Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1911-12-13
De
CIVIL WAR
FIFTY YEARS AGO
THIS WEEK
December 10. 1851.

| December 10. 1861.
Resolutions were introduced in the
legislature of Tennessee by Mr.. Card
1 well of Weakley county, expressing
the spirit of the legislature in regard
| to the future attitude of Tennessee
in the war, The resolutions expressed
the determination II the legislature to
| maintain the states declaration of in
dependence from the United States
of America.
! Plans for a general exchange of
prisoners. which had been pushed Wig
/ orously by a committee of New York
citizens at Washington, were reported
| to be in favor with the authorities OF
| the United States government. Presi-
| dent Lincoln. General Mcclellan and
members of the cabinet had endorsed
| the plan, and the military committees
in both houses of congress had re-
| ported favorably on it. The plan in
/ tended the exchange OF all prisoners
| of war between the two belligerants.
! man for man. Exchanges in detail
| had been going on in a desultory way
/ for a long time, Messrs. Savage.
| O'Gorman and DAILY of New York were
the leaders in the movement to bring
| about the exchange.
The house of representatives OF the
United States congress concurred in
the senate resolution for the appoint
| ment of Joint committee of the two
houses to inquire into the conduct of
the war.
December II, 1861.
A accommodating party of Federal
troops were captured on the Virginia
! shore of the Potomac near Dam No.
F.; 4. in the vicinity of Sharpsburg. Md,
/ party of Confederates had attacked
the Federal pickets at the dam in the
morning, but had withdrawn, after
| suffering some loss. A small detach-
ment of Federals crossed the river to
feel out the strength of the Confed-
! crates. Finding large company of the
enemy's infantry, the Federals retreat
| ed Before they could reach the river
they were intercepted by company
! of Confederate cavalry and forced to
| surrender, after a sharp skirmish.
An expedition of national gunboats,
| under Commander Rodgers, returned
to Port Royal from an exploration of
Georgia, for the purpose of developing
the location of the Confederate de-
fences. One battery was found on
| Green island, in the Vernon river.
Ossabaw island was found without de-
fences.
Five vessels of the stone fleet, in
tended to be sunk in the channels OF
blockaded southern ports. and the
| ships George Green and Bullion of
General Buffers expedition. sailed
| from Boston.
In skirmish near Bertrand. Mo,
| between two companies of Federal in
| fantry under Lieutenant Colonel
Rhodes and two companies of cavalry
under Maj ]. ]. Mudd, and a force of
Confederates, the Union troops lost
one man killed, and the Confederates
lost several prisoners.
| In the legislature OF Western Vir-
ginia resolutions were introduced pro-
hibiting any person engaged in hos
tilities against the United States
/ from ever holding Office in the state.
| and removing restrictions on a free
discussion OF the question of slavery
December ~, 1861.
squad Of Union soldiers c. Colo
lel Whittaker's regiment, stationed in
| Ky, were roughly handled by south.
| ern sympathizers in the vicinity OF
! Bagdad, Shelby county. on the line of
[ "a I EFrota Z
| They had been sent out TO arrest
citizens who had been reported to be
| enforcing the oath of the Confederate
| states on northern svr. pathizers They
| were engaged on their errand when
they were fired upon by body of
| southerners in house and forced to
withdraw before they could carry out
their purpose
Colonel Merrills regiment OF Fed
eral cavalry returned to Sedalia, Mo,
/ from an expedition to Waverly. Mo
They brought with them a number OF
Confederate prisoners. a mortar and a
number Of horses.
A skirmish between Company / of
the Fifteenth Ohio and $50 Confed-
9Idle cavalry on dfeen river, Ken
lucky, resulted in the wounding of
several of the Confederates, who were
the aggressors in the affair.
George w. Johnson, chosen proy,-
sional governor OF Kentucky by the
convention Of southern partisans,
which had met at Bowling Green. sent
a message to the legislative council
of the provisional state government
outlining the policies of the provi-
sional government in regard to the
conflict At that time the authority
of the regular state government had
not been established by the national
arms.
The greater part of the business
district OF Charleston. S. c., east of
King street. was destroyed by fire.
Six alarms of fire within two DAYS
greatly disturbed the citizens OF
Montgomery. Ala. The fires we're be
N.