Five weeks of my Army life

              "We were up against a tough proposition," writes Captain Ruegger in this
Civil War account. Hunger, fatigue, and
butchery were experienced during their
Arkansas army maneuvers.
Edward Ruegger in His Office
About 1900
Five Weeks of My Army Life
bij Captain Edward Ruegger1
introductory Note by Lillian Krueger2
A vigorous young man, a resident of Monroe,
enlisted in Company K, Ninth Regiment of
Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry on October 7,
1861. Edward Ruegger reported at Camp
Siegel, Milwaukee, where he was commissioned a second lieutenant the month following enlistment. After a short interval he became a first lieutenant and, about nine months
later, on August 15, 1862, was ranked as captain. After more than three years' service, he
was mustered out at Milwaukee on December
3, 1864.
His soldiering completed, he returned to
Monroe and became the proprietor of a hotel
known as the United States House, subsequently operating a brewery and also a wholesale cheese firm.
A farm in Town Clarno, near Monroe, became the Ruegger home from the late 1870's
^Ruegger's Camden manuscript was translated from
the German by Carl Marty, Sr., of Monroe. A copy is
on file in the Library of the State Historical Society
of Wisconsin.
2Miss Krueger is the managing editor of the Wisconsin Magazine of History. She contributes articles
and book reviews to the Magazine and speaks throughout the State on the subject of pioneer women and
their contribution to the American heritage.
until 1896. His wife died in 1888, and Captain Ruegger then married Louisa W. Pfeiffer
of Monroe, later removing with their family to
the city. For about thirteen years the Captain
was Monroe's justice of the peace, retiring in
1908, and that year enjoyed his first visit
to his native Switzerland.
Captain Ruegger, a sociable man, found recreation as a member of the Turner Hall Society and the Sharpshooters' Club ; he was the
founder of the Harmonie Singing Club (Swiss
Maennerchor), which he directed for many
years. His services at various community
levels were many: he was sheriff of Green
County, alderman of Monroe, chairman of the
Green County Democratic Committee, and so
on. Of him it was said: "He proved faithful
to every trust. . . ." The death of Captain
Ruegger occurred on April 12, 1916.
To perpetuate Civil War history in the Midwest, Mrs. Ruegger has permitted the printing
of her husband's account of his participation
as a member of Co. E, Ninth Regiment of
Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry in the Camden
Expedition in March and April, 1864.
The aged little Mrs. Ruegger offered her
assistance and participated in an interview at
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