Portage City (part 3 of 3)

Companies G and JE, Forty-second Regiment. - These companies recruited in the summer and fall of 1864, only a portion of the latter being raised in Columbia County. They were mustered in at Camp Randall, as a part of the Forty-second Regiment, on the 7th of September. George McHumphrey was Captain ; Robert Steele, First Lieutenant, and Cassius M. Bush, Second Lieutenant of Company C. Augustus Haight, B. M. Low and Joseph Curtis held corresponding positions in Company E. They reached Cairo, 111., under orders, on the 22d of September, where they were employed in post and garrison duty. On the 25th of October, Companies B, E, G, H and K were ordered to Springfield, 111., where they remained until April, 1865, returning to Cairo. In June following, they were mustered out of the service, reaching Madison on the 20th of that month, without having participated in any engagements. Nearly all their death losses were from disease. Company C losing two men

Company Z), Forty-sivth Regiment. - Recruited in the two first months in 1865, and mustered out on the 27th of September of the same year. Company D's officers were : John E. Grout (promoted from Second Lieutenant), Captain ; Gilson Hinton, First Lieutenant. The regiment left Camp Randall on the 5th of March, under orders to report at Louisville, Ky., arriving on the 10th, and proceeding, the following day, to Athens, Ala., on the Nashville & Decatur Railroad, along which they were stationed at various points. In September, they proceeded to Nashville, Tenn., and were mustered out as above stated, arriving in Madison October 2. During their service, three of the members cf Company D - Corp. C. P. Henton, and Privates W. A. Brown and T. O'Connor - died of disease.

Cavalry - Company E, Second Regiment. - This company was known as Columbia County Cavalry. It recruited in the fall of 1861, and was accepted for service at various dates between December 3, 1861, and March 12, 1862. The commissioned officers of Company E were : George N. Richmond, Captain ; Wallace Smith, First Lieutenant, and Joseph T. Dean, Second Lieutenant. Captain Richmond, in April, 1863, was promoted Major of the Third Battalion - C. W. Beach, who had in the mean time succeeded Lieut. Smith, becoming Captain. Stephen Woodward was Captain when the company was mustered out, in November. 1865.

The regiment left Camp Washburn, Milwaukee, March 24, 1862. Proceeding to Benton Barracks, near St. Louis, they were thoroughly equipped. Marching south through Missouri, they joined Gen. Curtis' forces at Augusta, Ark., June 14, and a month later arrived at Helena. Here they remained until the latter part of January, 1863, when they moved up the Mississippi to Memphis. In June, they proceeded south and took part in the operations against Vicksburg Upon the surrender of that place, they joined Gen. Sherman's Jackson (Miss.) expedition, returning to Redbone Church, near Vicksburg, soon afterward. Here the second and third battalions remained until April 1864, when they moved to Vicksburg. The first battalion, comprising Companies A, D, 6 and K, during all this time, had been on duty in Missouri. In September, 1864, they joined the main body of the regiment at Vicksburg, where they continued to remain until November 23, when they joined an expedition into Mississippi, during which they destroyed large quantities of rebel property, and, on the 1st of December, engaged the enemy near Yazoo City, in considerable force. A brisk encounter followed, in which the Second lost five killed, nine wounded, and twenty-five missing. The return to Vicksburg was made by the fifth, and, after three days' stay, they embarked for Memphis. On the 25th, they joined an expedition under Gen. Grierson, and marching in a southeasterly direction, destroying rebel stores, railroads and bridges, engaged and defeated the enemy on the 2Sth, at Egypt Station, capturing a large number of prisoners. After marching over four hundred miles, the expedition arrived at Vicksburg ou the 5th of January, 1865. January 13, they again embarked for Memphis, and, on the 26th, descended the Mississippi to Gaines' Landing, Ark., returning to Memphis February 17.

In March, a short expedition was made into Mississippi, and, on the 9th of May, 330 men of the Second set out from Memphis for Grenada, Miss., arriving there on the 14th. The regiment came together again at Alexandria, La., July 6. Here they were assigned to the Second Brigade, Second Cavalry Division, Military Division of the Gulf. Leaving Alexandria on the 8th of August, they arrived at Hempstead, Tex., 310 miles distant, on the 26th. From there they went to Austin, Tex., where they were mustered out November 15, 1865.

The casualties to Company E during their service were : Killed in action - Private Will Payne; died of disease - Sergt. M. Z. Riblett; Corp. E. H. Moore: Privates W. Atkinson, J. Chandler, J. Cook, J. Carr, T. Day, E. Evans, T. Ferguson, C. C. Fuller, J. Ferguson, E. W. Hale, C. C. Heath, E. Herriman, W. H. Lee, H. Mills, R. Murray, J. McCaroll, E.

Company F, First Heavy Artillery. - Organized in Portage, in September, 1864. with Erastus Cook as Captain ; Herman Fenner, Senior First Lieutenant ; Asa P. Peck, Junior First Lieutenant ; Jared S. W. Pardee, Senior Second Lieutenant, and Thomas Graham, Junior Second Lieutenant. The company left Camp Randall on the 3d of October, 1864, and was assigned to duty in the defenses of Washington, as part of the Fourth Brigade, De Russey's Division of the Twenty-second Army Corps, where it remained until June 26, 1865, being mustered out of service at that date. It is the only company of troops going from Columbia County which returned without loss of life.

The Draft. - The first official steps taken in Columbia County toward conscription occurred in May, 1863. For many months previous, rumors of an impending draft had been rife ; the local press teemed with appeals to the loyal citizens to volunteer their services in defense of the Union in sufficient numbers to remove the necessity for such an alternative. And although they responded with alacrity, and notwithstanding the fact that the county's representation in the army was equal to any other section of the State, in proportion to population, the inevitable finally came. In June, Provost Marshal S. J. M. Putnam, of Janesville, under orders, appointed the following enrolling officers to take the names of those liable to military duty in Columbia County: Perry G. Stroud, Newport; E. F. Lewis, Lewiston ; J. B. Wood, Fort Winnebago ; Hiram Albee, Marcellon ; David H. Langdon, Scott ; John M. Bay, Randolph ; Jeremiah Williams, Courtland ; John R. Rowlands, Springvale ; Henry Converse, Wyocena ; Wells M. Butler, Portage and Pacific ; J. C. Mohr, Caledonia ; Jacob Cosad, Dekorra, Jesse F. Hand, Lowville ; E. W. McNett, Otsego ; E. T. Kerney, Fountain Prairie ; G. W. Campbell, Columbus ; William K. Custer, Hampden ; Ammond Christophers, Leeds ; A. G. Dunning, Arlington ; Thomas Yule, Lodi ; Cyrus Hill, West Point.

Toward the latter part of July, the enrolling officers having completed their work, it was shown that the number of persons in Columbia County liable to military duty, was 2,045 of the first class, and 1,609 of the second. Under the President's call for 800,000 men in 1863, the quota to be filled in the county was about two hundred and seventy. In this connection, the following table, compiled by Adjt. Gen. Gaylord, showing the quotas of towns in Columbia County, under the calls for volunteers made in 1861-62, will be interesting :

After the first enrollment, three persons enlisted - one each from the towns of Columbus, Marcellon and Randolph - making the total number of volunteers from the county up to August 20, 1863, 1,602, or 260 in excess of the quotas under the calls of 1861-62.

Notice of the draft of 1863, under the President's call for 300,000 men, given by S. J. M. Putnam, Captain and Provost Marshal for the Second District, was dated Janesville, November 11, 1863. Accompanying the notification, was a statement of the number to be drafted in each of the towns of Columbia County, with " the 50 per cent added," as follows : West Point, 12; Lodi, 20; Arlington, 13; Leeds, 14; Hampden, 16 ; Columbus, 32 ; Fountain Prairie,

11; Otsego, 14; Lowville, 14; Dekorra, 21; Caledonia, 12; Portage and Pacific, 46; Wyocena, 11 ; Springvale, 15 ; Courtland, 23 ; Randolph, 17 ; Scott, 13 ; Marcellon, 12 ; Fort Winnebago, 8 ; Lewiston, 11 ; Newport, 18. Total, 353. The excess of 260 on the quotas under the 1861-62 calls being deducted, there remained but 93 to be supplied under the call of January, 1863.

Under the calls of the President for 500,000 and 200,000, the quota in the latter call not having been filled, Columbia County's quota in April, 1864, stood as follows : Total number of men to be furnished, 871 ; total credits since date of first call, 731, leaving a deficit of 140 men.

On the 18th of July, another call was issued for 500,000 more, and after a deal of figuring among those interested in the prospective drawing, it was discovered that Columbia County's quota of men to be furnished was 806. This included the deficiency under previous calls, amounting to ninety-eight men in the county at large. Numerous credits subsequently made a deduction of almost one-third in this number. But the inevitable came at last, and the 2l8t of September was an interesting day to those whose names went into the box at Janesville. The quota of Portage was eighty-six. Prominent among those who drew prizes were E. C. Maine, 1). G. Muir, H. 0. Lewis, V. Helmann, William Armstrong, J. P. McGregor, F. H. Ellsworth, W. W. Corning, LI. Breese, John T. Clark, James Collins, Carl Haertel, A. J. Turner, Alva Stewart, Israel Holmes and many others. Most of those mentioned belonged to the " Draft Insurance Club," and were entitled to draw $380 each from a citizens' fund to pay substitutes. Supplemental drafts soon followed in a few of the towns in the county.

Another call for 300,000 volunteers having been made on the 19th of December, 1864, it was ascertained that Columbia County's quota would amount to about 540 men, according to the number of votes polled at the last preceding election, but it afterward transpired that the actual number to be raised was 423, including all deficiencies and deducting all credits. The quota of Portage by wards was fifty-one. There was some lively volunteering about this time, under the patriotic influence of nearly $500 bounty, $200 wages for a year, with board and clothes, and very little prospect for a fight.

A draft took place in the towns of Marcellon and Lewiston on the 27th of February, 1865, but by the time the drawing was announced, nearly every man in those towns liable to be drafted had enlisted.

Certain iiistorical events occurring in the spring and summer of 1865, made further drafts unnecessary. The Union had been preserved. Old veterans and new volunteers returned to their homes. Peace reigned again. Above the smoke of battles well-fought, floated the starry emblem of liberty, humanity and equality. A million lives had been sacrificed beneath its folds, but it still waved aloft, brighter and more brilliant, bathed in the life-fluid of patriots dead.

The Roll of Honor. - Following is a list of the names of soldiers occupying patriots' graves in Columbia County : Silver Lake Cemetery, Portage - Col. S. K. Vaughan, Company D, Nineteenth Regiment ; Herman W. Kind, Company C, Twenty-third Regiment ; Corp.

Columbus - Dr. Charles C. Axtel ; Sabins J. Bennett; Sergt. Benjamin Campbell, Sixth Regiment, died of disease ; Bissell Carter, Company A, Seventh Regiment, died of disease ; Walter P. Carter, Company A, Seventh Regiment, died in Andersonville ; Francis Fouler, Company A. Seventh Regiment, died in Andersonville: Alfred Fuller; Walter Houton, Company A, Seventh Regiment, died of wounds ; Sergt. L. P. Holmes, Company A, Seventh Regiment, killed at the battle of the Wilderness ; Lieut. James Holmes, Company A, Seventh Regiment, killed at the battle of the Wilderness ; A. T. Hopkins ; W. H. Horton ; Dr. James ; William Kurst, Company A, Seventh Regiment, killed at the battle of the Wilderness ; Uri F. Laskey, Company A, Seventh Regiment, killed at Gainesville ; Albert McCalvey, Company A, Seventh Regiment, killed at Petersburg ; Charles E. Mills, Company A. Seventh Regiment, killed at Gainesville ; Edwin E. Polly, Company A, Seventh Regiment, killed at Cedar Mountain ; William Richards, Third Regiment, killed at Five Forks; Seymour A. Sawyer, Company

B, Forty-first Wisconsin Regiment ; Jacob D. Sawyer, Company A, Seventh Regiment, killed at Antietam ; Eli P. Sawyer, Company A, Seventh Regiment, died of disease; E. Silsbee; M. Silsbee ; Asher M. Starkweather, Company D, Fortieth Wisconsin Regiment; Stutson ; C. Tuttle ; Allen Vanwalker, Company A, Seventh Regiment, died of wounds ; Milo Waterhouse, Company A, Seventh Regiment, killed at Antietam ; Warren J. Wheeling.

Fall River - George Adams, Company I, Eighteenth Regiment, killed at Pittsburg Landing; Israel Bissett, Thirty-second Regiment, killed in action ; Joseph Bissett, Thirty-second Regiment, died ; John Bissett, Company B, Thirty-second Regiment, killed at the battle of the Wilderness ; Capt. George H. Brayton, Company B, Seventh Regiment, killed at the battle of Gainesville ; Eli Bronsen, Company B, Seventh Regiment, killed at Antietam ; Lorin Bronsen, Company I, Eighteenth Regiment, killed at Pittsburg Landing ; Manly Bronson, Company B, Seventh Regiment, killed at Belle Plain ; George Brossard, Eleventh Regiment, died ; Alpheus Cassen, Company B, Seventh Regiment, died at Madison ; Nathan Chase, died at Cumberland Gap, Tenn. ; Jerome Comar, Thirty-second Regiment, died; George C. Farrand, Fifty-first Regiment; Brainard Graves, Company B, Seventh Regiment, died ; Aldro A. Grant, Company B, Seventh Regiment, died ; Edwin Hancock, Company B, Seventh Regiment, killed at South Mountain ; Perry Henton, Forty-first Regiment, died ; A. D. Hicks, Company C, Fifty-first Regiment, died at Milwaukee; James 0. Hellaker, died in Andersonville Prison; Wright Hunburg, Thirtysecond Regiment, died of disease ; Jabey Hunburg, Thirty-second Regiment, died of wounds ; RufuB Kendall, Government employe, killed by bushwhackers ; Charles Machen, Thirty-second Regiment, returned at close of war and was killed in a flouring-mill at Beaver Dam ; Augustus Martin, Third Cavalry, killed by bushwhackers ; Charles Plummer, Company B, Seventh Regiment, killed at Gainesville, Va. ; Dennis Prevot, Company B, Seventh Regiment, killed by bushwhackers ; Lewis Prevot, Company B; Thirty-second Regiment, died at Oshkosh ; William Rumsey, a patriot of Florida and Mexican wars ; Felix Sainlong, Government employe, killed by bushwhackers ; Benjamin Schaefier, Company I, Eighteenth Regiment, killed at Pittsburg Landing ; Charles Sickles, died in hospital ; Frank Smith, died at Sulphur Springs ; Francis A. Smith, Forty-ninth Regiment, died since discharged ; Seth Thurber, killed by bushwhackers; Seneca Warner, a patriot of the war of 1812; Newton Watson, Thirty-second Regiment, died ; John Wood, Company I, Eighteenth Regiment, died after he was discharged; Joseph Zeeman, Company B, Seventh Regiment, died of disease contracted in the army.

Wyocena - Bull Alansen, Company D, Tenth Regiment, killed at Perryville ; Volney Carpenter, (,'ompany C, Nineteenth Regiment, killed at the battle of the Wilderness ; Henry Coffin, killed at the first battle of Bull Run ; Michael Conlon, Company - , Tenth Regiment, killed at Stone River ; Girard Dey, Thirty-second Regiment, died on the Potomac ; James Dixon, Company D, Tenth Regiment, killed at Perryville ; John Grover, Company G, Twentyfifth Regiment, killed at Kenesaw Mountain, the only man wounded in Company G, and he had nine bullets in him ; George Hand, Company D, Tenth Regiment, died at Andersonville ; Alonzo Jones, Company D, Tenth Regiment, buried at Wyocena ; Hobart Parmenter, Company D, Tenth Regiment, shot at Perryville ; Marcus Parmenter, Company D, Tenth Regiment, died in Nashville ; Alexander Wilsey, ^Company D, Tenth Regiment, died in Nashville ; Harlon Wiltham, Company D, Tenth Regiment, killed at Chickamauga.

Scraps of War Ristorij. - It would be almost impossible to generalize, so far as loca' history is concerned, in a description or statement of occurrences during the war. Of course, there was intense excitement following the news that Fort Sumter had been assaulted. Citizens of all classes, no matter what may have been their sympathies, were deeply interested throughout the momentous struggle that culminated with the fall of Richmond and the capture of the traitor President of the Southern Confederacy. We herewith present a compilation of local events, chronologically arranged, pertaining to a history of the " war at home : "

1861, March - S. E. Dana, of Portage, appointed Colonel, and H. S. Haskell, also of Portage, appointed Lieutenant Colonel of the Twenty-first Regiment of Wisconsin Militia by Gov." Randall. Portage Light Guard vote unanimously to offer their services to Gov. Randall.

April - Flag-raising in Wyocena ; enthusiastic Union meeting. Yates Ashley, Pardeeville, commissioned to raise a company. Large number of volunteers from Lodi and vicinity enrolled themselves in Madison companies. Portage Light Guard accepted by the Governor, and assigned to the Second Regiment. Meeting of citizens in Portage, at which strong Union resolutions were passed. City Council of Portage resolved to provide for the needy families of those who volunteered, the credit of the city being pledged to the extent of $1,000. Grand military supper at the Ellsworth House to Portage Light Guard.

May - Enthusiastic meeting in Portage, and presentation of Stars and Stripes, made by ladies, to Light Guard ; patriotic speeches by Emmons Taylor, Alva Stewart and others. Departure of the Guard for Camp Randall. The Stars and Stripes unfurled from Bank Block, amid the singing of national airs by the various church choirs of Portage, the firing of rockets, burning of bonfires, etc. A complete company formed at Lodi. Meeting of citizens at Verandah Hall, Portage, for the purpose of organizing another military company; officers elected as follows : Captain, H. W. Emery ; First Lieutenant, A. Stewart ; Ensign, C. Schneider ; First Sergeant, A. Blockwitz; Second, S. V. Bedford; Third, J. Jolley ; Fourth, T. E. Best; First Corporal, C. Brunhoeter; Second, P. Shehan ; Third, H. Bolting; Fourth, T. Dalton ; to be called the Portage Rifles. A large number of the members of the Portage Light Guard return from Camp Randall, having reached that point too late to be accepted as a part of the first quota of Wisconsin under the President's call for 75,000 three-iponths' volunteers ; most of them re-enlist, however, for three years. The Columbia Rifles, of Kilbourn City, having offered their services under the first call too late for acceptance, re-enlist for " three years or during the war ; " flag presentation to the Rifles, and patriotic speeches.

July - Capt. Christie organizes a company in Portage. Battle of Bull Run ; the first blood of Portage patriots shed on the field of battle ; the casualties in Company G, Capt. Mansfield, Second Regiment, were : Killed - W. H. Williams, shot through the heart ; H. R. Coffin, son of Dr. Coffin, of Wyocena, shot through the head ; Johd Noonan. Wounded - Lieut. A. S. Hill, R. 0. Batson, A. R. Clement, H. Neally, M. L. Phillips, C. C. Dow, J. A. Wiser and John Lynch. Missing - E. S. Best, J. P. Christie, John House, D. F. Crane, D. O'Brien,

August - George W. Marsh, of Company G, returned, discharged, on account of injuries received at Bull Run. Funeral of H. R. Coffin, at Wyocena. Capt. Christie tenders the services of his "Dixon Guard," which are accepted by the Governor. Erastus Cook, City Marshal of Portage, commissioned to enroll men for an artillery company. Mayor Richmond, of Portage, appointed Captain, with authority to raise a company of cavalry. Commissions issued to Dr. J. L. Coffin, of Wyocena, as Captain, and T. L. Kennan, of Portage, as First Lieutenant, to raise a company of infantry. J. J. Guppey appointed Lieutenant Colonel of the Tenth Regiment. The ladies of Portage engaged in making clothing for the Light Guard.

September - Lieut. Hill, of the Portage Light Guard, while at home nursing wounds received at Bull Run, enrolled the following recruits to fill the depleted ranks of his company : Van R. Bentley, C. Blackman, J. Castley, A. Carter, W. H. Church, C. Delaney, S. K. Eggleston, E. Hathaway, E. Jackson, T. H. Kennedy, G. F. Leeds, J. H. Langdon, C. Morter, R. C. McDonald, E. H. A. May, C. H. Mosher, W. L. Pratt, 0. Parker, C. C. Reiley, J. B. Rowell, J. T. Lines, J. Sharp, H. C. Tapper and L. Wilkins. Departure of the Seventh Wisconsin from Madison for the seat of war. Company A being the Lodi Guards (Capt. George Bill), and Company B the Columbia County Cadets (Capt. J. H. Huntington). The Fremont Rifles (Capt. Coffin) assigned to the Tenth Regiment, and ordered into camp. Dr. Robert Mitchell, of Portage, appointed Assistant Surgeon of the Tenth. Departure of Lieut. Hill and his recruits to join the Light Guard.

October - George W. Marsh (" Agawara ") recovers from his disabilities, re-enlists and is appointed Second Lieutenant of the Fremont Rifles. Lieut. S. K. Vaughan, of the Light Guard, resigns, and is succeeded by W. S. M. Abbott. Capt. Christie's Dixon Guards assigned to the Eleventh Regiment, as Company H, and go into camp at Madison. Letter from Swift Best, who was wounded and taken prisoner at Bull Run, announcing his incarceration in the Richmond Prison Hospital ; also announcing the death of John P. Christie, who, seriously wounded, fell into the hands of the rebels in the same battle.

November - Return of Capt. Mansfield, of the Portage Light Guard, to enlist recruits for the Second , Regiment. Capt. Christie, of the Dixon Guards, presented with an elegant sword by L. S. Dixon, in honor of whom the company was named. Dr. G. F. Huntington, of Portage, appointed Surgeon of the Eighteenth Regiment. Capt. Coffin, of the Fremont Rifles, appointed Chaplain of the Tenth Regiment. W. A. Coleman, Ira Ford and 0. A. Southmayd, of Columbus, granted commissions to raise a company of infantry. Return of J. C. Chandler (" Shanghai ") of the Portage Light Guard, honorably discharged from service. Capt. Richmond's cavalry company go into camp in Milwaukee.

December - Death of John D. Bannister, of Company D (Fremont Rifles), Tenth Regiment, at Shepherdsville, Ky. A recruiting rendezvous for the Thirteenth Infantry, regular army, opened at the City Hotel, Portage. John Delaney received a Captain's commission to recruit a company for the Eighteenth Regiment. S. K. Vaughan commissioned as Captain, with authority to raise a company for the Nineteenth Regiment.

February. - Lieut. Hill presented with a $100-sword by the Portage Light Guard. Lieut. H. B. Converse opens a recruiting office in Portage, to fill the depleted ranks of the Second Regiment. The fall of Donelson. Great rejoicing throughout the county. In Portage, the *' big gun " boomed, church bells rang and locomotives screamed. Uncle Sherwood declared that the man who failed to get drunk on such an occasion would be declared a secessionist ; the test of loyalty said to have been a complete success.

April - Battle of Pittsburg Landing ; large number of Columbia County patriots engaged ; members of the Lewis Rangers write : " Those known to have been killed are R. Cronk, Maurice Cook, George Hillman, Benjamin Shorer, and one other, name unknown, torn to shreds by a cannon ball ; among the missing are Allen Church and John Sines, of Dekorra ; William Miller, of Caledonia, was wounded in the mouth by a ball, and the last seen of him he was down at the river washing his wound ; Peter Mead, John Cook, John Delaney and Ole Severson are among the missing ; we lost everything except what we had on when the fight commenced ; Lieuts. Ford and Southmayd were taken prisoners.

May - Anson Linscott, the petite drummer of the Light Guard, promoted to the post of Drum Major of the Second Regiment. George Carnes and Wells M. Butler receive commissions as Captain and Lieutenant, respectively, to raise a company of infantry, and open a recruiting office in Verandah Block.

June - Swift Best, of the Portage Light Guard, taken prisoner at the battle of Bull Run ; released after a year's sojourn in rebel prison-pens.

July - Thomas H. Dolan, Portage Light Guard, discharged on account of sickness. Capt. Mansfield, Portage Light Guard, in the capacity of Military Governor of Fredericksburg, Va., stirs up the ''secesh " citizens. Deatli of Fred Langdon, William IL Powers and P. Newman, Capt. Christie's company, in Arkansas. Return of Capt. Christie on account of wounds received at the battle of Bayou Cache. Edgar P. Mills commissioned to raise a company for the Twentythird Regiment ; Lieut. Col. Guppey, of the Tenth Regiment, appointed Colonel of the Twenty- Third.

August - Resignation of Lieut. Kennan, of the Fremont Rifles (Company D, Tenth Regiment), on account of ill health. Capt. Mansfield arrested and taken to Washington, charged with favoring the rebels, by allowing contraband trade through the Federal lines. Intense war feeling throughout the county owing to the call for .300,000 men and the prospective draft ; enthusiastic war meeting at Pettibone's Hall, addressed by Alva Stewart, Col. Guppey, Capt. Hill, M. M. Davis and others ; committee of tiiirteen appointed to canvass the city and obtain subscriptions to a bounty fund ; .$3,200 subscribed within two days. War meeting at Kilbourn City ; $1,000 subscribed and eight men enlisted. War meeting in Caledonia ; §1,000 subscribed and seven men enlisted. W. ll. Bennett, J. P. Corbin, D. C. Holdridge, A. M. Kent, W. A. Dunham and 0. H. Sorrenson, Portage veterans, promoted to lieutenancies in Col. Guppey's regiment (the Twenty-third). M. M. Davis appointed Commissioner to superintend the draft in the county, and Robert W. Earle, of Columbus, Examining Surgeon. One, thousand dollars subscribed to the war fund and seventeen men enlisted in the town of Lowville ; town of Scott contributes $1,200; Lodi, §1,500 and fifty-two men; the town of Arlington oilers .flOO and a cow to each recruit. Dr. James Prentice appointed Surgeon of the Twenty-third Regiment. War meeting at West Point ; $760 si^bscribed, eight men enlisted and $50 voted for each married and $25 for each unmarried volunteer. Departure of Capt. Hill's company for Camp Randall.

October - Lieuts. Ford, Southmayd and their associates of the Eighteenth Regiment taken prisoners at Corinth, released on parole, and return of Capt. Chrystie. taken prisoner near Helena, Ark. Death of Dr. Axtell, of Columbus. Assistant Surgeon of the Twenty-third Regiment. Death of Col. Emory of the Fifth Rotriment.

December - C. C. Dow, of Portage, promoted to Second Lieutenant of Company G (Light Guard), Second Regiment. D. P. Slierwood, of tlie Eighteenth Regiment returns, honorably discharged. Capt. Hill appointed Brigade Quartermaster of the Twenty-third.

1863. January - Return of Lieut. Hill, Company G, of the immortal Second, for the purpose of raising recruits. Capt. Irwin, Company H, Twenty-third Regiment resigns ; Lieut. Holdridge promoted to fill vacancy ; E. F. Fletcher promoted to Captain of Company K, same regiment, vice Frost, deceased. James Dempsey, Company C, Twenty-third, killed by one of his own company, while on picket duty, near Vicksburg.

February - Capt. Mansfield promoted to the rank of Major of the Second. Death of James F. Fitts, Company C, Twenty-third Regiment, fi-om typhoid fever, in the hospital at Memphis,

Tenn. Death of John W. Hosford and S. E. Van Zandt, Company C, Twenty-third Regiment, in the hospital at St. Louis. Resignation of Dr. Prentice, as Surgeon of the Twenty-third. Bohag, of the Second Cavalry, and ex-devil of the State Register, chases a " secesh" Lieutenant two miles, and takes him prisoner.

April - Capt. E. P. Hill promoted to the majorship of the Twenty-third Regiment ; Capt. J. Bailey promoted to a similar rank in the Fourth Regiment. Acknowledgment by Company G, Second Regiment, of the receipt of " various and divers bottles, and cans of fruit, pickles and other luxuries," from Mrs. F. H. Ellsworth, Mrs. A. P. Bennett and Mrs. McGregor.

May - Promotions of Portage Soldiers : George N. Richmond, as Major of the Third Battallion vice Luxton, resigned ; First Lieut. 0. H. Sorrenson as Captain of Company C, Twenty third Regiment, vice Hill, promoted ; Second Lieut. Schoemaker, as First Lieutenant, vice Sorrenson, promoted ; J. W. Richardson, as Second Lieutenant, vice Schoemaker, promoted.

June - Organization of a Home League in Poynette. E. F. Lewis, of Lewiston, appointed Deputy Provost Marshal for Columbia County. Enthusiastic Union meeting at Poynette, addressed by Gov. Solomon, Rev. Henry Drew, W. C. Webb, Rev. D. Y. Kilgour and N. H. Wood.

July - Lieut. Chas Allen, Company H., Eleventh Regiment, returns to Portage, having suffered the loss of a foot in the assault upon Vicksburg. Capt. A. S. Hill, Company G, Second Regiment, discharged from service on account of wounds received at South Mountain. Death, in Portage, of Lieut. A. J. McFarlane, Company K, Twenty-third Regiment, from wounds received at Vicksburg. Fall of Vicksburg ! Great rejoicing. Return of Col. Guppey from Vicksburg, on a twenty-day furlough ; an ovation, including aserenade by the Bohemian band. Joseph Bailey, who went into the service as Captain of Company D, Fourth Regiment, promoted to a colonelcy by Gen. Banks, for gallant and meritorious conduct before Port Hudson.

August - Lieut. J. L. Jolly, Major E. P. Hill, Capt. 0. H. Sorrenson and Lieut. John Schoemaker, of the Twenty- third Regiment, home on short furloughs. Maj. John Mansfield promoted to Lieutenant Colonel of the Second Regiment ; Lieut. C. C. Dow made Captain of Company G, and S. H. Morrison First Lieutenant. Return of Maj. Richardson, of the Second Cavalry, on furlough, after an absence of two years in Secessia.

October - Maj. E. P. Hill, Twenty-third Regiment, appointed Lieutenant Colonel in place of Vilas, resigned. Capt. M. A. Leahy, Thirty-fifth Regiment, opens a recruiting office in Portage, offering $402 bounty to nine-month veterans, and $200 to novices in the art of war. Resolutions of respect by the pupils of the Portage High School, to the memories of Melvin E. Merrell, Richard Williams, Judson A. Lewis, Edward Owen, Trevyllian J. Staley and Edward C. Andrews, killed in the war against rebellion.

November - Grand ball at Pettibone's hall. Portage, by the ladies of the Soldier's Aid Society. E. H. Bronson, First Sergeant, Company K, Thirty-second Regiment, detailed to recruit in the towns of Fountain Prairie, Columbus, Otsego, Lowville, Leeds and Dekorra.

December - Special town meetings held in Fountain Prairie and Marcellon, at which it was voted to pay $200 bounty, to volunteers. Resignation of Lieut. Wanner, Twenty-third Regiment.

1864, January - Col. Guppey and Capt. 0. H. Sorrenson, of the Twenty-third Regiment, released by the rebels. ,War meeting at Vandercook Hall, Portage, at which over $(!00 was subscribed as bounty money. Town of Scott votes $250 bounty to volunteers ; Fort Winnebago votes $200 ; Dekorra raises $1,950 cash as a fund to supply her quota of thirteen. Capt. Vaughan, Nineteenth Regiment, promoted to the rank of Major. Sergt. Joseph Twycross, Company G, Second Regiment, receives a first lieutenant's commission.

February - First Lieut. W. F. D. Bailey appointed Captain of Company G, Thirty-second Regiment. Death of W. F. Ward, one of the trio of Reghter printers who enlisted in the Twenty-third Regiment, in 1862. Lieut. Lewis Low, of Lowville, promoted to the captaincy of Company K, Thirty-second Regiment.

March - The citizens of Portage vote to appropriate $3,500 for a volunteer fund ; 276 votes were cast, of which number 27 were against the proposition.

June - Grand reception to the returned remnants of the valorous Second Regiment, to which the Portage Light Guard belonged as Company G ; but ten of this company's members were spared to reach home, as follows : Capt. C. C. Dow, Sergt. Joseph Twycross, George Hill, Freeman Smith, Fritz Kanzenbach, Henry J. Acker, Simon Jordan, C. P. Austin, J. A. Stanton and Anson Linscott.

July - John A. Jolly made Second Lieutenant Company C, Twenty-third Regiment. Lieut. John Schoemaker, Company C, Twenty-third Regiment, made Captain of Company I, same regiment. Speaking of the impending draft, a local newspaper said : " The thing is now reduced to a single allspice, and every man must make arrangements for a fight or skedaddle to Canada."

September - Erastus Cook reports si.xty men enlisted for his artillery company. Maj. Vaughan, Nineteenth Regiment, home on furlough. Vigorous volunteering under the stimulus of high-bounty patriotism. Col. Mansfield and Lieut. Newton, paroled from Libby Prison, return home. Capt. Cook's company of heavy artillery leave for Madison ; in the ranks were five brothers, the Douglas boys of Lewiston. Formation of a " draft insurance club " in Portage. John Jolly opens a recruiting office in Portage for the Fifth Regiment.

November - Col. Guppey appointed Post Commandant at Paducah, Ky. Columbia County gives 1,178 majority for Lincoln. Rev. J. B. Bachman, of Portage, appointed Chaplain of the Thirty-second Regiment. Death in a Southern prison hospital of Paul V. Brisbois, Company G, Second Regiment, from wounds received at the Wilderness.

1865, January - Dr. T. E. Best, of Portage, appointed Assistant Surgeon of the Fourteenth Ilegiment. Arthur W. Delaney, of Portage, appointed Adjutant of the Forty-seventh Regiment. Town of Newport votes a tax of $6,000, and raises a subscription of $2,000, for the purpose of filling the quota under the last call. Portage City votes almost unanimously in favor of a bounty tax. Organization of the Portage Relief Association.

February - Another special (bounty) election in Portage; 205 for to 5 against appropriating $200 each for volunteers to fill quota ; volunteering becomes brisk. Lodi fills her quota from the ranks of her own citizens. Great rejoicing throughout the county over the occupation of Charleston, the capture of Fort Anderson, etc., by Federal troops. James T. Hulihane, a three-years Portage veteran, appointed Second Lieutenant of Company C, Forty-seventh Regiment.

April - Capture of Richmond ! Great rejoicing throughout the county ; the "big gun " brought out in Portage and fired at short intervals throughout the day and ensuing evening; church bells rung, schools dismissed, and a general suspension of business. But alas ! joy turned to grief; assassination of President Lincoln ; imposing obsequies; services in all the churches.

A Jteminiscence. - The adventures of the brave boys who fought our country's battles would make a volume of massive size, but the following narrative of love and danger should no longer remain hidden in the mass of good things that still remain to be told : About three miles from the little village of Fall River, in Columbia County, is a successful and highly respected farmer, whose history during the four years of war was full of interest. He tried to enter the service under the call for 75,000 men. but was a little too late. Very soon after the the second call issued, he enlisted as a member of Company B, Seventh Regiment, and was made Third Sergeant. The spring of 1862, when Capt. Huntington resigned, George H. Bray ton^ of whom I shall speak hereafter, was made Captain, and Sergt. M. C. Hobart, the farmer to whom reference is made, was commissioned First Lieutenant, at the battle of Gainesville, August 28, 1862, the first general engagement the Iron Brigade, of which the Seventh Regiment was a part, participated in, and in which battle the brigade fought, for more than two hours, Ewell's whole division of Stonewall Jackson's famous fighting corps, losing between SOU and 900 men in killed and wounded. Capt. Brayton was shot in the head and immediately expired. Hobart succeeded him as Captain, at the battle of Gettysburg, where Hobart was conspicuous for coolness, bravery and good management ; the brigade lost heavily in prisoners as well as killed and wounded. He was among the prisoners. On their second day's journeying toward Richmond and Libby Prison, while crossing the mountains, Capt. Hobart stealthily dodged in the friendly thicket and in a short time was a free man. The next day he joined his regiment, and participated in the chase after Lee's broken, defeated and demoralized army. At the battle of the Wilderness, in May, 1864, Capt. Hobart was again made prisoner ; though making several attempts to escape the vigilance of his captors, they all failed, until after he had been a prisoner some time. It was while at Columbia, S. C, if we mistake not, Hobart, in company with others, made his escape ; after many days and nights of fatigue and hardship, that in these times of peace and general comfort would seem unbearable, he was re-captured near the Union lines at Knoxville, East Tennessee, and taken to Danville, N. C. ; thence to Libby Prison, Richmond ; was paroled February 22, 1865, and exchanged and returned to his regiment in April of the same year. Not long after that he was made Major of the Seventh, and in the spring of 1865, he was commissioned Lieutenant Colonel, Gen. Hallon Richardson, of Chippewa Falls, being Colonel, and Lieut. George S. Hoyt, now of the regular army, being Major. Col. Hobart was severely wounded in one of the many battles he participated in, two or three inches of one of the bones of his arm being removed. Hobart is as modest and unassuming in his role of a successful farmer, as he was brave, modest and unassuming as a soldier. The history of Company B, of the Seventh, would make entertaining reading ; counting its original members and the recruits forwarded at various times, it had 140 men ; a great many of these were killed, and nearly every one of those who came home bore a bullet, bayonet or shell mark. Some of them were shot a half a dozen times ; a majority of the survivors are, very properly, drawing pensions. Spencer H. Bronson, Fall River's Postmaster, a gentleman highly esteemed both as an ofiicial and as a citizen, was one of its members. He was first shot at Gainesville, then at Fitzhugh's Crossing, below Fredricksburg, in May, 1863, and again seriously at the Wilderness, in 1864. Capt. G. H. Brayton, who was killed at Gainesville, entered the army as Orderly Sergeant. He was educated at Lawrence University, and one of the most promising young men in Columbia County when the war broke out. His men about idolized him, and no young officer in the regiment stood higher ; he had a bright future. Speaking of the Seventh, it may be well to mention an incident in connection with the early history of the regiment. While in winter quarters on Arlington Heights, opposite Washington, the winter of 1861-62, the family of Col. W. W. Robinson joined him. In the family was a bright and handsome daughter ; Lieut. Richardson, of Company A, met and loved her, and wanted to marry her. She was willing, but Col. Robinson did not want his daughter to marry a man who was liable at almost any moment, when hostilities commenced, to be killed, and he lost no time in making this fact known to the daughter and the Lieutenant. But what was the use, the young people had made up their minds to marry, and marry they did, the ceremony taking place in Washington, unknown to the Colonel and his family. It was some weeks before he learned he had a disobedient daughter and son-in-law, and it was years before he became reconciled. Having been an officer in the Mexican war, and being a regimental commander in the war of the rebellion, he had imbibed the notion, quite naturally too, that his orders must be obeyed. It proved a happy marriage. The Lieutenant became a Captain, then Major, Lieutenant Colonel and Colonel, and left the army Brevet Brigadier General. Col. Robinson is United States Consul at Madagascar.

Town Of Columbus

First Infantry - Co. G - Lansing Williams, Harvey K. Dodge, Charles A. Searls (Lieutenant on Gen. Starkweather's staff), Adison S. Gardiner, Oscar Bordman.

Enlisted at East Randolph, in Capt. Dunham's company , E. Gaylord, J. N. Olin, J. W, Bennett, Thomas Dixon, Jr., Anton Frehing, Henry Furnell, J. Burrell Ireland, D. Ketchuni, N. Palmer, George Smith, Joshua A. Stark.

Town Of Fountain Pbairie

Eleventh Infantry - Co. B - A. A. Grout, John Hicks, Enos Grout, William P. Williams (died in service), Frank Livermore, George W. Brossard.

Town Of Hampden Town Of Lewiston

Twenty-third Infantry - Co. C - Orrin Hay, John Mc- Mahon, Carl Hussenfus, Judson A. Lewis, John A. Petersen, 0. A. Tolackson, Elias Ereckson, Tonas Dolivar. Daniel Devine. William C. Hanson.

Town Op Wyooena

The general surface of Columbia County is gently rolling prairie and openings, with some level marsh. There is about 40 per cent of the land that is styled openings, where the timber is mainly white, burr and black oak, and the balance is nearly equally divided into prairie, timber and marsh land. The timber is principally oak, maple, basswood and elm. The county contains 492, .500 acres ; 485,.580 acres of these are owned by actual settlers, which are assessed at an average value of $12.8-3 per acre. Nearly two-thirds of the land are now cultivated. There are a number of excellent water-powers. Numerous quarries of lime and sandstone, and beds of clay, furnish first-class material for building purposes. The railroad communications are excellent ; there is no point in the county more than twelve miles from a line of road, and it will also have, at no distant day, it is believed, uninterrupted water communication with the Mississippi and Lake Michigan. On the Wisconsin River, where it passes through the county, some of the grandest scenery is to be found in the West. It has already been shown how celebrated are the Dells of the Wisconsin. They are much visited by tourists, the number annually increasing. Two good boats make their regular trips daily, in the summer, and objects of interest are shown and fully explained to visitors.

The State census of 1875 showed a population of 28,803 ; of these, 19,653 are natives of the States, and 9,150 are foreigners, including 2,774 from Germany ; 2,681 from England and Scotland; 1,564 from Sweden and Norway; 1,332 from Ireland, and 511 from Canada. There are twenty-one towns, and two cities, containing an area of 800 square miles. The city of Portage has a total assessed value of real estate of $647,110, and personal property to the amount of $335,000. Her public buildings, business blocks and private dwelling houses are a credit to the place. The city of Columbus has real estate to the amount of $445,040, and personal property amounting to $330,000. The principal villages in the county are Lodi, Kilbourn City, and Cambria. The other villages of the county are Wyocena, Rio, Otsego, Doylestown, Fall River, Pardeeville, Okee, Poynette, Arlington, and a part of Randolph. Besides the post offices in Portage and Columbus and in these villages, there are those in the county named Randolph Center, Leeds Center, Leeds. North Leeds, Keyeser, Lowville, Marcellon, Bellefountain. Midland, Port Hope, Hampden, West Point, Farr's Corners, Rocky Run, Dekorra, Alloa, Colburn, Lewiston, Pacific and Hartman.

All parts of the county are well supplied with water, and the various streams afford complete drainage. The Fox River and its tributaries drain the northern part; Rock River the eastern part, emptying into the Mississippi at Rock Island, 111. ; the Wisconsin the remainder, pouring its waters into the Mississippi at Prairie du Chien. Many of the streams afford good water privileges, which are utilized at several points in the driving of flouring-mills. Spring Creek has now six; Duck Creek, four; Rowan Creek, two; Rocky Run, one; Crawfish, two ; Fox Run, one. The majority are custom mills and do only local work.

Stock raising is now recognized as quite an industry among the farmers. As the land becomes less adapted for the cereals, pasture lands take their place, and the hills and valleys are now seen dotted with herds of cattle and flocks of sheep ; of the latter the finer breeds are being introduced. As an outgrowth of the cattle feeding and grazing, together with the low price of wheat, the dairy business was begun. A number of cheese factories are distributed at diflPerent points, the export during the season of 1878 amounting to about 1,000,000 pounds.

Three lines of railroad enter the county and afford easy exit in all directions. These are the Wisconsin Central, which has Portage City for its southern terminus, and connects with points to the northward ; the Madison, Northern and La Crosse Divisions of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul ; and the Chicago & North-Western. In all there are about one hundred and twenty miles of road within the limits of the county.

The educational facilities in the county are excellent. There are 149 schoolhouses, a large proportion being in good condition. Instruction is spurred on by Institutes, by the County Teachers' Association, and by the visits to the schools of the County Superintendent.

There are seven newspapers in the county. These, in mechanical appearance and editorial ability, take high rank in the State. The State Register, Democrat and Columbia County Weaker are published in Portage ; the Democrat and Republican, at Columbus ; the Valley Neivs, at Lodi ; and the DelU Reporter, at Kilbourn City.

In the internal improvements of the county are found abundant indications of the enterprise, good taste and prosperity of its citizens. A large number of first-class farm houses and private residences is seen. Church edifices are numerous, and are respectable in size and appearance. The county buildings are large, convenient and well adapted to the purposes for which they are designed, and no more faithful, intelligent and accommodating county ofiicers are anywhere to be found.

Considering its geographical position, its physical features, its agricultural, social and financial advantages, and the intelligence and enterprise of its inhabitants. Columbia County may be regarded as a model county.