Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1911-12-27
75ze
CIVIL WAR
FIFTY YEARS AGO
THIS WEEK
December "a, 1861.


December "a, 1861.
General Popes cavalry sent to Lex
ington, Missouri chey captured two
Confederate captains, one lieutenant,
number of horses and aecoutre-
ments, and destroyed the foundry and
ferry boats.
The War Department of the United
States issued orders stopping the en-
listment of cavalry men in the army.
having already enough in that arm.
Blufftown. South Carolina, was occ Gu
pied by Federal troops under General
Stevens. 1t was found deserted.
a bill to increase the duties on tea,
coffee, sugar and molasses passed the
Congress of the United States. The
duties were raised to twenty cents a
pound on tea, to five cents on coffee,
to Two and half, three and five cents
on sugar, and to six cents on molss.
ses. II was estimated that the In.
crease would add s6000.00O annually
to the revenues of the government.
A card from J. J. McKeever, presi-
dent of an organization known as the
Southwest Company" appeared in
the Memphis Appeal to announce that
a third special messenger would leave
Memphis on the first of January TAX
ing mail matter for all parts of the
world"
December rs, 1861.
The steamer Florida, c. S. N.
steamed out of the harbor of Mobile.
Alabama, at noon on Christmas day,
to engage the Federal steamer New
London. The Florida ran down to the
westward of Sand Island and chal-
lenged the enemy to fight The chal,
lenge was accepted. aud cannonad-
ing ensued that lasted upward of an
hour The firing was at long range,
owing to the shallow water of a bar
that interviewed between the two YES
sells, keeping them at a distance. No
serious damage was sustained by
either belligerent.
The lighthouse on Morris Island. in
| Charlestown harbor, was blown up by
order of the Confederate military au-
thorities. with the purpose of depriv-
ing the blockading feet of the benefit
of the beacon.
In spite of General Halleck's recent
order threatening death to anyone
burning bridges or destroying rail.
roads in Missouri. two spans of the
bridge across the Charlestown river
on the Hannibal and ST. Joseph rail-
road were burned by Confederates.
Brig. Gen. Samuel r. Curtis was APP
pointed to command the Federal
forces in southwestern Missouri.
Martial law was extended by order
of the rational government TO all
railroads in Missouri.
December 20, 1861.
Senator Hale of New Hampshire Of
fered resolution in the senate of the
United States calling ON the president
for copies of all dispatches that had
passed. between this government and
the government of England relating to
the controversy over the seizure OF
Messrs. Mason and Slidell from the
British steamer Trent. In a speech on
his motion, he advocated a war with
Great Britain in preference to the res
titution Of the Confederate ENJOYS.
Mr. Sumner objected to a considera.
ton of the motion, and it was laid
over.
Gen. Winfield Scott arrived at New
York on the steamer Arago from Eu-
rope. He reported that tie party in
Europe advocating a war with the
United States was greatly encour-
aged in their cry for blood"
Major Ousley, Of Colonel Haggard's
command. with a small body of ma
tional troops, fought off a force of
Confederate cavalry that attacked
while they were eating supper in a
hotel near Camp Boyle, Ky.
Major Cover, commanding a squad
ron Of Iowa cavalry, returned TO JEFF
ferson City, Mo-, with prisoners and
ten wagonloads of stores taken from
the Confederates.
The Confederate Gen. John 3. Floyd
issued an address to the troops of his
command from his camp, near Dublin
depot, in which he praised them for
their conduct during the campaign of
the last FIVE months, and urged them
to respond to the compliment that had
been paid them by the Confederate
government in ordering them to the
defense of Kentucky.
December 81, 1861.
Information was received at Wash
ington that Col Candy, u. S. A., had
retaken Forts Craig and Stanton, on
the Masilla border. ard was on his
way to Fort fillmore, v hich had been
surrendered by Colonel Lynde, since
dismissed from the service, to an in
ferior force of Confederates from
Texas. Candy intended marching
thence TO Arizona.
The Federal General Wool issued
an order from Fortress Monroe de-
ploring the recent burning of build
ings at New Market Bridge by Union
soldiers in retaliation for the destruc-
ton by Confederates OF the property
of Federal sympathizers, and express
ing his decided disapprobation of
such proceedings on the part Of our
troops" The buildings at New Mar.
ket Bridge had been burned by order
~ CxaparoI AFanaffaId