Rollin M. Strong

Rollin M. Strong (July 27, 1830 – October 11, 1897) was an American businessman, Republican politician, and Wisconsin pioneer. He served in the Wisconsin State Assembly, representing Sauk County, and was chief clerk of the Assembly for several years in the 1870s. During the American Civil War, he served as a Union Army officer. In historical documents, his name is usually abbreviated as

Early life R. M. Strong was born at Bridport, Vermont, in July 1830. He was educated at the Troy Conference Academy in Poultney, Vermont, and moved to Wisconsin in June 1850.

He was elected sheriff of Sauk County in the November 1860 election, but resigned on the day he took office, choosing instead to volunteer for service in the Union Army, due to the outbreak of the American Civil War. The regiment was employed to guard prisoners of war there until they mustered into federal service April 30, 1862. The regiment then proceeded to Washington, D.C., for service in the western theater of the war. They were first assigned to guard duty at Union-held cities and fortresses on the Virginia Peninsula, and were then redeployed to defend Union-held territory on the coast of North Carolina. Captain Strong was promoted to major on September 30, 1863, and then to lieutenant colonel on December 3, 1863.

He was in command of the Union defenders stationed at Newbern, North Carolina, and successfully repelled a Confederate attack in the Winter of 1864.