r/USCivilWar

Head over to Spotify or Apple Podcasts to listen to our newest episode on Arthur MacArthur Jr., the Boy Colonel who earned the Medal of Honor at just 18 years old, had a nearly 50 year career in the Army, and fathered Douglas MacArthur. Just search for “Disunion: A Civil War Podcast” on Spotify or Apple Podcasts to find all of our episodes.

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Spencer H. Bronson was born on September 15th, 1842 in Smithville, NY. He was from a large family, and by 1850 they had moved to Wisconsin. At the outbreak of war, 3 of the brothers (Spencer, Eli, and Manly) enlisted in May of 1861 with the 7th Wisconsin (all in Company B).

In August of 1862 the 4th brother (Edward) enlisted in Company K of the 32nd Wisconsin. Shortly after that at 2nd Manassas, Spencer was shot in the little finger of his right hand (the first of 4 wounds). The following month at Antietam, Eli was shot and killed, becoming the first Bronson to die in the war.

Manly was promoted to Sergeant, but contracted a disease and died early in the morning of March 26th (when this letter was written). Manly’s death, together with Eli’s death a few months earlier took a toll on Spencer. In the opening stages of Chancellorsville at the end of April, he was wounded a second time when a bullet passed through his cartridge box strap and lodged in his side.

After spending some time in surgery, the ball was extracted and Spencer returned to his unit in time for Gettysburg… where he was again wounded (3rd time) and captured on July 1st. He was sent first to Libby Prison then Belle Island, but was later exchanged in August of 1863. By the time of his release Spencer had lost all his teeth due to scurvy.

Returning to the 7th, Spencer would become a casualty for the 4th time. At the Wilderness he was shot twice in the abdomen, and despite fears he would die - persevered and was sent to Washington, D.C. for recovery. One of the balls would embed itself under his right hip and remain for the rest of his life.

On the evening of April 14th, he had chosen to attend the show at Ford’s Theatre for a rare chance to see Lincoln and Grant. A firsthand witness to the assassination, Spencer immediately wrote a letter to his sister, and the contents proved historically significant. His detailed account was incredible, and is one of only a handful known that included the precise Latin translation of Booth’s famous words after shooting the President. This article goes into further detail: https://archive.jsonline.com/news/wisconsin/museum-buys-photo-of-civil-war-soldier-who-saw-lincoln-assassinated-b99240263z1-255082211.html.

In May of 1865 Bronson transferred into the Veteran Reserve Corps as an Orderly Sergeant, mustering out in November of that year. Back in Fall River, WI, he started a merchant business with his sole surviving brother Edward, then later became postmaster.

In the 1870s or 80s (records are a bit shaky), he married Aner Louise Perrin and moved to South Dakota, where he became a G.A.R. Post Commander and was later elected to the State Senate. Despite being wounded 4 times in the war and suffering from the effects of his injuries, Spencer lived to be 88, passing away on September 20th, 1930. It’s hard to image a soldier who was witness to more atrocities.

The first two photos are of Spencer, with the second two being of Manly. Then a photocopy of a newspaper article about his life. Finally, a transcription of the letter.