GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC. WILSON COLWELL POST NO. 38 (La Crosse, Wis.).    RECORDS, 1882-1939.  0.8 cubic feet (2 archives boxes)

Abstract

The Wilson Colwell G.A.R. Post Number 38 (La Crosse, Wis.) was named as a memorial to Captain Wilson Colwell from La Crosse, Wis. It was a post organized under the Grand Army of the Republic (G.A.R.), Department of Wisconsin in July 1882. The last member died in Sept. 1939.

Records contain materials from the national office, the Department of Wisconsin office and the local Wilson Colwell Post Number 38. National materials include encampment material from 1905, music and lyric sheets, a ritual manual and a rules and regulations booklet. Materials from the Dept. of Wisconsin include encampment proceedings (1883; 1904-1907, 1913, and 1931), programs (1931 and 1939) and part of a registration book (1893), as well as rosters (1904 and 1906). Local Colwell Post created materials include a copy from the descriptive book from the Dept. of Wisconsin; financial materials (1882-1900), minutes (1891-1893), a roster (1906), and miscellaneous material.

Acc. No. 2005-44
Donated by the La Crosse County Historical Society, May 2005;
Processed by Anita Taylor Doering, June 2005

History

The members of the GAR Wilson Colwell Post Number 38 (La Crosse, Wis.) named their post as a memorial to Captain Wilson Colwell from La Crosse, Wis. He was serving as mayor in April 1861 when he led a group of 119 men to be mustered in the Union Army at Madison, Wis. Thus was born Company B Second Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry. Colwell was killed in 1862 at the Battle of South Mountain.

The Post was organized in July 1882 and disbanded with the death of the last member in Sept. 1939. The Post provided financial aid and camaraderie to its members.

Scope and Content

Records contain materials from the national office, the Department of Wisconsin office and the local Wilson Colwell Post Number 38.

National materials include encampment material from 1905, music and lyric sheets, a ritual manual and a rules and regulations booklet.

Materials from the Dept. of Wisconsin include encampment proceedings (1883; 1904-1907, 1913, and 1931), programs (1931 and 1939) and part of a registration book (1893), as well as rosters (1904 and 1906).

Local Colwell Post created materials include a copy from the descriptive book from the Dept. of Wisconsin; financial materials (1882-1900), minutes (1891-1893), a roster (1906), and miscellaneous material.

Book materials separated from the collection include:

Wisconsin Census Enumeration 1905: Names of Soldiers and Sailors Residing in Wisconsin June 1, 1905

The Grand Army Blue Book Containing the Rules and Regulations of the Grand Army of the Republic… (1884 and 1904 editions)

Related materials found elsewhere at the La Crosse Public Library Archives include:

Mss 33 MacDonald, Margaret. Papers Related to the Wilson Colwell #38 GAR Post of La Crosse, Wisconsin

Personal War Sketches of the Members of Wilson Colvwell Post No. 38 of La Crosse

Wood, Charles C. Complete Transcription of ‘Personal War Sketches of the Members…’

Also available at the Area Research Center, Murphy Library, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse is:

La Crosse SC 75. Grand Army of the Republic. Wilson Colwell Post No. 38 (La Crosse, Wis.). Minutes, 1896-1901.