USA > Wisconsin > An illustrated history of the state of Wisconsin : being a complete civil, political, and military history of the state, from its first exploration down to 1875 > Part 32
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They were (Dec. 9) at Oxford, Miss., in the left wing of the Army of the Tennessee, under command of Major-Gen. Grant.
The Seventh Battery left Camp Utley, Racine, on the 15th of March, and arrived at St. Louis next day. On the 19th they left St. Louis for New Madrid, which place they reached on the 21st. They performed their share in the siege of Island No. 10, and, after its reduction, remained there as garrison until the 13th of June, when they embarked for Hickman, Ky., and joined Gen. Mitchell's brigade at Union City. In the latter part of June, they marched to Trenton, where the battery was divided, three guns being stationed at Humboldt, and three at Trenton.
They were (Dec. 5) at Humboldt and Trenton, in the dis- trict of Jackson, Army of the Tennessee, under command of. Major-Gen. Grant.
The Eighth Battery (Capt. Stephen J. Carpenter) left Camp Utley, at Racine, for St. Louis, on the 18th of March, arriving on the 20th. At St. Louis, they embarked for Fort Leaven- worth, Kan., on the 4th of April. On the 10th of May, they commenced their march to Fort Riley, at which place they remained two days, and set out on their return to Fort Leaven- worth on the 17th. There they embarked, on the 27th, for Columbus, Ky., arriving on the 4th of June. From Colum- bus, they were ordered to Humboldt, at which place they remained from the 18th of June to the 1st of July, when they commenced the march to Corinth, reaching the latter place on the 9th. From Corinth, they were sent on a scouting expedition to Jacinto and Bay Springs. At the latter place they came up with the enemy on the 12th of August, and skirmished with him till dark. Thence to Iuka Springs, on the 14th. From Iuka Springs, they were ordered to Nashville, at which place they arrived on the 4th of September. Thence they marched to Louisville, arriving on the 26th. They left Louisville on the 1st of October, to take part in the movement
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of our army to meet Bragg, and, on the 8th of October, took part in the battle of Perryville.
They participated in the pursuit of the enemy which fol- lowed the battle, overtaking him, near Lancaster, on the after- noon of the 14th. They were engaged in the skirmishes of the next day, shelling the enemy out of Lancaster, and follow- ing him up to Crab Orchard. From Crab. Orchard, they marched to Lebanon, arriving on the 22d; from Lebanon, to Bowling Green, arriving on the 1st of November; thence to Nashville, where they encamped on the 7th, after a skirmish with Morgan's forces at Tyree Springs, on the morning of the same day.
The centre section of the battery, under command of Lieut. John D. McLean, was left at Eastport, Miss., by order ; thence they marched to Iuka Springs, Sept. 12, and to Cor- inth, Sept. 13. Again returned to Iuka Springs, where they were engaged in the battle of Iuka. After this battle, marched to Corinth, and took part in the battle of Corinth, on the 3d and 4th of October.
They were (Dec. 9) near Nashville, in the right wing of the Army of the Cumberland, under command of Major-Gen. Rosecrans.
The Ninth Battery, Capt. Cyrus H. Johnson. The Randall Battery left Camp Utley, Racine, on the 18th of March, and arrived at St. Louis on the 20th. Here they were fully equipped with six guns captured at Fort Donelson, and ordered to Kan- sas. They disembarked at Fort Leavenworth on the 14th of April, and remained until the 26th, when they commenced their long march to Denver City, Col. Ter., where they arrived on the 2d of June. On the 5th, Lieut. J. H. Dodge, with his section, was ordered to Fort Union, in New Mexico, whence he subsequently marched to Fort Lyon, Col. Ter. On the 14th, Lieut. W. D. Crocker was ordered to Fort Lyon, whence he afterwards (July 12) marched to Fort Larned, Kan. The balance of the battery, under command of Capt. Johnson, marched, on the 22d of June, to Fort Lyon, Col. Ter., whence he returned to Denver City.
The battery was (Dec. 18) at Fort Lyon, Col. Ter., except Lieut. W. D. Crocker, with his section, who were at Fort Larned, Kan.
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The Tenth Battery, under Capt. Yates V. Beebe, left Camp Utley, Racine, on the 18th of March, under orders for St. Louis, at which place they arrived on the 20th. While at St. Louis, Lieut. Toner and twenty-five men were transferred to the Eighth, and Lieut. Hicks, with forty-five men, to the Ninth Battery, by order of Major-Gen. Halleck.
They remained at Benton Barracks some time, and were or- dered to Corinth, via Cairo, with four guns. While at Corinth, their numbers were augmented by recruits from Wisconsin, and their armament increased to six guns. During the summer they were stationed at Corinth ; and they participated in the battles around that place on the 3d and 4th of October, after which they were transferred to Nashville, where they took part in the skirmish before that place on the 5th of November. Their duty was principally guarding important points. They were also frequently employed in scouting-parties.
The battery was (Dec. 14) at Nashville, Tenn., detailed for garrison-duty, under Gen. Mitchell, who commanded the post.
The Eleventh Battery, Capt. John Rourke. The greater portion of the volunteers in this battery, almost without ex- ception of Irish birth, were recruited by Lieut. John McAfee for the Seventeenth; but, the company organization of the regiment having been completed, this company was left de- tached.
At the request of Col. Mulligan of the Illinois Irish brigade, they were organized as a battery of artillery under Capt. John Rourke of Milwaukee, and attached to his command; the number necessary to complete the organization being provided in Illinois.
They left Camp Randall on the 6th of April, and went into camp at Chicago, where they remained until the brigade was ordered into active service.
Since that time (in 1862) they remained under the imme- diate command of Col. Mulligan.
The Twelfth Battery, Capt. William Zichrich, was recruited under the auspices of Capt. William A. Pile of Missouri, by special permission of Gov. Harvey. The men were sent to St. Louis in squads, as fast as enlisted, with the under-
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standing that they there would be organized and equipped as a Wisconsin battery. Capt. Pile appears to have abused the confidence of the governor, and deceived the men he enlisted, by assigning them, in part, to infantry companies, and elsewhere, as he saw fit, and completing his battery with other recruits, under the name of the First Missouri Ar- tillery.
By special request of Gov. Salomon, the matter received the attention of the general commanding ; and subsequently, with the consent of the war department, the governor revoked Capt. Pile's commission, and he was removed from command. The battery was then re-enforced by a fine body of about sixty men which left Janesville on the 1st of September, and was one of the most efficient in the department to which it was attached.
When joined by this detachment they were transferred to the vicinity of Corinth, Miss. They took part in the battle at that place on the 3d and 4th of October. Gen. Sullivan, riding up to the battery on the field, said, "Boys, I am proud of you, you have done nobly. The dead in front of your battery show the work you have done."
They joined in the pursuit of the enemy after the battle, re- turning to Corinth on the 3d of November. They were (Dec. 9) at Oxford, Miss., in the left wing of the Army of West Tennessee, under command of Major-Gen. Grant.
The record of Wisconsin's noble dead for the year 1862 includes not only her many sons who had " fallen in the front of war," and the suffering brave in camp and hospital, but the name of one who laid himself a sacrifice upon the altar of liberty, - her chief magistrate, the Hon. L. P. Harvey. Wis- consin alone has given such a sacrifice.
Thanking God for the impulse which had led him to a com- pleted work, his name is inscribed among the fallen, - a noble martyr in this war, brought upon us by an unholy rebellion.
The widow of our lamented governor, fully imbued with the spirit of her husband in his mission to the sick and wounded, carried forward the work he was compelled to lay down.
To the brave men who have gone from us the grateful thanks of our State are due.
Reference has been made to the Eagle Regiment. the
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Eighth Wisconsin. Some account of this " eagle," from whom the regiment derived its name, will prove interesting. This eagle still lives at his comfortable quarters in the basement of the State Capitol at Madison. In pleasant weather he can be seen on his perch near the building. Among the many attrac- tions of the Capitol of Wisconsin, not the least is this veteran of the war.
" ' Old Abe' was captured in the spring of 1861, in Chippewa County, Wisconsin, by an Indian by the name of A-ge-mah-me-ge-zhig, of the Lake Flambeau tribe of the Chippewa Indians. The Indian sold the eagle to Mr. D. McCann, for a bushel of corn. Mr. McCann concluded that his eagle should go to the wars. He took him to Chippewa Falls, and from thence to Eau Claire. The eagle being then about two months old, he sold it for two dollars and fifty cents to Company C, Eighth Wisconsin Regiment. The eagle was soon sworn into service by putting around his neck red- white-and-blue ribbons, and on his breast a rosette of the same colors. The company, commanded by Capt. J. E. Perkins, and James McGennis, the eagle-bearer, left for Madison on the 6th of September, 1861. They arrived at La Crosse in the evening of the next day. The fact that a com- pany was coming with a live eagle brought a great crowd to the wharf. A salute from the First Wisconsin Battery was fired, followed by cheers from the crowd and soldiers, 'The eagle, the eagle ! hurrah for the eagle !' Arriving at Madison on the 8th of September, the company marched direct to Camp Randall, the band playing Yankee Doodle, amidst great shouting from the Seventh Regiment and part of the Eighth. The company entered the gate ; and the eagle, as by instinct, spread his wings, took hold of one of the small flags attached to his perch, in his beak, and carried it in that position to the colonel's quarters. The excitement knew no bounds : shout after shout was heard from the crowd. Deep and strong was the conviction that the eagle had a charmed life.
" In camp he was visited by thousands, among them the highest digni- taries of civil and military life. Capt. Perkins named him ' Old Abe,' in honor of Abraham Lincoln. By a vote of the company, the Eau Claire Badgers, its original name, was changed to Eau Claire Eagles ; and, by general expression of the people, the Eighth Wisconsin was called the Eagle Regiment.
"On the 12th of October, 1861, the regiment left Camp Randall. At Chicago, St. Louis, and in fact everywhere, 'Old Abe' attracted great atten- tion. Five hundred dollars were at one time offered for him, and at another a farm worth five thousand dollars, but, of course, in vain. His feathers are scattered all over the Union, so great the demand for them. 'Old Abe' was seen in all his glory when the regiment was engaged in battle. At such times, he was always found in his place at the head of Company C. In the midst of the roaring of cannon, the crack of the musket, and the
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roll of smoke, 'Old Abe' with spread pinions, would jump up and down on his perch, uttering wild and fearful screams. The fiercer and louder the storm of battle, the fiercer, wilder, and louder the screams. "Old Abe' was with the command in nearly every action, -about twenty-two battles and sixty skirmishes. It is a remarkable fact that not a color or eagle bearer of the Eighth was shot down. The veterans were mustered out of United- States service, at Memphis, Sept. 16, 1864. It was there decided that ' Old Abe' should be given to the State of Wisconsin. They arrived in Madison on the 22d ; and on the 26th, ' Old Abe' was received by the governor from Capt. Wolf."
CHAPTER XLIV.
ADMINISTRATION OF GOV. SALOMON.
Events of 1863 - Administration of Gov. Salomon - Legislation - Election Con- test of 1863- Election of James T. Lewis as Governor-Triumph of the Republican Party.
THE sixteenth session of the State legislature convened on the 14th of January, 1863, and adjourned April 2, 1863, holding a session of seventy-nine days.
In the senate, Hon. Wyman Spooner was elected president pro tempore, Frank M. Stewart chief clerk, and Luther Basford sergeant-at-arms. In the assembly, J. Allen Barber was chosen speaker, John S. Dean chief clerk, and A. M. Thomson sergeant-at-arms. In the senate there were seven- teen Republicans and fifteen Democrats, and in the Assembly fifty-three Republicans, forty-five Democrats ; and two Inde- pendents. On the 15th, the two houses met in joint con- vention ; and Gov. Salomon read his message, and in opening said, -
"Our State has during the past year, with the single exception of a serious disturbance in one of the counties, enjoyed peace within its borders, and been free from the horrors of war surrounding us, and interrupting the quiet of many of our sister States ; and our commerce, which, in common with that of all other States, has suffered much for years from the effects of the financial and commercial crisis of 1857, has, during the past year, even under the disadvantages of the war, been prosperous, and is now conducted on a safer basis than it was before 1857, when the spirit of speculation, and an unsound and too expensive system of credit, led to the financial ruin of many."
He referred to the enlargement of the Erie Canal, and Fox and Wisconsin River Improvement, and suggested that the
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legislature memorialize Congress upon these two important national improvements. He gave the following summary of the financial condition of the State. Receipts into the general fund for 1862, $669,661.84, and the disbursements, 8549,- 746.17 ; leaving a balance in the treasury of $119,915.67. The total productive fund of the school-fund, which on the previous year was 82,458,351.49, had been decreased to $238,- 445.90.
The whole number of children reported of school age was 308,056, and the whole number of pupils attending during the year was 191,364. The total school taxes raised was $703,- 262.52. The State fund apportioned during the year was $149,891. He recommended the State University to the fa- vorable consideration of the legislature, and remarked, that " Wisconsin has not acted the part of a kind parent in exacting payment for the management of its funds, and has not shown that liberality and encouragement which it should have done." He recommended the ingrafting on the uni- versity a professorship of military engineering and tactics. He congratulated the legislature on the prompt completion of the west wing of the State Capitol, which work had been faithfully, well, and cheaply done. The cost of the west wing, including all extras, amounted to $87,591.32, being $12,408.68 less than the appropriation made for that purpose, and 816,042.64 less than the cost of the east wing, which was considerably smaller in size than the west wing. He further recommended the continuance of work on the north and south wings.
He reported that he had visited the Institution for the Blind, and the Deaf and Dumb Institution, both of which were in excellent condition, and well managed, and that the appropria- tions asked for the ensuing year were reasonable, and such as were absolutely necessary for their maintenance. The number of pupils in the former institution was fifty, a larger number than ever before in one year. At the latter institution, the number of pupils in attendance was eighty-two.
The west wing of the Hospital for the Insane was completed about the 1st of June in 1862, giving much needed additional room. Up to the 1st of October, 1862, 234 patients had been received, of which forty-one had recovered, fifteen had been
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discharged improved, fifteen were unimproved, and thirty-two had died.
The State Reform School reported an attendance of seventy- two inmates during the last fiscal year ; and the governor recommended a repeal of the existing law, taxing counties with the support of the inmates. He also recommended that the necessary appropriations be made for the support of the school during that year. A substantial building of stone had been put up at the State-prison for the accommodation of female convicts, and a durable wall around the female prison- grounds. The total number of convicts confined during the year, from Jan. 6 to Oct. 1, 1863, was one hundred and seventy-three, of which fifty-seven had been discharged, leav- ing one hundred and sixteen in the prison at the last-named date, of whom one hundred and twelve were males, and four females.
The governor gives a summary of the transactions of the war-fund, viz., -
Balance on hand Dec. 31, 1861 $50,227.09
Receipts. 757,700.00
Total amount 8807.928.09
Disbursements. 760.920.72
Balance in treasury Dec. 31, 1862 846,998.35
The message refers at length to matters connected with the military history of the State, and pays a proper tribute to the several aid societies, mostly the women of the State, who have incessantly labored to supply the wants of the sick and wounded soldiers. It also gives the amount allotted by our soldiers in the field, through the allotment commissioners, up to Dec. 15, to be $1,783,705.92.
A large number of the bills passed by the legislature were designed for the benefit of soldiers and their families, and for providing means therefor. The following were the most im- portant bills of a military character.
To establish the manner of commencing and prosecuting suits against persons in the military service; to appropriate funds for damage done by rioters in Ozaukee County ; to
CROSSCUP AL WES
HON. ALEX. MITCHELL.
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amend the act granting soldiers in the field the right of suffrage ; to authorize the levy of a State tax of two hundred thousand dollars for the support of families of volunteers ; to appropriate to the governor five thousand dollars for con- tingent expenses, and three thousand dollars for a military contingent fund ; authorizing the governor to furnish tour- niquets for the use of volunteers; to authorize the issue and sale of bonds for three hundred thousand dollars; to amend the act granting aid to families of volunteers, defining more fully the rights of families ; to amend the act suspending sales of mortgaged lands to the State or held by volunteers, extend- ing the time of application to May 30, 1863; to give volun- teers the right to redeem lands sold for taxes within two years from April 1, 1863 ; to authorize the governor to take care of the sick and wounded soldiers of the Wisconsin volunteers, and appropriating fifteen thousand dollars for that purpose ; to purchase flags to replace flags of regiments in the field, injured or destroyed in battle; to extend volunteer aid to families for six months after the death of the soldier ; to provide for the collection of subscriptions made to pay bounties to volunteers, and the support of families of volunteers; a joint resolution adopted asking for the promotion of Cols. J. C. Starkweather and George E. Bryant to brigadier-generals ; a memorial asking for the establishment of a military hospital in the State of Wisconsin, for sick and wounded soldiers ; and a multitude of special acts authorizing towns to raise bounties for volunteers. In addition to the above bills, some sixty-two laws were passed amending general laws, twenty-eight amend- ing private and local laws, and nineteen amending the Revised Statutes ; a bill to provide for continuing the work on the State Capitol, and sixty-three thousand dollars appropriated to the erection of the foundation of the south wing, and of the rotunda to the top of the water-table, and the erection and completion of the north wing ; to codify the school laws of the State ; twenty-three acts incorporating and amending rail- road charters ; and a large number of appropriation bills.
On the 22d of January, the legislature in joint convention proceeded to vote for a United States senator to succeed Hon. James R. Doolittle, whose term of office expired March 4,
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1864. Hon. J. R. Doolittle received seventy-three votes ; and Edward G. Ryan, fifty-seven votes. The former was declared elected ; and, on the 13th of February; the joint convention met to elect four regents of the State University in place of J. G. McMynn, Carl Schurz, H. A. Tenney, and Levi B. Vilas, whose term of office had expired; and Rev. George B. Eastman, Dennison Worthington, Henry D. Barron, and Levi B. Vilas were declared elected.
The Madison "State Journal," referring to the session, says,-
" The legislature adjourns, leaving a record that will compare favorably with any of its predecessors. The most important measures that have been enacted are the acts organizing the militia of the State ; the repeal of the State Rights resolutions of 1859 ; the acts authorizing the investment of the school-fund in any bonds issued by the State, and providing for the continuation of the work on the State Capitol ; the compilation of the school laws ; and the issuing of three hundred and fifty thousand dollars in bonds for the volunteer family aid fund. In point of ability, it exceeded the average standard; and, as a general rule, it has manifested a disposition to retrench public expenditures and to lighten the burdens of taxation."
The building commissioners of the State, agreeably to the law providing for continuing work on the Capitol building, advertised for proposals for doing said work. On the 9th of May, the bids were opened, and the contract awarded to James Livesey, for $50,855, as the lowest bidder. The work of demol- ishing the old Capitol was soon commenced; and the building which had been the scene of so many interesting events in the early history of the Territory was soon brought to the ground.
In the spring of the year, some interest was taken in the election of a chief justice of the supreme court to fill the place of Hon. Luther S. Dixon, whose term of office was soon to expire. In February, a call, signed by many prominent attorneys, was extended to Judge Dixon to consent to have his name used as a candidate for re-election. To this call, Judge Dixon consented to run as an Independent candidate. At a meeting of the Democratic Convention, called to nominate a candidate for that office, Hon. Montgomery M. Cothren received the nomination. At the election in April, Judge Dixon was re-elected by a majority of about four thousand, including the vote of the soldiers in the field and camp.
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The question as to the legality and constitutionality of the vote of soldiers while in the field, and of the draft, was brought before the supreme court, which court decided the draft constitutional, as well as the right of soldiers to the elective franchise, declaring, also, that those who held office were subject to military duty.
The Democratic State Convention for the nomination of State officers met on the 6th of August, Hon. S. Orton, presi- dent. The following ticket was nominated: governor, Henry L. Palmer ; lieutenant-governor, Nelson Dewey ; secretary of State, Emil Rothe; state treasurer, Charles S. Benton ; attorney- general, Eleazar Wakeley ; bank comptroller, H. S. Pierre- pont ; state superintendent, Volney French ; state-prison com- missioner, John R. Bohan.
At the fall elections of 1862, James S. Brown, Ithamar C. Sloan, Amasa Cobb, Charles A. Eldredge, Ezra Wheeler, and Walter D. McIndoe were elected members of Congress for two years, from March 4, 1863.
The Union Republican Convention for the nomination of State officers convened Aug. 19, when the following persons . were put in nomination : governor, James T. Lewis ; lieu- tenant-governor, Wyman Spooner ; secretary of state, Lucius Fairchild ; state treasurer, Samuel D. Hastings; attorney- general, Winfield Smith ; state superintendent, Josiah L. Pick- ard; bank comptroller, William H. Ramsay; state-prison commissioner, Henry Cordier.
At the election held in November, James T. Lewis received 72,717 votes for governor, and Henry L. Palmer, 49,053. A number of votes for both candidates were rejected for infor- malities. The whole Union Republican ticket was elected. At the same election for members of the legislature, in the senate for 1864 the party strength was, Republican and Union, twenty-two; Democrats, eleven : in the assembly, Republican and Union, seventy-one; Democrats, twenty-nine.
CHAPTER XLV.
WISCONSIN'S WAR RECORD.
Events of 1863 - Regimental .History - Progress of the War - Triumphs and Defeats - Echoes from the Battle-Fields - Bravery of Wisconsin Soldiers.
THE history of the organization, equipment, and subsequent events connected with the volunteer regiments of this State, has been given to the thirty-first day of December, 1862. At that date, there had been organized and sent into the government service thirty-one regiments of infantry (exclusive of the old first three-months' men), three regiments and one company of cavalry, twelve batteries of light artillery, one battery of heavy artillery, and one company of sharpshooters, connected with and known as Company G of Berdan's Regiment.
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