Service with the Sixth Wisconsin Volunteers

Front matter

EMORY UNIVERSITY LIBRARY

M. B. G.

R. R. D

Preface

With the hope that I may contribute something of value for the history of one of the most faithful and gallant regiments in the army of the Union, the Sixth Wisconsin Volunteers, and with the especial object of preserving tor our children a record of personal experiences in the war, this book has been published.

A box of old letters and papers, collected during the war and carefully arranged and preserved by my wife, has been a chief Source from which I have drawn the subject matter.

Contemporary statements and opinions have not been changed. In cases where subsequent knowledge disclosed an error, the fact is noted.

Rufus R. Dawes.

Marietta, Ohio, November ioth, 1890.

"Service with the Sixth Wisconsin Volunteers" was published in 1890. The author derived all of its material from his diaries and letters. He realized the value of a statement made at the moment as to his experiences, and he appreciated fully the treacherous nature of memory. He believed contemporaneous expression in letters and diaries provided material of historical value. He had the material and the ability to write a superb history of the grueling service of this famous regiment, but he felt that the story of his personal experiences and impressions written at the time would be of greater value. We think that it has also a deeper interest.

General Rufus R. Dawes published this book at Marietta, Ohio, and sent a copy to every surviving member of the regiment whose address he could secure. He also placed copies in libraries where he thought they might be used, and distributed copies among his friends and family.

His brother, Ephraim Cutler Dawes, prepared an extra illustrated copy of this book and now after forty-six years the sons of Rufus R. Dawes present in this volume an exact reproduction of the original publication as embellished with these illustrations. This they do in order that their children and children s children may cherish the memory and profit by the example of a gallant soldier, a useful citizen and a devoted father.

To my wife who joined iier destiny with my own when I was a soldier and thus became, together with myself, subject to the extreme perils of weir, this book is affectionately dedicated.

RUFUS JR. DAWES.

Chapter I. Pages 5-21

The Call for Volunteers — The Lemonweir Minute Men — Anxious Haste to "Crush the Bebellion" — Provoking Delays — Captain Balfour's Opinion — Assigned to the Seventh Wisconsin — A Poster — Ordered Into Quarters—Called to the Sixth Regiment — Reception at Camp Randall — Company "K," Better Known as "Q"— Officers of the Sixth— I Discover That I Have a Servant — We are Uniformed in Gray — Mustered Into TJ. S. Service — Bull Run — To the Front — The Glorious Passage East— Miss Anderson — The March Through Baltimore— Attacked by "Plug CJglies" — Lieutenant Kellogg in the Battle of Patterson Park — On to Washington — Kalorama Heights — Our Brass Band — First Sight of General McClellan.

Chapter II. Pages 22-41

Picket Duty on the Potomac — Camp at Chain Bridge — We Hear General Hancock Whisper to his Brigade — To Arlington Heights— The "Iron Brigade" in Embryo — Officers Weeded out — Reviews and Reviews — The Battle Hymn of the Republic — The Grand Review — Our Drum Major — Thanksgiving and Mince Pies -A Visit to Ohio — Amusements in the Winter Camp— The Arlington House— I Reconnoitre a Seminary for Young Ladies — Tossed in a Blanket — Gambling and Vice — On Picket in the mud— Interviewed by a Congressional Committee — Washington's Birthday Celebrated— A March to the Front— The Enemy Gone— Hard Campaigning — Reviews— More Hard Campaigning —The Brigade Stampeded by a Bull— Camp Life in Stormy Weather- Bull Frog Concerts— My Brother in Battle at Shiloh— Picnic at St. Stephen's Chapel— On to Fredericksburgh — A Whisky Ration — News From Shiloh — Camp Opposite Fredericksburgh — Practical Emancipation.

Chapter III. Pages 42-77

Fac-Simile Confederate Currency — A Remarkable Bridge — Advent of Gen. John Gibbon— Extra Clothing— Still "Spoiling for a Fight"— Feathers, Leggings and White Gloves— President Lincoln Visits us — "On to Richmond"— Stonewall Jackson in the Valley— We Pursue Jackson — His men Carry "A Hundred Rounds and a gum Blanket," Ours Carry "Saratoga Trunks"— "You uns is Pack Mules, we uns is Race Horses"

II

— Overcoats and Knapsacks Flung Away — Celerity of Jackson vs. Ponderosity of McDowell — Up the Hill and Down Again — We Attend Church in Fredericksburgh — Mink Teaches School — A Very Pretty Fight of my own — Win by a Scratch and am Appointed Major — Frank A. Haskell — Advent of General Pope — Prejudice Against McDowell — A Mule Race — Pope's Proclamation not Well Received — A Raid Toward Orange C. H. — By Help of a Slave, I Capture a Confederate Officer— "Its the Lord's Will That the Colored People Help you uns" — Impending Battles— The Fredericks Hall Raid — To Cedar Mountain — He "Done got out" — William Jackson — Retreat Before General Lee — First Experiences Under Fire — To Warrenton — ToWarrenton Sulphur Springs — Again Under Fire — Stonewall Jackson in our Rear — Back Toward Centreville — Can't Stop to eat — Battle of Gainesville — Corps Commander "Lost in the Woods" — A Midnight Retreat— Some Comments on Gainesville — Sound of Battle on the Bull Run Field — Fitz John Porter's Corps Marches by — We March to the Field of Battle — Clouds of Dust Interpreted as a Retreat of the Enemy— Battle of Bull Run Second — Midnight Visit From General Kearney and Retreat — Death on Picket Duty— Chantilly— To Upton's Hill — Joy at the Announcement That McClellan is in Command — Colonel Bragg's Manly and Patriotic Political Stand — Colonel Cutler Pays his Respects to Mr. Stanton.

CHAPTER IV PAGES 78-97. Army Re-organized— General Joseph Hooker our Corps Commander

Advance to Maryland — At Frederick City— Enthusiasm for "Little

Mac"— On to South Mountain— The Battle— Volleys by Wing— All

Night on the Field — Complimented by General McClellan — On to An-

tietam — The Battle — Captains Brown and Bachelle Killed — Colonel

Bragg Wounded — Terrible Slaughter of our Regiment at Antietam —

Incidents.

Chapter V. Pages 98-123

Exhaustion After Antietam — A sad Blunder — Colonel Bragg Nominated for Congress — President Lincoln Visits the Army — Twenty-Fourth Michigan Joins the Brigade — Appointed to Inspect Troops — Forward to Virginia — Dr. John C. Hall — Colonel Cutler Takes Command of the Brigade — General McClellan Removed from Command of the Army — Colonel Cutler Takes a Stand — The Burnside Regime— On to Fredericksburgh—General Solomon Meredith — Distrust of Burnside — Battle of Fredericksburgh — The Retreat— Clayton Rogers Saves the Pickets— "Clayt" and "Bony"— Whitworth Shell for Breakfast— The Defeat as Viewed by a Member of Congress— Camp Near Belle Plaine General James S. Wadsworth— The Mud Campaign— The Fifty-fifth Ohio in our Houses— Darkness Upon us as a Nation — Exit Burnside — General Joseph Hooker in Command of the Army— The Northumberland Raid— Correspondence with Mr. Cutler— Political Conditions.

Ill

Chapter VI. Pages 124-141

A Visit to Ohio — A Public Address — Promoted— General Jaines S. Wadsworth — Preparations for the Campaign— General Lysander Cutler — Colonel Bragg's Letter with our old Flag— Reviewed by the President — General Joseph Hooker — How to get Ready for a Battle Campaign — Twenty-fourth Michigan Makes a Raid — Campaign Opens — I Entrust Dr. A. W Preston with Letters to be Mailed only if I am Killed— Fitz Hugh's Crossing— Experiences at Chancellorsvillc— Dismal Retreat — Dr. Preston Mails my Letters— Resulting Troubles and Excitements — My Mother Refuses to Take my own Word that I am Killed.

Chapter VII. Pages 142-163

Camp Near White Oak Church— Regimental Court — Expedition Down the Northern Neck— Captain Charley Ford — A War-Horse Prefers Death, to Duty as a Pack Mule — In Command of a Post— "The Patrol has Caught the Colonel" — General Lee Assumes an Offensive Attitude — Major Hauser — Picket Duty on the Rappahannock — Colonel Bragg Sick — Fooled by the Balloon — Lying in Wait — Ed Brooks Pours Water in Sam's ear — How to Execute a Deserter — Camp Routine — We March Northward — "Under a Scorching Sun, and Through Suffocating Clouds of Dust" — At Centreville — Bivouac on Broad Run — At South Mountain— General Meade's Appointment a Surprise— On to Gettysburg — An Unfinished Letter — The Battle as Reported to M. B. G. — How the new Recruit Stands Fire.

Chapter IX. Pages 185-210

Pursuit of the Enemy — The Pride of Victory — Williamsport — A Little Rest — On to Virginia — Provost Duty at Middleburg — Too Much Whisky — To Warrenton Junction — Echoes of the Morgan Raid — To Bnverly Ford — The One Hundred and Sixty-Seventh Pennsylvania Refuses to March— The old and new Colors — Letter From one of Sherman's men — South of the Rappahannock — I Command an Outpost — Mink Argues the Case — Refused a Leave of Absence — Conscripts and Bounty Jumpers — "Iron Brigade" Flag — At Culpepper— I Make a Friendly Call on the Enemy — Ordnance Returns — To the Rapidan —

Picket Duty.

Chapter X. Pages 211-228

At Morton's Ford — The Retreat to Centreville — A Skirmish at Hnymarket —Bob Tomlinson — To Thoroughfare Gap — Roast Turkey— Judge Advocate of a Court Martial— General Fairchild — Colonel Eilv, ard Pye — To Catlett's Station— Adjutant Brooks Captured— General Cutler Resorts to Vitro roue Measures — A Gentleman of the Old School — To

IV

Rappahannock— A Visit to M. B. G. in Ohio — The Mine Run Campaign.

CHAPTER XT. PAGES 229-249.

At Kelly's Ford— "All Hail to Old Abe ! "—Question of Veteran Re-enlistment— My Brother Reports From Sherman's Corps — To Culpepper — Kindness From a Rebel — Living in Houses — Veteran Excitement — Regiment Re-enlists and Goes to Wisconsin — I go to Marietta — A Grand Reception at Milwaukee — A Quiet Wedding at Marietta — A Wedding Trip — A Happy Accident — In Ohio — In Camp Again at Culpepper— General TJ. S. Grant — Obliteration of the old First Army Corps — The Fifth Corps — General G. K. Warren — A New England Clergyman — Colonel Bragg's "Religious Affiliations" — General Grant on Review — Major Philip W. Plummer — Preparations — Minor Faults in the Management of Military Affairs — A new Chaplain — We win First Honors on Inspection— Adjutant Brooks Returns — Chess — Court Martial — Crime — Indians — "We move at Midnight."

Chapter XII. Pages 250-273

The Wilderness — Laurel Hill — The Bloody Angle and Spottsylvania.

Chapter XIII. Pages 274-289

Forward to the North Anna — Battle of Jericho Ford — Battle of the North Anna — Forward Toward Richmond — Battle of Bethesda Church — The Pennsylvania Reserves — "Pediculus Vestimenti" — Battle of Cold Harbor— Report From my Brother With Sherman — In the Trenches — A Bullet-Proof Chaplain — Lawson Fenton — Death of Charles B. Gates — A Little Rest— My Brother Shot at Dallas — His Journey Home.

Chapter XIV Pages 290-304

A Change of Base — To the James River — Petersburg— Repulsed — Worn, Weary and Discouraged — The Trenches — Disorganization from Losses — Colonel Bragg Promoted — Out of the Trenches— Rising Spirits— Adjutant Brooks' Expedition and its Fate — Captain Kellogg in Rebel Prison — His Escape — Captain Lewis A. Kent — Lieutenant Earl M. Rogers Wounded — Mortar Shell — Ice— Our Chaplain Finds a Cow- Appointed to a Responsible Duty — Cowards and Inefficients— Cuyler Babcock — Commissioned Colonel — The Muster Out — Questions as to Term of Service— Dr. Hall Promoted— Mine Explosion— In Camp — Mustered Out and Honorably Discharged— The Ordnance Sergeant.

Chapter XV. Pages 305-319

From the Stand-point of a Civilian— The Battle on the Weldon Road— "Poor Murdered Timmons!"— Letter From Captain Remington— Captain Chas. P. Hyatt Killed— Dr. Hall Writes Fully from the Sixth- General Bragg Writes of our Comrades Fallen— My Brother Under the Surgeon's Knife— The Sixth Re-organized— Colonel John A. Kellogg—

Individual Records — The Cheering in the Wilderness Explained by a "Johnny" — The Story of William Jackson— Captain Marston Shot at Gettysburg — Seventeen Years Later — To my Living Comrades — Statistics From Colonel Fox and the Official Records.

PORTRAITS.

General Irvin McDowell . Page 36

General "Stonewall" Jackson, " 66

General E. S. Bragg, (as Lieut. Colonel 6th Wis.) " 72

General John B. Callis " 82

General Joseph Hooker, " 132

General Solomon Meredith " 156

General Abner Doubleday, " 180

General George G.Meade, " 192

General Robert E Lee " 214

General John Newton, " 224

General Lucius Fairchild, (As Commander of Grand Army) " 238

General Lysander Cutler " 274

General Rufus R Dawesr " 276

General John A. Kellogg " 310

Colonel E. C. Dawes, " 286

Captain Rollin P. Converse, " 260

Lieutenant Charles B Gates, " 284

Surgeon John C. Hall,.. „ , " 302

ILLUSTRATIONS.

o

Battle-flag of Second Mississippi, Page 172

Advance on the railroad cut, " 173

Flag of the Sixth Wisconsin, " 177

An end game at chess, " 248

List of Extra Illustrations

Facing Page No.

Miss Mar)- B. Gates, 1863 Frontispiece

Wisconsin State University.... 9

Marietta College 9

Washington City 19

Harper's Ferry 19

Kate L. Dawes 34

W. P. Cutler 34

Ephraim Dawes 34

Miss Julia P. Cutler 34

Lieut. E. C. Dawes, 1862 40

Major E. C. Dawes, Feb. 1863.. 40

Major E. C. Dawes, June 1863. . 40

General A. P. Banks 45

General John Pope 51

General R. 8. Ewell 68

Captain D. L. Quaw 71

General Joseph Hooker 74

General George B. McClellan... 76

Colonel A. H. Colquitt 85

Dunkard Church, Antietam 92

The Antietam Turnpike 92

Captain Werner Von Bachelle.. 93

Lincoln and McClellan 100

General A. E. Burnside 107

Group of Contraband 121

Belle Plain 129

Pontoon Boats 129

Miss Mary B. Gates, 1863 140

Lieut. Col. R. R. Dawes, March

1863 140

Gen'l A. P. Hill 147

Rebel Prisoners, Gettysburg.... 159

General Mead's Headquarters. . 160

Gettysburg 164

General J. J. Archer 166

Railroad cut where 2nd Miss.

Regiment was captured 167

Penn. College, Gettysburg 167

Wadsworth's Fieldworks 167

Culps Hills, Gettysburg 167

Rebel Prisoners 169

General J. R. Davis 170

General H. Heath 171

General A. M. Scales 176

J. E. Johnston 196

Facing I'lijre No.

IT. S. Grant 201

Lucius Fairchild 2ol

General Geo. G. Meade 201

Headquarters near Culpepper. . 205 Railroad Depot, Chattanooga,

Tenn 208

General W. S. Rosecrans 208

Colonel J. S. Mosby 220

Germania Ford 226

General TJ. S. Grant 230

Abraham Lincoln 230

Rev. J. H. Shedd 237

Rev. Thos. Wickes 237

Charles B. Gates, 1864 237

Beman Gates, 1864 250

Robert E. Lee .'. 258

Confederate Soldiers Killed,

James Wadsworth 262

James Longstreet 262

Col. Jas. L. Bates 265

Col. J. W. Hoffman 265

Pontoon at Jericho Ford 275

General Wells S. Jones 281

Line of Battle 282

Holding the Line 282

Surgeon W. M. Cake 288

Havdn K. Smith 288

Lieut. Geo. B. Covington 288

James River Pontoon Bridge... 290

Petersburg Trenches 292

Petersburg Trenches 292

Bomb Proof 292

Dr. John C. Hall 302

General Grant's Headquarters

Citv Point, 1865 308

John' A. Kellogg 310

Major E. C. Dawes, March 1864. 313

Major E. C. Dawes, July 1864.. 313 Major E. C. Dawes, Sept. 22,

1864 313

Rufus R. Dawes 316

Arlington Cemetery 316

COMPANY K.

" There's a cap in the closet

Old, faded and blue.

Of very slight value.

It may be, to you ; But a crown, jewel studded,

Could not buy it to-day 'With its letters of honor,

'Brave Company K.' "

Chapter I

The Call for Volunteers— The Lemonweir Minute Men— Anxious Haste to "Crush the Rel^ellion" — Provoking Delays — Captain Balfour's Opinion— Assigned to the Seventh Wisconsin— A. Poster —Ordered Into Quarters— Called to the Sixth Regiment — Reception at Camp Randall — Company K Better Known as Q— Officers of the Sixth — J Discover That I Have a Servant -We are Uniformed in Gray—Mustered Into U. S. Service— Bull Run— To the Front— The Glorious Passage East— Miss Anderson— The March Through Baltimore — Attacked by Plug Uglies — Lieutenant Kellogg in the Battle of Patterson Parle — On to Washington — Kalorama Heights— Our Brass Band— First Sight of General McClellan.

Fort Sumpter was fired upon, and recognizing the full import of that event, on the fifteenth day of April 1861, President Abraham Lincoln issued his proclamation calling for seventy-five thousand volunteers to suppress the rebellion by force of arms. This first bugle call of war found the author of this book in the sparsely settled County of Juneau in the State of Wisconsin. I was then twenty-two years of age, and had come out of college with the class of i860. With the proclamation of the President came the announcement that the quota of the State of Wisconsin would be only one small infantry regiment of seven hundred and eighty men. It seemed quite evident that only by prompt action I might secure what was then termed the "glorious privilege" of aiding in crushing the Rebellion, which undertaking it had been estimated by * one in high authority, could be accomplished in sixty days. It is pleasant to remember that at that day few questions were raised as to the rates of compensation for service, and so remote a contingency as realizing upon the promise of a pension was not considered. Nothing beyond the opportunity to go was asked. What seemed to most concern our patriotic and ambitious young men was the fear that some one else would get ahead and crush the Rebellion before they got there. Drawing up the following pledge and signing it, I began the work of gathering Volunteers on the twenty-fifth day of April 1 86 1.

"We, the undersigned, agree to organize an independent military company, and to hold ourselves in readiness to respond to any call to defend our cpuntry and sustain our government." It will be noted that the service offered was not limited to three months but was for "any call."

Forty-eight signers were secured as the result of my first day's work. Then John A. Kellogg, the Prosecuting Attorney of the county, would not be denied the privilege of signing my paper and joining with me in the work of raising a company of Volunteers. I argued with Kellogg, who was ten years my senior and a married man, that young men, without families, could crush the Rebellion, but he could not brook the thought of being deprived of sharing in the satisfaction and glory of that service, and feeling that this would be his only chance, he joined in the work of making up the company with the utmost zeal.

On the thirtieth day of April one hundred men, who had agreed to volunteer, met in L-angworthy's Hall, in the village of Mauston, the county seat, to organize the company. There was no contest for the positions of Captain and First Lieutenant. But for the other offices there was active competition, and the meeting assumed something of the aspect of a political convention. After a discussion in which Badgers and other typical beasts and birds were considered for an appropriate name, we adopted the mellifluous title of "The Lemonweir Minute Men" from the peaceful and gently flowing river, in the beautiful

* Win. H. Seward, Secretary of State, in President Lincoln's Cabinet valley of which most of our men resided. It would "remind us of home" said one, and this argument carried the day.

Extracts from a letter written to my sister in Ohio will serve to illustrate the spirit of these times and of this occasion. Their zeal might have been tempered had they known more of war, but a purer impulse of patriotism never burned in the souls of men, than that which inspired the unmercenary Volunteers of 1861.

Mauston, Juneau Co., Wis. May 4th, 1861.

I have been so wholly engrossed with my work for the last week or I should have responded sooner to your question: "Are you going?" If a kind Providence and President Lincoln will permit, I am. I am Captain of as good, and true a band of patriots as ever rallied under the star spangled banner. We hope to get into the third or fourth regiment, and if old Abe will but give a fair and merited share in the struggle to Wisconsin, we will see active service. The men expect and earnestly desire to go, and wait impatiently their turn. I shall esteem it an honor, worth a better life than mine, to be permitted to lead them in this glorious struggle. I am in hourly dread of hearing of some violence offered you on the border, and wish I might be permitted to bring to you, in your peril, some as strong hands and as true hearts as the Badger State can *boast.

State of Wisconsin, Adjutant General's Office.

Madison, May 2nd, 1861.

Captain Rufus R. Dawes,

Mauston, Juneau County,

Dear Sir Enclosed please find commissions for your

*This is what I had heard from home. Letter from mv mother dated Marietta, Ohio, April 28, 1861 :

"Governor Dennison has sent six cannon and two companies of the regular army to Marietta. Your Uncle (William P. Cutler) has not joined the Silver Greys for he will have to go to Congress in two months. He is one of the Committee of Safety. Business is prostrated, yet the people are hopeful and seem determined at all hazards to sustain the Government. Provisions here are abundant and cheap. The excitement is so great and so entirely engrossing that all other subjects are dismissed. People recognize the hand of God in these things and feel thankful that the North is right. To-day at church the soldiers marched in and took the front seats. What a sight for Marietta! The Ohio river perhaps will be the border. Before the end of the week there will be thousands of troops quartered in Marietta. I despair of giving you any idea of the excited state of things here."

company. You will be registered in your regular order, and called on when reached. Until further orders you will make no expenses on account of the State.

Very Respectfully Yours,

Wm. L. TJtley, Adjutant General.

Commissions enclosed :

Rufus R. Dawes, Captain.

John A. Kellogg, First Lieutenant.

John Crane, Second Lieutenant.

The question of getting into active service now absorbed the minds of all, and great anxiety and impatience was displayed lest we should not be called, or other companies, later organized, should be preferred. On May 16th, I wrote to my brother, K. C. Dawes, then a student in college in Ohio, "I am working like a beaver to get my company into active service. We sent John Turner, (an influential citizen,) to Madison to see the Governor. I have a hundred men upon the muster roll. I have quite a number of raftsmen from the pineries. To endure the hardships of actual service none could be better fitted. Campaigning in the field would be a luxury in comparison to logging in the winter in the pineries. I don't believe there can be better soldiers."

During this period of doubt and anxiety, I found comfort in the judgment of one Captain Balfour, of Mauston. He differed from the general opinion as to the serious magnitude of the coming war. He was an old gentleman who had served as a Captain in the British army. He had been through campaigns in Spain and was present at the burial of Sir John Moore. He, and other young officers, he informed me, had taken turns in sitting on the throne of Spain which had been abandoned by Joseph Bonaparte, when Wellington's army had entered Madrid.

His wife, a hale and bright old lady, had been with him in these campaigns, serving as vivandiere of his regiment. Captain Balfour, then over eighty years of age, said "Don't fret, young man, your company will be needed. Those Southern people are determined upon war. It will take years to put them down. You'll see, you'll see! You have no Wellingtons or Napoleons in this country, and next to no experience in war. This is no

ajJurfX*. <J?.

\*JJLe^L.

job of sixty days." I constantly advised with this venerable soldier who gave me excellent counsel and suggestions of practical value, drawn from a long experience in field service. Two weeks more passed away, much exciting news coming from Ohio,* and on the second of June, I find the following report of the condition of our affairs in a letter to my sister. "At present the prospect seems very good for our company remaining at home a month or two yet. We have been assigned to the seventh regiment. Six regiments are now under pay and the seventh will be called into camp when the fifth is mustered into the United States service. The first four regiments have already been mustered in. It is perhaps better to be so, though a severe trial to our patience. I went to Madison to see Governor Randall and the Adjutant General, but could get no higher on the list. Wisconsin has twelve regiments already, and we are well up to be in the seventh." On the ioth of June I write: "The first six regiments are now accepted by the General Government, and I expect to be ordered into quarters. I think we will be in ample time to go with the grand expedition down the Mississippi and hold a merry Christmas in New Orleans. This delay will make some hard work, recruiting to fill vacancies, but I can have a full company. George W Bird and William F. Vilas are looking after my interests at Madison." These gentlemen had been old friends and college associates at the Wisconsin State University.

*Marietta had now become a Camp for the troops that made up the army for the campaign in West Virginia. From my mother :

Marietta, Ohio, May 27th, 1861.

"All of the first ladies in the city have given their names to nurse or furnish supplies for the sick. As yet we have no system, but hope to get organized in a day or two. The hospital is an old brick building near the Fair ground. There are thirty-nine sick men there 'to-day, and they are far from comfortable. But the Citizens are sending in things every day and we shall soon get fixed. Most of the men are sick with the measles. There is one case of typhoid fever. Another regiment (18th Ohio) came in to-day.

Everybody is making bandages, lint, and Havelock caps. L has

made five and a half dozens of plasters of mutton tallow, spread on linen rags, four inches square and done up neatly in oiled silk, very acceptable, the surgeons say," Such were the preparations for war in 1861.

Executive Office, Madison, June 14th, 1861. Captain R. R. Dawes, Lemonweir Minute Men,

Mauston, Juneau County.

Sir : The Governor desires to know whether your company is now full to at least eighty-three men for three years or the war. Quite a number of the companies on our Register fail to muster full at the appointed day. You will oblige by replying to this letter at the earliest day possible, and stating a day on or after which you can stand ready to meet a mustering officer with a full company. We expect to send off the first six regiments within lour weeks, and two more will then be called into camp and equipped.

Yours Respectfully,

A Poster:

Rally !

Boys, Rally ! ! Rally ! ! !

Enlistments wanted for the Lemonweir Minute Men ! Headquarters L. M. M., Mauston, June 17th, 1861.

This company is ordered by the Commander in chief to hold itself in readiness to be mustered into the service on Monday, June 24th. -Men are wanted to complete the full complement of one hundred and one. Come forward, boys, and place your names on the roll. R. R. Dawes, Captain.

To my sister on the 20th of June, I write: "I am at present tormented beyond measure by the delay in calling my company together. The men are scattered over nearly a whole Congressional district. Many influences operate now to deter and discourage the men, and I fear they will order us into camp without giving me time to collect jny men or recruit for vacancies. But I have one glorious satisfaction. We have a place certain and nothing but the lack of a full company can stop us. I ride and travel night and day It will take a load off my shoulders to have my men brought together." "Your excellent advice and the pin cushions will be very serviceable, and on behalf of the company I return their thanks. Please say to Mrs. E. B. Andrews that I appreciate highly my pin cushion made from Kossuth's vest." Some ladies of Marietta, Ohio, had sent to me, through my sister, one hundred pin cushions for my company.

On the 29th of June came the welcome telegram, which was received with the greatest enthusiasm, ordering us into quarters.

Captain R. R. Dawks : You can board your company at expense of the State at not more than two dollars and a half a week, until further orders. It is possible that you may be wanted for the sixth regiment.

On the 6th day of July, in compliance with orders, the company, ninety-four men in all, took the cars for Madison to join the sixth regiment. We had been assigned to that regiment because of the failuie of several other companies registered higher on the list in the Adjutant General's office. Our arrival, therefore, as it completed the organization of the regiment, was an event, increased in its interest and importance by the several previous disappointments. I received a telegram from the Colonel of the sixth regiment, while en route, asking the hour of our arrival. Had I suspected the reception that was being prepared for us, I think I should have entered protest. As we approached Camp Randall that afternoon, the fifth and sixth regiments, nearly two thousand men, were in line of battle to receive us with becoming state and ceremony. My company had had practically no drill. "By the right flank, right face" according to the Scott tactics, and "Forward march" was almost the sum total of my own knowledge of military movements. The men stumbled along in two ranks, kicking each other's heels as they gazed at the novel and imposing spectacle before them. A few wore broadcloth and silk hats, more the red shirts of raftsmen, several were in country homespun, one had on a calico coat, and another was looking through a hole in the drooping brim of a straw hat. I remember, also, that there were several of those ugly white caps with long capes, called "Havelocks." The men carried every variety of valise, and every species of bundle, down to one shirt tied up in a red handkerchief. My confusion may be imagined when I was met at the gate way of Camp Randall by Frank A. Haskell, the Adjutant of the sixth regiment, who was mounted on a spirited charger, and quite stunning in his bright uniform and soldierly bearing. With a military salute he transmitted an order from the Colonel "to form my company in column by platoon," and to march to Headquarters under escort of the Milwaukee Zouaves. Hibbard's Zouaves, (Co. B, 5th Wisconsin,) was then considered the best drilled company in the state. Their appearance in bright Zouave uniform was fine. I answered Adjutant Haskell, "Good afternoon, Sir. I should be glad to comply with the wishes of the Colonel, but it is simply impossible." So we took our own gait in the direction of Headquarters. The maneuvres and the yelling of the Zouaves, who engaged in one of their peculiar drills, increased the distraction of my men, and they marched worse than before. However, we got into line in front of Headquarters and were briefly congratulated upon our arrival, in a few pertinent remarks by Colonel L,ysauder Cutler. The Colonel informed us in his speech that we would be designated as Company "K." But in recognition of our grand entree, the camp had already christened us Company "Q."