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John Azor Kellogg (March 16,1828 - Feb 10, 1883) was a Democratic politican, lawyer, and Union Army general from Wisconsin. He was a Union brigadier general in the American Civil War who served with distinction in the infamous Iron Brigade. Kellogg participated in the battles of Gainesville, Second Bull Run, South Mountain, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Rappahannock Station, Mine Run, and Gettysburg. His autobiographical writings were later compiled into a book by the Wisconsin History Commission entitled Capture and Escape describing how he was wounded at the Battle of the Wilderness, taken prisoner by the Confederate Army, and eventually escaped.

Early Years

John Azor Kellogg was born at Bethany, in Wayne County, Pennsylvania, the son of Nathan and Sarah (Quidor) Kellogg. Nathan's father was an American soldier in the Revolutionary War; he himself a tavern-keeper, stage proprietor, and general contractor. The Kelloggs moved to Wisconsin Territory about 1840, settling at Prairie du Chien. John's early youth was spent in farm work, his education being confined to three winters at a private school.

Beginning Law Career

When eighteen years of age, Kellogg began studying law, completing his studies in Prairie du Sac. Kellogg was one of the founders of the Wisconsin Republican Party, being a member of the Madison convention of September 5, 1855. Admitted to the bar in 1857 in his twenty-ninth year, Kellogg opened a law office in Mauston, Wisconsin. In November, 1860, he was elected District Attorney of Juneau County, but resigned in April, 1861, to join the Union Army.

The Civil War

John Kellogg was elected First Lieutenant of the Lemon-weir Minute Men, an organization that became Company K of the Sixth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, Kellogg's commission being dated May 3rd, 1861. His good friend Rufus R. Dawes spearheaded the effort and was elected Captain. The several companies composing the regiment were mustered into Federal service at Camp Randall, in Madison, on the 16th of July, and twelve days later left for the front. On December 18 following, Lieutenant Kellogg was promoted to be Captain of Company I of the 6th Wisconsin. Kellogg served actively with Company I until January, 1863; but was then appointed Adjutant-General of the Iron Brigade, holding that position until the following January when he returned to duty with the 6th Wisconsin. Captain Kellogg was captured at the Battle of the Wilderness on May 5th, 1864. He was imprisoned successively at Lynchburg and Danville (Virginia), Macon (Georgia), and Charleston (South Carolina) prisons. Kellogg escaped on October 5th, 18634 by jumping from a train with three other Union prisoners while being transported to Columbia, South Carolina. Moving by night, Kellogg made his safe return to the Union lines at Calhoun, Georgia on October 26th, 1864.

While Captain Kellogg was absent in captivity, Kellogg was twice promoted: September 1st, 1864 to Major; October 19, to Lieutenant-Colonel. Soon after assuming the last-named office (November), he was made Colonel of the regiment.

Being assigned to the command of the Iron Brigade in February, 1865, he led that redoubtable organization in the battles of Hatcher's Run, Boydon Plank Road, Gravel Run, Five Forks, High Bridge, and Appomattox. On the 9th of April he was deservedly brevetted brigadier-general, "for highly meritorious service during the campaign terminating with the surrender of the insurgent army under General Robert E. Lee," and on July 14 following was mustered out. Being appointed United States Pension Agent at La Crosse, General Kellogg removed to that city in the spring of 1866, remaining there until July, 1875, having resigned his position in April of that year. He now settled in Wausau, successfully resuming the practice of his profession, and in 1879-80 represented his district in the State Senate. His death occurred at Wausau, February 10, 1883, in the fifty-fifth year of his age. Married on October 5, 1852, to Miss Adelaide Worthington of Prairie du Sac, he left three children of the five born unto them. General Kellogg published a narrative of the adventures, in a series of articles in the La Crosse Leader, between September 25, 1869, and January 15, 1870.