Civil War Union Brigadier General, US Congressman. At the outbreak of the Civil War, he was a Wisconsin District Attorney when commissioned a Captain in the 6th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry in July 1861. He participated in numerous battles and was promoted Colonel in command of the 6th Infantry known as the "Iron Brigade" in 1863. He led the assaults on Petersburg and made an heroic advance at FitzHugh's crossing, where his troops crossed the Rappahannock under enemy fire and captured the Confederate works. For this action, he was brevetted Brigadier General of US Volunteers in June 1864. After the war, President Andrew Johnson appointed him Postmaster of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin in 1866 and he was a member of the State Senate in 1868 and 1869. In 1885, he was elected as a Democratic to the Forty-ninth Congress, serving until 1887. He also was the Minister Plenipotentiary to Mexico in 1888, consul general at Habana, Cuba in 1903 and consul general to Hong Kong, China, 1903 to 1906.
Civil War Union Brigadier General, US Congressman. At the outbreak of the Civil War, he was a Wisconsin District Attorney when commissioned a Captain in the 6th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry in July 1861. He participated in numerous battles and was promoted Colonel in command of the 6th Infantry known as the "Iron Brigade" in 1863. He led the assaults on Petersburg and made an heroic advance at FitzHugh's crossing, where his troops crossed the Rappahannock under enemy fire and captured the Confederate works. For this action, he was brevetted Brigadier General of US Volunteers in June 1864. After the war, President Andrew Johnson appointed him Postmaster of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin in 1866 and he was a member of the State Senate in 1868 and 1869. In 1885, he was elected as a Democratic to the Forty-ninth Congress, serving until 1887. He also was the Minister Plenipotentiary to Mexico in 1888, consul general at Habana, Cuba in 1903 and consul general to Hong Kong, China, 1903 to 1906.
Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith
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