Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1907-02-21
NIad' son. Feb. IS


public men Of Wisconsin, died at his
farm home in Blooming Grove Sat
urday, aged rs. Death came after an
illness of several months with dropsy.
He 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
public Office many years of his life
including member of Legislature, post
master, county judge, quartermaster
general, and superintendent of public
property, which place he held for 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 candidate for governor
Native of Massachusetts.
George E. Bryant was born in the
village of Baldwinsville. 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, Eunice
Norcross Bryant, born in New Hamp-
shire. Both his grandsires fought at
Lexington, Concord and Bunker HILL
He fitted for college at Black River
academy, Ludlow, Vermont, and alter
ward became cadet at Norwich uni
versity, Vermont, having for fellow
students Generals F. f. G. Ransom
and G. Nj. 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
eester, 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.
It YVES 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-
litical 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, ana
Captain Bryant's command became
Company E Of the First Wisconsin
6 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-
ants company are still living in Mad
ison: c. H. Beyler William Helm,
Beverly Jefferson and John Koerbei
Commissioned Colonel of 18th.
AS soon as Captain Bryant was
mustered out of the First regiment,
he 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 81 till September ~.
II 49,. xx-a. ao,,v,,;ceinnal oa1<par
of the Twelfth Wisconsin. E.e began
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
4 time during the three years he was
! in command did Colonel Bryant re-
i ceive compliments from his superior
n officers for the efficiency of his regi-
ment 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
II Weston. Missouri. In the spring OF
'62 il marched 500 miles in Kansas.
when it went down the Missouri and
"A Mississippi to Columbus, Kentucky.
II 1 During the summer the Twelfth built
bridges and guarded railroads in Ten
nessee, joining General Grants army
| in his northern Mississippi campaign
against Vicksburg in the early win
ter of 1S62-3 After the capture of
Holly Springs by the rebel, General
Hvan Dorm. Colonel BRYANT and his
Uregiment guarded the railroad until
liit moved down the river against
Eyicksburg. taking position in the
Isiege lines on the 18th of June. After
Ifthe surrender it was in General Sher-
Efman's army in its expedition to- and
I hhe capture of. Jackson. Mississippi.
4 sReturning from this campaign It
Invent down the river to Nafcilez.
where It did various kinds Of service
hin the latter part Of January. 1864.
FEhen II moved back to yicksburg ana