14th Wisconsin Legislature

The Fourteenth Wisconsin Legislature convened from January 9, 1861, to April 17, 1861, in regular session. The legislature re-convened in special session from May 15, 1861, to May 27, 1861, at the request of Wisconsin Governor Alexander Randall, to approve funding for a brigade of volunteers for the American Civil War.

Senators representing odd-numbered districts were newly elected for this session and were serving the first year of a two-year term. Assembly members were elected to a one-year term. Assembly members and even-numbered senators were elected in the general election of November 6, 1860. Senators representing even-numbered districts were serving the second year of their two-year term, having been elected in the general election held on November 8, 1859.

Major events

 * January 1861: Timothy O. Howe elected United States Senator by the Wisconsin Legislature in Joint Session.
 * March 4, 1861: Inauguration of Abraham Lincoln as the 16th President of the United States.
 * April 12, 1861: South Carolina militia began bombarding Fort Sumpter in Charleston Harbor.
 * April 15, 1861: U.S. President Abraham Lincoln issued a proclamation requesting the states provide 75,000 volunteers for service in the American Civil War.
 * April 16, 1861: 1st Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment raised in Milwaukee.
 * May 9, 1861: Wisconsin Governor Alexander Randall called for a special session of the Wisconsin Legislature.
 * July 21, 1861: First Battle of Bull Run took place in Prince William County, Virginia, one regiment of Wisconsin volunteers participated in the battle.
 * November 8, 1861: Louis P. Harvey elected Governor of Wisconsin.

First session

 * January 21, 1861: Joint Resolution, co-operating with friends of the Union throughout the United States, 1861 Joint Resolution 1
 * April 11, 1861: Act to apportion the State into Senate and Assembly Districts. 1861 Act 216
 * April 13, 1861: Act to provide for apportioning the State into Congressional Districts, 1861 Act 238
 * April 13, 1861: Act to provide for the defence of the State, and to aid in enforcing the laws and maintaining the authority of the Federal Government, 1861 Act 239
 * April 17, 1861: Act to declare the rights and privileges of such persons as may enroll themselves into the service of the country. 1861 Act 309

Special session

 * May 21, 1861: Joint Resolution, authorizing the Governor to be absent from the State during the present war, 1861 Special Session Joint Resolution 1
 * May 25, 1861: Joint Resolution, recommending to the War Department the formation of a brigade, and the appointment of Hon. Rufus King to its command, 1861 Special Session Joint Resolution 2
 * May 25, 1861: Joint Resolution, in regard to the assassination of Col. Ellsworth, 1861 Special Session Joint Resolution 3
 * May 25, 1861: Act to provide for the assistance of volunteers in the service of the United States Government, 1861 Special Session Act 2
 * May 25, 1861: Act to provide a military force for immediate service to aid in protecting and defending the Constitution and the Union, 1861 Special Session Act 4
 * May 25, 1861: Act to prevent rendering aid to Rebels, 1861 Special Session Act 5
 * May 25, 1861: Act to provide for the purchasing of Arms and Equipments for the use of the State, 1861 Special Session Act 6
 * May 27, 1861: Act to provide for the payment of discharged Volunteers, 1861 Special Session Act 9
 * May 27, 1861: Act to provide for borrowing money to repel invasion, suppress insurrection, and defend the State in time of war, 1861 Special Session Act 13

Sessions

 * 1st Regular session: January 9, 1861 – April 17, 1861
 * Special session: May 15, 1861 – May 27, 1861

Senate leadership

 * President of the Senate: Butler G. Noble, Lieutenant Governor
 * President pro tempore: Alden I. Bennett

Assembly leadership

 * Speaker of the Assembly: Amasa Cobb

Members of the Senate
Members of the Wisconsin Senate for the Fourteenth Wisconsin Legislature:

Members of the Assembly
Members of the Assembly for the Fourteenth Wisconsin Legislature:

Senate employees

 * Chief Clerk: John H. Warren
 * Assistant Clerk: Stephen Steele Barlow
 * Engrossing Clerk: Willard Merrill
 * Enrolling Clerk: Edward Colman
 * Transcribing Clerk: F. H. Megdeburg
 * Sergeant-at-Arms: J. A. Hadley
 * Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms: David M. McBride
 * Postmaster: James Moore
 * Assistant Postmaster: A. B. Finch
 * Doorkeeper: Phillip Carey
 * Assistant Doorkeeper: Henry Case
 * Fireman: George Wittle
 * Messengers:
 * Walter C. Wyman
 * Albert F. Dexter
 * Patrick Lanner

Assembly employees

 * Chief Clerk: L. H. D. Crane
 * Assistant Clerk: John S. Dean
 * Bookkeeper: Ephraim W. Young
 * Engrossing Clerk: Joseph C. Pickard
 * Enrolling Clerk: Nathaniel F. Lund
 * Transcribing Clerk: Harvey Briggs
 * Sergeant-at-Arms: Craig B. Beese
 * Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms: Asher Armstrong
 * Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms: Ebenezer Sprague
 * Postmaster: Hiram Beckworth
 * Assistant Postmaster: John N. Stone
 * Doorkeeper: Joel Barber
 * Assistant Doorkeeper: Joshua W. Tolford
 * Firemen:
 * William C. Lasure
 * Reese Evans
 * Henry N. Solbert
 * Messengers:
 * William H. Barnes
 * William Benedict
 * William Bennett
 * H. M. Bingham
 * Charles L. Catlin
 * Edwin C. Mason
 * William E. Miller
 * James H. Neavill
 * George D. Potter
 * William H. Smith