1864 November 19: More on the 1864 Election, Including Returns from the Prescott Guards

More on the big event of the autumn—the presidential and local elections.  These items are from the November 19, 1864, issue of The Prescott Journal.

THE ELECTION.

Definite  news from all the States now show that M’CLELLAN has carried but three states, Kentucky, New Jersey and little Delaware.  [George B. McClellan]

In addition to carrying all the other States for LINCOLN [Abraham Lincoln], the Union party  has gained very largely in Congressmen, and have the Governors and Legislatures of the States.  Next to the success of Mr. LINCOLN, the defeat of SEYMOUR [Horatio Seymour], and the election of FENTON¹ in New York, is cause for congratulation among Union men. The Governor of the Empire State will now act in harmony with the National Administration.

— Readers of Capt. MARRYATT’s² Novels will remember the incident related in “Midshipman Easy” concerning his nurse. She had the misfortune to become a mother before she was a wife, but the poor girl pleaded in extenuation of her offence, that it could not be very wrong, as the babe was “such a very little one.” Copperheads can safely introduce the same plea in extenuation of their conduct. Whatever their purposes and desires may have been, the child which figuratively stands as the result of their labor, is “such a very little one,” that they will be comparatively easily forgiven.

MR. LINCOLN’S MAJORITY OVER 400,000.

The returns that we have received make it evident that Mr. Lincoln’s majority will certainly be over 400,000.

In 1852, Pierce received a majority of 58,000 of all the votes cast.  In 1856, the majority  against Buchanan [John Buchanan] of all the votes cast was 413,760. In 1860, the majority against Lincoln of all votes cast was 355,658.  In 1864, Mr. Lincoln is re-elected by a majority of over 400,000, of all the votes cast—the largest popular majority ever given to any President.

Not a single free State voted against him, but New Jersey.  The only Slave States outside the rebel lines voted against him.  All the Slave States which have recently emancipated their slaves, voted for him.  This is as it should be—Freedom everywhere is for the Union ;  Slavery everywhere is against it.

Of the 284 votes cast in the Electoral College, Mr. Lincoln will receive 213.—Never was President  so magnificently sustained by the people !—St. Paul Daily Press. 

Majorities in Pierce County. 

We give this week the official vote of Pierce County.  The following are the majorities for the Union Ticket :

..	Lincoln…………………………………..	330
..	McIndoe, Congress………………..	330
..	McMynn, State Supt. …………….	651
..	Fulton, Assembly…………………..	334
..	Walsingham, Sheriff……………..	249
..	Lewis, Register………………………	363
..	Winchester, Treasurer…………..	300
..	Young, District Attorney………..	337
..	Winn, Clerk of Board……………..	370
..	Lewis, Clark of Court……………..	303
..	Trumbull, Surveyor………………..	656
..	Amee, Coroner………………………	333

The largest majorities given for State Superintendent and Surveyor is owing to the fact that there were no candidates for these offices on the Democratic ticket.

From the Camp.

Sergt. Chas. P. Brown, Co. I, 37th, writes from camp near Petersburg, as follows :

“I have the pleasure of announcing 121 majority for Lincoln in this regiment total vote, Lincoln 141 ; McClellan 20.  Co’s. H. and I. drafted three years men, gave every vote for Lincoln.”

Sergt. G. B. Helman [sic], Co. B. 6th Reg. writes³ :

“To day is election.  We have had a glorious Union victory ;  Co. B unanimous for Lincoln and Johnson [Andrew Johnson].  The Reg. gave Lincoln 123. McClellan 37.  The 2nd Wis. was unanimous for Lincoln.  The balance of the “Iron Brigade” have given Lincoln a heavy majority, and if the people at home roll up the large majorities we do, it will turn out the greatest Union victory we have ever had.  Everything is quiet along the front to-day, even the usual picket firing has ceased, making it the quietest days we have had.  A reb. came into our lines this afternoon for the purpose (he said) of finding out how the election is going.

Co. B. are all enjoying good health and are comfortably housed in log cabins but if the weather holds fair, we expect to leave them before long.”

1.  Reuben Eaton Fenton (1819-1885) was elected the 22nd governor of New York in 1864, defeating Horatio Seymour. He served from 1865-1868. In January 1869, he was elected a U.S. Senator from New York and served from 1869 to 1875. In 1872 he was among the Republicans opposed to President Ulysses S. Grant who joined the short-lived Liberal Republican Party. Earlier in his political career he had been a Democrat and was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, serving from 1853-1855, and then elected as a Republican, serving from 1857-1865.
2.  Frederick Marryat (1792-1848) was a British Royal Navy officer, novelist, and an acquaintance of Charles Dickens, noted today as an early pioneer of the sea story. He is now known particularly for the semi-autobiographical novel Mr Midshipman Easy and his children’s novel The Children of the New Forest, and for a widely used system of maritime flag signalling, known as Marryat’s Code.
3.  Company B of the 6th Wisconsin Infantry, you may recall, was the Prescott Guards. G.B. Helman should be George R. Clements, from Prescott. In 1865 Sergeant Clements will become the captain of Company G, 50th Wisconsin Infantry.

1864 October 8: Update from the Prescott Guards and Information on Three of the Wounded

The following letter from Solomon B. Holman of Company B of the 6th Wisconsin Infantry—the Prescott Guards—at the Siege of Petersburg, appeared in the October 8, 1864, issue of The Prescott Journal.  The V Corps, which included the 6th Wisconsin, saw hard fighting at Cold Harbor and the Siege of Petersburg in June of 1864. Many of its men were captured in the Second Battle of Weldon Railroad on August 19, 1864.

Letter from Co. B.

CAMP NEAR PETERSBURG AND WALDON }
R. R. September 22d, 1864 }

FRIEND LUTE :— Being at leisure I thought I would write you a few lines in regard to Co. B.

We are at present in camp about half a mile north of the P. and W. R. R. having been retrieved from the immediate front.

Inspections, Drills and Reviews are becoming the order of the day.

The most of the old first corps have been consolidated into the 3d division, 5th corps, under Gen. Crawford.¹  The 1st and 2d brigades into one, under Brig. Gen. Bragg.²  We are to be reviewed this afternoon by Gen. Warren [Gouverneur K. Warren].

We had a heavy fall of rain here last night, but despite the rain there was a continual firing all night along our front and extending to the right.  This picket firing has been kept up almost continually, day and night, for the last two weeks.

Sergt. Henry E. Smyser, Louis J. Ludkoff, and private J. W. M. Shaw have returned to the company, making thirteen men present within the Dept. and ten in the company.

Sergt. Smyser had been commissioned 1st Lieut. Co. B.  He was wounded in arm June 4th at Cole [sic: Cold] Harbor.  He is quite well at present.  Ludloff was wounded May 5th in the Wilderness.— His health is good, but his ankle is some what troublesome yet.  Corp. Frank Hare, who was wounded May 5th and taken prisoner, has been paroled, and is now at Anapolis [sic], Md.  Frank has had a hard time of it.  He was wounded in the leg and has suffered amputation twice.  The balance of the boys present are enjoying good health and in fine spirits.  The most of the spare time in camp is occupied in discussing political questions ;  all seem to be interested.—We all desire peace, and a majority think it can be attained without the independence of the South, and without the assistance of some of those copper colored individuals who have made so much of a blow lately.  We think the thing will be a bird before snow flies.—We claim the Patriot’s side.  We give them the Traitors’.

Respectfully Yours,
.S. B. H. [Solomon B. Holman]

1.  Samuel Wylie Crawford (1829-1892) was an army surgeon before the Civil War, and was on surgeon duty at Fort Sumter during the Confederate bombardment in 1861. Despite his purely medical background, he was in command of several of the artillery pieces returning fire from the fort. A month after Fort Sumter, Crawford decided on a fundamental career change and accepted a commission as a major in the 13th U.S. Infantry. He was promoted to brigadier general of Volunteers in April 1862 and participated in the Valley Campaign, the battles of Cedar Mountain and Antietam (where he was wounded), the defense of Washington, D.C., the Battle of Gettysburg, and the Richmond-Petersburg Campaign. On August 18, 1864, Crawford was wounded in the action at the Weldon Railroad. He received a brevet promotion to brigadier general in the regular army for the Battle of Five Forks. In March 1865 he was promoted to major general and was present at Appomattox Court House in April for Robert E. Lee’s surrender. Crawford retired from the Army in 1873, and authored The Genesis of the Civil War, which was published in 1887 (available to UWRF students, faculty, and staff as an electronic resource.)

Gen. Edward S. Bragg, U.S.A., from the Library of Congress

2.  No, not the Confederate General Braxton Bragg that we are used to seeing. This was Union Brigadier General Edward Stuyvesant Bragg (1827-1912) from Wisconsin. He had moved to Fond du Lac in 1850 where he practiced law and was elected district attorney in 1853. When the Civil War started he was commissioned captain of Company E of the 6th Wisconsin Infantry. He was promoted to major in September 1861, lieutenant colonel in June 1862, and colonel in March 1863. Bragg missed the Battle of Gettysburg due to wounds suffered at the Battle of Chancellorsville. He was promoted to brigadier general of Volunteers in June 1864, and commanded the Iron Brigade for the later part of the War. Bragg mustered out in 1865 and returned to Wisconsin to resume his law practice. After the War, Bragg was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives and served from 1877 to 1883, and again from 1885-1887. In 1888, President Grover Cleveland appointed Bragg the Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to Mexico (serving 1888-1889); was appointed consul general in Havana, Cuba in May, 1902, and in Hong Kong in September, 1902 (serving from 1903 to 1906).
The image of General Bragg is from the Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, and is available digitally in their online catalog.

1864 September 3: 6th Wisconsin Infantry Casualties at the Battle of Globe Tavern

The following comes from the front page of the September 3, 1864, Prescott Journal.  Company B of the 6th Wisconsin Infantry was the Prescott Guards.

The casualties below from Company B of the 6th Wisconsin mostly from the Battle of Globe Tavern, which was also known as the Second Battle of Weldon Railroad.  It was fought August 18-21, 1864, just south of Petersburg, Virginia, and was the second attempt of the Union Army to sever the Weldon Railroad during the Siege of Petersburg.
.

FROM THE 6TH REGIMENT.

CAPT. W. W. HUTCHINS KILLED.

CAPT. CHAS. P. HYATT, WOUNDED.

We print below a letter giving the painful intelligence of the death of Capt. W. W. Hutchins,¹ of Co. B, and also the loss of a leg by Capt. Chas. P. Hyatt,² and the casualties to other members of old Co. B.  The list of the living grows smaller in that glorious company ;  but still it “lives,” bearing the banner on the foremost edge of each perilous fight :

CAMP ON WELDEN R. R., VA., }
August 23, 1864. }

FRIEND LUTE :— I take this opportunity to send you the casualties of Co. B, 8th, since the 18th, during which time we have been in four engagements—Capt. W. W. Hutchins, killed on the 19th ;  Capt. Hyatt, formerly of Co. B, but in command of the Regiment, wounded in left knee, the 21st, by a fragment of shell.  His leg was nearly severed in two—has since been amputated, and I learn is doing well.  Sergent Darwin W. Kinney,³ severe, but not dangerous. Privates Peter Nelson,⁴ severe in left shoulder—three inches of bone taken out—is doing well ;  he was wounded on the 19th ;  Chas. H. Francis,⁵ severe in right knee, on the 18th ;  Silas W. Morrison,⁶ slight in side.  We have at present in camp, four privates, one corporal and one sergeant, who are well and ready for another chance at the enemy.  We have in the regiment 80 men, under command of Capt. Runnington.

We have been very successful for the past week, victorious in all our engagements. Our casualties all happened on the picket line except Capt. Hyatt, who lay behind the works when the enemy was making a vigorous attack, and in which they were handsomely repulsed.— I visited the ground they charged over, yesterday morning, and many of their dead lay on the field.  I counted five commissioned officers on a space of fifteen feet square.

Yours respectfully,
.                .S. B. HOLMAN.⁷

1.  William W. Hutchins, from Prescott, enlisted in the Prescott Guards on May 10, 1861. He worked his way through the ranks as corporal, sergeant, Quartermaster sergeant (June 6, 1864), and finally captain of Company B (July 20, 1864). He was killed in action on August 19, 1864, at Weldon Railroad, Virginia.
2.  Charles P. Hyatt, also from Prescott, also enlisted in the Prescott Guards on May 10, 1861. He was a sergeant, 2nd lieutenant (July 28, 1862), and 1st lieutenant (August 1, 1863) in Company B.  On March 14, 1864, he was promoted to Quartermaster and on April 19, 1864, to captain of Company E.  Hyatt died on September 22, 1864, in Philadelphia, from the wounds he received on August 21, 1864.
3.  Darwin W. Kinney, from Perry, was another May 10, 1861, enlistee. He was a corporal, sergeant, and on July 26, 1865, will become 2nd lieutenant. He was wounded at Antietam and at Petersburg.
4.  Peter Nelson, from Stillwater (Minn.), was an original member of Company B, enlisting on June 10, 1861. He was wounded at Gettysburg and again at Weldon Railroad. He was discharged May 29, 1865, because of his wounds.
5.  Charles H. Francis, from Fond du Lac, was a recent recruit on February 13, 1864. He was wounded at Petersburg and at Weldon Railroad, and died from his wounds on October 6, 1864, in Alexandria, Virginia.
6.  Silas W. Morrison, from Oak Grove, was another recent recruit as of February 10, 1864. He was wounded at Yellow House, Virginia. On July 2, 1865, he will be dishonorably discharged.
7.  Solomon B. Holman, from Prescott, enlisted in the Prescott Guards on May 10, 1861. He worked his way up to sergeant, 1st sergeant, and Quartermaster. On December 21, 1864, he was promoted to 1st lieutenant.

1864 July 30: Welcome Home to Four Prescott Guards, More on Quotas, General Washburn’s Railroad Order, Vallandigham, and More

Following are the smaller news items from the July 23, 1864, issue of The Prescott Journal.

  We find the following in a list of military appointments :

SIXTH REGIMENT.—Lt. Col. Rufus R. Dawes, as Colonel, vice Bragg, promoted Brigadier General ;  Sergt. Wm. W. Hutchins, as Captain Co. B, vice Con-Converse [sic: Rollin P. Converse], killed in action.

Capt. HUTCHINS has won his position by faithful service, and is worthy to lead the noble remnant of brave old Co. B.

HOME AGAIN.—Sergeants James A. Smith, Geo. R. Clements, John McLaughlin and Edgar Armstrong, Co. B, 6th, returned here on Wednesday morning last, having been discharged from service.  The boys have seen three years service, and participated in many hard fought battles for the Union cause.  Welcome home.

  There seems to be no positive confirmation of the prevalent rumors that we occupied a part of Atlanta.—Sherman says nothing of the kind.—Everybody feels confident however, that Atlanta by this time has fallen into our hands, and everybody also, considers the campaign as virtually ended.  We trust “everybody” may prove not to be mistaken, and the chances are that they are not on this occasion.  Still, there is yet no news of the occupation of the whole or any portion of it by our forces.

  Governor Lewis [James T. Lewis] has received information from Provost Marshal General Fry [James B. Fry] that the quota of Wisconsin under the call for 500,000 men is 19,032.—The quota of each sub district will be reduced by any excess it may now have over all calls heretofore made, and increased by deficiencies on such calls.

The Governor has authorized the present Sanitary State Agents to recruit for Wisconsin in the rebel States so far as possible without interference with other duties, and agents at the expense of the localities desiring them will also be commissioned.

A SLIGHT MISTAKE.—The peace men evidently believe that the North is in Rebellion against the South, and of course, like pure patriots, they side with the South.  They will discover their mistake before long.—N. Y. Herald.

  It is scarcely necessary to enlarge on the importance of the capture of Atlanta.  Being in the heart of the Gulf States, it was supposed to be peculiarly safe, and therefore well adapted for armories, arsenels [sic] and supply depots.  It was moreover the centre of the railway system of that section, whence men and material could be advantageously distributed to all points.  Three main railways diverged from it :  the road to Cattanooga [sic] from the north ;  he Georgia road, running east to Charleston ;  and the road on the south, which forks into that leading to Montgomery and Pennsacola [sic] on the southwest, and into that running through Macon to Savannah, on the southeast.  The city is laid out in a circle, two miles in diameter.  It forms, says a recent refugee one vast Government storehouse.  Here are located the machine shops of the principal railroads ;  the most extensive rolling mill in the South, foundries, pistol and tent factories, &c., &c,  In addition, the Government has works for casting shot and shell, making gun carriages, cartridges, caps, shoes, clothing, &c.  Although the rebels have probably removed much of their stores and machinery, yet their loss in those must be considerable.

  The whole country will mourn the loss of Major General James B. McPherson, who fell in the battle.  He was a graduate of West Point, from Ohio, was appointed Second Lieutenant of the Engineer corps July 1, 1853.—He received the appointment of Major General of Volunteers Oct. 8, 1862.—He was one of the ablest and bravest Generals in the service.

GEN. WASBURN’S RAILROAD ORDER [C. C. Washburn].—A Memphis dispatch says :  The report published in the Northern papers that Forrest [Nathan B. Forrest] had communicated his intention of retaliating upon our officers for any citizens who might be injured under Gen. WASHBURN’S railroad order is false.  The result proves conclusively the wisdom of Gen. WASHBURN’S order.  Nearly every train on the railroad, for ten days previous to the issue of this order, was fired upon by bushwhackers, and citizens and soldiers killed and wounded, while not a gun has been fired since the publication of the order.

  Another commission is coming into the field—the American Union Commission, its object being to aid the people of those sections of the country that have been desolated and impoverished by war ;  to restore their civil and social state upon the bases of industry, education, freedom and Christian morality.

INTERESTING TO ARMY PAYMASTERS.—Congress passed, on the last day of the session, a provision of law as follows :  That when a soldier, sick in hospital, shall have been discharged, or shall be discharged from the military service, but shall be unable to leave, or to avail himself of his discharge, in consequence of sickness or wounds, and shall subsequently die in such hospital, he shall be deemed to have died in the military service, so far as relates to bounties.

  The Secretary of War informs General SANFORD that the New York regiments are not to go to the front, but serve for 100 days in the Washington fortifications.

VALLANDIGHAM.—The President’s policy in regard to the return of Vallandigham [Clement L. Vallandigham] is said to have been recently given during a conference with the Kentucky Congressional delegation, relative to the case of Colonel Wolford [Frank L. Wolford].  This officer, it will be remembered, was arrest by General Burbridge [Stephen G. Burbridge], upon some charge connected with the late Morgan raid into Kentucky.  The Kentucky delegation requested the President to reinstate Col. Woford in command, to which the President replied that he should not depart from the policy before pursued concerning Vallandigham.  Mr. Mallory, of the delegation, remarked that the Vallandigham order was inoperative in consequence of the exile having returned to his home, to which Mr. Lincoln replied that he had no official knowledge of Mr. Vallandigham’s return, but when the latter made his presence known by objectional acts, the Executive would be prepared to act.  The application in the case of Colonel Wolford war [sic: was] not granted.

1864 July 2: 6th Wisconsin, Company B Casualties at Petersburg

The following letter from William W. Hutchins with the 6th Wisconsin Infantry was published in the July 2, 1864, issue of The Prescott Journal.  Like yesterday’s post about the 37th Wisconsin Infantry, the 6th Wisconsin was also involved in the Second Battle of Petersburg.

Letter from W. W. Hutchins.

We are in receipt of a letter from W. W. HUTCHINS, now Q. M. Sergeant of the Sixth Regiment, dated June 19, in which he says ;

“Old Co. B has again, as usual, been under fire.  In the attack on Petersburg yesterday, our division made a charge driving the rebels a mile and a half, capturing two lines of works, and securing and holding a position near the inner line of works from which the rebels cannot dislodge them.  They are now in full view of the city, and hold the railroad to the south of it.  Our lines now encircle the city.

I hear that the colored troops behaved splendidly, capturing 2000 prisoners and 16 guns, but the prisoners were subsequently recaptured.  The rebels are in a decidedly bad way, and if GRANT [Ulysses S. Grant] don’t get Richmond and LEE’s [Robert E. Lee] army and the Concern called the Southern Confederacy, this summer, I shall lose my guess.

The army is in splendid condition and strikes hard.  Troops are pouring in by thousands.  The casualties in Co. B are as follows ;  Private WM. DOUGLAS, wounded in leg, since amputated; Private J. CUMMINGS, wounded and missing, supposed killed.  The rest are all well and healthy.  Capt. Hyatt is well [Charles P. Hyatt].

1864 May 28: Death of Captain Rollin P. Converse

The following letter and article about the death of Captain Rollin P. Converse are from the May 28, 1864, issue of The Prescott Journal.  This article was picked up by The Polk County Press and published in its June 4, 1864, issue.

Letter from Capt. Hyatt.

FREDERICKSBURG, Va., }
May 16th 1864. }

I sent you a few days since a list of casuallties [sic] in Co. B, but must now make some corrections.  Capt. CONVERSE was wounded in the thigh and fell into the hands of the enemy.  They carried him to their hospital, and amputated his leg, and two days afterwards he died.  My information is reliable as one of the 19th Ind. Regt. was taken prisoner at the same time and was with the captain when he died, and has since made his escape and told me of the fate of our noble and patriotic commander.  His remains can not be obtained as our army do not occupy the ground where he was buried.  Thos. ALVERSON is dead ;  he was badly wounded and died soon after reaching the hospital.

FRANK HARE was reported wounded and missing, but he is in a rebel hospital, and has had one leg amputated.—FIELDING has lost an arm.

All the men not reported wounded or missing are all right.  So those who have friends here whose names do not appear on the casualty list, can rest as assured that they are well.

IN MEMORIAM.

Capt. Rollin P. Converse.

CAPT. ROLLIN P. CONVERSE is dead !  In the first of that terrible series of battles in “The Wilderness,” on the 5th of May, he was shot, fell into the enemy’s hands, and died two days afterwards.

He met his fate where he had so often braved it, right on the perilous edge of the battle, where the strife was deadliest, and the brave were emulating each other in deeds of valor, in defence of the most righteous cause in which sword was ever drawn.

Capt. CONVERSE was nearly twenty-four years of age.  He was born in Pierpont, St. Lawrence county, N. Y., the son of PAINE CONVERSE, Esq, of this city, well known in Norther New York.  For some time previous to the breaking out of the war, Capt. Converse had resided here, and at once responded to the first call for troops.

He left here as 2nd Sergeant of the “Prescott Guards,” on the 22nd of June, 1861.  He was made 2nd Lieut. in the October following, and in January, 1862, was promoted to 1st Lieut., which position he held until the next summer, when he was promoted to Captain of Co. B, 6th Wis., “Iron Brigade,” which position he held at the time of his death.

At the battle of Antietam he was severely wounded, and came home on a furlough.  Anxious to be with his company, he returned before he was able, and by reason of exertion and fatigue at the battle of Fredericksburg, his wound broke out, and for about three months, he was under the Surgeon’s care, and his life in critical condition.

Since his recovery, he has been steadily with his regiment, except when detailed as aid [sic] on the staff of Gens. GIBBON [John Gibbon] and MERIDITH [sic].¹  He has been in ten of the severest battles of the war, but it is unnecessary to trace his course through the Virginia campaigns, as he was on every battle field where the “Iron Brigade” won immortal renown.

One of the first who determined to remain in the service, his company were furloughed in January last as veteran volunteers, and were warmly welcomed home.  He, like many others, continued in the service after he could have honorably retired, not because he loved to fight, but because the country needed her veteran soldiers.

No officer was ever more loved by his men, and none was ever more deserving of love, while he won the confidence and respect of his brother officers by his undaunted courage, and the coolness and judgement he always displayed in dangerous situations.

Young in years—rich in all noble qualities of manhood—dear to a large circle of friends—with an honorable reputation as a soldier, his life has been laid down in a noble cause.  In the short time he lay in the enemy’s hands, waiting the sure arrival of death, we do not believe he deemed the sacrifice too great.  Loved friend, brave heart, true soldier,—FAREWELL !

1.  Solomon Meredith (1810-1875) was a prominent Indiana farmer, politician, and lawman who was a controversial Union Army general in the American Civil War. He gained fame as one of the commanders of the Iron Brigade of the Army of the Potomac, leading the brigade in the Battle of Gettysburg where he was severely wounded and was unfit for any further field command.

1864 May 21: Prescott Guards Losses in Virginia Battles

The following list of losses of local men in the recent battles in Virginia is from the May 21, 1864, issue of The Prescott Journal.

Losses in Co. B, 6th Reg., in the late Battles.

We have the following list of causalities [sic] in Co. B, from Capt. C. P. HYATT.  It will send a pang of pain to many hearts.  Dearly has this noble company paid for the honor they have so bravely won.  We trust that Capt. CONVERSE, and others reported wounded and missing, may yet be safe.  Capt. HYATT says, “We have given the rebels plenty of work lately to get their dead out of sight.”  The following is the list of casualties :

May, 5th, 1864.

	Capt. R. P. Converse,	woun’d & missing
	Corp. Frank Hare,	do do
	John Thompson,	do do
	Jerome A. Hall,	do do
	R. Fielding,	wounded severely in left wrist.
	Corp. Louis Ludloff,	wounded severely in right leg.
	James Richardson,	killed.
	James Wells,	do
	May 6.
	John Healer,	slight in right thigh.
	May 8.
	A. Cummings,	severe in right arm.
	Alba C. Smith,	severe and missing.
	May 10.
	Sergt. M. G. Smith,	dangerous in right shoulder.
	Thos. M. Alverson,	severe in left thigh.
	Melchoir Strieff,	severe in right leg.
	L. C. Hall,	slight to cheek.

M. Y. Sellick, Wisconsin State Agent, writing from Washington, under date of May 12, reports Capt. CONVERSE killed.  If so, a noble heart has ceased to beat–one more valuable life laid as a free will offering on the altar of Country and God.

1864 February 6: Company B of the 6th Wisconsin Getting Ready to Leave, and Other News

Following are the smaller items from The Prescott Journal of February 6, 1864.

— Our boys of the 12th Regiment have all re enlisted, and are daily expected home.  Let us give them a rousing welcome.

— We understand that Capt. Converse’[s] Co. will leave here some time next week.  [Rollin P. Converse, captain of Company B, 6th Wisconsin Infantry]

 Gen. Grant [Ulysses S. Grant], it is said, has forwarded to Washington his views on the way the war should be conucted [sic: conducted] in future to insure the earliest and most complete suppression of the rebellion.  These views are reported to be, the “concerted movement of all our armies under one policy, and, as far as practicable, under one direction.”  In a word, let there be less scattering fire and more concentration of purpose.

— Hon. Wm. Whiting [William Whiting], Solicitor of War Department, has decided that aliens who are subjects to foreign governments, having voluntarily enlisted in the service of the United States as substitutes for drafted men, are not entitled to be discharged from such service by reason of such alienage, but may, under the law of nations, be held to perform their engagements without giving the governments to which their alienage is due just cause of complaint.

— By direction of the President, Major General George Stoneman has been assigned to the command of the 23d army corps.  Brigadier General Getty [George W. Getty] has been appointed inspector on General Mead’s staff [sic: George G. Meade].

— The movement in Maryland in favor of immediate emancipation continues to grow in strength and must soon become irresistible.

— Arkansas is to follow Louisana [sic] in the work of reconstruction, and will hold an election on the 25th day of March.—After this election a State Convention will end forever what little may remain of slavery.

— John Brown’s daughter is teaching freedmen at fredmen [sic] at Fortress Monroe.

— The traitors in Ohio are raising ten cent subscriptions to pay Vallandigham’s board bill in Canada.  [Clement L. Vallandigham]

— Gen. Grant had gone to St. Louis to visit a sick son.

— The Kentucky Legislature has passed a bill prohibiting the importation of slaves into that State, the influx having cheapened the stock on hand and overflowed the market.

  Maj. Gen. McCLERNAND [John A. McClernand] recently sent in his resignation, being unwilling to hold a commission longer without employment.  It was not accepted, and he has been ordered to duty under BANKS [Nathaniel P. Banks].

THE FREEDMEN IN SOUTH CAROLINA.—A Beaufort (South Carolina) correspondent of the Boston Traveller furnishes a statement showing the prosperity of the freedmen of that place, under the impartial Government of the United States.  About thirty condemned horses were recently put up for sale, and to the surprise of everybody brought in some cases as high as $75, $100, and $140, though their estimated value was not over $20.  The purchasers were, in every case, freedmen, who promptly produced the “greenbacks.”  They have made money rapidly of late.  The same correspondent says that the Government plantations have been turned over to the United States tax commissioners, the present superintendents having been notified that their future services will be dispensed with.  The lands not sold in February will be leased.

1864 January 23: Welcome Home Prescott Guards

This welcome-home article for the Prescott Guards—Company B of the 6th Wisconsin Infantry—comes from the January 23, 1864, issue of The Prescott Journal.  The footnoted lists of men come from the Roster of Wisconsin Volunteers, 6th Regiment Infantry, Company B, on the Wisconsin Historical Society’s website.

WELCOME TO CO. B.

Co. B. 6th Reg., having re-enlisted and been furloughed, arrived here last Monday afternoon.

Last evening the citizens gave them a rousing welcome home.  A free Supper was given, and attended by the largest number ever gathered in this city on a similar occasion.  The Supper, thanks to the ladies who had it in charge, was well gotten up and passed off to the satisfaction of all.  Short and stirring speeches were made ;  the cannon made “thunder in the winter;” and the boys could but feel that warm hearts greeted them home.

About 10 o’clock, those who were disposed adjourned to Dunbar’s Hall and enjoyed one of the most pleasant dances of the season.

Twenty-two of the Co. reenlisted, only eleven of whom returned here.  They are Capt. ROLLIN P. CONVERSE, Lt. CHAS. P. HYATT, 1st Serg’t Henry E. Smyzer, Corp. Frank Hare, Corp. Lewis J. Ludloff, Corp. Darwin W. Kinney, Robert Burnete [sic], Marvin Boughton, Leverett C. Hall, S. B. Holman [Solomon B. Holman], James Richardson.

Of the 106 who left here in June, 1861, 14 people have been killed,¹ 52 wounded² and 2 died of disease.³  Quite a number have been transferred into batteries,⁴ some are in the Invalid Corps,⁵ and some have been discharged for disability.⁶

Of the officers who went out in command, Capt. Dill [Daniel J. Dill] is now colonel of the 30th, Lt. Marsh [John F. Marsh] is a member of the Board for examining applicants for commands in negro-regiments, and Orderly Sergeant Fitch [Michael H. Fitch] is Adjutant of the 24th.  Wm. Howes [William H. Howes], of this Co., is now a Lieut. in the 30th, John Winn [John W. Winn] is Clerk of the Board in this county.

This Co., as all know, has from the first, been attached to the Iron Brigade—that Brigade whose name has been made immortal, and whose battle-flags, never dishonored, have always waved triumphantly in the thickest of the perilous fight.

The Co. is furloughed until the 18th of next month, and is desirous of obtaining recruits.  Volunteers can go in no better or braver company.

1.  The 14 who were killed:

1. Henry Anderson (Stillwater, Minn.; killed at Gettysburg)
2. Leonard Brown (Pleasant Valley, killed at South Mountain)
3. William J. Casparous (Bridge Creek, killed at Antietam)
4. George Cassidy/Cassiday (Menomonie; accidentally shot at Alexandria, Va.)
5. Volney A. Cole (Oak Grove; killed at Antietam)
6. William E. Evans (Prescott; died from wounds received at Gettysburg)
7. William Faust/Foust (Beldenville; killed at Gettysburg)
8. Robert A. Fulton (Eau Claire; missing in action, assumed dead at Gainsville)
9. Frederick Gluth (Trimbelle; killed at Antietam)
10. Amos D. Keeler (Prescott; died from wounds received at Antietam)
11. James Kelly (Prescott; died from wounds received at Gettysburg)
12. Nicholas Suter (Pleasant Valley; killed at Antietam)
13. Allen B. Wilson (Diamond Bluff; killed at South Mountain)
14. David Z. Young (Eau Galle; killed at Antietam)

Martin McCandra/McCandraw (Stillwater, Minn.) was also killed at Antietam, but it was while he was detached to a battery so they probably did not count him.

2.  The 52 who were wounded:

1. Henry Anderson (Stillwater, Minn.; wounded at South Mountain)
2. Clarence E. Bullard (Menomonie; wounded at Gettysburg)
3. George Cassidy/Cassiday (Menomonie; wounded at Gainesville
4. John F. Caryzar (Eau Claire; wounded at Antietam
5. Caryzar was also wounded at First Fredericksburg)
6. Lloyd H. Colby (West Point; wounded at Cold Harbor)
7. Phillip H. Collins (Hastings, Minn.; wounded at Antietam)
8. Rollin P. Converse (Prescott; wounded at Antietam)
9. Thomas Davis (Eau Claire; wounded at Second Bull Run)
10. Arthur C. Ellis (Aurora, Ill.; wounded at South Mountain)
11. William E. Evans (Prescott; wounded at Gettysburg, died)
12. Joseph Fachs (St. Paul, Minn.; wounded at Gainesville
13. Fachs was also wounded at Gettysburg)
14. Alexander Frier (Maiden Rock; wounded at South Mountain)
15. Robert A. Fulton (Eau Claire; wounded at Gainesville)
16. Ole Gunderson (Centreville; wounded at Gettysburg)
17. Franklin J. Hall (Oak Grove; wounded at Antietam
18. Hall was also wounded at Gettysburg)
19. Frank Hare (Trimbelle; wounded at Antietam)
20. James R.W. Harvey (Maiden Rock; wounded at Gettysburg)
21. Jeremiah Heath (Prescott; wounded at South Mountain)
22. Andrew J. Hess (Cordova, Minn.; wounded at Antietam)
23. David F. Jones (no place listed; wounded at Gainesville)
24. Charles A. Keeler (Prescott; wounded at Gettysburg )
25. Isaiah F. Keeler (Prescott; wounded at Gettysburg
26. Keeler was also wounded at Mine Run)
27. James Kelly (Prescott; wounded at Gettysburg, died)
28. Darwin W. Kinney (Perry; wounded at Antietam)
29. Louis J. Ludloff (Prescott; wounded at Antietam)
30. Simon Marugg (Menomonie; wounded at Gettysburg)
31. James McEwen (Prescott; wounded at Gainesville
32. McEwen was also wounded at Gettysburg)
33. Thomas McIntyre (Pleasant Valley; wounded at Antietam)
34. Benjamin N. Meeds (Perry; wounded at Chancellorsville)
35. Jeremiah Murphy (Eau Claire; wounded at Gettysburg)
36. Alphonso W. Myers (Prescott; wounded at Antietam)
37. Peter Nelson (Stillwater, Minn.; wounded at Gettysburg)
38. Anthony Olson (Rush River; wounded at South Mountain
39. Olson was also wounded at Antietam)
40. Charles H. Potter (Palmyra; wounded at South Mountain)
41. William H. Pulver (Springville; wounded at South Mountain)
42. James Richardson (Prescott; wounded at Gettysburg)
43. John Sanderson (Stillwater, Minn.; wounded at South Mountain)
44. Ainsworth Saunders (Prescott; wounded at Antietam)
45. Joseph W.M. Shaw (Durand; wounded Sept. 17, 1862)
46. James H. Shults (Pleasant Valley; wounded at Antietam)
47. Mamory V. Smith (Bridge Creek; wounded at Antietam)
48. Henry E. Smyser (Prescott; South Mountain
49. Smyser was also wounded at Cold Harbor)
50. Robert Tomlinson (Diamond Bluff; wounded at Gettysburg)
51. Thomas H. Williams (Diamond Bluff; wounded at Gettysburg)
52. John W. Winn (Clifton; wounded at South Mountain)

3.  We found 3 who died of disease, a small number compared to other companies:

1. Cammillus Clark (Menomonie)
2. John F. Hale (Bridge Creek)
3. Oscar Sargent (Bridge Creek).

4.  Transferred to batteries:

1. James S. Armstrong (Trimbelle; detached to Battery B, 4th U.S. Artillery)
2. Henry M. Colby (Taylors Falls, Minn.; detached to Battery B, 4th U.S. Artillery)
3. Seymour W. Colby (Taylors Falls, Minn.; detached to Battery B, 4th U.S. Artillery)
4. Thomas Davis (Eau Claire; detached to Battery D, 5th Rhode Island Artillery)
5. Martin McCandraw (Stillwater, Minn.; detached to Battery B, 4th U.S. Artillery)
6. Henry G. McDougall (no place listed; detached to Battery B, 4th U.S. Artillery)
7. John H. McLaughlin (Trimbelle; detached to Battery B, 4th U.S. Artillery)
8. Jeremiah Murphy (Eau Claire; detached to Battery B, 4th U.S. Artillery)

5.  Invalid Corps/V.R.C.:

1. Phillip H. Collins (Hastings, Minn.)
2. Alexander Frier (Maiden Rock)
3. James R.W. Harvey (Maiden Rock)
4. Charles A. Keeler (Prescott)
5. Anthony Olson (Rush River)

6.  Discharged with disability:

1. Jerome Beardsley (Trimbelle)
2. Alexander B. Brewer (Eau Claire)
3. Charles H. Bruce (Prescott)
4. Henry M. Colby (Taylors Falls, Minn.)
5. Samuel B. French (Diamond Bluff)
6. Peter Hansen (Oak Grove)
7. Jeremiah Heath (Prescott)
8. Andrew J. Hess (Cordova, Minn.)
9. David F. Jones (no place listed)
10. Thomas McIntyre (Pleasant Valley)
11. George Mozarr (Red Wing, Minn.)
12. Alphonso W. Myers (Prescott)
13. John Newton (Prescott)
14. Andrew Peterson (Stillwater, Minn.)
15. Joseph P. Pond, Jr. (Prescott)
16. William H. Pulver (Springville)
17. John Sanderson (Stillwater, Minn.)
18. Joseph W. M. Shaw (Durand)
19. Charles L. Steiner (Trimbelle)
20. Josiah M. Taylor (Diamond Bluff)
21. George G. Varnum (Pepin)
22. Warren White (Vernon Springs, Iowa)
23. John W. Winn (Clifton)
24. Edgar Wright (Mauston).

1864 January 16: To the Returning Soliders of Company B (6th Infantry)

From the January 16, 1864, issue of The Prescott Journal.

CO. B, 6th REGIMENT.

A WELCOME HOME !

Co. B. 6th Reg., Capt. Rollin P. Converse, having re-enlisted, have been furloughed, and are daily expected home.  It is the intention of the citizens here to give them the welcome they so well deserve.  There will be a supper and “other things accordin’,” to which all are invited to contribute.  The following are the committees to make arrangements ;—

Let the boys have a rousing welcome.

On Reception—Messrs. P. Converse, A. A. Meacham, Geo. P. Smith, J. W. Beardsley, Geo. A. Dill.

On Supper—Messrs. C. P. Barnard, J. B. Parkhurst, E. N. Redmon, Levi Bailey of Clifton, W. C. Deninison of Oak Grove, D. W. Armstrong of Trimbelle.

Ladies, Mrs. Wm. Howes, Mrs. J. W. Hill, Mrs. M. C. Goss, Mrs. L. R. Smith, Mrs. P. Felt.

On Music—Messrs. G. H. Nichols, S. A. Porter, A. J. Young.

On Finance—Messrs. L. A. Taylor, W. P. Westfall, J. C. Button.

To The Returned Soldiers.¹

BY PARK BENJAMIN.²

Warm welcome home, ye noble northern bands.
We bid you welcome with our hearts and hands.
Always our dear, but now our dearest ones,
Our closest kindred, fathers, brothers, sons.
Warm welcome, soldiers, howsoe’er you come.
Whether you keep step to the stirring drum,
Or maimed and feeble, faltering and slow,
Sad victims of the conflict and the foe.
Or borne on litters with expiring breath,
Or stretched in all the majesty of Death.
We bid you welcome, oh ye valiant braves,
To happy lives or honorable graves.
The dear survivors shall have love and fame,
The loyal dead a consecrated name—
Nor only now ;  for after years shall tell
The story of your deeds and triumphs well,
The generations that are yet to be,
With flowing eyes your country’s flag shall see.
Emblem of pride, glory, and success,
Without one stripe erased, one star the less,
As all its dazzling hues and dots expand
From sea to sea, o’er one united land,
Shall canonize your memories late and long,
Subjects of eloquence and themes of song,
Martyrs and patriots, whose death sublime
Have made our Union holy for all time.

1.  The name of this poem is actually “Return of the Three Month’s Volunteers,” and was dated August 5th, 1861. There are slight differences between this version and other published versions.
2.  Park Benjamin, Sr. (1809-1864) was well known in his time as a poet, journalist, editor, and founder of several newspapers. He died on September 12, 1864.