Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1899-03-01
SAY FAREWELL TO THE SOUTH

Our Soldier BOYS are New Enroute for
Home-captain SilbaBgh Writes His
Closing Letter 10 the Censof-ue SAYS
Some Merrited Things OF the Soldiers
| Under His Command.
COMPANY Nj" FOURTH WISCONSIN, IsEGls FSr
CAMP sHtPP ADMISSION ALA, Feb n 1899
FRIEND MUNsoN: Your correspond.
ent was too nearly frozen last week to
| write letter. Your readers are already
informed of the fact that the south has
had terrible ''spell of weather" The
Oldest inhabitant had never seen any,
thing like it. A tent is not the pleas
ATTEST place ia the world with the
thermometer Is below, but it was not so
much worse than the houses in this sec
ton. 1t took about ten turns minute
to keep both sides warm before one of
these fire. places. The weather has
moderated again, however, and the boys
are basking in the sunshine in their
shirt sleeves, enjoying the sunny south.
The writer drove out to Chickamauga
Park in driving snow storm the 18th,
and in 2 title improyised hotel, in the
| little town VI Lyttle freezing around the
stove, was Mrs. Mary Traverse, wife of
Major Traverse of the 8th Immunes,
stationed at that place. Shs is q refined,
educated lady, * president OF the W.
X q. OF Indiana and olose friend of
Mrs. Craig. / came out of Captain
Andrews Office in the city OF Chatta-
nooga and nearly ran into face that
looked very familiar and soon made out
that the owaer was none other than
George Morgan, our old photographers
son. George is married and lives in
Chattanooga.
The Fourth Kentucky has left for
home, at least most Of them have. The
colonel will probably remain here for
some time. A bitter feeling existed be-
tween the coloael and Lieutenant Scott,
also OF the Fourth Kentucky, and so the
other day ait.r the regiment was
mustered out they armed themselves
with two large revolvers apiece and
started ont looking for big game. They
met in the Mammoth restaurant and
both opened fire at once. Lientenants
Mckay and Phelps of the Fourth Wis
cousin provost happened to be in there
at the time and succeeded in disarm
ing the belligerents, but not until the
colonel had been shot in the hip. Colonel
Oalson comes of lighting family and
the battle will doubtless be renewed
when he gets around again.
Work preparatory to muster out is
being pushed with all possible vigor.
The date has been set for the 28th.
This will be shout two weeks better
than either of the other regiments did.
Company NJ turned in her ordinance,
last Friday. L could not help but think
how happy the boys were when their
guns were issued and how glad we we're
to get rid of them. The sentries are
walking their posts with sticks and the
regiment is beginning to look some
thing like the first days at Camp Doug
las. All kinds of group pictures are
being made of the officers and men and
the Diggers and poor white trash swarm
through the camp looking for presents.
We sold our shack, real estate, live stock
and all for So. Lumber is great deal
cheaper than it was in December, strange
as it may seem. The railroad men are
thicker than Camp Douglas mosquitoes.
EvelT road has a man on the ground |
huss.Ing for business. Our section will |
probably leave here the evening of the |
28th over the Southern and take the ST. |
Paul at Chicago. 1t will be through |
train and will reach Viroqua about Fri
day morning. 1t would be difficult to |
find a happier crowd than the old
Fourth on it's homeward Journey. But
few, If any, will have more reasons to
feel happy than Company M. There
have been seventeen deaths in the regi- |
ment, but our company, we reioi ,e to
say, will all come home, almost vii bout |
exception, hearty, happy and fat. There
has been days when the stretcher was a |
common sight in the company streets
and report at sick call was watched with |
feeling on great anxiety, but the
clouds rolled by as they always do. We
will not only come back but every boy
will have an honorable discharge in his |
pocket with 'service honest and faith. |
full" If you want to know what that
means to soldier ask some of the old |
boys of the COS or talk to a man who |
got another kind in this war. We are
glad to know that the people at home
will have no cause to be ashamed of
Company Ms record. The boys will re
turn asking no special favors because
they have been q soldier, but asking
simply that you give them credit for
responding in good faith to the nations
call for men to defend the flag, and of |
having done their duty even though but
little was required of them
Vernon county cannot claim all the |
fine boys in Company M, however much
rs she might like to. We are indebt-
ed to Richland Center for the best first |
sergeant in the Fourth Wisconsin and |
to that city and the county for squad |
of the best. Richland county has
reason to be proud of First Sergeant
Fred J. Mitchell, Corporals Hills and |
Neefe, Musician Beard and Privates
Mellum and Welton. There is not |
black mark against any of them. The |
Viola boys are so nearly on the line
Vernon will doubtless insist on claiming |
them. Grand Rapids furnished Us four
first-clas soldiers in Corporal Grignon
and Musicians Closuit, Billineyer and |
Private Demetz, and none more worthy |
than the two splendid boys from Bara-
boo, Corporal Dwinnell and Private
Draper. Monroe county gives us five
model young men in Corporal Jersey,
Privates Green, Lee, Burke and Finn.
Crawford county three, Privates Mccoy,
Davenport and Devine, and several 9TH
or places one each. L wish time and |
space would allow of my saying some
thing personally of the boys from Yer
non, but they are too numerous. Our
quartermsster, Isaac Ewers, proved to
be the right man for the trying position
and although there was something of
a sameness in the quality of food he
dished out to us, we are willing to for
give him now that we seemed to grow |
fat on it. Our competent and manly |
first duty sergeant, Don O. Miller, is
one of the three sergeant majors of the
regiment. Sergeant Hanson is color
sergeant of the regiment and certainly |
old glory never had more gallant
bearer. Our own faithful, loyal and |
manly Sergeant Lester j. Wood has
won the highest esteem of the officers |