- HENRY M. BARR, a prominent and representative citizen of
Beloit, and a gallant soldier of the
- late war, was born in the Empire State, in Steuben County,
April 23, 1833, and is a son of Samuel W. and Susan R. (SHEPHERD)
BARR. On his father's side he is of Scottish descent, Samuel
BARR having been born in Scotland. His mother was a native of
New York. The boyhood days of our subject were spent in his
native county, where he remained until sixteen years of age,
his education being received in the common school. In 1855 he
determined to try his fortune in the West, and emigrating to
Wisconsin located in Beloit, where, with the exception of a few
years spent upon Southern battle fields, he has since resided.
- At the breaking out of the Rebellion, when President Lincoln
made his first call for volunteers to
- serve three years, he at once responded, becoming a member
of the 6th Wisconsin Infantry, and was assigned to Company G.
His regiment formed one of the renowned Iron Brigade, which
comprised the 2d Wisconsin, the 19th Indiana, the 6th Wisconsin,
the 24th Michigan and the 7th Wisconsin Regiments. After being
mustered in at Madison the gallant 6th was sent to Washington,
D.C., where the regiment participated in the battle of Gainesville.
It was next under fire at the second battle of Bull Run, which
was followed by the engagement at South Mountain, where the brigade
received its name for the valuable services rendered. This brigade
having used all its ammunition, the men were ordered to lie down,
and if approached, hold the enemy with their bayonets. They
remained on the field all night, and in the morning Mr. BARR
was ordered to go down the line and wake up the men. After performing
this duty he returned to the place where he had lain through
the night and discovered, as he supposed, one of his comrades
sleeping; he gave him a light kick to awaken him, but the man
not stirring he gave him a more vigorous one, when the comrade
whom he supposed he was waking spoke up near by and said "That's
a dead rebel." Mr. BARR had made a pillow of him all night.
- The next engagement in which the regiment participated was
the battle of Antietam, which was
- followed by the battle of Fredericksburg, under Burnsides.
When crossing the river Mr. BARR, on landing, jumped out of
the boat, and while doing so got the muzzle of his gun full of
mud and when he came to fire, it split the barrel from end to
end, knocking him flat on his back. He was next engaged with
the command at the battle of Chancellorsville, which was followed
by the battle of Gettysburg, but in some manner being cut off
from his company Mr. BARR did not participate in the latter.
He took refuge in the courthouse used for a hospital by the
surgeons and from the cupola of that building witnessed the movements
of both armies, probably no man having a better view, which sight
was impressed indelibly upon his memory. With his regiment he
fought the battle of Laurel Hill, which was followed by Spotsylvania,
North Ann, Cold Harbor, the siege of Petersburg, Welden Railroad,
Hatchie's Run, Grand Run, Five Forks and the famous battle of
Appomattox. After the close of hostilities Mr. BARR returned
from the war, having been honorably discharged. He still retains
in his possession a badge which was presented to him by Gen.
McClellan after the South Mountain fight.
- In 1871 Mr. BARR was united in marriage with Mrs. Martha
BROWN, whose maiden name was
- GREGORY, and two children grace their union - Samuel W. and
Jessie Maud. Socially, our subject is a member of the G.A.R.
Post, and politically, is an ardent supporter of the Republican
party and a faithful adherent to its principles. He was a loyal
soldier and is a worthy citizen, and received the respect of
all with whom business or pleasure have brought him in contact.
-
- Taken from "The Portrait and Biographical Album of
Rock County, Wis." (c)1889, pp. 324-325.
-
- Courtesy of Carol
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