Joshua James Guppey (August 27, 1820December 8, 1893) was an American lawyer, politician, and

Wisconsin Wisconsin () is a state in the upper Midwestern United States. Wisconsin is the 25th-largest state by total area and the 20th-most populous. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake M ...

pioneer. He served as a

Union Army During the American Civil War, the Union Army, also known as the Federal Army and the Northern Army, referring to the United States Army, was the land force that fought to preserve the Union of the collective states. It proved essential to th ...

officer in the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union ("the North") and the Confederacy ("the South"), the latter formed by states ...

, and received an honorary brevet to the rank of

brigadier general Brigadier general or Brigade general is a military rank used in many countries. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries. The rank is usually above a colonel, and below a major general or divisional general. When appointed ...

Biography

Guppey was born on August 27, 1820, in

Dover, New Hampshire Dover is a city in Strafford County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 32,741 at the 2020 census, making it the largest city in the New Hampshire Seacoast region and the fifth largest municipality in the state. It is the county se ...

. He was a descendant of Joshua Guppey, who emigrated from England in 1720. Guppey graduated from

Dartmouth College Dartmouth College (; ) is a private research university in Hanover, New Hampshire. Established in 1769 by Eleazar Wheelock, it is one of the nine colonial colleges chartered before the American Revolution. Although founded to educate Native ...

in 1843. Guppey moved to

Columbus, Wisconsin Columbus is a city in Columbia (mostly) and Dodge Counties in the south-central part of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The population was 5,540 at the 2020 census. All of this population resided in the Columbia County portion of the city. Columbu ...

, in 1846 and opened a law practice before moving to

Portage, Wisconsin Portage is a city in and the county seat of Columbia County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 10,581 at the 2020 census making it the largest city in Columbia County. The city is part of the Madison Metropolitan Statistical Area. Po ...

, in 1849. Guppey died of influenza and pneumonia in Portage on December 8, 1893, and is interred at

Pine Hill Cemetery (Dover, New Hampshire) Pine Hill Cemetery is located in Dover, New Hampshire, and was first used as a burial ground in 1730. Notable interments Following are interments of notable people: * James Monroe Buckley (1836–1920), American Methodist doctor, preacher, and ed ...

Military career

Guppey was commissioned an officer in the Union Army in 1861 and was assigned to the

10th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment The 10th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army in the western theater of the American Civil War. Service The 10th Wisconsin was raised at Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and mustered into Federal service Octobe ...

. In 1862, he was promoted to

colonel Colonel (abbreviated as Col., Col or COL) is a senior military officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations. In the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, a colonel was typically in charge o ...

and assumed command of the 23rd Wisconsin Infantry Regiment at

Camp Randall Camp Randall was a United States Army base in Madison, Wisconsin, the largest staging point for Wisconsin troops entering the American Civil War. At this camp fresh volunteers received quick training before heading off to join the Union Army. Also ...

. The regiment, with Guppey in command, later took part in the

Battle of Fort Hindman The Battle of Arkansas Post, also known as Battle of Fort Hindman, was fought from January 9 to 11, 1863, near the mouth of the Arkansas River at Arkansas Post, Arkansas, as part of the Vicksburg Campaign of the American Civil War. Confederat ...

and the Battle of Champion Hill. His second-in-command during the Battle of Champion Hill was future U.S. Postmaster General and Secretary of Interior

William Freeman Vilas William Freeman Vilas (July 9, 1840August 27, 1908) was an American lawyer, politician, and United States Senator. In the U.S. Senate, he represented the state of Wisconsin for one term, from 1891 to 1897. As a prominent Bourbon Democrat, he wa ...

. Guppey later contracted

malaria Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease that affects humans and other animals. Malaria causes symptoms that typically include fever, tiredness, vomiting, and headaches. In severe cases, it can cause jaundice, seizures, coma, or death. S ...

and was shot below his left knee in 1863 in the

Battle of Bayou Bourbeux The Battle of Bayou Bourbeux also known as the Battle of Grand Coteau, Battle of Boggy Creek or the Battle of Carrion Crow Bayou (Carencro is the Cajun French word for buzzard), which is present day Carencro Bayou, was fought in southwestern L ...

, which incapacitated him for a time. Afterward, he took part in the Red River Campaign. In 1865, he participated in the

Battle of Fort Blakely The Battle of Fort Blakeley took place from April 2 to April 9, 1865, in Baldwin County, Alabama, about north of Spanish Fort, Alabama, as part of the Mobile Campaign of the American Civil War. At the time, Blakeley, Alabama, had been the co ...

. Guppey was mustered out of the volunteers on July 4, 1865. On January 13, 1866,

President President most commonly refers to: *President (corporate title) * President (education), a leader of a college or university * President (government title) President may also refer to: Automobiles * Nissan President, a 1966–2010 Japanese ...

Andrew Johnson nominated Guppey for appointment to the grade of brevet

of volunteers to rank from March 13, 1865, and the

United States Senate The United States Senate is the upper chamber of the United States Congress, with the House of Representatives being the lower chamber. Together they compose the national bicameral legislature of the United States. The composition and pow ...

confirmed the appointment on March 12, 1866. After the war, Guppey was active in the

Wisconsin Army National Guard The Wisconsin Army National Guard ("Guard") has dual state and federal roles, and is jointly funded and maintained by both governments. Its federal mission is to provide trained units to the United States Army in time of war or national emergenc ...

until retiring in 1893.

Political career

Guppey became a probate judge in

Columbia County, Wisconsin Columbia County is a county located in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of the 2020 census, the population was 58,490. Its county seat and largest city is Portage. The county was created in 1846 as part of Wisconsin Territory. Columbia County i ...

, in 1849. The following year, he was named a county judge and remained one until 1858. From 1858 to 1861 and again from 1866 to 1873, he was superintendent of Portage schools. In 1862, Guppey was the Democratic candidate for the

United States House of Representatives The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the Senate being the upper chamber. Together they ...

from

Wisconsin's 2nd congressional district Wisconsin's 2nd congressional district is a congressional district of the United States House of Representatives in southern Wisconsin, covering Dane County, Iowa County, Lafayette County, Sauk County and Green County, as well as portions of ...

. He lost to Ithamar Sloan. After the election, he changed his affiliation to the Republican Party.

References

, - {{DEFAULTSORT:Guppey, Joshua People from Dover, New Hampshire People from Portage, Wisconsin People of Wisconsin in the American Civil War Union Army generals Wisconsin Democrats Wisconsin Republicans Wisconsin lawyers Educators from Wisconsin Wisconsin state court judges Dartmouth College alumni 1820 births 1893 deaths People from Columbus, Wisconsin 19th-century American judges 19th-century American lawyers 19th-century American educators