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Civil War Soldiers - Fairchild
| Fairchild, Lucius, brigadier-general,
U.S. Army, was born at Franklin Mills, now Kent, Ohio, Dec. 27, 1831.
He attended the public schools in Cleveland and the Twinsburg (Ohio)
academy, moved to Madison, Wis., in 1846 and continued his education
at Carroll college, Waukesha, Wis., until 1849, when he joined a
caravan party organized at Madison and crossed the plains to
California. He returned to Madison not much richer then when he left,
was clerk of the circuit court of Dane county, 1859-60, and in 1861
was admitted to the bar. Joining, in 1858, a volunteer company known
as the "governor's guard," he rose to 1st lieutenant in March, 1861,
and in April, 1861, became its captain, the company having been
mustered in as company K, 1st Wis. volunteers. After taking part in
the skirmish at Falling Waters, Va., the regiment was mustered out,
and on Aug. 5, 1861, Capt. Fairchild was promoted to the rank of
captain in the regular army and assigned to the 16th U. S. infantry.
He obtained leave of absence and was appointed major and then
lieutenant-colonel of the 2nd Wis. infantry, and in the 2nd battle of
Bull Run he commanded the consolidated 2nd and 7th Wis. regiments,
forming part of the famous "iron brigade." He was promoted colonel, to
date from Aug. 30, 1862, and on Sept. 14, stormed and carried Turner's
gap, South mountain, pursuing the enemy through Boonsboro to Antietam
creek, where, on the 17th, although sick, he was lifted to his horse
and commanded his regiment through "the bloodiest day that America
ever saw." He commanded his regiment also in the battle of
Fredericksburg, Dec. 13, 1862, winning for skill and gallantry there
special commendation from Gen. Meredith, and in Jan., 1863, commanded
the expedition to Heathsville, Va., which secured valuable stores and
important information, and destroyed several blockade runners on the
river. He rendered important service at Chancellorsville, and at
Gettysburg led a charge up Seminary hill, losing his left arm. While
recovering from his wounds he was commissioned brigadier- general of
volunteers, Oct. 19, 1863, and on Nov. 2, 1863, he was mustered out of
the service. He was then secretary of state of Wisconsin, 1864-65;
governor of Wisconsin, 1866-72; U. S. consul at Liverpool, 1873-78;
president of the National soldiers' and sailors' convention, 1878; U.
S. consul-general at Paris, 1878-80 and U. S. minister and envoy
plenipotentiary to Spain, 1880-81. He was department commander, G. A.
R., 1886; commander-in-chief of the organization, 1887; commander of
the Wisconsin commandery of the military order of the Loyal Legion of
the United States, 1890- 93, and commander-in-chief, 1893-94. He was
also a promoter and officer of various state and national military
homes and beneficent organizations. Gen. Fairchild died in Madison,
Wis., May 23, 1896. Source: The Union Army: A History of Military Affairs in the Loyal
States 1861-1865, Volume 8 Biographical, 1908
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