1865 October 7: Horace Greeley in Prescott, Repairing Petersburg, and Other News

From The Prescott Journal of October 7, 1865.

MARRIAGES.

Married at River Falls, on the 3d. inst., by Rev. A. Gibson [Arrington Gibson], Mr. ALLEN HIGGINS, Serg’t Major 33d Reg. Wis. Volunteers, Kenosha, Wis., and Miss ROSANA FARNSWORTH, of River Falls, Wis.

  HORACE GREELY spoke here last Saturday evening.  It was late before he arrived, but a large audience collected to see the veteran journalist and politician.

Gleanings.

— Major General Banks has made his final adieu to New Orleans.  [Nathaniel P. Banks]

— Jefferson Davis has received the present of a case of choice liquor from some friends in Richmond.  He can now “drown his sorrows in the flowing bowl.”

— It is estimated that the sum of fifteen thousand dollars will be required to put the streets of Petersburg, Va., in order.

— The bloodhounds Hero and Jack, used to guard Union prisoners at Richmond and Andersonville, have been bought by George K. Goodwin of Boston, for $1,400.

—Letters recently received from the family of Judge Bates, late Attorney General, represent the health of that distinguished gentleman to be such as to create the most serious apprehensions.  [Edward Bates]

— It is but little known that the first anti-slavery paper started in the United States was published in East Tennessee.  It was called The Emancipator, and published at Greenville, the home of President Johnson, by Benjamin F. Lundy, a Friend in religious faith, and a native of Belmont county, Ohio.

— Brig. Gen. James P. Brownlow, son of the Tennessee “Parson,” is to be married to a daughter of Dr. Cliff of Frankfort.  President Johnson is expected to be present at the wedding.  [William G. “Parson” Brownlow, Andrew Johnson]

— A correspondent describes Provisional Governor Sharkey, of Mississippi, as being the embodiment of conservatism.  His spinal column is proverbially week, he is a pliable as a lump of dough, is immensely gullible, and slightly bibulous.  [William L. Sharkey]

—The Claremont N. H. Advocate says, a lady in Unity, not long since became the mother of a fine daughter.  A few days after, a copperhead neighbor happening in, said to the mother, “Well, I suppose you will call it Abe Lincoln.”  “No,” she replied; “I am sorry I can’t.  Like your friend Jeff. [Jefferson Davis] it will wear petticoats.”  Copperhead vamoosed.

1865 September 2: Webb Seavey, Fred Dresser, and David Caneday Home from the War; and Other Bits of News

Following are smaller news items from The Polk County Press of September 2, 1865.

A JOKE.—The Prescott Journal has a lengthy account of Gen. Grant’s reception at Prescott and the leading spirits are all hugely complimented for the masterly manner in which they performed their different parts.  The fun of it is, the General was asleep when the boat passed Prescott, and they did not see him at all.  [Ulysses S. Grant]

HOME FROM THE WAR.—Captain WEBB S. SEAVEY, 5th Iowa Cavalry, and Quartermaster FRED. A. DRESSER., 30th Wisconsin Volunteers, arrived home on Tuesday evening.

Capt. SEAVEY has been mustered out with his regiment, after four years hard and faithful service for the Government, and was unfortunate enough to serve part of his time in the rebel slaughter pen at Andersonville.  We are sorry to say that his health is quite poor.

Quartermaster DRESSER is home on furlough, and returns in a few days.  His regiment is stationed at Louisville, and will be mustered out some time during the month of October.  [Frederick A. Dresser]

GEN. GRANT.—GEN. ULYSSES S. GRANT and party visited St. Paul, St. Anthony, Minneapolis, Minnehaha, and Fort Snelling last Saturday.  He met with a grand reception.

—DAVID CANEDAY, formerly of the “Monitor” dropped in upon us Thursday.  DAVE is the same old “David” of old, notwithstanding the hard campaigns of the Southwest.  [David A. Canaday]

TO OUR READERS.—With this number of the PRESS we bid “good-bye” to our readers for a short time, while with the aid of the “iron horse” we journey East and visit again our old New England home.  During our absence the PRESS will be in charge of our brother and junior publisher, who will, no doubt, assume our duties in a manner satisfactory to all.  [former soldier Henry O. Fifield is the brother and junior publisher]

DREADFUL ACCIDENT AT ST. PAUL.—During the passage of GEN. GRANT through Third Street St. Paul, last Saturday, an iron balcony containing about twenty men, women and children, was precipitated from the second story of a building to the stone side-walk below, severely injuring,—some of them fatally,—seventeen persons.  The balcony was a shabbily built affair, and broke down from being overloaded.

—The latest report from Gov. Brough says that one of his limbs have [sic] been amputated above the ankle.  He is much worse, and no hopes are entertained of his recovery.  [John Brough]

WOODEN MORTAR.—We saw at the historical society room, the other day, a wooden mortar, which was used in the bombardment of the forts around Mobile. It is simply the section of a gum log, about eighteen inches long and ten inches in diameter, hooped with three iron bands.—They are quite light, and can be easily carried from place to place to suit convenience.  This one belonged to the Seventh Regiment, and was presented by them to the historical society.—St. Paul Press.

The Southern Church.

At the outbreak of the rebellion and long previous to it, the slavery question had been a source of as much dissension in church as in State.  Several of the leading church denominations had divided or were utterly at variance among their membership on this inevitable question.—All the churches in the South argued the divinity of slavery, supporting, supported succession and encouraged rebellion.  Almost all the former ecclesiastical organizations there, are now broken up, and under the influence of the liberal ideas of the North, the reconstruction of the churches is beginning.  Slavery, the sole cause of contention and seperation [sic], is now virtually abolished, and the re-union of the churches, or rather their reorganization on the principles which all their members North and South, once held in common, is already taking place.  The elimination of every element of discord from the powerful and widely extended church organizations of the country, will be very effective in promoting harmony among the people of every State and section, and will do much in the way of uniting indissolubly those who were so lately at enmity towards each other.

1865 August 26: General Grant Visits Prescott

The Prescott Journal of August 26, 1865, covered the supposed visit of General Ulysses S. Grant.  The Journal never confesses up to their ruse, but The Polk County Press of September 2, 1865, fills us in on the joke:

A JOKE.—The Prescott Journal has a lengthy account of Gen. Grant’s reception at Prescott and the leading spirits are all hugely complimented for the masterly manner in which they performed their different parts.  The fun of it is, the General was asleep when the boat passed Prescott, and they did not see him at all.

G E N.   G R A N T !

HIS RECEPTION HERE.

Great Enthusiasm Manifested

Remarks by the General, Incidents, &c.

Yielding to the solicitations of the patriotic people of Prescott and St. Paul, Gen. U.S. GRANT, who it will be remembered has been somewhat prominent in connection with the late war, has taken a trip “up the river.”

His reception here was brilliant beyond anything in the previous history of this city, and must have been flattering to the great chief, as it was creditable to ourselves.  We can give but a brief outline of the reception, which occurred about 12 o’clock last night.

A scandalous rumor having been put in circulation that the great strategist would attempt to flank this town by going up the channel on the other side of the island, Mr. Mecham [Edgar A. Meacham] was detailed to occupy that channel with a barge.  The sagacious soldier did not attempt to flank him, and so the noble Itasca moved straight for our levee.

As the boat came in sight, the blocks on the levee were brilliantly illuminated, bonfires were kindled, and the cannon thundered a welcome.  The Democratic levee did itself honor.  Nessel had out two rows of Chinese lanterns the whole length of his Hotel, with appropriate mottoes.  Beardsley [Joseph W. Beardsley] and Lyford each held aloft a torch, formerly owned by the McClellan club ;  while Charley Barnes, his face radiant with joy, had his office gaily illuminated, and stood on the sidewalk with a kerosene lamp in each hand.

As the boat neared the levee, the Glee Club under the lead of Prof. Billings sang,

“Lo, the conquering Hero comes.”¹

Music has charms, in fact it is “the pla_ spel of the sole,” and the music brought Gen. Grant to the bow of the boat.  As the boat landed and the plank was run out, he was greeted with three rousing cheers.  He attempted to come ashore, but had lost his ticket, and Clerk LEWIS would not let him off without paying his fare, so he leaned against the capstan while the

SPEECH OF WELCOME

was delivered, by Mr. J. M. McKEE, Esq., formerly a prominent officer in the Home Guards.  Mr. McKEE stroked his manly beard with becoming dignity and said he felt proud to welcome this great chief to Prescott.  He had never before had the pleasure of seeing the victorious leader, as imperative business had kept him from visiting the sunny South during our recent trouble.  He made some further appropriate remarks, and closed by telling the General that he could get cigars of excellent flavor at the Book & Variety Store.

Gen. Grant made no speech in response, but easily and gracefully leaning against the capstan,² he indulged in a running talk, the substance of a portion of which we give.  He thanked Mr. McKee for the pleasant remarks he had made, especially about the cigars, and told him he might send him a box as a sample.  He said that he had heard of many of McKee’s suggestions about the war, and they had been of great service to him.  Though he had never before seen but a few of the manly faces before him, yet he had been a careful reader of the “Family Paper,” and felt well acquainted with us all.  He asked to be introduced to Dr. Beardsley, and told the Dr. that those Co. Seat resolutions of his, were a very wrong and wicked thing, but he supposed his heart was nearer right than his head, and no doubt he repudiated them now.  He forgave him, since he had taken Richmond, (O. T.)

The Gen. was then introduced by his request, to Chas. L. Barnes.  Said he, “Squire Barnes, is it true, as I hear that you are going for negro suffrage !”  Chas. replied that it was.  The Gen. congratulated him, and advised him to fight it out on that line.  Said he, “Esq. Barnes, you are young yet, and can still do a great deal to elevate an oppressed race.”

The Gen. then enquired for Barnard, and was told that he had gone to St. Paul, when he replied, “all right, I shall see him there.  I understand he was powerful on recruiting.”

The General evidently wished to talk with several others, but just at this time Capt. Webb rang the bell, and said that boat was going to St. Paul, so the General broke of [off?] his remarks, and retired to his room, which was C, ladies’ cabin.

The demonstration was an imposing one, and well calculated to flatter the General, and impress him with a sense of the grandeur of the Northwest.

Capstan

1.  From George Frederic Handel’s Judas Maccabaeus.
2.  A capstan is a vertical-axled rotating machine developed for use on sailing ships to apply force to ropes, cables, and hawsers.

1865 July 29: Soldier-Boy Waggery

This humorous article appeared in the July 29, 1865, issue of The Polk County Press.

Soldier-Boy Waggery. 

The Columbus (Ohio) Journal says :  “Among the sharp boys in Sherman’s army on the grand march was a graduate of the common schools of Northern Ohio—the only son of a widowed mother.  The fond mother had no word from her son from the time the army left Chattanooga till it reached Atlanta.  She waited for tidings with anxiety—watching daily the newspaper reports.  At length several days after the taking of Atlanta had been announced, a letter was brought her which read as follows :

                                                           ATLANTA,

“Dear Mother :  Bully boy all right. “

                                                             BOB.”

“In due time Sherman marched from Atlanta to Savannah. There was a fight behind Savannah. the widdowed [sic] mother read in the newspapers that the company which her boy belonged was in that fight.  With almost sleepless anxiety she waited for news from him.  One day she received a note which read thus :

                                                           “SAVANNAH,”

” Dear Mother : Bully boy got a hole in his hide—not bad”

                                                           “BOB.”

“In the march of events Sherman’s men reached Washington, were mustered out, and the company to which ” Bob” belonged came to the capital of Ohio.  Here “Bob” had his final honorable discharge, and and when he made it “all right” with the paymaster, and was again a citizen, he sent the following telegram :

                                                           COLUMBUS, _____,

“Dear Mother Bully boy home to-morrow,

                                                           ” BOB.”

“When asked by a friend, to whom the infrequency and brevity of his epistles had been mentioned, why he did not write oftener and at greater length, he answered :

“Bully boy’s got his haversack full.  Kept it all to tell by word of mouth.  Won’t he have a good time talking [to] the old lady?”

1865 July 1: A Variety of National News Items, Including the Conspiracy Trial

The following summary of the week’s news comes from The Prescott Journal of July 1, 1865.

General News.

— Charles Walsh, of Chicago, convicted of a conspiracy to release the rebel prisoners at Camp Douglas, has been pardoned by the President [Andrew Johnson].

— The eldest son of President Tyler was “Bobby,” the eldest son of President Lincoln is “Bob,” and the eldest son of President Johnson is “Bob,” too.  Three Prince Roberts in a quarter of a century.  [John Tyler, Abraham] Lincoln]

— A receipt has been found among the captured archives of the State of Tennessee, showing that Isham G. Harris deposited in London $43,000 in State bonds, to his individual credit.

— When Benjamin parted with Davis, he said, “We’re both going to the same place.”  “How is that?” asked Davis.  “Well,” said Benjamin, “I am going to Europe, and you’re going to your rope.”  [Judah P. Benjamin, Jefferson Davis]

— The rebel prisoners at Point Lookout, Md., erected a flagstaff, a few days since, and hoisted the United States flag greeting it with hearty cheers.

— General Butler says :

“I know from having seen the rolls of 100,000 of the rank and file of the Confederate army, prisoners, that only one in eight was able to sign his name.”
[Benjamin F. Butler]

— The official list of casualties in General Grant’s campaign, commencing with the crossing of the Rapidan in May, 1864, and ending with the final surrender of Lee’s army, has been received at the War Department.  The casualties foot up nearly ninety thousand.  [Ulysses S. Grant, Robert E. Lee]

— The suspension bridge at Nashville, destroyed at the time the Union army was preparing to occupy the city, is to be rebuilt immediately.  Sixty thousand dollars of the capital stock has already been subscribed, and the remaining $15,000 will soon be pledged.

— It is proposed to erect a magnificent bridge over the Potomac at Washington as a monument to the late President.  It will be called the “Lincoln Bridge,” and a colossal statue of Mr. Lincoln will be placed in the center or at one end of the structure.

— Jeff. Davis’ commission as a First Lieutenant of Dragoons, signed [by] Andrew Jackson, President, and Lewis Cass, Secretary of War, and dated April 10, 1834, to rank from March 4, 1843, has fallen into the hands of a member of Gov. Oglesby’s staff.  [Richard J. Oglesby, Illinois governor]

— The secretary of war directs that the orders for mustering out of service immediately all regiments whose term of service expires before the 1st of October, shall not be held to apply to the Veteran Reserve corps.  Thus men in that corps must serve out their full time, though the regiments in which they originally enlisted are to be mustered out immediately.

— The Boston Journal states that Hon. A. H. Stephens, late Vice-President of the rebel confederacy, now at Fort Warren is allowed to walk in the open air daily, from 9 to 10 o’clock in the forenoon, in company with an officer.  His health is very feeble, and it is feared that the imprisonment is fast undermining his weak constitution.  He is kept in a room by himself, guarded all the time by two soldiers.  Postmaster General Reagan [John H. Reagan], who is similarly guarded, is allowed a daily promenade between 6 and 7 o’clock P. M.

B Y   T E L E G R A P H.

NEW YORK, June 23.—The Commercial’s special says Gen. Grant’s health is somewhat impaired by arduous services and he will probably seek a few weeks repose.

Gen. Howard has received very favorable information from Kansas and Missouri respecting the condition of the freedmen.  In Missouri, only 226 colored people are supported by the government, against 4,462 whites.  [O. O. Howard]

The Post’s special says the attorneys are daily placing on file applications for pardon for their clients.

AUBURN, June 23.—The remains of the late Mrs. Wm. H. Seward¹ left Washington on Thursday morning, and were accompanied to this city by Secretary Seward, Gen. Wm. H. Seward¹ and Fanny Seward.¹  Maj. Gen. Hancock, Brig. Gen. Mitchell of Hancock’s staff, and Major Norris, Surgeon U. S. A., one of the surgeons who attended Secretary Seward’s family.  [Secretary of State William H. Seward, Sr., Winfield S. Hancock]

The funeral of the deceased will take place at St. Peter’s church, in this city to-day, (Saturday,) at three o’clock p. m.

Secretary Seward’s health does not seem to have been injured by the journey.  He bore the fatigue remarkably well.

LOUISVILLE, June 23.—The New Albany Ledger reports a terrible accident on the Ohio and Mississippi railroad, near Lafayette, Indiana, yesterday.  A freight train bound east and a soldiers rain bound west, collided, killing the engineer and firemen of both trains.  While an angry dispute arose between the conductors as to the blame, another freight train from the east ran into the soldiers’ train, killing fifteen men, and wounded 150 men, many fatally.  The soldiers belonged to Illinois and Missouri regiments and were homeward bound.

SAN FRANCISCO, June 20.—The city election at Portland, Oregon, resulted in the complete success of the Union ticket with scarcely any opposition.

FT. MONROE, June 22.—The steamer Ariel, of the Texas expedition, sailed to-day.

BOSTON, June 23.—A Washington special to the Boston Journal states that the South Carolina delegation very modestly asks that the government shall redeem confederate bonds paper, which amount, according to their calculation, to $200,000,000.  The delegation possess one million of worthless bonds, which is pronounced the secret of their anxiety on the subject.

CAIRO, June 22.—Over fifty gunboats and other vessels, lately composing a portion of the Mississippi Squadron, are to be sold at auction at Mound City, Illinois, Aug. 17th.

NEW YORK, June 22.—Work has ceased at the Portsmouth Navy Yard on all of the principal vessels in course of construction there—the Franklin [1864], Passaconaway [1863, never completed], Illinois [1864, never completed] and Contocook [1864].  Two of these are not yet launched.

The Army and Navy Official Gazette publishes the following despatch from General Grant to General Halleck [Henry W. Halleck], ordering the latter to disregard Sherman’s truce [William T. Sherman].  It should have accompanied Halleck’s letter :

FORTRESS MONROE, Saturday, April 22, ’65.—Major General Halleck, Richmond, Va.—The truce entered into by Sherman will be ended as soon as I can reach Raleigh.  Move Sheridan with his cavalry, towards Greensboro, N. C., as soon as possible.  I think it will be well to send one corps of infantry also, the whole under Sheridan.  The infantry need not go further than Danville, unless they receive orders hereafter to do so.

(Signed,)          U. S. GRANT, Lieut. Gen.

WASHINGTON, June 23.—Mrs. Surratt continues very sick.  [Mary Surratt]

Junius Brutus Booth² was unconditionally released this morning from Old Capitol prison.

Mr. Ewing³ made an argument against the jurisdiction of the court, and after examining the evidence in the case of Dr. Mudd,⁴ claimed that his client was entitled to an acquittal.

The court adjourned until Tuesday, when Ass’t Judge Advocate Bingham⁵ will commence the summing up for the government.

1.  Francis Adeline Miller Seward (1805-1865) married William Henry Seward on October 20, 1824. They had five children: Augustus Henry Seward (1826-1876), Frederick William Seward (1830-1915), Cornelia Seward (1836-1837), [Brigadier General] William Henry Seward, Jr. (1839-1920), and Frances Adeline “Fanny” Seward (1844-1866). On April 14, 1865, her husband and two of their sons, Frederick and Augustus, and Fanny, were injured in an assassination attempt on her husband in their house. The attack put Frances into a state of great anxiety about her family, and she thought that Frederick would die of his injuries (he survived). She died on June 21, 1865, of a heart attack.
2.  Junius Brutus Booth, Jr. (1821-1883) was a brother of Lincoln assassin John Wilkes Booth. He was a member of the famous Booth family of actors, and also a theatre manager. At the time of the assassination, he was fulfilling an acting engagement in Cincinnati, Ohio. Even so, he was arrested and hurried by train to the Old Capitol Prison, where he was interrogated and released.
3.  Thomas Ewing, Jr. (1829-1896), was the defense attorney for Dr. Mudd, and two Ford Theatre employees, Edman Spangler and Samuel Arnold. All three were convicted, but spared being hanged. Ewing also was successful in obtaining a pardon for Mudd at the end of Johnson’s term. Before the War, Ewing was the first chief justice of Kansas (1861) and a leading free state advocate. During the War, he recruited the 11th Kansas Infantry and was elected as its first colonel, and was promoted to brigadier general in 1863 for his leadership at the Battle of Prairie Grove. After the War, Ewing successfully lobbied the key vote against the impeachment of Andrew Johnson when he convinced an old friend to vote against impeachment. He was also a U.S. Representative from Ohio (1877-81), and narrowly lost the 1880 campaign for Ohio governor.
4.  Samuel Alexander Mudd (1833-1883) was charged with aiding John Wilkes Booth as he escaped by setting his broken leg and giving him shelter; as a consequence of these actions, he was also charged with conspiracy. The military commission found him guilty, but he escaped the death penalty by a single vote, and was pardoned in 1869.
5.  John Armor Bingham (1815-1900) was a U.S. Representative from Ohio (1855-63 and 1865-73), judge advocate in the Lincoln assassination trial, and a prosecutor in the impeachment trial of President Andrew Johnson. He was also the principal framer of the Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, and the 7th U.S. Ambassador to Japan (1873-85).

1865 June 24: Alphabetical Record of the Rebellion

The following—taken from an unnamed exchange newspaper—was published in The Prescott Journal of June 24, 1865.

Alphabethical [sic] Record of the Rebellion.

An exchange publishes the following :

A — Stands for Andersonville—the ghastly monument of the most revolting outrage of the century.

B — Stands for Booth—let his memory be swallowed up in oblivion.  [John Wilkes Booth]

C — Stands for Canada—the asylum of skedadlers [sic], and the nest in which foul traitors have hatched their eggs of treason.

D — Stands for Davis—the most eminent low comedian, in the female character, of the age.  [Jefferson Davis]

E — Stands for England—an enemy in our adversity ;  a sycophant in our prosperity — (Music by the band ;  air Yankee Doodle)

F — Stands for Freedom—the bulwark of the nation.

G — Stands for Grant—the undertaker who officiated at the burial of the rebellion.  [Ulysses S. Grant]

H — Stands for Hardee—his tactics couldn’t save him.  [William J. Hardee]

I — Stands for Infamy—the spirit of treason.

J — Stands for Justice—give it to the traitors.

K — Stands for Kearsarge—for further particulars see Winslow’s Soothing Syrup.  [USS Kearsarge]

L — Stands for Lincoln—we mourn his loss.  [Abraham Lincoln]

M — Stands for Mason—(more music by the band ;  air, “There came to the beach a poor exile,”¹ etc., etc.)

N — Stand for nowhere the present location of the C. S. A.

O — Stands for “O dear, what can the matter be?”  For answer to this question, apply to Kirby Smith.

P — Stands for peace—nobly won by the gallant soldiers of the Union.

Q — Stands for Quantell [sic]—one of the gorrillas [sic] in the rebel menagerie.  [William Clarke Quantrill]

R — Stands for Rebellion—which is no longer able to stand for itself.

S — Stands for Sherman—he has a friend and vindicator in Grant.  [William T. Sherman]

T — Stands for Treason—with a halter around its neck.

U — Stands for Union—“Now and forever, one and inseperable [sic].”

V — Stands for Victory—Further explanation is unnecessary.

W — Stands for Washington—The nation is true to his memory.

X — Stands for Xtradition—English papers please copy.

Y — Stands for Young America—who stands by the Union.

Z — Stands for Zodiac—the stars are all there.  (Music by the band —

“The Star Spangled Banner, o long may it wave,
O’er the land of the free and the home  of the brave.”

1.  The first line of a poem by Thomas Campbell entitled The Exile of Erin. The full line is, “There came to the beach a poor Exile of Erin.”

1865 June 17: New Governments in Confederate States, Assassination Conspiracy News, Government Helping Soldiers Get Artificial Limbs, and More

Following are the smaller items from the June 17, 1865, newspapers, The Polk County Press and The Prescott Journal.

From The Polk County Press:

— A Letter from Edwin Booth, in reply to a “fraternal and consoling letter” from a committee of Masons in New York, has been published.  Mr. Booth says :

“It has pleased God to afflict my family as none other was ever afflicted.

“The nature, manner and extent of the crime, which has been laid at our door have crushed me to the very earth.  My detestation and abhorence [sic] of the act, in all its attributes, are inexpressable [sic] ;  my grief is unnterable [sic], and were it not for the sympathy of friends such as you, would be intolerable.”

THE LAST KICK EXTINGUISHED.—The last spad of earth has fallen on the coffin of the “Southern Confederacy.”  The redoubtable Wade Hampton, the South Carolina Cavalry chief who continued in the saddle long after Johnson’s surrender [sic: Joseph E. Johnston], has issued an address to the people of that State, telling them the war is over, and that is their duty to recognize the fact and submit to the authority of the Federal Government.

FREE STATE CONSTITUTION RATIFIED IN MISSOURI.—We are rejoiced to learn that, contrary to the general impression based on the unfavorable result in St. Louis, the new constitution in Missouri has been ratified by a decided majority.

We are not conversant with the details of the new constitution, but from the fact that it was framed by loyal men, and was bitterly opposed by the secessionists, we may safely infer that it is based upon sound principles.  For one thing it declares immediate emancipation; it also bases the right of suffrage upon intelligence and not color.  It also taxes all church property.

OLD SHELL.—The Petersburg (Va.) Express says :  “For years to come old iron will be plentiful enough in this section to supply several large foundries.  No one will be able to stick a spade in the ground  east or south of the city without striking against a piece, and the plough, in nearly every furrow, will turn up a “lamp post,” or a mortar, or some kind of missle [sic].  Now and then we shall probaly [sic] hear of man, horse, and plough flying towards the clouds.  When they explode, these shells are no respecters of flesh.  They strike a man harder than Heenan or Sayers.²

— Kirby Smith is said to have made fifteen million dollars during the war.

— A Provincial Government will be shortly adopted for Alabama.

— Gov. McGarth [sic: Andrew G. Magrath] of S. C. is a prisoner at Washington.

— A Soldiers’ Orphans’ Home has recently been established in St. Louis.

— Fifty thousand discharged troops have left Washington for their homes.

— The New Yorkers are rejoicing over nice new potatoes received from New Orleans.

— The Provost Marshal system is to be retained in all the States except Rhode Island, for the present.

— It is rumored in Macon that Breckenridge [sic: John C. Breckinridge] has escaped in a vessel from the coast of Florida.

— Ex. Gov. Brown, of Georgia, goes home on parole to try to organize and bring back the State to its first love.  [Joseph E. Brown]

— Gen. Scott is reported to have said of Jeff. Davis, “I hope he will be hung by the neck, sir, I hope he will hang by the neck.”  [Winfield Scott]; Jefferson Davis]

— Gen. Hood, the last revel of note, and staff, surrendered to Gen. Davidson, on the 31st inst.  He is said to be a warm admirer of Sheridan.  [John Bell Hood; John W. Davidson; Philip H. Sheridan]

— Gov. Watts, of Alabama, was arrested in Montgomery a few days ago, but has been discharged from custody without being brought north.  [Thomas H. Watts]

— The new trade regulations for Savannah are working most satisfactorily.  Silver is plenty in Augusta for change, and greenbacks are at par.

— Where soldiers have lost legs, feet or arms in the war, the Government helps them to this extent in getting artificial ones:  $75 for legs, $50 for arms and $50 for feet.

— The citizens of Northern Georgia are reported to be strongly Union.  They defeated a gang of guerrillas a few days since and hung ten of them.

— Gen. Grant avows his purpose of retaining his residence at Galena and of voting there at the next election.  He says he wants to be Mayor of that city, so he can fix the side-walks.  [Ulysses S. Grant]

— The party in Kentucky which favors the anti-slavery amendment to the Constitution is daily gaining ground.  Ex-Gov. McGoffen [sic: Beriah Magoffin] is out for the amendment.

— Beverly Tucker¹ announces that if God spares his life, Pres. Johnson shall go down to a dishonored grave.  Such an announcement was hardly needed to prove the infamous wretch capable of attempting secret murder.  [Andrew Johnson]

From The Prescott Journal:

— Says the Louisville Journal:  “We understand that the negro population of Louisville and vicinity propose to celebrate the approaching Fourth of July in grand style.  The celebrated colored orator, Fred. Douglas [sic], has been invited, and will be present to address the assembled multitude.

COMING TO IT.—The New Orleans Delta relates that a social party was given in Mobile, a few evenings since, to which were invited a number of both Union and Confederate officers.  In the early part of the evening, an evident restraint hung over the assemblage, and anything but a pleasant time was in prospect.  At last the brave rebel Colonel—of the—Alabama, proposed a song, and upon being pressed to start one, he broke forth in that stirring national air, “The Star Spangled Banner.”  After a few moments of blank astonishment, the whole party, Union and rebel, joined in, and the utmost good feeling and jovialty [sic] prevailed from that time forth until the breaking day warned the merry company to disperse to their separate abodes.  The good fruits that may spring from the little incident are incalculable.

  During the conspiracy trial, an intelligent witness, a genial son of the Emerald Isle, was called on to the stand, and asked if he knew anything about the assassinations.  He replied that he knew all about it and accordingly the court-room was cleared.  The following testimony as it appears of record:  “What do you know about the tragedy!”  “I know all about it, yer honor.” “Where did you sit in the theatre!” “Right under the President’s box.” “Well, what did you see of the murder!” “I saw a might fine dressed man jump from the stage of the President’s box; then I heard a shot, and saw the same man jump back on the stage and bow before the American flag, and shout out :  ‘He’s sick ;  send for McManuies.’ ” (Sic semper tyrannis.³)

— VALLANDIGHAM [Clement L. Vallandigham] says in his late letter, that the Chicago platform is no longer binding upon the party, as it (the platform) “survived but eight days—dying of circumcision.”  This is rather an unkind fling at George B. McClellan’s  letter accepting the Chicago nomination and repudiating the platform.

— It is said that the only joke General Sherman ever perpetrated was upon eutering [sic] the capital of North Carolina.  Turning to a regiment of veterans who were marching by the State House he called out:  “Don’t you think this is a good place to sing “Raleigh” round the flag boys!”  [This item also appeared in this week’s Polk County Press.]

— Gen. Beauregard, of whom we have heard very little for the past two months, was in New Orleans on the 22d, and registered his name at Gen. Banks’ headquarters as a paroled officer.  [P.G.T. Beauregard, Nathaniel P. Banks]

1.  Beverly Tucker was a former circuit court judge in Virginia, a member of the so-called “Confederate Canadian Cabinet,”* and quite possibly complicit with the Lincoln assassination conspiracy.
* The inner circle of Canadian-based Confederates, which, besides Tucker, included at least Jacob Thompson, George N. Sanders, and Clement C. Clay. These four, along with Confederate agents William C. Cleary, George Harper, and George Young, were indicted and tried as part of the plot to kill Lincoln.
2.  American boxer John C. Heenan fought English boxer Tom Sayers in the first international boxing championship in 1860.
3.  A Latin phrase meaning “thus always to tyrants.”

1865 June 17: Post-War News from All Over the Country

These summaries of the week’s news comes from the June 17, 1865, issues of The Prescott Journal and The Polk County Press.  The printing in this issue of the Journal was very poor and often impossible to read; such portions are indicted by [__].

From The Prescott Journal:

General News.

— Brig. Gen. Hugh Ewing,¹ brother-in-law of Gen. Sherman [William T. Sherman], has just been breveted Major General.

— Mrs. General Roger A. Pryor comes regularly to our commissary at Petersburg to draw the rations designated for the poor of the city.

— Gen. Sherman drew his pay at Washington last week.  He is said to be quite poor, having devoted his time to fighting rather than speculating.

— Where soldiers have lost legs, feet or arms in the war, the Government helps them to this extent in getting artificial ones :  $75 for legs, $50 for arms, $50 for feet.

— Mr. Ritter of New Haven has recently erected monuments of Rhode Island granite to two Connecticut heroes, Rear Admiral Foote [Andrew Hull Foote] and Major General Sedgwick [John Sedgwick], the former in New Haven and the latter in Cornwall Hollow.

— The reason of Jeff’s [Jefferson Davis] assuming woman’s attire is attributed to the fact that he had lost track of his species,—and he evidently came to the conclusion that he was of the feminine gender.

— Gen. Wilson [James H. Wilson] has ordered the prison stockade at Andersonville to be enclosed and fenced and a book containing the names and description of deceased privates to be kept for reference.  Over fourteen thousand Union soldiers are known to be buried there.

— Gen. Grant’s saddle [Ulysses S. Grant], which he rode from the commencement of his services [___] in 1861, until after the surrender of Gen. Lee [Robert E. Lee], and which he has presented to Col. Markland, special military mail agent of the postoffice department, is to be exhibited at the Northwestern Sanitary Fair, at Chicago, with his old war horse Jack.

— The Richmond Republican of Monday says : “The quantity of leaf tobacco in the State is a matter of guess, but it can be nearly approximated.  Our commission merchants estimate it at thirty thousand hogshead.  Of this, about ten thousand hogsheads are in Lynchburg; the balance at Farmville, Danville and in possession of the planters in the country.  There are a few hundred hogsheads in Richmond.

From The Polk County Press:

The News.

— Telegraphic communication has been re-established between New York, Charleston, New Orleand [sic] and other points at the South.

— Passenger train have commenced running on the Atlanta & Nashville Railroad from Atlanta to Chattanooga.

— Fred. Douglas will deliver an oration before the colored citizens of Louisville on the Fourth of July.  [Frederick Douglass]

— Philadelphia dispatches of the 12th inst. report the subscriptions received that day by Jay Cooke for the 7-30 loan to be $ 2,527,000.

— Capt. Todd² of the rebel army—Mrs. Lincoln’s brother—his wife and three children have arrived in New Orleans from Mobile.

— One of the features of the curiosity department of the Chicago fair, is Abraham Lincoln’s log cabin which he helped to build with his own hands and which has been brought from its original location.

— Dispatches from Washington say it is certain that Gen. Lee has been indicted, with others, for treason, at Norfolk.  The announcement causes much excitement in Washington.  [Robert E. Lee]

— The Herald’s Savannah correspondent says :  Sedden [sic: James Seddon], the rebel Secretary of War, Judge Campbell [John A. Campbell] and R. M. T. Hunter have been taken to Fort Pulaski for confinement.

— The Government recently dispatched five hundred soldiers with intrenchment tools and and coffins to the battle-field of the Wilderness for the purpose of decently interring the remains of all soldiers exposed to view of which there is quite a number.

— The conspiracy trial still drags its slow length along.  Nothing new of importance has recently transpired.  Paine [aka Lewis Powell], who attacked Secretary Seward [William H. Seward], pleads insanity and his counsel is trying hard to clear him by that dodge.  The mystery as to who the assassin really is, still excites considerable speculation.

— It is said that the only Gen. Sherman ever perpetuated was upon entering the capital of North Carolina.  Turning to a regiment of vets who were marching by the State House he called out :  “Don’t you think this is a good place to sing R-a-l-e-i-g-h round the flag, boys?”

— The World’s Washington special says: General Canby [Edward Canby], acting under orders from Washington, has succeed in arresting a man who offered to de [sic: be] one of 100 to pay one million dollars, in the Alabama papers, two years ago, for the assassination of President Lincoln.  It is possible he may be brought before the military commission now trying conspirators.

1.  Hugh Boyle Ewing (1826-1905) was educated at West Point, but failed to graduate. During the California gold rush in 1849, Ewing joined an expedition ordered by his father, then Secretary of the Interior, to rescue immigrants who were imprisoned in the Sierra by heavy snows. He then completed his law degree and settled in St. Louis. In April 1861, Ohio Governor William Dennison appointed Ewing as the brigade-inspector of Ohio volunteers and he served under Generals Rosecrans and McClellan in western Virginia. Ewing became colonel of the 30th Ohio Volunteer Infantry in August of 1861. In November of that year, when his brother-in-law William T. Sherman was relieved of his command in disgrace, Ewing aided his younger sister Ellen Ewing Sherman in making the rounds of Washington D.C., denying sensationalist media claims that Sherman was insane, and personally lobbying the President for Sherman’s reinstatement. Eventually the political influence of the Ewing family persevered, and with the assistance of Henry Halleck, Sherman was returned to command. Hugh Ewing commanded a regiment and then a brigade under McCellan, participating in the battles of South Mountain and Antietam. In November 1862 he was promoted to brigadier general. Ewing served throughout the Vicksburg Campaign. At Chattanooga, he was given command of the 4th Division of the XV Corps, which formed the advance of Sherman’s army and carried Missionary Ridge. In October 1863, Ewing was placed in command of the occupation forces in Louisville, Kentucky. In 1864, Ewing suffered an attack of rheumatism, and experienced painful attacks for the rest of his life, often being confined to his chair of bed. In March of 1865 he was brevetted a major general. President Andrew Johnson appointed Ewing as U.S. Minister to Holland, where he served from 1866 to 1870.
2.  Probably David Humphreys Todd (1832-1871). In the 1870 federal census, he is listed with a wife, Susan (35), and three daughters, Susie (15), Jennie (12), and Elise (4).

1865 June 10: Local Parties and Fairs to Raise Money for the Milwaukee Soldiers Home

Following are the smaller local news items from the June 10, 1865, issues of The Prescott Journal and The Polk County Press.

From The Prescott Journal:

The party Thursday night was a decided success.  Oh !  don’t we like such men as we saw from Hastings, Hudson, and River Falls.  Don’t we wish we had a thousand or two thousand of such men in Prescott as G. A. Dill, J. W. Beardsley, J. B. Parkhurst, A. H. Young [Austin H. Young], Charley Wilson, O. T. Richmond, and N. S. Dunbar, wouldn’t we have a town !

THE PARTY.—The party on Thursday night last was the most successful one ever held in this place.  For this success we are largely indebted to the citizens of Hastings, among whom were Messrs. DRAPER, BALLARD, WILSON, MARVIN, MACOMBER, MILLS, ENNIS, SMITH, VANZINN, and many others ;  to the citizens of Hudson, among whom were Messrs. DAWSON, WHALEY, WEBB, RALPH TAYLOR, H. A. TAYLOR, RICHARDSON, BANKS, and many whose names we do not now remember.  The Hudson Brass Band embraced this opportunity to pay us a visit and accompany the party here.

River Falls was well represented, owing to the interest taken by P. BURNETT, WM. GREEN, and others.  The net receipts afford a handsome sum for the Milwaukee Fair.

From The Polk County Press:

NOTICE.—By virtue of my office as member of the General Committee and Chairman of the County Committee of the Soldiers’ Home Fair, I do hereby appoint a County Committee, consisting of all the teachers in the public schools of Polk County, whose duty it shall be to be to appoint such sub-committees as they deem best in carrying out the object of the School Department of the Fair, in this Co.

Members of the Committee can correspond with the Chairman of the Co. Com., or directly with William Plankenton, Treasurer, Milwaukee, who will duly acknowledge receipts.

R. H. CLARK, Ch’n Co. Com.

— The lumbermen are about to change the marks on their logs from the old fashioned XXO. &c. to I. S. B. B. & B. E.—Infernal Stillwater Boom Blockade—Break Everybody.

— Why are the people of the Upper St. Croix, like the rebels of South Carolina?  Because they are blockaded and can’t help themselves.

— It is said that Gen. Pope is about to issue one of his famous proclamations for the purpose of raising the blockade of the St. Croix river.  [John Pope]

— The 6th, 21st, 22d, 25th, 26th, 32d and 38th regiments are expected to arrive at Madison in a few days to be mustered out.  540 paroled prisoners from various Wisconsin organizations, have also arrived there to be mustered out.

— The army of the Tennessee is to be mustered out at Louisville.

—In accordance of a general order for vacating all hospitals rented by the Government as speedily as speedily possible, the Harvey Hospital building is being vacated.  the transference of the inmates to the General Hospital at Camp Randall begun to-day.—Madison Journal, 29.

 

1865 June 10: News Items Showing the Country Coping with Post-War Life

Another summary of the week’s news, also from The Prescott Journal of June 10, 1865, plus one small article from The Polk County Press of the same date.

News Items—Original and Selected.

— We see by the St. Paul Press, that the people on the Minnesota frontiers are about to procure bloodhounds to hunt the Indian murderers.  This is what reformers call a “move in the right direction.”  The idea of humanizing these red devils by sending them polyglot bibles and ivory toothpicks is played out.

— Jeff. Davis [Jefferson Davis] will be tried at a special term of the United States District Court, before a full bench of Judges.

— Judge Catron [John Catron], Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court, died at Nashville, Tennessee, on the evening of the 30th ult.

— The President [Andrew Johnson] is about to issue a proclamation announcing the restoration of peace, and will also shortly abolish all military tribunals.

— President Johnson has advised the negroes of the District of Columbia to petition Congress for the right of suffrage.

— President Johnson has finally decided to allow the soldiers to retain their arms, as honorable heir-looms of their services.

— The cemetery at Richmond, Va., is said to contain more than 60,000 new graves.  And this is but one of the spots where the plowshare of war has turned up the sod to hide its victims.

— Gen. Grant [Ulysses S. Grant] has presented to the Northwestern Sanitary and Soldiers’ Home Fair at Chicago his old clay bank war horse “Jack.”  This horse he rode when he first entered the service as Col. of the 21st Illinois Volunteers, and which he continued to use until appointed Lieutenant-General.  Gen. Grant, accompanied by Mrs. Grant, will probably attend the Fair before its close.

— A member of the English Parliament has offered Gen. Lee [Robert E. Lee] a residence in London, with a sum of money the interest of which would support himself and family for life.  Whether Gen. Lee will accept the gift of the English secesh sympathizer, will depend upon circumstances over which our Government has as yet some control.

— A gentleman who called on Gen. Scott [Winfield Scott] in New York the other day found him in excellent health and much rejoiced at the successful termination of the war.  The conversation turning on Jeff. Davis, the old General very pointedly and emphatically remarked, “I hope he will be hung by the neck, sir ;  I hope he will hang by the neck.”

— It is known that President Johnson counselled [sic] a committee of negroes, who recently called on him, to petition the next congress to grant them the right of franchise in their district.  It is believed that while he leaves to States the decision of the question within their limits, he will give his whole moral influence to the extension of the right of franchise to colored people.

— Gen. Butler [Benjamin F. Butler] has declined to orate at Falls River, Mass, on the Fourth of July, because of other engagements.

— Gen. Scott was walking about the streets of New York on Wednesday in civilian’s dress, and in good health and spirits.

— As Washington is the Father of his Country, so will Jeff. Davis be known henceforth as the Mother of the South.

— A correspondent writing from the Mississippi valley, says that by reason of his cotton operations, Kirby Smith is undoubtedly the richest man in America.

— Gen. Beauregard [P. G. T. Beauregard], of whom we have heard very little for the past two months was in New Orleans on the 22d, and registered his name at Gen. Banks’ headquarters as a paroled officer [Nathaniel P. Banks].

— Over one hundred repentant rebels a day are reporting themselves at the Provost Marshal’s office in St. Louis, to take the oath and get permission to go home.

— Thomas S. Bocock, of Virginia, Speaker of the Rebel House, the “fortunate” individual, upon whom, in the absence of Davis and Stephens [Alexander H. Stephens], devolves the Presidency of the Southern Confederacy, if any of it is left, has not yet reported, and probably will not.

— A returned soldier purchased a pair of boots in Buffalo and left his old ones.  A while after, he called for them, when they were brought to him, he ripped open the lining and took from beneath $1,550 in greenbacks, in denomination of $50 and $500, which he had placed there and forgotten.

Leutze portrait of Lincoln

— A portrait of Mr. Lincoln by Leutze¹ is on exhibition in New York.  It represents the President in the act of delivering an address while a group of soldiers and ladies forms the background.  It is considered one of the best pictures of the great man ever painted.

— A “Conservative” made a speech at Frankfort, Ky., on Saturday last, in which he stated that the Constitutional amendment would never  be ratified by Kentucky.  About a hundred negroes immediately secured their freedom by enlisting in the army.

— The Presbyterian General Assembly now in session in Brooklyn, decided, on Tuesday, after a long and spirited discussion, to place for the present, in a state of probation, ministers of the church from the South who have supported the rebellion.  A revolution authorizing the Assembly to send ten ministers to East Tennessee was adopted.

— There are now seventy-four prisoners confined in Castle Thunder,² fifteen of whom are negroes.  The rest are soldiers, principally deserters.  A portion of the prisoners are sentenced to the chain-gang for thirty-six and ninety days.  These are furnished by Captain O’Brien, the commander of the prison, to Lieut. Leahe, the Chief of Police, whenever he needs their services for the cleansing of the streets and alleys of the city.

— In the State of Ohio the last ditch has been found by no less an ardent sympathizer with treason than Clement L. Vallandigham.  He has written a letter owning that he was wrong about the war for the Union.  He rejoices that slavery is destroyed and the Union saved ;  sees at present no reason why the democracy should not give a cordial support to President Johnson, in his effort to restore the prosperity of the country under the Constitution ;  and declares that without slavery the Southern States, with perhaps two or three exceptions, “will become more populous, prosperous and powerful than any section.”

Booth’s Body Again.—A correspondent of the New York News, who, by way of illustration, spoke of the disfigurement of Booth’s lifeless remains, as rumor told the tale, now says :

“For the honor of the country I am glad to say there is no truth in the shocking tale. Booth’s body was buried without disfigurement.  It was buried in secret and in the night, and no stone marks, or ever will mark the spot ;  but this was the choice of his family. The body was given to them.  They had it carried far away to the North, away beyond New York, and there interred, and there to remain until the last day, when the quick and the dead are to be judged.”

From The Polk County Press:

Indictment of Jeff. Davis.

The indictment y the Grand Jury of the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia against Jefferson Davis recites that Jefferson Davis late of the county of Henrico, in the State of Virginia, being an inhabitant of and resident within and owing allegiance and fidelity to the United States, wickedly devising and intending to disturb the peace and to subvert the Government of the said United States, to stir, move and excite rebellion, insurrection and war against the United States, on the 1st day of June, 1864, at the county of Henrico aforesaid, unlawfully, falsely, maliciously and traitorously, did compass, levy and cary [sic] on war and rebellion against the United States, for the subversion of the Government, in the District of Columbia aforesaid, and being leagued in conspiracy with a conspiracy with a large number of insurgents, and being the leader and commander-in-chief of said inurgents [sic], did march and proceed to invade the said county of Washington, and then and there, on the 12th day of July, 1864, did make war upon a certain fort called Fort Stevens, did kill and wound a large number of said troops of the United States, contrary to the duty of said allegiance and fidelity to the United States.

The above is the substance of the indictment, omitting the verbiage, wich [sic] extends it to a great length.

1.  Emanuel Gottlieb Leutze—pronounced Loyt-za—(1816-1868) was a German-American painter best known for his painting of George Washington Crossing the Delaware.
2.  Castle Thunder was a former tobacco warehouse in Richmond, Virginia, that was converted to a prison to house civilian prisoners, including captured Union spies, political prisoners and those charged with treason. After Union forces captured Richmond, they used the prison for similar purposes.