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Newspaper
Bristol Phenix
Location
Bristol, Rhode Island, United States of America
Date
May 14, 1864
Page
2
Fragmentary issue text presents a political tone praising liberty and public institutions. The piece cites Webster and declares a civic responsibility to enjoy preserve and transmit these assets. No clear event or person beyond quoted phrasing.
A moral political piece hailing recent Union successes in Virginia and the rout of General Lee. It emphasizes divine guidance and the need for constitutional justice, while lamenting wartime sacrifices and urging continued popular unity for permanent peace and national progress through science and virtue.
A long excerpt argues that mind and matter form fixed worlds with distinct laws. It asserts the threefold man—moral, intellectual, physical—interacts with wealth and growth through educated intellect. Education unlocks thought, builds wealth, and guides nations toward truth, prosperity, and healing, while ignorance leads to destruction.
Our New York correspondent reports a Calico-Dress Promenade Concert planned for charity benefiting the Army. Also covered are Ascension Day services at Episcopal and Catholic churches, Trinity Church anniversary ceremonies, Commodore Porter’s funeral honors, Brooklyn lottery concerns, Gettysburg Fourth of July plans, and a fatal fire disaster with five dead and a neck injury in the city.
The Boston Journal argues metal tipped shoes last five to six months for children, contrasting with common shoes that wear at the toes in two to three weeks. It blames retailers for poor stock and urges parents to buy metal tipped footwear to reduce frequent replacements and costs.
An escaped Union officer describes Libby Prison in Richmond where inmates reportedly endured extreme deprivation. He recalls fellow prisoners eating horse and dog meat, with one man claiming to keep a dog paw as a severed memento to carry back to Union lines.
Gyr Jenkins notes the drift of a speak ere remarks he heard the other night was higher and cooler than any snow drift he ever saw.
In a La Crosse Democrat note, two women entered a minstrel performance, walked to empty seats, and demanded two people sit beside them. One carried a Spanish dagger visibly piercing her dress and the other sported a belt revolver. They were seated quickly amid the incident.
A description notes Spottsylvania Court House as a village sixty five miles from Richmond, situated off the railroad but connected to the capital via good roads.
A Friday evening council session approved district highway allocations totaling 1,850 with a 50 surplus. total appropriation 2,000. L. Peckham named assessor replacing Benjamin Hall and Nehemish Cole who refuse to serve.
The column praises City Insurance Company of Providence highlighting President William R. Watson and Secretary Kenyon. Watson’s broad service record in public roles is cited as evidence of trustworthy leadership and expertise in insurance. The piece also notes stockholders and directors as reputable Providence figures and mentions Nathaniel S Greene, Bay, as Bristol agent.
John Erresshoff’s yard shows rapid expansion with a large upright saw, circular saw, planing machines and other gears on the first floor. In the second story crews prepare hulls and masts for multiple sail boats. TL has recently launched four large sail boats and now has three more nearly ready. A new yacht is under construction in the adjacent shop.
The Providence Journal lists local casualties with Killed Wallace Warren and wounded Lieut Charles A Waldron Corporal Henry F Bush Corporal C Kingman Jr Private William Leach James Magee James T Wilkinson Joseph B Sparks. Warren was 20 and son of Nathan Warren Jr Esq. McIntire, a Captain, also killed, was a native of the town and son of Joseph McIntire, former local bookseller.
A late 18th century notice invites Bristol women to form a society for purchasing no imported apparel. The meeting is to be held at Mrs Comfort Tiffany's on May 19 at 4 PM. It cites excerpts from the Address to the Women of America urging unity and self sacrifice for the nation. A stray aside notes cheap soup sales and Lewin's horn reference.
Two young women crossing a Louisville Kentucky railroad bridge were swept over by a gust. one was rescued, the other fell seventy feet into the river. An army officer notes most officer resignations stem from whiskey. Three men desert Fort Independence and are recaptured after crossing to South Boston. A Hartford birth yields a girl with twelve fingers and two joints on little fingers. An Old Gentleman toppled by crinoline on Cleveland sidewalks, then picked up. A Portland boiler riveter installs fifteen rivets a minute. A Massachusetts sewing machine for boat seams completes a boat in thirty seconds. Hartford laments gibbled houses and remonstrances. White House to house State Department and receptions. president to a new suburban home. Charlestown man William Baggs drowns after insanity. Over three million subscribed for a Niagara River international bridge. Counterfeiters caught in Indianapolis.
A new forty one foot smoking, baggage and express car for the Providence Warren and Bristol Railroad, nearly completed, will soon run on the road. Built largely by Joseph Brightwan in the railroad locomotive house, the car features superior workmanship and a larger smoking area seating nearly twice the old car’s capacity.
A letter from John Dunbar reports Corporal Henry F Gladding of Company K Fourth R T V died of typhoid fever at the US General Hospital in Norfolk Wisconsin on the 7th. He was 22 years old and son of the late Samuel Gladding of Bristol.
Rev. E fi. Wright, pastor of the South Christian Church in town, closed his labors after thirteen months on the 1st instant. He made many friends here but moved due to his wife’s ill health and has relocated to Hampton, Connecticut.
Mr Frederico W Coggeshall of this town shot a Gannet or Solan Gouse in the bay near the north point of Poppasquash. The bird measured six feet from tip to tip of its wings and this species is believed rarely seen in the area.
The town council at their regular meeting on the 2d instant appointed Robert Dunbar and Hiram Luther as night watchmen and special policemen for the ensuing year.
Loyal Boston women held a private meeting to form a league to retrench expenditure and discourage foreign imports. They added a proviso to the Covenant preferring domestic goods while preserving necessary articles for health and comfort and promising stylish attire.
The notice states that services will be held as usual in the Congregational Church on the next Sabbath, tomorrow the 15th instant, without interruption.
Lydia Albro a colored girl from Bristol visited her sister on India street one evening last week after attending the circle and was struck by a volley of scalding water causing very serious burns reported by the Providence Journal.
Our town was visited by a heavy thunder storm on Sunday evening last. It is seldom that we experience as strong a display, with loud thunder and vivid flashes across the skies.
The advertisement urges use of Brown's Bronchial Traches or Cough and Vulca Lozenges by speakers, military officers, and singers. It claims these lozenges soothe hoarseness and throat irritation from vocal exertion and help clear and strengthen the voice.
The Eliza Sheddon reports Confederate forces moved two miles south of Newbern with a cavalry unit and four gun battery to threaten water approaches. Gunboats Commodore Barney and Louisiana halted the threat, saving the Newbern rail link for a loaded train. Capt White calls it a cavalry clash not a full assault.
Seven ironclads completed in Charleston harbor and Folly Island prepared for action. Gen Suummel fring concentrates forces on Folly Island as indications point to imminent hostilities and an attack on Sumter.
The Norfolk New Revue reports Gen Butler engaged Beauregard near Petersburg on Saturday and Sunday, driving him with force. It claims Butler holds the key to Richmond. The paper also notes a Confederate report that Gen Lee was wounded, Gen Pickett killed, and两 small gunboats destroyed on the James River, including the Shawsheen.
General Butler reports 1900 cavalry advancing up the Peninsula and forcing the Chickahominy to a forward position. Blackwater rail line cut at Stony Creek, Beauregard separated from Lee by Kantz. Grant expected no further reinforcements to Lee.
General Grant reports no major battle at Spotsylvania Court House with hard fighting earlier yesterday. Maj. Gen Serdg wick is killed. Gen Wright takes command of Sedewick's corps. Wounded: Gen Robinson and Gen Norris. News from Washington notes no staff casualties and widespread wounded evacuated to Fredericksburg with 15 000 dead or wounded overall. Troops continue arriving from the north as weather cools and supplies are replenished.
May 10 dispatches note a large entrenched rebel depot of supplies on the North Anna line as Lee retreats. Grant pursues toward the line leaving his base of supplies behind, while his men carry rations for several days.
The flag-of-trave boat New York arrived at Annapolis with 800 prisoners exchanged on the James River at Aikin's Landing. They report great excitement in Richmond when they left.
From the N Y Uer ALD’s correspondent at Potomac May 10 11 the army fights fatigue yet holds course toward Richmond After long marches the troops rest while shifting the enemy toward the New York river near Spottsylvania Court House Generals exchange praised tactical vigor as cavalry raid on the peninsula tests black regiments and signals progress toward James River with bridges destroyed and troops eager for the front.
Despatches report heavy cannonading against rebel holdouts at Spotsylvania Court House. Union forces cross the Little River and push the enemy beyond the turn advancing toward Richmond as Washington wires of opened communications via Belle Plain and Frederickburg. News notes 000 prisoners andGen Morrin wounded. Butler near Richmond per a Richmond paper. Sheridan’s cavalry acclaimed, Grant Meade Burnside praised, Wilderness fighting remembered as a hard march. New York dispatches describe a two hour infantry clash around Tanoosk's corps and Ewell, ending in Spottsylvania occupation on the south bank of the river with a fierce, decisive finale.
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