The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1901-09-19
Some Very Interesting "reminiscences
of the First Wisconsin
Cavalry.
OLD ITEMS FROM TELEGRAPH.
Good Impression Made on Townspeople by
the Cavalry Recrutts.-Were Enthusi-
astically Received by Citizens.

The old numbers OF the kenoSha
Telegraph published during the fall of
81 and the spring of '62 in regard to
the encampment at Kenosha of the
First Wisconsin, Calvary, the survivors
of which will hold reunion on the ID
and 3rd of next month, under the date
of Nov. %, 1861, contains the news of
their arrival here. Owing to some de-
lay the train bearing the soldiers did
not arrive here as expected, but never
theless when it did arrive on Sunday
morning before daylight large crowd
of citizens gave the soldiers an en-
thusiastic reception. They were enter
tanned at the old Durkee House, then
the principal hotel of the town
The good impression which the new
recruits made on the towns-people is
shown by the following, which APP
peared in the Telegraph:
eve may here remark that the
conduct of the soldiers throughout
Sunday was highly commendable
Some 700 or 800 hundred soldiers had
arrived, cold, hungry, tired and worn
out. They have not yet received their
uniforms and the clothing of many
was entirely inadequate to the demands
of the wintry weather that prevailed
at the time of the removal. But under
all these drawbacks and discomforts
we saw no signs of rowdyism or in
subordination. All were Ion good
behavior and made very good i'm
preston on our citizens. We have
seldom seen a more orderly and we'll
behaved lot of men together and never
finer appearing regiment physically
taken all together than the First Wis
consin Cavalry" -f. al |1l
The officers of the regiment at the
time of its arrival in Kenosha were as
follows: $50.
Colonel Edward Daniels, Ripon.
Major Henry Pomeroy, Appleton.
Major Lagrange, Ripon.
Adjutant C. e. Burbank, Milwaukee
Quartermaster J. G. Mann, James
vile. M "r@ 1853
Surgeon H. N. Gregory, Appleton.
Assistant Surgeon c. H. Lord, Fort
Atkinson. ..
The regiment which at that time
had only seven full companies en-
camped on the Sand Ridge south of
the cemetery. The camp was called
Camp Harvey after L. P. Harvey,
Wisconsin's famous war Governor.
Shortly after the arrival of the regi-
ment the Telegraph takes2occasion to
give the residents of Kenosha some
advice in these words: "Since our
city has been chosen as the location of
the camp of this regiment we hope our
citizens will be reasonable in their
dealings with the soldiers ands try to
make them as comfortable and happy
as the circumstances of their condi-
ton will admit, instead of trying to
make money out of them"
The issue of Dec. II contained a
denial of rumors that the regiment
was to be disbanded and stated that
refined men need not be afraid that
they would not find congenia1 COM
pany if they joined the regiment. The
paper mentioned the company of
teachers and students then being or
ganized by Professor Conatty at that
time principal of the High school here.
It also mentionedsthe fact that in one
company were seventeen men who
held degrees from colleges. During
the weeks following this announce
ment Canatty's company was rapidly
filled.
Principal John Ogden of the Mime
sofa State Normal school resigned his
position to enter the ranks of the COM
pany as private. The issue of jan
uary 80 gives the information that
Captain Decker, with a full company
of men, marched down town, took up a
position fronting the Office of the Tele-
graph and went through the full exer-
else with the saber after which they
gave three cheers for the Telegraph.
Various provisions were made by the
town people for the entertainment of
the soldiers, but these did not always
suffice so they were forced to do some
thing to entertain themselves. Debat-
ing clubs were formed in several of the
companies, and all the much discussed
questions of the day were threshed
over and over again.
A secessionist who gave expression
to his sentiments one day on the way
up from Chicago on the train, was met
at the station by several members of
the regiment and taken to the camp
where he was forced to take the oath
of allegiance, and afterward to set up
the drinks at the commissary tent.
Great rivalry existed among the diff
ferent companies as. ito their respective
average weight, the highest average
weight recorded being 1874 pounds.
Early in March public smeeting was
held and Captain Conatty was present
ed with sword. Later on Colonel
Daniels was prese nted with horse
valued at $3.50, the money being raised
by subscription among the citizens of
Kenosha.
The regiment broke camp March IL,
and w ere carried to st. Louis on two
long passenger trains. A great crowd
gathered at the station to wish them
Godspeed and good luck in campaigns