River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1896-05-28


by name his daughters and Mrs. Fair
child.
Lucius Fairchild was born in December.
1891. at Franklin. Portage county, o. His
parents moved to Cleveland when he was
ore year old. In 1876 they migrated to Wis
consin and took up their abode at Madison.
Gen. Fairchild-the general to be-was
taken with the gold fever in le49 and crossed
the plains for San Francisco. He returned
to Wisconsin six years later, no richer In
pocket, but a vigorous. robust man. phys
ically and mentally. for the exigencies Of
a busy political life. In 1855 Fairchild was
elected clerk of the circuit court at Mad
lson on the democratic ticket. The year
before the civil war was declared he was
admitted to the bar. but before the Ink
had dried on his diploma he had engaged IN
that national strife which was destined to
end his scarce-begun existence as an at
torney at law.
His work in drumming up volunteers for
the service marked him as efficient In that
line of work as in Others and he soon had a
company gathered together. of which he
was elected captain Immediately. At the
same time he declined the governors offer
to be lieutenant colonel. His regiment
went into the field, was engaged In several
skirmishes. and, returning in three months
to Madison, was mustered out. He was
commissioned then captain In the regular
army, declined Gov Randalis offer of pro-
motion to be colonel of a regiment, but ac-
cepted the Office of lieutenant colonel of
the Second regiment. which, owing to the
eClonefs Ill health, he commanded during
the most important engagements.
In an encounter with Stonewall Jackson
At the battle of Gainesville the Second.
which was the crack regiment of the IA
nous Iron brigade, lost over one-half of
Its members. During this engagement
Fairchild had his horse shot from under
him, but did not Lose his nerve and cool
ness. At the second battle of Bull Run,
two days later. he commanded the con-
solidated Second and Seventh Wisconsin
and covered the retreat of the federal
forces. He was the last soldier to leave the
field.
At the first guns of tue battle of Antietam
he arose from the soldiers sick couch in an
ambulance and hurried forward, arriving IN
time to participate in the afternoon fight
ing. Immediately previous to the battle
Fafrchild had been made colonel of the
Second, and his bravery on the field during
that memorable day ELECTED compliments
from the confederate commander. Col.
Fairchild took an active part at Freder-
cksburg with Burnside. and at Chan
cellorsville he took conspicuous part on
the staff of Gen. Wadsworth.
The gallant Second lost 116 of its 800 men
at the battle of Gettysburg. In leading a
desperate charge up Seminary hill Gen.
Fairchild's military career was closed by
dering amputation necessary While at
home nursing the place where the men,
Der was he received a commission of brig
adler general for his gallantry.
He was on the eve of returning to the
front when the union republican convention
nominated him to be secretary of state. In
1865 he was nominated to be governor by
the republicans and elected. He served
his state in that capacity for three terms
During his incumbercy he did much TO
advance his state. He was of material aid
to the soldiers home In Madison and was
one OF the founders of the state board OF
charities and reform
In 1872 Gen. Fairchild WAS appointed
United States consul at Liverpool and
served six years. In 1850 he was consul
general in Paris. and then United States
minister to Spain until 1882. when be re-
signed the post and returned to Wiscon-
sin. He has been commander in chief OF
the Grand Army of the Republic and has
been prominent in public affairs until a
very recent date