Monday, March 02, 2015

Augustus G. Weissert

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Sgt Maj Augustus Gordon Weissert. 

Birth: Aug. 7, 1844
Death: Apr. 24, 1923

Wife: Mary E. Weissert.

Children: Florence E. Weissert.

Burial: Forest Home Cemetery Milwaukee Milwaukee County Wisconsin

Augustus Gordon Weissert Commander-in-Chief 1892-1892 Augustus Gordon Weissert was born at Canton, Ohio on August 7, 1844, the son of Michael and Magdalene (Bernard) Weissert.

 At age 17, he enlisted in Co. K, 8th Wisconsin Infantry, the live eagle regiment, enrolling September 10, 1861, having been rejected several times before on account of his age and stature.

Command-in-Chief of G. A. R.
Wisconsin.
After three years of campaigning with Grant and Sherman, he was promoted to Sergeant Major of the regiment on September 3, 1864, He shared in the 8th Wisconsin's fortunes until the battle of Nashville. When the army was in line at Nashville, Sgt. Maj. Weissert traversed the lines to ascertain whether his regiment was properly supplied with ammunition, and when his duty was
completed, he received an order to remain at the rear to make up the regimental returns, then 15 days behind, on account of the constant campaigning.

When the army advanced, Weissert was found in position with his regiment. When reminded of the order, he replied, I deemed this my place and thought I would go with the regiment, and finish the reports after the battle.

Reunion of the 8th.,
August 18, 1913.
Later that day, he received a bullet just over the knee, which he carried for many years as an open wound. He convalesced sufficiently and rejoined his regiment on crutches. He was breveted a captain with rank to June 6, 1864 for conspicuous bravery during the Red River expedition and for gallantry at Lake Chicot, Arkansas, June 6, 1864, and at Nashville, December 15th. The following March, he received an appointment to West Point, but he refused because of his wound.

Sgt. Maj. Weissert was mustered out with his regiment on September 17, 1865. Pasat Commander-in-Chief Weissert died at his home, 101 Eighteenth Street, Milwaukee, on Tuesday, April 24, 1923. He was 79 years old

Sources: http://suvcw.org/garcinc/weissert.htm Soldiers & Citizens Album of Biographical Record, 1889. Vol. 2, Brown & Brown. The Milwaukee Sentinel http://www.civilwardata.com/active/hdsquery.dll?SoldierHistory?U&2062380 http://www.secondwi.com/wisconsinpeople/augie.htm


1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Augustus Weissert was my Great Grand Uncle. After the war, he worked for a couple of newpapers before enrolling at the University of Michigan where he earned a law degree. Augustus practiced law in Milwaukee. Not bad for a young boy raised by his widowed mother. His father died when Augustus was age 7 - in 1850 on the Gold Rush trail in Nevada.