User:Cwojahn/sandbox

--Cwojahn|talk]]) 05:45, 13 March 2013 (UTC)

Augustus Gordon Weissert, a representative soldier of the Volunteer forces and a prominent member of the Milwaukee Bar, was born Aug. 7, 1844, at Canton, Stark Co., Ohio. When he was six years old his parents removed to Racine, Wis., where he obtained a good elementary education and was graduated from the high school. Later, he pursued a general course of study at the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor and afterwards entered the Law Department whence he was graduated with a degree of LL. B.

He resided at Racine until he went to New York to continue his studies, the year previous to entering the army, and was but little more than a lad when he became a soldier. At 17 he enlisted in Co. K, 8th Wisconsin Infantry, enrolling Sept. 10, 1861, having been several times theretofore rejected on account of his age and stature. The "Eagle" Regiment, organized September 4th at the rendezvous at Camp Randall, Madison, was mustered into U.S. Service on the 12th and left the State October 12th, being the first Wisconsin Regiment to receive orders for the West.

After a few days passed at Benton Barracks, St. Louis, orders were received to move to Pilot Knob and, on the 20th, the 8th was assigned to the command of Col. Carlin and on the next day young Weissert had the satisfaction of participating in a victory at Fredericktown, Mo. He performed military duty at Pilot Knob, and went later on an expedition up the St. Francis River.

The next removal to Sulphur Springs took place Oct. 25th, and in January orders were received to join Gen. Grants Forces at Cairo for the Fort Donaldson campaign. Until March the time passed there, the regiment being in grey uniform and in practical retirement in consequence. When equipped in regulation blue, the command made connection with the forces of General Pope.

Mr. Weissert was made Sergeant Major and later was made Captain by brevet to rank from June 6th, 1864, his commission having been granted "for conspicuous bravery during the Red River expedition and for gallantry at Lake Chicot, June 6th, 1864, and at Nashville, Dec. 16th, 1864." In latter action he was severely wounded by a sharpshooter, receiving a ball in his left leg.

The circumstances under which his wound was received are as follows: when the army was in line of of battle at Nashville, Sergeant Major Weissert traversed the lines to ascertain whether his regiment was properly supplied with ammunition, and when the duty was completed, he received orders from Col. Britton, the commander of the 8th, to remain with headquarters at the rear to make up the regimental returns, then 15 days behind, on account of the constant campaigning of the regiment.

About the same moment the order to advance was given and when the Colonel chanced some time later, to go along the line, he found Sergeant Major Weissert in his position with the regiment. He reminded him of his Order and received the following reply: "I deemed this my place and thought I would go with the regiment and finish the reports after the battle." Soon after he was with the advance of the line which opened the battle of Nashville, on the extreme right Dec. 15th, 1864. About two in the afternoon he was wounded as stated. He was carried to the rear and sent from the field hospital to New Albany, Ind. When able, he was moved moved to Wisconsin under special requisition from the Governor of Wisconsin. Commander Weissert was appointed to a cadetship at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, but having been unable to accept the appointment on account of wounds received in the battle, declined the same. He suffered much from the wound, it never having healed and the bullet still remains in the leg.

Commander Weissert is the son of Michael Weissert and Magdalene Bernard, a daughter of France who came to this country in her childhood. He was married Nov. 24, 1869, to Mary E. Trautwin and their only surviving child was Florence E., a son, George, having drowned at 15 years of age.

He continued his law studies and was admitted to practice in the circuit courts of Wisconsin in 1869. The next year he was admitted to practice before the higher courts of the state and the U. S. Supreme Court. He received several civil appointments and served the Milwaukee School Board for two terms.

He joined the G.A.R. in 1866 and served in several high offices through the 1880's. He was:

Commander of the Department of Wisconsin, 1888-1889

Senior vice-commander-in-chief of the Grand Army of the Republic, 1892-93.

He also served on the commission establishing the military park at Vicksburg.

He passed away April 24, 1923. It is in his eulogy, I find out more about him. He was a man of honor, integrity, godliness.

This is his eulogy, he was a remarkable man similar to my father Carl H. Wojahn. While reading this you will gain respect and admiration for him.

THIS IS ABOUT MY CIVIL WAR ANCESTOR:

AUGUSTA GORDON WEISSERT

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Eulogy for Augusta Gordon Weissert:

Address by James Oastler, D.O.

Delivered in Calvary Presbyterian Church - April 27, 1923

August 7, 1843 -- April 24, 1923 are the dates that mark the opening and the closing of Mr. Weissert's earthly career. Only a short while ago, he made a statement which I myself like to think about for just a moment now. It is one of those happy, victorious, statements that the family and all of us might well cherish as a memorial of him.

Looking back, contemplatively over those seventy-nine years, bounded on the other hand by 1843, on the other by 1923, very likely '61-'65 stood out in bold relief. (It were right that it should) Looking back, contemplatively over those seventy-nine years, there was awakened within him a keen sense of thankfulness to God, who had so wondrously led and sustained him and he said, " If I had to do it all over again, I would do the same thing. I would follow the same course."

If I had my life to do over again I would be like him, I have had my challenges however they make me the person I am today. I have been blessed, with my parents, my brothers, friends, children and grandchildren.

"Frankly, I do not wonder that he was able to make such a happy, victorious statement. I do not wonder. It needs no comment of mine, or yours, who are here today, to indicate that his life had absorbing interest for his home, and value for his fellow man, his God and his country.

Born in Canton, Ohio, (even we of Wisconsin will admit he chose a choice state in which to be born); educated in Wisconsin, a graduate of the High School in Racine and the University of Michigan; admitted to the Bar, 1869' served better than four years in the Civil War with the Eighth Wisconsin Volunteers, the Eagle Regiment; was brevetted a captain for bravery in the battlefield, received an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point from Abraham Lincoln, but was forced to decline, because of wounds received in battle.

A member of the Grand Army of the Republic since 1866. Commander of the Department of Wisconsin, 1888-1889, Senior vice-commander-in-chief of the Grand Army of the Republic, 1892-93.

Established as a lawyer in Milwaukee since 1876. Elected presidential elector at large for Wisconsin. Was school commissioner of Milwaukee for four years. Was presidential appointee on the Board of Visitors to the United States Military Academy at West Point.

Was a member of the National Military Park Commission that had entire responsibility for that wonderful National Military Park at Vicksburg and represented Wisconsin on that Commission. This latter event was the only one that I had a pleasure of rejoicing with him. I remember the joy in his heart when he and Mrs. Weissert visited the Military Park at Vicksburg and their daughter Florence unveiled the beautiful Wisconsin monument.

So the events of his life ran.

Do you wonder that he said, "If I had to do it all over again, I would do the same thing. I would follow the same course?"

Would not anyone of us be glad to have lived through it once like Mr. Weissert to be glad to live all over again, if so be, God were ever to allow such a privielege to mortals!! You would vote it was all public service, not highly paid, but decidely useful. It was all the happiness of public service !

Mr. Weissert had four paramount interests--God and Country---Home and Church. These were life to him.

If any one of you want to see right into the heart of him, then listen to the convictions expressed not in my language, but in his, and expressed by me, may I say, or with the purpose to eulogize Mr. Weissert (that I have been forbidden to do), expressed in my hope that my generation and yours may imbibe the spirit of these convictions and be governed by them, both in individual and national affairs. Here they are:

"Life is made happy (and every one who remembers him knows that he was happy, always happy, despite everything always happy), "life is made happy only by friendship and service. Money is good only in its wise expenditure and for others."

"I always felt that service for my fellows, so far as ability lay, brought me the greatest reward."

"I have felt repaid that I devoted my life to public service."

He was a good soldier, was he not, in the highest sense of the word !"

We thank God, we all thank God, and rejoice that God put his hand upon him, directed him, energized him with nobility of faith and purpose that flowered forth into useful, humanitarian service for God and Country, Home and Church.

With our thankfulness is mingled a prayer of petition that his mantle may fall upon us, that the state, in these perplexing days may be guided aright, that our youth may bring it unswerving, unselfish devotion, as did the fathers before them and that God may be glorified.

And now the other word I want to say has to do with a text of Scripture from the New Testament, Philippians III, verse eleven:

"If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead."

Whatever else the particular passage may be it is certainly an intimate piece of writing, which reveals the inner spirit of its author. It lays bare the deepest desire of his heart. The sentence from which this text is taken is a very long one, but we can extract from it the main trend of thought in a few words.

"I count all things loss," says the apostle, "beside the knowledge of Christ my Lord. Everything else is of little account to me, so that I may win Christ and know Him in the power of his risen life, in fellowship with the spirit of his suffering, so that, if possible, I too, may attain to the resurrection of the dead."

"Not as though I had already attained," he goes on to say, "But I follow after that, in the end, I may reach the high calling of God in Jesus Christ."

In other words, the New Testament does not speak of the hereafter as A LIFE WHICH IS OURS, WHETHER WE ARE WORTHY OF IT OR NOT. IT IS A PRIZE TO BE WON. IT IS A HEIGHT TO BE CLIMBED, A BATTLE TO BE FOUGHT. IT IS A WONDERFUL INHERITANCE into which we MAY ENTER THROUGH Lord Jesus Christ.

If Mr. Weissert's death might avail to sound the new battle cry, to arouse in anyone here, some spiritual aspirations or might avail to awaken a determination that YOU too, will throw yourself unselfishly and courageously into the world battle for national integrity and truth, for God and Country, for Home and Church, then I am sure that he would feel that his final influence was the highest and the best.

May such be his final benediction.

There are one thousand and one things that occur to me to say about A. G. Weissert and that will occur to you to say, to and from Forest Home." (This was the cemetery he was buried in) "I add to this one word. He himself was a good soldier of Jesus Christ. He endured hardship and suffering as a good soldier. He kept the faith. He has received the crown of righteousness reserved in Heaven for him.

Deep as is our sorrow and deep is our sense of loneliness will be, there is no note of despair or defeat to be sounded in this service. It is the note of victory, the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

His battle scarred, worn out body we lay in the grave. His spirit we think of amid the company of the redeemed. For his wife and daughter and all the members of his home and family, we invoke the abiding presence and sustaining grace of God.

And finally, thanks be to God who giveth us such a victory, through our Lord Jesus Christ."

E.B. Wolcott Post No. 1, Grand Army of the Republic, conducted the service at Forest Home Cemetery closing with the "Taps."

--

"As I retyped this ...I thought a lot about our soldiers, fathers, those that gave and continue to give unselfishly of themselves. Our soldiers are still among us ...in memories..and in spirit. They will never be forgotten...and they too probably would say, I have no regrets.

Nothing can take your memories away, no one can, so our soldiers continue to live.

The Soldier like my Great-Great Uncle gave much and did not expect much in return and they gave their all!"  (Carlene M. Wojahn)

If you want anymore infomation on my Civil War Ancestor check out Augusta G. Weissert

From Soldiers and Citizens Album of Biographical Record, Grand Army Publishing Co., 1890