The National tribune., 1910-04-14
CApr.4GEoRGE e. BIssELL.

CAPT.4GEORGE e. BISSELL.
Gave the Best Fart of His Life to the
Service Of His Country.
Capt. George q. Bissell, 5th Wis. was
born at Cfnton,t Oneida County. N. Y,
Jan. 25, 1888. Tho the son of wealthy
and eminent physician, he decided to
go West, and started upon his journey
at the age of 16. He met with varied
and unique experiences during the long
trip while working as lightning-rod
hanger, blacksmith, drug clerk, oars
man on lumber raft on the Mississippi,
as member of4U. S. Government sur
'vey parties and as a homesteader among
the Indians in Minnesota. During the
latter period he saved the life and
made the lasting friendship of the
Grand Sachem of the Chippewa Indians
while acting as clerk in the Government
post store. At this time he also became
the friend of Hawkeye, Chief of the
Winnebagos
| Finally acting upon the advice Of his
father and at his request, he entered
the law office of Judge Wheeler, of Ber-
| lin, Wis. He was actively engaged in
his studies under this friend of his faith
er when the first call for volunteers
came, and Immediately forsook his pro-
fession to enlist as a private in Co. h,
5th Wis
| Upon the field of Williamsburg the
5th Wis. was under heavy fire. Ger
man company broke and ran. Corp1
Bissell, with hat on backwards and
powder -blackened face. stepped from
the ranks, and with the butt of his
musket beat the panic-stricken soldiers
back into line, calling upon them not to
desert their Colonel. The act of these
fleeing soldiers had left Col. Cobb
lspeechless. BY the act of Corpl Bis
sell he regained his self-possession, and
soon had the regiment in it's old trim.
The next morning, as Corpl Bissell was
drawing canteen of water, an Orderly
appeared, and delivered the Coloners
orders for Corp1 Bissell to appear be-
fore him Immediately. Upon entering
the tent and telling his name, Corp'l
Bissell was surprised to see his Colonel
turn to his staff and say: Gentlemen,
TINS is the young man | made reference
! to. His countenance l never shall for
! get as long as | live" Nor did he, and
those two soldiers there commenced a
t friendship which lasted thruout their
lives. For this act Corp'l Bissell was
advanced to a Sergeantcy.
During the storming of the breast
works at Rappahannock Station two of
his chums and fellow officers, Capts.
| Walker and Ordway, were shot dead as
they stood on either side of Capt Bis
i sell on the ramparts. Both were small
or men. and it was at this moment that
the Adjutant. r. Balding, cried: For
Gods sake. Bissell, come off that para
pet or you'll be riddled." Before leav-
ng his dangerous position Capt. Bissell
received bruse by a bullet striking a
I stone under his foot. The bruise both
tered him till his death. Shortly after
the admonition of his Adjutant, Capt.
Risscll got his men behind the rcdoubt,
( hut not before he had received bullet
/ holes thru his coat and hat.
| The 5th Wis, one of the three fight
/ ing regiments % the Sixth Corps, was
selected as one Gf those making up the
| famous Light Division commanded by
| Gen. Calvin f.. Pratt After Chancel-
lorsviIlc Gen. Sedgwicii, in extricating
the Sixth Corps, gave to the Light Divi-
sion the hazardous duty of rear guard
Z TO protect his move from the COnfedcr-
ates. When theuSixth Corps had made
its change Of front Gen Pratt was OBJ
! iiged TO look TO the retiring of his divi-
sion. In order TO protect his rear he
left the 9Th Wis to hold the menacing
Confederatcs in check. They were to
remain till a. m. Maj. Tottcn and
Capt. Bissell he detailed from his staff
to carry out his orders. When o'clock
! came and there was no longer need TO
iyait. Mai Totten and Capt BisseH full
Z 'Hled their nr.iers and started on their
midnight ride 10 escape the inclosing
Johnnies. Tho hotly pursued, they
made their dash thru the timber and
reached the pontoon bridge in safety.
AS they were approaching the river
bank they saw a line of soldiers closing
IN As there was nothing else to do
they hailed: Who goes there" Great
was their relief to hear in a good, round
irish voice: The fahty-third New Yark,
be God" And so it was, they being a
few delayed soldiers Of the division. As
they rode upon the bridge and the re-
naming soldiers cut the cable free to
let the bridge swing across in safety,
! the Confederates fired a parting volIcy,
killing and wounding few OF the boys
Upon rejoining their command Gen
Sedgwick rode up, and personally
| thanked Gen. Pratt and the individual
members of his staff for their conspicu-
Gus services.
| At the battle of the Wilderness Mai.
Totten and three companies were away
at a distant point in the line Col. Al
len had been wounded, and the I.ieuten-
lant-Coloncl was sick. As senior Can
tain Capt Bissell was left in command
! of the regiment. The Lieutenant Col
onel had promised to send orders. but
after several hours no word had come
to the waiting 5th Wis. The impatient
veterans were finally appeased by the
Captain ordering them to proceed to
the front, which they could locate only
by the sound of the firing. While maxi
! ing the best of their way to the front
over the corduroy road the 5th was in
itcrcepted by fresh militia regiment,
some l.500 strong. Capt. Bissell ex-
planned his move. and asked the Colonel
for permission for the 5th's men to
break ranks and pass thru the militia
men. This was refused. so Capt. Bis
sell gave his men the order to pass by
the right flank. The Colonel fntercept-
( ed him by shifting his men, and Capt
Rissell again ordered his men to pass
1 by. but by the left flank The Colonel
again intercepted. Determined to reach
the front at all hazards, Capt BisseIl
ordered his scarce 500 veterans to club
muskets and go thru. This the bows
did. and while the Captain was REFORM
| ing his men the Colonel rode up and
! lordered Capt. BisseIl under arrest.
heated argument ensued, and during its
course Gen. Russell. -rcr whose staff
| Capt. Bissell had had the honor to
serve, rode up. The General, recogniz-
ing the Captain and hearing the whole