Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1912-05-01
73e
CIVIL WAR
FIFTY YEARS AGO
THIS WEEK

modore DuPont's squadron, captured
Confederate battery on Grimball's
Plantation, near the junction of the
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
perior weight of metal of the enemy.
The work was destroyed by landing
party.
Gen. Pope lead his National forces
into Monterey, Tennessee driving out
the small body of Confederates sta
toned there. Fifteen prisoners were
captured, and a quantity of baggage
and supplies seized.
Timothy Webster, the first spy to be
condemned by the Confederate govern
ment, was executed at Richmond, Vir-
ginia.
The National forces under Gen. O..
M. Mitchell met a Confederate army
under Gen. E. Kirby Smith in battle
at Bridgeport, Alabama. The Confed-
crates were defeated with a loss of 72
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) Adver-
| 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
! of Confederate cavalry upon Purdy,
which place they occupied temporar-
lily. The Union troops burned two rail
road bridges on the Memphis and Ohio
| railroad, and threw a locomotive into
| the river. Three prisoners were ia
ken, and the troops returned, having
cut off all railroad communication be-
.i11fI hn 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
lie officials were available, and by In
volving the government in a vast num-
Der of contracts with persons not leg1-
timateIy 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 1, 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 Corlnth by
General Thomas, by an order transfer
ing 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-
/ federate 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 a Union
force under General Candy at Poralto,
| Tex, on April Is.
| General Butler began the debarka-
ton 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"
The Union siege batteries opened
| 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