The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1901-07-11

sounded AS a matter of history, the
First regiment was organized in the
summer of 1861. Professor Edward
Daniels of the State university, who
afterwards became Colonel Daniels,
was authorized by the general govern
ment to raise cavalry regiment. He
first submitted the proposition to
number of his fellow professors and
pupils, and later he opened his recruit
ing station near Ripon, calling 1T
Camp Fremont. But soldiers were
scarce a t Ripon and early IN November
the First came to Kenosha and estab-
1ished its first camp on the south OF
the village near the cemetery.
In short time large number of re-
cruits were secured in Milwaukee and
Southern Wisconsin, and the first of
March the regiment was ready to take
to the field. But it was some time be-
fore the soldiers we're sent TO join the
division Of the; West, and IN the mean
time the headquarters in Kenosha were
the social center of Southern Wiscon-
sin. Every soldier in the regiment
had friend in.iKenosha, and when
they marched away on March IL great
crowds came from all parts of the
State to bid the soldiers godspeed.
Captain Thomas ]. Connatty and Cap
tain Mari, twosKenosha teachers, were
captains of companies IN the regiment;
but there was one other thing that
bound the regiment to Kenosha, and
that was the fact that "Dashing Kate
Elkins," at that time the belle of Ke-
nosha, was the daughter of the regi-
ment. Every'soldier looked upon Kate
E1kins as the one woman in the world,
and when the regiment started to the
front it is one of the traditions of the
city that they marched past and
sa1uted Miss E1kins, and that the
daughter of the regiment pressed
kiss on each soldiers brow. Miss
E1kins has since gone far from Keno
sha, but she has been asked to return
and take part in the reunion.
After leaving Kenosha the First
regiment took part in every important
battle in the western part Of country,
and along the firing line and in the
cemeteries of the South a large num-
Der of the boys were left sleeping when
the war was over. Personal
bravery distinguished many of the
men in the companies. They were
at Abbervi11e when President Jeffer-
son Davis and hisqparty were captured
by the Union soldiers after terrible
fight with the Confederate guarding
the train which carried the leading
men of the Confederacy.
When the regiment was mustered
out late in 1865 it's members received
the warmest praise from the Secretary
of War and from the president. Among
the long list of men especially men
toned for bravery in connection with
the service of the First regiment Major
Henry Egg1eson, of Milwaukee, was
especially honored on account of his
services on the field. He was one
great favorite of the regimenta1 offic-
ers, and he lost his life from disease
contracted on the battlefield.
The records of the army show that
the First bore more than its share of
the brunt of the battle. Many of the
soldiers died on the held, some or them
served for years in Anderson
vile prison and other prison pens at
Richmond and Atlanta, while over
three hundred died after the struggle
was over from wounds and disease.
The record as given by the war de-
partment is as follows: Killed in &C
ton, 54; died from wounds, IS; died
from disease, 293; died from accidents,
8; total of 373. This report, how
ever, only covers the loss of Life up to
the close of the war.
When the old boys return to Keno
sha next month they will be royalty
greeted, and they will be the guests of
the city. The Common Council has
made a liberal allowance for the enter
tainment of the heroes.