The History of Rock County, Wisconsin: Its Early Settlement, Growth, Development, Resources, Etc., Part 12

Author: Wesern historical company, Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Chicago : Western Historical Co.
Number of Pages: 899

USA > Wisconsin > Rock County > The History of Rock County, Wisconsin: Its Early Settlement, Growth, Development, Resources, Etc. > Part 12

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HISTORY OF WISCONSIN.

The legislature at its regular session of 1862, passed a law making it necessary to present all claims which were made payable out of the war fund, within twelve months from the time they accrued ; a law was also passed authorizing the investment of the principal of the school fund in the bonds of the state issued for war purposes ; another, amendatory of the act of the extra session of 1861, granting exemption to persons enrolled in the military service, so as to except persons acting as fiduciary agents, either as executors or administrators, or guardians or trustees, or persons defrauding the State, or any school district of moneys belonging to the same; also author- izing a stay of proceedings in foreclosures of mortgages, by advertisements. " The State Aid Law" was amended so as to apply to all regiments of infantry, cavalry, artillery and sharpshooters, defining the rights of families, fixing penalties for the issue of false papers, and imposing duties on military officers in the field to make certain reports. These amendments only included regi- ments and companies organized up to and including the Twentieth, which was in process of organization before the close of the session. A law was also passed suspending the sale of lands mortgaged to the State, or held by volunteers; another defining the duties of the allotment com- missioners appointed by the president of the United States, and fixing their compensation. One authorized the issuing of bonds for two hundred thousand dollars for war purposes ; one author- ized a temporary loan from the general fund to pay State aid to volunteers; and one, the appoint- ment of a joint committee to investigate the sale of war bonds; while another authorized the governor to appoint surgeons to batteries, and assistant surgeons to cavalry regiments.

The legislature, it will be remembered, took a recess from the seventh of April to the third of June, 1862. Upon its re-assembling, ... act was passed providing for the discontinuance of the active services of the paymaster general, quartermaster general and commissary general. Another act appropriated twenty thousand dollars to enable the governor to care for the sick and wounded soldiers of the State. There was also another act passed authorizing the auditing, by the quartermaster general, of bills for subsistence and transportation of the Wisconsin cavalry regiments. At the extra session called by Governor Salomon, for the tenth of September, 1862, an amendment was made to the law granting aid to families of volunteers, by including all regi- ments of cavalry, infantry, or batteries of artillery before that time raised in the State, or that might afterward be raised and mustered into the United States service. It also authorized the levying of a State tax of two hundred and seventy-five thousand dollars to be placed to the credit of the war fund and used in the payment of warrants for "State Aid" to families of volunteers. Another law authorized commissioned officers out of the State to administer oaths and take acknowledgments of deeds and other papers. One act authorized soldiers in the field, although out of the State, to exercise the right of suffrage ; and another gave towns, cities, incorporated villages and counties the authority to raise money to pay bounties to volunteers.

On the fifth of August, 1862, Governor Salomon received from the war department a dispatch stating that orders had been issued for a draft of three hundred thousand men to be immediately called into the service of the United States, to serve for nine months unless sooner discharged ; that if the State quota under a call made July 2, of that year, for three hundred thousand vol- unteers, was not filled by the fifteenth of August, the deficiency would be made up by draft ; and that the secretary of war would assign the quotas to the States and establish regulations for the draft. On the eighth of that month, the governor of the State was ordered to immediately cause an enrollment of all able-bodied citizens between eighteen and forty-five years of age, by counties. Governor Salomon was authorized to appoint proper officers, and the United States promised to pay all reasonable expenses. The quota for Wisconsin, under the call for nine months' men, was eleven thousand nine hundred and four. The draft was made by the governor in obedience to the order he had received from Washington ; but such had been the volunteering under the stim-

WISCONSIN AS A STATE.

ulus caused by a fear of it, that only four thousand five hundred and thirty-seven men were drafted. This was the first and only draft made in Wisconsin by the State authorities. Subsequent ones were made under the direction of the provost marshal general at Wash- ington.

The enlisting, organization and mustering into the United States service during Randall's administration of thirteen regiments of infantry-the First to the Thirteenth inclusive, and the marching of ten of them out of the State before the close of 1861, also, of one company of cavalry under Captain Von Deutsch and one company of sharpshooters under Captain Alexander, con- stituted the effective aid abroad of Wisconsin during that year to suppress the rebellion. But for the year 1862, this aid, as to number of organizations, was more than doubled, as will now be shown.

The Ninth regiment left " Camp Sigel," Milwaukee, under command of Colonel Frederick Salomon, on the twenty-second of January, 1862, numbering thirty-nine officers and eight hun dred and eighty-four men, to report at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

The Twelfth infantry left Wisconsin under command of Colonel George E. Bryant, ten hundred and forty-five strong, the eleventh of January, 1862, with orders to report at Weston, Missouri.

The Thirteenth regiment-Colonel Maurice Maloney-left "Camp Tredway," Janesville, on the eighteenth of January, 1862, nine hundred and seventy strong, under orders to report at Leavenworth, Kansas, where it arrived on the twenty-third.

The Fourteenth regiment of infantry departed from " Camp Wood," Fond du Lac, under command of Colonel David E. Wood, for St. Louis, Missouri, on the eighth of March, 1862, it having been mustered into the United States service on the thirtieth of January previous. Its total strength was nine hundred and seventy officers and men. It arrived at its destination on the tenth of March, and went into quarters at " Benton Barracks."

The Fifteenth regiment, mostly recruited from the Scandinavian population of Wisconsin, was organized at "Camp Randall," Madison-Hans C. Heg as colonel. Its muster into the United States service was completed on the fourteenth of February, 1862, it leaving the State for St. Louis, Missouri, on the second of March following, with a total strength of eight hundred and one officers and men.

The Sixteenth regiment was organized at "Camp Randall," and was mustered into the service on the last day of January, 1862, leaving the State, with Benjamin Allen as colonel, for St. Louis on the thirteenth of March ensuing, having a total strength of one thousand and sixty-six.

The reg.mental organization of the Seventeenth infantry (Irish), Colonel John L. Doran, was effected at " Camp Randall," and the mustering in of the men completed on the fifteenth of March, 1862, the regiment leaving the State on the twenty-third for St. Louis.

The Eighteenth regiment organized at " Camp Trowbridge," Milwaukee-James S. Alban, colonel-completed its muster into the United States service on the fifteenth of March, 1862, and left the State for St. Louis on the thirtieth, reaching their point of destination on the thirty- first.

The Nineteenth infantry rendezvoused at Racine as an independent regiment, its colonel, Horace T. Sanders, being commissioned by the war department. The men were mustered into the service as fast as they were enlisted. Independent organizations being abolished, by an order from Washington, the Nineteenth was placed on the same footing as other regiments in the State. On the twentieth of April, 1862, the regiment was ordered to "Camp Randall " to guard rebel prisoners. Here the mustering in was completed, numbering in all nine hundred and seventy-three. They left the State for Washington on the second of June,

HISTORY OF WISCONSIN.

The muster into the United States service of the Twentieth regiment-Bertine Pinckney, colonel-was completed on the twenty-third of August, 1862, at "Camp Randall," the original strength being nine hundred and ninety. On the thirtieth of August the regiment left the State for St. Louis.

The Twenty-first infantry was organized at Oshkosh, being mustered in on the fifth of Sep- tember, 1862, with a force of one thousand and two, all told-Benjamin J. Sweet, colonel- leaving the State for Cincinnati on the eleventh.

The Twenty-second regiment-Colonel William L. Utley-was organized at "Camp Utley," Racine, and mustered in on the second of September, 1862. Its original strength was one thou- sand and nine. It left the State for Cincinnati on the sixteenth.

On the thirtieth of August, 1862, the Twenty-third regiment-Colonel Joshua J. Guppey- was mustered in at "Camp Randall," leaving Madison for Cincinnati on the fifteenth.

The Twenty-fourth infantry rendezvoused at "Camp Sigel," Milwaukee. Its muster in was completed on the twenty-first of August, 1862, the regiment leaving the State under Colonel Charles H. Larrabee, for Kentucky, on the fifth of September, one thousand strong.

On the fourteenth of September, 1862, at "Camp Salomon," LaCrosse, the Twenty-fifth regiment was mustered into the service-Milton Montgomery, colonel. They left the State on the nineteenth with orders to report to General Pope, at St. Paul, Minnesota, to aid in suppress- ing the Indian difficulties in that State. Their entire strength was one thousand and eighteen. The regiment, after contributing to the preservation of tranquillity among the settlers, and deterring the Indians from hostilities, returned to Wisconsin, arriving at "Camp Randall " on the eighteenth of December, 1862.

The Twenty-sixth-almost wholly a German regiment-was mustered into the service at "Camp Sigel," Milwaukee, on the seventeenth of September, 1862. The regiment, under com- mand of Colonel William H. Jacobs, left the State for Washington city on the sixth of October, one thousand strong.

The Twenty-seventh infantry was ordered to rendezvous at "Camp Sigel," Milwaukee, on the seventeenth of September, 1862; but the discontinuance of recruiting for new regiments in August left the Twenty-seventh with only seven companies full. An order authorizing the recruiting of three more companies was received, and under the supervision of Colonel Conrad Krez the organization was completed, but the regiment at the close of the year had not been mustered into the service.

On the twenty-fourth of October, 1862, the Twenty-eighth regiment-James M. Lewis, of Oconomowoc, colonel-was mustered into the United States service at "Camp Washburn," Mil- waukee. Its strength was nine hundred and sixty-one. In November, the regiment was employed in arresting and guarding the draft rioters in Ozaukee county. It left the State for Columbus, Kentucky, on the twentieth of December, where they arrived on the twenty-second; remaining there until the fifth of January, 1863.

The Twenty-ninth infantry-Colonel Charles R. Gill-was organized at "Camp Randall," where its muster into the United States service was completed on the twenty-seventh of Sep- tember, 1862, the regiment leaving the State for Cairo, Illinois, on the second of November.

The Thirtieth regiment, organized at "Camp Randall" under the supervision of Colonel Daniel J. Dill, completed its muster into the United States service on the twenty-first of October, 1862, with a strength of nine hundred and six. On the sixteenth of November, one company of the Thirtieth was sent to Green Bay to protect the draft commissioner, remaining several weeks. On the eighteenth, seven companies moved to Milwaukee to assist in enforcing the draft in Mil- waukee county, while two companies remained in "Camp Randall" to guard Ozaukee rioters.

WISCONSIN AS A STATE.

On the twenty-second, six companies from Milwaukee went to West Bend, Washington county, one company returning to "Camp Randall." After the completion of the draft in Washington county, four companies returned to camp, while two companies were engaged in gathering up the drafted men.

The final and complete organization of the Thirty-first infantry-Colonel Isaac E. Mess- more-was not concluded during the year 1862.

The Thirty-second regiment, organized at "Camp Bragg," Oshkosh, with James H. Howe as colonel, was mustered into the service on the twenty-fifth of September, 1862; and, on the thirtieth of October, leaving the State, it proceeded by way of Chicago and Cairo to Memphis, Tennessee, going into camp on the third of November. The original strength of the Thirty- second was nine hundred and ninety-three.

The Thirty-third infantry-Colonel Jonathan B. Moore-mustered in on the eighteenth of October, 1862, at " Camp Utley," Racine, left the State, eight hundred and ninety-two strong, moving by way of Chicago to Cairo.

The Thirty-fourth regiment, drafted men, original strength nine hundred and sixty-one- Colonel Fritz Anneke-had its muster into service for nine months completed at "Camp Wash- burn," Milwaukee, on the last day of the year 1862.

Of the twenty-four infantry regiments, numbered from the Twelfth to the Thirty-fourth inclusive, and including also the Ninth, three-the Ninth, Twelfth, and Thirteenth-were mus- tered into the United States service in 1861. The whole of the residue were mustered in during the year 1862, except the Twenty-seventh and the Thirty-first. All were sent out of the State during 1862, except the last two mentioned and the Twenty-fifth, Thirtieth, and Thirty-fourth.

The First regiment of cavalry - Colonel Edward Daniels-perfected its organization at " Camp Harvey," Kenosha. Its muster into the United States service was completed on the eighth of March, 1862, the regiment leaving the State for St. Louis on the seventeenth, with a strength of eleven hundred and twenty-four.

The muster of the Second Wisconsin cavalry was completed on the twelfth of March, 1862, at "Camp Washburn," Milwaukee, the regiment leaving the State for St. Louis on the twenty- fourth, eleven hundred and twenty-seven strong. It was under the command of Cadwallader C. Washburn as colonel.

The Third Wisconsin cavalry-Colonel William A. Barstow-was mustered in at "Camp Barstow," Janesville. The muster was completed on the 31st of January, 1862, the regiment leaving the State on the 26th of March for St. Louis, with a strength of eleven hundred and eighty-six.

The original project of forming a regiment of light artillery in Wisconsin was overruled by the war department, and the several batteries were sent from the State as independent organizations.

The First battery-Captain Jacob T. Foster-perfected its organization at "Camp Utley," where the company was mustered in, it leaving the State with a strength of one hundred and fifty-five, on the 23d of January, 1862, for Louisville, where the battery went into "Camp Irvine," near that city. The Second battery-Captain Ernest F. Herzberg-was mustered into the service at "Camp Utley," October 10, 1861, the company numbering one hundred and fifty- three. It left the State for Baltimore, on the 21st of January, 1862. The Third battery-Cap- tain L. H. Drury-completed its organization of one hundred and seventy at "Camp Utley," and was mustered in October 10, 1861, leaving the State for Louisville, on the 23d of January, 1862. The Fourth battery-Captain John F. Vallee-rendezvoused at "Camp Utley." Its muster in was completed on the Ist of October, 1861, its whole force being one hundred and fifty one. The company left the State for Baltimore on the 21st of January, 1862. The Fifth bat-

HISTORY OF WISCONSIN.

tery, commanded by Captain Oscar F. Pinney, was mustered in on the ast of October, 1861, at " Camp Utley," leaving the State for St. Louis, on the 15th of March, 1862, one hundred and fifty-five strong. The Sixth battery-Captain Henry Dillon-was mustered in on the 2d of October, 1861, at " Camp Utley," leaving the State for St. Louis, March 15, 1862, with a numer- ical strength of one hundred and fifty-seven. The Seventh battery-Captain Richard R. Grif- fiths-was mustered in on the 4th of October, 1861, at " Camp Utley," and proceeded on the 15th of March, 1862, with the Fifth and Sixth batteries to St. Louis. The Eighth battery, com- manded by Captain Stephen J. Carpenter, was mustered in on the 8th of January, 1862, at "Camp Utley," and left the State on the 18th of March following, for St. Louis, one hundred and sixty-one strong. The Ninth battery, under command of Captain Cyrus H. Johnson, was organ- ized at Burlington, Racine county. It was mustered in on the 7th of January, 1862, leaving " Camp Utley " for St. Louis, on the 18th of March. At St. Louis, their complement of men- one hundred and fifty-five-was made up by the transfer of forty-five from another battery. The Tenth battery-Captain Yates V. Bebee-after being mustered in at Milwaukee, on the 10th of February, 1862, left "Camp Utley," Racine, on the 18th of March for St. Louis, one hundred and seventeen strong. The Eleventh battery-Captain John O'Rourke-was made up of the "Oconto Irish Guards " and a detachment of Illinois recruits. The company was organized at "Camp Douglas," Chicago, in the Spring of 1862. Early in 1862, William A. Pile succeeded in enlisting ninety-nine men as a company to be known as the Twelfth battery. The men were mustered in and sent forward in squads to St. Louis. Captain Pile's commission was revoked on the 18th of July. His place was filled by William Zickrick. These twelve batteries were all that left the State in 1862. To these are to be added the three regiments of cavalry and the nineteen regi- ments of infantry, as the effective force sent out during the year by Wisconsin.

The military officers of the State, at the commencement of 1863, were Edward Salomon, governor and commander-in-chief; Brigadier General Augustus Gaylord, adjutant general; Colonel S. Nye Gibbs, assistant adjutant general; Brigadier General Nathaniel F. Lund, quartermaster general; Brigadier General E. B. Wolcott, surgeon general; and Colonel W. H. Watson, military secretary. The two incomplete regiments of 1862- the Twenty-seventh and Thirty-first volunteers - were completed and in the field in March, 1863. The former was mustered in at "Camp Sigel "- Colonel Conrad Krez - on the 7th of March, and left the State, eight hundred and sixty-five strong, on the 16th for Columbus, Kentucky; the latter, under command of Colonel Isaac E. Messmore, with a strength of eight hundred and seventy-eight, left Wisconsin on the Ist of March, for Cairo, Illinois. The Thirty-fourth (drafted) regiment left "Camp Washburn," Milwaukee, on the 31st of January, 1863, for Columbus, Kentucky, numbering nine hundred and sixty-one, commanded by Colonel Fritz Anneke. On the 17th of February, 1863, the Twenty-fifth regiment left "Camp Randall " for Cairo, Illinois. The Thirtieth regiment remained in Wisconsin during the whole of 1863, performing various duties-the only one of the whole thirty-four that, at the end of that year, had not left the State.

On the 14th of January, 1863, the legislature of Wisconsin, as before stated, convened at Madison. Governor Salomon, in his message to that body, gave a summary of the transac- tions of the war fund during the calendar year; also of what was done in 1862, in the recruiting of military forces, and the manner in which the calls of the president were responded to. There were a number of military laws passed at this session. A multitude of special acts authorizing towns to raise bounties for volunteers, were also passed.

No additional regiments of infantry besides those already mentioned were organized in 1863, although recruiting for old regiments continued. On the 3d of March, 1863, the congress of the United States passed the "Conscription Act." Under this act, Wisconsin was divided

WISCONSIN AS A STATE.

into six districts. In the first district, I. M. Bean was appointed provost marshal; C. M. Baker, commissioner; and J. B. Dousman, examining surgeon. Headquarters of this district was at Milwaukee. In the second district, S. J. M. Putnam was appointed provost marshal; L. B. Caswell, commissioner; and Dr. C. R. Head, examining surgcon. Headquarters of this district was at Janesville. In the third district, J. G. Clark was appointed provost marshal; E. E. Byant, commissioner ; and John H. Vivian, examining surgeon. Headquarters at Prairie du Chien. In the fourth district, E. L. Phillips was appointed provost marshal ; Charles Burchard, commissioner ; and L. H. Cary, examining surgeon. Headquarters at Fond du Lac. In the fifth district, C. R. Merrill was appointed provost marshal; William A. Bugh, commissioner ; and H. O. Crane, examining surgeon. Headquarters at Green Bay. In the sixth district, B. F. Cooper was appointed provost marshal; L. S. Fisher, commissioner; and D. D. Cameron, examining surgeon. Headquarters at LaCrosse. The task of enrolling the State was commenced in the month of May, and was proceeded with to its completion. The nine months' term of service of the Thirty-fourth regiment, drafted militia, having expired, the regiment was mustered out of service on the 8th of September.

The enrollment in Wisconsin of all persons liable to the "Conscription " amounted to 121,202. A draft was ordered to take place in November. Nearly fifteen thousand were drafted, only six hundred and twenty-eight of whom were mustered in; the residue either furnished substitutes, were discharged, failed to report, or paid commutation.

In the Summer of 1861, Company "K," Captain Langworthy, of the Second Wisconsin infantry, was detached and placed on duty as heavy artillery. Ilis company was designated as "A," First Regiment Heavy Artillery. This was the only one organized until the Summer of 1863; but its organization was effected outside the State. Three companies were necessary to add to company " A" to complete the battalion. Batteries "B," "C" and " D" were, therefore, organized in Wisconsin, all leaving the State in October and November, 1863.

NINTH ADMINISTRATION-JAMES T. LEWIS, GOVERNOR-1864-1865.

James T. Lewis, of Columbia county, was inaugurated governor of Wisconsin on the fourth of January, 1864. In an inaugural address, the incoming governor pledged himself to use no executive patronage for a re-election; declared he would administer the government without prejudice or par:iality ; and committed himself to an economical administration of affairs con- nected with the State. On the thirteenth the legislature met in its seventeenth regular session. W. W. Field was elected speaker of the assembly. The republican and union men were in the majority in this legislature. A number of acts were passed relative to military matters.

On the Ist day of October, J. L. Pickard having resigned as superintendent of public instruction, J. G. Mc.Mynn was, by the governor, appointed to fill the vacancy. On the fif- teenth of November, Governor Lewis appointed Jason Downer an associate justice of the supreme court, to fill a vacancy caused by the resignation of Judge Byron Paine, who had resigned his position to take effect on that day, in order to accept the position of lieutenant colonel of one of the regiments of Wisconsin, to which he had been commissioned on the tenth of August previous. The November elections of this year were entered into with great zeal by the two parties, owing to the fact that a president and vice president of the United States were to be chosen. The republicans were victorious. Electors of that party cast their eight votes for Lincoln and Johnson. The members elected to the thirty - ninth congress from Wisconsin at this election were : from the first district, H. E. Paine; from the second, I. C. Sloan ; from the third, Amasa Cobb; from the fourth, C. A. Eldredge; from the fifth, Philetus Sawyer; and

HISTORY OF WISCONSIN.

from the sixth district, W. D. McIndoe. All were republicans except Eldredge, who was elected as a democrat.

The Eighteenth regular session of the Wisconsin legislature began in Madison on the elev- enth of January, 1865. W. W. Field was elected speaker of the assembly. The legislature was, as to its political complexion, "Republican Union." On the tenth of April, the last day of the session, Governor Lewis informed the legislature that General Lee and his army had sur- rendered. " Four years ago," said he, "on the day fixed for adjournment, the sad news of the fall of Fort Sumter was transmitted to the legislature. To-day, thank God! and next to Him the brave officers and soldiers of our army and navy, I am permitted to transmit to you the official intelligence, just received, of the surrender of General Lee and his army, the last prop of the rebellion. Let us rejoice, and thank the Ruler of the Universe for victory and the pros- pects of an honorable peace." In February preceding, both houses ratified the constitutional amendment abolishing slavery in the United States. At the Spring election, Jason Downer was chosen associate justice of the supreme court for a full term of six years. The twentieth of April was set apart by the governor as a day of thanksgiving for the overthrow of the rebellion and restoration of peace. At the Fall election both parties, republican and democratic, had tickets in the field. The republicans were victorious, electing Lucius Fairchild, governor; Wyman Spooner, lieutenant governor; Thomas S. Allen, secretary of state; William E. Smith, state treasurer; Charles R. Gill, attorney general; John G. McMynn, superintendent of public instruction ; J. M. Rusk, bank comptroller; and Henry Cordier, state prison commis- sioner.

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The History of Rock County, Wisconsin: Its Early Settlement, Growth, Development, Resources, Etc., Part 12

Author: Wesern historical company, Chicago, pub Publication date: 1879 Publisher: Chicago : Western Historical Co. Number of Pages: 899

Author: Wesern historical company, Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Chicago : Western Historical Co.
Number of Pages: 899