711 W. James St., Columbus, Columbia County

As the last of Wisconsin's four Civil War governors, Governor Lewis made a sub­stantial contribution to the northern cause. At a time when morale was low and money was scarce, he both met and worked to lower the state's conscription quota. Lewis, along with the four other western governors, designed the "one hun­dred day militia" program and convinced the War Department to continue the high bounty for new army recruits. He made extensive visits to Civil War army hospitals and camps and secured the transfer home of many of Wisconsin's sick and wound­ed soldiers.

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[Source: McBride, Sarah Davis. History Just Ahead (Madison:WHS, 1999).]