Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1911-12-20
7de
CIVIL WAR
FIFTY YEARS AGO
THIS WEEK,
pecember II. 1861.

December II, 1861.
A spirited encounter between Colo
uel Willich's German regiment of In
diana troops and Col. Terry's Texas
Rangers, supported by two regiments
of Confederate infantry. resulted in no
final advantage to either side. Col.
Which was attacked by the Texas
Rangers on the south side of Green
River, opposite Mumfordsville. Ky.
His soldiers withstood three fierce as
saults of cavalry. In the third adj
vance Col. Terry was killed. The Con-
federate infantry coming up in sup
port, Col. Which would have been 10
serious trouble if reinforcements had
not arrived Each combatant ultimate
ly withdrew.
A Union expedition under Gen. Pope
In Missouri scattered Confederate
camp near shawnee Mound, Mo- The
Confederates were reported 1900
strong. One hundred and fifty pris-
oners were taken.
A squadron of the First New Jer-
sey cavalry. belonging tc Gen. Heint-
zieman's division. under command of
Capt. Shellmire, made reconnaissance
into Virginia. A portion of the squad
ron, commanded by Lieut.. Janville,
got into trouble with band of Con-
federates whom they encountered near
the Bone Mills, on the Orange and Al
exandria railroad.
Twenty-eight Union soldiers, who at
tended a corn husking when they were
on a reconnaissance, were surprised
and captured by Capt. Wilcox and IA
Confederates.
The belligerent tone of the British
press in the Trent affair created tre-
mendous excitement throughout the
United States and the Confederacy.
The Confederate States saw hope of
obtaining an ally in England
December 10, 1861.
A general belief prevailed in Eng
land that the seizure of Mason and Sill
dell by Capt. Wilkes would result in
war between England and the United
States. The English press generally
could see no other outcome. The OBJ
server. the ministerial organ, said that
England wished peace, but would gain
much by war-the rectification of her
Canadian boundaries, the opening of
Southern ports and the advantage of
having taught the United States a les
son. The absence of any reference to
the Trent affair in President Lin
1v4a Ar. xxrag
strued as indicating an intention to
make immediate war with England.
The pressure on the government at
Washington to resort to arms in set
Element of the dispute with England
was great Napoleon III. of France no
titled the powers of Europe that he be-
lieved the United States had exceeded
the rights of international law in the
seizure of the emissaries, and would
SO infoI m the American government.
A detachment of Gen Pope's forces
under Col ]. d. C. Davis. and Maj.
Marshall surprised a Confederate
camp at Milford north of WaTens-
burg. Mo, and forced the southerners
to surrender. Thirteen hundred pris-
oners were taken; and a thou
sand stands of arms, thousand
horses, stores, equipment, ammumni-
ton and general supplies were seized.
A accommodating expedition of Fed
eral vessels under Commander Dray-
ton, U. S. N, returned to the North
Edisto from an expedition in search OF
Confederate defenses. Some de.
serted Notifications were discovered
on Edisto island
December 10, 1851.
In an artillery duel near Point OF
Rocks, Maryland, on the Potomac riv.
/ er, a Confederate battery on the Vir-
| ginia shore was silenced and its sup
porting infantry driven from their po
sition. The Confederate battery OF
three guns opened on the encampment
of Col. Geary's Pennsylvania regi
ment, firing accurately. The fire was
returned with two guns. One OF the
Confederate pieces was disabled
early in the exchange. After the Con
federates had retired the National
guns opened on an old furnace where
number of them had taken refuge
killing and wounding several
The British ship Chesire, of Liver.
pool, Capt. Craig. was brought into
New York harbor a prize with a
crew from the U. S. S. s. Angus
/ ia, Capt. Parrot. The Chesire was dis
covered in six fathoms Of water of
Tybee Island. Upon being boarded
Capt Craig showed clearance papers
for Nassau, but could not satisfactor.
/ lily explain what he was doing so far
from his course. The cargo Of the
Chesire consisted of blankets, coffee,
and salt.
The Memphis Appeal reported the
confiscation of s2,500,00O VOL nt
property belonging to Union sympa.
! thizers.