Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1912-05-01
De
CIVIL WAR
FIFTY YEARS AGO
THIS WEEK
April 20. 1862.

fLtduldllou, near the junction Oh lHo
Dawho-Powpow and South Edisto riv-
ers, in South Carolina Fire was open
ed on the gunboat from a distance Of
eighteen hundred yards as she ad-
Vanced. and continued until she pass
ed the last intervening bend. when
the Confederates in charge OF the bat
terry retreated The battery was armed
with only two guns against the SUI
lperior weight OF metal of the enemy.
The work was destroyed by a landing
party.
Gen. Pope lead his National forces
into Monterey, Tennessee. driving out
the small body of Confederates sta
toned there. Fifteen prisoners we're
captured, and quantity of baggage
and supplies seized
Timothy Webster. the first spy to be
condemned by the Confederate govern
ment, was executed at Richmond, Vir-
Iginia
The National forces under Gen. o.
M. Mitchell met Confederate army
under Gen. E. Kirby Smith in battle
at Bridgeport, Alabama. The Confed-
crates were defeated with a loss of 70
killed and $50 taken prisoners.
President Lincoln sent message to
the United States senate in reply to
a resolution of enquiry concerning the
authority for the arrest of Gen
Charles P. Stone. In which he assumed
responsibility for the arrest. and
stated the trial would be held as soon
as certain witnesses could be spared
from their activities in the field
The Montgomery (Alabama) Adyer
tiser warned its readers against agents
OF the French government reported to
be in the city authorized to purchase
cotton for shipment to France under
the French flag. seeming collision be-
tween the Federals and the French for
supplying cotton to France, to quiet
the foreign clamor for Intervention
April 80, 1862.
A reconnaissance in force was made
by the right wing of the National army
from Pittsburg, Tennessee, toward
Purdy. The Nationals drove force
of Confederate cavalry upon Purdy
which place they occupied temporar
fly. The Union troops burned two rail-
road bridges on the Memphis and Ohio
railroad, and threw locomotive into
the river. Three prisoners were Ia
ken. and the troops returned, having
cut off all railroad communication be-
tween Corinth and the north.
A resolution Of censure on Simeon
Cameron, late secretary of war, was
passed by the United States house of
representatives as follows:
Resolved, That Simeon Cameron,
late secretary of war, by investing
Alexander Cummings with the control
of large sums of the public money
and authority to purchase military sup
plies without restriction, without re-
quiring from him any guarantee for
the faithful performance of his duties,
when the services of competent pub
lic officials were available, and by in
volving the government in vast num-
her of contracts with persons not legi-
timately engaged in the business per
tanning to the subject matter of such
contracts-especially in the purchase
of arms for future delivery, has adopt
ed a policy highly injurious to the
public service, and deserving the CEN
sure of the house"
May I, 1862.
The Confederate Colonel Morgan at
tackled the train of General Mitchell
with his squadron near Pulaski.
Giles county, Tennessee, and captured
sixty wagons and about 270 men, who
were released on parole.
General Grant was superseded in
command of the army near Corinth by
General Thomas, by an order transfer
hng General Thomas division from
the Army of the Ohio to the Army Of
the Tennessee.
The Confederate schooner Sarah,
attempting to run the blockade be-
fore Bulls Bay, South Dakota, was
was driven ashore by party from the
Union blockader Onward.
Four hundred Germans from Con-
lfederate Louisiana regiment went into
the Union lines at Corinth and sur
rendered as deserters.
Rumor reported that band Of Tex
ans had been defeated by Union
force under General Candy at Poralto,
Tex, on April Is.
General Butler began the debarka-
ltiou of his Union troops at New Or
leans, and issued a proclamation de-
claring the intention of the United
States government to restore order,
maintain public tranquility. and en-
force peace and quiet"
81 haffnrinu
fire on the defenses before Yorktown.
Skirmishes occurred near Horizons
Mills, ten miles from Newburn, N c.,
on the Pollockville road, and at
Clark's Hollow, Va, in which the
Federals claimed the victory.
May 2, 1862.
Secretary Steward informed the for
eign ministers that the post routes
had been reopened at New Orleans,
that collector OF the port had been
appointed. and that the rules of block
ade would be modified to apply to the
port.
Confederates having fred into the
steamer Edward Wilson, bearing Uni
ted States troops, six miles below
Savannah, enn., the gunboat Tyler
shelled the banks and notified the in
habitants, who were ignorant Of what
had happened. that a repetition Of
tie incident would bring upon them
the destruction of their homes
General Beauregard of the Confed-
crate army at Corinth, expecting an
attack from the Union forces marshal