Benjamin Allen (Wisconsin politician) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Benjamin Allen
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| Member of the Wisconsin Senate from the 19th district |
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| In office January 1, 1853 – January 1, 1855 |
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| Preceded by | Francis Huebschmann |
| Succeeded by | William J. Gibson |
| District Attorney of Pepin County | |
| In office February, 1858 – January 1, 1859 |
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| Appointed by | Alexander Randall |
| Preceded by | Position Established |
| Succeeded by | Ebenezer Lathrop |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Benjamin Allen
August 28, 1807 Woodstock, Vermont, U.S. |
| Died | July 5, 1873 (aged 65) Pepin County, Wisconsin |
| Resting place | Oakwood Cemetery Pepin, Wisconsin |
| Political party | Democratic |
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| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
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| Years of service | 1861–1863 |
| Rank |  Colonel |
| Commands | 16th Reg. Wis. Vol. Infantry |
| Battles/wars | American Civil War |
Benjamin Allen (born August 28, 1807 – died July 5, 1873) was an American lawyer and politician. He was a brave officer in the Union Army during the American Civil War. He was even wounded in two big battles! Benjamin Allen also served in the Wisconsin State Senate and was the very first district attorney for Pepin County, Wisconsin.
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Benjamin Allen's Early Life and Work
Benjamin Allen was born in Woodstock, Vermont, on August 28, 1807. His parents were Cyrus and Sally Allen. His father was a carpenter from Scotland. When Benjamin was a boy, he learned to be a cooper, which means he made barrels. He also worked in his uncle's shop.
When he was 20, Benjamin started trading horses. He would take them to big markets in Boston and Long Island. With the money he earned, he bought a furnace and sold iron until 1844.
On March 2, 1834, Benjamin married Calista Dike. They had five children together. Sadly, Calista passed away on June 6, 1842. In 1844, Benjamin became a U.S. revenue officer. He also studied law and became a lawyer in 1847.
Moving West and Building a Town
In 1848, Benjamin Allen moved west. He first went to the Minnesota Territory. Then he moved to Hudson, Wisconsin. Finally, in 1855, he settled in Pepin, Wisconsin. He worked hard to help the small town grow. He even owned three stores there!
In 1856, he teamed up with H. S. Allen to start a stagecoach line. This line connected Pepin with Chippewa Falls. Benjamin even helped build much of the road between the two towns.
Benjamin Allen's Political Role
In 1852, Benjamin Allen was elected to the Wisconsin State Senate. He represented a large western part of the state. He served for two years, in 1853 and 1854, as a member of the Democratic Party.
In February 1858, Pepin County was newly formed. The Governor, Alexander Randall, chose Benjamin Allen to be the very first district attorney for the county. This meant he was the chief prosecutor for the area. Benjamin Allen was known to be a big supporter of Stephen A. Douglas, a famous politician of that time.
Serving in the Civil War
Before moving from Vermont, Benjamin Allen was a colonel in the Vermont Militia. When the American Civil War began, he became a colonel in the 16th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment. His second-in-command was Lieutenant Colonel Cassius Fairchild. Cassius's brother, Lucius Fairchild, later became a three-time Governor of Wisconsin! Benjamin's own son, Cyrus, also served under him as a second lieutenant.
The 16th Wisconsin Regiment joined the army in January 1862. They were part of Ulysses S. Grant's Army of the Tennessee. On March 20, 1862, they arrived at Pittsburg Landing, Tennessee.
The Battle of Shiloh
On April 5, 1862, Confederate forces attacked. This was the start of the Battle of Shiloh. Colonel Allen bravely led his regiment. He managed an organized retreat to a safe spot early in the battle. Two horses were shot from under him! Both he and Lt. Colonel Fairchild were wounded. Major Thomas Reynolds took command for the rest of the battle. Even though it was their first fight, the regiment fought very well. This showed how good their training was. The 16th Wisconsin lost 40 soldiers and had 188 wounded at Shiloh.
Lt. Colonel Fairchild's hip wound was serious, so he went back to Wisconsin for surgery. Colonel Allen's arm wound was less severe. He recovered with his regiment near Pittsburg Landing.
Siege of Corinth and Other Battles
On May 1, Colonel Allen led his regiment to Corinth, Mississippi. They helped lay siege to the city. During the siege, Colonel Allen was promoted to command the brigade. Major Reynolds then led the 16th Wisconsin. After taking Corinth, Allen's brigade fought against Confederate forces nearby.
Later, the enemy gathered for another attack on Corinth. Allen's brigade returned and set up defenses. At the Second Battle of Corinth, they again made organized retreats to strong positions. They then fought off many waves of Confederate attackers.
Later Service and Retirement
Due to many losses, the regiment was mostly on guard duty during the winter of 1862-63. Colonel Allen returned to Wisconsin to recover from his wounds. He came back in April 1863. A month later, Lt. Colonel Cassius Fairchild rejoined them.
The two men led the regiment through much of Grant's Vicksburg campaign. They were stationed at Lake Providence during this time. After the surrender of Vicksburg, Colonel Allen decided to retire. He was still suffering from his wound from Shiloh. Lt. Colonel Fairchild then took command of the regiment for the rest of the war.
After the War
After the war, Colonel Allen went back to his private life. He continued to run his stores in Pepin. He passed away there in 1873 and was buried in Pepin's Oakwood Cemetery.
