Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1912-07-03
De
CIVIL WAR
FIFTY YEARS AGO
THIS WEEK

July I, 1852.
The Federal army under Mcclellan,
bafied and defeated in its attempt to
reach Richmond by the Confederate
forces under General Lee, made a last
stand at Malvern Hill. on the James.
and repulsed the terrific onslanghts OF
the enemy in a battle that ragged all
day. The fight was intensified by the
realization on both sides that the
Union army was struggling for its
very existence. Although the Federals
were victorious in that they saved
themselves, the struggle definitely
concluded any attempt to capture the
Confederate capital
A severe engagement took place
between small forces of Union and
Confederate troops at Bonneville,
Miss. The Confederates were re
pulsed after seven hours of hard fight
ing, with a loss on both sides heavy
In proportion to the men enga'
President Lincoln, in response TO
governors of seventeen loyal states,
who requested. that he call on the peo-
pie of their states for more men than
were in the field, announced that he
had decided to call for 100000 add
,ional men.
A body of Confederate cavalry was
prevented by the guard from capturing
wagon train belonging to General
Shermans army near Morning Sun.
Tenn.
A fight occurred between the Union
ram fleet, under Commodore Porter,
and the forts and land batteries be-
fore Vicksburg. Miss. The fleet dis
mounted one gun IN water battery
and one in fort. Attempts by the
Confederales to build defenses to
drive off the fleet were prevented. =
General Butler sent to President
Lincoln, from New Orleans, three
swords, formerly belonging to the
Confederate General Twiggs, accom-
panied by e letter giving history OF
their seizure and suggestions for their
disposal.
The president, In accordance with
the act for tho collection of direct
taxes in the insurrectionary district
of the United States, issued a procla-
nation declaring in what states and
parts of state instruction existed.
July 2, 1862.
The Army of the Potomac under
General Mcclellan, in their retreat
from before Richmond, made neces-
sary by the handling they received at
the battle at Malvern Hill, reached
Harrison's Bar, on the James river, in
safety.
President Lincoln approved and
signed the Pacific railroad bill and
internal tax bills.
A scouting party of Union troops
proceeded from Catlett's Station to
Warrenton, Va, which they found oc-
cupied by a force CT 500 Confederate
cavalry.
Governor Morgan of New York is
suei a proclamation calling upon the
citizens OF his state for their quota
of troops, to serve for three years or
during the war, under the call of the
president for 100000 men.
At Clarendon. Ark. party Of Texas
cavalry succeeded in capturing three
men and six horses belonging to the
Federal force near that place.
The Confederate privateer Florida
sailed out of Liverpool harbor, where
she had been fitted out
The congress of the United States
Of 1fE
bill, requiring that candidate for Of
fee should swear that he had never
given aid or encouragement to the en-
emies of the United States, or accept
ed office under any government hostile
thereto.
July 5, 1862.
The news of the retreat of the
Union army under the command of
General Mcclellan from before Rich
mond caused intense excitement in
Now York and throughout the north.
The details of the repulse fell upon
the community with disheartening ef-
feet, and produced such a shock as
had not been felt since the commence
ment Of the war. Crowds of excited
people were everywhere to be seer
discussing the matter, and all sorts
of differences and conclusions were
drawn from the reports.
The brig Delilah was captured of
the Hole in the Wall, Abacco, by the
United States steamer Quaker City.
Governors Tod of Ohio and Buck
ingham of Connecticut issued procla-
nations to their citizens calling for
their states quotas of troops in re-
sponseA to President Lincoln's call for
100000 men.
The bombardment of Vicksburg was
continued at intervals throughout the
day. The Confederates made an at
tempt to capture the mortar vessels.
which lay at the levee within rife
shot of the Confederate piekets, but
without success.
A skirmish occurred between a bri-
gade of the Union Army of the Poto-
mac on the James river, Virginia, I'M
der the command of General Davidson.
and force of Confederates, resulting
in the defeat of the latter. the Union
lists capturing six guns and a number
of prisoners.
July 4, 1862.
A party of men from the U. s. S. s.
Rhode Island landed ~ Galveston,
Texas, for the purpose of raising the
A =