Captain Joseph Marston, Appleton, Wisconsin
From a Baptist family, George H. Marston of Appleton, Wisconsin is serving in Company E. 6th Wisconsin Infantry, a part of the Iron Brigade. His military service, not unlike many soldiers, includes brushes with death:
he being commissioned second Lieutenant, being later made first lieutenant, with which rank he was mustered out of service, March 19, 1864, on account of disability. Among the many bloody battles in which he participated may be mentioned Second Bull Run, South Mountain, Antietam, Chancellorsville and Gettysburg. He was wounded by a gunshot in his head at South Mountain and was reported among the killed, notice being sent to Appleton to that effect; at Gettysburg a shell exploded at Captain Marston’s feet, but the only injury he sustained was a sprained ankle, although he was thrown into the air and at Antietam he was wounded in the leg. In addition, his experiences included being captured at Gettysburg and escaped with others after the three days’ battle. The following is an extract from a letter received from Col. R.R. Dawes, commanding the 6th Wisconsin Regt. at the battle of Gettysburg. “My Dear Captain Marston: I notice that you are appointed with others to go to Gettysburg to locate the monument for the 6th Wisconsin Regiment. I can at this time see your tall form and firm step as you pressed Company E forward on a charge through that fearful storm of death. How they failed to kill you has always been a mystery to me. I expect to meet you at Gettysburg.” The color guards formed a part of Captain Marston’s Company in this battle, in which he lost more than half of his men in killed and wounded. It was in this charge that the 2nd Mississippu Regiment was captured by the 6th Wisconsin. After completing his service, he returned to Appleton when he engaged in the manufacture of wagon stock
Marston lives long beyond the war, dying in 1920 in Appleton.
Source: Joseph H. Marston biography (link) and (link); Iron Brigade information (link)
