Lucius Fairchild-- Part 1: Early Life

From Wikipedia.

December 27, 1831- May 23, 1896   American politician, army general and diplomat.

He was governor of Wisconsin at the time of the  Peshtigo Fire in 1871 which I have been writing about its Civil War connection.

Lucius Fairchild served as the 10th governor of Wisconsin and was born in Ohio.

In his military career, Fairchild enlisted as a private in 1858 with Governor's Guard of a Wisconsin militia unit in Madison.  It is possible that he received training from Elmer Ellsworth who trained a militia unit in Wisconsin/Madison around the same time.

--Old Secesh

Firestorm at Peshtigo-- Part 13: Lucius Fairfield, Lost His Arm at Hettysburg

During the Battle of Gettysburg, Lucius Fairchild's left arm was completely severed just above the elbow by a cannonball, and for the rest of his life he proudly wore his empty left sleeve neatly folded and hanging at his side, reminding all who saw him of his service and his sacrifice.

Luther Noyes was sure that Lucoius Fairchild, the Wisconsin governor in 1871, would send immediate aide.

Lucius Fairchid did nothing at first as he was not in the state, but in neighboring Illinois in Chicago where he was helping in the relief of that city which had a fire that night as well.  He had received news of that disaster first.

His wife, Frances "Frank" Fairchild, however started relief efforts on her own accord.

--Old Secesh

Firestorm at Peshtigo-- Part 11: Isaac Stephenson

From Wikipedia.

1829-1918

He worked in lumbering activities in the northeastern U.S. until 1845 when he moved to Wisconsin.  He settled in Marinette, Wisconsin (near Peshtigo)  and his lumber interests flourished, especially during the Civil War.

Stephenson suffered a great loss in the Peshtigo Fire in 1871, but soon recouped and became one of the wealthiest lumbermen in the Midwest.

He held many public offices, including at the state level and was a staunch Republican.  Stephenson was also U.S. representative from Wisconsin and after that, U.S. senator.

--Old secesh

Firestorm at Peshtigo-- Part 10: Lucius Fairchiled, Wisconsin Governor

Lucius Fairdhild, the governor of Wisconsin at the time of the 1871 Peshtigo fire was known for making quick decisions.

He had served with great distinction during the Civil War in the 2nd Wisconsin Infantry of the famous Iron Brigade.  At the Battle of Antietam he was so sick that he had to be helped onto his horse, but he led his regiment into battle on "The Bloodiest Day of America."  His regiment suffered over 50 percent casualties.

At Gettysburg on July 1, 1863, Colonel Fairchild led his regiment as the Iron Brigade faced nine times their number in Herbst's Woods.  When ordered to hold the woods "to the last extremity" to give the Union forces time to bring up reinforcements, they stood their ground.

--Old Secesh

Weather Was the Responsibility of Surgeon General's Office During the War

Weather forecasting hadn't improved a whole lot in 1871, at the time of the Peshtigo Fire.

Surprisingly, the weather was the province of the Surgeon General's Office with the aid of the Army Signal Service before and during the Civil War.  The Civil War had brought about a large expansion of Signal Service Corps.

Colonel Albert J. Meyer had been in the army assisting the chief of the Signal Corps since 1854.  By 1860, he had been appointed to the position of Chief Signal Officer.

His corps  became a strong force during the war and the Signal Corps grew importance as the army grew in size.

What?  No Weather Channel?  --Old Secesh.

Firestorm At Peshtigo-- Part 9: Ogden Comes A-Calling

It was during this lumber boom in 1864 that William Ogden, who was so important in the early days of Chicago, and Samuel Tilden, an attorney from New York, came up from Chicago to tour the copper mines of Upper Michigan.

They stayed at Isaac Stephenson's mansion in Marinette, near Peshtigo, for a day and a half.  They agreed that the dried-out land in the area made for a fire hazard, but that that was ideal for building railroads at a fast pace.

They, of course, were interested in getting copper from the Upper Peninsula and everyone was very aware of how dangerous Lake Michigan could be with its storms.

Also, the huge lumber supply in the area around Marinette and Peshtigo would be very good for transport as well.

--Old Secesh

Firestorm At Peshtigo-- Part 8: Isaac Stephenson

Records show that Mr. Stephenson's lumber interests profited very nicely during the war.  Wood was needed.

In 1864, however, the price of lumber, which had been just $12 per thousand board foot, had risen to $24 per thousand

Well, someone had to provide the wood and Stephenson was just the man to do it.

--Old Secesh

Firestorm in Peshtigo-- Part 5: Lincoln On the Weather

In the events leading up to that firestorm that hit Peshtigo, Wisconsin, on October 8, 1871, the book talked about newspapers beginning to write about the weather.

President Lincoln wasn't very convinced that people who made weather forecasts knew much about their craft.  During the Civil War, he wrote about one Francis L. Capen:  "It seems to me that Mr. Capen knows nothing about the weather in advance," he wrote on April 28, 1863.  "He told me three days ago that it would not rain again till the 30th of April of the 1st of May.

"It is raining now and has been for ten hours.  I cannot spare any more time to Mr. Capen."

--Old Secesh

Civil War Connection to the Peshtigo Firestorm, Luther Noyes-- Part 2: Served Twice in the Union Army

From the book "Firestorm at Peshtigo" by Denise Gess and William Lutz.

Luther Noyes was the publisher of the Marinette and Peshtigo Eagle newspaper.  He started publishing it June 24, 1871, just 4 months before the firestorm that so many do not know about because it took place on October 8, the same date as the Great Chicago Fire.

And, he had a Civil War connection.

He was from New York, but had moved to Wisconsin where, with the coming of the Civil War, he mustered in Union service twice.

His first service was with the 118th Regiment Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, Company C.  But illness forced him to take leave.

--Old Secesh

"Firestorm At Peshtigo"

While on vacation to Panama City Beach, Florida, earlier this year, I finished the book "Firestorm At Peshtigo" by Denise Gess and William Lutz.  It is about the huge fire at Peshtigo, Wisconsin, on October 8, 1871, and resulted in the deaths of at least 1,500 and possibly as many as 2,500 people.

Most people don't know anything about it because it took place the same day and night as the Great Chicago Fire which covered a much smaller area and resulted in far fewer deaths.

Taking place in 1871, just six years after the Civil War, there were a lot of veterans of the war as well as civilians who lived through it.

Some of those people was Luther Noyes, Isaac Stephenson and Wisconsin Governor Lucius Fairchild.  Also, the U.S. Signal Service, forerunner of the Weather Bureau.

I'll write about these connections.

--Old Secesh

Got Books? Civil War That Is: March MCCWRT Meeting

This Tuesday, March 13, 2018, the McHenry County Civil War Round Table will meet at 7 p.m. at the Woodstock (Illinois) Public Library at 414 West Judd Street, just off historic Woodstock Square for the monthly meeting.

This month, instead of a speaker ion a subject, members and guests will discuss Civil war books they are reading.

I plan to talk about "Faces of Fort Fisher 1861-1864" by Chris E. Fonvielle Jr.. and "Firestorm at Peshtigo" by Denise Gess and William Lutz.

Whereas the second book tells the story of a huge fire that took place in Wisconsin in 1871, there were quite a few Union veterans involved, plus a huge Chicago connection in that William B. Ogden was involved in Peshtigo.  Also, more than 2,000 people were killed around this Wisconsin town in one night.  It is overlooked, though, because it took place on the same day as the Great Chicago Fire.

--Old Secesh