River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1881-11-03

a sketch of War History when Nor
ton Was Governor.

Gen. w. Q. Gresham, United States
district judge for the district of lndi-
ana, was prominently mentioned in
connection with n place in Garheld's
cabinet, and newspaper men who were
near the throne said he would have
been appointed secretary of war had
not Senator Harrison failed to agree
upon him. The reason alleged that
the Indiana senator did not harmonic
on the Judge was that Gresham had al
ways been an active Grant man in his
feelings, and, being on the bench,
would never figure AS a politician. l
do not know that these rumors were
true, but do know that Gen. Gresham,
while an active republican and an ar
! dent admirer of Grant and Conkling,
never did political act which, as a
Judge, would subject him to criticism.
His political history when taken with
his military record is such that his per-
sonal friends are more numerous than
those of any one public man IN lndi-
ana. In the legislature of 1861 he was
the youngest member of the house,
and, though it was apparent that the
country would be plunged into civil
war, he was made chairman of the
military committee of the house, then
the most important committee of the
legislature. The state was without
militia or militia law, and without a
gun or a pound of powder. A militia
law was important for the reasons that
it would point out to the governor what
he ought to do, and at the same time
give him the power to do it. Indiana
at the time was loyal to the union in
every part, democrats and republicans
alike being Mortified at the idea of
dissolution of the union. To make In
diana's loyalty to the union actively eff
fective, perfect militia law was ne
cessity, and upon young Gresham fell
the task of outlining how Indiana was
to legally take front place in the war
work the efficiency of the law proved.
And he did the work without one single
suggestion from Gov. Morton The
bill, as reported, was prepared by Ores
ham, and, though it bad active opposi-
ton, was passed as it came from the
committee. A few days later Lincoln
called for troops, and Indiana respond
ed in three days with her full quota,
and would have furnished the entire
seventy-fve thousand men had she
been allowed to do so.
Gov. Morton was Ill high glee over
the magnificent success of the law, and
told Gresham that he would make him
colonel of one of the regiments. But
somehow it was not convenient to give
such boom to a young man who had
displayed so much knowledge of mill
tary necessities, and the young man
was left to repose on the character
gained as legislator. In short time
il became known that q system of rob-
berry was being practiced upon the sol
dierv, and as Gresham had been the
author of the militia law, the COM
plants were laid before him. After
becoming satisfied that there were Just
grounds of complaint, he introduced a
resolution calling for an investigation.
The governor, feeling that an investi-
CATION of his subordinates would be
reflection on his administration, felt
bound to oppose it by those indirect
methods so easily reached by an exec
utiye. The speaker, Hon. c. L. Dun
ham, appointed the committee, 'puB
disregarding all parliamentary usages,
did not even put Gresham on the COM
mittee, leaving him as prosecuting wit
ness, while the governor, the speaker |
of the house and all their friends re-
manned on the side of the defense. |
When the report came it asserted that !
few trifiiDg irregularities existed, due |
generally to the ignorance of the Off |
Gals and the excitement incident to |
raising troops among a people who |
were without military education by ex-
perience. Mr.. Gresham got the floor
and demolished the report by proofs |
which he presented, but the influences
against him were too great, and the |
report was adopted. Nevertheless, the |
officials against whom the charges were |
made resigned or were given other |
places. The fighting legislator was /
growing troublesome, and il became |
apparent that his desire for military |
glory must be gratifed, or if he was a !
coward that he be given chance 70 |
dodge, and he was given a lieutenant |
colonel's commission, which he prompt |
" accepted, and went at once to the /
front. In little time his conspicuous
military abilities attracted the atten- /
ton of Grant and Sherman, and they |
urged his promotion. Friends at home |
urged the same, but for long time
nothing came of it. Finally he was OF |
fered the colonelcy of skeleton regi- /
ment, which seemed certain of failing
in its recruitment. But The young
man, knowing the influences at work to |