Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1906-11-21
GENERAL ROGERS RECALLS THANKS.
GIVING DAY DONGS.
Boys at the Front Receive Remembrance
From Home me-C-lebrAte with Hoe
Down" in the Evening.

troops defending the confederate flag
from the sight Of the capitol. President
Lincoln and.the war department were
not able TO put Mcclellan in motion.
Hooker said Mcclellan would make a
good president of female colleges"
that ''be was afraid of blood" The
men in the ranks wanted to campaign;
they were tired of camp life, drill and
review, which were the commanding
generals idea of war. November was
cold month; some sunshine, much rain
and some snow. The boys drilled in
sunshine, stood guard all kinds of
weather and frequent details for out
post duty. They were restless for ac-
tive duty. Their hunks had but little
straw, the tents were hrelegs and un-
comfortable. Thanksgiving was near
and their minds naturally went back to
the homes in Vernon county They pic
tured in their minds the pr parations
for day of Thanksgiving and feasting
Oa the 18th day of August President
Lincoln, at the request of joint com
mittee of both houses, appointed the
last Thursday in September as day
of humiliation, prayer and fasting for
all the peoy yls OF the nation Guard
duty was performed but no drilling On
October 27, the president appointed the
last Thursday ia November as day of
thanksgiving and ordered the depart
ments closed that the Officers of the
departments may partaBe in the cere-
monies
Morning OF Thanksgiving, express
wagons came into camp loaded with re-
msmbrances from home, and what could
De more in harmony than bundle from
mother, sister or one still ss dear-''the
girls they left behind them?'. Co. / was
we'll supplied with boxes, cloth bundles,
paper package tied with strings, from
aillsboro, Ontario, Vircque, Liberty
Pole, Newton and De Soto, containing
mince pies, ginger bread, fried cakes
long and twisted, q few russell apples,
mitteas, stockings and ear muffisrs.
Stout hearts were not brave enough to
keep back tears with the thoughts of
my mother made the mince pie, and
though musty and old was eaten with a
relish The fried cakes, hard with age,
were delightful Mother made them in
the good old way, in the kettle of boil
ing lard Apples from the dying tree
were remembrance of the home; some
crab apple and plum sauce from the old
cellar, that mother made; some stock
ings with double heels aud well rounded
toes, that mother carded, dyed, spun
and sister knit; some blue and white,
aud red and white striped mittens, with
place for the index finger, from home,
mother and some from others as dear.
Too much mince pie and dough nuts
caused some weak stomachs to ache,
which was pronounced malaria and
remedied with the worlds favorite pre-
scription, qainine Officers were active
brushing, polishing and furnishing, to
visit Washington. to the theatre and
dinner parties. The evening dress ps.
rade was over; the officers were off for
the city; retreat sounded, when in the
j0yfulness of home remembrances, the
violinist took position in the company
street, high on boxes. The company
was TO have celebrating dance; in the
language of the camp, hoe down
The younger members of the company,
Legraud Tongue, Riley, Ruby, Law
renee Newton, Everitt, Page, the writ
er and others were designated as leading
ladies by tying a cloth around the left
arm, with SCOT from camp kettle made
beauty spots Some formed for cotii-
lon, others monnie musk and some
danced the Virginia reel-all at the
same time the same music, all happy,
warm feet with stockings mother sent.
The hilarious party ended with grand
promenade down Co. | street and up
Co. G street when tattoo sounded. They
went to their tents to sleep: to dream OF
home, it's comforts aud associations,
Revielle sounded when the boys formed
for the morning roll call, wearing the
Sc krw.FE aIa he Ly17fk
stockings, we'll fitting and warm. OF
those mothers, now living, who remem-
bered their boys far away In the army,
/ only recall Mrs. Tongue of Hillsboro.
The summer of 1862 McClellan's cam
paign was failure; Pope's brief com.
mand was an inglorious failure. Gains
vile, Bull Run, Chantilly, South
Mountain and Antietam had been
fought, when on TIE last Thurday in
November, 1862. the army was In front
Of Fredericksburg, another battle pend
ing. In cold November rain, standing
In the smoke of pine-log fire, they re-
all the summers failure and Co. | loss.
GAINESVILLE had a sad story in brief
time Dldiot, Ellsworth Robbins and
Birnbaum were dead and left to rot eight
wounded and bleeding went to the rear;
two wounded at Bull Run and one killed
at Chantilly IL was q beautiful Sep.
tember evening, just as the sun was
passing from view, the infantry line
had reached the top of South Mountain,
when Billie Lawrence and John Hard
ing fell "kiiled in battle, their obitu-
AIRY. Four other we're wounded. Three
days later, az Autietam, in the awful
ness of all that is terrible in the death
struggle for mastery of the field, the
casualty of war was heavy; Atwood,
Birnbaum, GSlas and Fox dead, 10 be
carried TO trenches and rot, while four
others were wounded. With thiuned
ranks the boys looked forward for vic.
tory and awaited fredericksburg
The last Thursday in 1868, cold fakes
of snow, wind keen and penetrating,
the company was lying on the ground
at Mine Run, In line Of battle. They
called the roll Of Fredericksburg and
Chancellorsville; Ruby and Conklin
dead and more wounded Their vision
reached 70 Gettysburg, far away in the
north, and there in the awfulness of
maddened men, in the conflict Of arms,
in death struggle for mastery Of govern
men.; nine wounded aud Harlan, Miller.
Sutton and B0ughtOn killed. Later
their forms were carried by wagon to
what is now the noblest, most beautiful
city Of the dead on the globe, and by
their last resting place Abraham Lin.
coin said; I'VE cannot dedicate, we can
not consecrate."
Last Thursday in November, in 1864,