Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1864-05-19
ace of the State journal.

Serious AccidentS- Demonstrations on tie
Wap-7He Situation ct Cairo
Correspondence of the State journal.
CAIRO, ILL.,, May 7th 1862
The Marching Twelfth" has had its fur
Tough and got so far back on its way to Dixie,
liable to take a fresh start at any moment for
the seat Of war, in order to light the good
fight, and finish our course (of three years
service) with joy"
On Saturday, the 3Oth ult, the appointed
time having arrived the regiment was drawn
up in line before our headquarters in Camp
Randall, and received our new colors from
the hands of our worthy Lieutenant Governor,
accompanied with short and patriotic speech.
They are certainly splendid set, and our
boys feel proud Of them l assure you. The
L. S. flag has inscribed on it, Lamar, Cold
water, Nicksburg, jackson, Bakers Creek,
Meridian Expedition quite testimonial
to the character of the services performed
during the first term of enlistment. Soon
atterward we left your city, many of US prob
ably never to return, and swiftly sped toward
Chicago.
About p. III. we reached that city, and
were marched through it to the Illinois Cen
trail Railroad Depot and introduced to train
of freight cars, destined to convey the bodies
whom generations yet unborn shall delight
to honor" to the city of Cairo. The present
generation of Illinois railroad men do not
seem inclined to honor Wisconsin's heroes
with very good travelling accommodations.
| We were taken from thence to the "SOlder's
Rest " and received an excellent supper from
the fair ladies Of the city, who evidently have
a proper understanding of the most accepta.
bic way to honor battalion of hungry
"heroes;" it would be we'll if their husbands
and big brothers, who run the railroads, had
as correct an appreciation of the wants of
tired and travel-weary soldiers. After sup
per 1--WE returned to our boXes-box-cars |
mean-and clambered in, and as some Of the
cars had been newly painted, we carried off
many marks of the considerate arrangements
for comfort provided for US. The cars had
rough unplaned boards stretched across
them for seats, swing lamp hungin the cen
tie, with half barrel of Lake Michigan be
low it, and nary spring" about them.
A little after 10 o'clock we left the depot,
with a jerk hard enough to upset several I'M
suspecting soldiers, a process repeated at
every one of the numerous starts and stop
pages. In order to obtain correct idea Of
how rough a railroad can be, and how much
humanity can endure, suggest that voyage
a la ntil5tai,e be made from Chicago to Cairo
in a freight car, without lights, fire or cush-
ions, as did this "noble regiment, of which
any state mi ght be proud" If the eyes OF
our neighbors, our state and our country are
upon us as we are told, they beheld a very
queer sight on the first of May, 1864, and
must have ached sadly at our mishaps on this
! trip.
A part of the 9th Michigan heavy artillery
travelled in company with US to Cairo, but
| Io;., toto cbo
coaches to ride in while lot Of recruits for
the SD Indiana, who joined US at Mattoon,
were "honored" with similar accommodate
tions, in freight cars, to ourselves.
About S o'clock on Sunday evening, when
within one miles of Dillingham; and 81 miles
from Mattoon, an axle of the tenders truck
broke, throwing four cars off the track, in
which the Indiana boys were riding, causing
| the instant death of two, and severely wound
| ing some six others, one Of whom had his leg
amputated by our DR.. Rogers, it being fright
| fully crushed. This accident delayed US I'M
til l o'clock Monday morning, and we shiv
cred through the weary hours, while storm
of rain and snow drove fercely around and
about u.s. While the train was at Effingham
depot, and under slight motion, Eugene Rob
erts, of Co. G, missed his hold while endeav-
oring to Chamber into one Of the accommoda-
ting freight cars, falling partially on the
track, when a wheel ran over his leg, crush
ing it so severely that it had to be cut Off
[ may be true that he was not as free from
the effects Of whiskey as he nigh have been,
but if there had been a platform with steps
attached, so that the car could have been en-
tered from the ends, instead of scrambIing up
at side door, whose floor was On level
with his chin, Roberts would have been a
sound man, ready for duty to-day, instead of
being left behind cripple for life. Uncle
Sam has lost veteran, and Roberts a Leg
through the peculiar way of "honoring the
brave" which the Illinois Central railroad
has exhibited in furnishing US with such trans
| portation.
Everywhere we were received with great
demonstrations Of enthusiasm by the citizens,
ladies waving flags, bandkerchiefs and other
things at US from almost every house. At
Centralia several girls passed among the
| boys and along the cars, handing their Sun
day school papers to all who would accept,
ard l saw none refuse, all seeming eager to
get these tokens of good will and sympathy
from the children.
We reached Cairo about half past two on
Tuesday morning, and went into camp north
Of the city at once, in company with many
other troops.
Yesterday we were inspected by our new
Corps commander, Maj. Gen. Frank 7. Blar's
Adiutant General therefore it is calculated
that we shall be on our way to Alabama, to
take position on the right Of Sherman's grand
army, very soon now.
The weather is quite warm here; the trees
are in leaf flowers in the gardens are in full
bloom, mud-holes in the streets, neither few
nor far between, are covered with very
thick coat of green scum; the hotels are
crammed with shoulder-straps from double
stars down; while the levee is a perpetual
scene of activity, loading and unloading cars
and boats.
Gen. Gresham, with part Of our Brigade, is
at Clinton, on the Tennessee river. Our
Brigade headquarters, with another part of
the Brigade is across the river at Birds Point,
Missouri while our Corps and Division head
quarters are here, close to our camp.
Yours truly, CIV"
N In the Louisiana State Convention,
on the 9th ultimo, two reports were read
from the Committee on Emancipation. The
first, signed by all the members except Mr..
Abel, declares slavery and involuntary servi-
tude, except as punishment for crime, forever
abolished in the State; wipes out the black
| code; provides the same system Of penal law
for blacks and whites, and provides that ne
| gro minors shall be subject to the same rules
/ as white ones in regard to apprenticeship.
Mr.. Abe Il on hisown behalf, read minority
report, objecting to the deprivation of the
masters right to his slave by the Convention,
/ as fragrant injustice, robbing him of vest
/ ed right, and as injurious to the best interests
OF the negro, who would become idle and
vicious if not compelled to labor. The Era
says Mr.. Abell's report will not get ten votes