Sidney A. Bean
1863 June 20: Polk County is “in out of the draft,” Plus Several Obituaries of Local Soldiers
Following are the small items from our June 20, 1863, newspapers. The first item includes Burnett County, which we have not heard much about so far.
From The Polk County Press:
— Enrolment officers have been appointed for this and Burnett counties.
— The Polk County Rifles will meet at the Fair Ground for the purpose of drill at one o’clock to-day, (Saturday.)
— An enrolling officer by the name of DOUGLASS, while performing his duties in Dodge county, this state, was shot through the back by some cowardly villian [sic] who was concealed in some bushes. The wound is said to be fatal. Owing to this occurrence company A 30th, Capt. SAM. HARRIMAN, has been sent down into Dodge, to enforce the laws and prevent anything else of the kind occurring.
RESISTANCE TO THE DRAFT.—It is said that the government has decided that the twenty-fifth section of the Conscription Act relative to the arrest of persons resisting the draft, shall be strictly adhered to. It provides that if any person shall obstruct any officer in the performance of his duty under it, he shall be subject to summary arrest by the Provost Marshal, and be forthwith delivered to the civil authorities, where upon conviction, he shall suffer fine and imprisonment.
— We have received a call from Dep. Provost Marshal, JOHN L. DALE, who passed through our town on his way to Superior. JOHN says Polk county is all right, sound, patriotic and loyal, and her people “in out of the draft” and wishes he could say as much of other counties in the state. We have heard that JOHN was in a decline, owing to army rations, and hard times generally, at Madison, but to see is to believe, in some cases, and having seen him we pronounce him in “good condition.”
THE 4TH WISCONSIN— COL. BEAN KILLED.—The 4th Wisconsin was in the fight at Port Hudson, and bore itself gloriously, as is the wont of our brave Wisconsin boys. Out of 300 that went into the fight 70 were killed or wounded. Col. Sidney A. Bean is among the killed. Col. Bean was formerly a professor in Carrol College at Waukesha. He was a young man of fine talents and great promise—Madison Journal.
— We are informed by John L. DALE, that EDWARD A. CLAPP, of Hudson, member of Gen. SHERMAN’S staff [William T. Sherman], and who is well known to many of our citizens, being the law partner of ALLAN DAWSON, Esq., of Hudson, and who enlisted in the Hudson City Guards at the outbreak of the rebellion, was killed in the recent battle at Port Hudson, La. He was a brilliant lawyer, a loyal true man, a brave unflinching soldier and died a hero, at the head of an advancing column. He entered the ranks as a private, and by his integrity and brave conduct was promoted a lieutenant, and placed on Gen. SHERMAN’s staff.
— The “Herald” says Gen. Butler [Benjamin F. Butler] will be brought out by the war Democrats for the Governorship of Massachusetts. If he consents to run, Republicans will probably endorse him, and Gov. Andrew will be set aside.
— The telegraph reports a fearful decimation of the 4th Wisconsin, in the late fight at Port Hudson. Its loss in killed is more than one in five—a mortality very rarely experienced in the deadliest battle. Besides the Colonel killed, three other commissioned officers are reported as badly wounded.
THE UNION AND THE WAR.— The cause of the Union is the cause of peace, of civilization, and of liberty. The cause of the rebellion is the cause of war, of barbarism, and of tyranny. Let all who prefer peace and civilization and liberty, to war, and barbarism and tyranny, work and pray that the Union cause may speedily triumph.
THE LOUISIANA COLORED REGIMENTS.—A correspondent at Baton Rouge, under date of May 21st writes: “There are already five regiments of colored troops organized in this department and credited to Louisiana. It is expected that, in all, twenty-eight regiments will be organized at once in the department of Gen. Banks.”
From The Prescott Journal:
Judge CLAPP, of Hudson, Lieut. in the Hudson Guards, 4th Wis., was killed in the attack of Port Hudson.—He was acting as aid to Gen. Sherman. Judge CLAPP led a lucrative business, and enlisted as a private at the first call for volunteers. He has fallen a victim to the slaveholder’s rebellion. Honor to the fallen brave!
WARREN KNOWLES, of River Falls, was acting as Gen. Sherman’s Orderly; had a horse shot under him.
HARD ON ENROLLING OFFICERS.—The women particularly seem to have an antipathy against this class of men,—wherever they go the tender sex loses its customary timidity and the amizon [sic] breaks forth at once. Such is the case in Dubuque county just now, where the enrolling officers encounter much trouble. As the ladies in Pierce county are all for Union, friend [C. P.] Barnard will not be molested in his official duty.
Every negro soldier enlisted and sent into the field diminishes by one the number of white men to be to be drafted.—Any squeamish fellow who objects to having fighting done by a “nigger,” should at once report himself to the nearest recruiting officer, and volunteer.
Gen. Grant has sent flve [sic] thousand prisoners to Island No. 10, in the Mississippi, where they will be detained until the fate of Vicksburg is decided.
D I E D,
In the Hospital at Grand Gulf, Miss., May 11th, 1863, William Gray, son of Mr. Ryan Gray of Oak Grove, aged 25 years. He was wounded May 1st at Port Gibson, and died from the effects of his wound, after lingering ten days.
COLORED TROOPS.—The Anglo African, inn its last issue, in an article on the colored element and the war, says:¹
| Adjt. General Thomas had two weekage under arms | 11,000 | |
| Gen. Banks | 3,000 | |
| Kansas regiment | 1,000 | |
| Gen. Hunter, about | 3,000 | |
| Gen. Foster | 3,000 | |
| Gen. Rosecrans, about | 5,000 | |
| Navy | 5,000 | |
| Gen. Curtis | 2,000 | |
| Massachusetts regiments | 1,200 | |
| District of Columbia | 800 | |
| Total, | 35,000 |
ARRIVAL OF REBEL PRISONERS AT PHILADELPHIA.
Twenty-one hundred rebel prisoners captured at Haines’ Bluff on the Mississippi, arrived at Philadelphia last week, on their way to Fort Delaware. The Press says :
“A more miserable looking set of men we have ever seen. They were ragged and filthy. Many were hatless and shoeless, and all of them seemed to be perfectly lame. They were entirely submissive; not an insulting remark was made against them. They were asked by some of the lookers-on if they were hungry and they replied no, that they have had as much as they could eat since they have been prisoners of the war, larger in quantity and better in quality than they had at any one time during the past six months.
“Some were free in their conversation and said that at Haines’ Bluff they were on half rations before the attack was made. They said it was entirely impossible to stand the Federal fire, and there was no alternative left them but to surrender.”
“Some express a willingness to take the oath of allegiance. Others said that Gen. Pemberton [John C. Pemberton] was whipped as soon as the attack was made by the land forces; but he does not stand in very good repute, and that, to save himself from disgrace, must hold out. They say that the supply of provisions at Vicksburg must be very limited by this time.—They talk as though Vicksburg must fall. Many of the rebels said they were tired of the war, that it was pretty well plaid [sic] out, and if not stopped pretty soon there will be a grand revolt.
“Quite a number of the men are sick looking, with scarcely ten pounds of muscle or flesh ot [sic] give shape to their persons. A few hard pieces of ingrain carpeting on their soldiers, which they used in place of blankets.[“]
1. Several other newspapers from the time do not include this chart, but rather follow “the colored element and the war, says” with this: “the negro troops now in the service number thirty-five thousand, not including those acting as pioneers for Banks and Grant. It says these will doubtless swell the number to fifty thousand.”
1863 June 14: “Our Regiment is horribly cut up, we lost our Colonel and most of the line Officers”
Frank D. Harding at this point was still with Company G of the 4th Wisconsin Infantry. The majority of the letter discusses battles related to the Siege of Port Hudson. 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 June 14th 1863
Dear Father
I received a letter from you last which is the only one I have received for the past two months. I had began to think that you had given up the idea of ever writing to me.
There is but little news stirring that can be got hold of. Every thing about Port Hudson is quiet but in a few days I think that it must fall into our hands. We had one of the hardest fights there of any in this Dept. The Western Regts behaved nobly and had they been supported by the nine month’s men we should have surely taken the place. Our Regiment is horribly cut up, we lost our Col¹ and most of the line Officers. Gen. Sherman² lost his leg and may lose his life. He is better this morning I hear.
Out of eleven hundred and forty men that we left Wisconsin with, hardly four hundred are left and the Regt can not muster two hundred and fifty to go in to a fight. Our loss before Port Hudson in killed and wounded will not fall much short of 5000 men.³ The negros fought like devils’ they made five charges on a battery that there was not the slightest chance of their taking, just (as their Officers said) to show our boys that they could, and would fight. At one time the 4th Wis., 8th N.H., 6th Mich., and 75th & 128th N.Y. Regts were on their works and had their battle flags planted, but having no one to support them they were obliged to fall back. My Co. [G] was not in the fight as they are stationed at Camp Parapet as heavy art [artillery]. One of our Lieuts was on Gen Sherman’s Staff and was killed,4 two of the Sergts of my Co. were in the fight and one was promoted on the field for gallantry. I went over the the battle field two days after the fight and the stench was horrible. Our forces have surrounded the place now and are planting heavy guns and in the course of the week I think the [__?] for battle will come off.
I still board in Carrolton but do my work in the City in the Office of the Chief Commissary. How long I shall stay there it is impossible for me to say.
Tell mother I picked out a dozen of gray hairs out of my head to lend her but I have lost them and have no time to look for more. I mean to have my picture taken in a few days and will lend it to you. I don’t look much like a solider for I haven’t had a uniform on for more than one year.
Give my love to Mother and Diantha. Write me soon.
Yours Truly, Frank D. Harding
1. Sidney A. Bean, from Waukesha, had been the colonel of the 4th Wisconsin Infantry only since March 17, 1863, being promoted from lieutenant colonel of the 4th when Halbert E. Paine was promoted to brigadier general of volunteers. Bean was killed May 29, 1863, at Port Hudson.
A list of the killed and wounded in the 4th Wisconsin Infantry from May 27 to June 2, 1863, can be found in E. B. Quiner’s Military History of Wisconsin (Chicago: 1866), chapter 14, page 504 ((UWRF Archives E 537 .Q56 1866, available digitally on the Wisconsin Historical Society’s website).
2. As we learned yesterday, during the May 27, 1863, attack on Port Hudson, General Thomas W. Sherman was severely wounded, which led to the amputation of his right leg. His injuries were so severe that he was not expected to live. Even the newspaper in his hometown (Newport, Rhode Island) printed an obituary for him.
3. This is a very accurate estimate by Harding. Five thousand Union losses is the number generally given.
4. Edward A. Clapp, from Hudson.
1861 October 16: Review of 4th Wisconsin Infantry and Speech by General Dix
Following is an article on the 4th Wisconsin Infantry, reprinted from the Baltimore Clipper, in the October 16, 1861, issue of The Hudson North Star.
[From the Baltimore Clipper]
Review and Presentation of Colors
by Major General Dix to the
Fourth Wisconsin Regiment.
____
Friday morning, the 27th ult.1, Major Gen. [John Adams] Dix and staff, Brig. Gen. Duryea,2 and Major Belger, came down to the Relay House for the purpose of reviewing the noted Wisconsin 4th Regiment and presenting to them an [sic] new and elegant stand of colors.
About 8 o’clock the regiment was drawn up in line by Adjutant L. D. Aldrich3 (a very efficient officer) on the parade ground, and presented a truly martial appearance. The new uniform was worn, and upon its surface down the ranks extended a line of white gloved hands, presenting a striking and beautiful contrast to the dark blue of the coats.—The arms notwithstanding the drizzling rain, were bright and clean, proving that the Wisconsin boys can keep even poor muskets in good condition, and also the truth of the old adage, that “a good soldier is known by the arms he carries.”
When the presentation was about to take place, the division on each flank of the battallion [sic] were wheeled to the right and left, forming three sides of a square. The movement was executed with such a degree of perfection as to elicit remarks of praise from Gen. Dix and the officers who accompanied him. The color guard then marched forward from the line, and Gen. Dix placing the colors in the hands of Col. [Halbert E.] Paine addressed the regiment in the following patriotic and stirring language:
“Soldiers : Eighty four years ago the stars and stripes were adopted by the old Federal Congress as the national banner. Under its auspices the founders of the Republic passed triumphantly through the toils and perils of that sanguinary contest, which made a free and independent people. During more than three quarters of a century has it floated over us as the standard of the Consitution and the Union. During that long period of time—the longest through which any people have ever passed without some internal commotion of public disorder—it has never been dishornored at home or abroad. It has never sheltered injustice. No armies have ever been enrolled under it to carry on wars of aggression or conquest. It has been the emblem of peace, of social improvement, of growth by development, and not by forcible accession.
“This flag, soldiers! which the Government of your country confides to you, is the same under which your ancestors rallied to cut off the yoke of colonial servitude: the same which your fathers defended against foreign enemies and which you are now called on to uphold against the foulest rebellion that ever dishonored a civilized community. A rebellion without a pretext of oppresion [sic] or wrong, and inaugurated in fraud and violence and public plunder.
“I commit it to your keeping, with no misgivings as to the fidelity or the courage with which you will defend it against all its enemies. The noble State from which you came, blessed in its soil, its climate and its people. One of the youngest members of the Union, but one of the foremost in patriotic devotion to it, will follow you with her best wishes and prayers, into the scene of peril which in all probability will soon open upon you.
“She will expect you to remember that under that flag you are to uphold her honor, as well as that of the country, of which she is an integral and inseparable part. And let me remind you also, that on the broad prairies which have sent you forth to vindicate the authority of the Government and maintain the integrity of the Union, there are 800,000 patriotic hearts which are beating in unison with your own, which will bound if you are faithful, or sink if you fail in the great trust confided to you.
“I know you need no other incentive to stimulate you to the performance of your duty. In the name of the Government I commit this banner to you, with the assurance that it will receive no stain in your hands. Let every man consider himself as specially charged with its defence. Let every man determine that it shall never be surrendered while a drop of Wisconsin blood courses in his veins. Let this be your firm resolve, and you will not only bring it out of this contest unstained, as I now confide it to you, but as an emblem of victory—honorable alike to your country and yourselves.”
Col. Paine, receiving the colors from the hands of General Dix, said—”General, in the heat of battle I shall lean upon the valor of these men with an unfaltering trust. I believe they will in that hour cheerfully follow this flag through the gates of death, choosing rather to witness the complete extermination of the Fourth Wisconsin Regiment than the dishonor of its flag.”
“Boys, am I right? Do you say aye?” (The regiment responded with a thundering aye!)
“God of Heaven grant that I may never survive—that not one of you may ever survive—the dishonor of this flag.”
Then turning to the regiment—”Soldiers, three cheers for our country’s flag!” (The soldiers thereupon gave three hearty cheers.) “Three cheers for General Dix!” (The soldiers responded with three hearty cheers and a Wisconsin tiger.
The colors were then placed by Col. Paine in the hands of the color bearers who bore them proudly to the regiment and the band played the “Star Spangled Banner.” The regiment then passed in review, and as they came near the officers, Gen. Dix was heard to say, “they do as well as our regulars.” They marched in column firm and steady and it needed but a glance to assure one that the emblem of our country’s greatness was [–] in their hands. That the words there spoken would be remembered, and death would reap a willing harvest before a shred from those banners should be torn by traitorous hands. Could Jeff. Davis have witnessed the scene, the conviction would have forced itself upon him that his polluting touch could never tear them into strips to wad a rebel cannon.
At the conclusion of the review the regiment was marched back to Camp Bean (which, by the way, is named after Lieut. Col. Bean,3 whom the boys are said to call “our Napoleon,” from his resemblance to Napoleon Bonaparte) and dismissed. The officers then adjourned to the Relay House, where a sumptuous dinner had been provided under the immediate supervision of the able and efficient Quartermaster, A. J. McCoy,3 to whose exertions and capability is due, in a great measure, the fine appearance and condition of the men, for not one regiment in the service is better provided for than the Wisconsin 4th. General Dix, Major Belger, and Brig. Gen. Duryea [sic], were escorted to the cars and took their leave, much to the disappointment of all for their presence had been calculated upon. It was necessary for them, however, to leave.
Col. Paine presided at the table, behind him, at the upper end of the hall, were the national and Regimental colors.
After ample justice was done to the bountiful repast, Capt. J. T. Loy3 offered the following toast:
To the colors presented to us to-day—In the language of the one who presented them, “He who attempts to pull them down, shoot him on the spot.”
Eloquently responded to by Col. Paine. In the course of his speech he said of the soldiers of the regiment, that it was the truth and the noblest truth he could utter concerning them, that they were, with hardly an exception, from gentlemen ; and there was nothing so dear to him on earth but he would joyfully sacrifice it to enable them to do what he knew they were capable of doing on the field of battle. [Applause.]
The color bearer H. Stemple,3 who has been a Major in the Prussian army, here proposed three cheers for Col. Paine which were vociferously given standing.
Capt. O. H. La Grange3 “to the absent officers of the 4th Wisconsin Regiment.” May they all be present at that grander feast which we believe awaits us.
Col. Bean (last) amid the roars of laughter, Col. Paine and his officers, proposed by Lieut. Dix. Major [Frederick A.] Boardman3 here took the floor, and with his characteristic promp[–]de declared his inability to give an appropriate toast for the occasion, but his ability to enact the duties of a good soldier.
Capt. Joy [sic],3 gentlemen, to Col. Paine and the field officers we ensure the sentiment, that no man shall have to tell the tale of the dishonor of the Law and the Constitution.
Adjutant L. D. Aldrich.3—”Officers, I am pained, no sham ; I am too full for utterance, but as long as I can wield an arm these colors shall never trail in the dust.”
Quartermaster McCoy.3—”Colonel Paine—I never met him until I entered the 4th Wisconsin, but once seen it is enough ; in battle I’d fight for him, and by his side until I die.”
Segt. Wilson.3—”Our worth[y] Quartermaster—May his shadow never grow less.”
Captain D. M. White.3—I’m just like the Colonel who comands us ; I’m going just where the colors go.”
Lieut. Paine3—”To the American Eagle. May he never build his nest until he reaches the other side of the Potomac.”
Capt. La Grange,3 ever mindful of the interest of the boys, proposed “three cheers for the men of the 4th Wisconsin who are at work while we are feasting.” Responded to by three rousing cheers.
Quartermaster Sergt. Aza Kinney.3—”The colors this day presented to the 4th Wisconsin Volunteers. To him of the 4th who falters in their defence, may the Gods curse him : to him who bravely fights beneath their folds and nobly stands to their defence, may the God of battles protect him.”
The entertainment close with entire satisfaction and good feeling. Never has the old Relay House, in Maryland, witnesssed a gathering of more patriotic souls than were that day assembled between its walls. And its memory will ever remain green in the hearts of those who practicipated [sic] in its festive joys.
1. Ult. is the abbreviation for the Latin phrase ultimo mense, meaning last month. So in this case it means that the review of the 4th Wisconsin Infantry took place on September 27.
2. Probably Abram Duryée (1815-1890), commander of the 5th New York Infantry. Duryée had just been appointed a brigadier general on August 31, 1861.
3. For the complete roster of the 4th Wisconsin Infantry Field and Staff, and each company, see the Roster of Wisconsin Volunteers.
-
Sidney A. Bean
-
Joseph F. Loy, captain of Company H
-
Herman Stemple
-
Oscar H. La Grange, captain of Company B
-
Louis D. Aldrich
-
Andrew J. McCoy
-
“Sergeant” Wilson possibly should have been “Surgeon” Wilson, Samuel W. Wilson
-
Daniel W. White, captain of Company G
-
Probably Walter S. Payne, who was a 1st lieutenant at this time.
1861 September 19: Jerry Flint’s Thoughts on Slavery
In his letter of September 19, 1861, to his mother in River Falls, Jerry Flint writes again about moving their camp, watching troop movements and preparations, and his opinions on the slaves he has encountered. Jerry’s words seem very racist. Living in the sparsely-settled northwest, he would not have had any experience with slaves prior to coming to Maryland.
The original letter is in the Jerry E. Flint Papers (River Falls Mss BN) at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls University Archives & Area Research Center.
Camp Bean1 Sept. 19th ’61
Dear Mother,
I write you again this morning, not because I have anything very interesting to write but because I want something to do. I did not feel firstrate [sic] so I got an excuse from battallion [sic] drill. Our camp has been moved about 80 rods and is now situated on the top of a high hill. It is a very pleasant place and has command of the railroad for some distance. Just before we moved Col. Paine received a dispatch that we should stay here until we were needed in Washington.
Last night orders were issued again by McClellan for the commanders of all brigades and regiments to have their men ready for the field at a moments notice. The men all have their knapsacks packed, their canteen filled and their cartridge boxes well supplied with cartridges. No man is allowed to go so far from camp as to be out heering hearing of the “long roll.” This all looks very much as if there was some fighting to be done pretty soon.
There has been about 16000 men through here this week. Two regiments have passed this morning and it is not yet nine o’clock. They state there is 18 more in Baltimore waiting for trains to carry them through. Twelve pieces of heavy cannon went to Washington last night weighing 9000 lbs. a piece. Two 0f them made a car load. They are to be mounted on board the “Pensacola.”2
I am going to send you in this letter a likeness of Col. Paine so that you can see what kind of a looking man our commander is.
I like Maryland very much, rather better than Wis. I think there is only one thing that I dislike, and that is the niggers. I hate them worse than poison. It fairly makes me mad to have one speak to me, and if one accidently touches me I have to stop and see if he has left a black spot.
People talk about slavery, but the slaves are much better provided for than the free negroes. They dress better and act more like human beings. The only wonder with me is why masters don’t pound them more than they do. I would if they were mine.
Tell Phin that it seems as though I hadn’t had a letter for some time. I don’t see why some body don’t write. I often think of home and wish I see you all. But it is useless to wish.
Good Bye, Jerry
1. In Maryland, named for Sidney A. Bean. Bean, who was from Waukesha, was the lieutenant colonel of the 4th Wisconsin Infantry at this time. He will be promoted colonel of the regiment on March 17, 1863, when Colonel Paine is promoted to brigadier general of U.S. volunteers.
2. The first USS Pensacola was a screw steamer that was launched August 15, 1859, at the Pensacola Navy Yard and was towed to the Washington Navy Yard for installation of machinery. She was commissioned in full on September 16, 1861.
The Civil War and Northwest Wisconsin 