Lucius Fairchild-- Part 3: Col. of 2nd Wisconsin

The 2nd Wisconsin fought at the Second Battle of Bull Run,  During action leading up to it, its colonel, Edgar O'Connor, was killed at Gainesville, Virginia, and Fairchild became its colonel.

The 2nd distinguished itself at the Battle of Antietam.

By February 27, 1863, Brigadier General Solomon Meredith commanded the Iron Brigade.  Then came the action already described on the first day of the Battle of Gettysburg, July 1, 1863.  At around 10 a.m., the regiment captured the first Confederate general captured during the war, James A. Archer.  Fighting a holding position, the 2nd were attacked on their flank and by the time they withdrew, had lost 77% of its men, including most of its officers.

Lucius Fairchild was shot in the upper arm, captured, tended to and then released.  He lost his arm.

While recovering from the wound, he was promoted to brigadier general by President Lincoln on October 19, 1863.

--Old Secesh