Open Houses Set for 1999

NEWSNEWS ANDAND NOTESNOTES

DeForest Area Historical Society Fall/Winter Issue – September 2011

Civil War Sesquicentennial: Looking Back 150 Years

The American Civil War began 150 years ago, First volunteers, spring 1861 in 1861. Wisconsin was still a young state, and Europeans had only recently begun to settle in When the war began, few guessed it would last st the DeForest area. Nevertheless, it left a mark four long, painful years. The 1 Wisconsin on this community, which furnished volunteers Infantry organized in Milwaukee in April 1861 for the Union. We dedicate this issue of our for three months’ service. The first volunteers newsletter to their memory, and to the people from our area—John J. Smith of Windsor, H. J. and events that keep that memory alive today. Spaulding of Token Creek, and Brasier Ellis of Westport—all returned to civilian life that August. (Note: “Windsor” includes DeForest.) Nearly 500 men Two volumes in the society’s collections list the The 2nd Infantry soon organized at Camp soldiers in Wisconsin’s Civil War regiments. Randall with a more realistic goal of three years, Titled Roster of Wisconsin Volunteers, War of raising the risk. Albert Weatherbe of Westport the Rebellion, 1861–1865, the list was compiled was killed in action in the Second Battle of Bull from handwritten archives by order of the state Run in 1862. Joseph Plockett of Vienna was legislature and published in 1886. A searchable discharged later that year for disability after form has recently been put online at being wounded. Harbin Coffin of Burke was http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/roster/ wounded and taken prisoner at Gettysburg.

Norbert Manthe of DeForest, a World War II Of the Windsor men who joined the 3rd Infantry veteran who has been assembling a data base of that first spring in Fond du Lac, none came area veterans in all United States wars, says the home intact. Andrew T. Towley was wounded printed roster has made his task easier for the and released from duty in 1862. Gabriel H. Civil War than for more recent conflicts. It lists Kahrs was killed in the Battle of 497 volunteers from in and around DeForest: Chancellorsville a year later. Knud Monson died of disease in the regiment hospital; disease Town of Windsor: 99 volunteers killed far more soldiers than battle. Town of Leeds: 64 volunteers Leeds Center: 6 volunteers War continued, and more volunteers signed on, Spring Prairie: 89 volunteers among them Captain Moulton DeForest and Town of Vienna: 50 volunteers Major Newton DeForest. Some joined the Town of Arlington: 46 volunteers cavalry, heavy artillery, or a regiment of Town of Burke: 65 volunteers sharpshooters. Several were listed as musicians. Town of Westport: 78 volunteers (Civil War stories continued on page 2)

1 Civil War Stories Women and the War: Sabra Warner (continued from page 1) Women filled many roles in the war: keeping Scandinavian Regiment farms and businesses working, going to the front as nurses, and even attending university. The Wisconsin’s 15th Infantry organized at Camp University of Wisconsin decided to admit Randall, Madison, in December 1861. It drew women to its teacher training school, since so volunteers from southern Wisconsin, Minnesota, many men were away at war. and Iowa, mostly of Scandinavian birth or descent. Some had come to America so recently Sabra Warner of Windsor was among those who that commands were issued in both Norwegian went to the university. In June 1864, all but one and English so everyone could understand. of the men in her senior class enlisted in the 40th Infantry for three months’ service. “The boys The company standard bore the Norwegian- came up from Camp Randall and spent their last language motto “FOR GUD OG VORT evening with the girls, and we gave them needle LAND!” (for God and your country). Their books we had made and told them how glad we original-issue weapons were “Riflen og were that they were going,” she wrote. Bajonetten” (rifles and bayonets); other equipment consisted of “Feltflasken og Her older brother, Captain (later Colonel) Brodposen” (canteen and haversack). Clement Warner, had just recently raised a company for the newly formed 36th Infantry. In The “Scandinavian Regiment” fought in major August his left arm was shattered in the Second battles in Kentucky, Tennessee, and Georgia. Battle of Deep Bottom near Richmond. Sabra Their leader, Colonel Hans Heg of Waterford, received a letter he dictated in a hospital in died in the Battle of Chickamauga GA; his Washington DC: “As I am in need of some nice statue stands on Capitol Square in Madison. little girl to wait on me I have concluded to send DeForest area volunteers who joined the for you.” She boarded the train for Washington regiment at its start fared little better. Nels that very day and tended her brother for three Nelson and Andrew Asperheim were killed in weeks. They returned to Windsor together in action, Nils Bjornson and John Opdahl died at time for a joyful family Thanksgiving. the infamous Andersonville Prison in Georgia, Marcus Johnson and Herman Peterson died of Civil War Weekend in DeForest, 1994 disease, Knud Larson died of wounds, and several came home alive but wounded. Rod Dary’s Civil War Museum (see page 3) and the DeForest Area Historical Society co- Drilling at Token Creek sponsored a Civil War reenactment in Western Green Park on the 4th of July weekend in 1994. Sydney Bryant Combs grew up in a log house at The Yahara River separated “Union” campsites Token Creek, where his family farmed 80 acres to the north and “Confederate” to the south. they had purchased from the government. Years later, Combs recalled Civil War soldiers drilling About 70 reenactors from the surrounding area in Token Creek. Because they did not have real and their families took part. Along with military muskets, Elias Combs (Sydney’s father) made demonstrations and model skirmishes, the event them wooden models to practice with. featured a field hospital, a blacksmith shop, music, dancing, storytelling, and a ladies’ tea. Six Civil War soldiers are buried at Token For more about reenactments, see page 3 Creek, including John and Melvin Combs. (“Reenactor, Collector, Society Director”).

2 Civil War Museum DeForest Area Historical Society

In the museum he built on Cleveland Street in Contact Information DeForest, across from Eagle Point Elementary School, Rod Dary’s Civil War collection is a Mail: PO Box 124, DeForest WI 53532 labor of love. Each of his more than 2,000 items Phone: (608) 846-5482 —uniforms, artifacts, letters, and photos—tells a Wisconsin story. A past historical society Email: [email protected] director, Dary does archival research to discover Website: http://www.deforest.lib.wi.us/ the stories behind the items. history/historicalsociety.htm

He started 45 years ago with a hat, sword, and Sites and Hours sword belt picked up at an auction in Poynette. He learned about the family. “Once you have Hansen-Newell-Bennett House, 119 East Elm something with a little history, it changes Street, DeForest; museum open 1-3 the second things,” he says. When members of the Poynette Sunday of each month June through October Historical Society visited his museum this past Lyster House, 201 DeForest Street, DeForest; July, one of his visitors was the great-great- Chamber of Commerce uses the space, open to grandson of the sword belt’s original owner. the public during Chamber hours

Among his hundred photographs and family DeForest Depot, 215 Market Street, DeForest, histories are photos of two brothers in the Union just south of Lyster House; exterior and grounds Army. One died at Andersonville Prison in open to the public Georgia; the other was on his way home when Office and gallery in library, 203 Library Street, the wagon tipped over, breaking his neck. DeForest; office open 9-11:30 most Tuesdays and Thursdays; gallery open during library hours For many who did come home, life was never the same. “Post-traumatic syndrome was not diagnosed until Vietnam, but they had it then,” diet even for a few days!), and suddenly things he says. His current project is a display about that you read about take on a whole new the hospital Cordelia Harvey established in meaning,” he writes. He and his wife, Beth, had Madison for wounded veterans; it later became a second wedding in period clothing as part of a home for 700 Civil War orphans. one reenactment.

Reenactor, Collector, Society Director He began adding Civil War volumes to his history book collection, including regimental Society director and Wisconsin native Marc and personal histories by Civil War veterans. Storch found his Civil War passion when his Their focus on Wisconsin connections took first job after college took him to Maryland, Marc and Beth to the National Archives and surrounded by Civil War battlefields such as battlefield visitor centers. Gettysburg, Chancellorsville, and Antietam. He got hooked on reenactments and took part in Specializing in photographs of Wisconsin living histories at battlefield national parks. soldiers, they collected over 700 identified Wisconsin images through Civil War shows, “Not only does reenacting allow you to learn antique shops, and trades with other collectors. about the life of a soldier from inside a woolen They work with the historical society to share uniform, but you also learn how men were these images with descendants looking for their taught to drill, how to cook as they did (hard ancestors. Now they are digitizing the entire crackers, salt pork and coffee are not an easy collection for the Wisconsin Veterans Museum.

3 From the President . . .

I am confident that you will enjoy our fall with numbers and computer programs, in newsletter, which includes an insert on our addition to gardening and hunting. annual membership drive. Please help support the volunteers who work so hard to preserve and We extend special thanks to Joan Woodward, share our local history. Thanks to our newsletter who preceded Doris as our treasurer. She served editor and all who helped prepare the newsletter the society in that role so ably for a decade. —this one of special interest because of its focus on the history of the Civil War. Louise is a long-time resident of DeForest, settling here in the mid-1980s. She joined the We are so happy to welcome two new members DeForest Library staff in1989 and has worked to our Executive Board, Doris Hodgson and with children ever since. Currently the Louise Valdovinos. children’s librarian in the DeForest Area Public Library, Louise spends many hours weekly with Doris has worked at the library archival center youngsters and parents, sharing books and for several months as a volunteer, sharing her book-related activities. You likely have seen her th expertise with computer records. She has spent on one of the floats during the annual 4 of July many hours entering information relating to Parade in DeForest. abstracts, videotapes, and audiotapes. Louise has many interests, including sewing, Doris is a life-long resident of the DeForest knitting, and quilting, with reading at the top of area. She served as a payroll and benefits the list of course. She is a “lifetime Girl Scout” administrator for over 30 years, first with and served for many years in a leadership role companies in Madison and then with ABS in with the Scouts. Louise has been very DeForest. She is applying her many skills from supportive of the society’s mission and has working with finances in her new society role as worked with the group on many projects. our treasurer. Doris notes that she loves working John Englesby, President

DeForest Area Historical Society Box 124 DeForest, Wisconsin 53532

“Behold the Work of the Old . . . Let your Heritage not be lost. But Bequeath it as a Memory, Treasure and Blessing . . . Gather the lost and the hidden And preserve it for thy Children.” - C. Metz (1846)