Andrew Bertram Poem

Andrew H. Bertram was the eldest son of George Bertram.  He was born July 15, 1842 in New York, New York.  By 1862, after the Civil War broke out, he had answered the call to arms made by President Lincoln and enlisted in the Eighth Regiment, Company E of the Minnesota Volunteer Infantry.

Also, during that year came  the outbreak of what has become known as the “Dakota War of 1862”. Andrew’s newly formed Company E was not sent to fight in the Civil War, as other volunteers were, but were sent to deal with the immediate crisis at home in Minnesota.

The following is an excerpt from Andrew’s poem written by him in 1878, as a tribute to his fellow volunteers. this portion of the poem covers only the period of time they spent in and around the Monticello and Bertram Lakes area.

We are ordered now to Ripley
Where we must learn the drill,
So we bid “Goodbye” to Snelling
And leave it with a will.

We then march to Monticello
Where our tents are quickly set
The circumstance of which, I think
Our Citizens don’t forget —
We were led to tables groaning
With the weight of richest food,
Which we ate with keenest relish
For our fare had not been good.
We were grateful for the blessings
Our Mothers had prepared
But the way we showed our gratitude
Looked as though we never cared.
The first night we stole chickens
Which created quite a fuss
But we were not suspected,
They never thought ’twas Us.

So things continued daily
The Boys were out each night
Some came back quite early
Others at broad daylight.
But they never came back empty
A Turkey, Pig or Sheep,
So we drew most all our retirees
While the Farmers were asleep.

At last we received orders
To continue on our way
And the People of Monticello
Thanked the Lord that day.

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