Saturday, March 22, 2008

From California.

San Francisco August 11. – The State is full of rumor relative to the contemplated rising of the secessionists.

An affray occurred at Visalia between the secessionists and soldiers stationed there. – One soldier was killed and several secessionists were wounded. Thirty six shots were exchanged. Tulare and the adjoining counties in the southern part of the state contain numerous secessionists. At Visalia great excitement prevails and some Union citizens have organized a home guard, while others pursued the party that had fired at the soldiers.

The house of the man who shot the soldier was burned down on the night of the 7th, which exasperated both Unionists and secesh, each accusing the other of the deed.

General Wright military commander at San Francisco telegraphed for all the spare arms among the soldiers at Visalia to be distributed among the loyal citizens, and dispatched troops from Owens River to Visalia today.

Gen. Wright telegraphed to Washington for permission to immediately begin new defenses at San Francisco, costing one hundred thousand dollars. No answer up to last night. The city supervisors voted to give the city a guarantee of payment to any person who would advance $20,000 to enable him instantly to commence proper fortifications.

- Published in The Union Sentinel, Osceola, Iowa, August 15, 1863

No comments: