USA > Wisconsin > Milwaukee County > Milwaukee > History of Milwaukee, city and county, Volume I > Part 55
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When the people began to realize that an actual conflict of arms was "sweeping upon the country like an approaching solar eclipse." (10 use an
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expression of the late Horace White) their enthusiasm knew no bounds, and Wisconsin's quota was far overrun by the volunteers who came forward in overwhelming mumbers to enlist in their country's cause. But as the war pro- grossed with the many defeats suffered by the Union armies volunteering languished and the repeated calls for troops sent out by President Lincoln found but a slack response.
"Volunteering showed a marked decrease, " says John W. Oliver writing on this subject in the Wisconsin Magazine of History, for March, 1919, "and those who had opposed the war or had been lukewarm in their support now bestirred themselves in making it unpopular." In the summer of 1862, two calls, each for 300,000 men, were issued, and it was readily perceived that the enthusiasm had waned since the first call had electrified the country. In this emergency Governor Salomon and his military advisers determined to adopt the system of conseription or draft in common use among the nations of the old world but never before resorted to in this country, to fill the quota required.
The governor ordered the sheriff's in each county of the state to enroll all the able-bodied citizens between the ages of eighteen and forty-five and appointed a commission to supervise the draft. These measures produced great excitement among the people throughout the state and much opposition was threatened. And when in November the machinery of the draft was put in operation serious riots broke out at many points and considerable violence ensued. In Ozankee County a mob collected which destroyed the draft rolls and drove the officials away. The governor was obliged to order a military force to the scene which soon quelled the disturbance.
"The following week," says Oliver, "the draft was to take place in Mil. waukee and Governor Salomon took a vigorous stand to prevent the recurrence of the Ozaukee County trouble. A proclamation was issued to the people of the county warning them against such disgraceful seenes as had been recently enacted by the Port Washington mob. Col. John C. Starkweather was ordered to take charge of the troops and guard the city. Soldiers were placed on picket duty on all the roads leading into the city, and one company kept guard at the courthouse where the draft was to be made. With these precautions the draw- ing of numbers began at nine o'clock in the morning and continued throughout the day and late into the night."
All the later drafts in the Civil war were made under Federal authority. "Ilalf a century later," remarks Mr. Oliver, "when the country called for an army on the basis of a selective draft, Wisconsin was among the most enthusi- astie states in the Union in filling her quota."
The work of the women in the Civil war has been made the subject of a volume in the "Wisconsin llistory" series, published by the state in 1911. This volume was prepared by Miss Ethel Alice Hurn. The series was issued under the editorship of that indefatigable worker, Reuben Gold Thwaites, the superintendent of the State Historical Society. Among the activities of women in the Civil war we shall only attempt to make a selection of a few that we have space for in this history. The work performed by the women in the Civil war was similar in most respeets to that which we have been familiar with in the great war of recent years.
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NATIONAL SOLDIERS' HOME. LOCATED WEST OF MILWAUKEE
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Of course knitted things,-mittens, searves, sweaters, and eaps, -- constituted the major portion of the work taken up by women. A national organization was formed, the United States Sanitary Commission, to which thousands of neighborhood societies allied themselves, and thus the work became systema- tized and the service to the men in the field was greatly increased in efficiency. "There was a perfect epidemie of knitting, " relates one who recalls the scenes of that heroie time.
It is somewhat perilons to mention the work of individuals in view of the extremely valuable services performed by the combined efforts of all, for fear that some may be overlooked. The name of Mrs. Joseph S. Colts, of Milwaukee, is one frequently met with in the accounts. Other names were " Mother" Biekerdyke, Mrs. A. H. Hoge, Mrs. Mary A. Livermore and Mrs. Cordelia Harvey, the widow of Gov. Louis P. Harvey who met his death by drowning while visiting the troops at the front. We have already made extensive men- tion of woman's work in connection with the Sanitary fairs held in Milwaukee and elsewhere.
"The Wisconsin Soldiers' Home and the Milwaukee Home Fair, " says the author of the volume referred to, "were promoted and managed by women, and the remarkable energy and business ability of Mrs. Lydia Hewitt and her assistants carried both of these projects to success. The whole episode was part of the uprising of the women of the North, and shows the native ability and tireless persisteney of the American woman of 1865."
In the "Photographie History of the Civil War," there is a chapter con- tributed by Gen. Charles King, renowned as well for his literary accomplish- ments as for his military record. In this chapter General King calls attention to the numerous instances of youthful soldiers who entered the service some. of whom attained high rank. Boys of sixteen or less were often accepted by recruiting officers for service as musicians, buglers, drummer boys, and the like who later took their places in the ranks. There were three hundred boys of thirteen years of age or under who were mustered into the army serving as "markers" on battalion drills or parade, where they needed to carry only a light staff on which fluttered a "guidon" instead of a rifle. "There were little seamps of buglers in some of the old regular cavalry regiments and field batteries," says General King, "who sometimes had to be hoisted into the saddle, but eould stick there like monkeys, and with reckless daring followed at the heels of the leader in many a wild sabre charge."
Young Arthur Mac Arthur is mentioned in the chapter referred to. "Too young to enlist and crowded out of the chance of entering West Point in 1861," " says the writer, "he received the appointment of adjutant of the Twenty-fourth Wisconsin (well known as the ' Milwaukee regiment'), when he was barely seventeen years of age, and was promoted to be major and lienten- ant-colonel while still eighteen ; and commanded his regiment, though thrice wounded, in the bloody battles of Resaca and Franklin.
"The 'gallant boy colonel,' as he was styled by General Stanley in his report, entered the regular army after the war, and in 1909, full of honors, reached the retiring age (sixty-four) as the last of its lieutenant-generals."
An Episode of the Civil War .- In these days of almost unanimous praise
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for Abraham Lincoln and his administration during the Civil war period it seems strange to find a mayor of Milwaukee, a city distinguished for its un- swerving loyalty at that time and at all times since then, indulging in bitter criticism of the great Emane pator. Abner Kirby was the mayor of Milwaukee at one period during the war and he held views which coincided with those held by the "Copperheads" of that time.
In his inaugural address. made before the Common Council April 20, 1864, Mayor Kirby expressed himself candidly on both municipal and national affairs. This address is preserved in maunseript form at the municipal ref- erenee library of Milwaukee, and a portion of the address is subjoined hereto. as follows :
Mayor Kirby's Inaugural Address .-- " In entering upon my duties as Chief Magistrate of our good eity, it is expected of me, in accordance with custom, to ask you to consider in candor such suggestions and recommendations as in my judgment may seem proper and just in the management of our municipal affairs. With you I can do much : without you, nothing. The trust reposed in the members of the city government is one of a high order and of grave re- sponsibility. We are pledged in the most solemn manner to discharge our duties honestly and to the best of our ability. I have the utmost confidence in the council. Yon will favor all measures necessary to the prosperity of the people, to the public convenience. and to the lasting good of our city. You will be bound down with iron chains to strict economy in all expenditures. In this, Conneilmen, I shall aet with you. Death and expenses, however, are unavoid- able, but the latter may be restricted and in times like the present they should not exceed actual necessity. The most rigid economy must prevail in the ad- ministration of our municipal affairs. This is your disposition and it is mine. So far as our influence and jurisdiction extends, our great and good country in its mournful state of bloody and financial trial, also must and shall receive the support of our ever ready hearts and hands. We must help and foster every effort to re-establish an honorable peaee. Under present eirenmstanees that can best be done by sending to the field our best men.
"The city of Milwaukee differs from the administration now in power. as to its policy. We believe our rulers are not taking the right course to suppress this accursed rebellion. The present constitutional Chief of our nation, is, in my humble opinion, not fitted for the place, the occasion, or the times. Ile is the weakest man on the whole list of presidents. llis honesty 1 never question. A weak and vacillating president, is quite as fatal to our pros- perity in these times, as a dishonest president. He is in dishonest hands. llis predecessor ran away with the nigger, and Abraham runs the nigger away. Which of the two has shown the greater weakness, and brought the larger amount of trouble upon us? I leave you to judge. A few fanaties have dragged the country into this bloody and unholy strife. These fanaties do not all abide in the south : neither do they all live in the north. While General Grant was working into Vicksburg last summer, the telegraph the same day announced that Vicksburg was in our hands, and Bill Yancey was dead. When this news reached old Boston, one of our Badger boys standing by, remarked : .God and Grant are at work now,' and this makes us hope that rebellion and
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abolition will fill a common grave by November. I have always mourned that the officials at Washington sent back Alexander H. Stephens, when, under the flag of truce he implored us to receive him within our lines. Ile might have borne the olive branch, and opened the way to that glorious re-union, which all except the higher law abolitionists so much desire. As for the abolitionists, there is no power in heaven to please them for they hate peace on earth. For our government, the constitution and its laws, what would we not do that is honorable. It is the best government ever formed or lived under. All true men believe this."
Lincoln in Wisconsin .- The story of Lincoln's visit to Milwaukee in the early day has been outlined in another part of this history, but as a sidelight to that story the following quotation from an undated newspaper clipping in the possession of the "Old Settlers' Club" of Milwaukee may be included in that account :
"Great destinies often turn upon apparently trivial decisions," " says the writer of the newspaper article referred to. "This is illustrated in the follow- ing story coneerning Abraham Lincoln which has just come to the notice of the Wisconsin State Historical society. During the later thirties the great Emancipator, then a struggling country lawyer, came to Milwaukee in search of a place to build up a practice. Ile was told that the 'Cream City' was over- crowded with advocates, but that excellent opportunities were open in the growing villages to the north, particularly at Port Washington and She- boygan. Acting upon this advice he made the fifty-mile journey to Sheboygan. traveling on foot, for it was in the days before the railroad was built.
"Ile stopped for one night at Port Washington, completing his tour of investigation on the following day. Evidently what he found did not impress him favorably, for he forthwith returned to his Illinois home and settled down to practice there.
"To-day," continues the writer. "the nation is thankful that pioneer Wis- consin seemed unattractive to the future president. Had he made his abode at Port Washington or Sheboygan, he might indeed have risen to local prom- inence, but he would never have met Douglas, he would never have been nom- inated for the presidency, and he would not have had the opportunity to guide the imperiled Union through the bloody mazes of the Civil war."
Whithersoever into the vast realms of the "might-have-beens" such speeula- tions might lead us it is interesting to contemplate the periods of crises in a great man's life, and learn in what way other channels opened towards the great Inture that was in store for him.
"Old Abe," Wisconsin's War Eagle .- The Eighth Wisconsin Regiment of Volunteers was recruited during the summer of 1861. Regiments in the Civil war were nominally composed of 1,000 men each in ten companies of 100 men each. It was seldom, however, that the full number as thus indicated was reached before they were mustered into the service, and long before the expira- tion of their terms of service they had usually shrunken to a small fraction of their nominal strength.
A part of the equipment provided by the government was the regulation flag carried by a color sergeant and a guard. The colors were carried in the Vol. 1-38
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center of the regiment as it stood in line on parade or in battle formation. In addition many regiments carried a presentation flag, a gift from the town where the unit was recruited or provided by the men themselves. This special standard was usually made of-silk, fringed with gold trimmings and bearing a device or inscription. Thus regiments as they marched away to war were usually seen bearing two standards, one in accordance with military regulations and another the gift of friends or chosen by themselves.
The second standard, however, was not always a flag or banner. The Eighth Wisconsin which departed for the war in September, 1861, chose to carry a live eagle along with the regular colors, and for the ensuing three years the flag and the eagle were companions in numerous marches and battles. This par- tienlar bird was an American bald eagle which had scarcely reached its growth when it was brought in by a hunter who offered it for sale to the company then forming at Eau Claire. The eagle had been captured by an Indian on the Flambeau River, and the hunter demanded $2.50 for him. A patriotic citizen bought him and presented him to the company, whose members promptly named him "Old Abe," and under that name he won great renown as will presently appear. One of the men undertook the care of the eagle which was provided with a small platform in the shape of a shield attached to a short staff, to which it was fastened by a line fifteen or twenty feet in length.
Such a perch with its burden was quite a heavy weight for one soldier to carry, as the eagle alone weighed about ten pounds, but the bearer had no other duty to perform than that of carrying this living emblem of war and military glory. When in line the eagle was always borne on the left of the color bearer in the center of the regiment which from the beginning was known throughout the war as "The Eagle Regiment," and became famous in all the armies both on the Union and Confederate sides.
Animals and Birds as Mascots .- It was a common practice for soldiers and marines to take with them pets of some kind on their campaigns and voyages. Several regiments from Wisconsin, the "Badger State, " quite appropriately had badgers for their pets during the Civil war. A Minnesota regiment had a half grown bear which was present at a number of engagements: one regiment had a raccoon, while dogs, cats, squirrels and roosters were quite usual as mem- bers of the regimental family. In the navy goats and even pigs are often taken along as "mascots," this term being employed in later days though the word was not in use at the time of the Civil war.
The Eagle Regiment was a great attraction to the crowits of spectators as it passed through the cities on its way to the seat of war, marching by platoons with the eagle proudly borne aloft at the left of the colors. He seemed to be perfectly aware of his importance on such occasions and showed unusual interest in the proceedings. He was well trained by his keeper and gave little trouble, but while passing through St. Louis he became much excited at the shouting, and flapping his wings, rose from his perch and alighted on the chimney of a residence at the full length of his tether. Here he gazed at the people cally until he was recovered by his faithful keeper. Some of the spectators insisted he was a turkey buzzard, and some having southern sympa- thies, shouted derisively "a erow. " "a wild goose." "a Yankee buzzard."
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He recognized his friends among the soldiers, especially his keeper, and greeted them with a "plaintive cooing," but strangers could never approach him with safety as he was always ready to make an attack. One day while the regiment was resting in a small southern town a little boy with bare feet came near the eagle who was then on the ground. "Take care of your feet, boy," said one of the men by way of warning, "he will pounee on them if you don't stand back ; the only reason he has not done so already is that he isn't very hungry just now, as we fed him a small boy a little ways back." The little chap placed himself at a respectful distance at once.
"Old Abe" in Action .- During active military operations "Old Abe" showed himself to be a good soldier, and in the excitement of battle, and especially in a charge, his eries could be heard as if to encourage the men. On such occasions he would often rise from his perch nttering wild screams, the fiercer the storm of battle the louder his voice became. As one writer said, he seemed "conscious of his relationship with the emblem of the republic." At the battle of Corinth it was said that General Price, discovering the eagle, ordered his men "to be sure and take him, as he would rather get that bird than capture a whole brigade of men." However, they were unsuccessful. During the battle "Old Abe" sprang into the air with so much foree that he broke the cord attached to his perch and, soared high overhead while the enemy sent a fusillade of shots after him. He kept his comrades in view and returned to their position in safety though with some of his wing feathers shot away. He was often the target of riffe fire and on one occasion a battery of artillery opened on him but he always escaped injury.
"Sometimes," said one who described his appearance in battle, "our eagle, furious and on fire, scanned friend and foe through the clouds of smoke, cheer- ing his compatriots with the splendor of his example. It was but to look at that eagle, raised aloft with wings flapping, with eyes of lightning, with voice like an Indian war-whoop, and know that the angury was hopeful and that our cause was just." Thus this remarkable eagle has become a permanent part of the history of the great war for the Union, and like some of the war-horses which carried great commanders in many battles, "Old Abe" will be remem- bered by all succeeding generations.
The Eagle's Later Adventures .- Throughont the period of his army service the eagle was in charge of a succession of keepers. The eagle was present at thirty-six battles, and at the expiration of the regiment's terin of service he accompanied the returning veterans to Eau Claire from where they had started three years before. The men, with "Old Abe" proudly borne aloft, were greeted with booming eannon, martial musie, patriotie songs and an abundant feast, and when at the conclusion of a speech three cheers were given, the eagle, catching the enthusiasm, rose upon his perch, flapped his pinions and uttered shrill eries in unison with the cheers.
When the regiment was mustered out "Old Abe" was presented to the state of Wisconsin, and accepted by the governor in an appropriate speech. Quarters were assigned the eagle in the basement of the capitol with a range in the adjoining grounds, and this splendid bird now entered upon the second phase
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of his eventful life. But first we will give a brief account of the "Soldiers' Fairs" which presented a new field for the eagle's triumphant career.
"Old Abe" at the Soldiers' Fairs .- The great Sanitary Fairs,-or "Sol- diers' Fairs"-of the Civil war period were held under the auspices and direction of the United States Sanitary Commission, the driving force of which were patriotie women. Two of the leading spirits of the Commission, to men- tion no others, were Mrs. A. H. Hoge and Mrs. Mary A. Livermore. The first fair or "Pioneer Fair." as it was often called, was held in Chicago in October, 1863, the net receipts of which were $86,000. The purpose of the Commission was to afford relief to "soldiers in actual service, whether on the march, in eamp or in hospitals." Many aid societies were formed tributary to the Com- mission, such as the Sisters of Merey and societies of the various churches carrying on a work similar to that of the American Red Cross of later years.
A second fair was projected for the spring of 1865, but as the time ap- proached for its opening, events of great magnitude occurred which practically ended the war, and it was thought by many that no further efforts were necessary. However, it was finally determined to go on with the fair as there were urgent calls for relief and aid to the returning veterans. The second fair was accordingly opened May 30th, 1865, and continued until late in June, show- ing net receipts of $240,000. Meantime the end of the war became an accom- plished faet, and the work of disbanding the huge army of more than a million of men was in full operation. The people everywhere were rejoicing that the cruel war was over and there seemed no limit to their generosity in spite of the tremendous sacrifices that had already been made during the four years of confliet.
It was at the second Sanitary fair that "Old Abe, " Wisconsin's war eagle. appeared and made so striking a sensation and contributed so largely to the success of the fair. Through the efforts of Mr. Alfred L. Sewell, a Chicago publisher, pictures of "Old Abe" were printed and sold by the tens of thou- sands for the benefit of the fair, the returns from this particular branch of the fair's activities amounting to over $16,000. Mr. Sewell began the publica- tion of a juvenile magazine at this time called "The Little Corporal"' which afterwards attained an enormous circulation. During the presence of the eagle at the fair, Mr. Barnum, the famous showman, offered $20,000 for him but of course the state of Wisconsin declined to consider the offer. In due course the eagle was safely returned to his quarters in the capitol at Madison.
"Old Abe" at the Soldiers' Home Fair .- "Everybody went to see this famous bird." says Mr. J. O. Barrett in his book, "Old Abe." "Prices for his quills and feathers rose as high as five dollars each, but the demand could seldom be supplied. Not a feather was allowed to be plucked From his beautiful plumage .- not for any price." The only feathers or quills that could be obtained were those that were dropped in the ordinary course of moulting.
During the Milwaukee Soldiers' Home Fair a special tent was ereeted out- side the main building on Huron Street as the tempoary home of "Old Abe." called "The Tangled Feature, " and here visitors Hocked to pay homage to the famous War Bird. In the center of the tent were large evergreen rings, rising one above another, and at the topmost was a circular platform on which the
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eagle sat "monarch of all he surveyed." The llome Fair Journal thus de- scribed the hero of many battles : "Beneath a canopy of green sits the Veteran Eagle, 'Old Abe,' the bird that for three long years was the' companion of the gallant boys of the Eighth Wisconsin regiment, marching and camping and going into battle with them; and when the battle grew hot, threatening death to all, leaving his perch, and soaring aloft with a seream that rose above the roar of battle, cheering his companions on to victory. With an eye that seemed as if it would pierce yon through, he calmly surveys the visitors, look- ing down upon them 'with the greatest interest and curiosity.' "
The Eagle Assists at Many Celebrations .- "Old Abe" was in great request at numerons celebrations and reunions at different places in the country. At the "Soldiers' and Sailors' convention," held at Pittsburgh in 1866, the war eagle gloriously represented his state. The hall where the convention was held was densely packed, and at the moment of the eagle's entrance, borne on his perch by Captain MeDonald, Gen. Benjamin F. Butler, of Massachusetts, was just beginning to speak. Gen. J. D. Cox, the chairman, requested the speaker to pause a moment, and in a lond voice shouted : "Here comes the veteran war eagle of Wisconsin ; please open the way, gentlemen, that he may come forward." Amid vociferons applause the eagle was given a place beside the chairman on the platform, Instily flapping his wings when he heard the cheers and the band musie, as if he recognized the old music, the old cheers and the old flag.
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