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Newspaper
Bristol Phenix
Location
Bristol, Rhode Island, United States of America
Date
Jan 04, 1862
Page
2
Governor William Sprague proclaims the decree adjusting the eastern boundary of the State will take effect March 1 1862. The decree, confirmed by the court, is dated December 21 and is recorded with the secretary of state in Providence.
In a New Year editorial tone the piece discusses hope and resilience amid Civil War turmoil. It lauds the surrender of Mason and Slidell as prudent and principled, and tempers anticipation of England's reaction while warning against war hysteria. It also recounts grim whale ship desertion tales and survival cannibalism experiences from early 1860s maritime incidents.
The Burnside Battalion of Rhode Island Volunteers left Camp Slocum on Friday, reviewed by Gov. Sprague and officers, then boarded a train to Groton in excellent spirits. Names of Company B are listed in the next column, with several members from the town. May success attend them in their campaign. Mason and Slidell were transferred from Fort Warren to Provincetown for transport to the British gunboat Rinaldo, amid calm that day.
The twenty month old mammoth calf raised by Benjamin R. Wilson was slaughtered last Wednesday. It weighed sixteen hundred pounds live and nine hundred fifty pounds dressed with two hundred thirteen pounds of hide and tallow, totaling eleven hundred sixty three pounds. Also noted is a sale at H H Bosworth's provision store on State street.
The New Bedford Standard reviews the whale industry for the year noting 422 vessels and 127 608 tons on January first, with losses of six ships at sea six condemned abroad and three captured by privateers. It compares New Bedford's fleet to New London and discusses sutler reform and Soldiers' Fund Society reports.
A severe midweek gale caused widespread damage across towns with chimneys trees and awning frames prostrated. No major structural damage in town though windows blinds and glass panes were shattered as Providence and Boston areas reported extensive destruction and many buildings unroofed.
A roster lists Captain Allen G Wright and officers including 1st Lieutenant William W Hall 2d Lieutenant William W Douglas and sergeants, corporals, privates, musicians and wagoners such as Drummer George Alger fifer James McIntyre Wagoner James Bullock for Company B and Burnside Battalion. It names many ranks and personnel including George Ridgeway William Savage Jeremiah O'Brien James Norris Mubic and others. The long list includes CBCs and numerous surnames, indicating a detailed muster roll.
Dr J M Merchant Warren Rhode Island presents a mortality table for 1891 listing deaths by disease age and sex. It records causes including Consumption Fever Brain Heart Disease and Unknown with totals 20 males and 31 females among 51 Americans and 4 Foreign, average age 39. Deaths by month are given with yearly totals.
The club announces Mr De Cornova will give the next lecture after last winter’s Prince of Wales talk. The event promises humor and good entertainment and is open to all who enjoy a laugh, with Thursday evening as the target date.
A town meeting on New Shoreham Island Thursday approved a bounty of 24 dollars for each man with a family who has enlisted or may enlist in the United States service. The decision was announced amid local gratitude and patriotic sentiment.
The regular monthly meeting of the Court of Probate will be held at the Probate office on Monday afternoon next at two o'clock.
Port Royal correspondent of the New York Herald praises Captain Day and his men for cool efficient work under pressure. They save the Mayflower and the boat crew with speed and precision, earning high praise and a strong future reputation.
Reports from Norfolk Day Book and Tybee Island detail Confederate numbers at Fort Pulaski and Savannah, with 9000 troops returning to South Carolina. Articles recount Burnside’s early life, Mexican War service, and rapid rise to brigadier general amid Union expeditions.
The third Rhode Island Regiment is honored at Fort Welles with two companies, while two others prepare to man a vast new fort two miles from Fort Welles. The fort spans nearly three miles and mounts about one hundred guns, securing the island from Union enemies. General Sherman and Commodore Dupont push land fortifications, aiming to capture Charleston and Savannah. A fire at John Mason's Swanzey village home destroyed outbuildings, about $200 loss, cataract engine sent but arrived late. Segregated note on wealthy Philadelphia Black men ends.
Amid mixed editorials in London and Paris the Trent affair looms large while Lincoln’s message draws cautious praise and silence. Reports tell of war preparations in the Mediterranean and Gibraltar readiness as Dacres prepares to assume command. Cotton markets rise in Liverpool and French mediation rumors circulate.
Reports from Montreal recount the United States decision to surrender Mason and Slidell after press reaction in Canada. The Gazette notes relief that war fears subside and urges mutual restraint to prevent renewed conflict. Public sentiment hopes for lasting peace and better cross border understanding.
At a Providence Bank meeting with 36 of 37 banks present, Seth Padelford was elected president and Henry C. Cranston secretary. Resolutions suspend specie payments and appoint a five member committee to devise exchange plans and regulate currency during the suspension, with exchanges to continue until the committee reports. The session adjourned to reconvene Friday at three. A record from Albany cites Earn of Snarrsbury criticizing American unity and predicting Britain’s fear of U S growth, urging rupture of the republic.
At Monday afternoon’s Providence banks meeting the President was authorized to appoint a committee to devise and report a plan of exchanges and regulate currency between banks during the suspension of specie payments. Appointments include Robert I. Ivea Amos D. Smith William S. Patten Stephen T. Olney and Amos C. Barstow.
Dickinson House in Ossipee and several servants perished in a Friday night blaze. Reports confirm two lives lost and extensive damage to the historic property.
Obituary notes Benjamin Tucker of Dartmouth as a valued member of the Society of Friends. The article traces his lineage to Henry Tucker who settled in Dartmouth about 1655 and inherited land that stayed with the family for four generations. It remarks on long life spans from great grandfather to father and son, and comments on the shortening lifespan over time.
The Hamburg steamer Teutonia arrived with over 75000 stand of arms, mainly rifles, largely sourced from Austria. The Hansa also delivered a similar load from France and England. Damascus unloads a cargo of unearthed goods including one hundred casks of ingot lead. Col Schuyler reports Europe exports total about 300000 arms, valued around 164 dollars per gun, totaling near five million dollars in armaments. A City of New York passenger reports the Norwich line ship sank a schooner last night with unknown crew.
A covered railroad bridge of 140 to 150 feet on the Concord and Nashua line, half a mile from Nashua, was completely destroyed by fire on Saturday afternoon. The span carried two tracks over the Nashua river.
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