Iowa County, Wisconsin - Chapter 8: War Llecoed, 1881

Chapter 8: War Llecoed

Introductory - First Volitxteer Compaxy in the State - The Farmers' Guards - General Events - Riotous Veterans- The Draft - Bounty Difficulties- The Camp and Field- Roster OF Volunteers.

Introductory

When the wild wave of secession overrun the country, disrupting all social and political ties with the upas influence of its baneful presence, the enlightened people of the North sprang to arms and clamored loudly to be led against the presumptuous foe.

The spontaneity of the rally in the South, the perfected details attendant on a seemingly hurried organization, were all too palpable to be accepted as other than indications of a long-brewing conspiracy, subtile in the magnitude of its ramifications. The boasted anticipation of the rebels to decimate the Union and erect on its smoldering ruins the foundation of a Confederacy based on perpetual slavery, was speedily dissolved into a truly Utopian scheme of illusive comprehension. Striking the first blow on an unsuspecting fraternity, the enemy was soon placed in command of the vantage points of the South. The coast defenses and naval stations invitingly awaited their approach, with dismantled battlements and impoverished equipments. Following up their initial successes, the elated adherents of the confederacy of Jeff Davis boldly advanced on the capital with the preconceived intention of seizing the seat of Government and subverting it to their own aims ; but in this they happily failed. Quickly recovering from the shock of assault, the North rallied to arms, and volunteers for three months' service eagerly poured in from all sections of the Union. The disastrous battle of Bull Run, fought on July 21, 1861, developed the true nature of the struggle. A patriotic Congress, roused by the zeal of its loyal President Lincoln, and the shadow of impending destruction, appropriated ^500,- 000 for war purposes, and a call was issued for half a million volunteers by the President.

With bated breath, all Europe watched the internecine combat then culminating, atid conjectured the probable results. England, ever jealous of her scion's advancement, could not repress a native instinct of revenge, and insidiously sought to undermine the Federal Government by treacherously aiding the enemy. The prestige of the Union was darkly clouded, and a positive vindication of its majesty was essential to a maintenance of its power among nations.

Public enthusiasm was most intense and spontaneous in its generation. With Revolutionary blood coursing in their veins, the men imitating the example of their grandsires, actually abandoned the implements of their calling, and flocked to Mineral Point for enrollment. These incidents have not had their origin in the active brain of some story teller of the people, as they are fully vouched for by substantial testimony. This feature was more particularly illustrated in Linden, where many men abandoned their plows in the field and volunteered for military duty. The adopted citizens of America's free soil were also numbered among the first to stem the tide of rebellion.

At the outset, when the first news from Fort Sumter had been received and canvassed, "old Iowa" with her war-worn Indian laurels, proffereil the services of the first body of men from Wisconsin. The Miners' Guard, an organized militia corps, volunteered for " the front." Their services were accepted without demur, and, having perfected preparations, they were enrolled under the national flag as Company I, of the Second Wisconsin Regiment. At the close of their three months' service, Company I re-enlisted as a veteran corps, and served throughout the rebellion with credit to their country and distinction to themselves. On the day announcing the capitulation of Fort Sumter, intelligence of the event was received in Mineral Point and disseminated over the county with electric rapidity; recruits flocked in from the adjacent regions, and speculation was rife regarding the outlook. The Miner's Guard mustered in the morning, and, without any concerted action, the depleted ranks were filled within an hour to overflowing, being swelled from a petty force of sixty men to a strong corps of 130 soldiers.

As the State militia laws limited the strength of a single company to seventy-eight men, a new difiiculty presented itself to the officer in command. His ranks were filled to repletion, and how to reduce the strength baffled his ingenuity. Not a single volunteer off'ered to relinquish his post, until eventually the problem was solved by the appointment of a committee of three, deputized to select sixty men for home duty. The committee men were Amasa Cobb, now Judge in Nebraska, John Bracken and Joseph Smith. They were faithful in the execution of their delicate duty, selecting so far as possible men of families, whom they peremptorily exempted from service in the Miner's Guard. Although peace was restored by this harmonious arrangement, yet the city still continued in a ferment of excitement, owing to the receipt of a rumor that the rebels were advancing on Cincinnati. Patriotism was fully aroused, and provisions were hastily packed into improvised haversacks, that Capt. Allen with the company might depart on the noon train, should the information be confirmed. Before noonday the rumor was exploded, and local matters were restored to a comparative quiet.

A brief history of the new Miner's Guard will not seem here inappropriate. This company was organized in May, 1860, under the laws governing the State militia, by Maj. Clowney. The first officers were Captain. Ed Devlin ; First Lieutenant, Ed M. Bliss ; Second Lieutenant, Thomas W. Bishop ; Sergeants, Eugene Early, William W. La Fleiche, Joseph J. Davey and William H. Wren ; Corporals, Cornelius James, George Harris, John Lanyon and Edwin Andrews. In the first year of its existence, the Miner's Guard was occupied in organizing and mastering the details of infantry drill. The members soon exhibited such remarkable proficiency on the occasions of public parades, that they rapidly acquired the title of a crack corps, not excelled by any similar body of men in Wisconsin. They were first equipped with worthless muskets of the flint-lock pattern, which did very well for drill purposes, but which were entirely inadequate to a hostile intent. These muskets were returned to Madison at the declaration of war, and modern rifles supplied in their stead. The Miner's Guard received orders to report at Camp Randall in May, 1861. Pending the time of their departure, the ladies of Mineral Point industriously employed themselves in various ways, and, on the day of parting, each man received a liberal supply of provisions to carry him on his journey. Company I. as we will now call them, rendezvoused at the court house, where, falling into line, they marched to the public square where wagons were in attendance waiting to convey them to Madison by way of Arena. They arrived at the capital in May, 1861, and were assigned to quarters in Camp Randall.

Actuated by the patriotic ardor of the Miners' Guards, a new company was soon after organized under the agricultural patronymic of the Farmers' Guards. L. H. Whittlesey was elected Captain. On enlistment, the company was enrolled as Company E, of the Eleventh Regiment, and served in various parts of the South with distinction, as will be seen by consulting the record of the Eleventh Regiment.

The services of the citizens soldiering in the cause of freedom and liberty are imbued with a deep, undying interest, which gather additional prestige by the waning years. Following are synoptical sketclies of the war records of each full company, contributed by Iowa County.

General Events

Numerous events that transpired during those years of anguish and anxiety could be woven into voluminous narratives, but, in the absence of the necessary space, we present herewith, in chronological order, a brief account of the principal events of that dark era :

Miners' Guard, the first to volunteer for service, assigned to the Second Regiment as Company 1. Left for Camp Randall, liberally supplied with commissariat stores by the ladies of Mineral Point. Limlen raising and drilling a company of volunteers. Report that Secesh flag had been raised in Highland. Dodgeville commenced recruiting. Fifth Wisconsin Regiment organized, with Col. A. Cobb and Surgeon George D. Wilber, of Mineral Point, on the list of officers.

" The call for volunteers to fill the ranks of the Miners' Guard was so promptly answered by the patriotic young men of this vicinity that the number was increased to 100 in a very short time. The inquiry ' who will go ?' was soon changed to ' who will stay ?' for word came that but seventy-eight would be received .in a company. To decide this matter with regard to the Miners' Guard, a committee outside the company was chosen to select. The task was a very unpleasant one for the committee, as all the volunteers were good men, and anxious to be counted in. The committee had no criterion by which to be governed, except to select out such to remain behind as had families or business that most required the attention of those who offered to go. Considerable disappointment was felt by some on being left behind, but we feel that the committee acted from pure motives, and, however much many desired to be in the first company from this place, they will rally for a new company, the ranks of which are being rapidly filled."

At the battle of Bull Run, Thomas Maloney, of the Miners' Guard, was reported among the missing. When exchanged, he related the following story to account for his absence, which on investigation proved literally true : After Col. O'Connor had been mortally wounded, he aided in removing him from the field of battle. He then returned and assisted Sergt. James Gregory to the hospital of an Indiana regiment. Learning that his brother-in-law, John Tregea. was yet in the field, he returned in searcli of him. In the darkness of the night, he approached a body of soldiers, whom he mistook for Union troops, and was there taken prisoner. He was soon after paroled and sent to Annapolis for exchange.

September, 1861. - Capt. L. H. Whittlesey, forming a company, received thirty-five applications the first day. Capt. Ashmore, of Arena, and Capt Loeber, of Dodgeville, organizing companies. Lieut. Cornelius Koutz enlisting men for German regiment of Milwaukee. Capt. Whittlesey, with Farmers' Guards, ordered to Camp Randall.

October. - Letter from Miners" Guard from Camp Advance, Va., asking for thirteen men to fill vacancies in company. Capt. Laudworthy, of Company K, and Lieut. Meredith, of Company H. arrived in quest of recruits. Gen. Thomas Stephens commissioned Lieutenant Colonel of Second Wisconsin Cavalry, opened a recruiting ofiice in Dodgeville. Constitutional Guards, of Arena, numbering sixty, fearing to be omitted from the Eleventh Regiment, went to Madison and united with Randall Zouaves, assuming latter name. Capt. W. E. Patton, First Lieut. E. D. Partridge, Second Lieut. Henry Blake. H. Downs, formerly Captain, was elected Orderly Sergeant. John Bracken commissioned Lieutenant Colonel of the Sixteenth Regiment. Twentyfive young men enlisted with Col. Bracken, for service in the Miners' Guard, then at Washington, D. C.

Dodgeville Guards mustered into Twelfth Regiment as Company C at Camp Randall. Levi Sterling obtained a Captain's commission, with authority to raise a company for Second Wisconsin Cavalry ; opened a recruiting office in H. P. George's store. Mineral Point.

At this, the Tribune says : " We are gratified to be able to say that Levi Sterling has already commenced raising a company in this place and vicinity, and will no doubt succeed in filling its ranks in a very short time with first-cla.-is volunteers. Quite a number have long been waiting for an opportunity to join a cavalry company, who will now, we presume, come forward and unite with Capt. Sterling's company. With officers who dare to lead where brave men dare to follow, we anticipate a bright future for the Second Wisconsin Cavalry Regiment."

December. - Meeting held at Camp Curti.<, Md., to thank ladies of Mineral Point for appropriate gift of 102 pairs of mittens. Nine volunteers from Iowa County enter Second Cavalry, under Capt. Palmer, at Camp Washburn. W. A. Owens, James Gregory, G. W. Dilley, F. Bremer and Walter P. Smith, of Miners' Guard, captured at Bull Run, and exchanged.

Mineral Point Soldiers' Relief Circle instituted, Amelia A. Knibbs, President ; Kate Tyack, Secretary. Memorial presented to Capt. Devlin on resigning command of Miners' Guard.

January, 1862. - Shipment of underclothing to soldiers from ladies of Mineral Point. Sergt. James Gregory, of Miners' Guard, presented with a beautiful silk banner by a Union lady, resident in Richmond, Va. Capt. Loeber, of Dodgeville Guards, detained at home by illness, rejoins his regiment at Fort Leavenworth. Kan. Private Budlong, home on leave of absence, opens a recruiting office at the Wisconsin House. Mineral Point.

May. - Sergt. William Nelson, formerly a printer in the oiEce of the Mineral Point Tribune, eulogized for following feat of bravery : In May, an attack was made upon Point Rock Bridge, near Huntsville, Ala., by a band of irregular cavalrymen, numbering from 200 to 300, as afterward ascertained. Sergt. William Nelson was on guard, with fifteen men. The assault began at midnight, by the enemy advancing upon both sides of the railroad, and pouring volley after volley into the little band, from rifles, guns, revolvers, and every species of arms that bushwhackers could get together. The noble Union band replied with decision, and, in reply to each repeated demand to surrender, the brave Sergeant would reply with warmth, consigning the rebel crew to a base region, and accompanying the condemnation with a charge to his men to "Give it to 'em, boys!" Sergt. McKinnon, of Company H, same regiment, hearing firing, came to the rescue with ten men. After a fight of three hours' duration, the enemy were driven off. This defense is unparalleled in modern warfare.

July. - Lieut. Col. Guppy tendered the command of the Twenty-third Regiment, to be raised in the Third Congressional District. Capt. Devlin appointed to the command of new company called Stanton Guards.

August. - Enthusiastic war meeting at Dodgeville. Col. Amasa Cobb, of the Fifth Wisconsin ; Col. Thomas Stephens, of the Second Cavalry, were present, and delivered stirring addresses. Hon. L. W. Joiner, of Wyoming, was Chairman ; Revs. Thomson and Mathir spoke in favor of the county granting a bounty. Resolutions were adopted recommending the County Board to pay $.5 per month to families of enlisted soldiers. L. S. Burton commissioned to raise a company ; Joel C. Squires and Fred Moeller, commenced recruiting.

Large war meeting in Mineral Point. A committee appointed to collect subscriptions in aid of the femilios of volunteers. Maj. T. S. Allen, for distinguished bravery at Bull Run, promoted to the colonelcy of Twenty-third Regiment. Busy at Mineral Point recruiting office. In one day, thirty-five men were enlisted from Mifflin, and twenty-five from Linden. Mineral Point citizens subscribed $40 to each man who volunteered without being drafted. Death of Lieut. Col. L. H. D. Crane, of Third Wisconsin Regiment, who fell in battle at Culpeper, Va., pierced by two bullets. While a citizen of Iowa County, he had held the office of Prosecuting Attorney, and was subsequently chosen Clerk of the Assembly.

September. - Call for 6.38 men from Iowa County. Meetings of Soldiers Aid Society, presided over by Mrs. George W. Bliss, for preparing lint bandages and hospital supplies. Burton Guards elected following officers : Captain, L. S. Burton ; First Lieutenant, William H. Gill ; Second Lieutenant, Frank Carver. Successful Soldiers Aid Picnic, attended by Dodgeville and Highland companies, just organized. Addressed by Gen. William R. Smith. Rev. J. Lawson presented each man with a Bible on behalf of Iowa County Bible Society. The ladies donated each man a needle-case. Receipts, §115. J. F. Suddeth, appointed Adjutant of the new Thirty-first Regiment, to which the Dodgeville company was assigned. Capt. Wigham's Highland company, assigned to the Twenty-seventh Regiment. Lieut. Col. Sterling opens a recruiting office at Dodgeville for Second Cavalry.

October - Capt. Devlin's new company, the Stanton Guards, and the Burton Guards received marching orders for Camp Randall. Non-commissioned officers of the Burton Guards, were Sergeants, F. J. Rowe, Thomas O'Kent, John Suffcool, William E. Keeney, Joseph Cheynoweth ; Corporals, Thomas W. Carter, Thomas Leysen, Arthur Gleasun, William Wallace, Daniel Kober, John R. Bainbridge, Le Roy Humbert, William L. Williams; Commissioner Beacken appointed Draft Commissioner.

January, 1863. - Capt. Otis in camp, was presented with an elegant sword and belt, by the Miners Guard. Damascus blade, beautifully mounted, with hilt set in pearls and covered with an embossed sheath. The whole was encased in a neat walnut box, with an address to the recipient. Cost, $6.'3. Sergt. Legate made the presentation in name of his comrades.

March - Union League established. George W. Bliss. F. Vivian and A. Wilson, officers. At a subsequent meeting, a gavel, formed from the timbers of the Merrimack, was received from Col. Whipples of the Nineteenth Regiment.

1864 - 65 - John Green, of Moscow, commissioned to raise a company for the Thirty-seventh Regiment. Return of Farmers' Guards, Company E, Eleventh Regiment on furlough. Banquet with Second Cavalry veterans, at City Hall, on Wednesday, April 20, 1864. On July 13, 1864, Maj. George H. Otis took charge of the Tribune and returned colors of the Second Regiment to Gov. J. T. Lewis. April 11, 1865, Dr. J. H. Vivian, Surgeon of the Fiftieth Reginent, presented by the Clerks of the Provost Marshal's oflBce, with a beautiful sword and belt. September 6, 1865, dinner given by the ladies of Avoca, to returned soldiers from that district.

Riotous Vetekans

The events in the county during the feverish struggle at the front partook of none of the prevailing excitement, and local affairs were administered in the quiet tenor of every-day harmony. The only incident worthy of mention occurred in the summer of 1864, on the occasion of the arrival home of a company of the Thirtieth Regiment on furlough. Inflated with the pleasures attendant on relief from arduous camp service, and rejoiced with the attention of friends, the gallant "boys" imbibed too freely of stimulants, and, in their exhilarated condition, threatened to burn up several putative "copperheads" and sack their houses. The threats were principally directed againt Dr. Van Dusen, an outspoken Democrat. Anticipating an attack, some of his friends, namely, Reuben Libby, William J. Healey and Edwin Prideaux, mounted guard on the premises until after the departure of the ultra-loyalists.

During the furlough, an imminent riot on Commerce street was averted by the cool and ' intrepid conduct of John P. Tramel, who was at the time Mayor. A squad of the Thirtieth, while passing down Commerce street, encountered a piece of timber obstructing the sidewalk in front of Joseph Lanyon's shop. One of the leaders kicked it into the street, and, on being ordered to replace it, the squad turned upon the offending carpenter and drove him into his shop, which they proceeded to despoil. They had already broken the windows with their rifles when interrupted by the Mayor who appeared on the scene, and, accosting the leader personally, disarmed him. This attack had a salutary effect on the other rioters, w^ho submitted to the civil authority and quietly resigned their arms. Such collisions between the military and civil powers were only of rare occurrence, and were the natural outcome of a troop of active spirits released from the fettering restraints of a rigid camp life.

The Draft

The conscriptive summons of the President was generally responded to with enthusiastic celerity; and in the instance of the first draft, in 1862, many districts were found to have furnished volunteers greatly in excess of the quota required by law. Arena, Mifilin, Pulaski and Wyoming were enumerated among the towns of Wisconsin that gained exemption by so valiant an evasion of the draft. In no section of the county were compulsory or arbitrary measures resorted to to enforce conscription. Citizens with families dependent on their individual efforts for maintenance justifiably manifested an indisposition to be forcibly ostracised from their wives and babes, but not in a single instance was this dissatisfaction expressed save in murmuring at the immutable decrees of a hard fate. Unlike contiguous counties in Southwestern Wisconsin, Iowa harbored no rank rebels, as her patriotic citizens resented such an unnatural union. Southern sympathizers were taught to repress their disloyal feelings by force of reasoning, and, when the power of moral suasion was futile, then the secessionist was moved by physical punishment to abjure his pernicious doctrines.

As stated elsewhere, volunteering was lively at the outset of the war, which, in a measure, ameliorated the subsequent draft. The first draft of 1862 called for the services of six hundred and thirty-eight men from Iowa County. This quota, as reduced by volunteering to two hundred and twenty-three men, was distributed among the towns as follows: Clyde, 23; Dodgeville, 30 ; Highland, 11 ; Linden, 15 ; Mineral Point, 42 ; city of Mineral Point, First Ward, 14, Second Ward, 20 ; Moscow, 10 ; Ridgeway, 51, and Waldwick, 7.

Under the draft of 18tj3, the Draft Commissioners issued a call for 195 recruits. The quotas of the respective towns were : Clyde, 7 ; Pulaski, 10 ; Wyoming, 5 ; Arena, 16 ; Ridgeway, 22 ; Dodgeville, 34 ; Highland, 24 ; Mifflin, 14 ; Linden, 1.5 ; Mineral Point, 1st Ward, 10 ; Mineral Point, 2d Ward, 10; Town of Mineral Point. 12; Waldwick, 9, and Moscow, 7.

On equalizing the President's call of 1864, it was found that the quota of Iowa County was 585 men, as follows : Pulaski, 18 ; Clyde, 19 ; Linden, 35 ; Mifflin, 26 ; Wyoming, 7 ; Arena, 33; Ridgeway, 65; Dodgeville, 108 ; Highland, 90 ; Linden, 35 ; Mifflin, 26 ; Mineral Point town, 25 ; City of Mineral Point, Ist Ward, 26 ; City of Mineral Point, 2d Ward, 26 ; Waldwick, 24, and Moscow, 22.

Bounty Difficulties

Among the few counties of the State that refused to encourage enlistment by the appropriation of money for the support of deserted families, Iowa ranked foremost, for, with the exception of a paltry sum of $6 monthly to the penniless families of soldiers, no other appropriation was made. Even this trifling sum doled with niggardly exactitude was considered extravagant by members of the Board of Supervisors, who at the annual meeting in February, 1862, adopted the following self-explanatory resolution :

Rttolved, That the henefiis of the resolution of 1861, granting relief to the soldiers' families, be extended to all the soldiers' families of Iowa County (except substitutes), whether volunteers or drafted men.

And. whereas, a peneral impression seems to prevail that the aforesaid resolutions were intended to offer a monthly pay to the families of soldiers, and, unfortunately, it would seem, by the action of some of the town boards, that they have fallen into the same error, we therefore wish it to be distinctly understood that it was never intended to be considered or offered as a regular monthly pay, but only as a fund to be drawn upon when alt other retourcet had failed, and only in such case is it to be considered a legal charge against the county.

Corporately the County Board did nothing until their cool demeanor provoked the citizens of Dodgeville to present a unanimous petition praying the board to levy a tax sufficient to guarantee a bounty of §25 to each volunteer from the county. By referring to Section 1, Chapter 13, of the General Laws of 1862, it was found that the board was not invested with the authority required to levy a tax for that purpose. A proposition of the petitioners that the county assume the extra State pay of $5 per month to volunteers until February, 1863, was adopted, on condition that the same papers required by the Secretary of State be presented to the Clerk of the board and assigned to the county.

In April, 1862, the care and support of volunteers' families was turned over to the several towns in which they resided. The apathetic attitude of the Supervisors was a marked contrast to the individual exertions of citizens who, in all parts of tlie agitated county, raised by subscription money sufficient to bounteously subsidize their local recruits.

On December 19, 1863, a meeting of citizens was held at Mineral Point to devise means for raising the quota without enforcing the draft. Hon. John Toay was Chairman. Resolutions were adopted requesting the Common Council to levy a tax of §5,000, for tiie purpose of offering a bounty of §200 to all volunteers ; any surplus on hand after securing the number of men, was to be paid to the families of soldiers already in the army. At this meeting. C. H. Cox presented a subscription list for a fund to purchase wood for families of soldiers in war. Following are the amounts subscribed on the spot, althougli a considerable fund was afterward accumulated :

As an inducement to volunteers, the City Council of Mineral Point, on the 22d day of April, 1861, passed a resolution to appropriate $6 per month to the families of the first twelve married men who enlisted here. The first families to avail themselves of this act were those of Messrs. Rule, Sleep and White.

At the annual election of 1863, a vote was taken to raise money to defray the expenses of the war, by tax, which was defeated. Again in December, a special meeting to raise $3,000 was held and the project carried. This was followed by another meeting early in February of the following year, which resulted in raising $.5,000 more to prevent a draft; and by the 19th of the same month, William T. Henry, who was City Clerk, reports $10,367 on hand, which had been obtained partially by subscription. Aside from this, various parties bought substitutes, sometimes paying very high figures, so that in reality no accurate estimate of the amount of funds paid out for the war can be made ; suffice it to say it was large.

Enrolling went vigorously forward in 1863, under the stimulus of $300 State bounty, and $200 town bounty. All defections were quickly remedied, and the ranks were rapidly filled. The final draft of 1864, as an invocation to the loyalty of the people, taxed their depleted homesteads to supply. The flower and chivalry of the land had gone forth already, and, to meet the two preceding drafts, every nerve had been strained. This, it was conjectured, would lead to a crisis in the county necessitating the intervention of the Provost Marshal to assert the dignity of the law. The law was not invoked, as the citizens, by a master eifort, eventually answered the draft, and enrolled themselves, irrelevant of coercive measures.

The first to return to their homes were the Miners' Guards, who appeared in the city of Mineral Point July 2, 1864. Only a few hours' notice of their approach had been received, yet the citizens turned out en masse, and. headed by the Mineral Point Brass Band, marched out a mile from town and accorded the war-worn veterans a hearty greeting. They were then conducted to the United States Hotel, where they arrived at 5 o'clock in the afternoon. They were officially welcomed on the part of the citizens in an address by Alexander Wilson. After a general exchange of compliments and congratulations, the Guards sat down to a bounteous supper, being welcomed to the table by a choir of young ladies, who sang an appropriate song. Of course the members of this pet corps were lionized, and for the hour were the reigning attraction at all social assemblies.

The Camp And Field

We have seen how the first intelligence of the opening struggle was received here, and have viewed retrospectively the principal local events which occurred from the time the first volunteer company was organized until the end of the war. But those incidents convey scarcely an idea of what the soldiers of this county, in common with all others throughout the State, were actually called upon to endure in the camp, field and prison, in the cause of liberty and justice. Nor, indeed, is it possible to adequately portray what then transpired, which now seems almost like the marvelous events of some fitful dream. Who can limn the picture of that past, or properly measure the grandeur and malignity of the mighty conflict which raged for nearly five years Two great and valorous forces were arraigned against each other; one for the vindication of the might of right, and the other for the maintenance of opinions and priviliges alien to the interests of the nation and humanity. The life of our glorious Union was at stake, and, still greater, the happiness of four millions of human souls, chattels by the right of common consent alone and the despicable and cowardly selfishness of a power delegated by no natural right, and maintained at the expense of the noblest sentiments that can animate a human heart, a love of liberty. The events of the preceding years had at last reached a crisis ; the time for a change had arrived, and the mighty and invincible hand of destiny was again arrayed in the cause of the down-trodden.

In contemplation of the magnitude of the strife ushered in, and the paramount interests centered in the issue, we almost lose sight of the instruments or individuals who were involved. Our souls and hearts again respond to the call to arms, and leaping out beyond the restraints of time and place, we seem again to be preparing for the oncoming fray. Impelled by the grand impulses that animated our forefathers and made us a free people, we press forward with the mighty throng of freemen who rush from the workshop, the counting-house and the field to the preservation of their country and her laws.

Tens of thousands of loyal hearts are again marching to the front, animated by the sublime invocation of " Give me liberty or give me death." The solemn and soul-inspiring strains of " John Brown's body " are borne to our ears, swelled to inconceivable grandeur by the mingled voices of many gallant and brave men, while the endearing smiles and tears of mothers, sisters and lovers cheer and stimulate the courage of the faint-hearted, to emulate the deeds of the founders of their country in maintaining her ascendency and prestige, if need be with their hearts' best blood. By suffering the indescribable agonies of starvation and abuse in prison pens; by marches under burning Southern suns, over scorching sands by day and dreary wastes by night, or midst raging storms and through dismal swamps where death by the wayside may await the boldest; for such was the life of our soldiers. A life of adventure, perils and often death was theirs, such only as those who have participated can fully comprehend.

Once more we hear the thrilling bugle and cheering drum, and each patriot pulse is stirred with the ppeans of liberty. The wild shouts of martial throngs are singing in our ears, while the booming cannon and muskets' rattle invite us on where glory awaits - or perchance a grave. Again we hear the fearful din of battle, valiant hosts advance with frenzied enthusiasm to the uncertain contest. Foe meets foe in the awful vindictiveness of deadly strife. Shrieking missiles of destruction mow down hordes of brave men ; with irresistible might, and terrible fierceness, squadron charges squadron, while riderless horses rush madly to and fro midst the smoke of the conflict. At last the strife culminates, and the glorious shout of victory is heard ; then we realize the awful sublimity of war, the glory of noble conquest or ignoble defeat, and, ahis, the terrible solemnity of death in the fight and at the front. Let us now bid silence to the wild and eager longings of our hearts for the loved and lost, and think of them only as they fell, " the brave, the strong, the true," battling for the inalienable rights of humanity, for their homes and country's honor. Theirs was the glory on earth, the brightness of whose achievements is fitly commemorated in the acquisition of freedom for all who may find a refuge in our fair land - a glory which shall grow lustrous by time, and rendered forever memorable to men and blessed of heaven.

As will be seen by the appended table, the Second, Eleventh, Twelfth, Twenty-seventh, Thirtieth and Thirty-first Infantry Regiments, and the Sixth Battery received a majority of all the men who left here. Although twenty-nine different organizations received recruits from this county, some of them are credited with but one man, and but few have over twenty. In this record only synoptical or brief sketches of the regiments above mentioned will be given.

The following table, compiled from the State roster, exhibits the number of men enlisted in each town, the number in each regiment and the total enlistment in the county :

Miners' Guards, Company I, Second Infantry. - The old Second, in which Company I figured conspicuously, was one of the regiments enrolled under the President's call for 75,000 three-months men, at Camp Randall, Madison, in the spring of 1861, under the management of Col. Park Coon, of Milwaukee. Without having seen active service, the men were called upon to re-enlist, on the 16th of May of that year, for three years or during the war, to which call they made an enthusiastic response by re-cnlisting almost to a man, with the exception of one company, which was disbanded, its place being supplied by the Wisconsin Rifles. On the 11th of June following, the regiment was mustered into service, being the first of the Wisconsin regiments so mustered.

Without entering into the details of their equipment and movements by way of Chicago and Pittsburgh to Washington, where they appeared as the first regiment of three-years men, and thence, by the Georgetown aqueduct, to camp, on the Fairfax road near Fort Corcoran, we come to the 16th of July, 1861, when with three other regiments, under the command of Col. W. T. Sherman (now Lieutenant General), as a part of Gen. Tyler's division, they moved on to Manassas. About noon of the 18th inst., the regiment participated in the attack on the enemy at Blackburn's Ford, on Bull Run. Here they made a double quick of three miles, under heavy artillery fire, in the second line of battle. In the evening, after the engagement was over, they bivouacked near Centerville. Aj^ain, on the '2lst, their division moved on the enemy, who retreated, they pursuing across Bull Run toward Manassas. Near Warrentown Pike, a very advantageous stand was made by the rebels, on a ridge, where their batteries and soldiery were protected by timber. Here the Second was ordered to assault one of the batteries, and moved forward boldly under a terrific enfihiding fire of shell and canister. Forming in line at the foot of the ridge, they charged up, driving the enemy's infantry before them. Just at this critical moment, they were thrown into confusion by the absence of tw(t field officers, and the two wings became separated. Yet, the men continued to fight in scjuads and companies for an hour under cross fire, until the enemy, becoming recruited by tlie arrival of fresh troops, attacked them on the right flank and drove them from the field, with a loss of thirty killed, one hundred and five wounded and si.xty-five missing, many of whom were taken prisoners. Here the regiment won its first laurels, but not the last, for soon after it was consolidated with the Fifth and Si.\th Wisconsin and Nineteenth Indiana, under Gen. Rufus King, and afterward became celebrated in the annals of the rebellion as a part of the "Iron Brigade," one of the most notable and effective military organizations ever made. In the above engagement, Company I suffered scarcely at all, and not until the battle of Gainesville, on August 28, 1862, were there any killed; then Corp. H. P. Curry and private Isaac Kay were slain.

To enter into the general details of the various engagements in which the regiment with Company I participated, would be to prepare a separate volume; suffice it to say, they were engaged in the following work and actions (particularly described in the Adjutant General's report of 1865). Tlie erection of Fort Marcy in August and September, 1861. An attempt to cut off Gen. Jackson's retreat 2d May, 1862, making a march of 104 miles. A picket skirmish at Chancellorsville July 26 ; destruction of warehouse, railroad, etc., at Frederick Hall ; and engagement with Stuart's Cavalry at Thorbury, on August 5 and 6 ; seventeen men of the Second taken prisoners. A skirmish at Waverly Ford, on the Rappahannock, August H'. A skirmish on the 26th. while on the road to White Sulphur Springs. The Second sustained a heavy engagement on the 28th, from Stonewall Jackson's division, for twenty minutes, while waiting for the balance of the brigade to come up ; also other engagements in the vicinity, all known as the battle of Gainesville, under Gen. G. B. McClellan. The storming of Turner's Pass at South Mountain September 14 ; enemy defeated and pursued on the 15th. At the battle of Antietam ; two days distinguished bravery of the brigade and Second. At the battle of Fredericksburg on the 13th of December, the Second occupied a very e-xposed position ; the 14th and 15th they were constantly under arms. On a foraging expedition to Heathville, Va.. February 12 ; large confiscations made. A successful for;iging expedition in Westmoreland County, Va., March 28, 1863. At Fitz Hughes' Crossing, Riippahannock, crossing on pontons under a galling fire ; storming enemys pits and capturing large number of prisoners, routing them, April 28.

At Brandy Station, on the Orange & Alexander Railroad, Companies A and I of the Second participating in the cavalry battle which occurred June 7.

In the vicinity of Gettysburg on the 1st of July, a terrible engagement, the Second received the brunt of the fight and charged ; lost 30 per cent of the rank and file, the enemy completely routed. At the battle of the Wilderness on May 7, 1864. By the 11th of this month, the Second was reduced to 100 men fit for service, and, having lost their field ofiicers, were detailed for guard duty and embarked for home. They arrived at Madison on the 18th of June, only a handful of the noble men who had gone out three years before. The last were mustered out on the 2d of July, 1864. Those who were left who chose to re-enlist were reorganized into two companies, known as the independent battalion of the Second, and afterward participated in the battles of Petersburg, Hatcher's Itun and other minor engagements. The battalion subsequently became Companies G and H of the Sixth Infantry. It is not pretended that the above is a complete record of every engagement in which the Second or Company I was engaged. It is but a synopsis of the chief events, as are all of the descriptions.

Farmers Guards, Company E, Eleventh Infantry. - The Eleventh Regiment was assembleil at Camp Randall in the fall of 1861, and, by the 18th of October, the men were mustered into service. Of the 105 men, representing nine towns, who went from this section, nearly three-fourths belonged to Company E, which was composed entirely of Iowa County men. The remainder of the 105 men were known as a part of the Constitutional Guards of Arena. The regiment first went to St. Louis, and into camp near Iron Mountain. There, guard duty was performed until the spring of 1862. Then, in March, the regiment was assembled, and began a southward march. Skipping the various stages of their journey, we first find them actively engaged on the 30th of June, defending a wagon train near White River, Mo. From that time until the 3d of July, they were more or less actively engaged in skirmishing while en route for Augusta, Mo. On the 7th of July, a severe engagement at the junction of Bayou Cache and Des Arc roads, where a large force of the enemy was completely routed by a comparatively small number of the Eleventh. Here they met with their first loss - 4 killed and 20 wounded. At this point, their rations fell short, and they were compelled to make a march of 100 miles over burning sands and through morasses to Helena, Ark., before they could get anything. From there they marched to Oldtown, Ark., during the last of the month, and engaged in foraging expeditions in the vicinity, capturing large quantities of cotton, with but little loss. During the fall and winter of 1862, they were engaged principally in foraging expeditions in Missouri, and in guarding trains. In the spring of 1863, the regiment moved south, stopping at various points, until they reached Bruinsburg, Miss., on the 3d of April. From this point, they began a night march for Port Gibson. On the road, they were attacked by the rebels, and made a stand. After lying on their arms during the latter part of the night, in the morning, what is known as the battle of Anderson's Hill, was fought, the Eleventh leading. The enemy was routed. Soon after this, they were engaged at the battles of Champion Hills and Black River. At the latter place, the Eleventh stormed the enemy's works, putting him to flight and capturing 1,000 men and a regimental stand of colors. On the 19th of May, they took stand at Vicksburg, and were largely serviceable in that siege, and suffered very severely. After Vicksburg surrendered, they went to Jackson, where they were actively engaged, from the 10th to the 21st of July, in fighting and tearing up railroad tracks. Eventually, they participated in a raid into the interior of Louisiana, known as the Teche campaign, and participated in the various scrimmages which occurred, and marched over two hundred miles of terrible roads during the month of October. On the 17th of November, they moved to Berwick City, and thence proceeded, via the Gulf of Mexico, for Texas. On the route, the regiment was divided, four companies, of which E was one, being left at Point Isabel. They were afterward re-united at Fort Esperanza, December 7, a portion of them having made a very fatiguing march. From this time until January of 1864, they were employed in guard and picket duty at various places. During the winter, nearly three-fourths of the regiment re-enlisted. On the 13th of February, 1864, they were re-mustered, and, on the following day, embarked at Indianola for home on a furlough. The veteran Eleventh arrived at Madison on the 21st of the month, and were accorded a formal reception by the State authorities, and received a stand of colors. On the 23d of April following, they rendezvoused at Camp Washburn, and, on the 27th, embarked for Tennessee, and thence went to Louisiana, where they were employed in scouting, foraging, building fortifications and doing guard duty, until February of 1875. They were during that time often engaged in expeditions of great importance. From Louisiana, the regiment went to Blakely, Ala., where they were engaged from the 3d until the 9th of April, and signally distinguished themselves. This was the last service performed by the regiment, where there was any fighting of consequence. On the 4th of September, 1865, the men were mustered out at Mobile, and the next day left for home, and on the 28th of September received their final discharge and pay at Madison, having served four years and two days.

Dodgeville Guards, Company C, Tivflfth Infantry . - All but a very few men who went out in the Twelfth Regiment belonged to Company C, recruited in seven towns of the county. The companies first assembled at Camp Randall, in October, 1861, where the regiment was organized under the supervision of Col. G. E. Bryant. There they remained drilling until the 11th of January, 1862, when they embarked for Missouri. At Quincy, 111., they were unable to cross the river, and in order to get over, had to march down opposite to Hannibal, Mo., a distance of twentytwo miles, which they accomplished in heavy marching order, at the rate of four miles per hour. There they remained overnight with the thermometer at 20° below zero. The ne.xt morning they crossed, and continued the journey ; but had to leave along the route over forty men who were disabled by their exposure. They were obliged to go without food during the most of the time until the 15th, thus early being initiated into the vicissitudes of a soldier's life. At the last-mentioned date, they went into camp at Fort Leavenworth, Kan., where they remained until March ; then they went to Fort Scott, marching 160 miles in six days. From there the regiment went to Junction City, at the Smoky Hill and Republican Forks of the Arkansas, to join an expedition for New Mexico. Journeying via Lawrence, Camp Halleck, St. Mary's Mission, Manhattan and Fort Riley, they arrived on the 25th of February. The expedition being abandoned, they were soon after called upon to retrace their steps, and went on from Leavenworth, via St. Louis, to Columbus, Ky., where they arrived June 2. They were actively engaged in repairing bridges, railroads, and making raids on guerrillas here and in the vicinity of Corinth, until the 1st of October, when they were removed to Bolivar, Tenn. From this time until the 10th of December, they were engaged in reconnoitering in the vicinity of Hatchie, Pocahontas, Bolivar, La Grange, Holly Springs, Cold Water and Lumpkins Mills, near Waterford, where they were in camp a few days. On the 12th of December, they arrived in Mississippi, where they remained but a short time, going back to Lumpkins Mills. On the 8th of June, 1863, the regiment marched via Cold Water, Moscow, La Fayette, CoUiersville, to Camp Butler, going through great fatigue. There they served as guards until the 14th of March, when they moved to Memphis, Tenn. On the 18th of April, they joined an expedition for the purpose of giving battle to the rebels under Gen. Chalmers. They overtook the enemy at Hernando, and engaged in some pretty sharp skirmishing, and captured a number of prisoners. At this point, the first man was killed in action. In this expedition, Company C figured conspicuously as one of the advance companies. On the 24th, they returned to Memphis, and, on the 11th of May, they embarked and proceeded to Louisiana, where they were employed in fatigue duty, and guarding the immense stores at Grand Gulf until the'9th of June, when they removed to Vicksburg and participated in the fight. From this point, after the surrender, they went to Jackson, and were engaged in the action of the 12th of July. The enemy absconding, they were removed, via Vicksburg, to Natchez, Miss., where they went into camp on the 15th of August. They remained in camp until the 22d of November, when they were again employed at different points in the vicinity of Vicksburg and Natchez as guards, and in pursuit of guerrillas, until the 25th of July, 1864. Large numbers re-enlisted during January, as veterans, at Hebron, Tenn. On the 3d of February, they started on the celebrated Meridian expedition under Sherman, and marched 416 miles in thirty-one days, being engaged in fighting and destroying property most of the time.

The veterans left Hebron on the 13th of March for home, and arrived at Madison on the 21st, where they received a public reception from the Legislature; and, on the 31st, were paid off and discharged. Subsequently, the veteran Twelfth were in the battles of Kenesaw Mountain, with Sherman, from the 2d to the 15th of July, and at Atlanta with the army of the Cumberland, engagements justly celebrated as among the greatest of the war, and where the Twelfth did as gallant and constant service as any regiment engaged, having several times sustained the brunt of the heaviest fighting. During the spring of 1865, they served at different points in both North and South Carolina, being the greater part of the time in active service. On the 1st of May, the march home was commenced, where they finally arrived on the 21st of July, having been mustered out at Louisville. They were finally paid off and disbanded on the 9th of August, 1865.

While the regiment was at Humboldt in 1862, some of the men, being disciples of Faust, captured a printing ofl5ce, and issued a few numbers of a spicy sheet known as the Soldier's

Dodge Vi Lle

Highland Guards, Company Cr, Twenty-seventh Infantry. - The Twenty-seventh Regiment was ordered to rendezvous at Camp Sigel, Milwaukee, where the men were mustered into service on the 17th of September, 1862, under Col. Conrad Krez, Company G being made up of men from the town of Highland. The regiment left the State on the 16th of March, and proceeded to Columbus, Ky., from which point, in May, they moved to Snyder's Bluff, Miss., where they were during the siege of Vicksbu'.'g. From this place, they moved via Helena, Ark., and Duval's Bluff, to Little Rock, where they were stationed until the 23d of March, 1864. Then they were ordered to join the Red River expedition, under Gen. Banks. After a seven days' march, they reached .\rkadelphia; thence moved to Spoonville and Okolona, a distance of thirty-seven miles, where, on tiie 3d of April, they had their first engagement, sustaining the loss of a few men. Having repulsed the enemy, they marched to Eikins' Ferry, crossed the Little Missouri, and, resuming the march with the army corps, participated in the action at Prairie de Arc. From this point they started for Little Rock, marching via Moscow and Camden, to Jenkins' Ferry, where they were again engaged, sustaining considerable loss. Having effected the crossing, they continued the march, reaching their destination without further interruption on the 1st of May. On the -Sd of October following, they broke camp, and, embarking, left Little Rock for Pine Bluff, Ark., where they joined Clayton's command. On the 22d of the month they returned to Little Rock, having done some heavy marching, but without an engagement. Soon after, four of the companies were assigned to guard duty in the vicinity. On the 7th of February, 187.5, the regiment started for New Orleans, to join Canby's command, and finally, after a good deal of heavv marching, they pulled up before Spanish Fort on the 27th of March, where they were stationed (luring the continuance of the siege, and lost a few men. The enemy evacuated the fort on the 8th of April, and were pursued by the Twenty-seventh, which witnessed the capture of the forces by Gen. Steele.

They then moved to Stark's Landing, thence to Blakely, on through Mobile to Whistler Station, thence by Nannahubbah Bluff to Macintosh Bluff, where they arrived on the 2.5th of April, and where tiiey were employed in erecting fortifications until after the surrender of Gen. Taylor. From there they went to Mobile, and, soon after, to Brazos, Tex., where they arrived the 6th of June. On the 13th, they marched to Clarksville, where they were engaged in picket duty until the 2d of August, when they moved to Brownsdale, where, on the 29th of the month, they were mustered out. They then embarked for home, arriving in Madison on the 17th of September, 1865, and were soon after paid off and disbanded.

Stanton and Burton Guards. Companifs B and C, Thirtieth Infantry. - The recruits for the Thirtieth Regiment rendezvoused at Camp Randall, in October, 1862, where they were mustered in on the 21st of the month, under Col. D. J. Dill, the Iowa County men being the nucleus of Companies B and C. Regimental head({uarters were at Madison for some time after. Eventually, the regiment was divided into four companies, going up the Missouri River to Fort Sully ; neither of these, however, were Companies B or C. On the 2r)th of May, Company C was sent to Bayfield, in this State, remaining but a short time, then returned and the regiment went to Milwaukee.

In October, 1864, Companies B and C, with two other companies, were sent to Fort Wadsworth, in Dakota Territory, under Maj. Clowney. Leaving Fort Wadsworth on the 29th of September, 1865, they removed to Fort Snelling, Minn., where they arrived on the 12th of October, after a 300-niile march. On the 20th of October they embarked on the Mississippi and went to Benton Barracks, Missouri, and thence to Paducah, Kv.. where they were engaged in guard duty until the 6th of December, when tliey were removed to Louisville, Ky., and all but one of the companies were called in. Thence the regiment moved to Bowling Green, Ky., where it remained but a short time, going thence to Louisville, where it arrived on the 12th of January, 1865, and was assigned to guard the military prison. On the 8th of February, Companies B, C and G, under Maj. Clowny. moved to Frankfort, Ky., where they were stationed as city garrison. Company B soon after moved to Georgetown, where it acted as garrison under Lieut. Gill. This company rejoined the command on the 27th of May, and with it returned to Louisville. On the iOth of September, the regiment was mustered out, and on the 25th arrived at Madison, and was disbanded and paid off. *

Dvdgeville Ranyers, Company C, TInrty-first Infantry. - The Thirty-first Regiment was principally recruited in the summer of 1862. The first rendezvous was held in September at Prairie du Chien, where, on the 9th of October, the recruits were mustered in under Col. L E. Messmore. One of the si.x companies mustered, C, or Dodgeville Rangers, was recruited in the town of Dodgeville. After lying in camp until the 14th of November, the regiment was divided, three companies going to Madison to take charge of the camps for drafted men. From there they were moved to Camp Jlitcliell, where the other companies had gone, and where, on the 13th of January, the remaining four companies were mustered in. On the 1st of March, 1863, the regiment was moved via Cairo, 111., to Columbus, Ky., where it was assigned to the Sixteenth Army Corps at Camp Halleck. While here, they were engaged in raiding, reconnoitering and guarding at different adjacent points. From Columbus, they proceeded via Caira and Louisville to Nashville, Tenn., in September, and remained there until October, when they moved to La Vergne, and thence to Murfreesboro. Soon after. Company B was detached and stationed at Stone River Crossing, where it remained until April, 1864, doing guard duty ; then joined the regiment at Murfreesboro. Soon after, the regiment was assigned to the Second Army Corps, and was divided into detachments, and placed on guard duty along the line of the railroad from Tullahoma to Murfreesboro. A mounted detachment under Lieut. Beattie did excellent service in Middle Tennessee from March to June. In June, the entire regiment was transferred to Nashville, Tenn., and placed on provost duty. On the 16th of July, 1864, they were ordered to Atlanta, where they arrived on the 21st of July, and took a position in the trenches, and where they were constantly under fire and engaged in fatigue duty until the evacuation by the enemy. Subsequently, thej' were engaged in foraging and garrison duty, until the 15th of November, when, with the Second Corps, they started and went through to the sea with Sherman. When within nine miles of Savannah, the regiment had to struggle through a terrible swamp, under heavy fire. However, it, in company with an Ohio regiment, captured the rebel camp and equipments, for which exploit they received the encomiums of the entire command. Eventually, the Thirty-first participated in the engagements at Chesterfield, S. C, March 1, 1865. At Averysboro, S. C, on the 16th of March. At Bentonville March 19, wiiere the regiment did distinguished service, helping to sustain five heavy charges, and losing sixty men. Thence they marched to Goldsboro and Raleigh, where they encamped. On the 3d of April, they started for home, stopping at Alexandria, Va., to engage in a grand review. May 20. Arriving at Louisville, Companies B and C were mustered out, June 20 ; reached Madison the 23d, and, on the 8th of July, were paid off and disbanded.

The Sixth Battery. - The Sixth Battery, Buena Vista Artillery, Capt. Henry Dillon, having twenty-five men from Iowa County, was organized at Camp L^tley, Racine, on the 2d of October, 1861. They were first placed in charge of a siege battery at New Madrid, Island No. 10, where they remained until May 17, 1863, when they removed to Corinth, and were, on the 3d and 4th of June, engaged in the battle at that point, sustaining a loss of four killed and twenty-one wounded. Having been to Boonville, Rienzi, Grand Junction, Moscow, Lumpkin's Mills, Memphis, Holly Springs and La Fayette. Tenn., they were finally moved to Helena, Ark., thence to Milliken's Bend, La., and on to the siege of Vicksburg, after the battle of Thompson Hill. WHien the enemy retreated, the battery was in the pursuit, and, overtaking him, engaged at Jones' Cross Roads. They were at the battle of Raymond on the 1 2th of May ; thence went to Jackson, where they were engaged ; then on to Vicksburg, where they took position on the 19th, remaining during the siege. Eventually, on the 27th of September, the entire battery moved to Memphis, Tenn., having been divided a short time before. From this point, with the First Brigade. Third Division. Fifteenth Army Corps, the battery moved via Glendale, Miss., Dickson, Ala., Tuscumbia, Chickasaw, Florence, Rogerville, Fayetteville, through Win-

Chester and over the Cumberland Mountains to Chattanooga, where they arrived on the 2d of November. They soon after participated in the celebrated movement against Mission Ridge on the 24th. Their guns were soon after condemned, and they went into camp until fresh equipments could be supplied. They were at Bridgeport, Larkinsville, and finally at Huntsville, Ala., on the 0th of Aui^ust, 1864, where the new ti-appings and recruits were forwarded soon after. A number of the men re-enlisted at this time as veterans. During March and April,, one section of the bf.ttery was stationed on the Tennessee River, twelve miles from Huntsville. Here they had occasional engagements with the enemy, who were stationed on the opposite side. On the 12th of May, they started in pursuit of a rebel force which had captured and burned Madison Station, twelve miles distant. The pursuit was abandoned at the Tennessee River, and they returned to camp. June 22, they left Huntsville, and proceeded via Stevenson; thence by rail to Kingston, Ga., where they arrived on the 30th, and remained in camp until July 12. They then moved forward thirteen miles to Fort Etowah, commanding the bridge across Etowah- River, near Cartersville, Ga. Lieut. Simpson then took command of the battery, which comprised two ofEcers and ninety-six enlisted men, forty of whom were veterans. The Sixth Battery exchanged guns on the Oth of November, receiving Rodman rifles instead of NapoleoK guns. They broke camp at Fort Etowah on the 10th of November, and moved via Cartersville and Chattanooga, to Nashville, Tenn.. and joined the reserve artillery on the 17th, at Camp Barry, where Capt. Hood resumed command of the battery. On the 29th, anticipating ai> attack, Camp Barry was broken. The same day, the artillery was assigned to the defenses of Nashville, the Sixth Battery occupying Fort Gillem. December 29, they returned to Camp Barry, and, on the 7th of January, 1865, were transferred to the Reserve Garrison Artillery of the department of the Cumberland. In accordance with orders, the men, on the 16th of January, were armed with muskets, and subse(iuently furnished details for duty as provost guard itt the city. They left Nashville by rail on the 17th of February, arriving next day at Chattanooga. They remained at Chattanooga until ordered to proceed to AVisconsin for discharge from service. They arrived on the 3d of July, 1865, at Madison, Wis. The battery was mustered out on the 18th, to take eiFect from the date of their arrival in the State.