Union soldier, Congressman. Born and grew up in New York state -- attended not less than four of the neighboring academies - spent several years at Geneva (later Hobart) College - at twenty was reading law in the office of Judge Charles C. Noble at Unadilla. In 1848 admitted to the bar. Practiced 2 yrs - moved to Wisconsin. Settled at Fond du Lac - Married Jan.2, 1854, Cornelia Colman. Elected district attorney of the county within four years of arrival. A Douglas Democrat, he was a delegate to the Charleston Convention of 1860. The opening of the civil war found him a “War Democrat” intensely devoted to the Union cause and eager to take the field. In June 1861 he raised a company and was commissioned Captain in the 6th Wis Vol Inf. This regiment was destined to see as much active service as any other Wis. organization. Bragg's promotions to major, lieutenant-colonel, and colonel quickly followed the reports of his superiors on battles in which the 6th reg. was engaged. Gainesville, South Mountain, Antietam (where he was severely wounded) Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, the Wilderness (where he temporarily commanded a Pennsylvania regiment) Spottsylvania, Laurel Hill, North Anna, and Cold Harbor. One June 8, 1864, he commanded the Iron Brigade, leading in the assault on Petersburg. He had taken part in every one of the Iron Brigade's battles except Gettysburg, from which he was kept by illness. Made brigadier general of volunteers.
Was in no sense one of the “political generals” of which there were so many in the war, but he was always keenly interested in politics. While serving in the field he was nominated for Congress in his district and defeated. After the war he was a delegate to the Union national convention of 1866, was elected state senator in 1867, and was a delegate to the national Democratic convention that nominated Greeley for president in 1872. His district sent him to Congress for four terms (1877-83 and 1885-87). Twice (1884 and 1896) he was chairman of the Wisconsin delegation to national Democratic conventions. In seconding the nomination of Cleveland for president in 1884, “the little general” hurled at the New York delegation, controlled by Tammany, “We love him for the enemies he has made.”
Twelve years later when the Democrats nominated Bryan for president on a Free-Silver platform he was among the outstanding “Gold Democrats” who refused Bryan their support.
In 1900, similar reasons led him to support the Republican ticket and McKinley. After the expiration of his last term in Congress, Bragg was named by Cleveland as Minister to Mexico in Jan. 1888, but his appointment expired with the Cleveland administration in May 1889. In 1902 President Roosevelt appointed him consul general at Hong Kong, China. Bragg remained there four years, returned to America in 1906, supported Taft for the presidency in 1908, and died at Fond du Lac on June 20, 1912.
Condensed and adapted from the Dictionary of American Biography, Vol. 2.
