1864 August 6: 12th Wisconsin Infantry Casualties Before Atlanta, and Other News

Following are the smaller news items from the August 6, 1864, issues of The Prescott Journal and The Polk County Press.

From The Prescott Journal:

CO. A, 12th Regiment.

Co. A, of the “marching 12th,” has received the baptism of battle.  Always in active and arduous service, it never was their lot to be much under fire, until the recent great battle near Atlanta.  How well they there fought is attested by the severe loss they sustained.  The following is, we believe, a correct list of the casualties¹ :

KILLED—David Dresser, M. E. Hodges, U. Bowers, Julius Oleson, George Hope, John Hudson, Stanly Ralston, Robert Triggs.

WOUNDED—J. N. Holman, arm amputated, Morris Dendam, severely, J. Carniff, severely, J. McCullum, N. K. Hammer, A. McKee, M. E. Syness, W. Burnett, Barrett, Barrett, T. Ottman, A. N. Olin, J. Carruthers, T. Halverson.—Wounded, and either buried or taken prisoners by rebels, S. Huddleston, Thos. Dean.

  The Ladies Loyal League held a festival for the benefit of the Sanitary Commission, at this place, on the evening of the 26th ult.  Ice cream in freezing quantities was dealt out by fair hands from an illimitable fount.  Hilarity and good feeling ruled the hour, “and all went merry as a marriage bell.”  The change was counted out by handfulls, and the thing was a perfect success.  We heard the managers express their unbounded obligations for the very prompt and efficient material aid rendered by the patriotic ladies of Oak Grove, among whom we heard the names of Mrs. Wm. D. Dennison, and Mrs. F. Otis, of Trimbelle.

  W. H. Winchester returned home last week, having served out his three years in the army.  “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

  Lt. Allen White, who has been in the war from the beginning, is at his brother’s in River Falls, on a furlough, and we regret to learn is seriously ill.

  A large number of citizens of this city and River Falls have gone into the service of the Government as mechanics.

THE BATTLE OF ATLANTA ON FRIDAY.—The Washington Republican extra says :

“Dispatches to the Government represent that a great battle was fought in Atlanta on Friday, resulting in horrible slaughter, and a complete repulse of the enemy at every point.  The rebels, holding the largest part of the city, assaulted our works on that day with great fury, evidently expecting to drive our forces out of the city.  The 15th Corps, commanded by Gen. Frank Blair [Francis P. Blair], seemed to be the special object of rebel wrath, as they massed against it in overwhelming force.—The 15th received the shock gallantly, and held its own until Gen. Dodge [Grenville M. Dodge], with the 16th Corps, came up, when the rebels were hurled back with great slaughter.  Gen. Logan [John A. Logan], at the head of the 17th Corps, went into battle with the rallying cry of ‘Remember McPherson’ [James B. McPherson].  This Corps, as well as Blair’s, both constituting the army under Maj. Gen. McPherson, fought desperately, the news of the death of their brave commander having been communicated to them just before going into battle.

“Our troops buried 1,000 rebels, left on the field within our lines, besides which the rebels buried many of their own dead near their works.  It is estimated that the rebel killed and wounded on Friday will exceed 6,000.  Our loss will reach about 2,500 in killed and wounded.  The 15th Corps suffered severely.”

ANOTHER RAID.—Gen. GARRARD’S [Kenner Garrard] expedition from SHERMAN’S [William T. Sherman] army has been successful, destroying bridges at Covington, 40 miles east of Atlanta, toward Augusta.  He destroyed public stores at Covington and Conyers, including 2,000 bales of cotton, a locomotive and a train of cards, capturing 200 prisoners and a number of horses.

TRADE RESTRICTIONS.—An order has been received at Cairo, from the Treasury Department, prohibiting the granting of “authorizations for the purchase or transportation of products or merchandise to or from any insurrectionary States or districts whatever, either under existing trade regulations or otherwise.”  This resumption of trade restrictions is owing to the fact that certain treasonable parties have abused the trade privileges by rendering aid and comfort to the enemy.

A FAIR PRIZE.—General SHERMAN’S army has captured four hundred women, employees in a rebel tent cloth factory, and sent them off to Ohio, there to be set at liberty.  We shall soon expect to hear of plenty of marriages in the Buckeye State.

  A Fortress Monroe dispatch says that General “Baldy” SMITH [William F. Smith], who has been on a flying visit to New York, has returned to the front.

RESIGNED.—Major General W. H. T. BROOKS [sic: William T. H. Brooks],² lately commanding the 10th army corps, has resigned his commission and his commission has been accepted.

ROBERT T. LINCOLN, son of the President, graduated at Harvard University on the 20th.  His father was unable to be present.

REBEL DESERTERS.—We have frequent accounts of large numbers of deserters to our lines from the rebels.  We see that in the interior of the Southern states, where these deserters cannot reach our lines, they organize for self protection, and defy the rebel authorities.  The Richmond Whig of the 20th has a paragraph from the Salisbury (N. C.) Watchman, saying that tories and deserters to the number of seventy-five or one hundred, made a descent recently upon Edgcomb Co. jail, and forcibly released three prisoners confined there for murder.  “One thing is certain,” says the Watchman, “the loyal Confederates here must either subdue these raiders or be themselves subdued.”

The Lynchburg Virginian says that on the 14th a regular fight took place near Pleasant Branch, Campbell county, between some citizens and a gang of deserters.  Two of the deserters are reported mortally wounded and four captured.  The Virginian adds that there are several regular camps and gangs of deserters in Campbell county.

From The Polk County Press:

THE 42D REGIMENT.—Gov. LEWIS [James T. Lewis] has received authority to organize one or more new regiments, and has made the following appointments as officers of the 42d regiment :

Colonel, EZRA T. SPRAGUE, Adjutant of the 8th regiment ;  Lieut. Colonel, W. W. BOTKIN, Capt. of Co. G, 12th regiment ;  Major, JOHN W. BLAKE, Capt. of Co. H, 29th regiment ;  Adjutant, WM. H. HOWES, Co. H, 30th regiment.

ON FURLOUGH.—We had the pleasure of welcoming home our old friend, Surgeon C. P. GARLICK, of the 35th Wisconsin regiment, on Monday last.  Surgeon GARLICK has been in charge of the Post Hospital, Camp Washburn, Milwaukee, for the past three months, and has done himself great credit, in keeping up the “best Camp Hospital in the West.”  He starts to join his regiment in Arkansas on Monday next.  May good fortune attend him.

RETURNED VETERANS.—We had the pleasure of meeting C. BOUCHER, and JOSEPH NUTTER of the 4th Wis. Cavalry.  Their term of service having expired, they have returned to take up the tasks of citizens among us.  Welcome brave boys, you have done nobly.

LOSSES IN THE 7TH MINNESOTA REGIMENT.—Surgeon L. B. SMITH, killed ;  Sergt. Major ORIN RICHARDSON,³ ankle, very serious ;  Chief Musician [Erastus E.] GUARD, hand, serious ;  1st Sergeant ANDREW COLBY, through both lungs, left on the battle field ;  DAVID CANNEDAY, missing.  The above list were all from our neighboring town, Taylors Falls.

—  JEFF. DAVIS [Jefferson F. Davis] has achieved a victory in North Carolina, by the re-election of Governor VANCE [Zebulon Baird Vance] over Mr. HOLDEN, who was the peace candidate.

— The body of Col. JAMES A. MULLIGAN,⁴ who was wounded in COOK’S [sic: George Crook] battle with EARLY [Jubal A. Early], and died a few days afterwards, was recovered by his wife and friends from the rebels, and is now on the way to Chicago for burial.

— The reports from the Upper Potomac are, as usual, very conflicting.  It seems certain that the rebels fire now, or have been, committing serious depredations in Southern Pennsylvania.  There is a report that Chambersburg has been burned.—Great alarm prevails, and Gov. CURTIN [Andrew C. Curtin] has demanded the removal of Gen. COUCH [Darius N. Couch] for inefficiency.  It is shameful that Pennsylvania, with a population equal to the united thirteen colonies at the time of the revolution, cannot defend itself from these rebel raiders.

1.  Killed and wounded from the 12th Wisconsin Infantry’s Company A (Prescott’s Lyon Light Guards), listed alphabetically. The information in quotation marks comes from the Regimental Muster and Descriptive Rolls (Wisconsin Adjutant General’s Office), commonly known as the “Red Books.” The University Archives and Area Research at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls has microfilm copies of the complete set for all regiments (River Falls Micro 183; a finding aid is available online).

KILLED—

• Henry Bowers, from Marinette, killed in action July 21, 1864 — “had widow mother who was depending on him for support”
• David L. Dresser, from Kinnickinnick, killed in action July 21, 1864
• William H. Hodges, from Hudson, killed in action July 21, 1864
• George W. Hope, Diamond Bluff, killed in action July 21, 1864
• John Hudson, from Pleasant Valley, killed in action July 21, 1864 — was in COMPANY C
• Julius O. Oleson, from Prescott, killed in action July 21, 1864, but also reported prisoner
• Stanley Ralston, from Pleasant Valley, killed in action July 21, 1864 — was in COMPANY C
• Robert Triggs, from Kinnickinnick, killed in action July 21, 1864.

WOUNDED—

• Albert J. Barrett, from Prescott, “slightly” wounded July 21, 1864
• Francis M. Barrett, from Prescott, wounded “in shoulder” July 21, 1864
• William A. Burnett, from Clifton Mills — NOT wounded
• Jeremiah Canniff, from Prescott, “severely wounded and crippled for life,” July 21, 1864
• John Caruthers, from River Falls — NOT wounded
• Thomas Dean, from Perry, wounded July 21, died July 22 — was in COMPANY I
• Morris Denham, from Pleasant Valley, “dangerously” wounded July 21, 1864
• Torbion Halverson/Hulverson, from Martell, wounded, missing in action, prisoner
• Nathan K. Hammer, from Prescott — NOT wounded, but was “absent sick” frequently and perhaps that is why he made this initial list of wounded
• James H. Holman, from Prescott, wounded July 21, died from wounds September 17, 1864 — “widow mother who depended on him for support”
• Samuel Huddleston, from Prescott, wounded July 22, 1864
• John McCullum/McCallum, from Prescott — NOT wounded
• Alva McKee, from Prescott — NOT wounded
• Anthony N. Olin, from River Falls — NOT wounded
• Andrew F. Ottman, from Trimbelle, “severely” wounded July 21, 1864
• Michael E. Syness/Synes, from Martell, — NOT wounded

2.  Brooks resigned from the Army due to poor health.
3.  Oran Richardson, “lost foot at Tupelo.”
4.  James A. Mulligan (1829-1864) was the colonel of the 23rd Illinois Infantry. He was mortally wounded at the Second Battle of Kernstown on July 24, 1864.

1864 July 30: Draft Quotas and Substitutes, the USS Dictator, the 37th Wisconsin, the Deaths of 2 Taylors Falls Soldiers, and Other News

Following are the smaller news items from the July 30, 1864, issue of The Polk County Press.

The Quota of Wisconsin.

WAR DEPARTMENT, }
PROVOST MARSHALL GENERAL’S OFFICE, }
WASHINGTON, D. C., July 19, 1864. }

His Excellency James T. Lewis, Governor Wisconsin, Madison, Wis. :

SIR : The quota for the State of Wisconsin under the call of the President for 500,000, of date July 18th, 1864, is 19,032.  This quota will be divided among the different sub-districts, and the quota for each sub-district will be reduced by any excess it may now have over all calls heretofore made, or increased by its deficiency on such calls, as the case may be.

.    .Very respectfully,
.      .Your ob’t. servant,
.                .JAMES B. FRY,
Provost Marshal General.

AN IMPORTANT ORDER RESPECTING SUBSTITUTES.

The Milwaukee “Sentinel” says :  “Col. Bean, Provost Marshal for this District, received yesterday an order from Gen. Fry, directing him to accept colored men as substitutes.  He was also authorized to exempt persons enrolled in this district, upon the presentation of the certificate of any Board of Enrollment in this State that they had furnished substitutes in such districts.”

The Dictator.

The Dictator¹ is about to make a voyage across the Atlantic under the Command of Captain Rogers [sic: John Rodgers], on of the finest sailors in the United States Navy.  There has been some difference of opinion expressed by sea going men as to her adaptability for seagoing, but Captain Rogers [sic] has confidence in his craft.  The arrival of this new wonder in Yankee naval architecture will undoubtedly awaken fresh admiration in the minds of our cousins on the other side.  If the Dictator should weather the swell of the Atlantic she may do something towards informing Earl Russell² as to the relations between Great Britian [sic] and the “Northern” States, as well as the balance of power in Europe.

The USS Dictator¹

THE THIRTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT.—We have omitted to notice that the last company of this regiment left for GRANT’S army last week.  Col. HARRIMAN [Samuel Harriman] has been with the other companies at the front some time.—State Journal [Madison, Wis.]

ATTENTION.—We solicit the attention of our readers to the call for a Mass meeting, to take into consideration the last call for troops, which we print in another column.

REMEMBER IT.—We trust our people will bear in mind that Thursday, August 4th, is a day set apart for fasting and prayer.  We trust it will be duly observed, in every town in the county.

OUR QUOTA.—Assuming our quota to be the same under the present call as it was under the last 500,000 call, Polk county’s quota will be thirty-nine men.  Under former calls the county is ahead three—leaving thirty-six men to raise.

THE AMENDED DRAFT ACT.—We publish in this issue the amendment by the late Congress to the conscription act.  It is scarcely necessary to call the attention of the public to it, as we doubt not it will be noticed and read with avidity.

DEATH OF SURGEON L. B. SMITH.—The St. Paul “Press” of the 24th inst., contains a letter from Col. W. R. MARSHAL of the 7th Minnesota, giving the losses of the different Minnesota regiments, in the late battles with the rebel FOREST [sic: Forrest], at Tupelo, Miss.  Among the killed in the 7th regiment, we are pained to find the name of our much respected friend, Surgeon L. B. SMITH, of Taylors Falls.  Surgeon S. is well known by almost every man residing in the Upper Valley.  He was a christian [sic] gentleman, loved by his friends, and respected by his enemies.  He entered the service in the Fall of ’62, as Assistant Surgeon of the 7th Minnesota regiment, and was promoted in the Spring of ’63 to 1st Surgeon.  He was a true patriot, a firm advocate of liberty, and undoubtedly died at his post, as becomes a brave man and true soldier.  He leaves a loving wife, two beautiful children, and a host of friends to mourn his loss.  Sadly we pen these lines, for they record the loss of a good and worthy citizen, whose vacant place in our society will hardly be filled with another so true and brave.  God take his soul to Thy keeping, for he loved and followed Thee.³

— Col. Wilkin⁴ of the Ninth Minnesota, was killed at Tupelo, Miss., on the 14th inst.

— The city of St. Paul has appropriated $30,000 for the purpose of raising volunteers to fill the last call for 500,000.

— The Tribune’s Washington special says :  “Gen. Lew Wallace has been relieved from his command at Baltimore, and Gen. Tyler [Erastus B. Tyler] will take his place.”

—Three other radical papers in Missouri have run up the names of Lincoln [Abraham Lincoln] and Johnson [Andrew Johnson], making over rhity [sic] papers in the State which support that ticket.

— The Tribune’s Washington special says we have upward of 62,000 rebel prisoners including 4,000 officers.—This, we suppose means the whole number now in our hands.

— The Washington “Intelligencer” says that Senator Sumner [Charles Sumner] was on the train captured by the rebels at Gunpowder Bridge.  He was not recognized, and was permitted to depart with the other passengers.

— The Toronto “Globe” says of the pirate Semmes [Raphael Semmes] :  “His was a most inglorious task—the burning of more trading ships !—The first time he dared enter upon a fair stand up fight he was beaten, and his career for a time, at least, is ended.”

— The carpenter of the “Alabama,” when he saw the battle was lost with the Kearsarge, drew his revolver and shot himself in the breast.  He was a native of Massachusetts, named Robinson, and committed suicide as Iscariot did, as a partial atonement for his treachery.

—A dispatch from Pro. Mar. [Provost Marshal] Fry states that all men furnished, whether for 1, 2, or 3 years, as well as all defficiences [sic] and excesses on calls heretofore made, will count as man for man.  The equalization of the amount of military service will come hereafter.

— Kearsarge, whence our victorious ship is named, is a mountain, half a mile high, near the centre of New Hampshire, one of the sentinel outposts of the White Hills, but not connected with them.  The Unionists of the Granite State will hencefourth [sic] regard this noble eminence with a prouder affection, since its name is indissolubly blended with one of the happiest exploits of our Navy.

— Gowan [sic],⁵ the brave fellow who had one of his thighs badly crushed while serving one of the big guns on the Kearsarge, in the encounter with the Alabama, died in the hospital at Cherbourg, on Wednesday, June 29.  Dr. Brown [sic],⁶ Surgeon of the Kearsarge after speaking at a dinner in Paris of the gallantry and fortitude shown by the Yankee tar, was favored with a subscription from Americans in Paris, sufficient to errect [sic] a handsome monument to his memory.

The Sioux War.

On the 1st of July the forces of Colonel THOMAS, which marched through Minnesota joined Gen. SULLY [Alfred Sully], at Satan Lake.  [Minor T. Thomas, colonel of the 8th Minnesota Infantry]

A message has been received by Gen. SULLY, from the Sioux, demanding pay for the buffaloes killed last year, and for all damages done by Sibley [Henry Hastings Sibley] and Sully.  They insist that roads shall not be laid out or travel permitted through their territory.—“Upon these terms and no other,” they say, “can we make peace with you.  If they are rejected the war will go on, and your white officers shall be made to eat the flesh of their soldiers if captured.”

On the 28th day of June Indians in ambush shot and instantly killed Capt. FIELDING of the 2d United States Cavalry.  He was a scientific officer of the Smithsonian Institute, attached to the expedition, and was riding a short distance from the train.  It is said that the Sioux number eighteen hundred lodges at Long Lake, about 600 miles west of the Missouri.  Hot work with the red devils may be expected soon to be reported from Gen. SULLY’S Army.

1.  The USS Dictator was a single-turreted ironclad monitor, commissioned November 11, 1864, under the command of John Rodgers. The image is from the Naval History and Heritage Command website.
2.  Lord John Russell (1792-1878) was a prominent English politician who served as the English Home Secretary (1835-1839), Foreign Secretary (1852-1853 and 1859-1865), and Prime Minister (1846-1852 and 1865-1866). He was the first Earl Russell, the title being created for him on July 30, 1861. Philosopher and Nobel Prize-winner Bertrand Russell was the third Earl (1931-1970).
3.  An article about Dr. Lucius Smith appears in Life & Times in Taylors Falls: The Taylors Falls Historical Journal, vol. 14, no. 1 (spring 2014): 1-8, available in the UWRF Archives.
4.  Alexander Wilkin (1819-1864), from Saint Paul, Minn., was killed in battle July 14, 1864, during the Battle of Tupelo in Mississippi. An article about him appeared in the Spring 1865 issue of Minnesota History, available online (“The Civil War and Alexander Wilkin,” by Ronald M. Hubbs, vol. 39, issue 5: 173-190). Wilkin County, Minnesota, is named for him.
5.  William Gowin, an “ordinary seaman.” Dr. Browne wrote on July 23, 1864, “I have previously reported the death of the brave Gowin. Hopes were reasonably entertained that his recovery would occur, but, anæmic from hemorrhage and debilitated by previous attacks of malarial fevers, little vital power remained; phlebitis supervened, soon succeeded by death. Gowin was brought with a smile upon his face, although suffering acutely from his injury. He said, ‘It is all right and I am satisfied, for we are whipping the Alabama,’ adding, ‘I willingly will lose my leg or life if it is necessary.’ During the progress of the action he comforted his suffering comrades by assuring them that ‘Victory is ours!’ Whenever the guns’ crews cheered at the successful effect of their shot, Gowin would wave his hand over his head and join in the shout. In the hospital he was calmly resigned to his fate, repeating again and again his willingness to die, since his ship had won a glorious victory. His patience and cheerfulness during intense suffering and his happy resignation attracted general notice, enlisted sympathies for his recovery, and occasioned sincere regrets for his decease. To record the gallant conduct of this noble sailor is to me a gratification and my apology for mentioning these minor incidents. His shipmates will erect a proper monument to his memory at Cherbourg. I have in my possession a sum of money given by the resident Americans in Paris for a like memorial in his native town in Michigan.”
6.  John Mills Browne (1831-1894) was appointed an Assistant Surgeon in the U.S. Navy on March 26, 1853, at the age of 29. He served on board the USS Warren, USS Dolphin, USS Constellation, USS Kearsarge, and USS Pensacola.  He continued in naval service after the Civil War and retired as Surgeon General in May, 1893.

1864 January 23: News of Local Soldiers and Re-enlisting Regiments

Small items on local soldiers and regiments, from the January 23, 1864, issues of The Prescott Journal and The Polk County Press.

From The Prescott Journal:

  Dr. A. D. Andrews, Assistant Surgeon of the 6th Wis., “Iron Brigade,” returned home this week.  The arduous labors succeeding the battle of Gettysburg, destroyed the Dr.’s health, and he has been very ill most of the time since, and has now received his discharge.  The Dr. won the confidence and esteem of the Regiment, and they regret parting with so valuable an officer.  We trust he may regain his wonted health.

From The Polk County Press:

— The volunteers from St. Croix County left for Madison last week.

— We understand there was a Military Ball at Sunrise, Chisago County, Minnesota, on Friday evening last.

— The 2d Minnesota Infantry and 1st Battery have re-enlisted for the war.

— The 3rd, 6th, and 7th, Wisconsin regiments have re-enlisted for the war, and joined the veteran corps.

— MELVIN McADAMS, Co. C., 6th Wisconsin Regiment, is home on furlough.  He looks tough and hearty, says he likes soldiering.  His gallant Regiment is of the Iron Brigade, and has re-enlisted in a body.  We are always glad to make the acquaintance of our brave veterans.  He has our thanks for files of Milwaukee papers.  Welcome home MELVIN.

— Surgeon L. B. SMITH, 7th Minnesota Regiment, now at St. Louis, has our tanks for late St. Louis papers.  It may be of interest to many of the Doctor’s old friends to know that he is well and succeeding admirably.  Dr. SMITH is one of those humane surgeons which so seldom bless a regiment of men.  His boys appreciate him.

1864 January 2: “I take my pen between my digital extremities to hold written converse with you”

Our first letter of 1864, from Wyman X. Folsom with the 7th Minnesota Infantry.  As with other letters he wrote, he does not use periods at the end of sentences or capital letters at the start of sentences, so we have created sentences where they seemed to make sense.

The original letter is in the W. H. C. Folsom Papers (River Falls Mss S), in the University Archives and Area Research Center at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls.

Saint Louis Mo
Jan 2^nd 1864

Dear Father,

                            Again I take my pen between my digital extremities to hold written converse with you.  The 7^th Minn. still lives, nothing but time can kill our regiment but a [sett?] of men never went forth equal to them in [rowdyism?].  I am sorry to say it but I am quite certain I am right, it is composed of men that care for nothing.  We have two companies that cannot be but in the United States Army for vulgarity.  I am ashamed of them.  One of the Companies is Capt. Libby’s.¹  [paragraph break added]

We are having very cold weather now.  Thermometer stands twenty three below “zero“.  Old residents say they never have seen it so cold before.  There is good sleighing in the city.  The train from Alton² is two days behind [hand?] owing to snow drifts.  Col. Marshall³ is at Alton, cannot get here at present untill [sic] the road is open.  It is snowing some to day.  Good many of the boys froze their feet night before last, none of us froze our feet in Minnesota last winter.  If it is as cold in Minnesota in proportion as is here you deserve pitty [sic].  It must be a good  time for teams in the woods this winter.  I hope you will all due [sic] well.  Lumber markets are empty, and lumber only enough can be got in this winter to supply them.  Who hauls your supplies?  [paragraph break added]

I wrote to mother day before yesterday.  Owing to the railroad being blockaded I have not received any letters for a week.  Am expecting a good lot soon.  I am afraid we are not going to get a Col. as our men are leaving the regiment faster than they are coming in.  Recruiting is progressing very slowly I guess in Minnesota.  We have as yet received no recruits from there that I know of.  David Canaday⁴ though has joined Company “C.”  Dave makes a good soldier.  Long may he wave as a member of our gallant little company.  There is a good many more good soldiers in Chisago County⁵ and my prayer is that Levi Folsom, Levi Stewart, Frank Eddy,⁶ and a few more I might mention may be drafted and made to go in the ranks and stand their chances.  O !  I am down on all their shirks [shirkers?] and there is a good many in Taylors Falls.  Father as you say there is a good deal more honor in serving my country as a common soldier than an officer .  Nine out of ten of our commissioned officers will to home and be cursed by every man in the regiment.  I may say our whole army has got a very poor set of officers and Capt Burt⁷ notwithstanding, he is a good military man, never will get a vote from Company “C” when we get home, not for any office.  He misused us when we first started out and the boys never will forgive him if he ever runs for any office.  They will show their regard for him by their votes.  Mr. Martin⁸ is not very well.  George Lea⁹ is getting about well.  The boys in our company are as a general thing quite well.  Doctor Smith¹⁰ sends his kind regards to you and mother.  I must now close.  Write soon.  Give my regards to all.

Your Obt. Son,
. . . . .Wyman X. Folsom
. . . . . . . . Co. “C” 7^th Regt M. V.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Saint Louis
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mo.

1.  Asa Libby, from St. Cloud (Minn.), was captain of the 7th Minnesota Infantry’s Company I. He will resign in less than a month—January 27, 1864.
2.  Alton is in Illinois. In the Civil War, a Union military prison was there in the Illinois’ old first state penitentiary. From 1862-1865, 11,764 Confederate prisoners were housed there. Conditions in the prison were harsh and the mortality rate was above average for a Union prison. An index of prisoners records is available online at Alton in the Civil War.
3.  William R. Marshall, from St. Paul (Minn.), had been the lieutenant colonel of the 7th Minnesota and was promoted to colonel on November 6, 1863.
4.  David A. Canaday .  He was living in Grantsburg, in Burnett County, Wisconsin, in 1890.
5.  Taylors Falls is in Chisago County, which is across the Saint Croix River from Polk County, Wisconsin.
6.  Levi Woodbury Folsom (1821-1912) was a cousin of Wyman’s father, W. H. C. Folsom. Levi was 40 years old in 1860, so too old to get drafted in 1864.
Levi E. Stewart (b. abt. 1830) was living in Taylors Falls in 1860; he does not appear to have served in the Civil War.
Franklin S. Eddy (abt. 1830-abt.1875) was living in Taylors Falls in 1860; he does not appear to have served in the Civil War.
7.  William Henry Burt (1824-1866) was the captain of Company C of the 7th Minnesota Infantry. In 1864 he will be promoted to major.
8.  Charles Martin (1841-1896).
9.  George B. Lea (b. abt. 1835).
10. Lucius B. Smith (1824-1864). He will be killed July 13, 1864, at the Battle of Tupelo. He was the first doctor to practice in Taylors Falls.

Wyman X. Folsom letter of January 2, 1864, from the W. H. C. Folsom Papers (River Falls Mss S) in the University Archives & Area Research Center at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls

1863 July 11: Polk County Has Raised Its Quota of Volunteers

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 still were. These are from The Polk County Press.

THE FOURTH WISCONSIN.—It is reported that this gallant regiment has been mostly taken prisoners in an assault upon Port Hudson.  They constituted a part of a thousand volunteers to storm the works.  They would doubtless be at once paroled by the rebels, except the officers.

We have doubts however of the correctness of the report.—Madison Journal.

— The following is a tabular statement showing the quotas assigned, and the number of volunteers furnished by Polk county as furnished us by Adjutant Gen. GAYLORD :

	TOWN	QUOTA	VOLUNTEERS
	Alden	5	6
	Farmington	18	18
	Lincoln	2	3
	Osceola	25	33
	Sterling	3	6
	St. Croix Falls	23	30
	Burnett County	2	0
		78	96

The following extract from Gen. GAYLORD’s letter shows the “situation :”

“It appears that each town in Polk county has raised its quota or an excess of volunteers over its quota ;  in the aggregate, eighteen.  Burnett county sent its volunteers to the Minnesota Battery and consequently lost credit for them in this state.”

So we are ahead eighteen.  Pretty well done for Polk.  But this is not all.  We have upwards of twenty men in different Minnesota regiments, which we loose credit for, which added to eighteen will bring the number up to about thirty-eight men over and above all calls.  Where is the county in the state, containing 1100 inhabitants that can beat this number.

— The Polk Co. Press thinks, in case of a draft, Polk county should be left out.  Of course, we can’t see it in that light.—Hudson Star.

Not so.  If when the draft is made, our excess does not ballance [sic] our quota, we expect to stand our hand and furnish two militia companies to help enforce the same in other counties, besides.

ATTENTION.—The members of the Polk County Rifles, are hereby notified that there will be a meeting of the company on Saturday afternoon, July 18th, at one o’clock, on the Fair Ground in Osceola, for the purpose of drill.

PER ORDER

—  Dr. L. B. SMITH,¹ formerly of Taylor’s Falls, has been appointed Surgeon of the Seventh Minnesota regiment vice J. E. FINCH resigned.

— CAPT. M. M. SAMUEL, Sergeant MOSES T. CATLIN, and private JOHN McDONALD have our thanks for late Nashville papers.

— Gen. HOOKER [Joseph Hooker] has been relieved from the command of the Army of the Potomac at his own request, and Gen. Geo. G. MEADE appointed his successor.

— A RECORD OF ALL DECEASED SOLDIERS.—The Surgeon General has just commenced the work of making out a complete official list of the soldiers who have died during the present war.

The list is intended to embrace every man in the regular and volunteer forces, and to give the name, rank, regiment, company, cause of death, date of death, and place of death.

This work will be of great value to the Pension and Land offices in future adjudications in regard to deceased soldiers, and will save the Government much expense and time in complicated cases which would otherwise arise.

— Florida is now the greatest resource of the rebel army for beef, and since the communications with Texas were partly stopped by our operations on the Mississippi, thousands of head have been weekly gathered and transported to the West and North.  If we had held St. John’s river and Jacksonville, we could have prevented this in a great measure.

1.  Lucius B. Smith (1824-1864) was the first doctor to practice in Taylors Falls, Minnesota, after he moved there from Ohio. He was killed July 13, 1864, the day preceding the Battle of Tupelo. His division was ambushed. He was buried in Tupelo, but his remains were later removed to Kahbakong Cemetery in Taylors Falls.
For those who don’t know northwestern Wisconsin, Taylors Falls is directly across the Saint Croix River from St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin, and St. Croix Falls is 8 miles north of Osceola Mills (just Osceola these days), where The Polk County Press is being published.

1863 March 8: Lieut. Col. William R. Marshall on Wyman Folsom and William H. Burt of the 7th Minnesota

The following letter from William R. Marshall to W. H. C. Folsom discusses Folsom’s son, Wyman, and his captain, William Henry Burt.  Burt and  Wyman X. Folsom served in Company C of the 7th Minnesota Infantry.  Marshall was from St. Paul, Minnesota, and was been the lieutenant colonel of the 7th Minnesota; he will be promoted to colonel on November 6, 1863.

The original letter is in the W. H. C. Folsom Papers (River Falls Mss S), in the University Archives and Area Research Center at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls.

[Folsom’s filing notation]: Lieut. Col. Marshall Letter, March 1863

Mankato [Minn.]   March 8, 1863

W. H. C. Folsom
.   .   .   .   ..Taylors Falls
.   .   .   .    .   .   .   . Dear Sir :
.   .   .   .   .     .   .   .   . . . . . . .  Your letter of Feb’y 10th was duly rec’d here.  I have just returned from St. Paul where I had been since the 9th of Feb’y.

I can assure you that your requests in regard to your son meet a hearty response in my own feelings.  As soon as I learned he was in Capt. Burt’s Co., I enquired for him and got personally acquainted with him.  I immediately thought of some way to advance him.  The only thing that offered at that time was a clerkship at headquarters.  I had him leave a specimen of his penmanship, but it was not sufficiently good to secure him the place.

Whenever there is any opening to which he can be consistently advanced you may rest assured he will be.  I shall keep watch of him and see that he does not suffer any avoidable hardship, and if he should be sick or get wounded, that he gets the best possible care.

Our excellent 1st assistant surgeon Dr. Smith,¹ whom you know, feels a special interest in Company C., so many of the men being his old neighbors.

You are doubtless aware that there has been dissatisfaction among the men of Co. C. with their captain.  It has some foundation no doubt yet if you knew how energetic and capable an officer Capt. Burt is – how faithfully he sees that everything necessary is provided for his company – how well drilled it is and near and soldierly in its appearance and if you could contrast him with some careless, negligent, incompetent officers that are in the service – the dirty, disorderly appearance of their men, ill provided for generally – you would give the preference very decidedly to Capt. B.  He is strict and sometimes tyrannical – rarely unjust.  It is more in his manner than anything else.  Col. Miller² has twice talked to him, and enjoined kind treatment and consideration towards his men.  He will be constantly watched.

Very truly      Your friend     W^m. R. Marshall

1.  Lucius B. Smith (1824-1864) was the first doctor to practice in Taylors Falls, Minnesota, after he moved there from Ohio. He was killed July 13, 1864, the day preceding the Battle of Tupelo. His division was ambushed. He was buried in Tupelo, but his remains were later removed to Kahbakong Cemetery in Taylors Falls.
2.  Stephen Miller (1816-1881) was middle-aged when he joined the 1st Minnesota Infantry as a private. He quickly advanced to colonel of the regiment. In 1862 Miller returned from the War and replaced General Henry Hastings Sibley as commander of Camp Lincoln, where 303 Dakota men who had been convicted of participating in the Dakota War of 1862 were being held. By order of President Lincoln, Miller supervised the mass execution of 38 of those Dakota men condemned for their part in the war. In the fall of 1863, with the support of former Governor Alexander Ramsey and on the strength of his military career, Miller was elected the 4th governor of Minnesota. He served from 1864 to 1866. The one-time war hero and popular governor died an impoverished widower, in Worthington, Minnesota, in 1881.

William R. Marshall letter of March 8, 1863, from the W. H. C. Folsom Papers (River Falls Mss S) in the University Archives & Area Research Center at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls