Diary of Josephine Shaw Lowell: October 25, 1862

Another battle before the month is up. Oh! we are indeed being crushed and chastened! It is a great comfort in these days when (in New York at least) the people seem trifling and uncertain, to hear such good, strong confidence expressed as Mr. Henry James¹ said he felt in the people's “coming to self-consciousness,” as he called it. When I asked him if he thought it would take long to make them feel that they were the one and only power, and that they must save their native land, he said: “No, perhaps a day might do it. Some manly act on the part of a leader might crystallize the men near him.” Everything looks dark and uncertain ahead, except the pure faith in God and ourselves. However, it isn't well to be down-hearted in view of the proclamation, — that must work. I was told yesterday by Lou Schuyler that the negroes in Georgia had quietly refused to work, sitting calmly with no idea of insurrection, but simply immovable. In Louisiana (as a lady told Mother who came from there) there is no more slavery, and with such facts before us how can we say nothing has been accomplished?

Yesterday at the theatre it didn't sound well when Richelieu² said: “Take away the sword,” etc., to hear loud applause, but we comforted ourselves with the reflection that it was New York and only the upper gallery at that. I suppose waiting is wholesome and trust that it is as Mr. James said, that “When the people do wake up and know themselves, we shall have blessed happy peace forever.” We, as a Nation, are learning splendid lessons of heroism and fortitude through it that nothing else could teach. All our young men who take their lives in their hands and go out and battle for the right grow noble and grand in the act, and when they come back (perhaps only half of those who went) I hope they will find that the women have grown with them in the long hours of agony. Mr. James brought Nellie and me today two photographs of Wilkie,³ who had gone off in the 44th as Sergeant, and on the back was somebody's or something's escutcheon with the motto, “Vincere vel mori.” It seemed a very fitting one for a young soldier going forth in all the ardor of a first campaign. Dear boys! How noble they are, and yet how can they help being noble? I have longed so to go myself that it seemed unbearable, and Emmie Russell⁴ wrote me from Florence that it always made her cry to see soldiers, partly for thinking of our army, and partly for chagrin that she was not a man to go too. We can work though if we can't enlist, and we do. It is very pleasant to see how well the girls and women do work everywhere, sewing meetings, sanitary hospitals and all. Lou Schuyler told me at the Sanitary yesterday that there were 150,000 sick and wounded now in the different hospitals to be cared for! and I suppose, poor fellows, they are cold and tired and miserable, even after all that's been done for them! God help us all.

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¹ The elder of that name.

² Played at that time by Edwin Booth.

³ Wilkie James, brother of Professor William James.

⁴ Afterwards Mrs. Charles L. Pierson, of Boston.

SOURCE: William Rhinelander Stewart, The Philanthropic Work of Josephine Shaw Lowell, p. 35-6