La Crosse City (part 3 of 3)

Supervisors - Timothv iJurns, Jacob Spaulding and Charles Whipidc, 1851 : Edwin Flint, W. T. Price and Joseph K. French, 1.-^52: E. Cliild<, M. Palmer, M. C. Bost\wek and M. -Mc- Millan, 1853; A. Crane, 0. Croak, J. MHIer. L. A. Viets, T. C. Gilbert and J..hn ^^ldrum, 1851 ; Moses Clark, C. C. Palmer, T. L. Smith. William Van '/.nidt. William Van W;,tev and Jacob ]]a^kv, \^r,.',; Jam-s M,dir. E. IX Campbell, James Wb.aien. V,illiam Sims. B. E. Brower, T. L. Smilii, W. \'an Zan-it, 1. J. Math, son and V. M. Adams, 1:^56; E. D. Campbell, W. H. Tucker, L. R. Bowen, John Wbeld-n, T. L. Smith. C. C. Palmer, Willi.nn Sims. V. M. Adams, N. J. Tomiikins and C. Redburg, 1857; Wdli- GiL-gory, George Scharpf, 1>.

In 1870, each 'J'ownship elected its Supervisors, the Chairman of each Town B becouiiii;: e.\" officio a memlier of tlio County Board, which was thus made up and elected annually.

coi'KT Hor-r. During the session of the Eegislattire held in tiic winter of 1850-51 , an act was passed making La Crosse the county seat only on condition of putting u]) the lu-cessary public buildings within oiR- year and frrc of expense to the countv, in ilcfault of which a special election was to be held upon ?ixtv days' notiiH', and the site changed to the phicc having a majority of the votes cast. As ttie vill:i!:e hud less thni: two hundred residents, and the time cjiven was too short to admit of anv extended puhlic action, or any s-Thcme of self-imposed taxation, which would have re()uired a ["'pnlnr vote, there was no resource but to make personal appeals to the generosity of thos(; interested. A most generous response was had, and a frame building of two stories was erected on the site "f the present stone structure. It was 2(>x?>G, having rooms for all the county officers on the lirst lloor, and a court-room ah- ve, which was made use "f for almost every gathering of a public nature, as church meetings, public meetings, debating clubs, a library association, etc. It continued to be used for all piurposes of a general character till 1867, when it became too small fur the increased business of the county. It was sold to a Mr. Pearson, by whoni it was Tcnlo^ed to Wuc street near the corner df Third, ami used as a boarding house. In 1S'"<\ it passed itito the hands of its present proprietor, A. McDonald, and is now tlio well-known \\'ashington Hotel.

The fir-t jail was a small one-story stone cjncern of about l."<xl5, built in rear of and coming up tlusli against the old court house. The ceiling was filled wiili several ton< of broken stones, with a view to prevent escape by raining down an avalanche upon the hapless head of the prisoner who should seek an escape in that direction. Tlic walls extt-nded down four feet below the siiiface and ti lloov was made of Hogging. The prison was notorious for its insecurity, as, beirig built upon the sand, it was a comparatively easy matter to dig out beneath the walls. One of the first tenants was the murilerer AVatts, whoso brutal murder of his old companion, Darst, is wtdl recalled by all the older settlers. It was said to be a standing jest that when the jailer looked disconsolate, ati iiniiiiry revealed the fact tli-<t he had lost all his boarders. To the question, " How many cscapied last night ': " tlic reply would invariably correspond with the number confined.

'J'iie new jail was built in 1858, by A. W. Shcpard, and is modeled after the ancient Egyptian, having heavy walls, sloping window casings, and a curved cornice extending around the buibling at the same level. It is 4.5x07, ani.l is a rather low structure giving the ap])cai'ance of great strength and solidity, which it possesses in an eminent degree. 1 he ))rison jirujier is 3'Jx4."j, and contains lf> cells, each Gx'J, coritaining two hammocks. The cells are in two tiers, the floors being composed of a single sfori.?, the ceiling of the lower tier forming the floor of the upper. An open corridor extends around them, inclosed by walls of two feet in thickness, giving the inmates ample room for exercise.

In the living ]iortion of the building are rooms am})le for a large family, as also three rooms for fiiiiale pri-ijners. All are uiuK-ls of neatness. "For a numlicr of years previous to the completion of the new court house, the county othees v\-erc in the jail in the division afterward fitted U[) for a residence for the Sherifl". About two hundred cords of stone were used in its construction. The ^valls are two feet in thickness witli projecting courses at the corners and windows, adding much to the air of massive strength with which it impresses the behohler. It seems imj/ossiblc that one should ever escape from it, and the writer was told by the jailer that, so far ;is he kncv.-, no such event liad evi r hap[icned.

The View court house \\as ccinmenced in 1^'t'7, aiiil completed the following year. Mr. William Listuian had the contract, ami it can truthfully be sai<l, tliat for every dollar received the county uceived an ((piivalent. Tbi< is a nin-i unusual circumstance to record of a jjublic work, and is Worthy sjiecial mention. This Imilding is on the site of an ancient sand hill, in the center of the iiublic square, fronting on Third street, between State and Vine. Like the nev.' jail, ininiediately in its rear, it is built solidly of stone tliroughout. The basement is eight feet in the clear, the foundation course is four feet wide, and one foot below the floor, the wall two and onclialf feet thick, in first story, tw>i feet, and in scrnnd. twenty inches, all in eight inch courses of magnesian lim(>tonc ami liamnicr dre.-:ed. Th" ba>einent ]i:irtiii. n walls are of brick, eighteen inches in width, and in first stmy, ( f eight inches. The vaults for the jiublic records and documents, which arc alsnhitely firc-firoof, are of brick, with outer walls sixteen inches in thickness, and inner ones C'f four mcLes, Mith an air flue of four inches between them. These all have wiiulows guarded by inside sluitterj^ of iron, and are as li;^ht, dry and airy as it is possible to make thtui. On tnc first iloor there are nine rooms for the various county offices, which are fitted up with every convenience reijuisite for the dispatch of business. It would be hard to find officials moi-e attentive to their respective duties or courteous to those seekinn; information. The cijurt room on the second floor is about GO.vGO. with seats rising from the front to the rear, so that a perfect view is had of all the proceedings, and the accoustic properties of the room are such that no ditficulty is experienced in heaving all that may be said, llooitis for the f^rand and petit juries "are firovided on the same floor. The sui)erstrupture was built of inagnesian limestone, while Joliet stone was used for facings, caps and cornice ; o2."» cords of stone were used, all dressed on the face. A fine spire crowns the edifice, on which the blind goddess of justice stands, holding the impartial balance. The approach from Thin! street is by a terraced walk of twelve feet in width, and about seventy in length, surmounted at the edges with a beveled stone coping. I'he steps are twelve inches in width and eight inciies in thickness, and are eacb composed of a single stone. The landing is about Il'xI'j. Upward of 40,000 brick were used in constructing the partitions and vaults. Tlie wood work is as substatitial, in its way, as the other materials employed. Everything from top to bottom is solid and enduring, and almost severe in its plainness. The cost of erection was §36,000 ; the additional expense of furniture, carpets, desks, etc., brought the grand total to a less amount than S40,0i.iO. The court house is very central in location, and has a most commanding position.

Poor House

The only institution for the paupers of the county is the infirmary belonging to the city. It is situated three miles from the post office. It is in the township of Shelby, and is a frame building witli a capacity of from fifteen to twenty inmates, and is seldom more than half-filled. A farm of 1"J0 acres was bought a few years ago at an expense of .?G.O0O. For a time it was rented at ?^100 pier annum to :ho tenants of the infirmnry, who were allowed 3--o0 per week for boarding the adults, and one-half that sum for children. The present tenant, Frank Mit/,, receives the farm rent free, and lias the above-named sum fur boarding the inmates. Tlie management of this institution is most admirable, and would seem to justify the boast of the leading director of tlie disbursement of the county funds, that it was the best regulated of any of like purpose in the State. The number of inmates has been reduced, and the expenses reduced over fifty per cent. Formeily, from 85.000 to .?ij,000 had been paid annually for the care of the j/oor. During the past year, ending Ayiril 1, ISSI, the total expenditure at the infirmary, and for outside help, was but S2.o:J5.21. The total number of inmates, at present, is but seven ; of these, one is sick in the hospital, one partially insane, one idiotic, and the others are aged, respectively. 71, 74. So and 87.

County Schools

The system of County Superintendents was inauguratcl in ISOl for the whole State. Although in a general w;iy it is designed that each county shall have a Superintendent, the rule is departed from when a county becomes too populous to liave its educational interests managed by a single one, when it is divided into two or more districts, over each of which a Su])erintendent is jdaccd. This has been done in the counties of Dane and Milwaukee, which have two districts in each and two Superintendents. The duty of these oflicials is to exercise a watchful supervision over all the scIkjoIs of the county; to visit every one at least once a year, and as much oftener as occasion maj' rei|uire : to examine and grant certificates to all applicants for positions in sciiools ; to take charge of Teachers' Institutes, which are required to hold at least one, and, in many cases, two sessions ea^li season. The salary is based on population. Where this is from .5.i)0(i to in.iiiKi. the salary is placed at -'i^SOi). All counties having less than .0,000 have no fixed sum, the salary being made <lis,'rctionary witli the County Board of Supervisors. This is ]ilaced as low a< .'^100 in the county of Chippewa, and in some of the most sparsely settled counties has been as low as §-00. The highest salary paid is §1,200, in the county cif Jefferson.

C. S. Stockwell, of Oiialnskii. the Supcriiitenilent of L;i (>o>>f' ('oiiiity. is a profesjioiial teacher, having been engaged in that occu[iat!on in Lapeer County. Mieh., where he hehl tlie same position he now occupies. lie engageil in teacliing at <,)nahi^ka in IsTU. and \va3 so employej for two years, when he received tlie ajipointnient of Couiity ^Superintendent, to fill a vacancy that lui'l occurred, in the fall of 1S78 he was elected to serve the rest of the term, and re-elected in l^TT* fVu- a fall lersn, which will expire January 1, L^^S::. ]S'o records were turned over to Mr. Stockwell. nor i> it known tliat any are in existence previous to his oiiicial connection with tlie sclioiils. The county has seventy-si.x school districts, of wliich fnur are graded, viz. : One at (Jnalaska, whicli has three departments and three teachers; one at West Salem, including a high school, and having four departments and four teaclicrs ; and two at Bangor, having two graded schools and four teachers. In two districts there are two schools in each. Aside from the public sclm-K are a nnuilK^r of denoiailiatinnal sell )ol<. divided as follows: Five Lutheran schools: one at ISarre. one at Shelby - both German: three at Farmington, Norwegian aiiil German, and two Catluilic schools, one at Gieenfield and one at W'a-hington. .\n efl'ort is now being made to establish a system of graded country schools. As it wouM be impossible to have a uniform course like an academy or high school, it is to be based on the attainments of the pujtil. who will thus have an incentive to attain to the highest standard his 0()portunities will admit, for >vhich he will receive due credit. The whole nundjer of children of school age in the county is 4.601: whole number enrolled, o,<142 ; amount expended for teachers' salaries, ^15,232.90, or So. 31 per capita; total ex))enditures for school purposes, including building, repairing, furniture, fuel, and incidental-. being S4-48 per capita. During the year 18S0. 171 school visits were njade. a full half day being allotted to each vi^it. All districts have been visited each term. Monthly reports were rc'|uired from all teaciier^. At the school examinations there were 201 applicants. Of these. 134 received certificates, viz. : 4 first grade, 17 second grade, and 113 third grade, .\bout half the schools employ a female teacher during the summer, and a male in the winter. Two inititutes were held - one at Bangor in March, having an attendance of fifty-nine teachers, and one at West Salem in September, when there was an attendance of fifty-two. .-V teachers' association exists, which h.a- a library of about fifty volumes of professional works. Ninety per cent of ^le teachers are rciolcrs of educational journals. The schools are kept abreast of tlie legal reipiirements, and will challenge favorable comparison with any county in the State. The above facts and figures ai'c exclusive of the citv of La. Crosse, whose schooF are wholly outside the supervision of the County Su[ieriiitcndent.

This society was organized December 2ti, 1S7'.I, with twelve charter nieivibers. The fir-t oflicers of the society elected were: J. W. Losey, President; .L S. Harris. First Vice President: .lohn A'an Loon. Second Vice President; John Ulrich, Third Vice President: L. W. Brighaiii. Secretarv ; L. II. Pammel, Treasurer.

'J'he object of this societv is: "To improve the condition of pomology, horticulture and gardening; to discuss and dis.-cininate inforniation upon all nucstioiis pertaining to horticulture."

The societv holds its annual meetings on the first Tue^ilay in December, and otherwise provides for (jnartcrly meetings occurring in March, June and Sej)teniber.

Kruits - Apples: Dutchess, Wealthy unu Tetofski. For favorable localities, I'araeuse, Uilcr. Price's Sweet, Walbridf^e, riura Cider, AVillow Twig and Tollman Sweet. For trial, Tewaukce, Ben Davis, Alexander, Red Queen and Haas.

Crab apples, for rrenr-ral planting. Transcendent, Whitney No. 20, Atkin's Winter, Larly Strawbcrrv and Maiden's Blush. For trial. Conical and Quaker Beauty.

Trees - For general plant'lng. White Elm, Sugar Maple. Soft Maple, Blue Ash, European Larch, Box Eldei-rBasswood, Hickory, Mountain Ash and Butternut.

LA ci;o.-.-K County i;ii'.ij-: society. On Sunday morning, duly 4, lS.'i2, at the usual hour for divine service at the court house,_ un address was"delivered\v Mr. A. Lord, agent of tlic American Bible Society, in advocacy of the claims of that societv. ^

At the close of thV address, a meeting was called for the puriiose of organizing a Lible society in the county of ]>a Crosse. Rev. John C. Sherwin was called to the chair, and W. W. Ustick appointed Secretary of the meeting.

It having been resolved in due form to organize a county society, a constitution was adopted, and the following officers were elected : George Gale, I'resident; Rev. W.^H. Card, Vice President; Rev. J. C. Sherwin, Secretary; V.'alter Brown, Treasurer; Samuel T. Smith, F. M. Rublee, and B. S. Reppy, Directors.

The local agents were appointeil as fjlh.ws: Dr. H. Johnson and >L-s. J. C. Sherwin, La Crosse Village ;"liev. F. Walrath. Sparia and Little La Crosse settlement; Dr. A. M. Hill, Fleming Creek ; Genrge P.a.diclder, Tremi.caleau ; Mr. Victs. Victs and Segar Settlement ; Mr. Valentine," Black River settlement; Mr. S. Smith, La Crosse Prairie and Mormon Cooley.

'i'ho society, since its organization, has continued to do the good work begun at that time. It keejis in" its dcpnsitorv'a gieat varietv of the publications of the American Biide Society, not onlv in English, but in Genium, WcKh.'Dut-h. SNscdish and Norwegian languages. These Bibles "and Testaments arc ,-jld at dst of production to all who \\isli, and are freely given to those who cannot alTnrd to purcha-c. Tiie "county has been carefully canvassed several times, for the purpose of supplviiiL' all who w ere \Ml!iTig to receive copies of the sacreil Scriptures. Tiie Bible Depositorv is "at tlie store of Mr. George Howard. No. Main street, city of l^a Crosse. The oliicers of the society for the year L^^l arc as follows: J. P. Toms, President; George ,McMman, \ice President ;" William 'W. Jones, Secretary; George Howard, Trea.surer. DirecVn-s, W. W. Ustick, John Janus. J. Spier CoJman, and D. D. McMillan.

At this jieriod in the history of l.a Crosse, in the history of the aggregation of commonwenlths which composed the American Republic, formulated her laws, guided her destiny and contributed to her renown, the war for the preservation of the Union came upon the nation une.xpeetedlv. overwhelmingly.

The cit'izeiis of La Crosse County had. j.rcvious thereto, been identified with the several political organizations which had successively maintained a predominant prominence, but all were friends of freedom, and realized that the political supremacy of the seceding States meant centralization, anarchv, ruin. If mere precedent failed of establishing this conclusion. the indications wore strongly in their favor. They knew tlutt the history of the world was a history of desjH'tism in lands when the government has been held in the hands of the few. They realized its necessity if nations were to remain stationary, rude and ignorant, and advancing time made no new demands upon the people v, lio composed the nation. Again, a powerlul minority had, in years past, been identified with the Whig party, and inheriting a ..trong antislavery'sentini-nt fiom^ its teachings, had become the corner-stone of tiie Kepubhcan party. with the crystallization 'of that orga^nization less than a decade before at the capilol of the State.

Such were the intluences that responded to the cry to arms during that epoch in American history when the life of the nation was trembling in the balance. The triumph of despotism would' be celebrated, argued all, if the people from Maine to California failed of their duty: liberty would ' perish with the disintegration of the States, and the golden age of the nation would" give place to an age when the serf-evident truths, for the perpetuation of which that nation was created, would be refected. The history of civilization was the history^of government, they knew; progress or improvement lessened or increased as the scroll of Time's great drama is unfolded, in proportion" as freedom from despotism is enjoyed. They knew that each State m the constellation was woven therein to add beauty and strength to the whole, and that the somber threa.ls of experience, with blasted prospects and without hopes, were interlaced with the gleaming threads of success and gratified desires, each the complement of each, needed to perfect the other. The (juestion which then presented was as to whether the Union, with its associations, its prestige, its protecting care and hallowed memories, should be preserved or permitted to e.xpire and become as a tale'that is told. The mass of the people, as the world knows, rendered their verdict in favor of an enforcement of the laws; their response, like a ray of sun- .shiiie. drove aw;iv the mists of gloom and made a poem of their lives, whereof duty, patriotism and vietnry wfie the heroic stanzas. Sometimes old memories come to the survivors of the strugirles that foUov.ed: crowd thick upon them and cause their hearts to ache; sad memories. bitterr bitter memories slip in. but after all the past has the bright side to look back upon and dream over - the preservation for the benefit of future generations, liberty founded upon duties a.s well as rights, and the irrevocable judgment of man as to the perpetuity of a llepublican form of gover°imeiit. The influence of thil preserved government is on the wing to-day, tomorrow, forever. Like a veiled evangelist it has gone abroad throughout the nations of the earth, never showing its face, but makiilg its mighty presence felt, and that influence will continue until vice be^.Tinos dumb and virtue waits in .^ilence for the tramp of the archangel and the voice of Gud. ,

As memorv takes an inventory of the years of war and bloodshed, the scenes of which pass beforf mankimfas a panorama, theVesults .appear in all their magnitude, and Hope submits proposals for the future which cannot bo rejected. Since its clo<e, the victories of j.eace have I'een grander than any the historic epoch gave birth to. The arts, sciences and every appliance of ci\^lization, have made rapid advances. During its e.xisteuce, unnumbered heroes were hud to rest in mother earth, and American history was made luminous with the records of military valor and patriot devotion. But the years which followed the truce at Appomattox Court

House, liave been pregnant with great ideas and beneficent result^ that will increase in value as the davs that are gone, like evening shadows, grow Inng and dim. ^

Until the firing- "pon Surater announcing the uhitnatuin of the Southern people to be war or secession, llcpe sprang eternal in the breast of patriots that the impending difliculties might lie avoided through the agency of compromise. Hope begat a feeling that the Union would be preserved without reconnse to^irms. an<l that the angel of death would not be permitted to rustle his wings of darkness through the ranks of American soldier? who enrolled for the war. Through the deliaous days of that spring of IStiL when, as if inspired with aftection, the soft south wind bathed the temples and brows of men. and the golden sheen of the sun darted through it like an arrovr shot from sonic mvi-ible bow, no man dreamed of the days of death and danger the future rts.-rvtd lor his acceptancf. But wncn the faint, low sighing, like distant choirs of melody, out of tune and harsh, came over the wires briny:ing the condition of afi'aiis home to the convictions of Americans, the alternative jiresented by the foe, there was no hesitation made to accept it. and the citizens of La Crosse County armed themselves for the strife. Meetings were held, addresses made, money subscribed, and sohliers enlisted. Within a brief period from tlie time' when earnest words of" inspiring appeal had dropped from the lips of the eloquei^t orator; from the time when liberality and humanity was made manifest in the highways ; from the time when soldiers parted from those they loved, from mother's arms and wife's embrace, many of them became palsied in death. Soldiers of the Repul)lic - brave men they were - who died with their armor on, falling with their faces to the foe against whom they so unfalteringly fought. Whoever, throughout^all the after history of the nation they so grandly lionored and so industriou.sly served, las respect for patriotic valor and patriotic d'eatlr. \sill drop a tear upon the grave and have a tribu'te of praise to offer to the memory of that immortal band. Heroic men 1 Their liomes were left desolate, poverty stalked -tlirough the doorway, perhapis, and with sorrow and affliction as h.andmaids, prevented the entrance of consolation or of sunshine.

No pen can describe tliose old days, those near yet far-ofl' days, paged with dear legends, whvu some went to the battle's front ami some went gypsying to tlie camp. Xo limner's art can trace those days, so sad, so dear, so filled with tendcr'thoughts of those who went and returned no more; of those davs \'.\wu right was on the scatTuld and wrong upon the throne; when^ the .= nn of American liberty ocemednear to the horizon. The struggle for natural life is still fresh to the niemorv of even "those who, during its existence, were babes, wlien brief moments of bright ho])e> were succeeded by bitter disajipointments, when clear skies and generous sunshine were followed by gloom and sorrows, and when generous ambitions gave place to humiliating defeats, filling the heart witli sorrow and sorrowful memories.

On the l.'ith of April, 1^01, Lincoln i.-;sued his proclamation calling for 7-3,000 troops to suppress combination^ in the seceded States, to cause the laws to be duly executed, and, on the following day, Alexander W. Kandall. Governor of Wisconsin, supplemented the President's requisition bv a call for one regiment of militia for immediate service.

In the citv, the news concerning the existence of actual hostilities was met with sorrow anil a determiiuition on the part of citizens to remove these efi'ects by the destruction of their cause. llec'-uitiniT offices were opened, and overllowed with the excess in number of those who aspired to unite wkli the ranks and march to victoiy to the music of the Union, now and forever. J- 1

Wiljon Colwell. Captain of the ].a Cr-^sse Light Guard, and .1. I. Foster, commanding the La Cro~;se Artillery Company, wen- among the first to call for volunteers under the proclamation. Both of thein went to"the front, and one of them fell before the attacks of the enemyfell in the morning of life, at the morning hour, before tlie sun's rays gave promise of the advent of the irod ..rd;iv. when the unrld w'as still, when the birds were singing, before the dewdrops hud passed to heaven, befjre the stars had gone to rest with the the going of the dawn. The feelincs of patriotism and love of country evinced in the city were duplicated throughout the county. Everywhere age forgot its crutcli, labor its task, to engage in that preparation for unity and immortality, the clarion notes of which were ttien beginning to be heard in the noi-e of the drum, tlie voice of the buirle. the chitter of musketry, the reverberations of the artillery and the whistle of the ?hell>> ricochetting over fichli, through woods, on the hillside and in the valley. Their e'Tects. too, were manifested in the hurrying to the front, in the cheeks of her now pale and ready for the seal of the Master of mortality, that once wanned into love and were stained with the blush of the bridal. They were plainly to be seen in the new-made grave-. hiding dust that was precious to those left heliind - to the lad whose cheek was dimpled witit ioys of youth, to the wife who stood sobbing in the sunlight as he passed, and forever, to the old man whose silvtied liead was l".wtd in grief, to the loving mother, who tarried but a little way behind before she, t>io, saiik to >luuiber in the windowless 5)alace nf rest."

There was but one sentiiuent found e.xpressinn among the people of the North, who stood up shoulder to shoulder, uiiiniuiiful of past political affiliations and predilections. Tliey ignored differences gone bv, and waited for tlie word to march in unbroken phalanx to the field of battle, there to shed their last drop of blood in defense of the national honor. The divided North thiit was anticipated at tl'.e .Soutli faileii to materialize for the reason that the right was lacking in their creed of government. The wilderness, iidierited from former generations, hail been made into gardens, and witli this title was vested in the heirs a determination to realize that strength which e.xists in Unioii. nnd to respect tlicir tlag which is everlasting a^ the hills.

On the evening of April '22. ISiJl, the loyal people of La Crosse convened at Leiderkrair^ Garden for the ]>urpose of obti-ining an e.xpressi.in of opinion in reference to the condition of the country.

The above \>;is kept as a standing '"aJ" fur several weeks, but does not uppear to have charmed the necessarv complement of men ambitious to become Tigers, and with the Tjgers stand, in grav pants and red shirts witti low collars, armed with a deadly minie, two revolvers and a saber, and ready to live on one meal a day. Brick's" overtures were not met with the respon';e he anticipated, according to all accounts, and the undertaking was abandoned long before Ohl Bob" assumed command in the five-days' tight. As times changed, it is an historic fact that "'Brick" changed with them, and between the inception of war, in fact, and the surrender, was resolved from an a^'dent advocate of death in the last ditch, and a leader of men identified with the Union, to a "peace at any price " man, with all that the name implies. Why this radical change, or whcnoo proceeded tlie cause, are conundrums as incapable of solution as an impr(jbablc theorem in rnathemaiics.

The first company to enlist i'or the war in ],a Crosse County was the Light Guards. It responded to the first call for troops for thi-ee months, but before it could be mustered into service the (juota for that length of time was full, and hence it became part of the number under the call for three years or the war. On the evening of April 30. ISGl, the ranks having been filled up to the renuisite number, the organization assembled at Barron's Hall, preparatory to their departure for Madison. Many of the company being without blankets, the ladies of La Crosse supplied them with a liberality and irresistible em jiressment characteristic of the women those troul.dous times brought [iromineiitly to the surface, in the performance of iicts which have shrived their sijx with a luster that time cannot diminish, or distance quite obscure.

In all times of trial and afiliction. the sympathies of a true woman are of priceless value. By the hearth, in the cloister, when disajipointment and ingratitude, with corroding care, gather round one; when the gaunt form i.f poverty menaces with his skeleton fingers, and in the chamber of death, their sympathies gleam about the soul like an angel's smile. It would seem that God, compassionating vroman's first great frailty, had planted these jewels in her breast, the heuven-like inlluencc of which should cast into forgeti'ulness man's remembrance of the fall, by building up in his heart another Eiirii. where perennial fiowcrs ever bloom and crystal fountains gush from exhaustle^s sjirings.

At half past 10 o'clock, on the evening mentioned, the company was ordered to fall in, nn.d Col. A\ illiam Hull addressed them in feeling and appropriate terms, lie was followed by ih. Baxter, who concluded his rennrks by asking the company if they would ever disgrace their banner, to which the united voices of eighty-five men responiled, -' Never ! " In marching to the depot, the Pioneer Engine Company Icii the van, fuUowcd by the departing soldiers, who boarded '.l.c train after having taken farewell of their friend-;, and ai midnight began their journey to fame !.nd (.'amp Randall.

T/ie Light Gwir'l - ^\ as organized in 1858, uniformed in IS.j'.', and prominent in military circles in the \Vest. It nni.':tered iuto the Second Picgiment of Wisconsin Infantry as Company ]5, and from that date, as a pi rtion of the '" Iron Brigade," it became the pride of the citv, State and ration. In all the battles fought by that famous organization, Company B was conspicuous for bravery and endurance, and probably better known than any individual company in the Army of the Potomac. The long line of promotions from the rank and file of this company to prominent niilitury positions during the war was conclusive evidence that its membership was composed of the very best citizens, who always uKike the most effective and successful soldiers. Of the original Commissioners wiio went to the front with the comjiany, CajU. Colwell was killed at the battle of South Mountain September 14. l>tj"2; Second Lieutenant Bobcrt Hughes was killed in the Wilderness in September. 1>i;4; while Frank Hatch, First Lieutenant, was wounded at Bull liun, and afle-rward ]ir';imoted to coininand a battalion of cavalry in the West.

I'ass down the mcinnrial column of thi)S.> who went out to preparation on that link! sjiring night, thence t" become part of the Arn.y of Northern Virginia, and mark the names of those t^ame who fell during the campaign of the Peninsula, at G.iinesville, Antietani, Chancellorsville.

Gettysburg. South Mountain, wliose boJie.-- have been laid to rest on the banks of the Rapidan, in the swanips uf the Chickahoininy, by the side of Falling Waters, where their graves are tlieir monuments ahd their burial places'sacred to Americans as is Jerusalem to the Hebrews, a city about which cluster thoughts of the greatest history of the past; or as was Athens of old to the Greeks, the city of memories, the shrine of the arts, the germ of ideas. If there is a spot in all this land of liberty where time and enduring marble should rear high its tablet of illustrious names, and of renowned events, it should be in that estate where the .American flag was never lowered, and where the proudest columns that ever crossed the plains laid down their arms and dispersed to desolate homes with honor and a parole as a testimony of their prowess. And Company B, of La Crosse, bore a prominent part in the contest for national supremacy, from BullKun to Appomatto.x. Beneath the fluttering folds of the Stars and Stripes her sons fought aTid died, even as that "star-flowery banner" was planted amid the whirlwind of shot and shell upon victorious battlements, but not before the ]iortals of heaven had been opened to gather in and soothe to an eternal rest many a soul that was " drooping, mute and motionle.-^s."

It need oidy to be added that the company, to use the language of a commander of the Potomac army, "was with the - Iron Brigade.' and won the admiration of the highest officers in the army." On the 11th of May, 1S64. the Second Regiment became so reduced that less than 100 men remained fit for service, wdien they were assigned to provost duty, remaining m that until mustered out of service in June following, when with lo^J men, all told, out ot 1,000 mustered in three years before, the cimpany and regiment returned to Wisconsin.

The Eighth Regiment, known as the "Eagle Regiment," contained one company enlisted in La Cros-e at a ])erioil in the history of the war when the outlook was far from encouraging. At that time, as will be remembered, the duration of the war was admittedly beyond the ken of prophets, a!id the decision of the arbitration one of doubt, to say the least. Self-appointed Cassandras were of frequent birth, and the predictions they ventured were of as distressful imjiort as tlM.Sf whirh preceded the de-truction of Troy. The shadows hatl begun to grow thicker and darkei' -wiili the oniing of tie iiist winter of the war; many h'-.ines had been shaded with si.rrou- and draped v, ith mourning, and the clash of arms had disturbed the peaceful pursuits of life to supply the increasing demand for human material. The recruits mustered in tor a period of three monthi no socmer became ellieient than the expiration of their term of service incapacitated them for duty. The thre<> years' recruits had scarcely attained sufficient proti- ciency in the knowlpiige of w;ir to rfiider tlicni efiVetive against tlie ilrilled forces tliey were ex[)cctfil to put to iliLjIit. Under embarrassments thus snirgested, the Eighth Regiment wa.'* organizeil, and as its subsei|uent history illiistrites. hecame one of the most reliable, brave and successful organizati'ins that was sent into tlir field from the Badger State.

Company " I " was enlisted in L i (.'i- i'.nd vicinity late in August or early in tiie month of Sejitend^er siii-creilinLr the defeat at Manassa-^. The oflicers were M. j\I. Eaker. Captain ; A. D. Ilickok and 11. 1>. Lailir^p. Lii-iiten.-mts : S. J. Scrgant, Thomas J. McMahon, L'uncan A. Kennedy, (). ( ). Sis<on and (Jenrge t>. Govner, Sergeants: II. S. Phillips, P. Plunges, A. Mahoney, John Snllivan. D. 11. ILil!. W. C. Brown, F. J. Painter, John Flynn and M. Schenck. Ciirporals ; Hiram Adauis. J. P. Anev. S. Anderson, W. II. Andree, J. Allen, A. K. Allen, M. Bassett, B. P. BcardJey, W. B:d;er. C. Brown, Henry Baker, M. Bloom, David Cronon, Edmund Cronon. Thojnas Cunningham, F. J. Case, R. \V. Clark, F. D. Colver, S. l!. Cox, 1. Conbcy, J. U. (Jlnls.m, W. Cumamon, P. Donnelly, C. Downer, D. Davis. E. N. Evaris, P. Eiiiekson, J. 0. Eili;ar, .1. Ferguson, .^olin Gladson, Andrew Gladson, M- Godert, G. Gronaveldt, G. Glover, J. Hanimn,,,!.' 1.. Holo,vok. 0. B. Ilouk, W. E. lle'.vitt, C. Holbrook, D. Hare, J. Hal!. L. K. Ilouk, J. HittiuKer. M. Il.ne, A. J. Johnson, C. 11. Jooksen, H. Jordan, C. Jansen, /. Johnson, M. Johnson, J. Kemlall, George Key, G. Kottinger, M. Liverman, C. La Vonr, D. Lan^ston, 0. Earson. J. Mellor, H. A. ."McNi'cU. J. Myers', John Newton, A.I. Na-^h, J. W. Na^h, M. Xorthrup. C. 01.<en, E Olscn, S. Olsen, J. Olsen. Paul Olsen, John Oberlee, AV. A. Penfield, V. Perham, Eugene Perham, A. Pruett, X. Quiggle, John Richards, R. Rogers. N. X. Sauii'krs, IE Sage, H. Swennik. James Sykes, John Shores,

The coin|iany ^^;l^ nuistered into sei \ ice on the Itli of September, EStil, and. on the 12th of (jctober followiiiL', left (.'iini]! Randd! for >crvice in the field. Altera brief sojourn at Benton Barracks, near St. Louis, the company became attached to the Western army, serving at X'ew Madrid, Island Xo. 10, Farmington, Tenn., luka. .Memphis, Jackson, Miss., Young's Point, Canton. Miss., Red Rivei-. Xashville, Mobile, etc.. and were mustered out at Dcraopolis. .-Ma.. September ISfj.'i, arriving at ^Eadisou -otie week kiter, where they were discharged, having, during their service, in.irched 4.004 miles, and ti-avelod 1 tl,!S] 0 miles by rail and river.

It is. pei'haps, mjt unworthy of iioio' that the e-igle whioh thev took with them from the State .survived the campaigns throuLdi wlii^h ihe Eiglith j>;issed, enjoying excellent health and undiminislicd appetite until the spring of 1>^1, when he died.

Company D. Fourteenth Reginienl of Infantiv. wris recruited in La Crosse in the winter of ISlU, and rende7.\ou<ed at Camp \Vood, Fond dn Lac. where it was mustered into ser\ice January oO, 18(32. On March S, following, the regiment was removed to St. Louis, wdiere it remained until receiving orders to move u]) the Tennessee River, wiiere transports were taken and the regiment convtyed to Savanuiih. Tenn. 'Jdie Company particijiated in the battle of Pittsburg Landing, Lieutenant Sfaley distinguishing himself by the capture of a gun from a Confederate battery. The regiment aiterward proeei-,!ed to Hamburg, Corinth, Bethel, luka, Memphis, A'icksburg. Lake Providonce, Milliken's Bend. (Irand (julf, being assigned to the jjositifm of honor at tlie suiirnder and orcupatioTi of \'iik~hurg, and evoking from Gen. Ransom the remark, " every oilieer and man in the E'lUitcinth is a hei vi ;" Xatehez. the Red River expedition, 'fuiielo. Duvall's Blulf, (.'ape (Eirardeaii, Warreiiton and other jioints in Missouri, Nashville, New C)! loans, Spanish Foi t, Montgomerv and Mobil where the regiuient arrived on the 27th of Augu-!. iSlk"), ami where, on October '.- of th

Company F, Twenty-fifth Regiment, was raised in La Crosse and Jackson Counties, during the summer of 1802, by Capt. J. C. Farrand, of <.*nalaska. About the 1st of September, the company was oi'gaiuzed under the name of the ''Black River Tigers," and on the 14th of the same month mustered into service for three years or the war. Within a week thereafter, it proceeded to Minnesota River, and remained on the Northwestern frontier until January, l^G^J, thence proceeded to Columbus, Ky., Yazoo River, Vicksburg, Lake Providence, Eastern Arkansas, Canton, Miss., Cairo, Decatur, Ala., Resaca, ])allas, Kenesaw, Atlanta, through tlic Carolinas, and took part in the review at Washington, after which they were mustered out.

On the roster of members, as mustered into the service, tlie following were from La Crosse County: James C. Farrand, Captain; Parker C. Dunn, First Lieutenant; f.)scar K. Hickok, First Sergeant; .Alfred H. Lamb. Fourth Corporal; Leonard Alley, Joseph Aiken, Oleff Erickson, Seth ^L Gedney, Thomas W. Joy, Ezra Lockman, James H. Miller, William G. Papst, Joseph Shafer, George Smith, William J. Spencer, John White and Frederick Halinka, privates.

In August, 1SG1. Capt. Jacob T. Foster, commanding an artillery company in La Crosse, received orders to fill u[) his organization to 150 men, as soon a= possible, and jirocced to camp in the vicinity of the city.

The Captain Irid previously olTered the services of the company, but not until this date were they acce])ted. It was commanded by J. T. Foster, who resigned his position of cashier of the Green Bay B;ink for that purpose, supported by Alexander Cameron, District Attorney ; A. W. Bishop, a jirominent lawyer; John Anderson, a leading teacher, and J. L. Usher, a wealthy farmer as Lieutenants.

Recruiting progressed rapidly, and on September 16, an flection of officers was hold, followed on the r.Uh by the presentation of a banner from the ladies of La Crosse. It was army regulation size, composed of heavy silk, bordered with gold fringe, embellishcl with two heavy gold cords and tassels, surmounted with a golden eagle, holding in his talons arrows and olive branches. Dr. Cameron made the presentation spei'ch, which was responded to in an approjiriaie manner by Capt. Foster; addresses were also delivered by Ciiarles Seymour of the Hi.jaihlicdii, Judge Gale, .Mr. Montgomery, Lieut. Otis and others, the exercises of the day concluding with a benefit ball at the Augusta House, wliich was largely attended by citizens of La Crosse and the surrounding conntrv.

The company remained in La Crosse until the evening of Wednesday, October 2, 18G1, when it proceeded to Camp Utley, near Racine, and went into camp. Previous to their departure, a recefitiou was helil at Barron's Hall, which was crowded tu its utmost ca])acity by friends of the ''boys." v.ho were there to bid them a kind farewell aiid God speed on their mission. Short speeches ^^erc made, and the ceremonies were impressive, as manv an eve unused to tears testified.

About 11 o'clock, a jirocession was firmed, lira led by the Bohemian band, thence fiillov,-- ing the Missouri Sharpshooters and I'ire Department, under the escoit of which the company went to the cais. Although the houi- was niidnigbt. it was a d'^'monstralion of ujiich the citv was proud, and after a brief time passed in final leave takings, and. mid Iieariy clieers, the train b-'ariiig the comj.any dejiarted for other fields. Much was c.xi'ccted of this organization ; its composition was of a superior i[ua!ity, the ofiicers having occupied prominent jirofessional j'Ositions, which they resigned to enter upon the duties of their rank, and with the non-commis-