Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1911-12-06
DE
CIVIL WAR
FIFTY YEARS AGO
THIS WEEK
December 3, 1851.

President Lincoln's message was
transmitted to congress. The presi.
dent urged against any plan of lib
Grating or arming the slaves. In
considering the policy TO be adopted
for suppressing the insurrection," he
said, Il have been anxious and care
full that the inevitable conflict for
this purpose shall not degenerate into
a violent anu remorseless revolution
airy struggle. have, therefore. in
every case. thought it proper TO keep
the integrity OF the Union promi-
nent as the primary object of the con
test on our part, leaving all questions
which are not of vital military i'm
pOrtance to the more deliberate action
Of the Legislature"
a RECOMMENDING party consisting OF
100 men of the Third Pennsylvania
cavalry. under Captain Bell. sent out
by General Fitz John Porter met with
disaster near Vienna, Va. Several
miles beyond Vienna the party en-
countered force of Confederate in
fantry and cavalry and were severely
Federals became panicky under ire.
The Union cavalry finally extricated
itself, but lost more than one-third its
number. On the return they met Gen
eral Porter coming out to their re-
lief.
Major Bowen's Union cavalry was
surprised in quarters at Salem, Mo-
early in the morning by a band OF
Confederate cavalry and roughly
treated. The Confederates got away
neatly, without serious loss. Captain
Dodd of the Confederates was wound
ed and taken prisoner.
The Western Virginia convention
changed the name of the new state
from Kanawha to Western Virginia
De :ember 4. 1861.
Representative Salisbury Of Mary
lald introduced into the House of
Representatives a resolution propos-
ing the appointment of ten commits
sioners from the United States t.
meet an equal number appointed by
the Confederates States and endeavor
to negotiate a peace. active hostilities
to be suspended until their delibera-
tons should be concluded. The reso-
luton was laid on the table. A mo-
ton to liberate the slaves in the Dis
trict of Columbia was referred to
committee. The Senate passed a reso-
luton expelling former Senator John
C. Breckenridge. who has resigned.
The Maryland Legislature met in
special session and received a mes
sage from the governor of the state
in which he urged many measures to
bring the state to a defence of the
Union. The new legislature was
Union in sympathies.
Queen Victoria issued proclama-
ton forbidding the expectation from
all ports of the United Kingdom of
gunpowder. nitre. nitrate of soda.
brimstones. lead. and firearms.
Citizens of Missouri attacked n
band of Confederate soldiers return
ing from service with Gen. Price, kill
ing seven and wounding ten. The as
sault occurred near huntsville. 20
miles west of Sedalia. Missouri.
Gen. Phelps Federal expedition,
which sailed from Fortress Monroe
on Nov 20. on the U. S. S. s Consti-
tutions. landed at Ships Island, Missis-
sippi Sound. in the Gulf of Mexico
A detachment of Federal cavalry
burned portion of the Whip-poor-wili
bridge, on the Memphis Branch rail.
road. in Confederate territory The
effect of the raid was only moral.
Secretary Seward prohibited the
further arrest of fugitive slaves in
the city of Washington. Gen. Halleck
Issued a severe order against south
ern sympathizers in Missouri.
December 5, 1861.
MIR. Trumbull of Illinois introduced
in the Senate Of the United States a
bill providing for the forfeiture to the
United States government of all prop