Cassius Fairchild facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Cassius Fairchild
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Fairchild c.1866
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| Chairman of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin | |
| In office 1859–1860 |
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| Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the Dane 6th district |
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| In office January 11, 1860 – January 9, 1861 |
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| Preceded by | George Baldwin Smith |
| Succeeded by | David Atwood |
| Member of the Madison City Council | |
| In office April 1858 – April 1860 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born | December 16, 1829 Franklin Mills, Ohio |
| Died | October 24, 1868 (aged 38) Milwaukee, Wisconsin |
| Resting place | Forest Hill Cemetery Madison, Wisconsin |
| Nationality | American |
| Political party | Democratic |
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| Children | none |
| Parents |
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| Relatives | Lucius Fairchild (brother) |
| Occupation | lawyer, politician |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service |  United States ArmyUnion Army |
| Years of service | 1861–1865 |
| Rank | |
| Unit | XVII Corps Army of the Tennessee |
| Commands | 16th Reg. Wis. Vol. Infantry 1st Brig., 3rd Div., XVII Corps |
| Battles/wars | American Civil War |
Cassius Fairchild (born December 16, 1829 – died October 24, 1868) was an important person in Wisconsin. He was a businessman, a politician, and a brave officer in the Union Army during the American Civil War. His brother, Lucius Fairchild, became the 10th Governor of Wisconsin. His father, Jairus C. Fairchild, was Wisconsin's first State Treasurer.
Contents
Early Life and Start in Politics
Cassius Fairchild was born in Franklin Mills, Ohio (which is now Kent, Ohio). He spent most of his childhood and got his education in Ohio. His father, Jairus C. Fairchild, was a very important person in Wisconsin's early history. He was the first State Treasurer and the first Mayor of Madison, Wisconsin.
When Cassius was 14, he moved to the Wisconsin Territory with his uncle. He went to school at Prairieville Academy in Waukesha. A few years later, in 1846, his parents and brothers joined him in Madison. When Wisconsin became a state in 1848, his father was elected the first State Treasurer. The family also invested in businesses like cranberry farms and real estate. Cassius later helped manage these family businesses.
In the 1850s, Cassius Fairchild became involved in local government. He was elected to the Madison City Council several times. For one year, he even served as the council's president. In 1859, he became the leader of the Democratic Party in Wisconsin. The next year, he was elected to represent Madison in the Wisconsin State Assembly, which is part of the state's government.
Serving in the Civil War
Before the Civil War began, Cassius and his brother Lucius were part of a Wisconsin militia group called the Governor's Guard. This experience helped them get leadership roles when the war started. When the war broke out, Cassius was working on his family's cranberry farms far away. As soon as he returned home, he quickly offered to help the war effort.
In October 1861, Cassius Fairchild was made a major in the 16th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment. This regiment was still being formed at the time. In December, he was promoted to lieutenant colonel. The regiment officially joined the federal army on January 31, 1862.
Battle of Shiloh and Recovery
On March 16, 1862, Cassius's regiment marched south. They joined Ulysses S. Grant's Army of the Tennessee. Less than a month later, they faced a surprise attack at the Battle of Shiloh. Cassius was leading his mostly untrained soldiers when he was shot in the hip. He had to return to Wisconsin to recover.
He spent many months trying to heal. Doctors worked to remove the bullet and pieces of cloth from his wound. During this time, both he and his father were sick in bed in nearby rooms. His father passed away that summer. The bullet and other materials were finally removed in December 1862. However, the wound had caused a lot of irritation to his bone. This irritation would sadly lead to his death years later.
Joining Sherman's Army
After his wound was cleaned, Lieutenant Colonel Fairchild recovered enough to rejoin his regiment in May 1863. He was still limited in what he could do, but he arrived in time to join the Siege of Vicksburg. After the victory at Vicksburg, his commanding officer retired. On March 17, 1864, Cassius Fairchild was promoted to Colonel of the Regiment.
His army was now under the command of General William Tecumseh Sherman. They were fighting in a major campaign into the southern states. As Colonel, Fairchild led his regiment through important battles like Kennesaw Mountain and the Battle of Atlanta. He also marched with Sherman's army during the famous Sherman's March to the Sea.
On March 13, 1865, Fairchild was given a special promotion to Brevet Brigadier General. He commanded a group of five regiments during the Battle of Bentonville. A few weeks later, the war ended, and Fairchild left the military.
After the War
Just months after the war ended in 1865, Cassius's brother, Lucius, was elected Governor of Wisconsin. The next summer, in 1866, President Andrew Johnson appointed Cassius as the United States Marshal for Wisconsin. This meant he was a federal law enforcement officer. He moved to Milwaukee and worked in this role until he passed away two years later.
On October 15, 1868, Cassius married Mary Cornelia Haney. She was the daughter of a well-known Milwaukee businessman. Just nine days later, while he was helping carry the coffin at a friend's funeral, his old war wound reopened. Cassius Fairchild died that day from the injury he received years earlier at the Battle of Shiloh.
See also
- Fairchild family
