1818
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U.S. Major General Cadwallader C. Washburn was born, in Livermore, Maine.(i) Washburn would attend school in Wiscasset, Maine. He would later teach school in the same city. Washburn would move to Iowa, in 1839, residing in Davenport. He would spend time surveying in the state, before moving to Rock Island, Illinois – directly across the Mississippi River, from Davenport. He studied law and would be elected surveyor of Rock Island County. In 1842, Washburn would be admitted to the bar, and would move to Mineral Point, Wisconsin, where he would practice law.
In 1854, as a Republican, Washburn would be elected to the U.S. Congress. He would serve three terms, the last of which ended in March 1861. In 1860, with sectional hostilities very likely, he would decline to run for a fourth term.In the fall of 1861, Washburn would be appointed colonel, of the 2nd Wisconsin Cavalry. He would organize the regiment at Camp Washburn, in Milwaukee, and it would be mustered into Federal service on March 12, 1862.(ii) The regiment would report to St. Louis, Missouri, on March 26. Organized into three battalions, one would serve in Missouri, and the other two would be assigned to US Major General Samuel Curtis, then at Batesville, Arkansas. Washburn was promoted brigadier general, on June 5, and would command a brigade that included his two battalions. Washburn would later be placed in command of all cavalry, at Memphis, and would be promoted major general volunteers.
On June 10, 1863, Washburn was ordered to report to US Major General Ulysses S. Grant, at Vicksburg. He would command a two division detachment, of the XVI Corps. This detachment would patrol the outer works, north of Vicksburg, through the end of the siege.
Later he would command the First Division of US Major General Nathanial Banks’ Corps, during operations in Texas. He would resign his commission on May 25, 1865.(iii)After the Civil War, Washburn would return to Wisconsin, where he would serve two more terms in Congress, and one as governor. After his political career, he successfully engaged in several business ventures, in the lumber and milling industries. In 1877, he would partner with John Crosby and form the Washburn-Crosby Company, the predecessor of General Mills.
Major General Washburn was married to Jeanette Garr, who would give birth to two girls: Jeanette (Nettie) and Frances (Fanny). With his health failing, Washburn would visit Eureka Springs, Arkansas, to try and improve his condition. He would die there on May 15, 1882. His estate was estimated at close to $3 million. He is buried in La Crosse, Wisconsin.
1863
- In one of the most successful Federal Cavalry raids, during the Civil War, US Colonel Benjamin Grierson cuts telegraph lines, near Macon, Mississippi. Having left La Grange, Tennessee, five days earlier, Grierson wrecked havoc throughout Mississippi. Designed to be a diversion, for US Major General Ulysses S. Grant’s Vicksburg campaign, his cavalry would destroy telegraph lines, railroad tracks and enemy supplies throughout Mississippi. During the raid, Grierson would inflict 600 casualties to the Confederate cavalry, while sustaining a total of 24 amongst his cavaliers. For his accomplishments, Grierson would be promoted brigadier general, in June 1863.(iv)
(i) Cadwallader C. Washburn, on Wikipedia, was used to research this article.
(ii) The Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System was used to research this article.
(iii) Second Wisconsin Cavalry was used to research this article.
(iv) This Day In History, at History.com, was used to research this article.
