- BRIGADIER GENERAL ELON J. FARNSWORTH was born in Green Oak,
Livingson
- [Livingston] Co., Mich., on the 30th day of July, 1837, and
in 1854, removed with his father, James P. FARNSWORTH, to Rockton,
Ill. Later, in 1868, the family removed to Rock County, Wis.,
where the elder Mr. FARNSWORTH is an honored citizen and resident
of Beloit. The only brother of our subject died in Michigan at
the age of eighteen years, before the removal of the family to
Illinois, and his mother's death occurred in 1855. Elon J. was
sent by his father to the University of Ann Arbor, Mich., where
he remained until the winter of 1857-58, when he joined the army
of Gen. Johnston, then on its way to Utah to suppress the Mormon
insurrection in that Territory. He entered the service as an
assistant in the Quartermaster's department, and remained with
the army on that distant frontier, traveling through the Western
Territories until the breaking out of the Rebellion in 1861.
Love of adventure, buffalo hunting and other like sports frequently
led him to make long journeys on horseback through the mountains
and over the plains of the Far West, and it was there doubtless,
that he learned to have such mastery over horses, which subsequently
gave him the reputation of being "the best rider in the
army."
- News of the Rebellion reached Mr. FARNSWORTH in the summer
of 1861, and he immediately
- hastened home to join the 8th Illinois Cavalry, which his
distinguished uncle, Gen. John F. FARNSWORTH, was then organizing.
He was made Battalion Quartermaster, but soon afterward, by election,
was promoted to the Captaincy of Company K, of that celebrated
regiment. During all the battles of the Army of the Potomac,
he was never off duty in a fight or skirmish in which his troops
were engaged, and which encounters are said to be forty-one in
number. He was brave and daring to a fault, and so kind and considerate
to his men that he early became their pride and boast. Whenever
a scout or reconnoisance [reconnaissance] was instituted, Capt.
FARNSWORTH was almost invariably placed at its head, and so intrepid
was he in his attacks, and so watchful in his movements that
his name became a terror to every bushwhacker along the line.
For his skill and daring on one occasion the following complimentary
order was issued.
-
- HEADQUARTERS FIRST
CAVALRY DIVISION.
- The General commanding takes this occasion to thank Capt.
FARNSWORTH of the 8th
- Illinois Cavalry, for the gallant and efficient manner in
which he has performed the scouting duty intrusted [entrusted]
to his charge. The score of prisoners taken from the enemy is
largely in his favor, and the skill and adroitness displayed
in the capture are worthy of high commendation.
- This order to be published at the headquarters of each regiment,
by order of
- BRIGADIER GENERAL
PLEASANTON.
- A. J. COHEN, Captain and A.A.G.
- To CAPT. E.
J. FARNSWORTH, 8th Illinois Cavalry.
-
- This complement was well merited, for to his genius and bravery
much of the celebrity of his
- regiment is due. In May, 1863, Gen. Pleasanton placed him
upon his staff as aid, and so well pleased was he with Capt.
FARNSWORTH that he nominated him to the office of brigadier general.
The news of the appointment reached him while on duty in the
field. The cavalry was then at Frederick City, Md., moving toward
Pennsylvania in pursuit of the rebels, and the newly appointed
general was at once assigned to the command of the 1st brigade
of the 3d division of cavalry, consisting of the 1st Vermont,
1st Virginia, 5th New York and 8th Pennsylvania Cavalry Regiments
and a battery of artillery. With his brigade he moved rapidly
forward, and on the 30th day of June met the rebel cavalry under
Gen. Stewart in a fierce engagement, but succeeded in routing
that celebrated officer.
- On the 3d of July our subject was ordered by Gen. Kilpatrick,
who commanded the 3d Division
- of cavalry, to charge the right flank of the rebel army.
The rebels (infantry) were posted behind a stone wall, and a
little in the rear was another wall. They also had their artillery
placed in such a manner that they could pour a deadly fire of
grape and canister upon the flanks of an advancing column. Gen.
FARNSWORTH reconnoitered the ground in person and reported to
his commanding officer that a charge at that point would be madness,
and would only result in the loss of his men. Gen. Kilpatrick,
however, ordered the charge to be made. The gallant young hero
and martyr replied, "Very well, I will not send my men where
I do not go with them." Before entering upon that awful
charge he bade good-bye to his many comrades and brother officers
and then rushed on to his death. A correspondent of the New York
Times who was with the cavalry gives the following account
of the terrible charge, one of the bravest, most gallant, but
most disastrous of any during the war.
- "The 1st Vermont under Col. Preston, the 1st Virginia
under Maj. Copehart, and the 18th
- Pennsylvania Cavalry under Col. Brenton, led by Gen. FARNSWORTH,
dashed forward at the command until the stone wall was reached.
A few men pulled the rail-fence away from the top of the stone
wall, Gen. FARNSWORTH leaped his horse over and was followed
by the 1st Vermont, the enemy breaking before them and taking
a position behind the second fence. The few rods between the
two fences, where our men crossed, was a fearfully dangerous
place, the little force receiving the concentrated fire of three
lines, from front and both flanks. The witnesses of the movement
stood in breathless silence, their blood running cold. As the
charge gained the second fence, man after man was seen to fall,
Gen. FARNSWORTH among the rest. 'He is killed' grasped many a
one looking at that fatal spot. But no, that tall form and slouched
hat are his, he lives, and all breathe again. His horse was killed,
but a soldier gives him his horse, the General again mounts and
dashes on. The enemy here make a more formidable stand but is
driven away, and the whole force go[es] dashing, reeling over
the fence in a whirlpool of shot and shell, such as is seldom
witnessed even by soldiers. The constant roar of musketry and
artillery on the main field lent to the scene a peculiar sublimity
and fearful grandeur. The second fence crossed, and new fires
were opened upon the brave band. To retreat was certain death,
and the only chance of safety was to advance, and advance they
did for between one and two miles to the rear of the rebel army
in sight of the coveted train, but at what a cost. Despairing,
the men returned under a galling fire as best they could. A few
men did not get back to their command for hours, many never came.
The list of missing was gradually lessened, and hope led us to
look anxiously for the return of Gen. FARNSWORTH, and when, with
morning's dawn, no tidings from him were heard, then hope said
he was wounded, a prisoner, he had been left seriously, perhaps
dangerously wounded at some house by the roadside. Vain hope,
messengers were sent in every direction to search for the missing
one. It did not seem possible that he could be dead, and yet
so it was. He fell just after crossing the second fence, his
body pierced with five wounds. There some of the Vermont boys
found him some two days after, (the rebels having fallen back.)
The brave, noble and generous FARNSWORTH has gone to his last
rest, and the sod which covers his grave has been wet by the
tears of those who loved and honored him while living. His name
will be held in remembrance by every member of the 3d Division.
Gen. FARNSWORTH was possessed with rare beauty, both of person
and soul. No man who knew him failed to admire his great social
attractions, nor will they soon forget his tall, athletic frame."
- Maj. Gen. Pleasanton, who commanded the cavalry corps, and
Capt. Drummond, of Gen.
- Pleasanton's staff who superintended the burial of Gen. FARNSWORTH
and announced his fate to his friends, wrote the following letter
to his uncle, Gen. J. F. FARNSWORTH.
-
- HDQRS. CAVALRY CO. OF THE POTOMAC, July
6, 1863.
- Gen. J. F. FARNSWORTH;
- DEAR GENERAL:
- I deeply regret to announce to you the death of Brig. Gen.
- FARNSWORTH, late Captain of the 8th Illinois Cavalry. He
was killed while leading a charge of the brigade against the
enemy's infantry in the recent battle of Gettysburg. His death
was glorious. He made the first grand charge against the enemy's
infantry - broke them. When found, nearly a mile in the rear
of the enemy's lines, his body was pierced with five bullets.
He has been buried in the cemetery at Gettysburg, and the grave
is properly marked. The enemy stripped the body to the undershirt,
an unheard of piece of Vandalism, as the General was in his proper
dress.
- Accept my warmest sympathy; you know my estimate of our late
friend and companion in
- arms. We have, however, a consolation in his brilliant deeds
in the grandest battle of the war.
- Very truly yours,
- A. PLEASANTON.
-
- Another letter written by Gen. Pleasanton to Gen. J. F. FARNSWORTH,
Feb. 16, 1864, was as
- follows:
-
- My Dear General - In looking over my Gettysburg report
it has occurred to me that you should know what I said and what
I thought of your late nephew, and as it will probably not see
daylight for a long time I send you the following quotation from
that report.
- "It was in one of those brilliant engagements that the
noble and gallant FARNSWORTH fell,
- heroically leading a charge of his brigade against the rebel
infantry. Gifted in a high degree with a quick perception and
a correct judgment, remarkable for his daring and coolness, his
comprehensive grasp of the situation on the field of battle,
and the rapidity of his actions had already distinguished Gen.
FARNSWORTH among his comrades in arms. In his death was closed
a career that must have won the highest honors of his profession."
-
- In July, 1863, Gen. J. F. FARNSWORTH visited Gettysburg,
disinterred the remains of his
- nephew, and after embalming, removing them to Illinois, where
now sleeps the heroic brave. He rests, to be remembered with
the honored dead who have fallen in defense of their country,
and a Nation mourns the inestimable loss.
-
- Taken from "The Portrait and Biographical Album of
Rock County, Wis." (c)1889, pp. 853-855.
-
- Courtesy of Carol
|