1865 March 25: George Godfrey Dead in Kentucky, C.C. Fisk and Michael Kriemer Not Accepted for Service, Carmie Garlick Discharged, Dave Kennedy Promoted, and Other Local War-Related News

Following are the small, local items from The Polk County Press of March 25, 1865.  The Prescott Journal did not publish a newspaper issue on March 25 due to lack of paper.

OBITUARY.—Died in the U. S. Hospital, at Louisville, Ky., of Typhoid fever, GEORGE GODFREY, Co. A. 30th Wis. Volunteers.

A brave soldier, and patriot ;  he has laid down his life that his country might live.  Parents mourn for him,—sisters weep for him, and loyal, patriotic men, reverence his memory.  May he rest in peace.

NOT ACCEPTED.—C. C. FISK, who volunteered for Alden, and MICHAEL KRIEMER, who went for St. Croix Falls, have both returned home, the examining Surgeon at La Crosse, not being willing to pass them into the service.

DISCHARGED.—Our old friend and neighbor, Dr. C. P. GARLICK [Carmine “Carmie” P. Garlick], Surgeon 35th Wis. Vol., owing [to] ill health has been obbliged [sic] to seek, and has obtained his discharge from the service.  He is at present at Yellow Springs, Ohio, and will probably return to this place as soon as navigation is resumed.

OUR QUOTA.—We have received the following statement from Provost Marshal COOPER [Benjamin F. Cooper], giving the quota of each town in the county :

QUOTAS.

Osceola 7 ;  Farmington 13 ;  St. Croix Falls 11 ;  Alden 4 ;  Lincoln 2 ;  Sterling 0.

“All men put into the service since Dec. 19th 1864, will be credited on these quotas ;  those put in previous to this date are already credited.”

THE SITUATION.

Most of the towns in the Co. have made efforts to fill up their quotas.—Osceola has sent six men, and has secured the seventh.  Farmington has sent none, and the draft will take every able-bodied man in the town.  St. Croix Falls has sent 7, and will probably raise four more.  Alden has sent two and we think will fill up.—Lincoln has sent one man.

SUBSTITUTES.—Our friends at Taylor’s Falls, who were recently called upon by Uncle Sam. to don the blue coat and brass buttons, have been round “these parts” picking up “subs” quite lively during the past week.—NOBLE WILSON and ELLSWORTH TYLER both engaged themselves Monday.  NOBLE goes for Oscar Roos, and TYLER for Wm. Cox.  They each received $600 for their services.

GOOD APPOINTMENT.—We notice that Gov. MILLER [Stephen Miller], of Minnesota, has appointed Capt. EMIL MUNCH, formerly Captain of the 1st Minn. Battery, now of the Veteran Reserve Corps, third Major of the 1st Minn. Heavy Artillery.  Capt. MUNCH is an old resident of Taylor’s Falls.

— The drafted men of Taylor’s Falls have reported to the Pro. Mar. at St. Paul.

PROMOTED.—We learn that our old friend DAVE KENNEDY, formerly editor of the “St. Croix Monitor,” at Taylor’s Falls, has been promoted Orderly Sergeant of Co. C, 7th Minn. Volunteers.

— The 5th, 6th, 7th and 10th Minnesota Vol., have joined Gen. Canby at New Orleans, and are now on the march for Mobile.  [Edward Canby]

— Governor Lewis, of Wisconsin, refuses to be a candidate for re-election, and General Fairchild and John F. Potter are talked of by the Republicans.—St. Paul Press, 18th.  [James T. Lewis, Lucius Fairchild, John F. Potter]

1865 March 18: “The war has learned us the lesson of giving” and Other Local News

Following are the smaller items from the March 18, 1865, issues of The Prescott Journal and The Polk County Press.

From The Prescott Journal:

The success of the National arms seems to be secured.  The croakers in the North are silent ;  the South, which was once so exultant and defiant, now shivers in mortal fear, and her “sacred soil” trembles to the tread of our conquering legions.  No doubt now exists but the Government will come out of the struggle triumphant, and with a feeling of concious [sic] strength never before possessed.

 One of the useful lessons which this war has taught is, how much money it is possible to give away.  Before the war we prided ourselves on being a benevolent people.  The donations to religious and charitable societies were munificent.  Now those gifts seem insignificant in amount.  The operation of these societies is not checked, but new avenues are opened, where the stream of gifts rolls in[,] in bounteous and unheard of profusion.  The bounties to soldiers by tax or contributions, the sum paid to the aid of soldiers’ families and the charities of the Sanitary, Christian and Freedmen’s Commissions, taken together, form a sum so vast as to bewilder us.  Five years ago, it would not have been thought possible to raise $5,000 in Pierce County for any charitable purpose, however noble it might be.  Now we pay half of that sum every month into channels created by the war, and we are not impoverished or badly inconvenienced by it.  The war has learned us the lesson of giving.

 JOSEPH COPP¹ has been appointed Lieut. in the 52d Regiment.  JOE has had a pretty varied experience in this war, and has won his straps right fairly.

 REUBEN S. ANDREWS² of Co. A. 30th, has been promoted to Lieut. in Co. G. 30th Regiment.  Mr. ANDREWS has been a faithful and efficient soldier, and well deserved the promotion.

 Now that the quotas of the towns are known, every town which intends to fill its quota should do so at once.  Lieut. COPP or ANDREWS will enlist men.

MR. EDITOR :—Allow me through the columns of your paper to return my sincere and hearty thanks to the soldiers’ aid committee and the kind friends over the river for their liberality, and may the assurance that bread cast upon the waters returneth again after many days be verified in each and every instance.

MRS. J. C. PRIDE.
Hastings, March 13, 1865.
—Conserver.

— Nothing seems to stop Sherman [William T. Sherman].  The rebels may draw a check upon him, but he won’t honor it.

— Those who jump at the bounty offered for volunteers are the only right kind of bounty-jumpers.

—  We have taken Columbia, the capitol of South Carolina; and all the capital she has left is in Confederate shin-plasters.

— If the last hope of the Southern Confederacy is the negro it is a dark one.—Prentice.

— Bragg, Hardee, Beauregard and Hood are four runners of defeat.—Prentice.  [Confederate Generals Braxton Bragg, William J. Hardee, P.G.T. Beauregard, and John Bell Hood]

— DENOUNCING JEFF.—A spec[ial] __ [Vir]ginia legislature calls on Jeff [Davis] ___ sign and allow the administration of __ to pass into more successful hands.  It says the present chief characteristic of the administration is, that it has made a more vigorous and effective war on the resources of the country than it has made on the public enemy.  [an article on the other side of the newspaper was cut out, leaving a hole on “our” side of the paper]

— A GOOD MOVE.—It seems that in consequence of the inebriation of some of the U. S. Senators during the inauguration ceremonies, the famous Senatorial drinking saloon , known for the last fifteen years as the “Hole in the Wall,” has been closed, and the sign over the door, which read “exclusively for Senators,” turned the wrong side out.

— ROBT. TOOMBS made a dismal speech at Augusts, Ga., on the 16th.  He was still for war, but assailed with vehemence the administration of JEFF DAVIS., declaring the Southern people were on the eve of revolution against it.

From The Polk County Press:

GONE TO THE WAR.—The volunteers raised under the last call in this county, left for La Crosse on Monday.  They are all a good class of men, who will do honor to the service and to themselves.  The following is the list :

TOWN OF OSCEOLA.

A. Gillispie, W. H. Kent, J. H. Baker, Worthy Prentice, Andrew Fee, Joseph Corey.

ST. CROIX FALLS.

D. E. Tewkesbury, Joseph Churchill, Michael Kreiner, Henry Demling, Adam Beaver, Howard Scott, Gus. La Grue, — Newman.

ALDEN.

C. C. Fisk, Geo. Emory, —Tamset.

LINCOLN.

John Metheney.

— It appears, after all, that Davis,³ the rebel spy, whose sentence of death was commuted by the President, was the keeper of the Andersonville prison pen, or held authority there ;  but that it was in a measure owing to the uniform testimony of soldiers who were in his power there, to the fact that he did all circumstances would allow him to do for the alleviation of the sufferings of the prisoners, that executive clemency was extended to him.

— If the last hope of the Southern Confederacy is the negro, it is a dark one.—Prentice.

— A significant resolution was offered in the Senate by Mr. Sumner [Charles Sumner], which will receive the emphatic endorsement of every loyal man in the country.  It avers “that Congress hereby declares that the rebel debt or loan is simply an agency of the rebellion, which the United States can never, under any circumstances, recognize in any part or in any way.”  The resolution passed the Senate, as it doubtless will the House.

— It is stated by New York correspondents that Andrew Johnson was in a state of beastly intoxication during the inauguration ceremonies.  If the statement is true he should be handled without gloves.

— Our loss in the recent battle in North Carolina is stated at 2,000.—The rebel loss is said to be 4,000.

IMMENSE CAPTURES OF GUNS.—The New York Commercial Advertiser estimates the number of guns captured from the rebels since the 1st of August at 1,301.  This does not include the guns captured or destroyed on the Alabama, Florida, Tennessee, and other rebel crafts.  During the same time we have not lost 35 cannon.  The Commercial says that this exceeds the captures made by Napoleon during all his Russian and Austrian campaigns.

1.  Joseph M. Copp, from Prescott, enlisted September 21, 1861, in Prescott’s Lyon Light Guards, Company A of the 12th Wisconsin Infantry. He was taken prisoner at Atlanta and mustered out January 16, 1865, when his term expired. He does not seem to have actually become a lieutenant in the 52nd Wisconsin Infantry.
2.  Reuben S. Andrews, from Trimbelle, had been sergeant of Company A, 30th Wisconsin Infantry, and was promoted to 2nd lieutenant of Company G, 50th Wisconsin Infantry on February 21, 1865. He mustered out June 14, 1866.
3.  Samuel Boyer Davis (1843-1914) was wounded and captured at the Battle of Gettysburg. Lt. Davis, a distant relation of President Jefferson Davis, escaped from the USA General Hospital in Chester, Pennsylvania, and made his way back south through his native state of Delaware. In 1864, returning from a mission delivering messages to other Confederate Secret Service agents in Canada, Lt. Davis was captured by two Union soldiers who recognized him. They had been prisoners of war at Andersonville, where Lt. Davis had been second in command. He was given the death sentence and imprisoned at Fort Delaware on February 26, 1865. Just before he was to be hanged at Johnson’s Island, his death sentence was commuted by President Lincoln. Lt. Davis spent the remainder of the war as a prisoner at Fort Warren near Boston, released on December 20, 1865. After the War, he captained steamboats on the Potomac River. Davis wrote a memoir of experiences, entitled Escape of a Confederate Officer from Prison (Norfolk, Va.: Landmark Pub. Co., 1892). Davis died in Washington, D.C. on September 24, 1914, and was buried in Ivy Hill Cemetery, Alexandria, Va. This Samuel Davis was the grandson of Colonel Samuel Boyer Davis (1765-1854), and was raised by Isaac Ridgeway Trimble, both of whom fought in the War of 1812.

1865 March 11: New Volunteers and Draftees on Both Sides of the St. Croix River, Plus Other News Items

Following are the smaller news items from the March 11, 1865, issues of The Polk County Press and The Prescott Journal.

From The Polk County Press:

ST. CROIX.—St. Croix Falls raised eight men, which is expected to be enough to fill the quota required of her.

POLK COUNTY VOLUNTEERS.— The following is a list of the Volunteers under the last call for 300,000 men :

ALDEN.— C. C. Fisk, Geo. Emory, __ Tamset.¹
ST. CROIX FALLS.—Micheal Kreiner, Henry Demling, Adam Beaver, Howard Scott, D. E. Tewksbury, __ Tyler, Joseph Churchill, Gus. La Grue, __ Newman.
LINCOLN.—John Metheney.
OSCEOLA.—Abraham Gillispie, Wm. A. Kent, Joseph Corey, Worthy Prentice, Andrew Fee, John H. Baker.²

PERSONAL.—Captain S. S. STARR, A. Q. M., 2d Division, 19th Army Corps, has been appointed Post Quartermaster at Savannah.  Captain S. was formerly editor of the Hudson North Star in this State, and entered the service as Quartermaster of the 30th Wisconsin.  He is a competent and faithful officer.  [Sidney S. Starr]

— The people of Hastings, Minn. have raised the sum of $14,000 in cash to pay volunteers to fill the quota of that city.

— The Draft commenced in Minnesota on Wednesday last.

THE DRAFT IN MINNESOTA.—The following men were drafted in Chisago county on Wednesday last :

CHISAGO LAKE.—Gustave Nelson, A. T. Walner, John Okerson, And’w Holtman, Peter Sweinson, 2d, Nels Iverson, Carl Helston, Johannas Magmerson, Elias B. Fost, Charles Gustave Kellburg, Andrew Maline, Lars Swenson, Gustave Melander, Nichola Johnson, Peter Johnson, Chas. Dahlgren, Carl Isuagleson, A. J. Anderson, Daniel Lindston, Mathias Bengston, A. P. Nelson, Carl Dock, Nels Pierson, C. J. Johnson.
RUSHSKBA.³—Morton Norris, John Emans, Pat. Flynn, Robt Nessic.
TAYLOR’S FALLS.—Anthony Scharles, Aaron M. Mathews, A. N. Welmarth, Sam’l Hames, William Cox, Jos R. Blackburn, John Johnson, J. H. Smith, John Mazenson, George De Attly, Francis B. Jones, Frank Johnson, John Taney, John Paine, Jacob Berthley, James Rogers, Silas Humphrey, John Nelson, Lucas K. Stannard, Chas. W. Jellerson, John A. Hammone, John Byland, Oscar Roos, Chas. P. Johsnon, Silas Rolf, Gustave Helquist, E. Perget, Enos Jones, Sam’l Holt, Wm. Dobney, J. O’Brien, Jas. J. Mathews, Moses Marshall, Jeremiah D. Ballard, Philip Lipeet, Richard Rovertson, Jas. W. Wooley, Geo. Snow, Stephen J. Merrill, Wm. McKinely, L. F. Ballard, Eric Peterson, Joseph Schottmuller, S. S. Hamilton, Ambrose C. Seavey, Adam W. Thaxter.

THE DANCE.—The Volunteer’s party on Tuesday evening was a most agreeable affair.  The company was large, and our “young folks” were much gratified to be able to welcome the ladies and gentlemen from Taylor’s Falls, who came to enjoy the festive occasion.  From the reports that have reached us, all seem to unite in pronouncing it one of the most pleasant parties of the season.  Mrs. HAYS furnished an excellent supper, and ministered to the wants of all in her motherly way, which is duly appreciated by the participants.

PAPERS FOR THE SOLDIERS.—Nearly every day we receive letters from the soldiers asking us to send them papers, but it is utterly impossible for us to comply with all the requests.—We send packages to all the regiments nearly every week when we can ascertain their whereabouts.—The immediate friends of the soldier should supply him with books and papers.  In no way can you more contribute to the pleasure of the soldier than by furnishing him reading.  Particularly should home papers be sent.  They are nearly as welcome as letters.  When you have read your local paper send it to some friend in the army, and thus help to enliven the weary hours of camp or hospital life.

Constitutional Amendment in Wisconsin.

The Legislature has ratified the Constitutional amendment by a vote of twenty seven to six in the Senate, and seventy-two to sixteen in the Assembly, or by a majority of four and a half to one.  In the Senate two democrats voted for the amendment and in the Assembly six.  The vote in the legislature does not more than express the sentiment of the people.

—  ABOUT TO RESIGN.— Col. W. A. Barstow, Third Wisconsin cavalry, who has been acting President of the courts martial and military commissions in session in St. Louis for nearly two years, is about to retire from the service.— Milwaukee Sentinel.

About time, we should think, for the old bag of wind to stand aside, and let brave officers who have been with their regiment at the front, fill his place.  BILL BARSTOW has disgraced the service long enough.

NEW REGIMENTS.—Gov. Lewis has organized two more new regiments, the 51st and 52d.  [James T. Lewis]

TO THE FRONT.—The 44th, 45th, 46th and 47th Wis. Vol’s., have been ordered South.

TENNESSEE.—The election in Tennessee has resulted in a glorious Union triumph.  Parson Brownlow is elected Governor.  The amendment to the State Constitution which does away with slavery has been adopted by a large majority, and so Tennessee stands to-day a FREE STATE.  [William G. Brownlow]

— Union meetings have been already held in Charleston and Wilmington.

— The States of Maine and Missouri, which were admitted into the Union together, ratified the amendment to the Constitution abolishing slavery on the same day.

— By order of the War Department, a ration of fish, viz: fountain ounces of dried fish, or eighteen ounces of pickled fish, will be issued hereafter to troops in lieu of the fresh beef ration.

— The negroes who followed General Sherman on his march through Georgia and South Carolina, are being organized into regiments at Hilton Head.  It is estimated that one of the effects of Sherman’s movement will be to add from 25,000 to 30,000 loyal banks to our army.  [William T. Sherman]

— The Legislature of West Virginia has adopted an amendment to the Constitution of that State, disfranchising all those who have voluntarily participated in the rebellion.—The loyal men of the new Commonwealth, who have suffered in their homes and properties the evils of rebellion and civil war, believe in punishment for crime so rank and bloody as treason

Sound to the Core.

“My opinion is that no negotiations are necessary, nor commissioners, nor conventions, nor anything of the kind.  Whenever the people of Georgia quit rebelling against their Government, and elect member of Congress and Senators, and these go and take their seats, then the State of Georgia will have resumed her function to the Union.”

W. T. SHERMAN

From The Prescott Journal:

OUR QUOTAS.

We have not yet received the quotas of the different towns.  From all that we can learn, we see but little prospect of the quota of this District being reduced.  The quota, as assigned, calls for over a quarter of the enrolled men.

— Quite a good story is told by Charmy Dunbar, at the expense of Mr. G. W. Cairns, Deputy Treasurer of this County.  All of the men in Perry who were liable to draft, except Mr. Cairns, have volunteered, and Dunbar says the town owes seven men for one year, or one man for seven years, and they concluded to send Mr. Cairns for seven years.  We congratulate friend Cairns on his brilliant prospect.  Seven years of service will nearly make him as venerable a revolutionary veteran.

— JOHN DALE starts for Madison to-day with the volunteers from this section.

“NEGRO SOLDIERS SUPERIOR TO WHITE.”—So the rebels begin to think.  The war had wrought some strange transformations in opinion.  The Southern rebels began it under the impression that military glory was the highest of all, and that the “master race” of the South surpassed in prowess all other peoples.  When the North began organizing negro regiments, the rebels scouted the idea that a negro could fight.  Their newspapers said that a single Southerner could disarm a whole black regiment by simply ordering them, with a voice of command, to lay down their weapons.  Now mark what a mighty change has come over the spirit of their dreams!  Read the following respecting the martial qualities of the negro race, which we clip from from an article in the Richmond Whig of February 20th :

“It is by no means certain that the negro is so deficient in courage as in generally believed if we are to credit the statements of travelers in Africa, the native negro is the most sanguinary warrior in the world.  In their battles hand to hand, they fight till either party is almost annihilated; and our very slaves are in great part the descendants of prisoners captured by war.  We see the negro altogether in his servile condition.  He naturally shrinks, without regard to appearances.  He, however, makes a fearless sailor and fireman.  The English have long used him as a soldier, and he has done good service.  But the experiences of this war are abundantly sufficient to show his adaptability as a soldier.  The enemy has taught us a lesson to which we ought not to shut our eyes.  He has caused him to fight as well, if not better than have his white troops of the same length of service.  Our prisoners from Ship Island and elsewhere declare that they are far the best sentinels and most thoroughly drilled of the Union troops.  I have myself seen them, in the hands of a single engineer officer, entirely without organization, work under fire, where certainly he could not have held white men.  Now, if the enemy has succeeded in the making any kind of troops of these people, with all their non-commissioned officers and a great part of their officers black, how much better could we make with all those white!”

WHAT GRANT SAYS.—The Post’s Washington special says Gen. GRANT writes that, “If Gen. SHERMAN’s success continues a few days longer, the country can safely indulge in exultation.”  [Ulysses S. Grant]

— GEN. GRANT’S PRIVATE VIEWS.—The Quincey (Ill.) Herald publishes an extract from a private letter written by Lieut. Gen. Grant to his old friend and school-fellow, the Hon. Isaac N. Morris.  The letter is dated “Head-Quarters Armies of the United States, City Point, Virginia, Feb. 15th 1865,” and was written, not dictated, by General Grant himself.  The following is the extract, which will be read with interest:—

“Everything looks to me to be very favorable for a speedy termination of the war.—The people of the South are ready for it if they can get clear of their leaders.  It is hard to predict what will become of them, the leaders, whether they will flee the country or whether the people will forcibly depose them and take the matter in their own hands.  One or the other will likely occur if our Spring Campaign is as successful as I have every hope it will be.”

Yours truly,
.                   .U. S. GRANT.

It seems by the Herald’s Charleston correspondence that even in the hot-bed of secession love for the old Union survived all the vicissitudes.  The remaining inhabitants of the city manifested the wildcat delight at the unfurling over them once more the old flag, and when a small body of colored troops, the first to land in town, started up the principal streets, their officers were scarcely able to proceed with them, being met with a perfect ovation.  Men and women thronged the avenues, shouting, waving handkerchiefs, and cheering for the Stars and Stripes, President Lincoln [Abraham Lincoln], and the Yankee army.  The rebels destroyed much property by burning and explosions, before they left, but large amounts were found remaining in the city, after the Union forces took possession.  Over 200 pieces of artillery and immense supplies of ammunition were found in the forts.

GEN. LEE OF NEGRO SOLDIERS.—The Richmond papers of the 22d, contain an extract from a letter addressed by Gen. Lee [Robert E. Lee] to Mr. Miles, of South Carolina :

“We must  use the negroes, as the enemy will use them against us.  They have been used now a long time, and with great help to our adversaries and to our disadvantage, and as the number of soldiers diminish in our ranks and are increased in those of the enemy, he will overrun more territory and accumulate from the black material still more  overbearing superiority.”

Our dispatches mention another letter by Gen. Lee, declaring that the arming of the negroes has become an absolute necessity.  Won’t copperheads begin to have some respect for the negro now?

STILL THREATENING.—The Richmond Whig says that when SHERMAN reaches Charlotte, “dangers will begin to thicken round him.”  Ever since SHERMAN left Chattanooga, in May last year, the rebel newspapers have been throwing out mysterious hints of this nature.  If they were to be believed, he has constantly just about to fall into some terrible trap laid for him, and to which the rebel generals have been adroitly “drawing him on.”  And still he moves triumphantly forward.

  The Richmond Enquirer thinks it would “be a glorious thing for history to tell that the North was whipped and conquered by the assistance of negroes for whose benefit they falsely pretend this war was waged.”

On the other hand how will it sound when history will show that the rebels were compelled to call on the poor, despised, “inferior race” for aid.  And suppose after calling the negro to come to their rescue, they are whipped?

GEN. SCHURZ.—Gen. CARL SCHURZ has been assigned to duty on Gen. HANCOCK’s staff to assist in the organization of the 1st Army Corps, and to command a division when raised.  He is expected to start in a few days on a tour through the West to investigate the system at various recruiting stations there.  [Winfield S. Hancock]

EXCHANGING NEGROES.—A number of negro soldiers, who have been held as prisoners by the rebels, arrived within the Union lines on the 22d inst., having been exchanged under the recent arrangement.

ILLINOIS.—The last of the ten new Illinois regiments has left for the front.  They have all been sent to join THOMAS.  [George H. Thomas]

1.  Francis M. Tamsett, from Alden, enlisted March 18, 1865, and served in Company B of the 53rd Wisconsin Infantry. In June this company was consolidated with the 51st Wisconsin Infantry as Company H, the original Company H having mustered out May 6, 1865. Tamsett mustered out July 11, 1865. This particular Fisk and George Emory do not seem to have served.
2.  William Kent, Worthy Prentice, and “Abram” L. Gillespie served in Company D of the 2nd Wisconsin Cavalry. Joseph Corey and Andrew Fee served in Company K of the 4th Wisconsin Cavalry.
3.  The township in Chisago County, Minnesota, that Rush City is located in; now spelled Rushseba.

1865 March 4: New Volunteers, a Promotion for Webb Seavey, News of Canby’s Secret Scouts, William B. Cushing

Following are the smaller items from the March 4, 1865, issues of The Polk County Press and The Prescott Journal.

From The Polk County Press:

ST. CROIX—St. Croix has raised $300 bounty, for each man who enlists to the credit of that town.  We are informed that they lack a few men of filling their quota, and will pay the above bounty for them.

Sheriff CHURCHILL¹ has enlisted, and is getting ready to go South.

We think our county will fill its quota without the draft.

ALDEN.—Alden has raised her quota of men, who were sworn in Wednesday.  The following are the men :—C. C. Fisk, —Tamset,² Geo. Emory.

FARMINGTON.—The citizens of this town held a town meeting last week and voted to raise $1,800 for volunteers.  They are paying $300 bounty.  They wish to obtain nine men.

VOLUNTEERS.—The following men have been enlisted to the credit of Osceola during the past week by Capt. HENRICK :

Abraham Gillespie, Wm. H. Kent, Worthy A. Prentice, Andrew Fee, and Joseph Corey.³

These are all first class men and will probably go into Co. D, 1st Battalion, 2d Wisconsin Cavalry.

DESERVED PROMOTION.—We received a letter last Friday from WEBB S. SEAVEY, which announces that he is well and has been promoted.  He is now Captain of Co. H, 2d Iowa Cavalry.  The regiment was at date of his letter in the vicinity of the Tennessee river, near Eastport.  We are glad WEBB is climbing up so well.  He is deserving to wear a [___].

BURNETT COUNTY.—We learn from a reliable source that the county officers appointed by the Governor for Burnett County, have failed to qualify.  We suppose this does away with the organization for present, at least.

FROM THE “SCOUTS.”—We are glad to announce that BYRON KINYON, and GEO. HAYS and others, from Osceola, belong to Gen. CANBY’S secret scouts, (who were recently arrested for interfering with the plans of some contraband traders, who were selling goods to the enemy, under the protection of villians [sic] who disgrace the United States service,) have been released from prison by order of Gen. CANBY, and have rejoined their company at Natchez.

According to reports that reach us, there is a nest of villians [sic] in the gunboat service, who need hanging.

Governor Randall.

As will be seen by our evening dispatches, there is some possibility that Governor Randall [Alexander W. Randall] may become Secretary of the Interior, in place of Mr. Usher.  We believe that the people of the West would hail such a change with satisfaction.  Governor Randall would make an excellent Secretary of the Interior.—Milwaukee Daily Sentinel.

The loyal people of Wisconsin well remember the able and vigorous manner in which Governor Randall discharged the duties of Chief Executive of this State, and they heartily endorse the foregoing.  No better appointment could be made by our worthy President.

Capture of Generals Crook and Kelly [sic]. 

WHEELING, Va., Feb. 21.

A party of rebel cavalry dashed into Cumberland before daylight this morning, surprised and captured the pickets, and carried off Generals Crook and Kelly [sic].  It seems to have been a very daring and well planned affair.  Cavalry have been sent in pursuit.  [George R. Crook and Benjamin F. Kelley]

NEW YORK, Feb. 25.

The force from Sheridan’s army, sent in pursuit of the rebel cavalry who last Tuesday dashed into Cumberland and captured the Union Generals Crook and Kelly [sic] returned to Winchester on Thursday, having been unsuccessful in rescuing those officers.  [Philip H. Sheridan]

From Washington. 

The Times’ special says Brig. Gen. Hays arrived in Washington from Richmond on parole, and will soon be exchanged.

The World’s special says Mr. McCullough’s name has been sent to the Senate as Secretary of Treasury, and Freeman Clarke, Member of the Congress from Rochester, will be Comptroller of the Currency.

The Commercial’s special says, Men here regard the capture of Wilmington as a first-class military triumph.  It insures the success of the plans against Richmond.  Sherman has now a new base, and can move forward without waiting or turning back for supplies.

The Senate finance committee will restore the drawback on petroleum, and reduce the tax to two cents per gallon.

TO-DAY.—By a movement inaugurated in New York, to-day, March 4th, is being celebrated from Maine to California, in honor of our recent overwhelming victories.  While the people of this remote region feel glorious over the victories, and are glad at heart for the brightening prospect of our country’s cause, yet, under the circumstances, no demonstration is being made.  No people, however, are more thankful or more patriotic, than the sons of the pioneer regions of Wisconsin.

WILMINGTON.

BALTIMORE, Feb. 24.

A dispatch from Fort Monroe, dated this morning just received, says that the United States Gunboat R. R. Cuyler has arrived from Fort Fisher, with the news of the evacuation of Wilmington on the night of the 21st ult.  Major General Terry [Alfred Terry] entered and took posession [sic] of the city at 9 A. M., of the 22d, capturing a large amount of stores of all kinds which the rebels in their haste neglected to destroy.

From The Prescott Journal:

  SID. S. STARR, Capt. and A. Q. M., has been appointed Post Quartermaster at Savannah.  We should like to be with SID. a few days, and partake of the “rations” which he usually issues to his friends.  [Sidney S. Starr]

  See important information concerning the draft, on the fourth page of this paper.  The JOURNAL has been designated by  Sec. STANTON as one of the papers to publish advertisements of the War Department.  [Edwin M. Stanton]

  Lt. Gen. GRANT, in his recent visit to Washington, did not hesitate to say publicly that if a hundred thousand more men were given him, he would, within three months, wipe out all that is left of the rebellion.  [Ulysses S. Grant]

STRATEGY.—It seems the capture of Fort Anderson, below Wilmington was in a great degree the result of a smart ruse by Lieut. CUSHING.⁴  He constructed a mock monitor so closely resembling on of those vessels that no difference could be detected at a distance of 100 yards.  On Saturday night, the 18th, about 10 o’clock, this vessel was taken with in about 400 yards of Fort Anderson and sent adrift.  As there was a strong flood tide, she moved up the river and passed the fort as if under slow steam.  At this time the army had worked about two-thirds of the distance around and in rear of the fort.  The rebels, no doubt thinking their communication would be cut off both by land and water, hastily escaped by the only avenue open to them, leaving their guns unspiked and their magazine uninjured.

CHIVALRY.—Rebel papers represent wholesale robberies of paroled rebel prisoners returned from the North.  We wonder how much would be made by robbing returned Union prisoners.

TWO UNION REGIMENTS OF EX-REBELS.—Gen. SULLY is in Davenport, Iowa, for the purpose of organizing two regiments of repentent [sic] rebels, lately in Rock Island prison, who have taken the outfit of allegiance and declared their willingness to enter the service of the Government against the Indians.  [Alfred Sully]

  Gen. LEE says he doesn’t  care much for Yankee armies. They are not what he fears.  “The despondency among the people” of the South is what alarms him.  Wonder if the rebel General thinks that Yankee armies have nothing to do with producing this wide-spread despondency ?  [Robert E. Lee]

1.  Joseph B. Churchill, from Saint Croix Falls, enlisted on March 16, 1865. He was in Company K of the 4th Wisconsin Cavalry until August 22, when he was transferred to Company F. He mustered out November 23, 1865.
2.  Francis M. Tamsett, from Alden, enlisted March 18, 1865, and served in Company B of the 53rd Wisconsin Infantry. In June this company was consolidated with the 51st Wisconsin Infantry as Company H, the original Company H having mustered out May 6, 1865. Tamsett mustered out July 11, 1865. This particular Fisk and George Emory do not seem to have served.
3.  William Kent, Worthy Prentice, and “Abram” L. Gillespie served in Company D of the 2nd Wisconsin Cavalry. Joseph Corey and Andrew Fee served in Company K of the 4th Wisconsin Cavalry.
4.  Wisconsin native William Barker Cushing (1842-1874) was best known for sinking the Confederate ironclad CSS Albemarle during a daring nighttime raid on October 24, 1864.

1864 November 26: Another Draft in Farmington Township, Polk County

The following article on a surprise draft in Farmington Township, Polk County, is from the November 26, 1864, issue of The Polk County Press.

ANOTHER DRAFT.—Another draft has been made at La Crosse, from the towns of St. Croix Falls and Farmington, in this country.

The draft from Farmington took all by surprise, as that town, it was considered, had filled all calls upon it for men. Under the last call of the President for 500,000 men, the quota assigned the town was nine. The town raised five volunteers who went out in Capt. Brown’s Company from Hudson. A draft was made for the balance, who reported and were accepted at La Crosse. This was supposed to be sufficient to fill the bill. But now, to the surprise of everyone, a draft of ten more men is made, who are required to report at La Crosse. We do not know, hardly, what to make of it. That some mistake has been made, there is no doubt, and we feel confident that Pro. Mar. Cooper [Benjamin F. Cooper] will make matters straight, as soon as his attention is properly called to the facts. We understand that the drafted men concontemplate [sic] sending an agent down to La Crosse to lay the case before the Board, and find out what the matter is. We hope that the affair will be honorably settled. The draft from St. Croix Falls is to fill a deficiency existing, and is all right. The following is the list of drafted men :

.	TOWN OF ST. CROIX.
.	Joseph Loveless, jr.	W. W. Mann
.	TOWN OF FARMINGTON.
.	N. F. Hanscome,	J. C. Terry,
.	Louis Nagler,	Thomas Ford,
.	H. H. Hanscome,	Joseph Walton,
.	J. Metrejohn,	P. Degler,
.	J. F. Nason,	Samuel Wall.

1.  Oscar F. Brown, captain of Company A, 44th Wisconsin Infantry.

1864 November 26: Polk County’s Support of the War Effort—Part II

The following lists of men from Polk County serving in the Civil War is a continuation of yesterday’s post and comes from the November 26, 1864, issues of The Polk County Press.  In the lists, an asterisk (*) means that man died of disease, and a cross (†) means the man was killed in action.  Several other symbols are used but may mean something different depending on the town or village list it is used in; look for the meaning at the end of each particular list.

WHAT POLK COUNTY HAS
Done Towards Suppressing the
Slaveholder’s Rebellion.

A TRULY PATRIOTIC RECORD.

We have taken pains to collect the following facts and figures, for the purpose of showing what our county has done towards sustaining the Administration in its efforts to punish the enemy, and save the Union.  [see yesterday’s post for the full preface]

TOWN OF ST. CROIX FALLS. 

NO. AND NAMES OF VOLUNTEERS.

.	H. T. French,	1st Minnesota Vol. In.
	Charles Rowley,	do	do
	Charles Rickets,	do	do
	Lyman Squires,	do	do
	M. M. Samuel,	Co. F, 1st Wis. Volunteers.
	W. J. Vincent,	do	do
	E. M. Coe,	do	do
	Sinen Lillis,	do	do
	E. H. Hoover,	do	do
	† Duncan McKenzie,	do	do
	Ed. Warrendorph,	do	do
	G. W. Gore,	do	do
	† John Ellis,	do	do
	G. W. Truman,	do	do
	Wm. Beedey,	do	do}
	P. U. Turgerson,	transferred to 21st}
	Allen Worster,	Co. D, 30th Wis. Vol.
	Horrace Bennett,	do	do
	Parley Tuttle,	do	do
	John H. Blanding,	do	do
	Virgil Follett,	do	do
	W. S. Peek,	do	do
	*Geo. W. Longfellow,	do	do
	John Walsh,	Co. D, 2d Wis. Cavalry.
	M. Leosch,	do	do
	Eli Tuttle,	do	do
	Chas. Mergau,	do	do
	§ John Brawn,	do	do
	§ Wm. Moody, Vet.,	do	do
	§ David Orne,	do	do
	Peter Ameson,	do	do
	John Cristie,	10th Wis. Battery.
	Samuel Emory,	do	do
	C. D. Emory,	1st Minnesota Battery.
	C. H. Churchill,	do	do
	John Johnson,	do	do
	Scott LePrairie,	do	do
	Benj. Lego,	do	do
	Louis January,	6th Minnesota Volunteers.
	Joseph January,	do	do
	John Bennett,	do	do
	Geo. A. McDonald,	do	do
	Hiram Thomas,	7th Minnesota Vol.
	J. W. Bellamy,	do	do
	J. Clendeaning,	do	do
	C. H. Churchill, Vet.,	38th Wis. Vol.
	Henry Worth,	do	do
	Buel Goodsell,	do	do
	Eugene McIntosh,	do	do
	Erza Jewell,	1st Minn. Heavy Artillery.
	Thomas Peck,	do	do
	J. C. Beede,	do	do
	James Lillis,	11th Minnesota Volunteers.
	Wm. Jewell,	4th Wis. Cav. Co. G.
	Samuel Jewell,	do	do
	William Foster,	do	do
	Orin Weymonth,	7th Wis. Volunteers.
	John Rice,	do	do
	Michael McHugh,	do	do
	§ James Rice,	do	do
	§ John Buck,	do	do
	§ Charles Heart,	do	do
	§ † John R. Day,	do	do
	George Samuel,	do	do
	§ Thos. Heart,	do	do
	§ John Moses,	do	do
	§ Joseph Morrow,	do	do
	Joseph Cadotte,	do	do
	John Matweos,	42th Wis. Volunteers.
	James Money,	do	do
	R. O. Murphy,	8th Wis. Volunteers.
	A. L. Hungerford,	do	do
	Wm. McKinley,	do	do
	Levi Fee,	20th Wisconsin Volunteers.
	Jos. Loueless,	do	do
. ..

* Died of disease.  † Killed.  ¦ Starved to death in Libby Prison.  § Enlisted for Osceola.

Amount of town and private bounty paid volunteers, $2,950.00.

No. of Volunteers including veteran enlistments 76 ; number by draft, held to service and commuted, 10. Total number of men furnished the Government 86.

NOTE.—In 1860 there were but 80 votes polled in this town. Considering this fact, and the fact that the town has furnished the material for 86 soldiers, we consider it the Banner Town.

TOWN OF OSCEOLA. 

.	.CO. G, FOURTH CAVALRY.
	Joseph Nutter,	M. A. Feeland, Vet.
	Gyrille Boucher,	George Rice,
	Geo. Hayes, Vet.	W. D. Kent, Vet.
	Dol S. Feeland, Vet.,	Byron S. Kinyon, Vet.
	M. J. Kinyon, Vet.	Peter Moore, Vet.
	Wm. Foster, Vet.	S. L. Tibbits, Vet.
	A. Anderson, Vet.	John Turnbill,
	Thomas Raymond,	David Needham,
	.Henry T. French.
.
	.TENTH BATTERY.
	Oscar A. Clark,	M. T. Catlin,
	John Maes,	Joseph Peak,
	* Seven Lund,	Olof Swing,
	John Frood,	John McDonald,
	Mark Walton,	John Mitchel, Vet.
.
	.CO. A, 30th REGIMENT.
	Fred. A. Dresser,	Arthur Godfrey,
	.George Godfrey.
.
	* D. B. Northrop,		12th Wis. vol.
	Webb S. Scavey,	Co. H,	5th Iowa Cavalry.
	§ Richard Turnbill,	Co. G,	7th Wis. vol.
	§ Peter Delp,	do	do
	|| George W. Davis,	do	do
.
	.CO. D, 2D CAVALRY.
	Daniel Mears,	C. E. Mears,
	Wm. Williams,	Frank Smith,
	Robt. Downend,	John McCourt, Vet.
	John Riley,	Wm. Haney,
	A. J. Clark,	E. C. Treadwell,
	Geo. S. Clark,	Isaac Hale,
	Robt. N. Kent,	Albert Nason,
	Benjamin Bergin.
.
	C. P. Garlick,	Surgeon,	35th, Wis. vol.
	John Mitchell,	Co. F,	1st Wis. vol.
	John F. Lenfest,	do	do
	Gus. Mrrletts [sic],¹	do	do
	‡ Thomas Picket,	do	do
	D. S. Clark,	do	do
.

 No. of Volunteers including veteran re-enlistments 68.  By draft two.  Total 70.
Amount of town and private bounty paid volunteers, $3,500.

§ Enlisted for St. Croix Falls.  * Died of disease.  ‡ Starved to death in Libby Prison.  || Enlisted for Farmington.

NOTE.—This list does not include those volunteers which have enlisted for the town, but who reside in other towns.  Their names appear in their respective town’s list, duly credited to Osceola.  They number 11.

THE SUMMARY. 

PRIVATE AND TOWN BOUNTIES.

Alden  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  $  .600.00
Farmington,  .  .  .  .     3,000.00
Lincoln, .  .  .  .  .  .  .        200.00
St. Croix Falls,  .  .  .    2,950.00
Sterling, .  .  .  .  .  .  .    1,000.00
Osceola, .  .  .  .  .  .  .     3,500.00
.                                      ._______

Total,          .          .          .  $11,250.00

COUNTY BOUNTY.

Amount paid by the county to fill the quotas of the different towns, and $5 per month for soldiers’ families, during the past four years,

$ 10,300.00
_________

Total amount paid in bounties,                                                           .$ 21,550.00

NUMBER OF VOLUNTEERS, VETERANS, AND DRAFTED MEN.

Alden ;     –     –     –     –     17
Farmington ; –     –     –     41
Lincoln ;  –     –     –     –        8
St. Croix Falls ;    –     –     86
Sterling ;  –     –     –     –     15
Osceola ;  –     –     –     –     70
.                                        .___

                                          .237

In closing up this article we return thanks to V. M. Babenek of Alden ;  Canute Anderson of Sterling ;  Dougald Kenneday of Farmington ;  P. B. Lacy of St. Croix and Charles H. Staples of Osceola; for furnishing us with volunteer lists; &c.

1.  Marrlett.

1864 November 26: Polk County’s “Truly Patriotic Record” in Supporting the War Effort

The following lists of men from Polk County serving in the Civil War comes from the November 26, 1864, issues of The Polk County Press.  The lists have been broken into two posts with the second half following tomorrow.  In the lists, an asterisk (*) means that man died of disease; a cross (†) means the man was killed in action.  Several other symbols are used but may mean something different depending on the town or village list it is used in; look for the meaning at the end of each particular list.

WHAT POLK COUNTY HAS
Done Towards Suppressing the
Slaveholder’s Rebellion.

A TRULY PATRIOTIC RECORD.

We have taken pains to collect the following facts and figures, for the purpose of showing what our county has done towards sustaining the Administration in its efforts to punish the enemy, and save the Union.

When we take into consideration the number of our citizens, and the amount of capital and the means at our disposal, we feel confident that we make no brazen boast when we say “we challenge competition.”

With a population of not over fourteen hundred souls, we have furnished as many men, and as much money, as any like number of people in the state.  We have labored under many disadvantages, such as poverty, an exposed frontier, the hardships of a new country, the condition and location of our settlers, they being scattered over a large tract of wild, unimproved country, making it almost a necessity for them to remain at home and support their families, the scarcety [sic] of men with which to prosecute the only business which tends to support the people—that of lumbering,—and many other minor items which we have not space to mention.  Still with all these things to contend with we have done all that we have been called upon to do, and a great deal more, and can point with a just pride to our record.

During nearly four years of war, we have held our own as regards our improvements, and have done much towards making the “wilderness blossom as a rose.”  Our farmers have toiled manfully, our lumbermen worked unceasingly, and our mechanics have prosecuted their work of building up our villages and improving our settlements with an industry highly commendable.  Polk County during all these years of war and civil commotion, has prospered, not to that degree which we feel confident would have crowned the efforts of our people had there been no war—but still prospered well.  But to our ballance [sic] sheet.

The town of Alden comes first on the list.  The following is its statement :

TOWN OF ALDEN.

NO. AND NAMES OF VOLUNTEERS, COMPANY AND REGIMENT.

Company A, 30th Wis. Vol. 

Joseph Vassau,           .James W. Dean,
Charles Cook,              .Andrew A. Kelly,
S. D. Starkweather.

Company D, 30th Wis. Vol. 

Charles Hemmingway.

Tenth Wis. Battery. 

* W. W. Williams.

First Wisconsin Vol. Infantry. 

Samuel Tamset.

Fifth Minnesota Vol. 

Henry A. Jones,

Company G, 4th Wis. Cavalry. 

Wallace Hones, Frank Jones.

Seventh Wisconsin Infantry, Veterans

A. H. Connor.

DRAFTED MEN HELD TO SERVICE AND COMMUTED.

Philip Beal, and James Bennet commuted.  B. H. Connor, Chas. Vassau, P. H. Wilson, held to service.
Number of drafted men held and commuted, five.  No. of Volunteers twelve.  Total No. men furnished 17.
Am’t of town and private bounties $600.

* Died of Disease. ¦ Enlisted for Saint Croix Falls.

TOWN OF FARMINGTON. 

NO. AND NAMES OF VOLUNTEERS.

Co. D, 2d Wis.Cavalry, 1st Battalion. 

Jerome Fish,    * Samuel Ramsey,
Michael Kreiner,    * Louis Fish,
S. B. Clark.

Co. G, Fourth Wis. Cavalry. 

J. W. S. Nason, Vet,        . * Francis Danforth,
Chas. S. Fenlason, Vet,  .    J. E. Nelson, Vet.

Co. F, First Wis. Vol. In.

Ebeneezer Moore, Shannon Swesoy. †

Co. K, 5th Wis. Vol. 

F. H. Seavey.

Tenth Wisconsin Battery.

Chas. Tweksbury,         .Michael Herrold,
James B. Wright,   John Fathke,
David Turcott,            .Francis Pigenot,
John Moore,         .Wm. Wright.

Co. A, Thirtieth Wis. Vol. 

Theo. Scott,          .Charles Scott,
Willis Scott.

Co. A, Eighth Minn. Vol. 

Warren Scavey.

Cos. G & F, Seventh Wis. Vol. 

Geo. W. Davis,          .E. D. Whitney,
† Peter Francis.

Co. I, 44th Wis. Vol. 

M. H. Peaslee,            .Samuel Tweksbury,
C. F. Nason, .Seth Ayers.

First Minnesota Battery. 

Lieut. Joseph Allen. *

Co. C, 6th Wis. Vol. 

Melvin McAdams, Veteran.

DRAFTED AND COMMUTED.

E. Creech, commuted.
Henry Demling, Veit Griger, Julius Dohm, held to service.
Whole number of Volunteers including veteran enlistments, 37.  Number by draft, 4.  Total 41.
Am’t of town and private bounty, $3,000.

* Died of disease. † Killed.

TOWN OF LINCOLN. 

NO. AND NAMES OF VOLUNTEERS.

Geo. Watson, Wm. Colborn, Wm. Ahl, Co. A, 30th Wis. Vol.
D. O. Thing, Co. I, 6th Minnesota Vol.
Atilla Hinson, Co. G, 4th Cavalry.

DRAFTED AND COMMUTED.

H. Fay, Wm. Parks, B. M. Lane.—Commuted and held to service.
Whole No. of Volunteers, 5. By draft 3. Total number of men furnished, 8.
Amount of town bounty $200.

TOWN OF STERLING.

NAMES OF VOLUNTEERS.

Wm. Cowan, of 1st Wisconsin volunteers.
In Minnesota Regiments.—W. R. Cowan, Philander Cowan, Calvin Cowan, Charles Hoskiss, Adam Florshutz, Joel Hickerson,
In Wisconsin Regiments.—Peter Turgerson, Perry Hickerson, Geo. Howell, Alexas La Prairie, John Cadotte, and 3 half-breeds, names unkown.
James T. Cragin, drafted and commuted.
Total number of men furnished 16.
Amount of bounty, town and private, one thousand dollars.

(Continued in tomorrow’s post)

 

1864 October 22: Grand Union Mass Meeting in Prescott, and Other News

Following are the smaller items, mostly local, from the October 22, 1864, issues of The Polk County Press and The Prescott Journal.

From The Prescott Journal:

			THE MASS MEETING.
			Everything looks favorable for the
			success of the Grand Union Mass
			Meeting to be held here on Tues-
			day next.  If the day is fair, there
			will be such a rally of the people
			as Pierce County has never seen.
			Hot coffee and refreshments can
			be had on the grounds.
			.
			FRIENDS ! the portents are all of
			a Glorious Victory !  Come and
			join in the Last Grand Demonstra-
			tion of the Campaign.  Come,
			bearing aloft the “Old Flag” in its
			beauty and glory, and let there be
			a Gathering worthy of the Cause,
			and of the awakened patriotism
			of the people !
			.
			HERE’S RICHNESS.—The Pioneer
			advertises a grand McCLELLAN
			[George B. McClellan] meeting
			and torch light procession to come
			off in St. Paul next Saturday, and
			announces at the head of the list
			of speakers, HON. JOEL FOSTER,
			of Wisconsin.  We subside.  Our
			surprise is beyond utterance.
			HON. JOEL FOSTER, of Wisconsin !
			Can it be !  Isn’t it a “mistake of
			the printer !  Don’t our eyes
			deceive us !  Hon. JOEL FOSTER,
			of Wisconsin !  Isn’t it a joke !

 Union Rally!

Capt. O. T. Maxson will address the Lincoln Club of River Falls, on Saturday evening, the 22nd inst.  Let there be a full rally.

DEATHS.

Died, Sept. 19th, at Marietta, Ga., In Hospital, JAMES H. HOLMAN, aged 21 years, 7 months and 28 days.

In lonely bed they laid him,
Away from kindred far ;
And Southern trees now shade him,
Off near the seat of war.

Nor Mother, Sister, Brother
Could list his dying prayer,
Or soothe his dying moments—
O, sad the fate of war.

Weep o’er our fallen brother,
Who sleeps his last long sleep;
Yes, weep with one another—
A Savior bids us weep.

  We have received a letter from Fort Rice, dated Sept. 13, which says the 30th Regiment expected to leave there for the front in about twenty days.

  Brick Pomeroy, bragging over his own smartness, says : “The La Crosse Democrat is a live paper.”  So is a cheese full of maggots a live cheese.

Losses of the 25th Regiment.

Lt. Col. J. M. RUSK, commanding the 25th Regiment, has forwarded to Adjutant General GAYLORD [Augustus Gaylord] the following list of men wounded in his regiment from the 15th of August to the 15th of September, the regiment having had no men killed :

Sergt. Edwin McFall, Co. H, wounded in hand, slight, Aug. 17.
Ambrose Campbell, Co. G, wounded in side, slight, Aug. 23.
Corp. Levi Pretts, Co. I, wounded in right arm, flesh wound, severe, Aug. 25.
Warren C. Moore, Co. B, wounded in left hand, severe, Aug. 25.
David G. Gillies, Co. B, wounded in right hand, severe, Aug. 25.
Jacob Eiserman, Co. E, bayonet wound in knee, on picket, (accidental), severe, September 12.
James R. Hudson, Co. E, wounded in toes on picket by musket ball, (accidental), slight.

THE 12TH BATTERY AT ALTOONA.—A private dispatch from Lt. T. JONES, commanding, gives the following names of the killed and wounded of the 12th battery at Altoona, Ga., on Thursday, Oct. 5th :

Killed.—Sergeant Barlow, Corporal Hamilton, Privates Chase, Doolittle and Davies.
Wounded.—Lt. Amaden, Sergeants Hubbard and Barton, Corporals Wilmarth and Sison, and Privates Baker, Brownson, Croft, Daily, Harrington, Henry, Harrison, Kalb, Kahn, and St. Johns.

THE COST OF THE WAR.—An elaborate series of investigations into the increase of public debt during the war has just been completed by Dr. Elder, of the Treasury Department.  The results show that the mean increase of the public debt during thirty-nine months, since July, 1861, is, as near as may be, a million and a half dollars per diem.  During the first twenty-two months of this period, the mean increase was one million three hundred thousand dollars.  Exceptional days showed a maximum of three millions, and a minimum of one million dollars, but the mean for the whole time has been as above stated, one million five hundred thousand dollars per day.  This statement entirely disposes of the howl constantly made by Copperheads upon the vast increase of the public debt.  Their do[c]uments, journals and banners ring constant changes on that subject, stating the increase of the public debt to have averaged at least three million dollars per day since the commencement of this rebellion.

From The Polk County Press:

THE DRAFT.—The drafted men of the town of Farmington reported at La Crosse last week.  There were excepted [sic: expected] to fill the town’s quota, as follows : Deit Geigei [sic: Veit Geiger], Julius Dohn, Henry Demling [sic: Demuling].¹

CLUB MEETING.—The Osceola Union Club meeting on Monday evening last was well attended and the result was a royal good time.  Speeches were made by Rev. S. T. CATLIN, C. H. STAPLES and Wm. A. TALBOYS.  Twenty new members joined the Club.

Rev. S. T. CATLIN, who had just returned from the Wisconsin Baptist State Convention, held recently at Madison, introduced the following resolution, which was adopted by that body, which was also adopted as the sentiment of the Club :

Resolved, That we regard this parricidal war upon the government of our country with all its duplicities, its perjuries, its robberies, its murders, its assassinations, its tortures, its wholesale butcheries of the unarmed and defenceless, its savage mutilations of the living and the dead, and all unparalleled atrotities [sic] on the part of the South, together with the seething cauldrons of secret conspiracy, and all the open flouting of treason at the North, as but the legitimate corruption upon the body politic of the nation—of the moral disease of human slavery—the quintessence—the root and the offspring of all villainies, too long cherished within. We thank God that the disease is out, and pray God that it may stay out until it is eradicated from the nation and peace restored upon a healthful basis.—We cherish hatred to no one, not even to the most barbarous worshippers [sic] of the bloody Moloch of Slavery, but from our love of God, our regard for our country, for justice and humanity, we esteem the earnest prosecution of the present defensive war just. To its successful termination, we solemnly and in the fear of God, reader our sympathies and our prayers. We will withhold no sacrifice our country shall demand, and which God shall enable us us [sic] to give. Let liberty and right prevail though their studious opponents shall perish.

The meeting adjourned with three cheers for LINCOLN & JOHNSON.  The next regular meeting will be held on Monday evening. Everybody is invited to attend, irrespective of party.  [Abraham Lincoln, Andrew Johnson]

UNION SPEECH.—Hon. H. L. HUMPHREY and Hon. MARCUS FULTON of Hudson, will address the citizens of Osceola on Monday evening, October 31st, at the School House.  Let all who can be on hand.  Give the speakers a rousing house.

IN PREPARATION.—We have in preparation an article showing “what Polk County has done for the War for the Union.”  We have received statements from all the towns except Sterling, and shall publish as soon as the report from that town is received.

THE STATE ARMS.—There will be a meeting a[t] the School House, in the village of Osceola, on Tuesday evening, for the purpose of taking into consideration what is to be done with the State Arms now in this village.  They are greatly out of order, and if kept must be cleaned up.—Turn out all, and take action in the matter.

1.  Veit Geiger served in Company F of the 6th Wisconsin Infantry; Julius Dohn served in Company A of the 18th Wisconsin Infantry; Henry Demuling served in Company F of the 4th Wisconsin Cavalry.

1864 September 24: Another New Regiment (44th), More Polk County Volunteers, Wisconsin’s 100 Day Men Return

Following are the smaller news items from the September 24, 1864, issues of The Polk County Press and The Prescott Journal.

From The Polk County Press:

ANOTHER NEW REGIMENT.—The Governor has authorized the raising of a new regiment to be known as the 44th, and has appointed Capt. Geo. G. Symes, of La Crosse, as Colonel ;  Capt. O. G. Bissell, of Hartford, Lieut. Colonel ;  Capt. W. Warner, of Shullsburg, Major ;  and J. N. Brundage, of Grand Rapids, Quartermaster.  They are all old soldiers, taken from the regiments at the front.

VOLUNTEERS.—Since the last call for 500,000 men there has been raised and forwarded from this County fourteen men, as follows :

TOWN OF FARMINGTON.

Wm. Wright, M. H. Peaslee, Samuel Tukesbury, Peter Cuenat, C. F. Nason, Seth Ayers.

TOWN OF OSCEOLA.

Albert Nason, John Brawn, Wm. Moody, Benj. Bergen, John Orne.

TOWN OF ST. CROIX FALLS.

Two Half Breeds and a Norweigean [sic], names we have not learned.

The towns of Alden and Lincoln are behind, and will probably stand the draft, which will take place between now and the 1st of October.—It commenced on the 19th inst., in all the Northern States.

THE MASS MEETING.—The Hudson “Star and Times” in speaking of the great Mass meeting, says that it promises to be the largest and most enthusiastic gathering ever held in the valley.  Speeches will be made by Gov. Miller of Minn. [Stephen Miller], and Hon. Ignatius Donnelly.  The Great Western Band, of St. Paul, and the Hudson City Band and Glee Club, will be in attendance and furnish music.  The meeting will be held in the Court House Square, and commence at 2 o’clock.

— All persons intending to attend the Mass meeting at Hudson to-morrow (Saturday) will meet at the PRESS office to-night, (Friday) to complete arrangements.

HUNDRED DAY MEN.—The 39th, 40th, and 41st Regiments, hundred day troops, have returned to the State.  Quite a number of the boys have re-enlisted in the new regiments.

FREE SPEECH.—The La Crosse “Democrat,” a McClellan paper [George B. McClellan], says in a recent editorial :

“Lincoln is a traitor and a murderer, and if he is elected to misgovern for another four years, we trust that some bold hand will pierce his heart with a dagger point, for the public good.”

The Beaver Dam “Argus,” of yesterday, and a McClellan sheet, quotes this extract, and comments upon it as follows : “History shows several instances where the people have only been saved by the ‘assassination’ of their rulers, and history may repeat itself in this country.  The time may come when it will be absolutely necessary that the people do away with their rulers in the quickest way possible.”

Four years ago the sham Democratic party was voted down by the people.  The States that chose Democratic electors thereupon rose in arms to destroy the Republic which they could no longer rule.  Rebellion has proved a failure, and they now threaten assassination as a last resort against the decision of the people at the ballot box.—State Jn’l.

WHO IS PENDLETON?—The N. Y., “World” says “he is principally known to the country as a distinguished lawyer and a member of Congress.”  It should say, rather, that he is chiefly known as the man who publicly “thanked God that he had never voted or given a dollar in support of the war, or in payment of Abolition Soldiers.”  [George H. Pendleton]

The “Tribune” announces that it has been assured that Gen. Fremont [John C. Frémont] has determined to withdraw his name from the Presidential canvass.  His letter of withdrawal will soon be published.

The President has appointed Gen. Sheridan [Phillip H. Sheridan] a Brigadier General in the Regular Army and assigned him to the permanent command of the Middle Department.

NEW YORK, Sept. 20.—An officer just from below brings a report derived from Gen. Herron’s [Francis J. Herron] Adjunct that Col. Scot,¹ commanding the rebel troops near Baton Rouge, sent a proposition to Gen. Herron to surrender from four to six thousand men, provided Herron would grant an uncodditionial [sic] pardon to the general officers of the command.

The rebels have captured Fort Smith, Arkansas together with 600 horses and mules, and 100 wagons loaded with provisions.

From The Prescott Journal:

HOW McCLELLAN’S SUPPORTERS TALKED AT CHICAGO.—The Chicago correspondent of the Cincinnati Gazette says in reference to the conversation of the Democrats who attended the Convention :

“But the saddest thing in all this political talk, was the evident delight at our military failures.  I do not write the words willingly ;  for realizing profoundly that this rebellion can be put down by no party and by no effort that stops short of embracing the People of the North, I know how fully it is admitting that the end of these troublesome times is not yet in sight.  But there could be no mistaking the tons of exultation in which the invasion of the North and the seige [sic] of the Capital, in the fourth year of the war, were paraded, and Grant’s flanking operations were laughed at, and the ability of Jeff. Davis [Jefferson Davis] was exultantly eulogized.”

  The platform on which Gen. McCLELLAN accepts a nomination for the Presidency, declares that the war has proved a failure.  Gen. McCLELLAN should not confound his own personal experiences with the general experience of the country.  War as conducted by him was manifestly a failure.  Under GRANT and SHERMAN it is a success.

  It is one of the curious results of this war that the Northern cavalry have turned out better than the Southern.  It is true, we are much superior in horses, but the Southern men have always been good horsemen, and it is the very place for them to show that dash and audacity, in which they claim superiority.

A GOOD CAMPAIGN DOCUMENT.—The Democratic party claim that the soldiers are warmly in favor of McClellan.  We advise them to circulate their platform among them.  Doubtless they would like to stack arms at Atlanta, Mobile and Richmond.

  The McClellan and Pendleton Platform goes for offering JEFF. DAVIS terms of peace while in arms against the Government.  The Lincoln and Johnson Platform refuses to extend terms of peace to DAVIS until he allows a willingness to lay down his arms.  Which do you prefer ?

  The Democracy prefers Disunion and Slavery, or Union and Slavery, rather than Union and Freedom.  The latter is its last choice.

  According to General McCLELLAN’S letter of acceptance, he goes for the Union on the basis of a compromise with the Slave Power !  ABRAHAM LINCOLN goes for the Union on the basis of the extermination of the Slave Power as the only basis upon which the Union can be safe.  Choose between them.

1.  Possibly John Sims Scott, colonel of the 1st Louisiana Cavalry.

1864 September 10: “Democracy sees the ‘wickedness’ of the Administration; Why does it fail to see the wickedness of the Rebellion”

The following smaller items are from the September 10, 1864, issues of The Polk County Press and The Prescott Journal.

From The Polk County Press:

— Democracy [the Democratic Party] sees the “wickedness” of the Administration.  Why does it fail to see the wickedness of the Rebellion.

— Will Gen. McClellan follow Fremont’s  example and resign his position in the army?  If so his nomination will have accomplished one good result.  [George B. McClellan and John C. Frémont]

— Democracy says Abolition stands in the way of Union.  Davis says it does not; they do not care for Slavery ;  it is Independence they want.  His authority is the best.  [Jefferson Davis]

— The Democracy blame Lincoln for not negotiating.  The Rebels will not negotiate until the right of Secession is acknowledged.  Therefore, the Democracy blame Lincoln for not acknowledging the right of Secession.  [Abraham Lincoln]

— The country is engaged in a death grip with rebels.  In the crisis of the conflict Democracy would loosen the grip, alleging that the foe will return.  If they do not furnish the offer of the foe to yield, what is their allegation but a false and traitorous attempt to loosen that grip for the sake of that foe?

— We are informed that Douglas Co. has filled her quota.

RECRUITING.—Recruiting has been quite brisk during the past two weeks.  The town of Farmington, we understand, has filled her quota.  William Kent, esq., took down to La Crosse, last week, five men for the town of Osceola.  P. B. Lacy, also took down three men for the town of St. Croix.

A DESERVED PROMOTION.—We are gratified to learn that our excellent Governor has appointed Quartermaster Sargeant [sic] FRED. A. DRESSER, Thirtieth Regiment, First Lieut. and Quartermaster, vice S. STARR, promoted.

Quartermaster DRESSER is from this town.  He entered the service as a private in Co. A. when the Regiment was first formed, and by close attention to his duties, his marked business qualifications, and his faithful labors, has won the esteem of his superior officers, and promotion.

— Democracy says we can now have Peace and a restored Union.—If they do not prove it, they stand convicted of slandering their country and imperilling [sic] its existence, for the sake of party gain.

From The Prescott Journal:

FIRST WISCONSIN CAVALRY.—This noble regiment was at Cartersville, Ga., guarding the line of railroad from Chattanooga to Atlanta, on the 22d ult. [last month, i.e. August].  After the McCook raid, in which the regiment suffered severely in the loss of officers, it was ordered back from the front to Cartersville, to rest and recruit the men and horses, at which place they were gladdened by the return from captivity of their gallant Colonel, O. H. LA GRANGE [Oscar H. La Grange], than whom no officer is more deservedly popular with both officers and men.  In a letter written since rejoining the regiment Col. L. says :  “In reviewing the operations of the summer’s campaign, while we are called upon to mourn the loss of most valuable officers, there is a melancholy pleasure in knowing that they sacrificed themselves to save their men, and the sacrifice was not in vain.  Our loss in enlisted men has been remarkably light for the amount and kind of service we have been called upon to perform.”

A later report states that the regiment has been ordered to Chattanooga, for the purpose of being recruited and remounted.

FERNANDO WOOD AND THE WISCONSINNERS.—The Chicago Tribune says that “FERNANDO WOOD was introduced to the Wisconsin delegation on Saturday.  One of the delegation remarked that Wisconsin was for peace, but the delegation was not satisfied how it could be obtained.  Mr. WOOD replied, ‘Gentlemen, we can have no peace except through an armstice [sic] and a national convention.  Let the Democratic Convention adopt one resolution embracing these propositions, and we will succeed with any candidate.  After the armstice [sic] convention is called, let it decide upon the terms of peace.’  This was received with much favor by the Wisconsin delegates.”