Culpepper C. H., Va., April 24, 1864.
. . . The trees are
beginning to put forth their leaves, and the fruit trees their blossoms; the
green grass is making its appearance, and real spring is upon us. I rode out
for exercise this afternoon and could but contrast the acts of our soldiers in
fencing in and caring for the cemetery near here, in which is buried many
hundreds of the enemy's dead, with the brutal massacre at Fort Pillow. How full
of reverence for Christianity is the contrast in favor of our brave but humane
soldiers. The dead and those who are captives with our army cease to be objects
against which they war. All that religion demands in reverence of the one, and
all that humanity requires in kindness to the other, is freely and willingly
given by those who fight for our Democratic institutions beneath the bright
banner of stripes and stars.
Enclosed I send you
some lines written by Alfred B. Street on the presentation of war banners to
the Legislature of New York. I think them decidedly beautiful and hope you will
coincide with me in this opinion. I also send you by to-day's mail a late
Richmond paper, from which we have the latest news from Plymouth, which is that
that place was carried by storm on the 20th by the enemy, with a loss to us of
full sixteen hundred men, besides armament, supplies, etc. This place had held
out stubbornly, and we were in hopes all would be safe after they had repulsed
the first assaults. This comes of the Government persistently urging the
holding of places for political effect on the people in the seceding States and
abroad, also for the protection of such of the inhabitants as commit themselves
to our side. General Butler had asked permission to withdraw the troops from
Plymouth some time since, but the reasons urged, as I heard him state to
General Grant, were the ones I have just recited. If the force was to stay at
Plymouth, then capture will not materially affect us, for they were virtually
dead to the service while they remained there, at any rate. I hope that Policy
will after a while have discovered that she can only succeed through force of
arms, and that force should be made as strong as possible and as compact, and
be directed with energy against one point at a time. In this way only can we
succeed. . . .
SOURCE: James H.
Wilson, The Life of John A. Rawlins, p. 423-4
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