The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-01-31
BEFORE YICKsBURG
Battlefield Commission From Wis
coDsin Reports to Governor.
EX-SENATOR Villas Is CHAIRMAN
Positions of Badger Troops Deter
mined and Monument and Tab
lets RecOmme ended.
Special to The Journal.

Special to The Journal.
Madison, Wis, Jan. 31.-The Vicksburg
battlefield commission, appointed by Gov
ernor La Toilette, under act Of the last
legislature, to determine the positions of
Wisconsin troops in the campaign anu
siege of Vicksburg, has submitted it's re-
port. The commission was made UP as
follows:
A. G. Weissert, Milwaukee, formerly of
Eighth regiment, Wisconsin infantry vol
unteers; Ira W. Hunt, Neenah, Eleventh;
H. P. Bird, Waukesha, Twelfth; F. II.
Magdeburg, Milwaukee, Fourteenth; Amos
Carter, Omro, Fourteenth; David James,
Richland Center, Sixteenth;, Florian }.
Ries, Milwaukee, Seventeenth; Jeremiah
Baldock, Brant, Eighteenth; P: j. Claw
son, Monroe, Twentieth; William r. Villas,
Madison, Twenty-third; j. w. Alexander.
Patch Grove, Twenty-ffth; Peter Dame,
Oostburg, Twenty-seventh; Dolphus 5.
Domuth, Fort Atkinson, Twenty-ninth;
George Hale, Racine, Thirtyt third; John
Curtis, Trempealeau, First cavalry; 0. j..
Burnham, Richland Center; E.T.W. Evans,
Spring Green, Sixth cavalry. No repre-,
sentatiyes Of the Second cavalry or either,
of the artillery batteries, which took part
in the campaign, joined the commission.
The commission left. Chicago for Vlcks-
burg Nov. IS, and organized on the train
by electing ex-senator Villas chairman and
ex-State Senator ClaWson secretary. Ot
the work done the report says:
The inevitable changes which had occurred
in the course Of nearly forty years, from the
operation of natural forces and by the hand
of man, rendered 1t difficult in some instances
to ascertain the positions occupied by some
corps. but these were in most cases satlsfac-
torily fixed beyond Question. = Iron posts, each
numbered, were> securely driven at proper
marking points by the national park commits
sion under instruction Of the several COM
missioners, and record of the significance
of each was carefully entered by that COM
mission upon its books =,
With the report is submitted state
ment Of the several locations SO made, to.
gether with illustrated plats of the field
and the points marked, furnished by the
national park commission.
Besides ascertaining the positions OF.
Wisconsin troops during the siege Of
Vicksburg, the commission was directed
by the act of the legislature TO recon-
mend to the governor such subsequent
legislation as will, in the opinion of the
commission, permanently and suitably
| mark the positions thus ascertained, and
worthily commemorate the valor anu
service of Wisconsin SOLDIERS in the cam
paign and siege of Vicksburg" In follow
! ing this instruction, the report contains
| the following language:
The campaign, siege and capture OF Vlcks-
of strategy or of political importance, const1-
tuted upon the whole the most signal achieve
ment of the war for the restoration, OF the
union. Viewed as a military. performance It
was the master stroke OF genius, greater IMAM
all the wisdom of military science, by which
that important and seemingly perfectly fortl-
fed town, safe against all the approaches OF
any attacking army proceeding upon estaD-
lished lines of war, fell before conception
whose desperate nature was justified only by
the marvellous daring, activity and skill OF
the great commander who alone could make
it safe and successful. Its effect upon the
chances of the rebellion was instantly recog-
nized by all Intelligent .Confederates. 1t dis
| membered the insurrectionary territory, and
! ''broke the backbone of the rebellion.
The menacing perils Of Grants army to the.
western states Of the confederacy led to the
gigantic and ruinous attempt at diversion
which eliminated in the catastrophe OF Get
| tysburg. The capture surpassed IN magnl-
tude the previous records OF history. 1t is
said that never before had so many men and
so many guns fallen to the captors of "a forti-s
fed city. ~ Is =..5.. ~, /, ,,s,. =.
| In this performance Wisconsin, soldiers were
among the foremost actors from beginning to
end. Thirteen Of Wisconsin's regiments OF
infantry, one Of cavalry, and six batteries OF
artillery-about one-third, of her active mill
| tary force in the civil war-contributed to the
glory of the victory. To their valor, suffer-
ing and sacrifices, united with their COM
rades, Wisconsin owes to-day her right TO
navigate from her western border "unvexed
| to the sea-; owes much Of the wealth, pros
perity and happiness that make her homes
the source ard scene of freemen, whom all
the world cannot excel. 10 ....s..
To fttingly discharge our duty, your COM
| mittee Is of opinion that it is at least re-
quired, and therefore recommends, that upon
the site of the bivouac Of each corps of Wis
consin soldiers who directly participated in
! the siege within the lines of the national
park, there should be built a large and shape
| ly monument of granite, or other suitable
material for massive dignity and endurance,
| to be appropriately inscribed, and, If pos
| sible, with a record Of the names OF the par,
|ticipating members of the corps; that at vari-
GUS points in the intermediate scene of con-
| fict where the arms of any corps were con-.
spicuously employed, metal tablets be placed
! to carry the fitting legend of its deeds; that
| on the ground about the monument Of Grant,
| there be erected one monument of suitable
character that shall be inscribed to and COM
| memorate the regiments of Wisconsin which
contributed their Services in that memorable
campaign where their generals required them;
but who were not in the immediate lines of
| the siege. These regiments were the Six
| teenth, Twenty-f1fth and Twenty in
fantrys and the. Second cavalry. s,ss IA IN