed
received him warmly, and they two,
the emaciated soldier boy and the no
BILE Lincoln talked for half an hour or
more. Il suppose you are going home
on a recruit" said the President
'Yes sir; have a sixty-day fur
Tough" "That is not enough for a
poor boy who has undergone what you
have for the past six or eight months. "
AS they parted Lincoln took Upham
by the hand and said: "My boy, 60
home and get well. You will hear
from me before long" Dear old
President, he was always saying ap-
propriate things. The young soldier
did hear from him The President had
him appointed a cadet to West Point.
He graduated with high honors and
at once became a lieutenant of artiI-
lery. When Jefferson Davis, who
ought long ago to have gone as Guiteau
went on Friday, was a prisoner at
Fortress Monroe, Lieut.. Upham had
charge of the men whose duty it was
to guard him. Four years before the
naughty Davis was wont to ride past
Libby Prison which contained, among
many others, the wounded, bleeding
form Of the soldier who was then an
officer of the regular army and had
him in charge.
Lieutenant Upham left the army
some years since, and is now one of
the most prosperous merchants and
mill men on the line OF the Wisconsin
Central. He is located at Marshfeld,
and is one of the most popular citizens.
He is a brother af c. NJ. Upham. the
heavy merchant of Shawano, and of
Col. G. H. Upham, the newly APP
pointed postmaster of Ripon.-S@n-
dag Telegraph.