The Brigadier’s House Then and Now
1888 and 2012
Brigadier General Judson W. Bishop built his fine home at 193 Mackubin Avenue in 1880. Bishop is best remembered for his Civil War service as a commander of the 2nd Minnesota Volunteer Infantry. He joined the 2nd Minnesota Volunteer Infantry when the war broke out. After training at Fort Snelling, the unit was sent to Kentucky and participated in the battles of Mill Springs and Perryville. They were an integral part of the defense of Snodgrass Hill in the Battle of Chickamauga, where they suffered heavy losses. They continued to serve with the Army of the Cumberland at Missionary Ridge and participated in Sherman’s March to the Sea. Bishop was successively promoted to captain, major, lieutenant colonel, and colonel in the same unit. He was the commanding colonel of the 2nd Minnesota from March 5, 1865 until the unit was mustered out of service on July 11, 1865. On June 7, 1865, he was made brevet brigadier general for meritorious services rendered during the conflict. The 2nd Minnesota Volunteer Infantry lost a total of 281 men during service; 2 officers and 91 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded, 2 officers and 186 enlisted men died of disease. After the war the General resumed his career as a civil engineer. He later became a railroad executive and real estate agent. Bishop published a remarkable historical account of the regiment’s fateful charge up Missionary Hill near Chattanooga, Tennnesse. According to his book, “The Story of A Regiment“, the charge was led by the 2nd Minnesota. Capt. John Read Beatty. After entrenchments were taken, the men knew that they could not remain in the exposed position. Rather than retire and yield their gain Capt. Beatty ordered the bugler, Billings J. Sibley to sound the charge. In 1869 General Judson W. Bishop, the engineered of a railroad survey and named the town of Lake Crystal, Minnesota. In 1905 He, Chairman of the Committee on the Flag Day Ceremonies and oversaw the transferring of Civil War and Spanish-American War battle flags From the old to the new capitol in Saint Paul. In 1917 Bishop died at the ripe old age of 86. He’s still buried in Oakland Cemetery.
