Chapter III: Front Matter (3)

MONDAY, MAY 27, 1861. Attended the Cong. Church yesterday. Mr. Taylor’s Text was John III. 7 & I. 13., Also attended Prof. C’s Bible Class, Mr. Bradford was also there. In the P. M. the wind blew from the South a perfect gale. Wrote home & sent the letter with Mr. Bradford.

To-day went to the depot at noon to see Mr. Bradford off. After school went to the camp. The exercises on evening parade are changed today. Saw the maneuvers gone through with by Capts. Strong’s & Randolph’s Cos.[51] united but could not wait until the regular parade

TUESDAY 28. Nothing worthy of note transpired to-day.

WEDNESDAY 29. Seth Rice visited us today on his return from Richland Co. where he has been about three weeks. The train on which he came does not stop at the station (Stoughton) where he wishes to stop & he therefore lays over at Madison till the 4 o’clock train tomorrow morning.

He arrived about 4 o’clock & soon I went to the camp with him & we staid till after the evening parade. The exercise at this time now is--the companies form in line with their arms, come to parade rest. The band plays a tune & marches in front of the regiment the whole length of the line & back again--the gun is fired and the flag comes down--The Adj. announces to the Col. “the Parade is formed” The Col put them through the Manual. The Sergeants report they are dismissed.

THURSDAY, MAY 30, 1861. Got up before 4 o’clock this morning to see Mr. Rice off. As we were sitting in our room at noon, the door opened and Charlie White entered without any previous announcement even the ceremony of knocking. After attending our Latin recitation we went with him to the camp. He had not previously heard that Billie was here. We staid till after parade & then John & I went down town purchased some meat, & when we got home borrowed a cooker & had a warm supper.

FRIDAY 31. As we could not prevail on Charlie to stay here until Monday we obtained excuse from recitations today, hired a boat and went over to the Asylum with him. Visited all the places we had seen when there before and also were shown into the lower ward, and women’s ward. The wind having risen & blowing from the S. W.--almost directly ahead--we concluded it would be impossible to row 4 back in the small boat which we had, so John & Charlie went round the lake afoot and Will & I rowed across. We went first to Sugar Bush point, where sheltered by the point, from the wind we tried to catch some fish but did not succeed. After starting for home the wind blew so hard that we could not make an inch headway but a rain coming up the wind ceased.

SATURDAY, JUNE 1. Charlie went home at 10 o’clock last night, via Milwaukee.

John & I took our hooks & went on the R. R. bridge to fish but could catch nothing. But Will & I went out with a Dutchman in the evening and speared 7 in all--1 pickerel, 1 sucker, 2 bass & 3 bull heads. We took the sucker and pickerel & had them for dinner the next day.

SUNDAY, JUNE 2d Attended the Presbyterian Church today & Prof C’s Bible Class. Mr. Green had one of the most interesting sermons I ever listened to. He had four texts--Lev. X. 1. 2 & 3. The other three I have forgotten. Wrote a letter home in the P. M.

MONDAY, JUNE 3, 1861. Going down town at noon today we learned by the dispatch on the Patriot bulletin board & by the crape hung around some of the stores, the sad intelligence of the death of Judge Douglas.[52] All of the flags in the city are at half mast and cannon are being fired every half hour till sundown at the Capitol & at Camp Randall. A meeting of the citizens was called for tonight, which we attended. Gov. Randall was appointed Ch’n & made a very affecting & pertinent speech. A committee was appointed to draft resolutions & speeches were made by E. A. Calkins, G. B. Smith, L. P. Harvey, M. H. Orton,--Gregory, & Col. Fairchild, & Chauncey Abbott.[53]

TUESDAY 4. Went to the camp after school, to witness the parade. The boys say that a telegram was rec’d by Gov. Randall today from the Sec’y of War ordering the 2d & 3d Regt’s. to Wash. as soon as they can be got ready, and they will probably go Monday. They have commenced having battalion drills today but, as they occur at three o’clock we can never see them. The flags are still flying at half mast and the com officers all wear crape on their left arms for 10 days.

WEDNESDAY 5. An accident occurred on the R. R. last night. An axle of a freight car broke in crossing the bridge over the lake, threw the train off the track, and tore up the track and ties for some distance. It was a very dangerous accident as it occurred on the open bridge over quite deep water; but, fortunately, no one was injured. We finished the review of Geometry today, and now take propositions promi[s]cuously anywhere in the book so as to be more thoroughly prepared for examination. We also commence today to review Latin. Went to the P. O. after school.

THURSDAY, JUNE 6, 1861. Visited the camp this evening during parade. Heard that they nearly had a mutiny last night. The sentry at the gun challenged the “grand rounds” when the officer not giving the countersign right he pricked him with his bayonet when his gun was snatched away from him and he “pitched in” to the officer with his fists for which he was put into the guard house, which the Capt. of his comp’y (La Crosse) having heard, he ordered him to be taken out; that not being done he ordered his company to charge bayonets & the whole reg’t being roused they broke into the g. house & released the man & also all other prisoners who were there.

FRIDAY 7. There were no Rhetorical Exercises today, as in the two weeks before examination students are supposed to be preparing for that event and cannot perform this extra duty. “Got stuck” on a sum in Algebra today, but mean to stick to it till I get it out.

Went down to the P. O. after school

SATURDAY 8. The ladies of Madison gave the soldiers a picnic today. The tables in the “Operative Machinery” room were spread with bread, butter pies, cakes & sweatmeats, to which the boys did ample justice after which came speeches, music by the brass band, singing of Star Sp. Banner, and dispersion. The parade was formed almost immediately after the supper and all present witnessed it. Rec’d letter from home enclosing a “Programme of Commencement of Ind. Univ.” from Willie Reid.

SUNDAY, 9TH--Rev. Mr. Britton (Epis.) held a service on the camp at 9½ A. M. He preached a patriotic sermon from the 12th chap of Kings. Attended Bible Class & Mason’s in evening.

MONDAY, JUNE 10, 1861. Went to camp in the evening & there learned that Mrs. Graham & Mrs. St. George had been there today to see their sons; also while we were there Cap. Strong told his men that 50 of them could go home that night to see their friends before starting for “the wars.” T. G., T. St G.,[54] and W. White were among the no. who obtained permission to go. Geo. L. got out of the camp, & Will & I went with [him] to Father Norris’ to get the women to go home with their boys, but when we arrived at the depot we learned that an order had come from the Adj’t Gen. forbidding their going at this time.

TUESDAY 11. Obtained excuse from Geom. recitation and went to the camp to see if the boys are going today. They cannot go as they are being mustered in to the U. S. service. Mrs. G. & St G. were there when we arrived at the camp & went home at 1 O’Clock. Staid at the camp till 5 o’clock to see the ceremony of mustering in the troops by Capt. McIntyre of the U. S. Infantry. 7 companies took the oath today.

WEDNESDAY 12. We were all excused from Latin recitation, and visited Madison High School. The teacher, Miss Cowes,[55] seemed unprepared for visitors, and the afternoon session being a short one we heard but two recitations, (reading & Philos[o]phy) of which the Philosophy (not being a regular recitation at that hour) was rather poorly recited. There were but three boys in the room, the school consisting principally of girls.

Received a letter from Libbie

THURSDAY, JUNE 13, 1861. Visited the camp in the P. M. Two squads (14 & 18) have gone home from the B. C. Co. but the U. G. boys were in neither of them. The parade tonight was drill & uninteresting, so many of them having gone home.

Finished review of Geometry today and take original propositions for remainder of the recitations.

Got the key from Dr. Carr & visited the Mineralogical, Geological & Natural History Cabinet, with Will & Holt.

Was much interested in some of the curiosities to be seen there.

FRIDAY 14. By invitation of the boys we took supper at the camp this evening and were well pleased with the fare. There is some prospect of the boys going home to-morrow. The regiment will probably start for the east Tuesday.

Finished the review of Latin today, and now the class is going to try and get through Liber Tertius by Tuesday.

Attended the Society’s meetings. The Hesperian discussed the property qualification question, and the Ath’s “That the legal profession presents greater inducement than the others” The A’s elected officers for the ensuing term--Griswold, Presd. Silverthorne, V. P. Fallows,[56] Secy. Holt, Censor.

SATURDAY 15. On visiting the camp at 9 O’Clk found that another squad had been made up to go home, and Geo. L. & T. St G. were among them. Went back to our rooms and wrote letters to send by them.

At 4 O’Clk, Billy W. came to our rooms & said that he, T. Graham & Alec. Adams had also got furloughs and were going home on the 10 o’clk train, expecting to hire livery from Milwaukee. Went with Billy down town where he got his picture taken and the boys ate supper with us.

SUNDAY 16TH.--Heard Mr. Green preach & attended Bible Class--Prof. C. was not there & Mr Dudley took charge, which made it very dull.

MONDAY, JUNE 17, 1861. Went to G. B. Smith’s law office to see if he would deliver the address at U. G. on the 4th. He was not in; but his student (Mr. Bird) told me tha[t] his engagements would prevent his accepting the invitation. Then wrote a letter to “Pump Carpenter”[57] for the same purpose, as he is now living on his farm 6 miles from the city. Attended the panorama of Dr. Kane’s Arctic Expedition & was much pleased with it.

TUESDAY 18. After school Will and I went with Frost across Lake Monona to his home, where we were treated to a warm supper, strawberry shortcake and strawberries & cream.

There is an encampment of Indians near by which we visited. There were two wigwams, in which or near by were 5 men, 4 squaws, & 7 children.

We also saw a young man & 2 boys in a canoe when coming down. There were two canoes in the river close by and Frost & Will got into one which came very [near] upsetting as it requires much practice to get used to them.

Picked up some clams in the lake & cooked them when we got home. The soup was very good but the clams were tough.

WEDNESDAY 19. Examination commences today. At 9 O’clock & until 11, the Senior Class was examined by Prof. Read on International & Constitutional Law. This was by means of lectures by members of the class on different subjects connected with this study and proved very interesting From 11 to 12 Prof. Sterling’s class in Analytical Geometry was examined. This was “all Greek” to me, but the students seemed to understand the subject well especially as it was one of last term’s studies. Between 3 & 4 o’clock attended Prof. Butler’s class in Homer’s Iliad. McMynn[58] was present at this examination. From there we went into Prof. Read’s room where the Seniors were examined on Political Economy. Rec’d a letter from home.

THURSDAY, JUNE 20, 1861. Went down to camp at 8 o’clock to see the boys off. The Belle City Co. (Co. F.) was in the “Operative Machinery” room, having just got there haversacks filled with provision. The regiment soon after formed on parade & were ordered by the Col. to repair to the pumps & fill their canteens; which being accomplished they formed in front of the speakers stand and were addressed by Gov. Randall. They then marched to the cars, which had been run down to the camp ground and filled two trains one of 11 & the other of 13 cars. We stood near the car which the Racine Co. entered and shook hands with all the boys as they passed.[59] Attended Prof. Carr’s examination of the Chemistry class from 2 to 5 P. M.

FRIDAY 21. Went strawberrying nearly all forenoon, and in the afternoon attended Dr. Carr’s examination. This exercise like his recitation consists of lectures by the students on subjects which the Dr. himself has previously discussed before the class. This P. M. was devoted principally to Geology, and, although the boys had only since last night to prepare their subjects, they were well handled both as orations and as recitations Visited Camp in the evening. 1 Co. of the 5th. Regt. has arrived (from Waukesha). The men are rather small but the Co. is well officered and present a pretty good appearance. In the Ath. discussed whether the time devoted to the Classics in College could not be better employed--Decided affirmative

SATURDAY 22. Went to the depot at 1 o’clock to learn the arrangement of trains &c. preparatory to going home. From thence up town--we visited the Jail. There are only about a dozen prisoners there now, much less, they told us, than usual. One had his feet in irons having been attempting to break jail lately. Three of them were crazy.

SUNDAY 23d--Went to the Catholic Church this morning at 9, but the first mass was nearly over when we got there & as we did not know they would have another, we saw but little of their proceedings. Attended the Episcopal Church & Prof. C’s Bible Class. The Baccalaureate Sermon was preached by Prof. Butler in the Univ. Chapel at 4 P. M. His text was Sol. Song 4:4 & his sermon, or rather lecture, the finest I ever heard.

[3] John E. Goldsworthy, a student from Union Grove, who
accompanied Reid to Madison and shared his room in North
Hall, then used as a dormitory.

[4] Simeon S. Bradford, a member of the Wisconsin Assembly
from Racine County. In his reminiscences Reid characterizes
Bradford, who was for a time his teacher, as “a gentleman of
excellent education, and a fluent, ready public speaker.”
Reid further states that he was descended in direct line
from Governor William Bradford of Plymouth. Before coming to
Wisconsin he had been principal of an academy at Homer,
Cortland County, New York, and had also published a paper
there for several years.

[5] Joseph W. Curtis of Madison.

[6] John W. Sterling, dean of the faculty and professor of
mathematics and natural philosophy. His connection with the
university lasted from 1848 until his death in 1885. He was
in turn acting chancellor, vice-chancellor, and
vice-president of the university.

[7] Rev. James B. Britton, pastor of Grace Episcopal Church
at Madison from 1855 until his resignation to become a
chaplain in the Eleventh Wisconsin Infantry.

[8] Rev. W. H. Brisbane. He became pastor of this church in
1860, resigning at the outbreak of the war to become
chaplain of the Second Wisconsin Cavalry.

[9] Prof. John B. Parkinson, now (1917) vice-president and
_emeritus_ professor of constitutional law of the
university.

[10] The _Lady Elgin_ was a steamer running between
Milwaukee and Chicago. On September 8, 1860, the vessel was
wrecked near Waukegan, as the result of a collision in the
night-time with another vessel. The _Lady Elgin_ had on
board several hundred excursionists from Milwaukee,
returning from a visit to Chicago. Of them all, only about
100 were saved. Among the victims were the editor of the New
Orleans _Picayune_ and his family, and the proprietor of the
London _Illustrated News_.

[11] David H. Johnson was a member of the assembly from Bad
Ax and Crawford Counties; Gilbert Knapp, from Racine County,
was the founder and first white settler of the city of
Racine. His title of “captain” was won by long connection
with the United States internal revenue marine service and
by his naval rank during the Civil War.

[12] The allusion is to the inventions of John Muir, who was
then a student at the university. For the story of his
inventions, and of his life at the University of Wisconsin,
see his _The Story of My Boyhood and Youth_ (Boston and New
York, 1913), chaps. vii and viii.

[13] Pliny Norcross of La Grange, George G. Green of
Milford, and Augustus H. Salisbury of Oregon. Norcross was
the first University of Wisconsin student to enlist for
military service, and his example, says Professor Butler,
“was followed by so many sons of Mars that the largest and
best Greek class I ever had was sadly thinned out.” Norcross
returned to the university after his three months’
enlistment had expired, but within a short time he again
left school and raised a company (Company K, Thirteenth
Wisconsin Infantry), of which he was elected captain. In
after life he became a prominent lawyer and business man of
Janesville. Salisbury was graduated from the university in
1867. He became a physician and made his home in
Minneapolis, where he died in 1893.

[14] William Fuller, from Union Grove, who boarded and
roomed with Reid and Goldsworthy in North Hall.

[15] James D. Butler, professor of ancient languages and
literature, and librarian. He was a scholar of note in his
day, who brought much distinction to the University of
Wisconsin and, after his retirement to private life in 1868,
to Madison.

[16] Obadiah M. Conover, professor of ancient languages and
literature in the university 1852-58. After his withdrawal
from this position he studied law, and spent the rest of his
career as Wisconsin Supreme Court reporter.

[17] Charles J. White had been Reid’s teacher in the Union
Grove school. Writing forty years later the pupil speaks of
him as “one who, to a marked degree, left the impress of his
fine character and careful scholarship upon all of the young
people who were so fortunate as to come under his
instruction.”

[18] At the outbreak of the Civil War the currency of
Wisconsin was secured in very large measure by the bonds of
southern states. Never considered wholly safe in the
financial world, these securities, as soon as hostilities
between the North and the South began, fell to a third of
their face value. Wisconsin bankers were unable to make good
the depreciation, and the value of their currency reflected
their embarrassment. On April 4, 1861, the bankers of
Chicago resolved not to accept the notes of 40 of the 109
Wisconsin banks. On the following day the Milwaukee bankers
rejected the notes of 19 of the institutions proscribed at
Chicago. This affected the value of about $1,000,000 of the
$4,500,000 of Wisconsin currency. Brokers in the state
during the succeeding weeks purchased the discredited money
at prices which rapidly sank to fifty cents on the dollar.

[19] George B. Smith was born in New York in 1823 and came
with his father to Racine, Wisconsin, in 1843. From 1844
until his death in 1877 his residence was at Madison. He was
the youngest member of the first constitutional convention
of the state, served as mayor of Madison several terms and
several as state legislator, was attorney-general of
Wisconsin for two years, and engaged in many other
activities of a public nature.

[20] Moses M. Strong, author of a _History of Wisconsin_,
had been since 1838 one of the leading public men of the
territory and of the state. John Y. Smith had settled at
Green Bay in 1828, and later at Milwaukee and at Madison. He
served in the first constitutional convention and was for
many years an influential editor and publicist. Smith had
made a speech denouncing secession and upholding the Union
and the administration at Washington. Strong also denounced
secession but argued that a union held together by force was
worthless and that compulsion should not be resorted to keep
the South in the Union.

[21] By the chair, according to the _State Journal’s_ report
of the meeting, which asserts that two-thirds of the
audience voted against tabling the motion.

[22] Rev. Lathrop Taylor, pastor of this church from April,
1860, till January, 1864. Except for these three years his
forty-seven years of service in the pastorate were passed in
Massachusetts and in Illinois.

[23] Ezra S. Carr, professor of chemistry and natural
history in the University of Wisconsin from 1856 to 1868. He
later served as professor in the University of California
for six years and as superintendent of public instruction of
the same state.

[24] Joseph W. Curtis of Madison, Lewis Frost of Madison,
William A. Wyse of Sauk City, James L. High of Black Earth,
Pliny Norcross of La Grange, Edward G. Miller of Sweet Home,
Henry Reed of Union Grove, and James M. Bull of Middleton.
Frost became a first lieutenant in the Twenty-third
Infantry. High was graduated from the university in 1864. He
enlisted in the Forty-ninth Wisconsin Infantry and attained
the rank of adjutant. In later years he became a leading
lawyer of the Chicago bar, being granted the degree of LL.D.
both by his Alma Mater and by the University of Michigan.
James Bull became lieutenant-colonel of the Fifth Wisconsin
Infantry. Of him Professor Butler has said: “When this
stampede [of the students to enlist] took place we were
engaged in Xenophon’s _Memorab lia_. My own pocket copy,
Trübner’s edition, I gave to James M. Bull, one of my most
zealous pupils. It was his _vade mecum_ throughout the war,
and kept alive in him classical instincts…. The American
soldier found the notes of the Greek soldier a congenial
manual.” Bull returned to the university after the war and
was graduated in 1869.

[25] David Atwood, a native of New Hampshire, came to
Wisconsin in 1847 and became one of the leading newspaper
publishers of the state. His military title was gained from
his connection with the state militia. He served in the
state legislature and for a short time in Congress. He died
at Madison, December 11, 1889.

[26] Phineas J. Clawson of Waukesha, Gideon W. Allen of
Trempealeau, Farlin Q. Ball of Monroe, Henry Vilas of
Madison, Michael Leahy of Portland, and J. D. Parkinson of
Georgetown. Clawson entered the army, where he rose to the
rank of first lieutenant. In 1867 he was graduated from the
university and thereafter followed the profession of law,
making his home in Green County. He was at different times
clerk of the circuit court, district attorney, and state
senator. Allen was graduated from the University of
Wisconsin in 1862 and, later, from the law school of the
University of Michigan. The greater portion of his career
thereafter was spent in Sturgeon Bay. Ball served in the
army where he became a captain and a major by brevet. In
1865 he was admitted to the bar and later became a prominent
lawyer and judge of Chicago. Vilas obtained his degree from
the university in 1865, adopted the profession of law, and
died in 1872 while still a young man. Leahy entered the army
and rose to the rank of captain. In after life he served in
the general assembly of Iowa and as Indian agent at La
Pointe. Parkinson was graduated from the university in 1861;
he became a lawyer in Kansas City and served nine years as
judge of the twenty-fifth Missouri circuit.

[27] Washington I. Wallace of Baraboo. He was graduated from
the University of Wisconsin in 1864 and later became a
lawyer. At different times he served as member of the
Missouri state senate, prosecuting attorney, and judge of
the fourteenth Missouri circuit.

[28] William W. Church of Madison and William W. Silverthorn
of Oakland. Church was graduated from the university in
1865; he adopted the profession of law, and spent his later
life in Missouri and Utah.

[29] Cary M. Campbell of Madison and George S. Marsh of
Whitewater.

[30] Levi B. Vilas, at this time mayor of Madison. Already a
man of prominence in Vermont, his native state, he came west
in 1851, settling at Madison. Here he served at different
times as member of the state legislature, mayor of the city,
and regent of the university. One of his sons was William F.
Vilas, United States senator and cabinet member.

[31] Alexander W. Randall, circuit judge and governor of
Wisconsin, United States minister to Rome, and
postmaster-general.

[32] The singing was done by Mrs. Kate and Miss Susan Denin,
members of a theatrical company which was giving the play
_Joseph and His Brethren_ in Madison.

[33] Oscar F. Black of Sextonville, George G. Green of
Milford, J. Heathcock of Linden, Washington I. Wallace of
Baraboo, Shadrach Azariah Hall of Eau Claire, C. Frank Holt
of Kenosha, James L. High of Black Earth, and Frank Waterman
of Madison. Waterman was graduated from the university in
1863, after which he is lost to sight. Hall was graduated in
1861, and for the next three years was principal of the Eau
Claire Seminary. During 1861-65 he served in the army, with
the rank of captain. He later taught school in Wisconsin and
Minnesota, and finally became a farmer in the latter state.

[34] Rev. William L. Green who came to this church from
Kentucky in September, 1856.

[35] The Belle City Rifles, from Racine, became Company F,
Second Wisconsin infantry.

[36] George B. Lincoln of Racine, killed in action at
Gainesville, Virginia, August 28, 1862.

[37] William C. Sheldon of Burlington.

[38] Charles H. Wildish of Waukesha.

[39] Farlin Q. Ball of Monroe, J. Stannard Baker of Hudson,
and Gideon W. Allen of Trempealeau.

[40] Daniel Read, professor of mental, ethical, and moral
science. He had served for many years as professor in the
universities of Ohio and Indiana before coming to Wisconsin.
From 1868-76 he was president of the University of Missouri.

[41] Thomas J. Hale of Madison, Isaac N. Stewart of
Waukesha, J. Dwight Tredway of Madison, and J. G. Hall of
Monroe. Hale was a graduate of the University of Wisconsin,
having received his degree in 1860. Stewart was graduated
from the university in 1862. He entered the army and at the
close of the war engaged in teaching, being for thirty years
a prominent educator of the state. Tredway was graduated
from the University in 1863.

[42] See _ante_, p. 11.

[43] Henry B. Foster, Thomas Graham, and Alexander B. Adams.

[44] Isaac Martine and Henry B. Ginty.

[45] Harvey W. Emery, member of the assembly from Columbia
County, later lieutenant-colonel of the Fifth Wisconsin
Infantry. He died of disease at Lisbon, Ohio, October 13,
1862.

[46] Noah H. Virgin, George W. Hazelton, Charles Quentin,
Densmore W. Maxon, Alden I. Bennett, Charles R. Gill, Buell
E. Hutchinson, and Dennison Worthington. Of these men Virgin
came to Wisconsin in 1835. He served at different times in
the territorial legislature and in the state senate and
assembly. Maxon came to Wisconsin in 1843, made his home in
Washington County (from 1846), and served numerous terms in
the senate and the assembly of the state; in 1865 he was the
democratic candidate for lieutenant-governor. He died in
California in 1887. Gill came to Wisconsin in 1856 and
opened a law office in Watertown. In 1860 and 1861 he was
the youngest member of the state senate. He enlisted as a
private in the army and rose to the colonelcy of the
Twenty-ninth Wisconsin Infantry. From 1866 to 1870 he was
attorney-general of the state. Hutchinson came to Wisconsin
in 1848 and settled at Prairie du Chien. He was admitted to
the bar and in 1856 was elected to membership in the state
assembly. In later years he lived successively in South
Dakota and in Chicago. Worthington settled in Waukesha
County in 1847. He served in the assembly and from 1855 to
1861 in the senate. The remainder of his active career was
devoted to the life insurance business at Madison.

[47] Charles B. Cox, Lemuel W. Joiner, and Charles Quentin.
Joiner came to Wisconsin in 1845. He served several terms in
the state assembly and senate. He died at Wyoming,
Wisconsin, October 22, 1886.

[48] Wyman Spooner of Walworth County, Jared Warner of
Grant, David Atwood of Dane, and William H. Ramsey of
Ozaukee. Spooner, a native of Massachusetts, came to
Wisconsin in 1842, settling first at Racine and then at
Elkhorn. He served for many years as probate and as circuit
judge, and a number of terms in the senate and the assembly.
He was at one time speaker of the assembly and at another
time president of the senate, and beginning in 1863 was
three times elected lieutenant-governor of the state. He
died November 18, 1877, in his eighty-third year.

[49] Charles Hathaway Larrabee. He came to Wisconsin in 1846
and the following year served in the second constitutional
convention of the state. He served as circuit judge for a
number of years and from 1858-60 was in the national House
of Representatives. He entered the army shortly after Fort
Sumter was fired on, and before ill health compelled him to
retire rose to the rank of colonel. Upon leaving the army he
removed to the Pacific Coast, where he met death in a
railway accident in January, 1883.

[50] Leander F. Frisby of Washington County, Henry G. Webb
of Waushara, and Franklin Z. Hicks of Iowa. Frisby came to
Wisconsin from Ohio in 1846. In 1850 he opened a law office
at West Bend, where he continued to practice for thirty-one
years. He served as attorney-general of Wisconsin from 1882
to 1887. Hicks, a native of New York, came to Grant County,
Wisconsin, in early life and engaged in lead mining. He
served several terms in the territorial legislature and in
1846 as a member of the first constitutional convention of
the state.

[51] Company F, Second Infantry, Capt. William E. Strong of
Racine, and Company H, Second Infantry, Capt. Julius F.
Randolph of Madison. Strong rose to the rank of
brigadier-general during the war; Randolph was killed in
action at Gainesville, Virginia, August 28, 1862.

[52] Stephen A. Douglas, famous Illinois senator and
statesman.

[53] Elias A. Calkins was editor of the Madison _Argus and
Democrat_, and one of the leading newspaper publishers of
the state. In 1861 he entered the army as major of the Third
Wisconsin Cavalry, having declined a commission as colonel.
After the war he resumed the newspaper business and at the
time of his death in 1904 was an editorial writer on the
Chicago _Chronicle_. L. P. Harvey was governor of the state
from January 6 to April 19, 1862, his career being
tragically cut short by drowning while engaged in a mission
of succor to Wisconsin’s soldiers wounded in the battle of
Pittsburg Landing. Myron H. Orton was born in New York in
1810 and came to Wisconsin in 1849, settling first at
Milwaukee and a few years later at Madison. He was a lawyer
by profession. He died at Madison in 1860. Jared C. Gregory
was born in New York in 1823 and died at Madison in 1892. He
served for twelve years as a regent of the University of
Wisconsin and from 1880 until his death as a curator of the
State Historical Society. Jairus C. Fairchild came to
Madison from Ohio in 1846. Two years later he became the
first treasurer of the state of Wisconsin, and in 1853
failed of election to the governorship by only two votes.
From the time of his first coming to Madison until his death
in 1862 he occupied positions of prominence in the city and
the state.

[54] Thomas Graham and Thomas St. George of Racine.

[55] Miss L. L. Coues. Because of lack of funds the board of
directors early in 1861 suspended indefinitely the public
high school. Miss Coues thereupon proposed, if the board
would grant her the free use of the building and equipment,
to maintain a high school free of expense to the board, on a
tuition basis. Afterward the arrangement was modified so as
to make the school one for girls only. Such, for two years,
were the high school facilities afforded the young people of
Madison.

[56] Milton S. Griswold of Waukesha and William Fallows of
Hanchettville. Griswold was graduated from the university in
1863, became a lawyer, and practiced first at Madison and
later at Waukesha, where he served at different times as
county judge. For an interesting account of his pedagogical
proclivities while at the university, see John Muir’s _Story
of My Boyhood and Youth_, 280-82.

[57] Stephen D. Carpenter, locally prominent as editor,
publisher, and inventor. He located in Madison in 1850 and
thereafter for many years was intermittently engaged in the
printing and publishing business. In 1853 he invented a pump
which is said by one authority to have brought him $35,000.
Among other inventions of his were a power-press, a
voting-machine, and a type-setting machine. He claimed to
have invented the first mechanical knotter for binding
grain. In later life his prosperity departed. He died at
Carthage, Missouri, in October, 1906.

[58] John G. McMynn, noted Wisconsin teacher and educator.
He came to the state about the year 1848, settling first at
Kenosha and then at Racine. He served as manager of the J.
I. Case Threshing Machine Company, regent of the University
of Wisconsin, superintendent of the Racine public schools,
and state superintendent of public instruction. During the
war he rose to the colonelcy of the Tenth Wisconsin
Infantry. He died at Madison in June, 1900.

[59] Thus the first of the seventy thousand soldiers who
were to pass through Camp Randall during the next few years
departed for the war. Of this farewell, and the further
record of the regiment Reid wrote in old age as follows:

“On the twentieth day of June, the entire student force of
the university formed part of the throng which assembled at
the railroad depot to witness the departure of that gallant
regiment, which was destined, before the return of its
remnant to the state, to earn the proud but sad record of
losing in battle more men in proportion to its numbers than
any other regiment which fought on either side among the
great hosts engaged in the tremendous struggle. That twenty
per cent of its entire enlistment fell dead on battlefields
during three years’ service cannot, indeed, be said of any
other regiment of any nation in modern times.”

HISTORICAL FRAGMENTS

WISCONSIN’S FIRST VERSIFIERS

The first volume of verse printed in Wisconsin and written by a resident of that state, was long supposed to be a volume by Elizabeth Farnsworth Mears entitled, _Voyage of Pere Marquette and the Romance of Charles de Langlade, or the Magic Queen_. This book was published at Fond du Lac in 1860.[60] Recently, however, three different books of early Wisconsin verse have been discovered antedating Mrs. Mears’s work, and since they are without doubt the earliest attempts at versification made in the Badger State, it seems worth while to describe them.

The earliest is a hitherto unknown edition of a book which is humorously described by “Nym Krinkle” in his _Chronicles of Milwaukee_. Two editions of this book were published in New York in 1848 and 1849, but the edition recently discovered was issued in Milwaukee in 1846 and, though bearing no imprint, is without doubt the production of a western press.[61] Its title is as follows: “The History/ of/ Black Hawk,/ with which is interwoven/ a Description/ of the/ Black Hawk War/ and other/ Scenes in the West/ by E. H. Smith/ Milwaukee/ 1848./ 12mo. pp. 6† 120.” This title is somewhat shorter than those of the later editions and the text varies considerably from that of the later issues. This edition has no illustrations, but the New York editions have several. The only copy that can be traced of this firstling of the “Wisconsin Muse” is in the Harris Collection of American Poetry in the library of Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island.

The next in point of time is a curious book, or pamphlet, with title as follows: “The/ Poetical/ Geography, [cut of lyre]/ with the Rules of Arithmetic in Verse, &c. &C./ By George Van Waters/ Published for the Author by Sidney L. Rood,/ Bookseller,/ Milwaukee:/ Wilson & King,/ 1848,”/ This is a duodecimo of ninety-six pages, with green paper covers. The cover title is somewhat longer: “The/ Poetical Geography,/ made to accompany any of the/ Common School Atlases;/ to which is added/ The Rules of Arithmetic,/ and a sketch of English History,/ in Verse./ by George Van Waters./ This work is sold by subscription and cannot be obtained/ at any bookstore in the United States./ Milwaukee:/ Wilson & King./ 1848./ Price 25 cents.”/

The end cover contains an advertisement of a line of stage coaches: “To the Travelling Public/ Stage Routes from Milwaukee, Wisconsin.”/ Signed, “John Frink & Co., Proprietors,” The routes are to Galena, Green Bay, Janesville, Madison, Fort Winnebago, Dixon, Chicago, Sheboygan, and other places.

Mr. Legler informs me that he has another edition, which was published at Cincinnati. Several of the poems contain local allusions to Wisconsin.

The book begins with “Geographical Definitions,” and the first lines describe geography:

The surface of the Earth, with all its tribes
Of sea and land Geography describes.

The divisions of water are next described, beginning with the following couplet:

An ocean is a vast extent of brine,
Or salt sea water boundless and sublime.

Lakes are described as--

Fresh water seas, by land surrounded;
As Lake Champlain, whose waves by land are bounded.

Couplets similar to these follow on straits, channels, sounds, rivers, and other divisions of water. After explanation necessary to the use of maps, there follows a poetical chapter on North America. Its capes and rivers are poetically described and then, in turn, its towns, each state being separately mentioned. The author begins with Maine and ends with his own state, Wisconsin. A chapter on British America is next in order and this in turn is followed by chapters on Mexico, Guatamala, South America, Europe, Asia, and Africa. The book ends with rhymed delineations of islands, volcanoes, and “The Rules of Arithmetic” and a sketch of English history. A number of notes are interspersed throughout the work, and a prose preface follows the title. A rhymed introduction is also introduced.

This book and also the following are in the fine collection of Wisconsin poetry formed by Mr. Henry E. Legler, now in the possession of Mr. Henry C. Sturges of New York.[62]

Probably the earliest specimen of German verse written in Wisconsin, is that from the pen of one of the German immigrants of 1848. Its title is: “Lieder/ aus/ Wisconsin/ von/ Adolf Schults./ Elberfeld und Iserlohn./ Verlag von Julius Bädeker./ 1848.”/ This is a 16mo. pamphlet of forty-one pages followed by an unnumbered page.

The copy I have seen has blue paper covers, with the title on the cover the same as the foregoing. On the back cover are advertisements.

The pamphlet begins with a dedication to “Carl de Haas, Ph.D. The friend of my youth, later schoolmaster in Wupperthal [the author’s birthplace] and now farmer in Fond du Lac (Wis.).”

The first poem is entitled “Europa, alternde Königin.” The opening verse follows:

Europa, alternde Königin,
Dein abend ist gekommen!
Der fröhliche Morgen ist dahin,
Der Mittagstrahl verglommen.

The fifth and last stanza runs:

Europa, sterbende Königin,
Er wird die Herrschaft erben!
Die Krone, die dunkt ihm kein Gewinn,
Die lasst er Dir im Sterben.

Another poem is on the “Thal der Wupper, Mein Heimathland.” The eighth poem in the book is a stirring one on the Missouri River, “Missouri, Missouri, der mächtiger Strom,” while another is addressed to the author’s fatherland. In this he cries to the land of his birth, the land from which he has been exiled. The book contains altogether thirty-six different poems.

On the back cover is an advertisement of another book of verses by the same writer, “Märzlieder,” which is advertised “to appear shortly.” The publisher also advertises another book of interest to the Wisconsin collector,--“Nordamerika Wisconsin. Winke für auswanderer von Dr. Carl de Haas. Farmer in Wisconsin.” This is described as the second edition, with three views and a map of Wisconsin. The statement is made that the first edition of one thousand copies was sold within four weeks. “Gedichte von Henriette Davidis, second edition,” is also advertised. This book was printed by the Groteschen Buchdruckerei in Arnsberg.

These three books are probably the earliest volumes of verse written and published by Wisconsin poets. They are of interest not only because of this fact but because each one relates in some way to Wisconsin.

OSCAR WEGELIN

MEMORANDUM ON THE SPELLING OF “JOLLIET”[63]

Usage in spelling names was very irregular in the seventeenth century. People spelled a name (or a word) just as it came into their minds to do so, without fixed rules or custom. Thus the spelling of the name of the discoverer of the Mississippi was varied--all the following forms being used: Joliet, Jolliet, Jolyet, Jollyet. Sometimes all forms were employed in the same document. Marquette in writing an account of his explorations speaks of his companion as “Jolyet,” “Jollyet,” and “Jolliet” indifferently.[64]

Under such circumstances it remains to be decided what the present usage is, and on what facts it is based. Many, indeed most English writers, follow Parkman, the greatest of our historians who have written on this subject, and use the form with one “l”--“Joliet.” This has become a part of geographical usage, and we have, for instance, Joliet, Illinois and Indiana, and Mount Joliet. And Dr. R. G. Thwaites, in his _Jesuit Relations_,[65] uses the one “l” in his spelling of the name. Later, however, Doctor Thwaites became convinced that the double “l” was the better form and often so remarked to his assistants.

The change from “Joliet” to “Jolliet” is based first on the constant custom of French writers, both in the Old World and the New. Pierre Margry, the great French archivist, the most learned man of his time concerning New France documents, always speaks of Jolliet. Félix Martin of the Jesuit order, who wrote in 1861, uses Jolliet. Father Tailhan, the learned editor of Perrot’s _Memoire_, uses Jolliet. The same is true of John G. Shea, Henri Harrisse, Abbé Ferland, and Jolliet’s latest biographer, Ernest Gagnon, who in 1902 published a life of Jolliet derived from many newly discovered and hitherto unpublished manuscripts. All these authors were familiar with the seventeenth-century documents in the original form. They decided that “Jolliet” was used more often and more consistently than any other form, though all of them would admit that in many documents the spelling “Joliet” may be found. For example, the baptismal register[66] spells the name by which Jolliet was christened, “Joliet.” While still a boy in the convent at Quebec he was known as young Joliet.[67]

After Jolliet entered active life the name was usually spelled with two “l’s.” His earliest voyage is reported by the Sulpician, Galinée, who met him in 1669 at the head of Lake Erie and calls him “le sieur Jolliet.”[68] In 1671 he took part in the pageant of Sault Ste. Marie, when he was again spoken of as “le sieur Jolliet.”[69] Father Claude Dablon, who first reported the voyage of 1673, says, August 1, 1674, “le sieur Jolliet” has come back from the West.[70] Count de Frontenac, the governor-general of New France, in his first mention of the voyager, speaks of him as “Joliet”;[71] but thereafter in reporting his voyage and mentioning his maps he always writes the name “Jolliet.”[72] Several unsigned documents of the same period refer to him as “Jolliet.”[73] In 1677 a concession in Illinois was refused to “le sieur Jolliet.”[74] In 1680 a concession of the island of Anticosti was made to “Jolliet.”[75] Many more similar documents could be cited showing that the prevalent use in the seventeenth century was the form “Jolliet.”

Lastly, how did the man himself write his name? A map published in Dr. R. G. Thwaites’s _Jesuit Relations_,[76] gives in the cartouche a letter signed “Joliet.” This has usually been supposed to be the explorer’s writing. A glance, however, at two authentic signatures will convince that he never wrote the name on the map. The first signature is from a tracing secured by Henry Legler for an article in the Wisconsin Historical Society _Proceedings_, 1905, page 169. The second is the signature to the marriage contract of which a facsimile is given in Gagnon, page 122. A glance will show that these two names were written by the same hand, and both are spelled “Jolliet.”

In view, therefore, of first, the usage of the best French authors; second, the usage of the latter part of the seventeenth century, or contemporary usage; and third, the signature of the explorer himself, the spelling “Jolliet” is believed to be the proper one.

LOUISE P. KELLOGG

THE FIRST EDITION OF THE ZENGER _TRIAL_, 1736[77]

The Wisconsin Historical Society recently purchased an important file of the _New York Weekly Journal_, consisting of 136 numbers, ranging from December 17, 1733 to July 11, 1737. Bound in the same volume with these issues of the second newspaper printed in New York is an imprint of excessive rarity--namely, the first edition of _A Brief Narrative of the Case and Tryal of John Peter Zenger_, 1736. Probably only one other copy--that in the New York Public Library--is extant. It is a folio of forty pages, printed by Zenger himself, without a separate title-page. At the head of the first page is this title: “A Brief Narrative of the Case and Try/al of _John Peter Zenger_, Printer of the/ _New York weekly Journal_.”/ The caption set between rows of printer’s ornaments, and the colophon reads: “_New York_, Printed and sold by _John Peter Zenger_. MDCCXXXVI.” There are two lines of errata above the colophon. The most striking peculiarity of the edition is to be found in the pagination, pages 15 to 40 being numbered 17 to 42. James Alexander prepared the narrative for publication.

There are numerous editions of the _Trial_, including four published in London in 1738. The present copy is in unusually fine condition and the Wisconsin Historical Society is to be congratulated upon the possession (acquired with little effort, it is whispered) of this superlatively rare colonial imprint. It was picked up, so to speak, in the East, almost at the threshold of several institutions that would give much to place it upon their shelves. If put upon the market, it is not unlikely that the pamphlet would realize several thousand dollars. But, of course, no library ever parts with such a treasure.

Of the life of John Peter Zenger little is known. He was born in Germany in 1697, but the name of his native place is not recorded. He is said to have been one of a large company of Palatines who were sent to America by Queen Anne in 1710. After serving an apprenticeship of eight years to William Bradford, the printer, dating from October 26, 1711, Zenger went to Maryland. Returning to New York, he there married Anna Catharina Maulin on September 11, 1722. This was his second marriage, the date of the first being unknown. For a short time he was Bradford’s partner. One book only is known to bear their joint imprint. In 1726 he started business on his own account, and it is interesting to note that he printed the first arithmetic issued in the colony--_Vanema’s Arithmetica_, 1730.

The administration of William Cosby as governor of New York, 1732-1736, was marked by many arbitrary acts, which aroused deep public indignation. “The oppressions,” writes Mr. Livingston Rutherfurd in his useful book,[78] “culminated in the trial of John Peter Zenger which was one of the most stirring incidents of colonial days. Its results were of greater magnitude than any of the participants could have imagined. It established the freedom of the press in North America, it wrought an important change in the law of libel, and marked the beginning of a new era in popular government.” Nor is this an overstatement of the case; for the trial of this humble printer constitutes an important episode in our colonial history.

The establishment of the _New York Weekly Journal_ came as the result of a determination on the part of the popular leaders to show Governor Cosby to the people of the colony in his true colors. Zenger, its printer, was probably aided financially in the venture. The first number was issued November 5, 1733--a folio of four pages. The chief contributors were Lewis Morris, James Alexander, William Smith, Cadwallader Colden, and Lewis Morris Jr. Apparently, Alexander was the editor, for among his papers are many articles intended for publication in the _Journal_. Zenger had been indifferently educated, and his skill as a printer was not great. Moreover, he was very poor. He appears to have entered upon the project for commercial considerations only, and without any clear understanding of its political significance or of where it might lead him.

The _Journal_ was the sensation of the hour; in fact, it was so popular that of some numbers three editions were required to satisfy the demand. Although it abounds in errors due to Zenger’s imperfect knowledge of English, it is in every way superior to its competitor, Bradford’s _Gazette_, the organ of the Governor. “The paper was sold for three shillings per quarter, and advertisements cost three shillings for the first insertion and one shilling for each insertion thereafter.” It contained many articles of merit--and was extremely outspoken!

With such an administration in power it is not surprising that all this resulted in the arrest of Zenger on November 17, 1734, “for printing and publishing several Seditious Libels dispersed throughout his Journals or News Papers, entitled, _The New York Weekly Journal, containing the freshest Advices, foreign and domestick_.” After many vicissitudes, including nine months of imprisonment, Zenger was defended by Andrew Hamilton, of Philadelphia, an eminent advocate nearly eighty years old, and acquitted. There was much rejoicing among the people, for the victory was indeed a notable one, full of meaning for future generations. Gouverneur Morris declared that “the trial of Zenger in 1735 was the germ of American freedom, the morning star of that liberty which subsequently revolutionized America.”

JOHM THOMAS LEE

A NOVEL TRANSPORTATION DEVICE

A recent request for information on the subject first brought to our attention the novel project of Norman Wiard for establishing a rapid-transit route between Prairie du Chien and St. Paul in 1859. A somewhat cursory examination of contemporary newspaper files revealed the notices of the project which follow. It seems probable that a more thorough search would disclose additional information concerning Wiard’s ingenious project.

THE ICE BOAT[79]

Prairie du Chien, Dec. 1, 1859.

EDITOR COURIER. Dear Sir: As there have been many
conjectures in regard to the Ice Boat published in the
various newspapers of the Northwest, I thought that some
definite and reliable information in regard to the invention
would be of interest to the public.

Norman Wiard Esq., the inventor of the Ice Boat, is now
constructing in New York City, an ice boat with a capacity
for carrying twenty passengers, and will be here with it
about the twentieth of December. He has proved to the
satisfaction of some of the most scientific men of New York
that his invention is a success.

It is intended by the parties having the route from here to
Saint Paul to stock the line this winter, and to be prepared
to do all business that may present itself.

The immense advantages arising to the Northwest from this
invention must be apparent to all.

Yours truly, JOHN JAY CHASE

ICE BOATS, CHARIOTS, CUTTER--LETTER FROM MR. WIARD[80]

New York, Nov. 22, 1859.
_169 Broadway, Room 35._

J. H. GREEN, _Editor of Leader_:

Please say to all, or as much of what I have written as you
please, in your own words, for I assure you I believe it all
myself, and I believe that many of your readers will be glad
to have the information.

Yours truly, NORMAN WIARD.