Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1912-04-17
De
CIVIL WAR
FIFTY YEARS AGO
THIS WEEK
April is. 1852.

vessel anchored in Hampton Roads,
refused to receive a company of Con-
iederate gentlemen who went out to
them In steamer The English Of
ificers informed the visitors that they
could hold no communication with
them.
The Union gunboat Yankee re-
turned to Washington from an expedi-
ton up York river. where an unsuc-
cessful attempt was made to prevent
the erection by Confederates of bat
teries.
An effort to convene the court OF
Berkeley county. Virginia. under q
Confederate judge. was frustrated by
Thomas Noakes, loyal citizen, who
interfered with the sheriff Subse-
quently. by permission of the Federal
provost-master of the town, three
Union magistrates were selected and
held court, transacting some neces-
sary business.
The Union steamer Sebago. carry
ing one UNDERGROUND parrott gun,
stopped the activities of Confederates
who were constructing batteries on
lNA$ 0ASSIP1CA cA0C VI inc AOA n AtfCA,
two miles above Yorktown Until the
Sebago arrived with her heavy guy
the Union gunboats could not ap-
proach, being outranged by the Con-
federate arms
General Mcclellan continued prep
arations for an artillery attack on
Yorktown. placing batteries. A recon
naissance by the Confederates with
force of 1000 infantry brought on
heavy skirmish.
Confederates cut the levee on the
mississippi river near Fort Wright.
An immense amount of property was
destroyed
April 10, 1862.
Abraham Lincoln, president of the
United States, signed the bill for the
emancipation of slaves in the District
of Columbia, and it became law.
A boat containing officers and men
of the 18th Pennsylvania sank at Cas-
tlemen's Ferry. on the Shenandoah
river, drowning a number of passen-
gers.
IN an effort to standardize the Con-
fedeIcte currency, John H. Binder,
Brigadler General of the Confederate
army, issued al order prohibiting the
Issuance and circulation Of private
notes. Opportunity was given to trans.
late those in hand into bankable funds.
Confirmation of the rumors of bat
tile at Apache Pass, N. NJ, reached
Washington. A force Of Confederates
from Texas was defeated In an encoun-
ter with United States regulars, after
desperate fight, in which the Texans
charged their enemys battery four
times.
A reconnaissance and surveying party
sent by the National forces to Will
mington Island, North Carolina, was
attacked and roughly handled by a
force of Confederates from neighbor-
ing batteries. The Federal soldiers
fought desperately to escape capture,
and finally held their assailants off.
Sixty-one of Ashby's Confederate
cavalry were captured while at break
fast in church several miles beyond
Columbia Funarce, Virginia The pris-
oners were taken into Woodstock, Va.
Troops from Ringgold's cavalry and
the 46th Pennsylvania made the cap
ture.
Skirmishes occurred near Savannah.
Tenn, and Lees Mills, Va.
April II, 1862.
The National forces under Gen.
Banks occupied Mount Jackson. Va.
The Confederates, outnumbered, resist
ed the attack to gain time to destroy
bridges and railroad rolling stock, but
were driven away before they did com
plete damage.
A committee of the House of Rep
tresentatives of Virginia, investigating
the Roanoke Island disaster, reported
that whatever blame or responsibility
is justly attributable to any one for
the defeat of our troops at Roanoke Is
land on the 9Th of February last,
should attach to Gen. Huger and Mr..
Benjamin, the late Secretary of War"
A heavy mounted force made a re-
connoisance along the upper road from
Pittsburg Lsndi2g to Cornish. Con-
federate pickets were driven in, but
the Union force withdrew as soon as it
developed a considerable force of the
enemy.
New Market, Va, was occupied by
Gen Banks Union forces, after a
slight resistance by the Confederate
force stationed there.
A heavy artillery duel, lasting in
termittently for eighteen hours, en-
sued on an effort by Confederates to
erect battery three miles from York
town. The Union artillery, in large
number, prevented the enemy from
completing their work.
The first anniversary of the Declara-
ton of Virginia's secession was cele-
brated in the state.
The Union STEAMERS Minnehaha and
Patton, loaded with National troops,
were fired into by Confederates as
they were passing up the Tennessee
river
The Memphis Appeal stated that the
Confederate losses at the battle of
Shiloh (Pittsburg Landing), did not
exceed one thousand killed and five
THOUSAND wounded The defeat on the
second day of the fight was ascribed
to whisky found in the Federal camp
captured on the first day.
Confederates captured AIS Federal
refugees at Wood ons Gap, Tenn.
Gen. Joseph E. Johnston assumed
command of the Confederate troops de-
Tending Yorktown, with an army H.