David and Jesse Collins
Hist. of Rock co. pg 790
DAVID COLLINS, farmer; P.O. Lima Center; born in Oneida Co., N.Y., in 1844; came to Rock Co. with his parents, James and Mary COLLINS, in 1846, who settled on the farm now owned by Nelson COLLINS. David COLLINS enlisted in the 13th Wis. V.I. in 1861; was with his regiment through Kansas, thence to Columbus, Ky., to Fts. Henry and Donelson, to Alabama and Nashville, when the regiment veterinized in 1863, and the boys had a forty days' furlough; returning to Nashville, he went down the N. & C. R.R. to Claysville, Ala., thence to Huntsville, Ala., where Mr. COLLINS was shot through the arm; he was in the hospital six weeks, and was removed to Louisville, Ky., where he heard of the surrender of Lee and the next day of the death of President Lincoln. Mr. C. says it was a sudden change from festivity to mourning. He was mustered out at Madison, Wis., Nov. 25, 1865.
JESSE COLLINS, farmer and stone-mason; P.O. Lima Center, born in Oneida Co., N.Y., in 1839; came to Wisconsin in 1846, locating in Lima. He married Miss Rebecca HOUGHTON in 1858; they have eight children - William, Mary, Mira, Rosie, Jessie, Lewis, Benjamin and Nelson; Mr. C. enlisted, April 22, 1861, in the 3d Wis. V.I.; the regiment captured the rebel legislature of Maryland, at Frederick City, Md., as their first exploit; the first battle was at Bolivar Heights; they then joined the force which pursued the rebels down the Shenandoah Valley; owing to the withdrawal of a large part of the union army, the rebels were enabled to turn and drive the boys out of the valley in a series of sharp running fights, soon followed by the desperate battles of Cedar Mountain, Antietam, Chancellorsville and Beverly's Ford; the regiment lost 400 killed and wounded at Antietam, and lost terribly at Cedar Mountain by being drawn between masked batteries and deserted by their supports, a Pennsylvania regiment; Col. Ruger gave the Pennsylvania Colonel a magnificent invective on his cowardly conduct; the regiment took a prominent part in the bloody and decisive battle of Gettysburg, where Mr. COLLINS was twice wounded, having been shot through the right knee and left thigh; he partly recovered from his wounds, and was mustered out of the service Aug. 14, 1864, and looks back with pride to his record, in company with his historic regiment, which was known throughout the army as one of reckless courage.