Lucius Fairchild - Military Career

Military Career

General Fairchild, as a Private in 1858, enlisted in a Wisconsin volunteer militia known as the "governor's guard". Under his guidance the militia was titled Company K, 1st Wisconsin volunteers and by 1861, was serving in the Civil War at Falling Waters against the "Stonewall Brigade" of General Thomas J. Jackson. In August 1861, Fairchild was appointed Captain of the 16th US Regulars as well as Major of the 2nd Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment. During the prior month of July 1861, General William T. Sherman commanded the newly-formed regiment for the First Battle of Bull Run and due to its poor performance, all upper chain of command needed replacement. Electing to stay with the 2nd, Major Fairchild was soon commissioned Lieutenant Colonel and, with his regiment now a part of the famed Iron Brigade within the Army of the Potomac, participated in the Second Battle of Bull Run. One week thereafter, on September 8, 1862, was promoted to the rank of full Colonel of the 2nd Wisconsin Volunteers. On February 27, 1863, the Iron Brigade, now under the command of Brig. Gen. Solomon Meredith, was redesignated the "1st Brigade, 1st Division, I Corps". This gave Colonel Fairchild the distinction of being the ranking pointman for all commissioned officers within the I Corp of the Army of the Potomac during the Spring and Summer of 1863.

Fairchild, and his WI 2nd Volunteers, distinguished themselves at The Battle of Antietam, then culminating at Battle of Gettysburg, at Seminary Ridge on July 1, 1863, being the first infantry regiment to make close contact with the CSA Army. While drawing first blood, at roughly 10:00, the WI 2nd Vols delivered a striking blow capturing very first Confederate General Officer of the war, Brig. Gen. James J. Archer. Almost immediately after this success, the regiment was ambushed from a northern flank to their right, and lost seventy-seven percent of their ranks, including most officers. Colonel Fairchild was shot in the upper arm, captured, tended to and released. While recovering from his amputated left arm, Lucius Fairchild was fully commissioned as Brigadier General of the 2nd Wisconsin Volunteers by U.S.A President Abraham Lincoln on October 19, 1863.