Alonzo was the eldest son, and the last of three Civil War-aged boys of Charles Gordon LaBarr, Sr., who enlisted and then died in the Civil War.
He also joined a Wisconsin unit, but his other brothers had joined in Illinois. He was also the oldest son to be killed, and was married at the time of his enlistment. It's my guess from the timing that he wanted to, "do his part," and having lost two brothers early in the War, he was probably also trying to avenge their deaths as well as to save the Union.
The 7th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment was a battle-hardened part of the Iron Brigade, Army of the Potomac, and had lost many men in all of the major battles in the East.
From the timing of his enlistment and then of his death at Laurel Hill, part of the Battle of Spotsylvania Courthouse, he and his fellow recruits were sent as replacements to the Regiment for duty almost immediately. He was killed in fierce fighting only about three months later.
At this point of the War, there were generally also rather hefty enlistment bounties paid by local, state, and federal sources. The fact that he enlisted in Wisconsin might indicate that there were better bonuses offered there.
The National Park Service Civil War Soldier and Sailor Database lists him as:
La Barr, Alonzo H. [note the space between La and Barr]
Regiment Name: 7th Regiment, Wisconsin Infantry
Side: Union
Company: A
Soldier's Rank In: Private
Soldier's Rank Out: Private
Alternate name:
Film Number: M559 roll 17
NOTES: This headstone inscription is listed as, "Memorial Only," indicating his grave might be in Spotsylvania County, Virginia, near where he fell. More to follow on this issue and input welcome.
UPDATE: From the National Park Service Historian at Fredericksburg, there were many casualties who were hastily buried where they fell and marked, generally with wooden markers (when identity was known) and re-buried about a year later in the Fredericksburg National Cemetery. It's probable that Alonzo is one of the many unknown soldiers buried there. More to follow if we find it.
The date on this inscription (12 May 1864) also does not agree with dates of death in the Regimental Records (06 May 1864) and of the specific part of this Battle known as Laurel Hill (commonly indicated as 08 May 1864). This was the first time that the two armies had clashed and the Commanding General, (Lieutenant General Grant) unlike previous commanders, had continued to move toward his objective of Richmond, Virginia (in past battles, the Army of the Potomac would disengage and return to Washington to lick its wounds, but this was a new battle of attrition, with almost constant clashes of Brigades and non-stop movement toward Richmond and the ultimate end of the War). It is very possible that the dates were scrambled by the rapid movement of this battle along a wide front, with staff and follow-on support troops doing their best to keep the records straight.
He also joined a Wisconsin unit, but his other brothers had joined in Illinois. He was also the oldest son to be killed, and was married at the time of his enlistment. It's my guess from the timing that he wanted to, "do his part," and having lost two brothers early in the War, he was probably also trying to avenge their deaths as well as to save the Union.
The 7th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment was a battle-hardened part of the Iron Brigade, Army of the Potomac, and had lost many men in all of the major battles in the East.
From the timing of his enlistment and then of his death at Laurel Hill, part of the Battle of Spotsylvania Courthouse, he and his fellow recruits were sent as replacements to the Regiment for duty almost immediately. He was killed in fierce fighting only about three months later.
At this point of the War, there were generally also rather hefty enlistment bounties paid by local, state, and federal sources. The fact that he enlisted in Wisconsin might indicate that there were better bonuses offered there.
The National Park Service Civil War Soldier and Sailor Database lists him as:
La Barr, Alonzo H. [note the space between La and Barr]
Regiment Name: 7th Regiment, Wisconsin Infantry
Side: Union
Company: A
Soldier's Rank In: Private
Soldier's Rank Out: Private
Alternate name:
Film Number: M559 roll 17
NOTES: This headstone inscription is listed as, "Memorial Only," indicating his grave might be in Spotsylvania County, Virginia, near where he fell. More to follow on this issue and input welcome.
UPDATE: From the National Park Service Historian at Fredericksburg, there were many casualties who were hastily buried where they fell and marked, generally with wooden markers (when identity was known) and re-buried about a year later in the Fredericksburg National Cemetery. It's probable that Alonzo is one of the many unknown soldiers buried there. More to follow if we find it.
The date on this inscription (12 May 1864) also does not agree with dates of death in the Regimental Records (06 May 1864) and of the specific part of this Battle known as Laurel Hill (commonly indicated as 08 May 1864). This was the first time that the two armies had clashed and the Commanding General, (Lieutenant General Grant) unlike previous commanders, had continued to move toward his objective of Richmond, Virginia (in past battles, the Army of the Potomac would disengage and return to Washington to lick its wounds, but this was a new battle of attrition, with almost constant clashes of Brigades and non-stop movement toward Richmond and the ultimate end of the War). It is very possible that the dates were scrambled by the rapid movement of this battle along a wide front, with staff and follow-on support troops doing their best to keep the records straight.
Alonzo was the eldest son, and the last of three Civil War-aged boys of Charles Gordon LaBarr, Sr., who enlisted and then died in the Civil War.
He also joined a Wisconsin unit, but his other brothers had joined in Illinois. He was also the oldest son to be killed, and was married at the time of his enlistment. It's my guess from the timing that he wanted to, "do his part," and having lost two brothers early in the War, he was probably also trying to avenge their deaths as well as to save the Union.
The 7th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment was a battle-hardened part of the Iron Brigade, Army of the Potomac, and had lost many men in all of the major battles in the East.
From the timing of his enlistment and then of his death at Laurel Hill, part of the Battle of Spotsylvania Courthouse, he and his fellow recruits were sent as replacements to the Regiment for duty almost immediately. He was killed in fierce fighting only about three months later.
At this point of the War, there were generally also rather hefty enlistment bounties paid by local, state, and federal sources. The fact that he enlisted in Wisconsin might indicate that there were better bonuses offered there.
The National Park Service Civil War Soldier and Sailor Database lists him as:
La Barr, Alonzo H. [note the space between La and Barr]
Regiment Name: 7th Regiment, Wisconsin Infantry
Side: Union
Company: A
Soldier's Rank In: Private
Soldier's Rank Out: Private
Alternate name:
Film Number: M559 roll 17
NOTES: This headstone inscription is listed as, "Memorial Only," indicating his grave might be in Spotsylvania County, Virginia, near where he fell. More to follow on this issue and input welcome.
UPDATE: From the National Park Service Historian at Fredericksburg, there were many casualties who were hastily buried where they fell and marked, generally with wooden markers (when identity was known) and re-buried about a year later in the Fredericksburg National Cemetery. It's probable that Alonzo is one of the many unknown soldiers buried there. More to follow if we find it.
The date on this inscription (12 May 1864) also does not agree with dates of death in the Regimental Records (06 May 1864) and of the specific part of this Battle known as Laurel Hill (commonly indicated as 08 May 1864). This was the first time that the two armies had clashed and the Commanding General, (Lieutenant General Grant) unlike previous commanders, had continued to move toward his objective of Richmond, Virginia (in past battles, the Army of the Potomac would disengage and return to Washington to lick its wounds, but this was a new battle of attrition, with almost constant clashes of Brigades and non-stop movement toward Richmond and the ultimate end of the War). It is very possible that the dates were scrambled by the rapid movement of this battle along a wide front, with staff and follow-on support troops doing their best to keep the records straight.
He also joined a Wisconsin unit, but his other brothers had joined in Illinois. He was also the oldest son to be killed, and was married at the time of his enlistment. It's my guess from the timing that he wanted to, "do his part," and having lost two brothers early in the War, he was probably also trying to avenge their deaths as well as to save the Union.
The 7th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment was a battle-hardened part of the Iron Brigade, Army of the Potomac, and had lost many men in all of the major battles in the East.
From the timing of his enlistment and then of his death at Laurel Hill, part of the Battle of Spotsylvania Courthouse, he and his fellow recruits were sent as replacements to the Regiment for duty almost immediately. He was killed in fierce fighting only about three months later.
At this point of the War, there were generally also rather hefty enlistment bounties paid by local, state, and federal sources. The fact that he enlisted in Wisconsin might indicate that there were better bonuses offered there.
The National Park Service Civil War Soldier and Sailor Database lists him as:
La Barr, Alonzo H. [note the space between La and Barr]
Regiment Name: 7th Regiment, Wisconsin Infantry
Side: Union
Company: A
Soldier's Rank In: Private
Soldier's Rank Out: Private
Alternate name:
Film Number: M559 roll 17
NOTES: This headstone inscription is listed as, "Memorial Only," indicating his grave might be in Spotsylvania County, Virginia, near where he fell. More to follow on this issue and input welcome.
UPDATE: From the National Park Service Historian at Fredericksburg, there were many casualties who were hastily buried where they fell and marked, generally with wooden markers (when identity was known) and re-buried about a year later in the Fredericksburg National Cemetery. It's probable that Alonzo is one of the many unknown soldiers buried there. More to follow if we find it.
The date on this inscription (12 May 1864) also does not agree with dates of death in the Regimental Records (06 May 1864) and of the specific part of this Battle known as Laurel Hill (commonly indicated as 08 May 1864). This was the first time that the two armies had clashed and the Commanding General, (Lieutenant General Grant) unlike previous commanders, had continued to move toward his objective of Richmond, Virginia (in past battles, the Army of the Potomac would disengage and return to Washington to lick its wounds, but this was a new battle of attrition, with almost constant clashes of Brigades and non-stop movement toward Richmond and the ultimate end of the War). It is very possible that the dates were scrambled by the rapid movement of this battle along a wide front, with staff and follow-on support troops doing their best to keep the records straight.
Inscription
30 yrs 7 Regt Wis Inf Killed at Spottsylvania Courthouse, VA
Gravesite Details
memorial only
Family Members
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