1863 August 8: Summary of the Week’s War-Related News, Both Local and National

This week The Prescott Journal supplies the summary of the war news in its August 8, 1863, issue.

 THE NEWS.

— The President [Abraham Lincoln] has issued an important order for the protection of colored troops.  It may be found in another column.

— Hon. W. D. MCINDOE has been appointed Commissioner to adjust the Indian difficulties in this State.

— The 5th Wis. Regiment is quartered in New York City.  They are good material to suppress a riot with.

— Gen. H. E. PAINE, formerly Col. of the 4th Wis., and severely wounded at Port Hudson, has returned hom,e [sic] very much reduced in physical condition.

— The Southern Conscription is being carried out with unrelenting vigor.

— Claims to the amount of nearly a million dollars for damages during the riot have been presented against New York City.  It is a sweet thing to have a riot.

— Wm. L. YANCEY, the fiery secession Orator, is dead.  JOHN B. FLOYD, is also very ill and not expected to live.

— The leading English papers give up the cause of the South as hopeless.

— KENTUCKY gives 20,000 majority for the Union candidates for Congress.  Pretty good for a State which Jeff Davis [Jefferson Davis] claims as part of his dominions.

— Col. BEN ALLEN of Pepin, has resigned command of the 16th regiment and returned home.

— There has been an anti-draft demonstration in St. Paul of a Judicial character.  The enrolling officer and Deputy Marshals arrested several women, who refused to give information respecting their husbands, when some shyster of a lawyer got the officers arrested, and some small secesh Judge convicted them.  The whole thing is a disgrace to St. Paul.

— The steamer Ruth was burned just below Cairo a few days since ;  several lives, and $2,000,000 of Government funds were lost.

— The siege of Charleston is progressing favorably.

— There is nothing of importance from the army of the Potomac.

— The Union feeling is strong in North Carolina, and is giving the rebel leaders much trouble.

1863 July 11: Warren P. Knowles Promoted to Lieutenant, and Other News

There was so much big news published on July 11, 1863, in The Polk County News and The Prescott Journal that it is surprising how many smaller items there were.  These are from The Prescott Journal.

NEWS ITEMS.

— WARREN P. KNOWLES, of River Falls, has been promoted to a Lieutenancy in the 4th Regiment, for gallantry at Port Hudson.  He has a record as a soldier, to be proud of.

— The 172d Pennsylvania Regiment, now at Yorktown, whose time has expired, has tendered its services to Gov. Curtin [Andrew Cregg Curtin] for six months, and has been accepted.

— The last joke of the copperheads in Indiana is the capture of an Enrolling Commissioner at Whitestown, in Boone Co., on Monday last, by some 25 or 30 Butternuts.  Two of these fellows held the Commissioner, while some women pelted him with eggs.  Fourteen of the most active participants were arrested, brought to this city, and are now having a hearing before the U. S. Commissioner.

— Longfellow, the poet, is in Washington watching over the sick bed of his brave son, who several months ago left home to enlist in a Western cavalry regiment, and who is now suffering from chills and fever contracted on the Rappahannock.¹

— We learn from the Albany Journal of Saturday, that up to that period under the recent call for 20,000 troops from that State, thirteen regiments have already responded, and are now in the field.

— The soldiers of Ohio, Rosecrans’ army [William S. Rosecrans], are denouncing the nomination of Vallandigham [Clement L. Vallandigham] with the greatest vehemance [sic].  A number of regiments have already adopted and sent home resolutions on the subject which will by no means add to the comfort of Vallandigham’s supports.

— A lady correspondent makes a suggestion to tax assessors and collectors, which is worth attention.  She proposes that at the head of every tax bill, notification, assessment, or other paper in relation to the new taxes, should be printed a sentence to this effect :  “This tax you have to pay because three hundred thousand slaveholders chose to rebel against the Union.”  Then, while men are grumbling at the unaccustomed burden, they will be reminded whose crime it was that inflicted it upon them.

— At the commencement of the rebel assault on Winchester, the 6th Maryland regiment was cut off and captured.  In the confusion of the assault being made by the rebels, they were neither disarmed  nor placed under guard, and Col. Howe,² knowing the country well, and seeing an opportunity to escape by a side road, formed his men in line, and in the darkness of the evening moved quietly off.  The next day he marched into Harper’s Ferry singing “Hail Columbia,” and producing the effect of an apparition of the dead.

— A citizen of Marysville, California, was arrested for riding through the town waving a Confederate flag and cheering for Jeff Davis [Jefferson Davis], taken to Sacramento and tried by court-martial, and sentenced for ten years’ hard labor on the fortifications in San Francisco Bay.  In less than three days from the time of committing the crime he was at work.

— A pro Southern writer in a London journal is giving precedents to show that when the independence of the Southern Confederacy is acknowledged, the National Government will be obliged to return all slaves to their masters, or make compensation.  This was done by England at the close of the Revolutionary War, and of the war of 1812; in the latter case under an arbitration by the Emperor of Russia.  There seems to be no doubt about the precedents.

OUR COLORED ALLIES.

THE MOST TOUCHING EPISODE OF THE WAR.

MADISON, WIS., July 1.

A letter from New Orleans to the Journal, says that Gen. Paine [Halbert E. Paine], formerly Colonel of the 4th Wisconsin, was severely wounded and will probably lose his leg.  He is in the hospital at New Orleans.  He fell bravely leading his brigade against the rebel entrenchments, and when the assault was repulsed, he was left on the field.  He crawled into a small gully to escape the rebel sharp-shooters.  After lying there awhile, four negro soldiers volunteered to bring him in.  When within a thort  [sic: short] distance they were shot dead.

Gen. Paine was finally rescued, but not until fourteen negroes sacrificed their lives in the attempt!

The latter says the fourth regiment was badly cut up, and says it was universally conceded at New Orleans that the negroes make capital soldiers, equal to any in the army.

  The Harrisburg Telegraph learns from a gentleman just from Chambersburg that he was present at an interview between General Genkins [sic]³ and some prominent Republicans at Chambersburg.  After discussing matters connected with the war for some time, a prominent office holder in Franklin county stepped up and introduced himself to the rebel General.  Jenkins said he ought to refuse shaking him by the hand.  The office holder desired to know the reason of such treatment.  General Jenkins asked the question, “Are you the D—–t  A—–y from this county?”  “Yes,” was the reply.  “Then you are a regular Copperhead.”  “That is what they call me,” replied the office holder.  To which the Rebel General replied, “Lincoln ought to have hung you and the rest of the copperheads long ago.—We would not tolerate any such men in the Southern Confederacy.  We respect those who are against us in the North much more than the copperheads.”

  It is probably that Gen. MEAD’s [sic: George G. Meade] success with the army of the Potomac is owing to the fact that he has changed his headquarters so often that the War Department could not consult with him.

A BUTLER CLUB.—A Butler club has been formed in Wilmington, Deleware [sic], to support the nomination of Major Gen. Butler [Benjamin F. Butler] for the President in 1864.

1.  Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882).  His eldest son Charles Appleton Longfellow (1844–1893) was a second lieutenant in the 1st Massachusetts Cavalry.
2.  The colonel of the 6th Maryland Infantry at this time was John W. Horn, not Howe.
3.  Albert Gallatin Jenkins (1830-1864) graduated from Harvard Law School in 1850 and practiced law in Charleston before inheriting a portion of his father’s sprawling plantation in 1859. He served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1857-1861. He resigned from Congress and raised a company of mounted partisan rangers, which enrolled in the Confederate army as a part of the 8th Virginia Cavalry, with Jenkins as its colonel. Early in 1862, Jenkins left the field to become a delegate to the First Confederate Congress. He was appointed brigadier general in August 1862, and returned to active duty. During the Gettysburg Campaign leading up to the Battle of Gettysburg, Jenkins’ brigade formed the cavalry screen for General Richard S. Ewell’s 2nd Corps. Jenkins led his men in seizing Chambersburg (Penn.) and burning down nearby railroad structures and bridges. He accompanied Ewell’s column to Carlisle, briefly skirmishing with Union militia at the Battle of Sporting Hill. Jenkins was wounded during the Battle of Gettysburg and missed the rest of the fighting. He did not recover sufficiently to rejoin his command until the autumn of 1863. On May 9, 1864, he was severely wounded and captured during the Battle of Cloyd’s Mountain. A Union surgeon amputated Jenkins’ arm, but he died twelve days later.

Protected: 1863 July 9: “Nearly every man I think had rather have been with the reg[iment] … than to have had no part in those fights”

This content is password protected. To view it please enter your password below:

Password:

1863 June 23: “Over the Parapet boys, over the parapet and give it to ’em”

Jerry Flint was in Company G of the 4th Wisconsin Infantry.  Company G was “stuck” on artillery duty, so did not participate in the action at Port Hudson that Jerry describes here.  The original letter is in the Jerry E. Flint Papers (River Falls Mss BN) at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, University Archives and Area Research Center.

Detachment 4^th Wis Regt
Camp Parapet La  June 23^d /863

Dear Brother;

Yours of June 5^th was recieved [sic] last night.

I have not written very lately but now you are settled down for the summer I will make my correspondence a little more regular.  I was a little surprised when I read Helen’s letter and learned that you had gone into business there in the city instead of going to River Falls.  I don’t really understand your exact situation yet.  I wish you would write.  If you can do well at any business there it is better than farming any way.  Confound the life of a farmer.  I never felt particularly attached to it and don’t think I ever will.

I did not expect that White¹ was with you.  Rossie² wrote me that he was in the 20^th Reg.  I sat down and wrote to him directing the letter to St. Louis.  Probably he will never get it now.  Tell him I will write to him soon.

Times are very dull with me just now.  The scene of excitement is at Port Hudson, but I have not heard from there for two or three days.  A week ago last Sunday another assault was made on the right of the line but was repulsed.  The 4^th Wis. and 8^th N.H. Reg^ts led the charge.  The 4^th from the loss in previous battles had scarcely any officers but they kept a splendid line and went one on without saying a word until they got right under the enemy works, when the shout ran along the line, “Over the Parapet boys,” “over the parapet and give it to ’em.”  And over the parapet they went although their men were falling thick and fast.  If the support had come up instead of running like cowards as they were that stronghold would have been ours to-day.  These regiments were the 21^st Mass. and 133^rd N.Y.  They were not orderdered [sic] forward until the two first mentioned Reg. were scaling the works and consequently receiving nearly all the rebel fire thus rendering it comparatively safe for the other troops to advance.  They however did lay down in a hollow and refused to go forward.  At this time Gen. Paine [Halbert E. Paine] rode to the front and not only ordered them forward but fairly entreated them to go.  But it was of no use, they broke and ran to the rear, thereby causing the slaughter of hundreds of the brave men who had volunteered to clear the way for them.  At this time Paine was severly wounded in the leg.  It is not certain yet whether he will recover or not.  Out of 230 men of our regiment who went into the charge only 50 came back and part of them were slightly wounded.³

The two regiments that run use nine month men.  Their time is so neer [sic] up they think it a pity for them to get killed.  Cowardly fools they ought to be set up as targets for the old troops to shoot at, only we it would be a pity to waste power and lead on them.  I hate a nine months man worse than the devil.  [paragraph break added]

Well my sheet is most full and I have not written much either.  I think you will be glad to hear me stop.  Give my love to Mother.  I wish I could see her although it is useless to wish for the thing is impossible.

Jerry E. Flint

1.  Jerry is probably talking about Henry J. White, who had been with Jerry’s company (G) and then in the 4th Wisconsin Infantry’s band, but had mustered out on September 18, 1862.
2.  Rossie is Jerry’s cousin Roswell V. Pratt.
3.  The following account is from E. B. Quiner’s Military History of Wisconsin (Chicago: 1866), chapter 14, page 505-506 (UWRF Archives E 537 .Q56 1866; available digitally on the Wisconsin Historical Society’s website).

“On the 4th of June, another assault on the enemy’s works at Port Hudson was made.  General Paine’s division occupied the centre.  The Fourth Wisconsin and 8th New Hampshire were placed in the advance as skirmishers.  They were to be followed by three Massachusetts regiments, with hand grenades to throw into the enemy’s works, and bags of cotton to fill the ditch, to enable the infantry to charge up to the enemy’s works.  The assault was covered by a heavy artillery fire.  The skirmishers dashed up to the rebel works, on the double quick, the enemy all the time pouring in a terrible fire.  men were falling at every step, but those unhurt passed gallantly on, until they reached the breastworks, and attempted to scale them, some went over, either dead or prisoners; most fell under the works, killed or wounded.  The few that were left, sought protection behind stumps and swells of ground.  The supports, seeing the fate of the skirmishers, refused to go forward.  While urging on these men to the support of those in advance, General Paine was struck by a rifle bullet, in the leg, just after daylight, and fell among a large number of dead and wounded, about fifteen rods from the enemy’s works.  The slight ridges of the field, which had formerly been cultivated, protected him from the fire of the enemy, which broke out with great fury whenever the intolerable heat compelled him to move.  Efforts were made to rescue him, but the rebel fire prevented it.  A private of the One Hundred and Thirty-third New York, named Patrick Cohen, tossed him a canteen of water, taken from a dead soldier, which General Paine thinks saved his life.  At night he was removed, and subsequently was sent to the Hotel Dieu, in New Orleans, where his leg was amputated. …  [Here, on page 506, is the lengthy list of killed, wounded, and missing.]

“The regiment went into action with 220 men.  Many of the missing were captured inside the fort, having jumped  over the works, under the idea that they were to be followed by their supports.  Many of those captured succeeded in escaping before the capitulation.”

Jerry Flint letter of June 23, 1863, from the Jerry E. Flint Paper (River Falls Mss BN) at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls University Archives & Area Research Center

1862 September 3: Battle of Richmond, Plus Update on Baton Rouge

From the September 3, 1862, issue of The Hudson North Star comes two articles.  The first is a brief account of the Battle of Richmond, which took place August 29-30, 1862, and was an unexpected Confederate victory.

In the second article, Colonel Halbert E. Paine, commanding at Baton Rouge, is the colonel of the 4th Wisconsin Infantry, which includes the Hudson City Guards as Company G.  Paine will be promoted to a brigadier general, but not until March 1863.

BATTLE IN KENTUCKY
NATIONAL TROOPS DEFEATED.

CINCINNATI, Aug 31.

On Friday afternoon the rebels beyond Richmond, KY., drove in our cavalry.

Gen. Munson [sic]¹ with the 69th and 71st had moved up and advanced.

Saturday morning an artillery fight began.  Heavy loss on both sides.  The rebels finally turned our left flank, and advanced in full force.  Munson [sic] ordered a retreat, and fell back three miles, and reformed his line of battle on high hills after two hour’s fight.

The enemy advanced and turned his right flank, and a retreat immediately after took place to the original camping grounds.

Here Gen. Nelson [William “Bull” Nelson] came up, who after greats efforts succeeded in rallying the men and formed another line of battle.²

Our artillery and ammunition were exhausted, and some guns left without a man to work them, all having been killed and wounded.  Nelson was wounded² about 3 P. M. the men again fell back and retreated to Lexington.  Enemy’s force from 20,000 to 30,000.³

LATE FROM NEW ORLEANS.

THE GUNBOAT SUMTER LOST.
Breckinridge Proposes to Raise the Black Flag.

New York Aug. 29

Another steamer from New Orleans, with dates to the 22d inst., arrived tonight.  The city continues healthy.

Arms were being found in all sorts of out of the way places, but no owners.

A large union meeting was held on the 20th inst.

The New Orleans correspondent of the Times states that the gunboat Sumter got ashore near Bayou Sara, and was destroyed by guerillas [sic].

Bayou Sara was afterwards leveled to the ground by our gunboats.  Com. Porter [William D. Porter] has gone up the river to demolish all places on the banks used by guerillas[sic] as localities from which to fire on our boats.

Breckinridge [John C. Breckinridge] has threatened to raise the black flag against our troops, and Col. Paine [Halbert E. Paine], commanding at Baton Rouge, has appropriately responded.  Baton Rouge is to be abandoned, and probably destroyed.

1.  Mahlon Dickerson Manson (1820-1895) commanded the Union forces in the Richmond area. Before the Civil War he had been a druggist in Indiana and a member of the state legislature. He was appointed a captain in the 10th Indiana Infantry, quickly promoted to colonel, and in March 1862 promoted to brigadier general. Manson was wounded in the thigh and captured by the Confederates at the Battle of Richmond, but will be exchanged in a few months. He will then be promoted to command first a division and then the XXIII Corps. After the War he served in the U.S. House of Representatives (1871-1873) and as the 20th lieutenant governor of Indiana (1885-1886).
2.  Nelson received a wound in the upper thigh. When the fighting became really intense, he tried to stop the raw recruits from retreating by shouting at them and slashing at them with his sword. Those actions were severely criticized by the general public.
3.  The Confederate forces were approximately 6,800 and the Union forces were 6,500. (Interestingly, the figures given in this article are the same figures given elsewhere for the Second Battle of Bull Run.)

1862 August 11: Jerry Flint Describes the Battle of Baton Rouge

Jerry Flint gives his brother—and us—a pretty good description of the Battle of Baton Rouge, which took place on August 5, 1862.  The original letter is in the Jerry E. Flint Papers (River Falls Mss BN) at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, University Archives and Area Research Center.

Baton Rouge   Aug. 11^th 1862

Dear Brother

                             The reception yesterday of a letter [from] you again puts me in mind that you are probably looking for one from [me] and that too with anxiety, for before this will reach you the papers will spread the intelligence of a hard fought battle at Baton Rouge.  On the evening of the 4^th of Aug we were informed that the enemy was approaching with probbably a view to surprise us the next morning.  Accordingly the line of battle was formed at ten minutes before three, marched out and laid down ready for them.  Just before sunrise they enemy opened fire on our right – this being the practice of the 14^th Maine.  They soon fell back, when, the 21^st Ind. opened a terrible fire on the rebels, which was returned by three regiments.  The Michigan men went into the fight – which was by this time raging furiously.  The 4^th Wis. and 9^th Conn. were held in reserve.  The 30^th Mass. and 7^th Vermont – to the assistance of the right – but before getting heavily engaged, the rebels commenced falling back when the firing ceased.  Our regiment and the 9^th was for about 20 minutes under a heavy fire and had we not have been laying down for the purpose of concealing our position many of us would have been hit. [paragraph break added]

As it was no one in the regiment was hurt, except a negro who was out with us he being shot through the head.  As soon as the rebels commenced falling aback the gunboats shelled the woods doing great execution.  Our loss in killed amounted to about 80 while the rebels left over 200 dead on the field for us to bury.  Gen. Williams¹ was killed in the early part of the battle.  We took prisoner the rebel Gen. Clark,² and and by other prisoners we learned that Gen. Breckenridge [John C. Breckenridge] had his arm shot off, and one other Gen. was killed.³  The Indiana regiment fought like devils. [paragraph break added]

Another instance occurred the next day which det developed more fully the plans of the rebels.  The ram “Arkansas” which so boldly ran our fleet above Vicksburg, and has since been lying under the guns of that place, came down to attack our gunboats at the same time they made the attack by land but finding the battle was over she stopped up round the point.  Our boats not liking to have her so near, the Essex went up and sent a shot against the ram which didn’t hurt her a bit.  The ram then fired a shot at the Essex which didn’t do her any harm.  The Essex then sent a[n] eleven inch shell into the port hole of the ram which set he on fire and blowed her up.  So we shall not be troubled any more with that thing.  [paragraph break added]

H.E. Paine, from 1861 stationery of the 4th Wisconsin

Since the death of Gen. W. [Williams], Col. Paine [Halbert E. Paine] is the Acting Brigadier Gen.  This suits the Brigade for everybody likes him.  He is a brave man and a good soldier.  Our own regiment looks upon him as they would a father.

You enquire [sic] in your letter why I could not get hold of stationery.  At the present time I can get a plenty but at that time we had not only been of on the move a great deal but had only just taken possession of the town.  All business was suspended and these was no time chance to get anything, besides the funds were lacking for we were not paid off from the time we left Baltimore until the last of July when we received $52.00.  We have still three months due.  In my last letter I wrote you that I should forward to you by express $50.00.  This I did but the boat sunk on its way to New Orleans and the Express matter went to the bottom.  Luckily, however, I had it insured and the agent told me this morning that the way bills had all been sent to New Orleans and that what packages were found to be lost would be made up and sent on.  I wish that if it does not arrive by the 25th you would let me know.

If you have Mother’s likeness taken to send in a letter send it along, if not perhaps it would not be best, for in all probability it might be lost.

George Randall⁴ died on the 6^th of Typhoid Fever.  His death was very sudden.  My own health is still excellent.  The weather is dreadful hot.  Tell Theodore and Allen that they must write.  I know that I owe them letters but that they have more time to write than I do.  We are daily expecting another attack and our duties are constant.

Give my love to all.

Write Soon     Jerry

1.  Brigadier General Thomas R. Williams, who was the Union commander, was killed by a gunshot wound to his chest.  Thomas W. Cahill, colonel of the 9th Connecticut Irish regiment, took over during the battle.
2.  Charles Clark (1811-1877) was a lawyer and plantation owner in Mississippi before the Civil War. When Mississippi seceded in 1861, he was commissioned a brigadier general. He commanded a brigade in Kentucky, and led a division at the Battle of Shiloh and at the Battle of Baton Rouge, where he was severely wounded and captured. He was released after spending some time as a prisoner of war. In late 1863, he will become the Confederate governor of Mississippi and will remain governor until removed by the Union occupation forces in 1865.
3.  Neither of these two things seem to be true.
4.  The official roster lists George T. Randall as dying on August 7, 1862, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He was from River Falls, Wisconsin.

Jerry Flint letter of August 11, 1862, from the Jerry E. Flint Paper (River Falls Mss BN) at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls University Archives & Area Research Center

1862 January 8: The 4th Wisconsin Infantry and the Eastern Shore Expedition

Although the 4th Wisconsin Infantry returned from its “Expedition” a full month ago, the news is just now appearing in the January 8, 1862, issue of The Hudson North Star. The 4th Wisconsin Infantry, you will remember, includes the Hudson City Guards (Company G). 

Patterson Park is located in Baltimore, Maryland; the “Eastern Shore” in this case is in Accomac County, Virginia.

PATTERSON PARK ENCAMPMENT.—At Patterson Park the Fourth Wisconsin Regiment, under the command of Col. H. E. Paine, are now encamped, having returned during the first of the week from the Eastern shore of Virginia.¹ The regiment numbers about 1,050 men, in addition to the officers. The tents are placed within the Park enclosure, while the ground immediately north is reserved for parades and drills. The regiment four months since was stationed on the Western suburbs of the city, and subsequently was detailed to guard a portion of the Washington and Ohio Railroads, having their headquarters at the Relay House. The courteous demeanor of the men induced a general feeling of regret on the part of the residents of that vicinity, when the regiment was ordered away to take part in the Eastern Shore Expedition.¹ Since then communications, numerously signed by the citizens of the county, have been presented to Gen. Dix, asking that the command might be detailed to its former position!

The men are thoroughly drilled daily by the field officers, who have succeeded in bringing the command up to a high state of discipline. The regimental parades are at nine o’clock in the morning and half past four o’clock in the afternoon, while battallion [sic] drills take place at an earlier hour. With the regiment there is a superior cornet band of twenty-four performers, led by Professor Thomas Knoll, and in addition a drum corps of fifteen persons.

The following is a list of the commissioned officers: Col. H. E. Paine, Lieut. Col. S. A. Bean, Maj. F. A. Boardman, Adjutant S. P. Aldrich, Chaplain Rev. A. C. Barry, Quartermaster A. J. McCoy, Surgeon Dr. Wilson, Company A—Captain Curtice, Lieutenants Castle and Chaflee, Company B—Captain Carter, Lieutenants Ross and Baker, Company C—Capt. Gray, Lieutenants Pauli and Cole, Company D—Capt. Bayley, Lieut. Edwin R. Herron, Company E—Capt. Moore, Lieutenants Tubbs and Lighthizer, Company F—Capt. Roundy, Lieutenants Brown and Durkee, Company G—Capt. White, Lieutenants Wing and Keefe, Company H—Capt. Loy, Lieutenants Peck and Block, Company I—Capt. Lynn, Lieutenants Blake and West, Company K—Capt. Hobart, Lieutenants Robinson and Reynolds.

1.  The 4th Wisconsin Infantry was among Union forces assigned to an expedition in Accomac County, Virginia.  In Chapter 14, page 499, of E.B. Quiner’s Military History of Wisconsin, we find this short mention of the Eastern Shore Expedition: “The Fourth was detailed to guard the railroads near Baltimore, in which duty it was engaged until the 4th of November, when Colonel Paine, with the Fourth and and a battery and small cavalry force, embarked on an expedition to the eastern shore of Virginia, where they remained, encountering some severe marching through the mud and flooded roads, under the command of General Lockwood, until the 9th of December, when Colonel Paine returned to Baltimore with his force.”

1861 September 14: Colonel Paine’s Discipline for the Regiment’s Drinking and Gambling

In his letter of September 14, 1861, to his brother Phineas in River Falls, Jerry Flint talks about moving their camp, their “lawless kind of life” and Colonel Halbert E. Paine ‘s thoughts on drinking and gambling. 

The original letter is in the Jerry E. Flint Papers (River Falls Mss BN) at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls University Archives & Area Research Center. This time Jerry’s handwriting seems to have been worse than ever and more than one word could not be deciphered.

                                                                                                                                       Relay House  Sept 14/61
Dear Brother,
                                  As I have not got much business on hand to day I propose to write a short bit to you. I am stationed here at the depot today, and all we have to do is to assist in searching trains from Washington. The rest of the time we do as we please. Of course, this suits me. To day the regiment changes its [position?] a little by removing to Camp Bean. This is about 80 rods from our old encampment.

It is rumored that the Col. intends having a battery planted here but I don’t know whether it is true or not.  The Mass. 6th had one when they were here.

I am beginning to think that we shall remain here durring the war. The Col has been making efforts to get to W[ashington] but his last answer was that this point was of as much importance as W[ashington] and that we should have to stay here at present.

I think that you would like soldiering, for although it is a lawless kind of life yet there is someting for excitement all the time. The boys busied themselves playing “poker” until the Col forbid it. He said that next to drinking he considered gambling the worst of all evils. He made a short speech to us last night on dress parade. He said that when we first went into camp, his whole attention was given to prepare ourselves for the emergencies of war—that now we had acquired a tolerable proficiency in the drill, he should give his attention to discipline. So you see, we have got to come to [___]. Their punishments are pretty severe. A man in our regiment attempted to strike his Lieut. His sentence is solitary confinement for 30 days, besides forfeiting one half his pay for six months. In Baltimore a man was found drunk  while on guard.  He had to walk a ring under charge of the guard for 30 days carrying a knapsack weighing 20 lbs. I think this must be for [___]?

[new paragraph added]  I’m going to enclose a Secession envelope so you can see what the “Secesh” flag looks like. Do you get the papers I send you? If you wish I will send them to you occasionaly [sic].

We have lots of money now, but shant have a great while. We were paid off the first of this month and I have not got but 10.00 dollars left. Boys will indulge in amusements. Sometimes that cost money you know. Write as soon as possible and I will answer immediately.
                                       Jerry

This likeness of Col. Paine [below] is very bad. It is just merely stamped. His name underneath is intended to represent his handwriting and is very correct. I have his likeness, which I am going to save here. 

 

Jerry Flint letter of September 14, 1861, from the Jerry E. Flint Papers (River Falls Mss BN) in the University Archives & Area Research Center at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls

 

1861 August 7: News from the 4th’s Company G

A letter, dated August 7, 1861, from the Little Corporal. The letter was not published until September 18, 1861, in The Hudson North Star, probably because the papers were still publishing articles about the Battle of Bull Run in August.

CAMP CORRESPONDENCE.

HEADQUARTERS TH REG. WIS. VOL., CAMP RAN-}
DALL, MD., NEAR THE RELAY HOUSE,  AUG. 7, ’61.}

EDITOR STAR:—You will see from the heading of this, that we have not changed our quarters since I wrote you last. We have been held in readiness to march at a moment’s warning, for the past week, but have not received the said warning as yet—I think it a matter of some doubt whether we move at present.

We were informed that we had been assigned to Gen. King’s [Rufus King] Brigade—now composed of the 2nd, 5th and 6th Regiments, Wisconsin Volunteers—but have not yet ascertained that this is true. To-day, it is said that a petition numerously signed by the inhabitants of this and the two adjoining counties, asking that we remain here, had been sent to the War Department, and that the Department had decided to comply with the prayer of the petition. I trust this is not so, as it would be gross injustice to the officers and men composing the regiment. I think that the very reasons given for asking that we remain, are the strongest reasons for our being sent forward. During the stay of other Regiments at this place, great complaint was made by the people, of the soldiers committing depredations upon their property, particularly upon their gardens. No occasion for complaints of this kind have been given by the men of this Regiment; but to the contrary, at the request of Col. Paine [Halbert E. Paine], the men have refrained from ever going upon the premises of any that objected to their coming there, except in the discharge of their duties. Now, a good soldier is a cross between a saint and a hero, and is certainly called upon to exercise the virtues of both. Our duties here call into action the virtues of the saint more than the hero. The history of the world, from the beginning up to the present time, has shown that all saints are heroes, but the reverse of this is far from true, for the same authority shows that many who have established their claim to the title of hero (at least in its common acceptation) have shown quite as clearly that they had no claims to the title of saints. Men who will faithfully discharge the arduous and tedious duties required of us here, would never run on the field of battle. To suppose that our men have been so sparing of the property of those who are so openly denouncing the Government, and declaring their sympathy for the rebels, from inclination, is not to be supposed, and the only reason for it that can be given is that they are good soldiers, and have done so in obedience to the orders of their supervisors, and the reward of this good behavior, is to be, the orders of the War Department to remain where we are. In war, the post of honor is the post of danger, and having proved ourselves faithful over a few, it is but right that we should be keepers over many. If the faithful discharge of our duties, has earned us the privilege of remaining in the rear, we shall be very likely to take some other course to enable us to get to the front, where we desire to be. Daily, regiments composed of men vastly interior to ours in physical ability, the general character of the men, discipline and drill, are passing us on the way to the scene of action, while we are compelled to stay here doing the drudgery of guard duty. True, the work we are doing is as necessary to be done as the fighting is, but it is not true that it is necessary that the best soldiers should be employed in doing it. During our stay here the regiment has made rapid improvement in their drill, and are now entirely qualified to go into action, where they earnestly desire to be. I trust and hope that the Department will not tamper with the spirits of so good a Regiment in such a manner.

The report that we were to move forward immediately, and the receiving their pay for the last two months has served to rouse the men up, and the camp has been more than usually lively during the week, but this last report has cooled their ardor wonderfully, and the Department, for their action, receive at their bands, our “curses, not loud but deep.”

The members of Company “G” think they have great cause of complaint against the gentlemen who took charge of the uniforms sent home from Racine. For each and every package placed in the box in which they were sent, he was paid by the soldiers more than double what he himself said it would cost to take them home, viz. he said ten cents apiece would pay for it, and they paid him twenty-five. On the arrival of the articles in Hudson—50 letters from their friends there, recently received here state—they were required by the gentleman who had so kindly taken charge of them, to pay from twenty-five to fifty cents, for the conveyance of each package in the box. A more contemptable [sic] swindle was never perpetrated. Would it not be well for the County Committee to look out this matter, and before they demand a return of the uniforms sent home by the members of the company, to either repay the amount paid for the transportation of them, or compel the man who extorted it from them, to refund it. I turn him over to you with this statement of the facts, trusting that you will do your utmost to prevent this kind of swindling being perpetrated on the absent soldiers—or at least, will expose the perpetrator. The fact that the county committee claim that uniforms as the property of the county, does not please the boys much. They evidently supposed, that when the County made them a donation of the uniforms, that they conveyed the title in fee-simple, and that they became thereby the sole owners and proprietors thereof, but it seems they were mistaken. That a better use will be made of the uniforms in the hands of the committee than would have been had they been left scattered around the county. I have no doubt, but I think the committee could have had the possession of them, and the disposal of them, simply by asking for it, and thereby, saved the feelings of the boys.

The “Star” of the 28th ult. came into camp to-day. I am glad that you have come out so boldly in support of the Government in prosecuting this war. Those who have remained at home, can much better employ their time and means in devising ways and means for supporting and encouraging those who have gone forth to take part in this contest, than in creating a disunion at home. Now, the army is united by a common feeling; that of devotion to the County. They have not deemed it necessary or expedient to enquire whether the officers under whom they are called upon to volunteer, were Democrats or Republicans, but simply whether they were devoted to the cause, and I believe that Democrats will fight equally well under a Republican or a Democratic captain. It is strange indeed, if those who remain at home, cannot do what it is necessary for them to do now, to aid in carrying on the war, as well under one as the other. There is, and can be but one issue before the people until this war is ended, and that is, for or against the Government. No half-way man can, or should be tolerated. No man who is not earnest, sincere, and active in his devotion to the country now, should be placed in any position. And he who is made so should be placed in the present.

Squad No. 3 is called to supper, and the tardy man at that call is not the

                                                                                                                                                LITTLE CORPORAL.

1861 July 10: More from the Little Corporal

Another letter from the “Little Corporal” published in The Hudson North Star on July 10, 1861.

HEAD QUARTERS 4th Reg.
CAMP UTLEY, RACINE, June 30, ’61

EDITORS NORTH STAR:—Since the return of the Guards from Milwaukee to their camp, drilling has again become the order of the day, and the boys are hardest at work learning their “regular business.” Last night a dispatch was received by Col. Paine from Milwaukee asking that three companies from his regiment might be sent to that city, as they are again threatened with an outbreak from the mob. Three companies that did not go up the first time, being very anxious to go now, were detailed and sent up. Major Boardman, who was in command while we were there, was particularly anxious that the Guards should go up, saying very plainly that if they did not go he should place those sent under him this time at the disposal of Gen. King, and go to his home and stay there till ordered back.

Many of our boys having very sore feet, the result of their hard work in Milwaukee before, Col. Paine asked Capt. White if he could muster fifty men to go up. “If the Guards are ordered to go, every man in the company will be in the ranks, sir,” was the Captain’s reply, and it was true. The other companies, however, insisted so strongly on their right to go this time, that we were compelled to stand back. From intelligence received here to-day, however, it is not impossible that we shall yet be called upon to go up. Soon after our arrival in Camp, the officers and members of the company, being desirous to testifying to Captain White in some manner, the high regard entertained for him by the members of his command, sent to George A. Meachum, Esq., of New York to purchase a sword to be presented to him. On our return from the “Dutch war” we found the sword awaiting us and on Friday night, after the evening parade, it was presented to Captain White by Sergeant Wilson in behalf of the company. The sword is a “regulation sword for Captain of Infantry,” and is by far the most elegant of any that had yet made its appearance in the Regiment with the exception of the one worn by Col. Paine which was presented by Carl Shurz.¹

There was rejoicing in “Hudson street” yesterday when the Hon. John Comstock made his appearance at the head of the street and took a look at his “adopted children.” It seems as though dear old Hudson was near at hand while he was among us, and we could all shake his hand at parting, feeling that what e’er befell us, he will be true to each and every member of the Hudson City Guards, living or dead. The caps to be worn by our Regiment were distributed last night, but our boys still cling to the “little grey cap,” which they much prefer to the new one. The uniforms were shipped from New York last Tuesday and will be here early this week. We are to be paid off on Tuesday, and each man is to receive pay from the date of his enlistment. We should have been paid on Thursday last, but Col. Paine refused to have “stub-tail” paid to the men under his command, and we are now to be paid in coin. Col. Paine, whatever may be his “military experience,” (which you know is regarded as the one thing needful), is immensely popular with the officers and men under his command, and as surely as “blood will tell,” so surely he will make a good commander, if not one already. One thing is certain, he is always a gentleman and that is very near being a good soldier.
                                                                     Yours &c.,       L. C. [Little Corporal]

1. Carl Schurz (1829-1906) was a German revolutionary, U.S. Ambassador to Spain (July 13-December 18, 1861), a Union Army General in the Civil War, a U.S. Senator from Missouri (1869-1875), and the 13th U.S. Secretary of the Interior (1877-1881). Schurz settled in Watertown, Wisconsin, in 1855, where he became involved in the anti-slavery movement and in Republican Party politics. He ran unsuccessfully for Wisconsin lieutenant-governor in 1857 and 1859, and in 1860 Schurz was on the committee that brought Lincoln the news of his nomination as president. Fritz Anneke, a friend of Schurz’s from Germany, will become commander of the 34th Wisconsin Infantry.