USA > Minnesota > Goodhue County > History of Goodhue county, including a sketch of the territory and state of Minnesota > Part 31
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The gauntlet thrown down by the traitors of the South in their attack on Fort Sumter was accepted, not, however, in the spirit with which insolence meets insolence, but with a firm, determined spirit of patriotism and love of country. The duty of the president was plain under the constitution and laws, and above and beyond all, the masses of the people from whom all political power is derived, demanded the suppression of the rebellion, and stood ready to sustain the authority of their representatives and executive officers.
April 14, A. D. 1861, Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States, issued the following
PROCLAMATION :
WHEREAS, The laws of the United States have been, and now are, violently opposed in several States by combinations too powerful to be suppressed in the ordinary way, I therefore call for the militia of the several States of the Union, to the aggregate number of 75,000 men,
284
THE HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY.
to suppress said combination and execute the laws. I appeal to all loyal citizens to facilitate and aid in this effort to maintain the laws, the integrity and perpetuity of the popular government, and redress the wrongs long enough endured. The first service assigned to the forces, probably, will be to repossess the forts, places and property which have been seized from the Union. Let the utmost care be taken, consistent with the object, to avoid devastation, destruction, or interference with the property of peaceful citizens in any part of the country ; and I hereby command the persons composing the aforesaid combination to disperse within twenty days from date.
I hereby convene both Houses of Congress for the 4th day of July next, to determine upon measures for the public safety which the inter- est of the subjects demands.
WM. H. SEWARD,
ABRAHAM LINCOLN,
Secretary of State.
President of the United States.
Seventy-five thousand men were not enough to subdue the rebellion. Nor were ten times that number. The war went on, and call followed call, until it began to look as if there would not be men enough in all the free States to crush out and subdue the monstrous war traitors had inaugurated. But to every call for either men or money, there was a willing and a ready response. And it is a boast of the people that, had the supply of men fallen short, there were women brave enough, daring enough, patriotic enough, to have offered themselves as sacrifices on their country's altar.
Such were the impulses, motives and actions of the patriotic men of the North, among whom the sons of Goodhue made a conspicuous and praiseworthy record, one-sixth of the entire population enlisting in defense of their country's cause.
The readiness with which the first call was filled, together with the embarrassments that surrounded President Lincoln in the absence of sufficient laws to authorize him to meet the unholy, unlooked-for and unexpected emergency-an emergency that had never been anticipated by the wisest and best of America's statesmen-together with an under- estimate of the magnitude of the rebellion and the general belief that the war could not and would not last more than three months, checked, rather than encouraged, the patriotic ardor of the people.
But very few of the men, comparatively speaking, who volunteered in response to President Lincoln's call for 75,000 volunteers for three months, were accepted. But the time soon came when there was a place and a musket for every man. Call followed call in quick succes-
285
THE HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY.
sion, until the number reached the grand total of 3,339,748, as follows:
April 16, 1861, for three months,
75,000
May 4, 1861, for five years, - 64,748
July, 1861, for three years, 500,000
July 18, 1862, for three years,
- 300,000
August 4, 1862, for nine months,
300,000
June, 1863, for three years,
300,000
October 17, 1863, for three years,
300,000
February 18, 1864, for three years, 500,000
July 10, 1864, for three years, -
200,000
July 16, 1864, for one, two and three years, 500,000
December 24, 1864, for three years, 300,000
3,339,748
April 19, 1861, the Goodhue County " Republican," L. F. Hubbard, editor, had the following war article :
" The crisis so long impending, has come at last. The blow has been struck. The war has commenced. From the mass of dispatches given in to-day's ' Republican,' the reader will learn full particulars of the capture of Fort Sumter, by the southern rebels. The details of the affair as given, though received through channels controlled by the rebels, are doubtless substantially as they transpired.
" The last hope for a peaceful adjustment of our national dissensions, by whomsoever entertained, must now be abandoned, and the dread issue of war accepted as the only arbiter of our difficulties. However much it may be deplored, though all patriots have devoutly prayed that the calamity might be averted, the terrible reality must be met face to face. Whatever of sympathy they may have had among the people of the North, this last act of the Southern rebels has lost it to them, and the universal sentiment of the civilized world will condemn their cause as an unholy warfare upon human rights and constitutional liberty. The news from every portion of the North indicates a general uprising of the people in support of the government. All past differences are blotted out. All considerations of party or of faction are laid aside, and everywhere throughout the loyal States the popular voice is unanimous in sustaining the government. Offers of men much in excess of present demands have already been tendered the President, and profers of loans to large amounts have been made in several of the States.
" Minnesota is called upon for one regiment of men. The response,
286
THE HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY.
we doubt not, will be such as befits the occasion. Indeed, we already have assurances that the number will be promptly made up. May the God of battle protect and defend the right."
The same issue of the " Republican " contained the following call for a war meeting :
"TO ARMS! TO ARMS !!
" A public meeting of the citizens of Goodhue county will be held at the court house in this city, this (Friday) evening, the 19th inst., at seven o'clock. In view of the public exigencies, every patriot that can attend should do so. A full company of infantry must and shall be organized for the service of the government.
Signed, MANY CITIZENS."
The tocsin of war was sounded. Meetings were held in all the town - ships, at which stirring and spirited addresses were made, and resolutions adopted that admitted of but one interpretation.
THE FIRST WAR MEETING-SPIRITED RESOLUTIONS.
The first war meeting in Goodhue was held in accordance with the notice above published, and was thus noticed in the " Republican," of the 26th of April :
"The meeting held in this city on last Friday night was an import- ant event in the history of Red Wing. It greatly exceeded, both in numbers and enthusiam, any gathering that has ever taken place in this locality. The people turned out en masse, and signified by word and action their patriotic devotion to their country in its hour of peril. It was indeed a glorious sight to see men forgetting the differences of the past, laying aside the issues that had divided them until now, and rallying side by side in a single cause. It was an occasion never to be blotted from the memory of an individual present.
" Early in the evening crowds paraded the streets with music and banners, and the ' Young Republican,' that had before rallied the crowd in a partizan cause, did more noble service in sounding the call of the country. Even the inanimate iron seemed to be inspired by the occa- sion, as it belched forth its thunder in loudest tones.
" The meeting at the court house was organized by the election of Hon. W. H. Welch, president ; W. S. Grow and C. H. Baker, vice-presi- dents ; and M. Maginnis and L. F. Hubbard, secretaries.
" On motion, a committee of five, consisting of Messrs. L. F. Hubbard, William Colvill, H. B. Wilson, W. C. Williston and George Wilkinson,
287
THE HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY.
was appointed to report resolutions expressive of the sense of the meeting upon the existing crisis. The committee submitted the follow- ing, which were adopted amidst the most enthusiastic demonstrations :
". WHEREAS, The people in certain States of this republic have arisen in armed rebellion against the general government, have robbed it of millions of its property, have insulted its flag, have taken one of its fortresses by force of arms under circumstances of peculiar indignity, and now threaten the entire destruction of the government itself by an attack upon the national capital, and by a general war; and
"' WHEREAS, Every consideration of honor, patriotism, and safety, demands that the legitimate authorities be sustained in their efforts to put down the traitors and to sustain the government; therefore
"'Resolved, That whoever is not for the government is against it; that all who sympathize with treason are traitors at heart, and only lack the opportunity to carry their treason into practice.
""' That in the existing state of public affairs, it is the duty of all citizens loyal to their country to forget all past differences of opinion, and laying aside all inquiries as to the cause of the present difficulties, bury forever the political hatchet, and henceforward know and sustain our country, right or wrong; and that we, the citizens of Goodhue county, remembering only our country in its hour of peril, do hereby express our readiness and determination to make any sacrifices which may be required of us to maintain the honor of the Stars and Stripes, to sustain the government and enforce the laws.
"'Resolved, That Goodhue county ought to and will furnish one com- pany as her part of the quota required of the State.'
" The following resolution offered by W. S. Grow, was unanimously adopted :
" 'Resolved, That those individuals in our midst who turn their backs upon their country in the hour of peril and danger, and forsake the glorious old stars and stripes, that has protected them in their lives and liberties, that has so long been a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night, deserve the contempt of all good and loyal citizens.'
"The audience were entertained until a late hour with stirring speeches by the president, Messrs. McClure, Sorin, Williston, Crary, Colvill, Hoyt, E. A. Welch and others. * * * A call was made for volunteers, which was responded to by upwards of fifty, who placed their names to a paper, pledging their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor in upholding the stars and stripes against the rebellious assaults now made upon them."
The company thus commenced, was the first company outside of the
288
THE HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY.
organized State militia, to be offered to the governor under his call for one regiment. As soon as the governor's proclamation was issued, enlistments were commenced, and within five days the ranks of the Goodhue volunteers were full, with men to spare.
On Monday, the 22nd of April, 1861, the county commissioners being in session, a petition signed by numerous citizens, asking for an appre- priation by the county of the sum of five hundred dollars for the support of the Goodhue volunteers during the time they are preparing and filling up their ranks, and for the support of their families during their absence, was received, " whereupon, on motion, the sum of three hundred dollars was appropriated for that purpose."
"It was further ordered that a committee of three be appointed to see to the wants of said volunteers and families, and to expend said money, or so much thereof as should be deemed by them necessary, and that the county auditor be authorized to issue orders on the treasury on the certificate of said committee for the amounts ;" which motion prevailed.
The following citizens were elected to act as such committee: W. H. Welch, W. Featherstone, Pascal Smith.
On Tuesday, the 23d of April, one hundred and fourteen men had enlisted-fourteen more than wanted. Friday, the 26th, the company was fully organized and ready for service. The following was the organization and list of members :
Captain, William Colvill, Jr .; First Lieutenant, A. E. Welch ; Second Lieutenant, M. A. Hoyt; first sergeant, Martin Maginnis; second ser- geant, C. P. Clark; third sergeant, Hezekiah Bauce ; fourth sergeant, H. T. Bevans ; first corporal, John Barrow ; second corporal, A. E. Sco- field; third corporal, George Knight; fourth corporal, Charles Harris ; bugler, R. N. Bevans.
PRIVATES.
Jonas P. Davis,
Lewis Cannon,
W. S. Workman,
E. L. Davis,
William D. Hubbs,
Fred. Crossman,
Elijah M. Thomas,
R. C. Barnes,
George Harrison,
W. W. Wilson,
S. B. Dilley,
W. B. Kitchell,
Lewis Quinnell,
James A. Wright,
Christopher Eastman,
Edward Ash,
C. E. Hudson,
William Duling,
T. Thompson,
Fred E. Miller, J. C. McClure, J. C. McClenthen, Theodore S. Wood, Robert W. Seeson, Williamson Crary, Paul Nelson,
Frank Snyder, L. McManus,
J. Ahneman, Asa Howe,
289
THE HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY.
E. A. Jackson,
Drik Metseder,
Charles Adams,
J. C. F. Hobart,
P. R. Hamlin,
George W. Wright,
A. Baniber,
J. P. Kirkham,
S. B. Nilson,
J. R. Brown,
Richard McGee,
William Esdon,
W. W. Clark,
George Mozer,
Marion Abbott,
William Gordon,
Jefferson Banner,
George L. Lewis,
Henry Bennett,
C. W. Merritt,
C. S. Bonderont,
D. C. Smith,
German Anderson,
E. F. Pitcher,
O. Burgh, '
John Lindquist,
David Schwieger,
C. W. Scott,
John Williams,
Edward Berdan,
A. Glazier,
Ferris Johnson,
George Noormer,
A. P. Baker,
Hiram J. Rush,
Fred. Rembrondt,
R. E. Jacobs,
M. B. Milliken,
Hans Hoelstadt,
S. E. Baldwin,
John H. Smith,
W. C. Riddle,
E. F. Grow,
P. T. Galloway.
M. S. Standish,
J. F. Bachelor,
James W. Day,
William Bryant,
J. M. Underwood,
T. G. Leeson,
P. T. Davidson,
C. W. Mills,
O. W. Sudden, W. D. Bennett, George Atkinson,
E. O. Williams.
" Saturday afternoon, April 27th (said the ' Republican' of May 3,) the Goodhue Volunteers left Red Wing, by the steamer Ocean Wave, for St. Paul and Fort Snelling, where the regiment (the 1st) to which they were assigned was mustered in. Their departure was witnessed by a large number of citizens, who gathered on the levee to bid God speed to the gallant fellows in the glorious mission that called them away. Among the throng were a large number of the relatives and near friends of members of the company, who had come to give them a part- ing word of counsel and cheer, and perhaps take the last look upon those they loved. Many an eye dimmed and many a lip quivered, as they filed aboard the boat, and not unfrequently might have been noticed a tear stealing down the cheeks of those who had just bidden farewell to friends. As the boat moved from the levee, the crowd ashore cheered lustily, which was heartily responded to by the volunteers, and amid the waving of flags and handkerchiefs, and the hurrahs of the multitude, the Ocean Wave passed out of sight."
Of the reception at St. Paul of this first company raised in Minnesota and offered as a sacrifice in defense of the integrity and perpetuity of the American Union, the " Press " of May 2d, said :
"They were received at the landing by the Pioneer Guards, who escorted them to their temporary quarters in the city. An immense crowd of citizens were at the levee to welcome their arrival; and as
20
290
THE HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY.
the companies filed through the streets to their quarters, the sidewalks were lined with ladies and gentlemen, who kept up a continuous cheer as the brave volunteers passed along. The ranks returned the saluta- tions with hearty goodwill.
" The Red Wing Brass Band came up with the company from that place, and added materially to the enthusiasm of the occasion.
" The company is more than full, and composed of the very bone and sinew of the stalwart farmers of Goodhue county."
No sooner was the above company full-in fact even before its organ- ization was nearly perfected-a movement was started for the organization of a second company in Red Wing, and up to Friday, the 3d of May, fifty names were reported. Patriotic enthusiasm was at fever heat. Saturday evening, the 4th, this second company met and perfected its organization by the election of the following officers :
Captain, A. D. Whitney ; first lieutenant, E. L. Baker ; second lieuten- ant, H. Mattson ; third lieutenant, J. F. Pingrey ; first sergeant, Andrew A. Teele ; second sergeant, W. E. Hawkins ; third sergeant, J. H. Mues ; fourth sergeant, C. R. Brink ; first corporal, C. Berg; second corporal, M. J. Chamberlain ; third corporal, J. S. Allyn ; fourth corporal, C. C. Johnson ; ensign, W. W. Phelps; bugler, J. C. Hawes.
PRIVATES.
F. A. Meredith,
H. B. Wilson,
R. N. McLaren,
T. B. McCord,
W. W. Rich,
G. W. Baldwin,
William Phileo,
T. R. Sterling,
John Foot,
Charles Betcher,
J. M. Hodgman,
D. Mellen,
W. P. Brown,
S. B. Morrow,
Watts Sherman,
L. F. Hubbard,
L H. Girard,
H. C. Hoffman,
Harvey Miller,
C. H. Baker,
J. Ashton,
A. Johnson,
A. Thomas,
H. Hickman,
W. C. Williston,
Allen Swain,
D. Heald,
Benjamin Densmore,
W. W. DeKay,
Daniel Densmore, C. C. Webster,
F. P. Downing, Herman Betcher.
The country districts were not idle. All over the county the people were full of patriotic furore. Meetings were held in almost every school house, at which spirited addresses were made by the representative men of the county. But few speeches, however, were needed. The flag of the country had been grossly insulted ; the people were indignant and resolved that the insult should be resented even if it took the last man and the last dollar in the Northern States to punish the traitors and subdue the rebellion they had inaugurated. And among all the people
291
THE HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY.
of the patriotic North, none were braver or more devoted to the cause of the Union than the sons of Norway and Sweden who had found homes in Goodhue county. Not even native-born Americans made a better record. They were true to their oaths of allegiance, and gallantly joined the ranks of the " boys in blue," and marched away to help defend the country of their adoption.
Besides furnishing nearly one-fifth of the rank and file of the first company that went from Goodhue county, Pine Island township came to the front with the " Pine Island Rifles," of which the following is the muster roll :
OFFICERS.
Captain, N. D. Marble ; first lieutenant, William Haskins; second lieutenant, H. M. Stanton ; first sergeant, M. Tarbox ; second sergeant, O. Morehouse ; third sergeant, J. Dickey ; fourth sergeant, H. Ahneman; first corporal, S. Kirkham ; second corporal, S. Corning ; third corporal, John Eschabold ; fourth corporal, P. A. Shoemaker.
PRIVATES.
T. Parker,
H. M. Prime,
N. Andrews,
W. S. Hubbs,
Allen Hills,
M. P. Parker,
W. S. Heaton,
I. B. Perkins,
F. McMannus,
O. E. Smith,
C. Reinhardt,
M. Glazier,
James Pratt,
G. Marble,
C. L. Hubbs,
Isaac Cate, Peter Mornany,
W. B. Dickey,
William P. Hall,
M. H. Palmer,
John Ahneman,
E. W. Maynard,
H. C. Wheeler, William Mead,
O. M. Frink,
C. C. Cenatt,
John Hanks, Leisler Hamlin,
H. Washburn,
H. F. Emery,
E. V. Dickey,
L. Van Nomee,
S. W. Miller,
E. C. Parker,
J. H. Gilleland,
S. C. Jewell.
Then came a company from Roscoe township-the Roscoe Union Guards-with the following officers :
Captain, C. C. Sent ; first lieutenant, J. M. Gates; second lieutenant. D. C. Harkness ; first sergeant, P. Slagle ; second sergeant, F. Hagler; third sergeant, J. R. Cox; fourth sergeant, J. T. Comstock ; corporals, Jacob Sherwood, Charles Simpson, B. F. Dayton, H. Collins; ensign, L. Ward.
And thus the good work continued as long as there was a hand upraised against the government. While the fathers and sons and brothers and husbands were busy organizing companies and helping
1
292
THE HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY.
them off " to the front," the wives and mothers and sisters and daughters were no less active. Their deft fingers, guided by noble, patriotic hearts, were busy in fashioning and sending forward such articles as the volunteers needed. During the last week in July the ladies of Red Wing were engaged at Masonic Hall in this good work, and on Satur- day, the 2d day of August, forwarded to Rev. E. D. Neill, chaplain of the First Minnesota Regiment, for the use and comfort of Captain Col- vill's company, the following invoice of goods :
17 dressing gowns, valued at $ 25.50
6 pair slippers, @ 50 cents, - 3.00
75 towels, @ 10 cents, 7.50
41 pair socks, @ 20 cents,
8.20
75 pillow cases, @ 12} cents,
9.38
36 shirts, @ $1.00,
36.00
54 sheets, @ 75 cents,
40.50
18 pair drawers, @ 75 cents,
13.50
2 paper pins, @ 10 cents,
20
Total
$143.78
At Cannon Falls the ladies undertook an entertainment that netted them forty dollars in ready money, which was forwarded to Mr. Neill. And so it was. Whenever money was needed money was given. Some- times it was given directly from the pocket, whenever there was occa- sion or demand. It would be interesting to record the money contri- butions, voluntarily as well as by means of taxation, made by the peo- ple during the years of the rebellion, but that would be impossible. Of the former no accounts were kept. People never stopped to reckon the cost, or keep accounts of what they gave. Whenever money was needed for any purpose, and purposes and needs were plenty, it was given and paid on demand. There were no delays, no excuses, no "days of grace," no time for consideration demanded. People were ready and willing. Husbands and fathers abandoned homes and their com- forts, wives and little 'ones, for the dangers of tented fields of battle, assured that, in their absence, plenty would be provided for their loved ones. Because of this knowledge their dreams were none the less sweet nor their slumbers less refreshing, even if their beds were made upon mother earth, and their covering only that of the starry dome above.
.
It was estimated in May, 1861, that within eighteen days after the war commenced, thirty two millions of dollars were contributed by the States, societies and individuals in the North, to aid the government in
293
THE HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY.
quelling the rebellion. That immense sum was spontaneously given. No questions were asked ; no explanations demanded. The life of the nation was at issue, and the people were ready and willing to give all for its preservation. The world never witnessed such an uprising of the masses; such a unanimity of sentiment; such a willingness to sac- rifice men and money, as was shown by the people of the States north of Mason and Dixon's Line, from the time the rebels fired upon Fort Sumter, in April, 1861, until the surrender of Treason's army in 1865.
When the last census previous to the beginning of the war was taken, in 1860, the population of Goodhue was 8,977, including men, women and children. According to the best sources of information now acces- sible, this population was represented in the army of the Union by 1,508 volunteers! or very nearly one sixth of the entire population ! The population considered, the facts here quoted certainly entitle Goodhue to be recognized as the BANNER COUNTY of the young and vigorous State of Minnesota in the great and final conflict between Freedom and Slavery !
These 1,508 brave and true men were distributed among the several townships, as then organized, as follows :
Burnside.
33 | Leon 63
Belle Creek. 34
Minneola 57
Belvidere 30
Pine Island 96
Cannon Falls. 51
Roscoe 62
Central Point.
21
Red Wing 285
Cherry Grove.
73
Vasa
62
Featherstone
79
Wanamingo 103
Florence
85
Warsaw
49
Goodhue
31
Holden
102
Hay Creek
50
Kenyon
39
Lillian (now Stanton)
39
Waucoota. 16
Zumbrota 48
1508
The reader will detect a difference of five hundred and eight between the number given here and the report elsewhere transcribed from the Adjutant General's Report. The difference in numbers is due to two reasons : First, the generally conceded inaccuracy of that report, and second, a great many men enlisted in companies and regiments raised outside of the county and State, that were not credited to Goodhue county. The number, as quoted above, was taken from township sources, and obtained from authorities that knew the name of every man that enlisted from their midst, and hence may be regarded as accurate and reliable.
294
THE HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY.
Frequent applications were made to the board of county commision- ers for appropriations for volunteer purposes, and in no case did the board refuse to consider the applications or grant the relief asked. On the fifth of September, P. Smith, on behalf of a large number of citi- zens, presented a petition asking for an appropriation of $300 for the aid of volunteers and their families ; and it was ordered that the sum of $300 be so appropriated, and that it be expended as follows : One hundred to help defray the expenses of recruiting each and every vol- unteer company, and the balance, ($200) to be used for the benefit of needy families
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