Charles Eliot Norton to George William Curtis, August 24, 1861

Newport, 24 August, 1861.

. . . I do not agree with you that the war is likely to be short. Its issue may soon become certain, but it will be long before we can lay down our arms. Nor am I ready yet to share in any gloomy prognostications. I believe the people will save the country and the government in spite of all the weakness and mismanagement and corruption at Washington. Nor am I afraid of the effect of another defeat, — if another should come. It will indeed bring to the surface an immense show of cowardice, and meanness; but we have no right yet to believe that the temper of our people is so low that it will not rise with the trial and [sic] of calamity. I bate nothing of heart or hope, and I grieve to think that you should ever feel out of heart or despondent. We have not yet more than begun to rouse ourselves; we are just bracing to the work; but we are setting to it at last in earnest.

The practical matter to be attended to at this moment seems to me to be the change in the Cabinet. A change must be made, — and it will be made, if not by the pressure now brought to bear, then by a popular revolution. We shall have public meetings of a kind to enforce their resolves in the course of a few days, if Cameron, Welles and Smith are not removed, or the best reason given for retaining them. Mr. Seward ought to understand that it is not safe for him that they should any longer remain in the Cabinet. If another reverse were to come and they still there, the whole Cabinet would have to go; — and then let Mr. Lincoln himself look out for a Committee of Safety. . . .

Let me hear from you again soon, — and above all do not begin to doubt our final success.

If the fortunes of war go against us, if all our domestic scoundrels give aid to the cause of the rebels, — we still shall not fail, and the issue will be even better than our hopes.

Most affectionately

Yours,

Charles E. N.

SOURCE: Sara Norton and  M. A. DeWolfe Howe, Letters of Charles Eliot Norton, Volume 1, p. 241-2

Another Account of the Murder of Harbach, Cameron and Higgins

We are permitted to copy the following private letter:

OSCEOLA, MO., May 29th.

By order of Col Warren we had ceased all scouting, fancying that we had effectually rid the surrounding country of the enemy, but we have been suddenly brought to a terrible realization of our mistake.  The Day before yesterday, while reading a soldier came galloping up to my tent, inquiring for Major Leffingwell, who was out in the country, and reported that our foraging party had been attacked and two men killed.  I immediately ordered every man in our camp off duty, into the saddle, at the same time sending information to the other companies.  In a few minutes ninety men were in the saddle, and we immediately started for the scene of combat.  A short way out we met the remains of the train that had escaped, but they were so excited we could gain no reliable information.  We galloped hard till we came to the spot, and we found at a glance the extent of our loss.  One man killed, Sergeant Harbach, of Burlington.  Two mortally wounded, privates Cameron and Higgins.  Two slightly wounded, Sergeant Clarke and Al. Stoddard.  Four missing.  Three horses killed and six mules taken.  The killed and wounded were all from our company. – They were shamefully stripped.  After seeing them started for town in ambulances, with a sufficient escort, we started, just at dark, in pursuit of the murderers, and rode all night. – We were unable to catch them.  At one time we passed within a few hundred yards of them, but the night was very dark and the foliage so dense that we missed them.  We returned to camp in the morning, after a fatiguing ride of forty miles, unsuccessful.  Other scouts were sent out immediately, one of which has just returned, having captured all the mules and arms that were taken, scattering the miscreants in all directions.  The two mortally wounded have since died.  If you see Stoddard’s friends tell them he is but slightly wounded and is doing finely.  A private in Co. F was killed to-day, accidentally shot by Henry Hart. – Another had his arm broken.  The Paymaster has just paid us off.  But, like Peter Piper with his wife, would don’t know where to keep our money, as we have nothing to spend it for and no way to send it home.  More anon.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, June 7, 1862, p. 2

Three members of Co. C, 1st Iowa Cavalry Murdered in Missouri

The sad news of the death of three members of Co. C, 1st Iowa Cavalry, murdered by guerillas in St. Clair county, Missouri, was received here yesterday, casting a shadow over our people.  The news came in a private letter from W. A. Clark, of the same company, and the only one of the foraging party who escaped unhurt.  Harbach and Cameron were from Burlington, young men of much promise, twenty one or two years of age.  Higgins about the same age we think was from the northern part of the county.  Stoddard, also about the same age, is from West Point, Lee county.  He is wounded in the arm and will probably recover.  Young Harbach and one brother who was a member of the 1st Iowa – is now in the 11th Regulars with Gen. McClellan.  His father is Captain of 1st Iowa Battery, now with General Curtis in Arkansas.  Below we print Clark’s letter, written to his brother in law, Mr. Fullerton.  Although not intended for print we see no impropriety in publishing it.

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OCEOLA, St. Clair Co., Mo., May 28

BRO. NICK: – It becomes my duty to notify through you the friends of some of the wounded and dead of our Company that were shot yesterday while out foraging.  Wm. G. Harbach, dead, M. Higgins, dead, Josiah Cameron and A. Stoddard wounded.  My horse was shot, and two or three balls penetrated my clothes, and a fine come caved me.  I had a comb in my watch pocket, the ball struck it and glanced off and just grazed the skin.

I will give you the particulars.  We started out in the morning after forage, 12 miles.  We got out all right, loaded the wagons and started back, and were eight miles from camp when we stopped at a creek to water our horses.  Harbach and Cameron were sitting in the wagon.  Higgins, Stoddard and myself were setting on our horses by the side of them talking when some twenty Jayhawkers, concealed in the brush, fired into us, killing Harbach, wounding Cameron, Higgins Stoddard and I supposed that I was wounded, but I am happy to say that I was not hurt.  My horse was shot from his head back to his tail.  Several shots went thro my coat, pants and hat.  I run my horse after he was shot some two miles before he fell, I then jumped over into a field where there was a man plowing; I jerked the harness of the horse and jumped on him bare back and rode about four or five miles as hard as he could run, when I overtook another foraging party.  I sent two of the men to camp for help.  It was but a little while before our men could be seen on a full gallop coming to our assistance.  I went back with them.  We found Harbach dead, Cameron wounded in the leg, it has since been amputated above the knee, Higgins wounded, has since died, Stoddard wounded in the arm.

I intended to start with the body of Harbach home this evening but could not get ice, and therefore could not start, but will bury here for the present.  The boys propose to send to St. Louis for a metallic coffin.  I will then fetch the body home.

We take no more prisoners.  We are going to shoot every man that we catch in the brush.

P. S. – Since I wrote the above Josiah Cameron has died.  We will be obliged to bury them here for the present, as the weather is so warm and there is no ice here.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, June 7, 1862, p. 1