Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1907-02-27
Madison, Feb. IS.

General OeOFS0 H. DAS ohSs OAS
the most prominent old soldiers and
public men of Wisconsin, died at his
farm home In Blooming Grove Sat
urday. aged IS. Death came after an
illness of several months with dropsy.
&c commanded the first military or
ganization sent from Wisconsin to the
civil war, and later was colonel OF
the famous 18th Wisconsin regiment,
which was noted for the part it took
at the battle of Atlanta. He held
subtle Office many years of his lie
including member of legislature, post
master, county judge, quartermaster
general. and superintendent o. public
property, which place he heIo Tor the
last six years until his death. He man
aged two of the most bitter cam
paigns. won in Wisconsin by r. NJ La
Toilette as a candidate for governor
Native of Massachusetts.
George e. Bryant was born in the
village of Baldwinsyille. Worcester
county. Massachusetts. on the 18th
day of February, 1882. His father
was George w. Bryant, a native OF
the Bay state, and his mother, Eunlce
Norcross Bryant, born in New Hamp-
shire. Both his grandsires fought al
Lexington, Concord and Bunker Hill.
He fitted for college at Black River
academy, Ludlow, Vermont, and after
ward became cadet at Norwich uni
yersity. Vermont, having for fellow
students Generals F. E. G. Ransom
and G. M. Dodge. of the Civil war,
and Admiral Dewey of Manila fame.
He read law in the office OF Norcross
& Snow, Fitchburg, Massachusetts,,
and was admitted to the bar at Wor
cester, same state. in 1856. Soon
after this he came to Madison and
entered into partnership with Myron
H. Orion for the practice of law.
Guard Organized in His Office.
1t was in their Office where. in 1858,
the militia company known as "the
Governors Guard" was organized.
General Bryant later became captain
of the militia company known as the
Madison Guard" Seeing that the po-
Htical condition of our country be-
tokened a war on the 9th of January,
1861, three months before Fort Sum
ter was attacked. Captain Bryant and
his company offered their services to
Governor Randall in case the state
should be called upon to help put
down the rebellion. In the following
April this offer was accepted, ami
Captain BrYant's command became
Company e of the First Wisconsin
g months) Regiment while that Of
Captain Lucius Fairchild became
Company K of the same regiment.
The two companies were mustered in
on the 18th of April, and were sent
with their regiment to serve in Vir-
ginia. There in the battle of Falling
Waters. July 2, the first Wisconsin
soldier, George c. Drake. was killed.
The regiment was mustered out of
service on the 21st of the following
August Four men of Captain Bry
ison: C. H. Beyler, William Helm,
Beverly Jefferson and John Koerber
Commissioned Colonel of 18th.
AS soon as Captain Bryant was
mustered out of the First regiment
ne was appointed by Governor Ran
dali to drill the Eighth Wisconsin,
Eagle" Regiment, then In Camp Ran
dali, in which work he was engaged
from August q till September q,
when he was commissioned colonel
of tho TmnIfth WISCONSIN He bauon
to drill this regiment with the de-
termination of making it equal in mil
itary maneuvers and discipline to the
troops in the regular army. Many
time during the three years he was
ia command did Colonel Bryant re-
ce We compliments from his superior
officers for the efficiency of his regi-
mem in camp. on the drill ground
on the march and in battle.
The regiment left Madison for the
front January IL, 1862, going first to
Weston Missouri In the spring Of
62 it marched 500 miles in Kansas
when it went down the Missouri and
Mississippi to Columbus, Kentucky
During the summer the Twelfth built
DIiuSGS anu IdllIOduS III len
nessee, joining General Grants army
in his northern Mississippi campaign
against Vicksburg in the early win
ter of 1923. After the capture OF
Holly Springs by the rebel, General
Van Dorm, Colonel BRYANT and his
regiment guarded the railroad until
IL moved down the river against
Vicksburg. taking position in the
siege lines on the 18th of June After
the surrender it was in General Sher-
mans army in its expedition to, and
the capture of, Jackson, Mississippi
Returning from this campaign IT
went down the river to Natchez,
where it did various kinds of service
till the latter part of January, 1864.
when it moved back to Vicksburg ana
took part in what was known as the
Meridian Expedition" from Vicks-
burg across the state east to Nerd
IAN near the Alabama line. and back
About $50 of the Twelfth had re-
enlisted as veterans at Natchez IN
January. and after the Meridian trip.
March 10, 1864. started home on wet
eran furlough," IN May IT was back at
Cafr0 m randy for rar1rfco auafv