Oscar Hugh LaGrange was born in
N. Y. but migrated to Wisconsin prior to the war. He entered the army as Capt. in the 4th
Wisconsin Cavalry Reg. on July 2, 1861. December 1861, he transferred to the 1st
Wisconsin Cavalry reg. with the rank of major. He was promoted to Lt. Colonel.
on June 12 1862 and full Colonel .February 5,1863.
His 1st Wisconsin Cavalry
Reg. served under Gen. Wm. T. Sherman, during the Atlanta campaign in the summer
of 1864. LaGrange was wounded and captured at Rocky Face Bridge in North Georgia
and spent several months in Confederate hospitals and prison camps he was
exchanged in time to participate in the last and largest Cavalry campaign of the
war. The official designation of Col. LaGrange command was 1st brigade 2nd div.
of the Cavalry corps. Federal military division of Mississippi as the main
federal column march on Columbus, LaGrange brigade composed of the 1st Wisconsin,
7th Kentucky, and 2 and 4th Indiana. LaGrange was chosen to capture West Point
with its valuable R.R. yards and bridges. LaGrange ordered 3 regiments. to assault
Ft. Tyler while he led the 4th Indiana in a dash across the wagon bridge to
secure a footing on the east side of the Chattahoochee River. As he re-crossed the
bridge a shot from one of the fort cannons killed LaGrange horse and stunned the
Col.
Undetermined he renewed the attack on the fort and succeeded in over
running it about 6:00 p.m. Col. LaGrange showed remarkable curiosity to ward
both civilian and captured Confederate soldiers, he posted guards to protect
citizens property spared in the R.R. cart spared from burning because of it
proximity to the local hotel, and even ordered his troops to roll burning rail
cars away from private buildings. When he resumed his march on April the 17th he
invited captured Confederate Officers to ride with him at the head of the
column. Colonel LaGrange retired from the army soon after the war and entered
Wisconsin politics, he was never as successful as a politician as he was in
military and he eventual move to California where he became administrator of a home
for retired soldiers.
Source:
Donald J. Downs, "Last Fort or Redoubt Battle of
the War Between the States"
Variously ascribed contributing writers to Fort Tyler
history
