Following are the smaller items from the June 4, 1864, issues of The Prescott Journal and The Polk County Press.
From The Prescott Journal:
A. L. ROBERTS [Aaron L. Roberts], of this city, formerly of Co. B, 6th Reg., has been appointed Quartermaster of that Regiment.
Warren P. Knowles, of River Falls, has been promoted to 1st Lieut., and Jerry E. Flint, of River Falls, to 2d Lieut. of Co. G, 4th Wis. Cavalry. Both were deserved promotions.
The Cleveland Convention held on Tuesday, nominated FREMONT [John C. Frémont] for President and Gen. JOHN COCHRANE, of New York, for Vice President. The convention was a slim affair. On Tuesday next, the accredited representatives of the great Union party meet at Baltimore, and their choice will be the choice of the people.
Ladies’ Loyal League.
The Ladies’ Loyal League met at the Congregational Church May 27, 1864, at 6 o’clock P. M. Meeting called to order by Mrs. J. M. McKee.
On motion of Mrs. Wm. Howes the committee on the Constitution presented their report, or articles of association.
On motion of Mrs. O. T. Maxson, the Constitution was adopted.
The following officers were then unanimously elected :
President—Mrs. WM. HOWES.
Vice Presidents—Mrs. O. T. Maxson, Mrs. M. A. Dreibelbis.
Financial Secretary—Miss Frank Bartholomew.
Cor. Secretary—Mrs. J. M. McKee.
Board of Directors—Mrs. Lute A. Taylor, Mrs. Grant, Mrs. Bancroft, Mrs. J. S. White, Mrs. A. Bartholomew, Mrs. P. Converse, Mrs. A. Ticknor, Miss Hettie West, Miss Martha Cadwell.
On motion of Mrs. J. S. White, the meeting adjourned till next Friday evening, June 3d, at 6 o’clock P. M.
FRANK BARTHOLOMEW,
Secretary.
From The Polk County Press:
FROM THE 2D CAVALRY.—A letter from Co. D 2d Cavalry, states that all the Polk county boys are well, and enjoying a fine climate.
FROM THE 10TH BATTERY.—Letters from members of the 10th Battery, state that they are in SHERMAN’S army [William T. Sherman], have been engaged, and suffered some loss. Mr. MOSES T. CATLIN, was run over by a gun carriage, and had two of his ribs broken. He is in one of the Hospitals, doing well. He writes that his injuries will not probably disable him long. We soon expect to hear stirring news from the Battery boys.
IN HOSPITAL.—Among the list of Wisconsin soldiers in Philadelphia Hospital, we find the name of RICHARD TURNBULL, Co. G, 7th regiment. Mr. TURNBULL cut his foot badly with an axe just before the grand advance, which disabled him for the campaign.
— The Sixth Minnesota regiment now guarding the frontier in Minnesota, will leave for Arkansas next week.
HURRAH FOR THE FLAG.—It has been suggested by the ladies of the mite society, that if our citizens will purchase the material for a flag, that they will make it, as their donation. There is not a flag in the place fit to display on the occasion of victory, or to use at a celebration, and it is certainly something we all should take pride enough in to have on hand. Who will start a subscription. Bro. WM. KENT will you please pass round the hat?
SOMETHING ELSE.—If we are to have a new flag,—we must necessarily have “Liberty pole.” This, by a little exertion in the right direction, can be secured. Part of the old one is good enough for the mainmast, and a topmast can be got with money and little labor. It is not very busy times just now, and men can be found who will work cheap, to make it.—Let’s have the “Liberty pole.”
WOUNDED.—The following is the list of wounded in companies F and G 7th regiment who enlisted from this county :
Peter Francis, killed.
Michael McHugh, shoulder & head.
A Connor, thigh severely.
John Rice, Indian, slightly thigh.
Thomas Hart, do, hip severely.
Geo. Metawos, do, head slight.
Frank Shaw, do, breast severely.
John Day, do, wounded & missing.
Chas. Razor, do, leg slightly.
VETERAN FLAGS.—Adjutant General Gaylord [Augustus Gaylord] is having the battle torn flags of our veteran regiments carefully fixed for preservation. Those which are much torn are being lined with tarleton to keep them in shape. When fixed up the flags will be properly displayed, with labels attached giving the names of regiments and battles in which they have been carried, somewhere where they can be seen without being handled to their injury.¹—Madison Journal.
THE NEW STYLE.—The admirable course adopted by the Secretary of War [Edwin M. Stanton], of giving official information of the progress of the campaign, in dispatches to Gen. Dix [John A. Dix] at New York, meets everywhere with applause among loyal men. For the first time in the history of this conflict, the War Department standing between the Army and the people has maintained communication with both, transmitting to the later all news received by the former. This sensible course most sensibly conducted has proved the antidote to all the pestilent rumors that in former periods of suspense have distracted the public mind.
THE NAVY.—Says the New York Journal of Commerce :—”Never since the organization of the United States Navy has so much vigor and energy been displayed in the preparation and manning of war vessels as at present. An entire fleet of vessels, larger probably than our entire navy before the war began, is now preparing at three or four navy yards, to sail southward.”
Union Losses on the Rapidan and at Spottsylvania.
An official report of the killed and wounded in the late battles presents the fact that 4,000 were killed, and about 25,000 wounded, and 5,000 missing—the latter including stragglers and prisoners. It is also stated on the same accurate authority that not more than ten per cent have been dangerously wounded, and that a large number will be ready for the field within the next two weeks. This statement should go far to mollify the suspense and agony of the thousands of those who are interested in the fate and condition of those brave defenders of the flag.
ST. LOUIS AND PITTSBURG [sic] SANITARY FAIRS.
Both of these fairs have proved great successes. The cash contributions and cash receipts for the first ten days at the St. Louis fair exceeded $300,000. No doubt is entertained that the enterprise will reach and pass the first goal of its ambition—a half million of dollars. Nevada has generously donated gold and silver bars equal to $35,000, which Wells, Fargo & Co. delivered free of charge. The Pittsburg [sic] fair opened on the 1st inst., and drew immensely. All classes of liberal people in the Iron City are contributing to its success, and the receipts give promise of running into the hundred thousands. The Baltimore Sanitary Fair realized $60,000.
The Virginia Chivalry and the Negro Troops.
It appears that Fitzhugh Lee, the son of Gen. Lee [Robert E. Lee],² who now commands the rebel cavalry, in place of Stewart [sic: J.E.B. Stuart] deceased, made an attack on one of our positions on the north bank of the James river, held by two regiments of colored soldiers. The chivalrous General magnanimously offered to accept the negroes as prisoners of war, but the darkeys considered it more patriotic to fight, whereupon Gen. Lee, at the head of the fiery cavaliers of the South, made an attack, and was repulsed by these colored gentlemen. The leaders of the rebellion will soon begin to understand that we are building up a formidable army from their hitherto cowardly slaves. To be beaten by their own negroes is the very essence of humiliation to a slaveholding aristocrat. And that humiliation in this campaign has already been inflicted on the Virginia chivalry.
Odds and Ends.
— The names of two of Grant’s [Ulysses S. Grant] Corps Generals posses a historical record—Hancock and Warren—the former the first signer of the Declaration of Independence, and the latter the first martyr of the Revolution.
— The funeral obsequies of the late Major General Wadsworth [James S. Wadsworth] took place in New York city on the 20th inst. They were simple, but of the most impressive description, and were witnessed by an innumerable throng of solemn and sorrowing people.
— In the third day’s fight in the recent engagements in Virginia, General Grant turned to General Meade [George G. Meade] and said : “Well, Meade, if they are going to make a Kilkenny cat³ affair of this, all I have to say is our cat has got the longest tail.”
— Gen. “Baldy” Smith [William F. Smith] is a Pennsylvanian, and a graduate of West Point. During the Mexican war he was a captain in the regular army and was noted for his “dash” and bravery. From some cause or other he lost most of the hair from his hand when young, and therefore obtained the sobriquet of “Baldy,” which has clung to him to the present.
— General Slocum [Henry W. Slocum], commanding the District of Vicksburg, has ordered that, where the Government lessee of an abandoned plantation is robbed by guerrillas, sufficient property shall be seized from disloyal citizens in the vicinity to indemnify the sufferer ; and if a lessee is killed, an assessment of $10,000 shall be levied upon disloyalists.
— Major General Wallace [Lewis Wallace] announces the result of the court martial recently convened in Baltimore for the trial of Major George Thistleton, of the First Maryland Cavalry, that he was found guilty of the charge of “being in the habit of associating intimately and publicly with infamous women and prostitutes during the past winter and spring, so as to bring disgrace upon himself and the service, and to subject his encampment to scenes disgusting and disreputable to his regiment,” and that the sentence of the court is that he “be dismissed the service.”
The Chip Basket.
— The funeral of Maj. Gen. Sedgwick [John Sedgwick] was largely attended at his residence in West Cornwall, Con.
—The Pope has sent a check for $500 to the General Aid Society of Buffalo, to be applied to the comfort of the wounded soldiers. The check was sent through Bishop Timon, of that city.
— There is a striking coincidence in the wounding of Jackson [Stonewall Jackson] and Longstreet [James Longstreet], the two Generals upon whom Lee [Robert E. Lee] has heretofore mainly relied to carry out his plans. They were both shot at Chancellorsville by minnies, both hit in the right arm, and both wounded by their own men.
1. Wisconsin’s Civil War Battle Flags are now in the collections of the Wisconsin Veterans Museum in Madison.
2. Fitzhugh Lee was the son of Sydney Smith Lee, a captain in the Confederate States Navy. Robert E. Lee was Fitzhugh Lee’s uncle.
3. The term Kilkenny cat comes from an old story about two cats who fought to the death and ate each other up such that only their tails were left. The term has come to mean anyone who is a tenacious fighter.
Now that the war is over and Jeff. Davis is captured, it is high time that steps were taken to celebrate the coming fourth [of July] here in the old fashioned style. What say our citizens in regard to the matter! [Jefferson Davis]
The Civil War and Northwest Wisconsin 