GALENA DAILY GAZETTE
OLD SERIES---VOL. XVI, NO. 174
NEW SERIES---VOL. I, NO. 54
Monday morning, April 18, 1864

Page 2 Col. #1

TORPEDO WARFARE

"The rebels persist, in their efforts, to make torpedoes available in naval warfare. For a long time their success in that line was rather discouraging; but lately they have dealt some damaging blows with their 'infernal machines.'

It appears that Lieut. Maury, who has given much attention to this kind of warfare, is now in Europe, making experiments, with the intention of making his torpedoes still more serviceable to the rebel cause.

The blowing up of the Housatonic, an account of which we published some weeks ago, will be remembered by our readers.

From Hilton Head letters we glean some interesting particulars in regard to torpedo warfare on our southern coast:--

At 4 o'clock on the morning of Friday, the 1st inst., the army steam-transport Maple Leaf, while passing down the St. John's River, from Pilatka to Jacksonville, Fla., ran against a torpedo, moored in the stream twelve miles above the latter place, which exploded and sent the vessel to the bottom.

At the time of the explosion the Maple Leaf had on board about forty persons, including the officers and crew, all of whom escaped harm or capture, except two firemen and three deck hands, who were sleeping on the deck, near the forecastle, who were instantly killed, either by the falling of a portion of the upper works, or by the tremendous force of the concussion.

All the passengers, among whom were three ladies, immediately took to two small boats belonging to the steamer and made for Jacksonville, which place they reached at about 8 a.m. Nearly all the passengers were asleep when the event occurred, and no time whatever was afforded for looking after personal baggage. All that was saved in the line of clothing was what the persons wore when they left the vessel.

On board the Maple Leaf was the camps and equipage of three regiments of Gen. Foster's brigade, also the person baggage of the officers. General Foster himself is a heavy sufferer. Two sutlers had property on board valued at $20,000. Everything is lost. The property was put on board the Maple Leaf at Hilton Head, and it was the intention to take it off at Jacksonville when the vessel had reached that point, but she had no sooner arrived than she was immediately dispatched to Pilatka, on urgent business, which accounts for the property being on board.

The Maple Leaf was an old vessel, having been built in 1844, and was owned by parties in Boston. She was a firmly built boat, of slow speed, and can be better spared than other boats in the service.

The torpedo must have been very large and powerful, for when it exploded it threw the bow of the steamer completely out of the water, and sent the forecastle flying in the air. The pilot house was detached and shivered to pieces, and the pilot very narrowly escaped serious injury. Nothing of the vessel or cargo to the value of a sixpence was saved.

Gen. Hatch, as soon as the news of the explosion reached him, dispatched three companies of the Seventh Connecticut Regiment up the river in boats to act as a patrol, and to seek other torpedoes, which deserters reported were in the stream. In twenty-four hour's time, they sent back a torpedo, which they discovered about tow miles up the river.

In about a week these torpedo hunters captured ten of the 'machines.' They are of a peculiar construction, having three percussion prongs, and will explode at the least touch of a hammer. The rebels who assisted in placing them in the stream came into our lines as deserters, shortly after the occurrence of the Maple Leaf disaster, for the purpose of pointing out the precise locality at which the torpedoes were planted.

A daring attempt to destroy the United States steam frigate Minnesota, Rear Admiral Lee's flagship, off Newport News, was made early on Saturday morning. Fortunately, it did not materially damage the ship, but caused considerable excitement among the officers and crew."

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PEN AND SCISSORS

---"The Emperor Alexander has issued an ukase which enables Russian ladies to contract marriages with foreigners without his previous consent, and to retain the ownership of their lands after such marriages. The naturalization of foreigners as Russian subjects, is likewise to be somewhat facilitated."

---"Stringent orders have been issued regulating citizens allowed to remain with the Army of the Potomac. Correspondents were required to register their names before the 16th inst., and after that date, when absent from their post more than 24 hours, to report to the Provost Marshal upon their return."

CAPTURE OF FORT PILLOW

"A GALLANT RESISTANCE, BUT THE FORT FINALLY SURRENDERS--500 UNION TROOPS KILL, WOUNDED OR TAKEN PRISONERS--THE REBELS MURDER THE NEGRO SOLDIERS AFTER SURRENDER--THE FORTIFICATIONS DESTROYED AND THE TOWN CONSUMED."

Cairo, April 14

"As stated in a dispatch yesterday, the rebels attacked Fort Pillow with six thousand men on the morning of Tuesday, the 12th. Forrest, soon after the attack began, sent in a flag of truce, demanding the surrender of the fort and garrison, and in the meantime disposed his troops so that he gained a decided advantage.

Major Booth, of the 13 Tennessee cavalry, was in command of the fort, having under him about 400 of that regiment and 200 of the 1st battalion of the 6th United States heavy artillery, formerly the 1st Alabama (colored) cavalry. The flag of truce was refused and returned to the rebel headquarters, and the fighting was resumed. Afterwards a second flag of truce came in, and this also was refused. Both flags gave the rebels an advantage in gaining new positions.

The battle was kept up until about three o'clock in the evening when, Major Booth being killed, the rebels followed up their last flag of truce in swarms, overpowering our forces and compelling their surrender.

Immediately upon the surrender ensued a scene which baffles description. Up to that time comparatively few of our men were killed, but insatiate as fiends, and blood thirsty as devils incarnate, the Confederates commenced an indiscriminate butchery of whites and blacks, and even those who had been previously wounded.

The black soldiers became demoralized and rushed to the rear of their white officers, having all thrown down their arms, became defenseless. Both white and colored were either bayonetted or sabered, even the dead bodies were horribly mutilated. Children of seven or eight years and several negro women were killed in cold blood.

This all occurred after the surrender. Soldiers unable to speak from wounds threw up their arms and were shot dead, and their bodies in many cases were rolled remorselessly down the high bank into the river. Dead and wounded negroes were piled up in huts and burned, and several citizens who had joined our forces for protection were killed or wounded.

n it came to collecting the living men, it was found that all out of 600 that could be found was about 200. The most of these were killed after the surrender. Among our dead commissioned officers are Captain Bradford, of the 13th Tennessee cavalry; Lieutenant Barr, Lieutentant J. C. Akerstorm, Lieutenant Wilson, Lieutenant Revel and Major Booth, of the same command; Lieutenant N. D. Logan, 14th Tennessee cavalry; Captain John C. Young, 24th Missouri, acting as Provost Marshal, and Captain J. H. Poston, 18th Tennessee cavalry, were taken prisoners. Major Bradford was also captured, but is said to have made his escape. It is feared, however, that he has been killed.

steamer Platte Valley came up about half past three, and was hailed by the rebels under a flag of truce, and men were sent ashore to bury the dead, and bring on board such wounded as the rebels had allowed to live; fifty-seven were taken on, in all, including seven or eight colored men. Eight died on the passage.

steamer arrived here late this P.M. and was immediately sent to Mound City Hospital to discharge her suffering cargo. Of the number known to be wounded in the 6th regular heavy artillery are Lieutenant Libberts, company A; Captain John A. Porter and Adjutant Leming.

guns were taken by the rebels and carried off. Two 10-pound Parrots and two 12-pound howitzers were among them. A large lot of valuable stores were destroyed or carried away."

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ADVERTISEMENT

"A CARD...Galena, April 15"
"Mr. Editor:--Observing a bill of wages published in the Galena Gazette, as offered by the boss Shoemakers to the Journeymen, with a view, we suppose, to make an impression on the public mind how liberal they are, and that they would have to charge a large per centage on their work.

The facts in the case are that the Journeymen only ask 20 per cent on the bill of wages of 1857, on several kinds of work. Were they to comply with this very reasonable demand it would make an advance of 25 cents on Stoga, 30-cents on Kip, and 35 cents on Fine Calf Boots, per pair." Yours, Journeymen

Page 3 Col. #2

LOCAL MATTERS.. LAKE PEPIN OPEN

"The Hawkeye State went through Lake Pepin last Thursday. The Itasca left Dubuque last Saturday morning with the mail for St. Paul."

BODY FOUND

"The body of Mr. McGUIRE, of Calamine, whom we mentioned last winter as having disappeared, was found a few days since in the river some distance below that place, where it is supposed he had fallen in."

IMPROVEMENT

"A gang of hands under the supervision of Mr. John HEINLEIN, are making some needed repairs on Green St. Bridge. A good thing. The people of Galena never object to being taxed for necessary repairs on our streets and bridges."

NEWSPAPER RESUSEITATED

"F. S. HAUGHAWOUT, formerly editor of the Platteville Witness, has commenced the publication of the LaFayette Co. Independent. HAUGHAWOUT gets up a good paper, and the people of LaFayette county ought to see that he is supported."

NEPTUNE FIRE CO. NO. 2

"A meeting of Neptune Fire Company No. 2 will be holden on Tuesday evening, April 19th. A punctual attendance is required. --By order of the Foreman...James MURPHY, Sec'y"

COUNCIL HILL FLAX COMPANY

"A Company has been organized at Council Hill Station for the purpose of manufacturing flax (or lint). They intend to buy it threshed or unthreshed, rotted or unrotted, and will pay good prices both for the straw, and seed. They are now fitting up their building and machinery, and will be ready for manufacturing in two months.

Farmers would do well to turn their attention to flax raising as they can make as much off one acre as they can from two acres of any other kind of grain with no more cost or labor.

The following are the Directors of the Company.

S. ALDERSON
J. COMBELLICK, Jr.
J. LUPTON
A. RAW
Mark LEEKLY
J. COMBELLICK, Sen.
R. T. JAMES"

GRANT COUNTY ITEMS

"The Grant County Herald estimates nearly 200 persons will leave the County this spring for Idaho.

The editors of the Grant County Herald and the Grant County Witness, both give notice that in June the subscription prices for their papers will be raised to $2.00 per year.

The Summer Term of Platteville Academy will commence Wednesday next.

The Platteville Witness says that Mr. L. WOODRUFF, about four miles east of that village, manufactures a good article of brooms. Mr. WOODRUFF raises his own broom corn. This is now selling in the East at $180 to $200 per ton. About 500 lbs. to an acre is an average yield. If the labor and exhaustion of the soil is not too great, we should think it might be made a profitable crop. Mr. W. is willing to contract for all that may be raised next year at $100 per ton."

DUBUQUE ITEMS

"Prices of wood range from $6.50 to $7.50 per cord.

A Mr. WENDELL who keeps a boarding house in the city, stole $256 from one of the boarders the other day. As suspicion rested upon WENDELL, the officer made him believe that his guilt was discovered, when he confessed his crime and gave up the money.

Charles WUNDERLICH started last Wednesday for California, with a train consisting of twenty-two men, fifty horses and five wagons. They go by the way of Omaha.

An unoccupied building, originally built for a store on the corner of Locust and 16th streets, was burned to the ground last Thursday morning. Insured for $1,500. The Times says: 'concerning the value of the property every man can have his own opinion, ditto as to how a lone unoccupied building could have caught fire.'

Mr. Edward STIMSON, President of the D. & S.C. Railroad, is so ill that he recovery is doubtful.

Mr. J. A. PINTO for several years Superintendent of the Freight department of the Dubuque & S.C. Railroad, has resigned that position to accept an appointment as Superintendent of the Memphis & Little Rock Railroad."

GALENA SOLDIERS' AID SOCIETY

"Secretary's Report from October 1st, 1863, to April 1st., 1864"

"The following will show the operations of this Society for the last six months: One box of fancy articles, donated by the ladies to the Northwestern Sanitary Fair at Chicago, valued at $125; One box of hospital stores, contents as follows: 22 sheets, 85 shirts, 38 pairs of drawers, 30 towels, 44 handkerchiefs, 10 pair pillow slips, 2 pair woolen socks, 2 neck comforters, 1 hat; besides a large quantity of lint, linen, and cotton rags, newspapers &c. &c." Nellie S. HUSTED, Sec'y

"We call the attention, of the ladies especially, to the meeting of the Aid Society, on Tuesday next, the 19th inst. A full attendance is desired.

We have a large amount of unfinished work on hand. A few have done nobly, but we want the many cheerful hearts and willing hands to come up on next Tuesday afternoon and help us.

The ladies of Galena have received an urgent appeal from Dubuque, to aid them in their preparations for the approaching Iowa Sanitary Fair. All will certainly feel like helping along in this glorious cause.

Lastly, but far from being the least important item, the annual election of new officers takes place on that afternoon. Let no one be absent, lest this golden opportunity be forever lost of sharing the honors and duties of this most worthy Society. Let every lady come who is interested in this noble work of alleviating the suffering of thousands of our brave men, whom this war has doomed to languish in our hospitals. Again we say come!! and work!! that it may be recorded of each one of us, 'She hath done what she could.' By order of the Society"

Total receipts...$223.03
Total expenditures...$119.08
April 1, by cash on hand...$103.95

---Rebecca EDDOWES, Treasurer

BUSINESS CHANGE
"Mr. A McALLISTER has closed out his grocery business at No. 202 Main street, and Mr. Richard EVANS has rented the building for a boot and shoe store."

DIED

"In Platteville, April 7, of Hemmorrhage of the Lungs, JameS EGBERT, aged 32 years and 6 mo. Deceased leaves a young wife and one child to mourn his loss. Four months since his brother died of disease contracted at Vicksburg, where he was engaged in battling for his country's sacred rights against the traitor foe."