Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1911-11-22
7ds
CIVIL WAR
FIFTY YEARS AGO
THIS WEEK
November 10, 1861.

ship Harvey Birch. in ballast from
Harye for New York. in the British
channel. burned her, landed the crew
at Southampton. and remained in the
port.
Men OF Captain Hills cavalry en-
gagged in a lively skirmish with band
Of Confederates that called themselves
the Moccasin Rangers, near Writ
Courthouse. in western Virginia. The
affair was the climax to a cornhusk-
ing at the house Of southern sympa-
thizers. Some of the Union men at
tended the husking unarmed. as
guests.
Company A. First Delaware. on
scout near Fortress Monroe. was way
laid in q thick woods by Confederate
cavalry and a battery Of two howitz-
ers. Captain Watson. in command.
threw up hasty works of brush and
dirt. and waited for achievements.
General Mansfield went to his relief.
and drove the enemy from the woods.
G. Wallace Ever. son of Capt. John
Ever, was promoted from assistant
masters mate TO acting master for
gallant conduct on board the Mohican
in the affair at Port Royal His father
was on the Sabine during the engage
ment.
lsham G. Harris, governor of Ten
nessee, called out the militia to meet
the acquisitions on the sta made by
Gen. A. G.. Johnson, c. S. A
Major General Halleck. U. S. A., as
sumed command in Missouri. General
Hunter was assigned to Kansas.
Jefferson Davis sent his first mes
sage to the Confederate congress.
November 20. 1861.
Seven divisions of the Federal army.
all arms of the elvice, 10000 men in
all, were reviewed on the Potomac by
General Mcclellan and staff. in the
presence of the president and his cab
met, the diplomatic corps, etc. A sa-
Lutte of 100 guns from IA batteries was
fired. Tnirty thousand people wit
messed the spectacle.
Marble Nash Taylor. provisional
governor of North Carolina. issued a
proclamation directing the people of
the state to return to their allegiance
TO the Union and the Constitution.
The Confederate congress passed an
act removing the capital of the Con
| federacy from Richmond to Nashville.
Tenn.
General Floyd, c. s. A., broke camp
near Gauley river, burned 500 tents.
| destroyed equipage, abandoned two
wagonloads of arms and ammunition
and fed.
The sloop of war Housatonic was
launched at the navy yard at Charles
town, Mass.
Miller's hotel. at German and Paca
streets, Baltimore, was seized by the
United States authorities in the sus-
pieion that it was the headquarters of
a secret mail route to the southern
states.
A number Of old whale ships were
bought at New London, Conn, and
| New Bedford, Mass, and loaded with
brick and stones, to be sent south
and sunk in the entrances of southern
harbors.
The U. S. S, S. San Jacinto. with
the Confederate commissioners Mason
and Slidell aboard. arrived at Boston.
November II, 1861.
The legislature of Mississippi au.
thorized the governor to call out as
many troops as he thought fit to sup
ply the defensive needs of Columbus
/ Ky. There was a belief that the
place was about to be attacked or be-
sieged by the Federal armies. The
legislature also voted 100000 for the
support of the troops in the field.
Colonel Cavanaugh's 9th nlincIs
cavalry left Camp Butler. Springfield
Ohio, for Shawneetown to act as gar.
rison there. This was the sixth regi
ment of cavalry that had been sent
into the field by Illinois. The state
had already furnished $1,000 men,
which was 1900 more than her quota.
and had half dozen regiments near.
ly ready to march.
Fourteen hundred cavalry, four
regiments of infantry, and two batter.
les of artillery of the regular army
were reviewed by General Love and
Governor Morton at Camp Vajen, near
indianapolis, Indiana. Some of the
troops were equipped with coffee
mill" guns, which were given demon.
stration.
The 18th New York practiced for
the first time with its equipment OF
pontoon bridges near camp on the
.o,+a~, brouob ~ fha Dntrraao IT, .
boats were made OF india rubber
which was inflated for use The pom,
toons were inflated, and 1ss feet Q;
bridge laid in 80 minutes. Fifty men
walked. doubIe-quicked and ran over
the completed bridge. and horses
walked across in safety.
Secretary Chase reported that
since the new loan had been negotiat.
ed. he had placed s5.5OO.O0o for dis
bursement In Boston. New York and
Philadelphia.
November %, 1861.
Charles Macbeth, mayor Of Charles.
town, called on all citizens to assist
the military and civil authorities in
putting the city in state OF complete
defense by contributing their uneh-
! ployed laborers.
General Prices Confederate army
4 crossed the Usage river, Missouri, at
/ Hoffman's Ferry and continued It's
march northward toward Sedalia.
/ General Huger. C. S. A., replying
to an inquiry made by General Wool.
u. s. A, stated that Union soldiers
held prisoners IN the South would be
! rarrnftteh To -enelre cInthfnr ard