Colonel William Utley

Colonel William Utley

Colonel William Utley: Abolitionist and Military Leader

“The 22d Regiment of Wisconsin Volunteers, which I have the honor to command, is not made up of a set of homesick boys. These men are possed of intelligence and did not enter the service of their country, anticipating no hardships. They do not complain of sacrifices. They are not easily intimidated. They manifest a noble determination to stand or fall—to live or die with their country. But they are capable of weighing questions involved, and of feeling the force of principles at issue. They do claim the right of remaining men. They do most solemnly and earnestly protest against being degraded to the low, base inhuman work of sending or returning guiltless fellow men [slaves] to cruel bondage. By them, such an institution as slavery is unknown—They recognize only two classes of men—loyalists and rebels”

Letter from Col. William Utley to President Lincoln, asking for his help protecting Kentucky’s Judge Robertson’s slave Adam who escaped into the Regiment and the 22^nd against the Judge’s wrath, November 17, 1862.

In 1862, politician William Laurence Utley was given command of the 22^nd Wisconsin Volunteer Regiment. Although he had little direct combat experience, Utley was highly regarded in Southeastern Wisconsin, having served in Wisconsin politics as Marshal of Racine, Adjutant Governor and had run for State Senator on the same 1860 Republican ticket as Abraham Lincoln.

Utley came to Wisconsin from Ohio in the 1840s as Democrat, but later joined the Free Soil Party that opposed the expansion of slavery into the western territories. He became well-known as a staunch abolitionist, even hosting a convention of town representatives of “all the Freemen of the county” (Daily Morning Advocate, May 23, 1854) in regards to the question of slavery in Nebraska.

Colonel William Utley standing in front of his horse

During their service in Kentucky, Utley and his Regiment gained a reputation for their anti-slavery views, helping fugitives onto the Underground Railroad or offering some safety within his regiment.

In March of 1863 the Regiment was involved in a battle near Thompson’s Station, Tennessee. Outnumbered, Utley and much of the Regiment surrendered. Three weeks later, the rest of the 22^nd was captured. During these surrenders the rebels “took three negroes in our camp… Adam… John Hogan… and a black fellow who had been working in the hospital.” (Letter from Harvey Reid, April 24, 1863.) It is unknown what happened to these fugitives.

The Regiment’s men, including Utley, were exchanged for Confederate prisoners of war. However, the battle of Thompson’s Station caused a rift between Utley and Edward Bloodgood, second in command of the 22^nd, each accusing the other of cowardice or incompetence. While it is unclear who was correct, both returned to the regiment, and Utley resigned a year later citing poor health.

William Utley returned to Racine and became a newspaper editor, and the 22^nd continued their duty with Bloodgood at command. Bloodgood’s 22^nd marched through Georgia and were among the first Union troops to enter Atlanta.

Legend has it that Utley had a “close call” during one battle when his horse was shot out from under him and his sword shot off. While Utley escaped without a scratch, a bullet hole was left in his hat.