This file portion of www.watertownhistory.org website
Watertown Rifles
"In time of peace, prepare
for war"
1853
[not 1851]
Watertown's first active unit was
formed in May of 1853 as the Watertown Rifle Company. The name was at some point shortened to
Watertown Rifles. The original leaders
of the Watertown Rifle Company included CPT Henry Boegel,
1LT Gotlieb Baumann, 2LT C. W. Schultz and 1SG John
Reichert. The Company's motto was
"In time of peace, prepare for war."
Source
1857
Mention of 1867 picture taken of Watertown
Rifles
02 16 Western
Star Hotel Fire / Home of Watertown Rifles
About
half past 3 o’clock this morning the large hotel in the 4th Ward of this city
belonging to Gottlieb Baumann was discovered to be on fire [Western Star Hotel,
corner of W. Cady and N. Water]—in fact so nearly wrapped in flames that those
sleeping in it barely had time to escape. It was a large three story wooden structure,
and being very dry, the fire spread so rapidly as to render all attempts to
extinguish it entirely useless. A few
beds were all it was possible to get out.
Everything else such as furniture, fixtures and provisions were
consumed. We understand there was no
insurance on the property and if this is the case, of course, the loss, which
cannot be less than $2,000, will be total.
The
firemen were promptly on hand and did all that
could be accomplished under the circumstances.
They had everything in good working order but the building was too far
gone to be saved.
The
Watertown Rifle Company, who kept their arms in this building, have lost all
their accoutrements.
Next
Monday evening there was to have been a concert and ball in the fine hall of
this hotel. By a notice in another
column, it will be seen that the concert will take place at Cole’s Hall and the proceeds be given to Mr. Baumann,
who has had the misfortune to meet with a calamity so sudden and severe. In view of this generous object, we hope the
attendance will be general and the proceeds large.
↓ More on Western Star Fire ↓
Gottlieb
Baumann, captain of Watertown Rifle Co
Gottlieb
Baumann, father of Alfred Baumann and Mrs. Otto R. Krueger came to Watertown in
1846 with his father and brothers, Jacob and John.
He
built the Western Star Hotel on the corner of West Cady and North Water streets
which was destroyed by fire in 1860
Baumann
had been captain of the old Watertown
Rifle Company for some years. The
Watertown Rifles, a military company, lost their distinctive uniforms, stored
in the Western Star Hotel, along with rifles and ammo as the Western Star
burned to the ground.
The
Watertown Rifles had been organized in 1853 and the company drilled regularly
and took part in patriotic displays on July Fourth and Washington’s
Birthday. The group disbanded in 1861 at
the outbreak of the Civil War.
In
1861 Baumann went to New Orleans and was pressed into the confederate army and
when our 20th Wisconsin Regiment came to New Orleans he enlisted in the
Watertown Company E and became a first lieutenant. C. Hugo Jacobi, Reminiscences of Early Days in Watertown, a series of newspaper
articles, 1923.
On 17
December 1860, the Adjutant General of the State of Wisconsin, James A. Swain
of Mineral Point, filed a report to the Governor of Wisconsin detailing how the
various companies of the militia were organized. On that date, the Militia of Wisconsin was
comprised of 50 companies of volunteers with a combined strength of 1,993 men
(the average strength of a company was about 40 men). Watertown still had two companies at that
time; the Watertown Rifles,
commanded by CPT Gotlieb Bauman, with a strength of
42 men and the Governor's Artillery,
commanded by CPT Mulberger, with a strength of 35
men. Source
1861
05 30 New
Testament For Each Volunteer
Enough
money has recently been subscribed and paid by our citizens to purchase for each
volunteer, who enlists and enters active service, a copy of the New
Testament. Every member of the Watertown
Rifle Company will soon be presented with a present of this kind, none which
could be more appropriate. WD
April, 1861 Watertown Rifle Company
In April of 1861, the Watertown Rifles HQ was in the Chappel
Block on Main Street. On 12 May they were issued their uniforms and
assigned to the 3rd Wisconsin Infantry Regiment of as Co. A. Their HQ was then moved to the Mud Tavern on W. Main Street, about a mile west of the
heart of town. It was renamed Camp
Bertram after Henry Bertram who managed the place and also served in the
company (1LT and later CPT). http://www.b-1-105.us/history/wng-wtn.html
April 25, 1861 Watertown Rifle Company
Watertown Democrat, 04 25 1861
Chapter on Watertown Rifle Company
This is the name of a company of
volunteers that has been organizing in this city during the past week. Its members are mostly young men who, with
proper discipline and training, will make brave and reliable soldiers. It is their purpose to offer themselves for
active duty, but whether their services will be immediately accepted and required
is now uncertain as the regiment called for from Wisconsin is now full, and
nineteen other companies, like this, in different parts of the state, are ready
at a moment’s notice to answer the demand of the Governor. If no further requisitions are made by the
President, perhaps they will not be needed.
Its officers have received commissions, the men have been sworn in, and
all that is now wanted is an opportunity.
The headquarters of the company
are in Gen. Chappell’s Block,
before which the Stars and Stripes are now floating. When a room was wanting in which to meet, he
cheerfully furnished one without expense to any body.
FOLLOWING ITEM RELATES TO DARIUS S. GIBBS
<<< START CHAPTER ON . . . ADD TO HISTORY ONLNE HTML
Watertown Republican, 09 21 1860
Coppering
The subscriber has opened a shop
for manufacturing all kinds of work in his line. Wanted:
20,000 round hickory hoops; 100,000 flat ash hoops; 50,000 pork barrel
staves, for which the highest case price will be paid.
Having worked for the old
settlers of Watertown and vicinity sixteen years since, and being well known to
the inhabitants, I feel the utmost confidence in once more soliciting their
patronage. I intend making Watertown my
permanent place of residence and hope to merit and receive a liberal share of
business.
Shop 4 doors below Watertown
House, 1st St.
D. S. Gibbs.
Replace
following with GLIMPSES list of Watertown
Democrat, 06 13 1861
The following are the names of
those who have enlisted as far as we have been able to ascertain. All are from this city or the surrounding
towns:
Commissioned
Officers
Captain—Darius
S. Gibbs
1st
Lieutenant—John Forsyth
2nd
Lieutenant—James T. Myers
3rd
Lieutenant—Joseph Crandall
Non-Commissioned
Officers
1st Sergeant—George
R. Huff
2nd
Sergeant—Robert J. Forsyth
3rd
Sergeant—John Hains
4th
Sergeant—Joshua B. Harris
1st
Corporal—Luther May
2nd
Corporal—William H. Hains
3rd
Corporal—George W. Rockwood
4th
Corporal—Porter Gibbs
Privates
B. G. Miller
G. W. Brainard
R. Hart
E. F.
Proctor
T. Brynildsen
S. J. Tompson
G. W.
Rockwood
W. M.
Forsyth
J. C. Dervin
L. C. Green
Alphus Lucas
A. Hanoch
A. Siebell
W. H. Burns
N. Tuttle
D. A. Tuttle
S. Karbach
H. Tracy
S. Cases
N. W. Dayton
J. B. Harris
A. Wooden
J. H. Tubbs
G. Forsyth
James
Johnson
F. Rial
Samuel
Baldwin
Arthur
Morgan
Andrew
Holmes
Jesse Monroe
Amos Bruce
John Corwin
Alexander
Anderson
Moses Frost
G. C. Marvin
J. T. Hilliker
M. H. Ashley
M. J. Kane
A. Byrne
J. E.
Anderson
H. Bennett
S. Reed
L. Bennett
N. Liskun
R. J. Taylor
R. Griffith
Lyman Cook
W. T. March
R. S. Howard
J. B. Brainard
S. Wixon
F. L. Tuttle
P. Janisch
P. P. Gibbs
H. Sperry
C. Newhouse
O. A. Boughton
Levi Frost
James Lisdale
John Morrill
Patrick
McDonald
Mitchell
McDonald
Calvin Jones
Jesse Weed
Linus Corwin
Alpheus
Richards
Johnson
Roads
Alonzo Bruce
Camp
Bertram
Watertown
Rifle Company and Camp Bertram
< > Bertram html
Watertown Democrat, 05 30 1861
Mr. Editor:
Watertown
Rifle Company and Camp Bertram
< > Bertram html
Watertown
Democrat, 05 30, 1861
Mr. Editor:
Presuming
your business engagements have prevented your compliance with the numerous
invitations given you to visit us since our removal to our present quarters, it
may not be uninteresting to you and your many readers to hear from the
Watertown Rifle Company at home.
Our
location, which you well know, is on the beautiful grounds belonging to Mr. A. Fierman [ck
plat map? <NOT POSSIBLE TOO EARLY // Corner
of Dayton and W Main St. ], one mile west from the
center of the city; the barracks, the buildings formerly known by the cognomen
[nickname] of “Mud
Tavern.” = = = = HL=>http://www.watertownhistory.org/Articles/MudTavern.htm
Camp Bertram
http://www.wiscnews.com/news/local/article_f8f0d6e2-fbc5-11df-9281-001cc4c002e0.html
How the neatly painted edifice, surrounded by handsome floral and fruit
gardens, together with the numerous bowers of honey suckle and grape vines, now
clothed in the richest verdure of spring, could ever been so named, is a
mystery to the stranger.
Suffice to
say, we could not be more pleasantly situated, and thanks to our worthy host,
we have all the comforts of our domestic homes, and were it not that duty calls,
we would regret being compelled to quit this resort, until we are summoned to
immediate service, which, as soldiers, we are enlisted for.
Our daily camp duties are much the same as those of other camps at Milwaukee and
Madison; viz. reveille at 5 o’clock a.m.; Breakfast at 7, the interval occupied
in neatly folding our mattresses and blankets, blacking boots, brushing
clothes, cleaning accoutrements, washing and otherwise preparing for the
requirements of the day; 8 ½ o’clock “Guard mounting,” the guard consisting of
one Sergeant, one Corporal and six Privates, whose duties continue for twenty
four hours; at 9 o’clock “drill call” when every man must appear fully
uniformed and equipped for two hour’s drill; 12 o’clock dinner; now comes the
“tug of war” and if the attack and onslaught of the viands may be a criterion
of their attack of the Southern blood hounds, then Wisconsin will need no more
soldiers; two o’clock again drill until four, after which time is spend in
recreation of different kinds. “Retreat”
is beat at six. Supper and amusements
till 9; fifteen minutes after every one is supposed to be in bed and lights
extinguished.
Our officers
are men of whom we may rightly be proud—as men, kind and humane—as officers,
efficient and energetic. Capt. D. S.
Gibbs is a veteran who has served in the ranks, and not only knows the wants of
a soldier but has acquired the ability to command, and too much credit cannot
be given him for his energy and perseverance in forming this Company, attending
to its wants and placing it in the first position in the 3d Regiment, although
working against influences which, to my knowledge, no other commander has had
to cope with—and he has nobly gained his object.
Lieut. Henry Bertram, who at present acts in the double capacity
of officer and landlord, is also an old and tried soldier, thoroughly schooled
in the tactics of the army.
Second Lieut. John Forsyth is too well known as an upright and honorable business man to
need comment from me.
Serg’t Goodrich possess the
qualifications of a scholar, but like ourselves, has yet to achieve military
fame.
Of the
non-Commissioned Officers and Privates I will only add, they are not men who
during the excitement of the times, rushed madly at the call and enrolled their
names with the impression they would not be wanted to quell this rebellion, but
those, who, seeing and knowing the duty they owed to their country, calmly and
deliberately pledged their honor to stand by the stars and stripes and “with
them to conquer or by them to die.”
Our
destination is not yet known, but rumor says we are to rendezvous at Fond du
Lac; there should be any news pertaining to the company you will hear again
from.
A. Private
Watertown,
May 26, 1861
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June 13, 1861 what was date
for “last Saturday?”
Watertown
Democrat, 06 13 1861
Departure of the Soldiers
The
Watertown Rifle Company, which stands at the head of the Third Wisconsin
Regiment, left this city last Saturday for Fond du Lac, the head quarters of
the Regiment under the command of Col. Charles S. Hamilton. Their destination is the city of Washington,
whither they have been ordered for active service. A large number of citizens were present to
bid the defenders of the Union farewell and wish them all a safe return from
the dangers and perils of the battle field, where they will do their whole duty
bravely, no matter what fate awaits them.
Mayor Williams made a brief and appropriate speech on the occasion; the
train started, and they were off.
The
following list contains the names of those who belong to the company and are
now at their new camp, in training for action, and it may be a long term of
service:
COMMISSIONED
OFFICERS
Captain—Darius
S. Gibbs
1st
Lieutenant—Henry Bertram
2nd Lieutenant—John
Forsyth
NON-COMMISSIONED
OFFICERS
1st
Sergeant—J. Drew Goodrich
2nd
Sergeant—George R. Huff
3rd
Sergeant—Robert J. Forsyth
4th
Sergeant—William H. Burns
5th
Sergeant—James T. Myers
1st
Corporal—Lyman Cook
2nd
Corporal—Daniel A. Tuttle
3rd Corporal—Edward
F. Proctor
4th
Corporal—Orin S. Howard
5th
Corporal—Sala P. Webb
6th
Corporal—Fred. Glaser
7th
Corporal—Zadock S. Putney
8th
Corporal—Thomas McKenna
MUSICIANS
Stephen F.
Burrows
John Wisert
PRIVATES
Andrew Byrne
John P. Braynard
Jared Hains
Warren W. Nigus
Lewis C.
Green
Alpheus
Lucas
E. C. Marvin
Isaac B.
Flanagan
Charles Rollhagen
William
Forsyth
Johnson
Anderson
John Zanes
William
March
Nathan
Nettleton
Abner J. Gould
Addis Bragg
Emil Stablefeldt
John C. Dervin
William B.
Whipple
Robert Hart
David Bnehterkirchen
Hobert Hart
William Conly
William
Hutchinson
Nathan
Tuttle
Henry Wood
Pat Gorman
Arnold Mann
Anson Wales
Ezra Reed
Andrew Byrne
Elmore Vanderwort
Hermann
Becker
Sidney J.
Thompson
Henry Montaney
Robert
Schroeder
Sindey N. Lund
Alexander
Allison
James Terry
August Klopping
Alexander Darward
William Kethson
Daniel Strohn
Lyman C.
Farmer
Franklin L.
Tuttle
J. P. Brainard
Peter Hanf
Charles
Perkins
Marshal Kane
R. T. Richer
John T. Hillaker
George
Forsyth
George W. Brainard
Killian Rupp
August Ziebell
Tollef Bryneldson
George S.
Lockwood
Robert Van Slyke
Elisha
Tuttle
Charles
Farmer
Charles F.
Curtis
John Hickey
Henry Sperry
Julius Wallardt
