Oscar Hugh La Grange

Oscar H. La Grange
Born	(1837-04-03)April 3, 1837 Fulton, Oswego County, New York, U.S.
Died	January 5, 1915(1915-01-05) (aged 77) New York, New York, U.S.
Buried	Woodlawn Cemetery, Bronx, New York
Allegiance	United States
Service / branch	United States Volunteers Union Army
Years of service	1861–1865
Rank	Colonel, USV Brevet Brig. General, USV
Commands	1st Reg. Wis. Vol. Cavalry
Battles / wars	American Civil War
Spouse(s)	Elizabeth (died 1880)
Children	Hugh La Grange (b. 1867; died 1908)

Oscar Hugh La Grange (April 3, 1837 – January 5, 1915) was an American lawyer and abolitionist activist. He served as a Union Army cavalry officer in the American Civil War, and received an honorary brevet to brigadier general.

Early life and activism

Oscar Hugh La Grange was born on April 3, 1837, in Fulton, Oswego County, New York.^[1] In 1845, he and his family moved to Ripon, Wisconsin.^[2] He attended Ripon College and the University of Wisconsin in Madison.

As a teenager, La Grange became an active abolitionist, participating in the Bleeding Kansas conflicts. In 1860, he helped free abolitionist Sherman Booth from a Milwaukee jail and was on the run for several weeks hiding from law enforcement.^[2]

Civil War service

After the outbreak of the American Civil War in 1861, La Grange joined the Army and was assigned to the 4th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment.^[1] Later that year, he transferred to the 1st Wisconsin Cavalry Regiment.^[1] In 1863, La Grange became a brigade commander in the Army of the Cumberland under the command of future U.S. Representative William Rosecrans. He later took part in the Battle of Chickamauga. In 1864, La Grange was serving in the Battle of Rocky Face Ridge when he was taken prisoner by Joseph Wheeler.

He was exchanged after three months. Returning to action, La Grange and his brigade played a vital role in the Battle of West Point. After this victory, LaGrange's troopers moved east toward LaGrange, Georgia, where they were met by a group of armed women who called themselves the Nancy Harts. After Colonel La Grange assured the women that he would not destroy private property, they backed down and disarmed.

La Grange was mustered out of the volunteers on July 19, 1865.^[3] On January 13, 1866, President Andrew Johnson nominated La Grange for appointment to the grade of brevet brigadier general of volunteers to rank from March 13, 1865, and the United States Senate confirmed the appointment on March 12, 1866.^[3]

Postbellum career

La Grange moved to California shortly after the end of the war. He held several offices there, including a term as superintendent of the San Francisco Mint. He moved to New York in the 1890s and worked as a lawyer.^[2]

Oscar La Grange died of pneumonia on January 5, 1915, in New York City.^[1][4]

References

1. "Wisconsin Soldier Dead". Eau Claire Leader. March 5, 1915. p. 2. Retrieved January 27, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
2. "La Grange, Col. Oscar H., 1837-1915". Wisconsin Historical Society. 11 October 2012. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
3. Eicher, John H.; Eicher, David J. (2001). Civil War High Commands. Stanford University Press. pp. 337, 750. ISBN 0-8047-3641-3.
4. "Mrs. Susan R. La Grange". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. May 13, 1915. p. 4. Retrieved January 26, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.

External links

• La Grange, Col. Oscar H., 1837-1915 at Wisconsin Historical Society