LaGrange

Battle Of
West Point

Colonel Oscar H. LaGrange

        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