Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1911-12-27

was made public. The FIRST was a note
from Secretary Seward to Mr.. Adams.
United States minister to England,
briefly mentioning the incident, stat
ing that the action of Captain Wilkes
was without the authority of the gov
eminent, and trusting that the Eng
lish government would consider the
subject in a friendly temper. Fol
lowed a note from Earl Russell to
Lord Lyons, declaring the act an af-
front to the English flag and a viola
ton Of international law, and demand
ing the restitution OF the ENJOYS to
the protection Of the English flag. and
an apology from the American govern
ment. Mr.. Stewards response to this,
after reviewing at great length the
points of international law involved,
expressed the conclusion that the
United States government would be
wrong in refusing TO return the per
sons captured, and stating that the
four persons taken by Captain Wilkes
(Messrs. Mason and Slidell and their
secretariesl would be cheerfully lib
Grated as soon as time and place
should be appointed for receiving
them. No apology was offered, how
ever. there having been no offense In
tended. Lord Lyons replied that he
would forward the document to his
home government, and would make
immediate arrangements for again
placing the ENJOYS under the protec-
ton of the English flag. The closing
of the incident was generally approved
in the north and regretted in the
south. where much hope had been
built on the prospects of a war be-
tween the United States and Great
Britain.
General Prentiss, with 450 Federal
troops, met and defeated a Confeder-
ate force under Colonel Dorsey near
Mount Zion. Boone counSy. Mo.
A squadron OF Col Jackson's Fed
eIal cavalry under Major Murray, on
a reconnaissance near Sacramento, in
the Green River valley, KY, was rough
ly handled and driven from the field
by a Confederate force under Colonel
Forrest. Captain Bacon OF the Ma
tionals was killed.
December 90. 1861.
Commander Porter, U. S. N, and
several officers of the Federal army
narrowly escaped capture by COM
pany of Confederates under JEFF.
Thomson at Commerce, Mo-, 40 miles
below Cairo Thompson's men had
raided the town, which was strongly
Federal in Its sentiment, and had con
cealed themselves behind the land
ing for the purpose of capturing the
steamer City OF Alton, which was
expected When the steamer came in
sight, Mrs Eyersole, wife of a citi-
zen, ran down to the landing and
warned the pilot, in spite of the
threats of Thompson's men that they
would shoot her. The steamer re-
versed her engines and backed of
just before she touched the landing.
The Confederates fired several vol
leys at her. Kidding her cabin. but
and the military men were passengers
on her at the time.
A Confederate tug played havoc
with marine traffic between Old Point
and Newport News for few hours in
the morning. chasing the steamer EN-
press, in the passenger and freight
trade, and capturing the schooner
Sherwood, carrying water from New
port News. which was in tow OF the
Empress. The tug carried a commo-
dore's blue pennant, which was mis-
taken for a flag OF truce until she
opened fire. The Empress escaped by
crowded on all steam
The Confederate General Huger sent
note to Gen. Wool announcing that
he was ready TO send 240 prisoners Of
war down the James river from Rich
mond as soon as they could be re.
ceiyed
December 30, 1861.
The secretary Of the treasury Of the
Confederate states. in his correspond
ence with the Tenn ssee delegation in
the Confederate congress, announced
the inability of the Confederate gov
rnment to reimburse Tennessee for
the sums expended by the state in de-
Tense OF the Confederacy.
Messrs. Thomas and Burnett of Ken
lucky were sworn in as members of
thu Confederate congress and took
tnsir seats as representatives Of their
state. They were chosen by the pro-
visional government.
Acting Master AIick Allen and Act
ing Master Henry l.. Sturgess of the
U. S. s. Mount Vernon were sent in a
cutter and gig TO destroy Confed-
crate lightship il use off Wilmington,
n. c. They found the light ship de-
serted, although pierced for guns and
almost prepared for harbor defense.
The vesesl was fred, and the mem
bers Of the expedition escaped through
the fire of Confederate batteries that