Military officer; born in
Livermore, Me., April 22, 1818; brother of
Elihu Benjamin Washburne; was a land surveyor in early life, and afterwards a lawyer; went West in 1839, and finally settled at
La Crosse, Wis., in 1859.
He was in Congress from 1856 to 1862; a delegate to the peace conference in 1861, and soon after the attack on
Fort Sumter he raised the 2d Wisconsin Cavalry, of which he became colonel, and, in December, 1861, conducted a successful expedition from
Helena, Ark., into the interior of
Mississippi.
He was exceedingly active and efficient in the command of divisions in operations around
Vicksburg in 1863, and afterwards served with distinction under
Banks in
Louisiana.
He was made brigadier-general of volunteers in July, 1862, and major-general in November.
From 1867 till 1871 he was a member of Congress, and in the latter year was chosen governor of
Wisconsin.
He died in
Eureka Springs, Ark., May 14, 1882.
