The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1862-07-24
SPRINGFIELD, Mo-,
July 18th, 1862.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo-,
July 18th, 1862
EDITORS OF THE TELEGRAPH
The S7th Illinois Volunteers is at Springfield,
Mo-, guarding the city and several hundred
prisoners, among whom are some of the most
noted jayhawkers in the country. We were
stationed at Cassville from the latter part of
March until the 26th of June, when We came
to this place. Companies G, and were or
ganized in Lake Co., ILL.,, but many of their
members live in Kenosha county.
The boys are all doing well, and there is
but very little sickness in the regiment
Lieut.. Faninan, of Co. +, has gone back to
old Lake, in the capacity of a recruiting officer
for the 37th, as we have lost great many men
by sickness and other causes. We lost 1852 at
the battle of Pea Ridge, and several have been
subsequently killed, wheL out with foragng
trains, by bushwhackers.
The woods are are full of bush whackers land
a number are caught from time to time, and
brought in and tried, and often times are turns
ed loose. When will this unholy war cease?
am afraid, never, as long as our officers show
so much lenity as they have heretofore. Gen.
Brown issued an order some time since, to
shoot all jayhawkers down upon the spot, and
as far as l can learn, all the Union citizens are
in favor and even anxious, that the Govern
ment should pursue the same policy.
The Cd Wi. consin Cavalry is in this part of
Mo. Co. A, is Gen. Browns body guard, and
one battalion Is at Cassville. Many Of the
boys are from Racine and Kenosha Counties
Are all in fine spirits, and almost dying from
inactivity. l learned Stanwatz and Coffee
were cut to pieces, and their forces scattered
to the four winds of heaven, last week, near
Neosho. think it was Doubeday's men that
fought then
Col White has been promoted to Brigadier
General, and assigned a command in Virginia,
under Sigel. Lieut.. Col, Barnes takes his
place. Captain Frisbee of Co. G is Lieutenant
Colonel.
Capt. Messer of Libertyville, is in command
of Co. f he is a man of good moral character,
but he is no military man. He is not man Of
dispatch; it takes him twice as long to per-
form a military movement as it would any 9TH
er man, and further, he is not the man to take
| care of his men. When man is sick he rare
ly goes 10 see him, unless he 81 not expected to
live He takes SO little trouble to look into
their welfare, that our company has lost, by
sickness, double the number cf any other Co
in the regiment.
The boys are all dissatisfied with him as a
company commander, and accordingly drew up
the following petition, viz:
CAssvILLF, June 18th, 1862.
| CAPT. e. B. MEssER-S Sir Where's, we
the undersigned petitioners and members of
Co, F, 37th Ill, Vol. being dissatisfied with
you as a Co. commander, do petition, pray and
implore, TO and of you, TO resign and relinquish
your Office of Captain of this company, in COM
plance with promise made by you on the
day of your election for Captain of this Co. -
That whenever the company becomes dessat>
isfed, and thinks / am not competent to be q
Captain, will upon your request or petition
resign, and whereas, we the undersigned, after
long and sufficient trial, do believe and affirm
that in our opinions, you are incompetent for
the Office, and hence we present you this petit
tioB, hoping you will comply with our request
Immediately, and prevent the publication of
this, a copy of which we shall retain and cause
to be published, in case of your non-compli-
ance with this petition.
Mr.. Editor, the above is a perfect copy Of
the petition, and was signed with perfect
good will, and without compulsion, by every
man in the company at that time, with the ex-
ceptiou of six. Many who have subsequently
come back into the company, would cheerfully
have signedit had they been present at the
time, but he says he will not recognize it as
coming from the proper source, and will not
resign, although he knoas the voice of the
men are palpably against him. 1t is the desire
of the cVmpany that you publish this letter, OF
at least the petition, and we will bear the re-
sponsibility, let the expense tie what it NAV.
MORE ANON.