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.
Following are more national news items from The Polk County Press of June 10, 1865.
— Ex-Governor Latcher [sic], of Va., has been captured. [John Letcher]
— Gov. McGrath [sic], of South Carolina, has run away from Columbia. [Andrew G. Magrath]
— Gen. Logan retires to civil life, refusing a brigadiership in the regular army. [John A. Logan]
— Gen. Thomas is to command the Department of Virginia, headquarters at Richmond. [George H. Thomas]
— Davis has arrived in Washington and is confined in the Old Capitol prison. It is not true that he has been ironed.
— Over three million dollars has been disbursed in Chicago by the government, for mules and horses during the past year.
— W. W. Holden,¹ editor of the Raleigh Standard, has been appointed Military Governor of North Carolina. He will at once proceed to re-organize the State government.
— The Commercial’s special says that President Johnson has fully decided in favor of permitting our soldiers to retain their arms used in battle, as honorable reminiscences and heirlooms of the services. [Andrew Johnson]
— The Secretary of War has ordered that the returned prisoners enlisted, and who have endured the hardships of Andersonville, and other rebel prisons, be mustered out as soon as possible, and that they be allowed three months extra pay.
— The Post’s Washington special says the trial of Jeff. Davis in the U. S. Court, in this city, will take place before a full bench consisting of Carter of the District of Columbia, Judge Olin of New York and Judge Wylie of Virginia.
— Secretary Seward [William H. Seward] has fully resumed official duties at the State department. He was, last week, enabled to take his arm out of the sling and write his signature to the Amnesty proclamation. Fred. Seward is slowly but surely improving [Frederick Seward].
— Col. Pritchard [Benjamin D. Pritchard], who captured Jeff. Davis, explains the female attire. It consisted of Mrs. Davis’ water-proof cloak, and shawl so as as [sic] much as possible, to conceal the masculine features of Davis’ face.—Under the cloak the rebel commander-in-chief wore a suit of drab, with trowsers [sic] tucked into a pair of cavalry boots.
— The Tribune’s special dispatch from New Orleans, dated the 26th ult., says the ordinance department and magazine at Mobile exploded at 2 o’clock. The shock was fearful. The city shook to its very foundation—eight squares of buildings were destroyed and 500 persons buried in the ruins. The loss is estimated at eight million dollars. The origin of the explosion has not yet been ascertained.
— Among the many rumors flying about to-day in regard to the confinement of Jeff. Davis, is one to the effect that yesterday afternoon he was manacled, in order to prevent, no doubt, any injury to his guard, should he, as Mrs. Davis remarked, become provoked by the strict surveillance held over him. The strictest regulations respecting persons visited the fortress, are still rigidly enforced by Gen. Miles, the commander of the post. No person, either officer of civilian, is allowed to enter the fortress unless duty provided with the requisite passes.
—A Washington special says Gen. Rosecrans has been granted a six month leave of absence, and proposes to visit the Pacific coast. At the end of that time he will probably resign. [William S. Rosecrans]
— It is understood that the President has decided to appoint James F. Smith of Selma, Alabama, U. S. District Attorney for that State. Mr. Smith was arrested for his devotion to the Union cause, but made his escape and has resided for the past two years in Nashville.
— Ex-Governor Aiken² affirms that not til after the Union forces had occupied Charleston did he see a copy of President Lincoln’s first inaugural. A spurious paper was published, pretending to be a copy, but was in no respect the original.
— A French paper at New Orleans believes that a war between France and the United States inevitable.
— Gen. Banks [Nathaniel P. Banks] has been ordered to report at Waltham, Mass., his place of residence. His case is under investigation by the war department.
— About this time of his capture, Jeff. Davis had abandoned war, and was getting ready to raise cotton!
— Howell Cobb was recently paroled that he might visit his family.
— Gov. Brown of Ga. has been released from prison on parole. [Joseph E. Brown]
— Gen. Sherman is reported to be poor, not having made any money out of the war. [William T. Sherman]
— The Boston Herald states that the cloak Davis wore when captured was made in Boston.
— President Johnson is said to be preparing an official announcement of peace. [Andrew Johnson]
— Judge Caton, associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, died at Nashville on the 29th ult.
— Gen. Sherman, in his farewell order to his troops, advised them to beware of the Mexican emigration scheme.
— It is thought that Kentucky will rescind her vote against the Constitutional amendment.
— It is stated, on good authority that General Hancock veteran corps will be immediately increased to 40,000 men. [Winfield S. Hancock]
— Secretary Seward has fully resumed official duties at the State department. He was, last week, enabled to take his arm out of the sling and write his signature to the Amnesty proclamation. Fred. Seward is slowly but surely improving.
— Apprehensions are felt for the safety of the boys from this village who are in the Wisconsin Special Scouts. The recent explosion of the magazine at Mobile destroyed the steamer on which they were quartered, when the last-tidings from them was received by their parents and friends. We trust that fortune has favored them as heretofore.
— The Tribune’s special dispatch from New Orleans, dated the 26th ult., says the ordinance department and magazine at Mobile exploded at 2 o’clock. the shock was fearful.—The city shook to its very foundation—eight squares of buildings were destroyed and 500 persons buried in the ruins. the loss is estimated at eight million dollars. The origin of the explosion has yet been ascertained.
— It is stated by a Washington correspondent of the Rochester Democrat that a man who has been with Jeff. Davis’ official family for the past four years, has testified in the secret session of the court now trying the assassins of President Lincoln, that he has seen a letter from Jefferson Davis to George N. Sanders, advising as a last resort the assassination of President Lincoln and his whole Cabinet. Gen. Grant [Ulysses S. Grant], the correspondent adds, was in the room at the time the testimony was given, and vouched fro the credibility of the witness.
A Fit Change.—The notorious John Mitchel,³ who poured out his pro-slavery ribaldry through the columns of the Richmond Enquirer till the concern went up with the rebellion, has now transferred his services to the New York Daily News, the ultra Democratic organ. The change was natural, for Mitchel was under no necessity of leaving behind any of his Richmond principles. But it seems a little curious that a man who is cut off from the ventilation of his rebel malice at Richmond, can go right to New York, the metropolis of the loyal country, and resume operations.—St. Paul Press.
1. William Woods Holden (1818-1892) was the 38th (1865, May-December) and 40th (1868-71) governor of North Carolina. Holden was the first governor in America to be impeached, convicted, and removed from office. The main charges against he related to the rough treatment and arrests of North Carolina citizens by state militia during the enforcement of Reconstruction civil rights legislation.
2. William Aiken, Jr. (1806-1887) was the 61st governor of South Carolina, serving from 1844-46. He also served in the South Carolina state legislature (1838-44) and the U. S. House of Representatives (1851-57). He lost the election of Speaker of the House in 1855 to Nathaniel P. Banks, future Union Civil War general. He was a successful businessman and planter who lived in Charleston, South Carolina.
3. John Mitchel (1815-1875) was an activist for Irish nationalism, author,and political journalist. As a journalist, Mitchel was controversial before the Civil War for his defense of slavery, claiming that slaves in the southern United States were better cared for and fed than Irish cottiers, or English industrial workers. His views were explicitly racist and claimed that slavery was inherently moral. He founded a new paper, the Southern Citizen, in 1857 in Knoxville, Tennessee, to promote “the value and virtue of slavery, both for negroes and white men.” He moved the paper to Washington in 1859, and in 1861 moved to Richmond to edit the Richmond Enquirer. Although a spokesman for the Southern cause, Mitchel fell out with Jefferson Davis, whom he regarded as too moderate. In 1865, he moved to New York City to edit the Daily News. Slavery was dead and Mitchel returned his focus to the issue of Ireland. Mitchel returned to Ireland where in 1875 he was elected in a by-election to be an MP in the Houses of Parliament.
The following is from The Prescott Journal of June 11, 1864.
From the Mississippi Squadron.
T H E R E D R I V E R D A M.
DESCRIPTION OF ITS CONSTRUCTION AND PASSAGE.
Evacuation and Burning of Alexandria.
Passage Down Red River.
Correspondence of the State Journal.
MISSISSIPPI SQUADRON, STEAMER MOUND CITY }
Red River, May, 1864.
Since my last we have been having rather rough times of it on Red River. The Benefit was the last boat out, and since that time our communication has been cut off. The question was how long could we hold out here waiting for a rise in the river when there was not the slightest prospect of such good fortune. Gen. Banks [Nathaniel P. Banks] was in a great hurry to get out, but without the gunboats his passage out was not altogether safe, and should the army leave the place the fate of the gunboats was sealed. The rebels were constantly attacking us on all sides, Pliognac¹ on the north side, but the greater force still on the south side. The indomitable Smith [A. J. Smith] was constantly heard of fighting them, first in one place, then in another, until his praises were the theme of every tongue and a petition was put in circulation in the fleet recommending him for promotion, which was signed by nearly every officer.
Meantime the project was started of daming [sic] the river at a point nearly below the lower rapids, and the work was given in charge of Col. Bailey,² of the Engineer corps, and hundreds of men went to work with a will to accomplish the task. Capt. Langthorn [sic]³ of the Mound City most ably seconded the efforts of Col. Bailey, leaving his ship every morning at sunrise and only returning at 8 or 9 o’clock at night, and by dint of working day and night for five days, the water was backed up on the rapids so that the two little monitors, the Fort Hindman and Lexington got over. But it was still too low to admit of the heavier vessels. The same night, from the immense pressure of water, a portion of the dam gave way, it being almost impossible to hold it with such means as were at hand.
To add to our discomfiture, we learned that the gunboats Covington and Signal were lost on their way out. From one of the engineers of the latter boat I learned the following particulars : The two gunboats were convoying the transport Warner out, loaded with troops. They encountered a battery some forty miles below here and commenced action instantly. They could have both run the battery without much damage, but the Warner getting aground, caused them to be detained until the batteries on shore were reinforced, and the Covington, becoming disabled, was blown up. The Signal still kept up the fight, and her commander gave orders for all the unemployed men to get ashore, as the steam pipe was cut and the boat unmanageable. Owing to the number of sharpshooters this business of getting up the bank was extremely hazardous. The men succeeded however, in joining a party of the Covington’s men and proceeded up the river on foot. They were scattered once in the woods by rebel cavalry, but finally arrived here after a fatiguing march of forty-eight hours without food.
From a scout we learn that several of our vessels were at Fort DeRussy, but our troubles all lie between here and there. On the 8th, the Chillicothe got over the upper falls into the basin below. It being found impossible to make the dam hold to raise the water any higher, the order was given to lighten the vessels as much as possible. According[ly] everything of weight was taken off with due regard to still leaving the boats in a defensible condition. Part of each battery, old iron anchors and the iron plating on our sides were taken off, and on the 11th the Carondelet started over the shoals and got hard and fast and nearly out of the channel. The Mound City started over, and of course she got aground. The soldiers started two wing dams, one from each side of the river, to throw the body of water into the channel. I never saw soldiers work with such will. It was amusing to see with what alacrity they would lay hold of a line, when brought to the shore. Sometimes as many as two thousand were on one line, and I often saw a 14 inch hawser broke in twain by sheer strength. Happily, on the 12th, we got over and into the basin of back-water caused by the dam below, and the Carondelet soon followed. The other boats continued lightening, and as the wing dams were now of great service the rest got over the same night.—But now our trouble was only half over. We had yet before us the final leap to safety or destruction. The main dam was stretched across the river from the north side, only a short portion of it projecting from the opposite side, leaving a space of about sixty feet through which the water was rushing with lightning rapidity, and in a short distance descending some ten feet, with a surface as smooth as glass, then breaking into huge rollers which tumbled about with a deafening noise. Truly it was a wild looking place to run a large gunboat into. The Lexington, Fort Hindman, Neosho and Osage went over ; also the Admiral’s tug Dahlia. But they were lighter draft vessels and the breach at that time was wider and the current less swift, although a man was washed overboard from the Neosho and drowned. One man was also lost from the tug. It was with many misgivings that we surveyed the prospect.
As the Mound City was the first to get over the shoals above and being the heaviest vessel in the flotilla, she had the honor of leading off the race and at about six P.M. we cast off our lines and prepared to take the shoot. Port holes were closed up, hatches battoned [sic] down, trunks and articles of wardbrobe [sic] were brought to deck from the rooms below, and everything put in as safe a condition as possible. The old boat seemed loth to encounter the ordeal and refused to turn her bow to it for some time. At last she pointed directly for it some three hundred yards above. I think every heart beat a trifle quicker as she approached the fearful leap.
The scene was of much too thrilling interest for me truly to describe. Every noise was hushed on board the vessel except the orders of Capt. Langthorn [sic], given in a firm, distinct tone to the Pilots at the wheel.— Thousands of our anxious soldiers were on either bank to witness a success or a catastrophy [sic]. Brass bands had marched up on both sides and were playing, one the “Star Spangled Banner,” and the other the “Battle Cry of Freedom.” Your correspondent was never in such painful suspense as during the few seconds before taking the tremendous slide. He tried to execute a few steps of a hornpipe, but the effort proved a miserable failure. In less time than it takes for you to read this, our bow struck the head of the vortex and a cheer rose from every throat of our men, which was vociferously responded to by the men on shore, but was instantly hushed. With the velocity of the locomotive we took the fearful plunge. The steamer struck the breakers and threw the water quite over her. But see ! She strikes ! She groans !—Her bow rises high out of the water, then sinks again, while her motion is checked and her timbers crack with an ominous sound to a sailor. For an instant she is motionless, and the water rolled furiously over her stern and every one felt that wood and iron would go to pieces in a very few seconds. But there !She starts again, she moves, and the noise caused by the rock beneath her passed from stem to sterm [sic] and we dropped into our bearings on the water below, and although the loss of our rudder rendered us unmanageable, if we were not sinking, we were safe. The pumps were sounded but no extra water was found. We struck the bank and a thousand willing hands were ready to grasp our line and make us fast, and a rousing cheer went up for our success. The thing was done ; the Iron Clad Fleet was safe ; for all knew that if we could go over, the rest could, as we were the deepest in the water. The Bands marched back playing lively airs, the crowd dispersed, and we lay at the bank as though nothing had happened.
Capt. Langthorn [sic] proved himself, as he always does, equal to the emergency, and conducted the boat in a masterly manner. I was most afraid that from the warping and twisting of the vessel a steam pipe joint would be broken, in which event every soul below decks would have suffered death by scalding. One hundred and twenty men were killed in this way at St. Charles, on White river, on this same boat by a shot to the steam drum, when the ports were all open, while now all were closed and battened, leaving no place of escape for steam.
The Carondelet and Pittsburg [sic] came over the same evening, when the Admiral deeming it too late, the rest remained above and came over without accident the next morning.
Bailey’s Dam, from “Harper’s Weekly” of June 18, 1864
Col. Bailey, of the 19th Army Corps, deserves to wear two buttons in a group and a star in the centre of his shoulder strap, for his untiring zeal and energy in constructing this dam, which proved the salvation of the Iron Clads, and perhaps the army. It will be regarded as one of the most remarkable operations of the war. To dam a river that never was dammed (except by word of mouth) in the space of four days, in such a place and with such material, is no common occurrence, and the gallant constructor will long be remembered with kindly feelings by the navy. I am happy to say that the officers of this fleet have started in circulation a subscription for a testimonial to Col. Bailey. It was only just started when it reach us, but the amount subscribed already exceeded $500.
The Mound City went over the dam on the 12th, and on the 13th, in the afternoon, the evacuation took place. As early as 10 A. M. the town was discovered to be on fire, and several squares were soon enveloped by the devouring element. And now commenced a scene of frequent occurrence in the South since this war began, but one that would create a sensation through the whole North were it to happen in a town the size of Alexandria. Frantic women were running here and there, trying in vain to save something of their household stores ; but it was all in vain ; the hungry flame lapped up their goods even after they were on the street.—Although there was scarcely a breath of wind, yet the fire spread with the greatest rapidity. Gen. Banks made some ineffectual attempts to stay the progress of the flames, and tore down several buildings, but the soldiers did not work with much interest. An engine was hauled to the river, but the hose was found to be cut. After this it was allowed to have its own way.
Various opinions as to how the fire originated are in circulation. Some say it was started by a drunken soldier ; others that it was entirely accidental, and others, still, think it was fired by the secesh, to delay our ammunition trains. The latter cause I think the most probable. When we left, at about 3 P. M., the fire had swept everything on the main street for the distance of over half a mile. The destruction of property was very great.
The guns that were taken from the boats above the falls were bursted, and everything being ready, we went off, leaving the place wrapped in a dense volume of smoke. We proceeded down some ten miles and laid up for the night.
On the morning of the 14th we started in regular order, the Carondelet taking the lead, with a large sidewheel transport as a tender and consort, then another gunboat, then a transport, and so on with all the iron-clads. The transports were to help the gunboats off the ground when necessary and the gunboats to protect the transports when attacked.—The Lexington, Fort Hindman and Sinclair brought up the rear. We came along slowly, occasionally shelling the woods as some party of rebels would fire on the transports from the north side, we having no forces on that side of the river. We tied up at night at the wrecks of the Signal, Covington and Warren. The casualties as far as I know today have been two men killed on the Emerald, one on the Clara Bell and one killed and one wounded on the monitor Ozark.
We are now up with the advance of the army, who have been skirmishing with the enemy all the day, driving them slowly before them. The river is very slack water, and full of all kinds of filth, dead horses, mules, and occasionally the body of a man is seen floating about. But all such are buried as soon as discovered. On the bank where we lay were found two or three thousand letters captured from the Warner, as she carried out a large army mail. Several thousand dollars were lost it is said, as the army was recently paid off and many were sending home a portion of their pay. We are now forty miles below Alexandria and thirty above Fort DeRussy, where we hear our gunboats are. We have found no batteries as yet, but hear of them below.
On the 15th four gunboats and the flagship Cricket started ahead and proceeded at good speed down the river. We encountered 1,500 rebels on the north side who fired into us, but we gave them a good shelling and left them running. We had no more trouble and reached Fort De Russy at 2 p. m. Here we received our mail, the first we had had for over three weeks. We passed on down by the Choctaw and Benton and soon met a dispatch boat bearing the news that Gen. Grant [Ulysses S. Grant] was in Richmond, to which we responded with great cheering. If we could have been returning from a great victory I think the cause of Uncle Jeff [Confederate President Jefferson Davis] would have been about played out. Our greatest consolation is that we got out at all. But we have learned the rebels that low water won’t catch us in the river, and I don’t think they will depend on it again.
Since coming into the river we have lost the following named boats : Woodford, Hastings, La Crosse, City Belle, Warner, Eastport, Signal, Covington, Champion No. 3, Champion No. 5, and the Emma. The five first names and the last are army transports, the others belong to the navy. We left several tons of iron and ammunition in the bottom of the river, also a few guns, (old style). But had it not been for the fleet not a single transport would have gotten out of the river.
The Chillicothe, Mound City, Pittsburgh, and Sinclair are to proceed down the Atchafalaya I presume to see Banks’ safe across that bayou on this retreat.
The different descriptions of the battle of Pleasant Hill in your paper, are all nearly correct, as much so as can be got at, and to Gen. Banks we can lay the cause of our turning our forces down stream.—The idea of fighting a large battle with wagon trains, I don’t think ever originated with any other man. The experiment was a failure and didn’t pay. Gen. Smith [A.J. Smith] is bringing up the rear, because there is fighting to be done there and he and his boys are the kind of fellows that do that sort of business.
At a point some ten miles above Fort De Russy the army was obliged to leave the river on account of the low, marshy ground. They struck off intending to cross the Atchafalaya at Simmesport. The fleet came by way of the river and entered Bayou Atchafalaya. The transports stopped in Old River, and the Chillicothe, Carondolet, Mound City, Louisville, Pittsburgh, and Gazelle came to Simmesport where they arrived at noon.
The mail goes. Au revoir. J. B. A.
Tuesday, May 16.
1. Camille Armand Jules Marie, Prince de Polignac (1832-1913), was affectionately known by his troops as Prince Polecat. He was a French nobleman, scholar, and soldier who joined the Confederate States Army at the outbreak of the Civil War and became major general before the end of the war. He participated in the Battle of Shiloh and the Siege of Corinth. In January 1863 he was promoted to brigadier general. Two months later, he was transferred to the Trans-Mississippi Department and assigned command of a Texas infantry brigade. Polignac is best known for his leadership at the Battle of Mansfield (April 8, 1864), a Confederate victory in the first major action of the Red River Campaign. Polignac received a battlefield promotion at Mansfield, taking command of General Alfred Mouton’s division after his death. Polignac fought the next day (April 9) at Pleasant Hill. In June 1864, he was promoted to major general and continued to lead the division through the remainder of the campaign. In March 1865 he was sent to France to request intervention on behalf of the Confederacy, but he arrived too late to accomplish that mission. After the Civil War, Polignac returned to France, and resumed his travels and studies in Central America. He published several articles on his Civil War experiences. He returned to the French army as a brigadier general and commanded a division in the Franco-Prussian War (1870 to 1871).
2. Joseph Bailey (1825-1867) was a civil engineer and lumberman in Wisconsin before the Civil War. When the War started, he was commissioned captain of Company D, 4th Wisconsin Infantry (Hudson City Guards were Company G). In April 1862, Bailey was named acting chief engineer for the city of New Orleans shortly after its occupation. He was promoted to major in May of 1863 and supported the Union Army’s engineering activities at the Siege of Port Hudson. In August 1863, he was again promoted, to lieutenant colonel, when the 4th Infantry was re-designated the 4th Wisconsin Cavalry. In June 1864, Bailey became colonel of the 4th Wisconsin Cavalry.
3. Amos R. Langthorne, who was actually a lieutenant by rank.
In November 1863, General Nathaniel P. Banks led between 6,000 and 7,000 soldiers to the mouth of the Rio Grande in Texas to cut off the important smuggling trade between Texas and Mexico. The Battle of Brownsville took place on November 2-6, 1863.
The original letter is in the Frank D. Harding Papers (River Falls Mss AB), University of Wisconsin-River Falls University Archives & Area Research Center.
New Orleans La Nov 15th 1863
My Dear Father
I have just received your kind letter and you may be assured that I was glad to hear from you once more. I had began to think that you had forgotten me as I hadn’t received a letter from you for the past two weeks.
I have been for the past week in New Orleans attending a Provost Court but shall return to my Regiment tomorrow. Everything in this Dept looks “first rate.” Gen. Banks doesn’t tell what he is about to do, but I think ere you receive this you will find what he has done. You wanted to know what were my officers’ names. I will in a few days send you a complete list of them.
I would like very much to see my Charley’s picture, tell Dinah that I have got a very nice album and I will keep the picture safe. Send it along. I don’t know of any news to write. Troops are moving all the time but Gen. Banks only knows where they are going. Col. [___] in Brownsville recruited 800 men in one day. They are all Texasans [sic] ready to fight for their homes.
I will have no time to write more. Give my love to Mother and Diantha. When I get to Brashear City¹ I will write again.
Yours Truly . . . . . . .Frank Harding
1. In Louisiana, now called Morgan City. Star Fort or Fort Brashear was the larger of two works erected by the Union Army occupying the city to defend a Federal military depot and the town.
Frank Harding letter of November 15, 1863, from the Frank D. Harding Papers (River Falls Mss AB) in the University Archives & Area Research Center at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls
The following summary of war news comes from the October 17, 1863, issue of The Polk County Press.
The News.
From Charleston we have news of a rebel attempt to destroy the frigate Ironsides¹ with torpedos. The scheme of the rebels failed, with a loss of 2 killed on the rebel side and one wounded on ours.
From Rosecrans’ army we have the positive assurance that he has been heavily reinforced, that he is rapidly re-organizing his army, that his troops are in good spirits, and that he will soon drive Bragg into the interior of Georgia.
From Missouri we have good news to record. Gen. Brown² has won a splendid victory over the rebels under Shelby,³ scattering them in every direction, and capturing all their artillery and trains. Their loss in killed and wounded very heavy.
1. The USS New Ironsides (1862) was the third of the three ironclads ordered by Navy Secretary Gideon Welles at the outset of the Civil War (the Monitor and the Galena being the other two). The name comes from the U.S.S. Constitution of 1797, which was affectionately called “Old Ironsides.” The ship spent most of her career blockading the Confederate ports of Charleston, South Carolina, and Wilmington, North Carolina and was torpedoed by the CSS David at Charleston on the night of October 5, 1863. Though damaged, New Ironsides was patched up in a few days and remained on station for more than 6 months after the incident. (For more details, see the Naval Historical Center page for the New Ironsides.)
2. Egbert Benson Brown (1816-1902) commanded the Union’s District of Central Missouri during 1863 and through 1864. He primarily suppressed Confederate guerrillas raiding into Missouri from Arkansas and the Indian Territory. He won two victories over Joseph Shelby (see footnote 3), first at the Second Battle of Springfield during Marmaduke’s first raid, and the second at Marshall, Missouri, during Shelby’s Great Raid of 1863. During Sterling Price’s 1864 raid into Missouri, Brown was relieved of command at the Battle of Westport for failing to promptly obey and order to attack.
3. Shelby’s Great Raid was a Confederate cavalry raid—between September 22 and October 26, 1863—that caused great disruption in Missouri before returning to Arkansas. The raid cemented Confederate Colonel Joseph Orville “Jo” Shelby’s reputation as a cavalry commander and he was promoted to brigadier general as a result. The raid showed that Missouri was still vulnerable to Confederate raids.
Jerry Flint, with Company G of the 4th Wisconsin Infantry in Louisiana, writes to his brother Phineas (Phin) in River Falls. Jerry’s handwriting is frequently challenging to read, hence the occasional guesses in square brackets followed by a question mark [?]. 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 4th Wis Volunteers
Camp Parapet La Apr 29th /863
Dear Brother
I shall have to beg your pardon for not answering your letter sooner. It has been nearly three weeks since I’ve received it and it had been on the way over a month. I suppose by this time you were at River Falls so I shall direct to that place. The miniatures you sent came through all right. It did my soul good to get them. I cannot see that Mother has grown old at all and you are about the same except that you are a little [fair?]. I have now a very good collection of pictures to keep off the blues. Lu and Carrie sent me theirs and who could look at them without laughing. I have also Elimira’s which makes me think of the good old days gone by. Besides I have one or two that I picked up in my travels that are not bad to rest the eyes on. They are from the famous old city of Baltimore. I tell you Phin I enjoyed life in that city. New Orleans is like the black hole of the infernal regions in comparisons. [paragraph break added]
Yesterday I had a call from Monroe Brown.1 He is in the 15th N. H. Reg. You will recollect that he went to school at the Falls [River Falls] the winter Clapp [Edward A. Clapp] helpt2 there. I was shaking with the Ague [fever] when he came in laughing and held out his hand [and] asked me if I knew him. I had to look a spell before I could make out where I had seen him although he looked very familiar. He came here when Gen. Banks’ [Nathaniel P. Banks] troops and has camped within 50 rods of us for four months. Yesterday he got to talking with one of our boys and found out where the company was from. I have also heard that Ha[yward?] is at Bonnet Carre [Carré] twenty five miles above here. He was also encamped at one time close to our battery but I didn’t know it. [paragraph break added]
Gen. Banks is doing good work in western Louisiana. We hear every day of the immense amount of supplies he has taken from the rebels. By papers found on one of the captured rebel gunboats we learn that they had a nice plan laid for attacking New Orleans. But Banks’ movements frustrated them. Their army is driven out of the country, their navy blowed to the devil and their naval commander whom they call the Paul Jones of the South3 is a prisoner in New Orleans. His flag ship was the old “Queen of the West.” As our fleet advanced in Grand Lake the Calhoun sent a fire ball crashing through her which set her on fire and and blew her up.4 [paragraph break added]
The weather is extremely hot so that we do not drill much only from half past seven to half past eight in the morning, and about half an hour in past sundown. The rest of the time we lay in the shade as much as possible.
To morrow is a general muster of all the troops in the department and I have been at work nearly all day, cleaning musket and equipments and putting my things in order generally. We are expecting pay in a few days. We shall have four months pay here day after to morrow.
Gen. Dow5 is in command of this post and a bigger fool never wore shoulder straps. He has forbidden the sale of Whiskey in camp although it was recommended by the surgeon. Beer and cider have fared the same and also ice which is the worst of all where there is nothing to drink but the warm river water. The boys are all well.
Hoping this will find you in health. I remain
Your Brother, Jerry
1. Monroe Brown was a corporal in Company G of the 15th New Hampshire Infantry.
2. “Helpt” looks and sounds odd to most of us, but it is in fact the simple past tense and past participle of help.
3. E. W. Fuller was a veteran gunboat commander and was the captain of the CSS Queen of the West. He was called the “John Paul Jones of the South.”
4. It is interesting to note that the USS Calhoun, which was a captured Confederate ship, destroyed the CSS Queen of the West, a captured Union ship. A shell from the Calhoun set fire to Queen of the West’s cotton, and her burning wreck drifted down the river for several hours before she grounded and exploded.
Neal S. Dow, cropped (see footnote 5)
5. Neal S. Dow (1804-1897), the son of Quaker parents, had the nickname the “Napoleon of Temperance” and the “Father of Prohibition.” He was also an ardent abolitionist and his home was a stop on the Underground Railroad. When the Civil War began, Dow volunteered for service even though he was 57. He was appointed colonel of the 13th Maine Infantry and his regiment participated in the capture of New Orleans (along with Jerry Flint’s regiment). He was promoted to brigadier general in April 1862, and was assigned to command Forts Jackson and Saint Philip, the two Confederate forts captured at the same time as New Orleans. Dow is best remembered for his role in the Siege of Port Hudson, which is coming up May 21–July 9, 1863.
This photograph of Dow in his Civil War uniform is from the Neal Dow entry in “Maine: An Encyclopedia.” The original photograph is in the collections of the Maine State Archives.
Jerry Flint letter of April 29, 1863, from the Jerry E. Flint Paper (River Falls Mss BN) at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls University Archives & Area Research Center
It rather looks like Jerry has written 1862 instead of 1863 on this letter, but we know from what he talks about that it is 1863. On March 21, 1863, General Nathaniel P. Banks sent the 6th Michigan Infantry to destroy a bridge at Ponchatoula,¹ Louisiana, and they spent several days getting there and sacking the town before burning a railroad bridge near Ponchatuala on March 25. Although Jerry mentions that “our troops” captured “a large amount of rebel cotten [sic] and army stores,” according to historian John D. Winters in his book The Civil War in Louisiana, Colonel Thomas S. Clark of the 6th Michigan was “disappointed to find no cotton in Ponchatoula.” He did gather all the mules, wagons, turpentine and resin, along with the plunder from the village, and loaded it aboard waiting schooners.²
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.
Camp Parapet La.
Apr. 2nd 1863
My Dear Mother ;
I feel a little lonesome to night — so I have made up my mind to have a short chat with you. I presume that it will not be very interesting, for I have not the faculty of enjoying this silent mode of communication well enough to arouse in me the spirit of conversation. I can however let you know that I am at present in very good health, and trying still to do my duty faithfully as a soldier.
The prospect of crushing this rebellion sometimes looks dark and it seems as though we made but little progress. Still I am not yet willing to doubt our final success. If our people at the north were half as united against the rebels as they are against us, I should be out of this hot southern climate in less than six months.
As far as I am concerned I have stood this climate uncommonly well, and but for the Fever and Ague which has a strong hold of my system I would be as well as ever in my life. I have a spell of this once in about three weeks. My chills are not very hard but the fevers are awful. They make me almost crazy. The doctor has given me a solution of Arsenic and some thing else I don’t know what. I have taken so much quinine that it don’t have much effect.
I was very glad to hear that you had taken a trip to Dover. I have no doubt you had a splendid visit with Aunt Persis. I would like to hear from Berridge and Bunyan. I hope they have enlisted.
Our troops here made a dash over the head of the lake a few days since and were successful in capturing the town of Ponchitowla [sic]¹ and a large amount of rebel cotten [sic] and army stores. We hear rumors that Gen. Butler [Benjamin F. Butler] is to be sent again to this department. I hope it is true as do all of his old troops. With him would come confidence and a new and energetic spirit to the army here. When he issues an order the rebels in New Orleans know that it must be obeyed. As for Banks they care no more for him than they do for a street urchin.
I would send you some money but if I had it but we have not been paid off for nearly four months so that of course I am strapped. I shall expect a letter from Phineas by the next steamer.
Do you ever hear anything from Whitefield. I feel anxious to know where he is, though I suppose that he cares little whether we know anything of him or not. Give my love to all the folks.
Yours Truly,
P.S. I forgot to tell you that six of us had built us a small shantie [sic] 10×12 and are now living in it. It is much more comfortable than tents.
1. Ponchatoula is located half way between New Orleans and Baton Rouge. Jerry seems to be spelling it phonetically.
2. The Civil War in Louisiana, by John D. Winters, [Baton Rouge]: Louisiana State University Press, 1963. The incident at Pontchatoula is described on pages 219-20. This book is available in the UWRF Library (E 565 .W54).
Jerry Flint letter of April 2, 1863, from the Jerry E. Flint Paper (River Falls Mss BN) at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls University Archives & Area Research Center
The day after Christmas Jerry Flint writes to his brother Phineas in River Falls. As he says at the end, he wrote this “in an ugly shape,” by which he means his handwriting is worse than usual! 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.
Camp Parapet, La.
December 26th 1862
Dear Brother;
Re’cd your letter of Nov. 28th yesterday for which I am very thankful. It is the first from you since your sickness. I am glad that you are getting along so well, but don’t deceive yourself and join your company too quick. I suppose that by this time or very soon at least your regiment will be ordered to the seat of war and you will see then that you knew nothing of hard duty yet. Should you be sick in the army you will get no such care as you did this time. If your regiment should be ordered to Vicksburg, as I hear they sure expect to be, it is possible that we may run against one another.
You are well aware by this I suppose that Gen. Banks [Nathaniel P. Banks] landed with his forces at New Orleans and that he has also superseded Gen. Butler [Benjamin F. Butler] in the Command of this Department. He has already sent 20 thousand men to Baton Rouge, and I suppose they are to assist in opening the river. Our regiment has gone with the rest, but we are still here in command of the batterry [sic]. We expect to join the rest soon.
They are bound to have a big fight at Port Hudson 15 miles above Baton Rouge. The rebels have strong fortifications and a large number of troops at that place. I think we shall join them before they march on that place as the Col. will be anxious to have his regiment full. Col. Paine [Eleazer A. Paine] is acting Brig. Gen. but the 4th is in his brigade. Although I should rather like to be with the Reg., I must say that it would not hurt my feelings much to remain where we are all winter. Here our duties are very easy. We can get our pay and mails regularly and yes comparatively good rations. But on the march it is Hard Bread and coffee, thanking the fates if you get that.
We are very sorry that Gen. Butler has left us, not but that Banks may be an able commander but he is not to the old soldiers here what Ole Ben was. We started out with him, was with him on a barren island and came with him to New Orleens [sic]. At no time did he forget his solders but would always see that they got their rights. He was to the soldiers of this Department what McClellan [George B. McClellan] was to the Army of the Potomac. But I suppose it is all right and I have but they will give the old chief as good a position if not better than he had before.
We received news by yesterday mail of the re-crossing of the Rhappahannock [sic] by Burnside [Ambrose E. Burnside]. This indeed makes it look dark. It seems as if our army of the Potomac was bound to be always be whipped. We have always been successful in the West. I believe we shall be this time, but unless Richmond can be taken and that heavy army of rebels defeated, our prospects are bettered but very little. We must take their capital, disperse their congress and never let them assemble, then they cannot work with any success against us. [paragraph break added]
I am glad you find so good a home at Wales’.¹ I always liked him fully. I wonder if he remembers that last load of hay on the bogs or the desperate time we had in trying to massacre a skunk. Or I should say what a time he had. I didn’t have anything to do with it. No sir, I ran.
While you are having the storms and frost of winter we are having weather as pleasant as May. The boys to day are laying around in the shade without any coats and shirt coullars [sic] unbuttened [sic]. We have very little rain and occasionally a frost.
I send Mother a little money occasionally as I have it. Helen writes me that clothing is very high. It will be payday again very soon and I hope we shall get our regular cash.
Tender my respects to Mr Wales and family.
I received a letter yesterday from Rossie and one from Ed. I will write to them to night or to morrow. I have written this in an ugly shape and I do not know as you can get through it. But I don’t feel very well, guess I’ll have to quit. Write Soon, Jerry
[P.S.] The boys are all very well. Henry has the Ague some.
1. Possibly Samuel Wales, a farmer in River Falls Township in 1860.
Jerry Flint letter of December 26, 1862, from the Jerry E. Flint Paper (River Falls Mss BN) at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls University Archives & Area Research Center
The original letter is in the Frank D. Harding Papers (River Falls Mss AB), University of Wisconsin-River Falls University Archives & Area Research Center.
Carrolton La Dec 18th 1862
Dear Father,
I received your letter yesterday and was very glad to hear from you. That Newspaper letter was all right. I sent it in an envelop [sic] and forgot to cut one end of it. I am sorry that you was so disapointed [sic] about it. I have writen [sic] to you three of four times scince [sic] I received my box and before this you must have got some of my letters.
We have been having some pretty stiring [sic] times here for the past few days. Gen. Bank’s [Nathaniel P. Banks] Expedition having arrived all of our old Regiments are ordered up the river and the new ones are to stay here and take our places. I was ordered to report to my regiment but before I did so was detailed by Gen. Banks to stay where I was.
Yesterday I went to look at the 26th Ct. Regiment. I enquired if there was any Windham Co. Boys amongst them and found that there was a few in Co. “G” from Chaplain. One fellow said that he was a little aquainted [sic] in Brooklyn with a man by the name of Eddy — Harding. I told him that I was slightly acquainted with the gentleman, it seems that he is some relation of the Ashleys. I didn’t have a chance to talk with him but a few minutes but shall see him again in a few days. I presume that their [sic] is other ones that I shall scrape acquaintance with before long.¹
I will write you again in a few days.
Ever my love to mother and Diantha. Write me often.
Yours Truly
Frank
1. The majority of the 26th Connecticut Infantry was from New London County, just south of Windham County, although Company G was not primarily from New London County. Brooklyn, Connecticut, is where Frank’s father lived; it is in Windham County.
Frank Harding letter of December 18, 1862, from the Frank D. Harding Papers (River Falls Mss AB) in the University Archives & Area Research Center at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls
Following are the small articles from the December 3, 1862, issue of The Prescott Journal and the December 6, 1862, issue of The Polk County Press.
The Prescott Journal, December 3, 1862:
Another reprinted editorial from The Home League (Hartford, Wisconsin) of November 22, 1862, this one about former President James Buchanan. The Prescott Journal printed it on December 3, 1862.
Buchanan
It is stated in the papers that Buchanan, the arch traitor and imbecile, now seeks a place in the Senate of the United States! Think of it, loyal men and woman of America ; Think of it, Patriot dead, if painful recollections can penetrate the silence of the tomb—think of the Pennsylvania Cataline sitting in the legislative chamber of the Nation!
What he wants there, no on can imagine, unless it is to take the place of his yoke fellow, Breckinridge [John C. Breckinridge], who is now doing in the field what Buchanan would do if he were twenty years younger. Before God and impartial history, no man is so responsible for this rebellion as Buchanan. He stood at the helm when traitors held high carnival in his own Cabinet. He saw the treasury robbed; the Indians plundered; the national arms stolen; our ships of war scattered to the distant seas and yet he sat still like a terror stricken dolt without protest or complaint. He it was who announced that strange political paradox that a State had no right to secede, but if it pleased to do so, the Nation could not do anything to prevent it!
Finite man cannot prophesy what sore afflictions the Supreme Ruler of the universe may yet have in store for this people, but the last feather that would break the nation’s back would be to see the old Public Functionary returned to the United States Senate. The Apostle Paul declared himself the chief of sinners, but it is evident enough that he was not much acquainted with James Buchanan.—Home League.
OLD ABE’S VIEW OF THE ELECTION.
— The Milwaukee News is responsible for the following:
President [Abraham] Lincoln is reported to have made the following reply to an inquiry as to how he felt about the New York election:
“Something like the boy in Kentucky, who stubbed his toe while running to see his sweetheart. The boy said he was too big to cry, and far too badly hurt to laugh.”
Forney, it is said, was the querest.
THE PRESIDENT A TAX PAYER.—President Lincoln, although specially exempted by law from having his salary taxed, under the revenue act, has ordered the same deduction to be made as if the tax were imposed. By this voluntary act the President pays a tax of $1,220 per year out of his salary.
— The publishers of the Chicago daily papers held a meeting on the 19th inst., to consider the great increase on the costs of white paper and other items culmancing [sic] the cost of publication, at which it was resolved to advance the price of dailies and tri-weeklies 25 per cent and weeklies 50 per cent.
— The Louisville Journal supposes that the “fortunes of war” we hear so much about are the fortunes made by the army contractors.
GENERAL HOOKER IN THE ANTIETAM BATTLE—“This is one of the great days of the world” said Gen. Hooker [Joseph Hooker] to the intreped [sic] Barry, as he rode by on the morning of the battle of Antietam, “the Southern rebellion lies coiled up in that valley, and it should be to-night in our power!”
— They say if Burnside [Ambrose E. Burnside] fails, woe to President Lincoln. Fool ! if Burnside falls, let the President appoint some one in his place, and so till he gets the right man.
GEN. N. P. BANKS.—No General in the American army is gaining more steadily and surely a big position in the estimation of the people than N. P. BANKS [Nathaniel P. Banks]. Quietly and faithfully he performs whatever duty the Government assigns to him, avoiding the pomp and circumstance which so many officers delight to exhibit. He has never been heard to complain of the possition [sic] he has been placed in, and the public have heard but little of him, except through the result of his labors in behalf of the Government to which he has consecrated himself. Among his recent acts, which serve to exhibit his wisdom, was a declination of an invitation to a public reception in New York city.
— To the eyes of our rebels, a year ago the Southern Confederacy was a most charming and angelic young creature. Now her votaries see her a hag with her tooth dropped out, her wig fallen from her head, and all the paint rubbed from her haggard face.
The Polk County Press, December 6, 1862:
Like the Journal, The Polk County Press also reprinted from The Home League this week! The following comes from the November 22, 1862, issue and was reprinted in the December 6, 1862, issue of the Press.
Rebel Victories.
The New York “Times” calls attention to the fact that, with the exception of Sumter the rebels have never gained a single position by force of arms. All the positions that came into their possession before or after the beginning of the war, experienced that fate simply because there was nobody to defend them. Their seizure was no military achievement; it was simply a pedestrian exercise.– So fell the forts at the Passes of the Mississippi, Galveston, Mobile. Barraneas and McRae at Pensacola, Pulaski below Savanah, Pickney and Moultrie at Charleston, Macon at Beaufort, the two forts at Wilmington, the arsenals at Baton Rouge, Augusta and Fayettville, the Navy Yards at Pensacola and Norfolk, and every point that fell as all, with the single exception, as we have said of Sumter? and that case only makes the general fact all the more forcible, in as much as it there required a force of several thousands to overcome a garrison of only eighty all told.
— We see by the Milwaukee Sentinel of the 1st inst., that Surgeon Thornhill1 of the 8th Regiment, has been discharged from the service.
— S. L. Tibbets2 writes from New Orleans, to C. H. Staples, esq., that all the “boys” in the “Guards” from this village are doing duty. He also says they all voted the “strate” Union Ticket. That is “wery goot.”
— The citizens of Taylor Falls got up a party in honor of the volunteers of that place, who were home on a furlough. The party was a success, upwards of 30 couple[s] being present. Trussel of the Chisago House got up a good supper.3
— We expect to be furnished with letters from several correspondents in the army this winter which we shall publish. We hope to be able to give our readers news from “our boys” every week.
— Friends don’t forget that our “boys” in the army will need reading matter with which to occupy the mind, during the long dull hours that always follow “going into winter quarters.” Send them papers. We will gladly give away to any of our friends, our exchange papers, when we have got through with them, for that purpose.
THE DRAFT IN RACINE.—We are informed that of the fourteen drafted from the Fourth ward of Racine, three of them were sailors ; two were between sixty and seventy years of age, and one had been dead for over two years.—We think the last mentioned individual has decidedly got the start of the Provost Marshal.—News.
What a nice set of enrollment officers they must have in Racine.
1. Samuel B. Thornhill, from Saint Croix Falls, was “dismissed” on November 14, 1862!
2. Simon L. Tibbetts, from Osceola, who was in Company G of the 4th Wisconsin Infantry—the Hudson City Guards. The official Wisconsin roster for Company G lists him as “Lyman” L. Tibbetts.
3. Now known as Taylors Falls, the Chisago House is still there. Taylors Falls is in Minnesota, directly across the river from Saint Croix Falls.
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.
The Civil War and Northwest Wisconsin 