JOSEPH ARNOLD,
Commander of Oshkosh Post No. 10, in 1887, and belonging to Post 241, (1888)
was born in Cleveland, Ohio, May 17, 1842. In 1843 his parents removed
to Milwaukee, residing there until 1851, when they fixed their residence
at Oshkosh. At the latter place the son grew to manhood and, after obtaining
a fair degree of education at the common school, he obtained employment
in Milwaukee, where he was occupied at tile date of the rebel attack on
Fort Sumter. Under the influence of the enthusiasm awakened by that historic
shot, he hastened to enroll himself as a defender of the flag. His name
was on honorable record before Governor Randall was in possession of the
authority of the general Government to raise a quota of troops from Wisconsin.
The date of his regular enlistment was April 16th, 1861, when he enrolled
for three months in Co. H, 1st Wisconsin Infantry, at Milwaukee. The command
was assigned to the Army of the Potomac, and the regiment was involved
in several actions of greater or less importance until July 2nd, when it
participated in the fight commonly designated Martinsburg in official reports,
but better known among the soldiers of the 1st Wisconsin as Falling Waters.
The regiment was detained in service until Aug. 21st, when its surviving
members received honorable discharge at Milwaukee.
To a reflective nature,
even the most limited acquaintance with the responsibilities of actual
war carries its lessons, and for Arnold passed a year in awaiting the progress
of events. The discouraging features of that time made it apparent that
the pressing exigency was for men to do and die for the restoration of
a united country, if need be. About the middle of August, 1862, he enlisted
as a private in Co. E, 26th Wis. Vols. He enrolled at Fond du Lac for three
years service, and his regiment was assigned to the Army of the Potomac,
11th Corps. Mr. Arnold was made Sergeant, and passed the intermediate grades
of promotion to that of 1st Lieutenant, receiving his commission in February,
1865. He was under fire at Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Resaca, Dallas,
Altoona Station, Peach Tree Creek, Savannah, Averysboro and Bentonville,
and in numerous skirmishes and engagements of minor importance, but having
all the dangerous and disagreeable features of more decided warfare. He
passed through the entire period without receiving a wound, and with a
brief hospital experience at Benton Barracks. In June, 1866, at the termination
of hostilities, he was discharged and returned to Oshkosh.
But there are other contingencies
possible in war, and Mr. Arnold was not exempt from some of the most severe.
He was in the fight at Chancellorsville on the day when "Stonewall" Jackson,
tile inceptor and prime spirit in the celebrated flank movement on "the
right" of the splendid Army of General Howard, were drawn up in "company
column" and were thus disposed when the unexpected and totally disastrous
attack was made. The route was complete, but Mr. Arnold succeeded in preserving
the discipline of his squad and the handful of men separated from the command,
held themselves in readiness for duty. General Schurz noticed and called
to them to "stand firm." There will always be a question about the generalship
of that day among the disorganized soldiery, but the little squad from
the 26th Wisconsin was in hot battle all through the contest.
On the first day of the battle of Gettysburg, Mr. Arnold was made
prisoners of war by the 2lst Georgia Infantry, under General Early. His
regiment left Emmettsburg MD., 1st to July the forces under General Meade.
In reaching the suburbs of Gettysburg the roaring of the cannon told the
story of the situation. The command crossed the town and were ordered at
once into the fight. Their onset with the rebels took place at close range,
and with such disastrous results that the order to retreat followed. (See
the letters Joseph Arnold sent to his mother)
In the rush, Mr. Arnold was hurled to the ground and the Major of the regiment
and a comrade fell above him, both surrounded. He released himself to be
greeted with an order to surrender or die. He did the former, and was marched
to the rear with a crowd of other prisoners. Unseen by the guard, he contrived
to secrete his revolver and, after dark, he took it apart, separating it
into as many pieces as possible to prevent the rebels making use of any
portion of it. He distributed the fragments among his friends and afterwards
reconstructed the weapon. On the following morning, parole was offered
to the prisoners, but on conclusion with the officers it was decided to
reject it, as the Government discountenanced the method. Accordingly the
thousands of captives of a bogus government started to march to Staunton,
Va., a distance of 170 miles. The march occupied 16 days and, July 18th,
they reached their point of destination, worn out with the privations and
hardships they had encountered, to be stripped of their equipments. They
were left to camp in the open field, without protection from the heat,
rain or dew. During the next four days 3,100 men were sent to Richmond
by rail. Mr. Arnold was among those who stayed at Staunton until Aug. 4th,
when, with others, he was placed in a freight car loaded with human beings.
On their arrival at Richmond the next morning, the officers were sent to
Libby and privates were placed for a few hours in the tobacco warehouse,
where there was neither light nor ventilation and the suffering was intense.
They were sent thence to Belle Isle in the James River. A whole day passed
without food. Then they did get it, it was meagre in the extreme. Their
daily rations were about the same as at first, except when the Richmond
"ladies" stole their bread on its way to them. But gradually the supply
became reduced in quantity and quality, until they ate raw sweet. potatoes,
corn bread, mice and rats. A dog of the premises was killed and its supposed
destroyers were condemned to eat its flesh as a punishment. They did so
with great satisfaction and asked for the remainder of the dog. Salt sold
for 25 cents for a small spoonful. It was a common thing to see men eat
the rations of sick soldiers, who had swallowed them to poor purpose. Men
died hourly and no day passed without a brutal murder.
Batteries were brought into range, should the prisoners make an
attempt to escape. At Christmas their numbers had been so much increased
by additional prisoners that it was no longer possible for the rebels to
count them, and Mr. Arnold took advantage of the fact to draw rations for
the squad which he controlled making no deductions for the losses. 'Thus
he drew supplies for 83 men and divided the spoils among 50 poor wretches,
thereby keeping them alive. One of the horrors mentioned is, that at one
time the dead lay outside of the tents unburied for 14 days. Their perishing
faces were devoured by a drove of dogs, and the soldiers, unable to bear
the sight any longer, appealed to the commandant at Belle Isle. Two days
later the burial took place. Can it be wondered that Belle Isle was called
Camp Hell and that its occupants fell into a state of existence below that
of beasts? Can those who read these words imagine what joy filled the hearts
of the paroled prisoners on the morning of March 7th, 1864, when their
eyes saw the Stars and Stripes floating from the masthead of the truce
boat, " City of New York ", and they realized that their sufferings were
ended?
In December, 1883, Mr. Arnold was elected Senior Vice-Commander
of Oshkosh Post, and was re-elected the year following. In December, 1885,
he was elected Post Commander and was made his own successor in December,
1886.
Mr. Arnold is of unmixed
German extraction, his parents, Frederick and Margaret (Mark Arnold, being
of Bavarian birth. The former came to America in 1835 and the latter several
years later. They were married in this country and became the parents of
seven children, Joseph being the second in order of birth. The mother is
yet living. The son passed some years subsequent to his return from the
army in various business interests and in 1872 embarked in the enterprise
which he has since prosecuted with success that of bottling mineral waters.
He was married in 1869 to Matilda, daughter of Wm. and Sarah (Slack) Moss.
Mrs. Arnold is of pure English descent, her parent having been born in
England. The family includes a quartette of daughters - Nellie Pearl Lizzie,
May, Olive Etta and Florence Moss. Mr. Arnold has served two years in the
capacity of Alderman of the Second Ward of Oshkosh.
Soldier's and Citizen's Album of Biographical Records, Grand Army Publishing Co. 1888 (Wisconsin Edition) pg. 657 - 659
