http://www.usgwarchives.net/sd/sdfiles.htm
GRIGSBY, COL. MELVIN, was born June 8, 1845, at the village of Potosi, Grant county, Wisconsin. When four years of age he moved with his parents on to a farm, where he spent his early youth, attending district and village schools. At the breaking out of the war in 1861, he was anxious to enlist, but his father thought him too young to enlist, and sent him to the Lancaster Institute at
Lancaster, Wisconsin, which, however, did not quench the war fever, and in November, 1861, he enlisted in Co. C, 2d Wisconsin Cavalry, and remained in active service or in confederate prisons until April 13, 1865, when he received his discharge.
He was taken prisoner near Vicksburg, and spent eleven months in prison at Canton, Mississippi, Cahaba, Alabama, Andersonville, Georgia, and
Florence, South Carolina. About six months of his time he spent in Andersonville.
From the last prison at Florence, South Carolina, he escaped on the 10th day of January, 1865, and going south reached Sherman's army on the first day of February. He remained with the army until it reached Goldsboro, and then got permission to accompany General Sherman when he went to Eagle Point to meet General Grant, and from there he came on to Washington and home to
Wisconsin.
His experience while in prison, inspired him to write a book with the title of Smoked Yank, which has brought him considerable notoriety. After leaving the army he attended the university at Madison, Wisconsin, one year, and in 1866 went to the Normal school at Platteville, Wisconsin, where he remained until he graduated in 1869.
He then was employed for one year as principal of the public schools at Horicon, Wisconsin, and held the same position at Darlington and also at Delevan in that state. During this time he had studied law, and at the end of his career as a teacher he entered the law office of Pitt Dewey at Lancaster. In the spring of 1872, he was admitted to the bar, and immediately thereafter started out on horseback in search of a place in which to
locate.
He arrived in Sioux Falls the first Sunday in June, and soon settled the question of residence in favor of this place. He entered into a copartnership with R. F. Pettigrew for the practice of law and in the real estate business, which continued until the fall of 187(). In 1877, in connection with Geo. M. Smith, he established the Dakota Pantagraph at Sioux Falls, but sold out a few months after. Mr. Smith remained in copartnership with Mr. Grigsby for nearly six years, during which time they started the Bank
of Egan, at Egan, South Dakota, with Mr. Grigsby as president for the first year.
He also started the Union County Bank at Elk Point, and was its first president; was one of the principal promoters of the Dakota National Bank in Sioux Falls, and was its first president. He has been very active in political life. In 1886, the Minnehaha county republican convention instructed its delegates to the territorial congressional convention to present his name to the
convention for nomination. In 1886, he was a pronounced candidate for the congressional nomination. The convention was held at Watertown, and it was one of the notable conventions of territorial days.
He had a large following and nearly votes enough to secure the nomination. The same year he was elected to the territorial council, and served in that capacity with marked ability. He
was elected alderman from the Third ward at the first city election in 1883, and the same year was a delegate to the constitutional convention held at Sioux Falls, September 4. Up to the time of the holding of the republican state convention in 1894, he had been a Republican, but not liking the financial plank in the republican platform he joined the Populists, believing the free coinage
of silver to be the most important issue before the American people.
He was nominated by the party of his adoption for the state senate in 1894, but went down before the republican majority which swept the political ranks in Minnehaha county that year. In 1896 he was nominated on the populist state ticket for attorney general. He stumped the state for Bryan and free silver, and when the votes were canvassed he had the pleasure of knowing that he had more votes than
any other candidate upon the ticket in his own county and in the state.
He was elected and performed the duties of his office until the war with Spain broke out, when he promptly tendered his services to the government, asked for a colonel's commission and proposed to raise a cavalry regiment of cowboys for the military service. April 11, he went to Washington, where he learned that a bill inspired by Theodore Roosevelt was before Congress providing for the organization of a regiment of cowboys.
Seeing that only one regiment of special volunteers could be raised under the provisions of the bill, Grigsby had his friends among the congressmen during the last forty minutes before a vote was taken propose an amendment which was adopted "authorizing the secretary of war to organize companies, troops, battalions or regiments possessing special qualifications from the Nation at large, including the appointment of the officers thereof." This bill was passed on April 22, and a week later he
received his commission as colonel, with instructions to recruit the regiment of the Third United States Volunteer Cavalry.
His force was mustered into service May 19, and the next day left for Chickamauga, the southern rendezvous. This regiment, known as "Grigsby's Cowboys" was a splendid regiment, and before long
had the reputation of being the best drilled and equipped of any at the park, and was frequently compared with Col. Roosevelt's regiment, known as "Teddv's Terrors," who did valiant service in front of Santiago, and made its colonel governor of New York. But, to the great disappointment of not only Col. Grigsby but of the entire regiment, the war was brought to a close without this regiment being ordered to the front.
But the promptness of Col. Grigsby in not only offering his own services to the government, but in enlisting a body of men inured to hardship, with superior qualifications for the service expected of them, is a tribute to his good judgment, courage and patriotism that will not soon be forgotten in South Dakota. He was popular with his men, and when the regiment was mustered out its officers presented him with a beautiful sword. During his absence at Chickamauga his son, Sioux K. Grigsby as deputy attorney general, attended to the duties of this office with great ability. The foregoing comprises a brief sketch of the colonel up to date, but when the time comes for the writing of his obituary, many things will undoubtedly have to be added to make his record complete.
GRIGSBY, COL. MELVIN, was born June 8, 1845, at the village of Potosi, Grant county, Wisconsin. When four years of age he moved with his parents on to a farm, where he spent his early youth, attending district and village schools. At the breaking out of the war in 1861, he was anxious to enlist, but his father thought him too young to enlist, and sent him to the Lancaster Institute at
Lancaster, Wisconsin, which, however, did not quench the war fever, and in November, 1861, he enlisted in Co. C, 2d Wisconsin Cavalry, and remained in active service or in confederate prisons until April 13, 1865, when he received his discharge.
He was taken prisoner near Vicksburg, and spent eleven months in prison at Canton, Mississippi, Cahaba, Alabama, Andersonville, Georgia, and
Florence, South Carolina. About six months of his time he spent in Andersonville.
From the last prison at Florence, South Carolina, he escaped on the 10th day of January, 1865, and going south reached Sherman's army on the first day of February. He remained with the army until it reached Goldsboro, and then got permission to accompany General Sherman when he went to Eagle Point to meet General Grant, and from there he came on to Washington and home to
Wisconsin.
His experience while in prison, inspired him to write a book with the title of Smoked Yank, which has brought him considerable notoriety. After leaving the army he attended the university at Madison, Wisconsin, one year, and in 1866 went to the Normal school at Platteville, Wisconsin, where he remained until he graduated in 1869.
He then was employed for one year as principal of the public schools at Horicon, Wisconsin, and held the same position at Darlington and also at Delevan in that state. During this time he had studied law, and at the end of his career as a teacher he entered the law office of Pitt Dewey at Lancaster. In the spring of 1872, he was admitted to the bar, and immediately thereafter started out on horseback in search of a place in which to
locate.
He arrived in Sioux Falls the first Sunday in June, and soon settled the question of residence in favor of this place. He entered into a copartnership with R. F. Pettigrew for the practice of law and in the real estate business, which continued until the fall of 187(). In 1877, in connection with Geo. M. Smith, he established the Dakota Pantagraph at Sioux Falls, but sold out a few months after. Mr. Smith remained in copartnership with Mr. Grigsby for nearly six years, during which time they started the Bank
of Egan, at Egan, South Dakota, with Mr. Grigsby as president for the first year.
He also started the Union County Bank at Elk Point, and was its first president; was one of the principal promoters of the Dakota National Bank in Sioux Falls, and was its first president. He has been very active in political life. In 1886, the Minnehaha county republican convention instructed its delegates to the territorial congressional convention to present his name to the
convention for nomination. In 1886, he was a pronounced candidate for the congressional nomination. The convention was held at Watertown, and it was one of the notable conventions of territorial days.
He had a large following and nearly votes enough to secure the nomination. The same year he was elected to the territorial council, and served in that capacity with marked ability. He
was elected alderman from the Third ward at the first city election in 1883, and the same year was a delegate to the constitutional convention held at Sioux Falls, September 4. Up to the time of the holding of the republican state convention in 1894, he had been a Republican, but not liking the financial plank in the republican platform he joined the Populists, believing the free coinage
of silver to be the most important issue before the American people.
He was nominated by the party of his adoption for the state senate in 1894, but went down before the republican majority which swept the political ranks in Minnehaha county that year. In 1896 he was nominated on the populist state ticket for attorney general. He stumped the state for Bryan and free silver, and when the votes were canvassed he had the pleasure of knowing that he had more votes than
any other candidate upon the ticket in his own county and in the state.
He was elected and performed the duties of his office until the war with Spain broke out, when he promptly tendered his services to the government, asked for a colonel's commission and proposed to raise a cavalry regiment of cowboys for the military service. April 11, he went to Washington, where he learned that a bill inspired by Theodore Roosevelt was before Congress providing for the organization of a regiment of cowboys.
Seeing that only one regiment of special volunteers could be raised under the provisions of the bill, Grigsby had his friends among the congressmen during the last forty minutes before a vote was taken propose an amendment which was adopted "authorizing the secretary of war to organize companies, troops, battalions or regiments possessing special qualifications from the Nation at large, including the appointment of the officers thereof." This bill was passed on April 22, and a week later he
received his commission as colonel, with instructions to recruit the regiment of the Third United States Volunteer Cavalry.
His force was mustered into service May 19, and the next day left for Chickamauga, the southern rendezvous. This regiment, known as "Grigsby's Cowboys" was a splendid regiment, and before long
had the reputation of being the best drilled and equipped of any at the park, and was frequently compared with Col. Roosevelt's regiment, known as "Teddv's Terrors," who did valiant service in front of Santiago, and made its colonel governor of New York. But, to the great disappointment of not only Col. Grigsby but of the entire regiment, the war was brought to a close without this regiment being ordered to the front.
But the promptness of Col. Grigsby in not only offering his own services to the government, but in enlisting a body of men inured to hardship, with superior qualifications for the service expected of them, is a tribute to his good judgment, courage and patriotism that will not soon be forgotten in South Dakota. He was popular with his men, and when the regiment was mustered out its officers presented him with a beautiful sword. During his absence at Chickamauga his son, Sioux K. Grigsby as deputy attorney general, attended to the duties of this office with great ability. The foregoing comprises a brief sketch of the colonel up to date, but when the time comes for the writing of his obituary, many things will undoubtedly have to be added to make his record complete.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/sd/sdfiles.htm
GRIGSBY, COL. MELVIN, was born June 8, 1845, at the village of Potosi, Grant county, Wisconsin. When four years of age he moved with his parents on to a farm, where he spent his early youth, attending district and village schools. At the breaking out of the war in 1861, he was anxious to enlist, but his father thought him too young to enlist, and sent him to the Lancaster Institute at
Lancaster, Wisconsin, which, however, did not quench the war fever, and in November, 1861, he enlisted in Co. C, 2d Wisconsin Cavalry, and remained in active service or in confederate prisons until April 13, 1865, when he received his discharge.
He was taken prisoner near Vicksburg, and spent eleven months in prison at Canton, Mississippi, Cahaba, Alabama, Andersonville, Georgia, and
Florence, South Carolina. About six months of his time he spent in Andersonville.
From the last prison at Florence, South Carolina, he escaped on the 10th day of January, 1865, and going south reached Sherman's army on the first day of February. He remained with the army until it reached Goldsboro, and then got permission to accompany General Sherman when he went to Eagle Point to meet General Grant, and from there he came on to Washington and home to
Wisconsin.
His experience while in prison, inspired him to write a book with the title of Smoked Yank, which has brought him considerable notoriety. After leaving the army he attended the university at Madison, Wisconsin, one year, and in 1866 went to the Normal school at Platteville, Wisconsin, where he remained until he graduated in 1869.
He then was employed for one year as principal of the public schools at Horicon, Wisconsin, and held the same position at Darlington and also at Delevan in that state. During this time he had studied law, and at the end of his career as a teacher he entered the law office of Pitt Dewey at Lancaster. In the spring of 1872, he was admitted to the bar, and immediately thereafter started out on horseback in search of a place in which to
locate.
He arrived in Sioux Falls the first Sunday in June, and soon settled the question of residence in favor of this place. He entered into a copartnership with R. F. Pettigrew for the practice of law and in the real estate business, which continued until the fall of 187(). In 1877, in connection with Geo. M. Smith, he established the Dakota Pantagraph at Sioux Falls, but sold out a few months after. Mr. Smith remained in copartnership with Mr. Grigsby for nearly six years, during which time they started the Bank
of Egan, at Egan, South Dakota, with Mr. Grigsby as president for the first year.
He also started the Union County Bank at Elk Point, and was its first president; was one of the principal promoters of the Dakota National Bank in Sioux Falls, and was its first president. He has been very active in political life. In 1886, the Minnehaha county republican convention instructed its delegates to the territorial congressional convention to present his name to the
convention for nomination. In 1886, he was a pronounced candidate for the congressional nomination. The convention was held at Watertown, and it was one of the notable conventions of territorial days.
He had a large following and nearly votes enough to secure the nomination. The same year he was elected to the territorial council, and served in that capacity with marked ability. He
was elected alderman from the Third ward at the first city election in 1883, and the same year was a delegate to the constitutional convention held at Sioux Falls, September 4. Up to the time of the holding of the republican state convention in 1894, he had been a Republican, but not liking the financial plank in the republican platform he joined the Populists, believing the free coinage
of silver to be the most important issue before the American people.
He was nominated by the party of his adoption for the state senate in 1894, but went down before the republican majority which swept the political ranks in Minnehaha county that year. In 1896 he was nominated on the populist state ticket for attorney general. He stumped the state for Bryan and free silver, and when the votes were canvassed he had the pleasure of knowing that he had more votes than
any other candidate upon the ticket in his own county and in the state.
He was elected and performed the duties of his office until the war with Spain broke out, when he promptly tendered his services to the government, asked for a colonel's commission and proposed to raise a cavalry regiment of cowboys for the military service. April 11, he went to Washington, where he learned that a bill inspired by Theodore Roosevelt was before Congress providing for the organization of a regiment of cowboys.
Seeing that only one regiment of special volunteers could be raised under the provisions of the bill, Grigsby had his friends among the congressmen during the last forty minutes before a vote was taken propose an amendment which was adopted "authorizing the secretary of war to organize companies, troops, battalions or regiments possessing special qualifications from the Nation at large, including the appointment of the officers thereof." This bill was passed on April 22, and a week later he
received his commission as colonel, with instructions to recruit the regiment of the Third United States Volunteer Cavalry.
His force was mustered into service May 19, and the next day left for Chickamauga, the southern rendezvous. This regiment, known as "Grigsby's Cowboys" was a splendid regiment, and before long
had the reputation of being the best drilled and equipped of any at the park, and was frequently compared with Col. Roosevelt's regiment, known as "Teddv's Terrors," who did valiant service in front of Santiago, and made its colonel governor of New York. But, to the great disappointment of not only Col. Grigsby but of the entire regiment, the war was brought to a close without this regiment being ordered to the front.
But the promptness of Col. Grigsby in not only offering his own services to the government, but in enlisting a body of men inured to hardship, with superior qualifications for the service expected of them, is a tribute to his good judgment, courage and patriotism that will not soon be forgotten in South Dakota. He was popular with his men, and when the regiment was mustered out its officers presented him with a beautiful sword. During his absence at Chickamauga his son, Sioux K. Grigsby as deputy attorney general, attended to the duties of this office with great ability. The foregoing comprises a brief sketch of the colonel up to date, but when the time comes for the writing of his obituary, many things will undoubtedly have to be added to make his record complete.
GRIGSBY, COL. MELVIN, was born June 8, 1845, at the village of Potosi, Grant county, Wisconsin. When four years of age he moved with his parents on to a farm, where he spent his early youth, attending district and village schools. At the breaking out of the war in 1861, he was anxious to enlist, but his father thought him too young to enlist, and sent him to the Lancaster Institute at
Lancaster, Wisconsin, which, however, did not quench the war fever, and in November, 1861, he enlisted in Co. C, 2d Wisconsin Cavalry, and remained in active service or in confederate prisons until April 13, 1865, when he received his discharge.
He was taken prisoner near Vicksburg, and spent eleven months in prison at Canton, Mississippi, Cahaba, Alabama, Andersonville, Georgia, and
Florence, South Carolina. About six months of his time he spent in Andersonville.
From the last prison at Florence, South Carolina, he escaped on the 10th day of January, 1865, and going south reached Sherman's army on the first day of February. He remained with the army until it reached Goldsboro, and then got permission to accompany General Sherman when he went to Eagle Point to meet General Grant, and from there he came on to Washington and home to
Wisconsin.
His experience while in prison, inspired him to write a book with the title of Smoked Yank, which has brought him considerable notoriety. After leaving the army he attended the university at Madison, Wisconsin, one year, and in 1866 went to the Normal school at Platteville, Wisconsin, where he remained until he graduated in 1869.
He then was employed for one year as principal of the public schools at Horicon, Wisconsin, and held the same position at Darlington and also at Delevan in that state. During this time he had studied law, and at the end of his career as a teacher he entered the law office of Pitt Dewey at Lancaster. In the spring of 1872, he was admitted to the bar, and immediately thereafter started out on horseback in search of a place in which to
locate.
He arrived in Sioux Falls the first Sunday in June, and soon settled the question of residence in favor of this place. He entered into a copartnership with R. F. Pettigrew for the practice of law and in the real estate business, which continued until the fall of 187(). In 1877, in connection with Geo. M. Smith, he established the Dakota Pantagraph at Sioux Falls, but sold out a few months after. Mr. Smith remained in copartnership with Mr. Grigsby for nearly six years, during which time they started the Bank
of Egan, at Egan, South Dakota, with Mr. Grigsby as president for the first year.
He also started the Union County Bank at Elk Point, and was its first president; was one of the principal promoters of the Dakota National Bank in Sioux Falls, and was its first president. He has been very active in political life. In 1886, the Minnehaha county republican convention instructed its delegates to the territorial congressional convention to present his name to the
convention for nomination. In 1886, he was a pronounced candidate for the congressional nomination. The convention was held at Watertown, and it was one of the notable conventions of territorial days.
He had a large following and nearly votes enough to secure the nomination. The same year he was elected to the territorial council, and served in that capacity with marked ability. He
was elected alderman from the Third ward at the first city election in 1883, and the same year was a delegate to the constitutional convention held at Sioux Falls, September 4. Up to the time of the holding of the republican state convention in 1894, he had been a Republican, but not liking the financial plank in the republican platform he joined the Populists, believing the free coinage
of silver to be the most important issue before the American people.
He was nominated by the party of his adoption for the state senate in 1894, but went down before the republican majority which swept the political ranks in Minnehaha county that year. In 1896 he was nominated on the populist state ticket for attorney general. He stumped the state for Bryan and free silver, and when the votes were canvassed he had the pleasure of knowing that he had more votes than
any other candidate upon the ticket in his own county and in the state.
He was elected and performed the duties of his office until the war with Spain broke out, when he promptly tendered his services to the government, asked for a colonel's commission and proposed to raise a cavalry regiment of cowboys for the military service. April 11, he went to Washington, where he learned that a bill inspired by Theodore Roosevelt was before Congress providing for the organization of a regiment of cowboys.
Seeing that only one regiment of special volunteers could be raised under the provisions of the bill, Grigsby had his friends among the congressmen during the last forty minutes before a vote was taken propose an amendment which was adopted "authorizing the secretary of war to organize companies, troops, battalions or regiments possessing special qualifications from the Nation at large, including the appointment of the officers thereof." This bill was passed on April 22, and a week later he
received his commission as colonel, with instructions to recruit the regiment of the Third United States Volunteer Cavalry.
His force was mustered into service May 19, and the next day left for Chickamauga, the southern rendezvous. This regiment, known as "Grigsby's Cowboys" was a splendid regiment, and before long
had the reputation of being the best drilled and equipped of any at the park, and was frequently compared with Col. Roosevelt's regiment, known as "Teddv's Terrors," who did valiant service in front of Santiago, and made its colonel governor of New York. But, to the great disappointment of not only Col. Grigsby but of the entire regiment, the war was brought to a close without this regiment being ordered to the front.
But the promptness of Col. Grigsby in not only offering his own services to the government, but in enlisting a body of men inured to hardship, with superior qualifications for the service expected of them, is a tribute to his good judgment, courage and patriotism that will not soon be forgotten in South Dakota. He was popular with his men, and when the regiment was mustered out its officers presented him with a beautiful sword. During his absence at Chickamauga his son, Sioux K. Grigsby as deputy attorney general, attended to the duties of this office with great ability. The foregoing comprises a brief sketch of the colonel up to date, but when the time comes for the writing of his obituary, many things will undoubtedly have to be added to make his record complete.
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