Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1914-01-07
GENERAL EARL. NJ. ROGERS

land and his maternal grandfather. Ismes Biqe.
INV, served soldier Ia the seventh Massachu-
eetts regiment under Colonel Jackson in the war
~ the Revolution. General Roeers passed his ear
~ youth IN his native state whe ne was afford
% the advan .ages of the common sC hoals He set
tied In Dane county. in lS5n. removed to Crawford
county n iss2 and, at the aye Of sixteen years he
LOOK up hs abode IN the little village Of Liberty
Pole, which was then the principal town Of YER
non county. There he secured EMPLOY nlent as
clerk "a general sire. He remained thus en-
Raged uhtil 1860. when he crossed the plains 10
Colorado. which was then known as jefferson Ter
ritory. He made the trip with freig htinx train
when transported supplies to the mines ncrth of
the present city of Denvtr and Leaveuworth
kan was tho oUtHt'ing point from which the
wagon train set forth lie returned to Liberty
Pole IN the autumn OF the same year and in the
following year he manifested his loyalty 10 the
Union by rendering his services in its defense.
On June l. 1851 he enlisted as a private in Com
pany |, Sixth Wisconsin infgptry, with which he
proeeeded 70 the front and with which he served
untM tl.e rtpfa OF the war, having been Aidesde-
camp on the stat Of General %adswu until the
Death 81 the latter who iea his lie il the hattie
o. tns mluofneas.- Tbrfesftrr b. was aide on the
paf OF General Bragg uncii nc VA mustered out.
March ~ 1865. He took part in many Of the i'm
portant battle which marked the progress Of the
great conflict and emosg the number may be
mentioned me-, the following: Rappahannoek, Gains
vile, second Bull Ron, Chanty, S nth Noun
tain, Antietam Fredericksburg. Fiizbughs Cross
ing Charlottesville. Gettysburg, Mine Run, Will
derness, Laurel HUI Spottsyiyania. Jericho Ford.
Cold harbor Petersburg, and Hstcher's Run in
October. 1854. and second Hsteher's Run in Feb
ruary 1865 In October 1851 he was made first
sergeant OF his company; in january. 1862. was
promoted second lieutenant, in which Office he
served until August, 1873 when he was made first
lieutenant in October 1894, he was commissioned
captain and vas twice breyctted eaptain and ma
jor for gallant and mes'Oriuus services IN the bat
ties Of the WILDERNESS and Petersburg. In per-
sona letter 10 General Rogers from his old COM
mander. General Edward s. Bragg. the latter
SPOKE as Follows. the communication bearing date
of April III. 1907 II "a not possible TO write your
military history without covering the history of
the Sixth Wisconsin regiment ia four years
vice with the Army of the Potomac, Of the Iron
BrRade IN ito wonderful history. and Of the Buck
tail Brigade Of Pennsylvania in the battle Of the
wilderness. Spottsylyania, North Anna. Hanover
ana Bethesda church, where GU served spee-
al duty as my nj ieee-cau a. Htn peff03 NJ chnfee
from the iieufen0nts NJ The H.H III ale From
July. 1901. until after the battle Of February 3.
1850 your soldiers life s feIniliar to me as pr-
yate, commissioned eficcT lieutenant in the
line. err ttustp, cts re1dB, neper lf0gifHg but
always ~ ing to attain the highest dFgtee ~
eJcettene, in the performance Of any and every
duty given you 10 do. In the second day Of the
disastrous battle on the Plank Road in the Wilder
ness your heroic effort to save the body Of your
chisf. the grand old ratriot Wadsworth who fell
from hls horse. shot while you beside him,
his personal aide de-c8mp Bhoald nut he lost TO
history. Two nights later came the awful march
in the mud dlrk as Erebus. and with strange
troops. you and Daily as iankrTs, TO drive the
straggltrs and dodgers INTO the road and keep the
column in motion. At Petersburg II was at my
side you fell wounded, while standing beside your
ea.Si on the rolling crest n iront OF and within
short musket range of the enenF's ehirenehed
line that the Iron Brigade, under my command
were assauting in single lite without support
Later you returned and resumed duty. with an
0pH Wyp "a not yet healed and being unable 70
wear your swo1d belt. and by my side for eight
long hours from morn til night. fought Cor
don's division Of Rebs and repulsed them, fighting
across and recross the field called Second Hatch
er's Run. against superior force but holding the
field until late In the afternoon. No. can't write
IT, for il would ms Ike book. but / can say, and
that sums II all NJ, your soldiers record Of four
years was sans p9uI, sdiis rcpFOcff. After the
close Of his long and faithful service in defense Of
the integrity Of the republic General R1xfrs
returned 70 his home Ia Vernon county. where he
remained until 1871. IN March Of which year he
was appointed second euienaut Of the Third Unit
ed States infantry. with which he was iH active
service on the western pla na, guarding track lay
ers on the Union Pacific Railroad and eseortn2
government supply tfains To New Mexico. He
was engaged IN battle with the Indians al Cio1-
AKRON. He resigned his commission and retired
from the regular army 10 is5s aftea which he
turned to Liberty Pole. where he was engaged in
the general merchandise business for many years
and where he built up a mOHt successful enter
prise In 1872 General Rogers removed to Viro-
qua. where be continued IN the same line Of basi-
ness, as one Of the leading merchants Of the city.
until 1902. since which time he has lived virtually
retired. The mercantile bUsir e7s j. continued by
his elder son. Henry T.. The General was one Of
the leaders IN the ranks Of republicans Of Wiseon-
sin, and IN 1900 he y as capdidate Tor the n0ni-
nation for governor Of his state. but withdrew his
candidacy b ore the meeting II the dominating
convention From ~ ubtil 1879 he served AZ col
ector Of internal revenue for the second district
Of the state. The General was incumbent Of the
Office Of general Of the state troops
during the administration Of Governor Rngk and |
took active part az the Milwaukee riots. He |
affiliated with the Masonic fraternity, the In
dependent Order Of Odd Fellows the Grand Army /
Of the Republic and The Los al Legion. He was /
one Of the hDnored and valued members Of Alex 1
Louvre post Grand Army Of the Republic Of Viro-
qua, the first organized IN the county. and he Was
It's drst commander He and his wife were com |
municants Of the Protestant Episcopal church. l
The General a 81 distinctly military bear
ing. erect and vigorous and irving slight evidence
Of the years which rested upon him. He has been 4
q loyal and pubiic-spirited citizen during his long
period Of residence in Nernpn county. ard there
his circle Of friends - cifcHnGf fiEd only Dy that
Of his acquaintance He was II broad in 4
formation and mature judgment generous and /
tolerant and one who well deserved tie grand Old
name Of gentleman. He has Travelled extensively
and yidenssd hs fund Of knowledge b. aDpreeia-
tive observation and b. association With men Of
affair. He visited Europe and Mexico and also
made sojgurnB IN the NEST DIVERSE sect 9ns Of ais
native land. Or February 3 1904. was sosemnizea
the marriage Df General Rogers 20 MIS- Amanda
L. Williams daughter VI Israel and Elizabeth VIII
ians Of VirosIua ard hsr death Occurred 10 iaya.
she u survived b. three children: Henry r. Ed
ward L., who "a United 5tates EHpras agent a.
Sparta. ard Edith ~. Wh9 Is the p Re Of Or Chas.
FL TrgE bridge. " Wirot ga. Ga Baltimore. Mary I
'an1, 0rtatcr y, lf3 General Rogers y e united
lu marriage IN Mrs. Pauline tGordpul " snbie.