Showing posts with label Union Sentinel Article. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Union Sentinel Article. Show all posts

Sunday, January 9, 2022

WASHINGTON, Sept. 25 [1862].

Hon. Eli Thayer’s scheme for colonization by armed men of Southern States meets with much favor by the President, Secretary of war and others.  It has been discussed several times in Cabinet meetings, and will probably soon receive formal official sanction.

The project contemplates an expedition of 10,000 colonists enlisted for 6 months and supplies with transportation, subsistence, arms and a guard by the government, whose business it shall be to hold, occupy and possess the public lands of Florida and other lands belonging to rebels, and seized under the law of the last session of Congress for non-payment of direct tax.

Mr. Thayer promises, if allowed to carry out his plan entire, to bring Florida into the Union as a free State by the first February next.  Texas and Virginia are already talked of as States to be subjected to the same process.

This, like the proclamation of this morning, will be another step in the path of a more vigorous policy which the Administration, in its proclamation of freedom, advertised that it should henceforth pursue.

Surgeon General Hammond has returned from the battle-field of Antietam, where he has been stopping at McClellan’s headquarters.  He thinks the whole number of Union killed will come within 1,200, and from a careful inspection of hospitals and lists of those brought off, judges that the wounded will not exceed 6,000.  Maj. Davis, Assistant Inspector General, informed him that he himself had caused to be buried 3,000 of the rebel dead left on the field from which he estimates their wounded to be at least 10,000.

S[u]rgeon General Hammond saw, as a part of the fruits of our victory, twenty-seven standards, which we captured from the rebel regiments, and also reports among our spoils twenty or thirty thousand small arms, mostly those left by the enemy along the line of their retreat.

A man signing himself R. P. Noble communicated to this evening’s Star a statement, which he professes to make on direct information, that Col. Ford did not evacuate Maryland Heights until he had received the fourth and peremptory order from Col. Miles to do so—and besides, his long range ammunition has been exhausted.  He asks a suspension of opinion.

SOURCES:  The Union Sentinel, Osceola, Iowa, Saturday, October 18, 1862, p. 2, the right side of the article was caught be the seam of the bound newspaper volume and torn on the right side of the column leaving only an average of about 3 to 4 words per line. I was able to do a search on Newspapers.com and found the same article in the Muscatine Weekly Journal, Muscatine Iowa, Friday, October 3, 1862 p. 1. It is this article that I have here transcribed.

Saturday, January 8, 2022

Official from Gen. Buell

PERRYVILLE, KY; via Bardstown, Oct. 10.
To Major General Halleck.

I have already advised you of the movement of the army under my command from Louisville. More or less skirmishing has occurred daily with the enemy's cavalry since then. It was supposed the enemy would give battle at Bardstown. The troops reached that point on the 4th, driving out the enemy's rear guard of cavalry and artillery. The main body retired toward Springfield, whither the pursuit has continued. The center corps, under General Gilbert, moved on the direct road from Springfield to Perryville, and arrived on the 7th within 2 miles of the town, where the enemy was found to be in force. The left column, under General McCook, came up on the Mackville road about 10 o'clock yesterday, the 8th. It was ordered into position to attack and a strong reconnaissance directed.

At 4 o'clock I received a request from General McCook for re-enforcements, and heard with astonishment that the left had been seriously engaged for several hours and that the right and left of that corps were being turned and severally pressed Re-enforcements were immediately sent forward from the center; orders were also sent to the right column, under General Crittenden, which was advancing by the Lebanon road, to push forward and attack the enemy's left, but it was impossible for it to get into position in time to produce any decided results. The action continued until dark; some sharp fighting also occurred in the center. The enemy was everywhere repulsed, but not without some momentary advantage on the left.

The several corps were put in position during the night and moved to attack; at 6 o'clock this morning some skirmishing occurred with the enemy's rear guard. The main body has fallen back in the direction of Harrodsburg. I have no accurate report of our loss yet. It is probably pretty heavy, including valuable officers. Generals Jackson and Terrill, I regret to say, are among the killed.

(Signed.)
D. C. BUELL,    
Gen. Commanding.

SOURCES:  The Union Sentinel, Osceola, Iowa, Saturday, October 18, 1862, p. 2, the right side of the article was caught be the seam of the bound newspaper volume.  To reconstruct this article I consulted the Muscatine Weekly Journal, Muscatine, Iowa, Friday, October 17, 1862, p. 4 to format the top of the article and The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume 16, Part 1 (Serial No. 22), p. 1022-3 for the text of the article.

Fight at Perrysville, Ky.[Bragg] [De]feated.

LOUISVILLE, Oct. 10, P. M. Yesterday [morning] Buell attacked Bragg’s forces at Chaplin [Creek in] the immediate vicinity of Perrysville. A shor[t but] terrible fight ensued, when the rebels [broke and rap]idly fled over three diverging roads  southward.  [Our] forces are in close pursuit; and hope to bag the lot.  At last accounts Gen. Gilbert’s forces [were in] the rear of the rebels, and some distance [below them.]  Military exigencies require the suppression [of the] name of the place. No further accounts [of the loss]es on either side.

LOUISVILLE, Oct. 10.—Great anxiety [and excitement] exists here respecting the fate of [of our soldiers] in the pending battle. Capt. Aldershaw [is on his] way hither from Bardstown, with the re[mains of] Gens. Jackson and Terrell, and Col. Webster [of the] 18th.

Among the Perrysville casualties are, killed—Gens. Jackson and Terrill, [acting Brig.] Generals Webster and Lytle of Ohio; [Lieut. Col.] Jewett and Major Campbell of the 15th [Kentucky] cavalry.  Col. Pope of the same [regiment is] wounded.

There is no confirmation of the [death of Gen.] Sheridan.

Gen. Rosseau is reported slightly [wounded.]

Col. Woolford, of the 1st Kentucky [cavalry, af]ter five charges, took two batteries, [and the enemy] after hard fighting, were driven 8 [miles.]

The foregoing relates to Wednesday[’s fight.]

Various rumors are circulating of [a fight] yesterday, (Thursday) said to be [favorable to the] Federals but are traceable to no [authentic source.]  At headquarters, 11 o’clock Friday [morning,] have received no advices from the [battlefield later] than Wednesday evening.

Our force in that fight was about [15,000 infantry,] 8 batteries of artillery, and 2,500 [cavalry, but were] reinforced toward the close of the [engagement.]  The rebel force has not been [estimated.]

Thursday morning we occupied [an advantageous] situation on all sides of the enemy. [Our troops are] in high spirits and are confident [of victory.]

Our loss in killed and wounded [in the] battle was 1,500.  The enemy’s loss [is considered] much greater.

The 10th Ohio lost 282 killed [and wounded] yesterday.

Company B. Capt. Farman [of Pope’s regiment] mostly from Louisville lost in [killed and wounded] all except twelve men.

SOURCES:  The Union Sentinel, Osceola, Iowa, Saturday, October 18, 1862, p. 2, the right side of the article was caught be the seem of the bound newspaper volume and partially torn from the binding I have had to reconstruct the article by using articles from the Muscatine Weekly Journal, Muscatine, Iowa, Friday, October 17, 1862, p. 4, the Illinois State Journal, Springfield, Illinois, Saturday, October 11, 1862, p. 2 and The Rock Island Argus, Rock Island, Illinois, Saturday, October 11, 1862, p. 2.  The missing or illegible words from the Union Sentinel article appear in brackets.

Friday, January 7, 2022

Captain William M. Duncan to Mary Morgan Duncan, September 7, 1862

Springfield, Sept. 7th.  I never had better health in my life, though we had a hard time[.] While marching from Sedalia to this place—a distance of One Hundred and twenty five miles, which we marched in six days over the most hilly and dusty roads I ever say.  This is doubtless to the poorest country in the west.  The drought has nearly ruined the crops, and it looks little like subsisting a large army here through the winter.

Our troops nearly famished for water on their march, and the roads were so dusty that none could scarcely tell the color of our cloths or even the color of the men.  After crossing the Osage River, we commenced climbing the Ozark Mountains, and had nothing but hills, hollows and rocks from their to Springfield.

Take it, all in all, it is one of the most God-forsaken countries I ever saw.  War has destroyed every thing in its way, houses [tenantless], fences burned, and orchards destroyed.  You can scarcely see a man in a day’s travel, unless it is some old man unable to do any thing.

– Published in The Union Sentinel, Osceola, Iowa, Saturday, October 18, 1862, p. 2

Co. D, 39th Iowa Volunteers.

This Co. left this place on Wednesday Sept. 23d for quarters at Des Moines, and with them went the prayers and well wishes of many a sad heart.  We are personally acquainted with the officers and most of the privates that belong to this company, and it is not enough to say of them that they will render a good account of themselves hereafter. The officers are gentleman, have souls, and are proud of their men.  The privates, so far as we are acquainted with them, are high minded patriots, moral and many of them pious.

The resolution passed by the company since they left us [which may be seen in Mr. Starback’s letter in another column] will be a source of satisfaction to their many relations and friends at home, as well as the assurance which I received while paying them a hasty visit on Tuesday last, that the privates all love their officers.  This is as it should be and as we hope it will continue to be.  We can have no better evidence than this that they will succeed in whatever they undertake.  God be with them, is the prayer of every human heart.

Below are the names of the officers as furnished me when they left.  Mr. Oldham (formerly Editor of the “Courier,”) is now Sergt. Major.

I have not learned who takes his place as 2d Sergt but I think it is David Johnson, who was next below him in office.

COMMISSIONED OFFICERS.

Captain

L. D. BENNETT.

1st Lieutenant,

Wm. T. MATTHEWS.

2nd Lieutenant,

C. CARTER.

NON COMMISSIONEND OFFICERS.

1st Sergeant,

G. PIKE.

[torn] Sergeant,

T. R. OLDHAM.

[torn]

DAVID JOHNSON.

[torn]

J. L. MILLARD.

[torn]

ABLE CHANCE.

[torn]

THOMAS TRENT.

[torn]

[J]AMES DENNEY.

[torn]

[torn]T HAMILTON.

[torn]

[torn]N HARPER.

[torn]

[torn] [G]ARDNER.

[torn]

[torn] [B]LACK.

[The bottom of this article is diagonally torn from the upper left to the lower right. The rest of the article is missing.]

– Published in The Union Sentinel, Osceola, Iowa, Saturday, October 18, 1862, p. 2

Saturday, January 17, 2015

To Our Subscribers.

I am aware that a good paper would be much more acceptable to our readers than apologies, but I trust they would pardon, did they know have of our troubles.

In the first place the Editor is green at the business, has a green and semi-green “devil,” and a “Jour,” that wears mustaches: and in the next place the office is badly “pied,” as the printers say: If there are any who don’t understand this term, it means a general mixing together of the type, which democratic meeting much resembles a committee of the whole in our Legislative Assemblies, in every respect except noise.  They are strikingly alike in this respect – they separate much more readily when they are DRY, but it takes much more time to regulate an office in this condition than most people are aware of, and we beg the indulgence of our patrons for a few weeks, when we hope to have a more satisfactory state of things.  For the next three weeks I expect to be away from the office, after which I shall be here at all hours of the day, ready to be kicked by each subscriber in turn.

We have not yet secured correspondents in all the different companies in the army from this county we have written to several, some of whom have answered while from other no word has been received, probably owing to disturbance of the mails.

Our news department is more limited this week than it will be when we get things in their right places.

– Published in The Union Sentinel, Osceola, Iowa, Saturday, October 18, 1862, p. 2

Prospectus

Since, in accordance with the views of many, every public act should follow a precedent in these days of trouble, and since no harm can accrue from following the foot prints of others in commencing the publication of this paper, I shall as briefly as convenient state the character.  I wish it to sustain, and for which I shall labor to the best of my ability.

It is perhaps needless for me to say concerning the great question of the day, that the sheet will be an advocate for the Union, and will please that all practical means may be used for the immediate suppression of this rebellion, at the least possible cost of blood and treasure.

Heretofore I have been a Republican from principle; but while I believe political parties are strictly necessary in times of peace, for the purpose of keeping each other within bounds of propriety and honesty, I also believe, with Douglas, that in this dark hour of our national existence every man should disrobe himself of his party prejudices, strike hands with his political opponents, and with an eye only to the Union of these States, and the perpetuation of the Institutions that have been our pride and boast for more than eighty years, stand shoulder to shoulder in support of the head of this administration, whose acts, since in power, not only merit, but have received the approbation of the honest and intelligent of all parties.

He who does this is a Republican, a Democrat, and a Patriot; and will be remembered by me at the ballot-box as well as in my prayers, whatever may have been his former political views.

He whose tongue finds no oth[er] employment so delightful as that of [illegible] the Administration, will be regarded as either destitute of good sense , or as a traitor at heart, striving to overthrow our revered institutions, the monuments of Patriots who now sleep in honored graves.

In addition to the war news of the week, condensed from the daily papers, these columns will contain communications from correspondents in those companies that have left this and adjoining Counties, to serve their country; and we trust that such communications will be interesting to those families, at least whose circles have been broken – broken for a short time, we hope – by this wicked rebellion.

We shall endeavor to keep our readers informed in regard to our county affairs; nor will Educational, Agricultural and other interests, be overlooked in the excitement of the times.

While we wish to keep within the limits [missing text] all occasions, we cannot ex-[missing test] one on all quest-[missing text] assion.

[missing text]ror, the [missing text] the

[This page of the Union Sentinel was torn from the middle of the left side diagonally to the lower right side.  The rest of this column is missing but the story is continued at the top of the next column:]

Begging your forbearance in this my first effort at this business,

I am your servant,
J. H. CAVERLY.

– Published in The Union Sentinel, Osceola, Iowa, Saturday, October 18, 1862, p. 2

Saturday, September 27, 2014

Execution Of Ten Guerrillas

The correspondent of the St. Louis Republican at Macon City Mo., gives the following account of the recent execution of ten guerillas there:

“On the 25th, one hundred and forty-four of the Harris House prisoners were shipped by railroad to St. Louis for imprisonment during the war; and on the day following, Friday, ten of those left – the most depraved and dangerous of the gang – where shot as a punishment for their crimes, and as an example and warning to others of their kind that are still at large.  The ceremonies attending this execution were exceedingly impressive.  On the morning of the 26th, the condemned were separated from their comrades, and confined in a freight car on the Han[n]ibal and St. Jo Railroad, and were at the same time informed of the doom that awaited them.  They knew that they could not in reason hope for pardon, nor for anything in fact short of the punishment due for the triple crime of treason, perjury and murder.  Every man of them had for the third time had been captured while engaged in the business of robbery and assassination among his own neighbors.  All of them had twice, some of them three, and others had four times made solemn oath to bear faithful allegiance to the Federal government, to never take up arms in behalf of the traitors cause, but in all respects to deport themselves as true and loyal citizens of the United States, And every man of these ten traitors had perjured himself as often as he had subscribed to this oath, and at the same time his hands were red with repeated murders.

At 11 o’clock A. M., on Friday the procession was formed, and the silent multitudes civil and military, moved at the signal of the muffled drum toward the field of execution. – The executioners were detailed from the 23rd Missouri Infantry, and numbered sixty-six men.  They marched six abreast, with a prisoner in the rear of each file.  A hollow square, or rather parallelogram, was formed, on a slightly declining prairie, and a half mile south of the village.  The executioners formed the south line of the square, the balance of the Missouri Twenty-third on the east and west lines, and Merrill’s Horse the north.  The executioners were divided off into firing parties of six for each prisoner, leaving a reserve of six that were stationed a few paces in the rear, Gen. Merrill in the northeast angle of the square.  The firing parties formed a complete line, but were detached about two paces from each other.  Each prisoner was marched out ten paces in front, and immediately south of his six executioners.  This order having been completed, the prisoners were severally blinded with bandages of white cloth, and were then required to kneel for the terrible doom that awaited them.  After this time every tongue was silent, and nothing was more audible than the heart throbs of the deeply moved and sympathysing multitude.  Dr. Landis then stepped forward to address the Throne of Grace.  His prayer was the utterance of a pittying heart; brief, eloquent and impressive.  It was an earnest appeal for the pardoning mercy for those about to enter their Maker’s presenc[e].  Then followed the final scene of this imposing drama.  The prisoners remained k[n]eeling, while sixty muskets were pointed at their palpitating hearts.  What a fearful pause! And, O how brief!  The signal is given and the fatal volley is discharged.  Behold the awful change!  A moment since those ten men stood before us in the perfection of life.  Alas! what and where are they now?  Every lip is dumb! – every eye is dim! – every beam of intelligence is faded out forever!  What a swift exit from time to eternity!”

– Published in The Union Sentinel, Osceola, Iowa, Saturday, October 18, 1862, p. 2, there was a large hole in the upper left of the article and the end of the newspaper was torn off from the upper left to the lower right, and therefore the last quarter of the article was missing.  The same article appeared in The Burlington Daily Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, October 11, 1862, p. 2, and I have used that article to reconstruct The Union Sentinel article.

Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Battle of Corinth

Correspondence Gate City.

Corinth, Oct. 5, ’62.

ED. GATE: – I embrace this, the first opportunity since the close of the great battle, to give you a hurried account of the two days engagement, of the 3d and 4th.

It will be understood, of course, that [I d]o not pretend to give a full or general account, as that would be impossible, but simply to state such facts as come under my own observation.

On the morning of the 3d, at daylight, our division was leaving camp and marched to the west of Corinth.  We had been on our way but half an hour when we heard the roar of cannon, apparently four or five miles nearly due west of us, which continued at intervals until we reached our line of breast-works some [missing text] three miles m[missing text] the our [missing text]y advance [missing text] gade, to [missing text] came up [missing text] notwith [missing text] ing [missing text] m [missing text] reme [missing text] here of [missing text] ich  [missing text] [illegible] [missing text]but  [missing text] storming  [missing text] less than fifteen  [missing text] came to sight.  T [missing text] the breastworks flanked  [missing text]caused us to fall badk, w  [missing text] good order, for nearly a  [missing text] we formed in line of battle – our regiment, as usual supporting a battery – the gallant 2d to our right.  We had not more than fairly dressed up in line of battle, when on they came again.  Then came the tug of war.  We were ordered to fall flat upon our faces, which we did, whilst they rained down upon us such a storm of shot and shell, grape and canister, as nothing it seemed, for a time could resist.  Some idea of the force of the shooting may be formed from the fact that a majority of my company, and I think, of both the 2d and 7th Iowa, were struck by either pieces of shell, or shot or limbs of trees.  The number killed at this place in the ten regiments, I do not know.  Of my company Corporal John Scott was killed; privates Robt. Criswell, Peter Miles wounded; and Corp. J. O. Percy, Serg’t W. W. Sapp and private P. Cadie were missing – supposed to be drowned or taken prisoners.  Gen. P. W. [sic] Hackleman, the commander of our Brigade, was killed – shot through the neck.  Gen. Oglesby, Col. Baker of the 2d, and Lieut. Col. Mills, of the same, Major McMullin and lieutenants John and Irwin of our regiment were wounded, and Lieut. Camp  [missing text] isomer.

[Missing text] eries had exhausted their  [missing text] they had been gon  [missing text], being unable  [missing text].  Our policy  [missing text] to  [missing text].

[There is a large hole in the top of this article, and the bottom was torn from the upper left to the lower right, and the rest of the column is missing, the article picks up at the top of the next column.]

J. M. McCormick, were wounded.  Lieut. Bess and McCormick, both had narrow escapes – one had his canteen shot through, and the other his haversack cut off by a bullet.  The loss of their side is not known yet, only thus far, that our loss counts by hundreds, while that of the enemy will have to count by thousands.  This is not a victory made by official or any other kind of reports, but by hard fighting in which the valor of the Iowa troops was as conspicuous as it has become proverbial, as we are still lying out without tents, camp equipage or any else except hard bread, coffee and ammunition, waiting for another attack from a force said to be advancing from the east.  My accommodations for writing are rather limited, and I must close.  We had 345 officers and privates in the [ac]tion, 120 of whom are killed wounded [or] missing.

C. F. CONN.

– Published in The Union Sentinel, Osceola, Iowa, Saturday, October 17, 1862, p. 2.

Saturday, August 9, 2014

Tenn. September 22, 1862

[Missing Text] [T]enn. Sept 22nd 1862

[Missing Text]is distance from the centre of information, [illegible] [Head] Quarters of the army of West Tennessee, added to the difficulty of direct communication with the separate and separated Divisions of said Army, it is not to be supposed that your correspondent can, as a general thing, give your news from the South in “advance of the mail,” as Newspaper men say, and still less likely in advance of the telegraph.  However I may inform you of matters pertaining to the war and this Army, which though OLD as far as news are concerned, may interest your numerous readers, and moreover, my pen is not a Government monopoly, therefore not to be controlled, as certain institutions not of, by Cliques, or parties having their own aggrandizement in view.

The first matter of importance that I think of is one in which all western people have an interest, and worded positively, in original language – it is this – “All quiet on the Mississippi!”  And why should this not be the condition of things?  We are holding our individual breathe to hear the result of the fighting in the East.  We are prepared for any tidings, good, bad, or indifferent.  We are as ready to believe that Gen. McClellan has bagged the body of the enemy, and that they are now on their way to hospitable confinement in the North as we are to believe the enemy are in the possession of Washington and have burnt the Capitol, which has so long literally bled this Union in more ways than one.  I do not wish you to understand from this last observation that I am opposed to improvement of human progression.  I am, however, opposed to any further programs of the rebels in the direction of Mason and Dixon’s line.  It is to be hoped that Gen. McClellan has caught the spirit of our soldiers, and [illegible & missing text] in regard to the “conduct of the war?”  [Missing text] will be prosecuted with all that [missing text] that a powerful people and [missing text] capable of.  Our army of the [missing text] table.  Let us hope that [missing text] to lead it and direct [missing text].

Gen. W. [missing text] has [missing text, the rest of the article is missing.]

– Published in The Union Sentinel, Osceola, Iowa, Saturday, October 17, 1862, p. 1.  There is a small hole in the top of this article, and the bottom was torn from the lower left to the upper right.

Sunday, July 20, 2014

Jackson and Calhoun --- A Striking Picture

A scene at the White House in 1833, at the lodging of John C. Calhoun the same night, and death-bead scene at the Hermitage, were this graphically portrayed by Senator Cowan, of Pennsylvania, in the debate on the Confiscation Bill.  It is a very striking picture:–

MR. PRESIDENT:– If Calhoun had been executed for his treason in 1833, there would have been no rebellion now; and perhaps he came nearer his execution than most people are aware.  You will know the conspirators in South Carolina proceeded to the commission of the overt act.

Calhoun was the chief adviser.  General Jackson knew it well, and determined that the law should be put in execution against him; not against the poor misguided men that followed, but against the chief conspirator.  He had resolved on his prosecution and trial, and if convicted, his execution for treason.  He said that if he had an Attorney General that would not draw an indictment, he would find one that would.  Things were approaching the crisis.  Calhoun became aware of Jackson’s determination, and sent Letcher of Kentucky to confer with him on the subject, and to learn his real intentions.  He went to the President’s house.  It was already late at night.  The President received him with his usual courtesy; but, sir, that mild blue eye, which at times would fill with tears and overflow like that of a woman, was kindled up that night with unwonted fire.    He reasoned with him for a while, then paced the floor.  His indignation became fully aroused.  At times he stormed in passion towering and sublime, till rising in passion to is full height, his frame dilating and quivering, every feature flowing with the living fire within, with that oath which in him never seemed profane, but the struggle of a great soul to take hold of the Almighty for the strength of his purpose, he declared to Letcher that if another step was taken, by the Eternal, he would try Calhoun for treason, and if convicted, he would hang him on a gallows as high as Haman’s.

Letcher could not misunderstand his purpose.  He saw that he was terrible in earnest.  From that interview he hastened to the lodgings of Calhoun.  He had retired to his bed.

He knocked at his bed chamber and was admitted.  Calhoun received him sitting up in bed, with his cloak around him – Letcher detailed all that occurred, giving the entire conversation between him and Jackson and described the old hero as he took that oath.

There sat Calhoun, drinking in eagerly every word, and as Letcher proceeded, he became pale as death, and trembled like an aspen leaf.  Yes, sir, Calhoun, great as he was in intellect, quaked in his bed!  And for what?  Was it from fear or cowardice?  Ah, no.  It was the consciousness of guilt.  He was the arch traitor, who, like Satan in Paradise, brought death into the world and all our woe.  Within one week he came into the Senate, and voted for every section of Mr. Clay’s bill and Gen. Jackson was prevailed upon not to prosecute him for his crime.

I have been told, upon authority upon which I rely, that during the last days of Gen. Jackson at the Hermitage he was slowly sinking under the ravages of consumption – that mysterious disease, which while it wastes the body, leaves, if possible, the mind more clear, and nearer to inspiration – he had a conversation with his family physician and friend.

While lying upon his bed one day, and speaking of his past Administration, he inquired:

What act in my Administration, in your opinion, will posterity condemn with the greatest severity?

The Physician replied that he was unable to answer – that it might be the removal of the deposits.

Oh, no! said the General.

Then it may be the specie Circular?

Not at all!

What is it, then?

I can tell you, said he, rising up in his bed, his eyes kindaling up:  I can tell you.  Posterity will condemn me more because I was persuaded not to hang John C. Calhoun as a traitor than for any other act of my life.

Sir, does not this seen inspiration now?  If Calhoun, the originator of the conspiracy to dissolve the Union, and to build up the Southern Confederacy, had been executed for his reason, we would have had now rebellion now.

The greater part of the whole country which formerly produced the sea island cotton is now thoroughly restored to the Union.  The laborers are there – the soil and climate.  It needs only assurance of protection to revive the cultivation of the staple, as well as to produce vast quantities of corn and forage for our troops.  Since this war must be conducted by marches and battles and sieges, why neglect the best means to make them successful and their results permanent?  It is worthy of notice that thus far the portions of territory which once recovered we have most firmly held, are precisely those in which the greatest proportion of colored men are found.  By their assistance, our armies will be able permanently to operate in and occupy the country; and in labor for the army, in raising its and their own supplies, full occupation can be given them, and with this there will be neither occasion or temptation to them to emigrate to a northern and less congenial climate.

Judging by experience, no colored man will leave his home.  All possibility of competition from negro labor in the North is avoided in giving colored men protection and employment upon the soil which they have thus far cultivated, and the right to which has been vacated by the original proprietors, deeply involved in the crimes of treason and rebellion.  No great territory has been permanently reduced without depriving the leaders of its people of their land and property.  It is these that give power and influence.  Few men have commanding genius and talent to exercise dangerous influences over their fellow men without the adventitious aid of Money and property.  By striking down this system of compulsory labor which enables the leaders of the rebellion to control the resources of the people, the rebellion would die of itself.

– Published in The Union Sentinel, Osceola, Iowa, Saturday, October 17, 1862, p. 1.  The bottom of this page of the newspaper was torn diagonally from the lower left to the middle of the right.  This article was also published in the Ashtabula Weekly Telegraph, Ashtabula, Ohio, Saturday Morning, December 27, 1862, p. 1, and I have relied heavily on it to reconstruct this Union Sentinel article.

Saturday, July 19, 2014

The Generals vs. the Politicians

It is a significant fact that all the volunteer Generals of our armies who have spoken on the [missing text] regard slavery as the vital point of [missing text]on, and insist on directing all our blows against it.  We have already published the views of a number of the Democratic Generals in the field to this effect.  We now give an extract from a recent speech of General Sickles, a thorough-going pro-slavery Democrat in the days of peace, to the same purport:

Now, I have a word or two to say to my fellow citizens, and especially to those who have hitherto done me the honor to concur with me in my views of public affairs. In the event of the result of the war terminating in emancipation I wish to say that men’s minds should at once be disabused of any false notions they may have conceived. The laboring men of the North need not suppose that the freed men of the South will ever interfere with or become competitors with them in the labor market of the North. It must be borne in mind that since this great convulsion of the country the South has not been able to produce enough of rice, cotton, tobacco, corn, sugar, and the other staples for which she is so famed. The demand of the world has been great, but she could not meet them. For more than a year not more than one-half of their usual crops have been produced. And remember the demand is always increasing for all the staples of the South produced by negro labor. Remember that there is more cotton land, and rice and sugar land now uncultivated in the South than there has been hitherto cultivated by all the planters who flourished there but a single year ago. Remember that [this demand must go on continually increasing, and the supply be greatly diminished for years to come, before capital can resume its former channels. Cannot every man see that when peace shall be restored, the demand for negro labor in the South will be so increased that all the blacks throughout the country will be drawn by attraction towards the South, and there be entirely absorbed? So that, so far from the labor of the blacks ceasing to be in demand on the cessation of war and the restoration of peace, the demand for the great staples of rice, tobacco, sugar and cotton — which will and must be scarce — will call the service of every black laborer into instantaneous and continuous requisition, and a new impulse will be given to every branch of productive industry. The prosperity of the North, meanwhile, is not to cease. Capital, enterprise, thrift are still here among us, and will be then as now; and we will not only have the same demand for labor with liberal wages, and the same reward for enterprise and industry, but, in my humble judgment, every branch of trade and commerce and domestic industry .will rise into new life when the Union and the constitution shall be vindicated and peace restored.]

– Published in The Union Sentinel, Osceola, Iowa, Saturday, October 17, 1862, p. 1.  The bottom of this page of the newspaper was torn diagonally from the lower left to the middle of the right.  I have used Friends’ Review: A Religious, Literary and Miscellaneous Journal, Volume 16, No. 1, September 6, 1862, p. 9-10, contained within the brackets, to complete this article.

Monday, June 30, 2014

Why Is It?

Clark County has always been considered one of the healthiest localities in the state; in fact, the healthiest in the West.  In by-gone days, doctors could not make a living by the practice of medicine here; no one needed medical advice. – They had, in many cases to lay aside th[eir] pill bags and turn their attention [missing text] other direction in order to save [missing text] from want.  But how is it [missing text]ime? Do we not need [missing text] disease prevalent to a [missing text].  We hear, complaints [missing text]flicted with sore [missing text]tism – has had [missing text] another has [missing text]ced by goo[missing text] other [missing text]

– Published in The Union Sentinel, Osceola, Iowa, Saturday, October 17, 1862, p. 1.  This page of the newspaper was torn diagonally from the lower left to the upper right the rest of the article is missing, and since this was a local article I am not able to reconstruct it using any other sources.

Sunday, June 29, 2014

The Black Emperor and the Ice

The Pine and Palm tells a story received by letter from Hayti, [illegible]ing the Emperor Soulouque:–

“An American sea captain made the Emperor a present of a chunk of ice, which was carried to the palace wrapped in a blanket.  He was greatly pleased with it, and placed it in a room which a soldier was ordered to guard.  A few days after it was put there the Emperor remembered it, and went to show it to some of his friends.  There lay the blanket, but ice there was none.  The only evidence of its existence was a very wet floor.

“‘Where is that ice?’ he said – (as the white folks reported.)

“The soldier was ignorant – [illegible phrase].

 “‘Where is that ice?’ asked the furious monarch.

“‘Don’t know,’ said the soldier.

“‘Don’t know?  You’ve sole it!  Don’t know?  Guards, take that man and flog him until he gets that ice!’

“The poor fellow was flogged, it is said, but [t]he heat did not render [b]ack the ice.”

– Published in The Union Sentinel, Osceola, Iowa, Saturday, October 17, 1862, p. 1

Doggrel on the Dog Law

Our wise legislature, some few months ago,
When dog-flesh was plenty and finances low,
Caught the brilliant idea, since the state was “hard up”
To run the machine at the expense of the pup,
It was therefore resolved that each four-footed male
Should be taxed at the rate of a dollar a tail,
And each feminine canine three dollars or so,
That puppies might not be encouraged to grow;
And further, if any stray piece of dog meat
Without color or check should be running the street,
Any law loving person its progress might check
By cutting its tail off close up to the neck.
And various conclusions did citizens draw
As to what was the motive in making the law,
Did abundance of “curs” give the place a bad name?
Or was the “Fur Company” anxious for game?
Or was it the dog days? Or affection for sheep?
Or did lawyers like sausage, and want it cheap?
Be that as it may, the tax was assessed,
And pup stock declined as the import was pressed,
And many an owner of dogs [had] to [bleed],
And many a cur was compelled to secede;
Thus, when every source of revenue fails,
We can curtail our taxes [b]y taxing our-tails.

– Published in The Union Sentinel, Osceola, Iowa, Saturday, October 17, 1862, p. 1

Saturday, June 28, 2014

The Emigrant's Dying Child.

Father, I'm hungered! give me bread;
Wrap close my shivering form!
Cold blows the wind around my head,
And wildly beats the storm.
Protect me from the angry sky;
I shrink beneath its wrath,
And dread this torrent rushing by,
Which intercepts our path.

Father, these California skies,
You said, were bright and bland —
Bu where, to-night, my pillow lies,
Is this the golden land?
’Tis well my little sister sleeps,
Or else she too would grieve;
But only see how still she keeps —
She has not stirred, since eve.

I'll kiss her, and perhaps she'll speak;
She'll kiss me hack, I know;
— Oh! father, only touch her cheek.
’tis cold as very snow.
Father, you do not shed a tear,
Yet little Jane has died;
— Oh! promise, when you leave me here,
To lay me by her side!

And when you pass this torrent cold,
We're come so far to see.
And you go on, beyond, for gold,
Oh think of Jane and me.
Father, I'm weary! rest my head
Upon thy bosom warm —
Cold blows the wind around my head,
And wildly beats the storm.

– Published in The Union Sentinel, Osceola, Iowa, Saturday, October 17, 1862, p. 1

Friday, June 27, 2014

Hetty Marvin

When the British and Tories attacked Now London, Connecticut, in 17__, and set a price on the head of Governor Griswold, the latter fled to the town of L____, where his cousin, Mrs. Martin, hid him for some days in the secluded farmhouse. But at length the subtle foe discovered his retreat, and one sunny afternoon in May he was routed from his hiding-place by the tidings that a band of horsemen were approaching to capture him.

His only chance of escape was to reach the mouth of a little creek which emptied itself into the Connecticut River, just above the entrance of the latter into Long Island Sound. There he had a boat stationed, with two faithful attendants hidden beneath the high banks of the creek.

The distance from the farmhouse to the boat was two miles of the usual traveled road. But a little path across the farmer's orchard would bring him to the road, only a mile from the boat, and save a quarter's length of his fearful run for life.

Just where the narrow path from the orchard opened into the road, Hetty Marvin sat bleaching her household linen. The long web of forty yards or more, which was diligently spun and woven during the long Winter months, was whitened in May, and thus made ready for use.

The business of bleaching was well economized, being usually done by the younger daughters of the family, who were not old enough to spin, or strong enough for the heavier work of the kitchen or the dairy.

The roll of linen was taken by the farmer or his stout “help” to a grassy plot beside a spring or meadow-brook. There it was thoroughly wetted and spread upon the green turf, to take the best heat of the sun by day and the dew by night. The little maiden who tended it would sit near it.

Thus sat Hetty Marvin, the young daughter of Governor Griswold's cousin, when her hunted friend sprang past her into the road to escape his pursuers. Hetty was a timid child of about twelve years, yet thoughtful and wise beyond any of her elders. She was frightened by the headlong haste with which the governor rushed across the meadow. But she quickly comprehended the scene, and instantly quieted her faithful Towser, who, though a friend of the family guest, thought it becoming to bark loudly at his hurried steps.

Her wise forethought arrested the governor's notice, and suggested a scheme to delude his pursuers.

“Hetty,” he said, “I am flying for my life: and unless I can reach my boat before I am overtaken, I am a lost man. You see the road forks here. But you must tell those who are chasing me that I have gone up the road to catch the mail-wagon, which will soon be along, you know. Then they will turn off the other way.”

“Oh, cousin!” said the little girl, in an agony of distress. “I cannot tell a lie; indeed I cannot. Why did you tell which way you were going!”

“Hetty, child, surely you would not betray me to my death? Hark! they are coming — I hear the click of their horses' feet. Oh, Hetty, tell them I have gone up the road instead of down, and heaven will bless you.”

“Heaven never blesses those who speak falsely, cousin. But I will not tell them which way you go, even if they kill me; so run as quickly as possible.”

“It's of no use. Unless I can deceive them I am a dead man.”

“Cousin, cousin, hide under my web of cloth; they'd never think of looking here for you. Come, get down as swiftly as you can, and I'll cover you, and stand sprinkling my linen.”

Angry that their expected prey had escaped from the house where they hoped to secure him, the six mounted Tories, headed by a British officer, dashed along the road in swift pursuit. At sight of the girl in the meadow, the leader of the party paused.

“Child,” he said, sternly, “have you seen a man running hereabouts?”

“Yes, sir,” replied Hetty, trembling and flushing.

“Which way aid he go?”

“I promised not to tell, sir.”

“But you must, or take the consequences.”

“I said I wouldn't tell, if you killed me,” sobbed the frightened girl.

“I'll have it out of her!” exclaimed the furious officer, with an oath.

“Let me speak to her,” said his Tory guide. "I know the child, I believe. Isn't your name Hetty Marvin?" he asked, pleasantly.

“Yes, sir.”

“And this man that ran by you a few minutes ago was your mother's cousin, wasn't he?”

“Yes, sir, he was.”

“Well, we are friends of his. What did he say to you when he came along?”

“He — told me — that he was flying for his life.”

“Just so, Hetty: that was very true. I hope he won't have to fly far. Were was he going to hide? You see, I could help him if I knew his plans.”

Now, Hetty was not a whit deceived by this smooth speech. But she was willing to tell as much of the truth as would consist with his safety, and she judged that her frankness would serve her kinsman better than her silence, so she answered her questioner candidly:

“My cousin said he was going down to the river, where he had a boat, and wanted me to tell the men that were chasing him that he had gone the other way, to catch the mail-wagon.”

“Why didn't you do as he told you, then, when I asked you where he had gone?” thundered the officer, fiercely.

“I could not tell a lie, sir,” was the tearful answer.

“Hetty,” again began the smooth-tongued Tory, “you are a nice child. Everybody knows you are a girl of truth. What did your cousin say when you told him you could not tell a falsehood?”

“He said he shouldn't think I'd betray him to his death.”

“And then you promised him that yon wouldn't tell which way he went if you were killed for it?”

“Yes, sir.”

“That was brave; and I suppose he thanked yon for it, and ran down the road as quickly as possible.”

“I promised not to tell where he went, sir.”

“Oh, yes, I forgot. Well, tell us his last words, and we won't trouble you any more.”

“His last words were, ‘It’s my only chance, child, and I'll get down as you say.’”

And, overcome with fright and the sense of her kinsman's danger, should they rightly interpret the language which she had reported, she sobbed aloud, and hid her face from sight.

Her tormenters did not stay longer to soothe or question her. They all immediately pushed rapidly on down to the river.

Now the governor had arranged a signal with his boatmen that a white cloth by day, or a light by night, displayed from the attic-window of his hiding-place, which was just visible at the mouth of the river, should inform them if he were in trouble, and put them on the alert to help him.

As soon, therefore, as he started from his cousin’s, it floated from the window to warn them. And when they saw the pursuing party dash madly down the road to the river, and recognized the British uniform of the leaders, they pulled swiftly out to sea. The horsemen reached the shore only in season to see the boat with two men in it nearly out of sight, and, supposing their destined prey had escaped, relinquished the pursuit.

Meanwhile the victim lay safe and quiet where the shrewdness of the little cousin had hidden him. until the time came for her return for supper. Then he bade her go as usual to her home, telling her to ask her mother to place the signal-lamp as soon as it grew dark in the window for the boatmen, and send him there some supper, with his valise, which, in the hurry of his departure, he had left behind.

The signal recalled the boat, which after twilight had ventured in sight of the shore and the farmhouse, and the governor quietly made his way to the river in safety. When he rejoined his father in a secure home, he named his infant daughter, which had been born in his absence, “Hetty Marvin,” that he might be daily reminded of the little cousin whose truth and shrewdness saved his life.

SOURCES:  The Union Sentinel, Osceola, Iowa, Saturday, October 17, 1862, p. 1 in which the beginning portion of this article was hidden in the binding, and the lower portion of the first column was missing.  I used Frank Leslie's Pleasant Hours, Volume 21, No. 1, August 1876, p. 113-4 to reconstruct the article.

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

A Diabolical Murder

The Leavenworth Bulletin, contains an account of one of the most fiendish instances of rebel crime that has marked their diabolical deeds during the war.

While the army was near Bentonville, Arkansas, last Spring, a secession young woman often visited the camp, and made herself very agreeable to the officers. A Lieutenant in the Second Indiana battery, named Masterson, became charmed with her, and she pretended to respond to the passion she had created. Their relations became quite intimate, and on occasion she invited him to visit her at the house of her uncle. He unsuspectingly availed himself of the opportunity to spend an afternoon in her society. Having been with her about two hours, she went to the window and raised it, and at the same moment twelve guerillas appeared and fired upon him. He fell dead in the house, and was carried off to a mill-pond and his body thrown into the water. Some four days after, the body floated to the shore, and was buried by an old man, and his son. After the lapse of four weeks the body was found, disinterred and identified by the comrades of the unfortunate Lieutenant. The day after the commission of the foul deed, the following note was found under the pillow of the young woman, written, apparently, on the eve of a flight in the night time, to escape the search that followed the next day:

My Dear Uncle and Aunt:

I have succeeded. My beauty which you have always told me was not worth a fig in life, has to-day accomplished as much as the patriot General in our glorious Confederacy. I am content to offer my beauty, virtue, even life itself, upon my country's altar. My bleeding country demands the sacrifice, willingly I obey!  I cannot visit your house any more until this war closes, which I pray God may be soon, but when it does stop, I hope to come and receive the blessings of you both on the head of  Your

Tomphina.

        Published in The Union Sentinel, Osceola, Iowa, Saturday, January 10, 1863, p. 1


NOTE:  This is a reconstructed article.  This article was caught in the binding of the newspaper.  Consequently the first few words of each line are missing from the microfilmed newspaper article.  I have done an internet search and found one transcription of the article which ran in the Nashville Daily Union, December 23, 1862, page 2, column 2.  There are differences between the transcription and what was visible in the Union Sentinel article.  Where differences occurred I deferred to the Union Sentinel article.  I have not yet checked the Nashville Daily Union.

Thursday, November 18, 2010

A Mother's Prayer

Father, in the battle fray,
Shelter his dear head, I pray!
Nerve his young arm with the might
Of Justice, Liberty, and Right.
Where the red hail deadliest falls,
Where stern duty loudly calls,
Where the strife is fierce and wild,
Father! guard, oh! guard my child!

Where the foe rush swift and strong,
Madly [striking] for the wrong;
Where the clashing arms men wield,
Rings above the battle-field;
Where the stifling air is hot,
With bursting shell and whistling shot,
Father! to my boy's brave breast
Let no treacherous blade be pressed!

Father! if my woman's heart—
Frail and weak in every part—
Wanders from thy mercy-seat,
After those dear roving feet,
Let thy tender, pitying grace,
Every selfish thought erase!
If this mother-love be wrong—
Pardon, bless, and make me strong.

For when silent shades of night
Shut the bright world from my sight—
When around the cheerful fire
Gather brothers, sister, sire,
Then I miss my boy's bright face
From the old familiar place,
And my sad heart wanders back
To tented field and bivouac!

Often in my troubled sleep,
Waking, wearily, to weep—
Often dreaming he is near,
Calming every anxious fear—
Often startled by the flash
Of hostile swords that meet and clash,
Till the cannon's smoke and roar,
Hide him from my eyes once more!

Thus I dream – and hope, and pray
All the weary hours away;
But I know his cause is just,
And I centre all my trust
In thy promise: — as thy day
So shall thy strength be always!
Father! let me do thy will!
[And] bid my heart be still.

If new sorrow should befall.
If my noble boy should fall.
If the bright head I have blessed,
On the cold earth finds its rest—
Still, with all the mother's heart,
Torn, and quivering with the smart,
I yield him, 'neath Thy chastening rod,
To his dear country and his God.

Ind. Visitor

– Published in The Union Sentinel, Osceola, Iowa, Saturday, January 10, 1863, p. 1

To Farmers

Editor Sentinel,

For the encouragement of the farmers of Clark[e] County, I would inform them, that on the 13th of December 1862, we organized a Farmers club in Washington Township.  We now have about fifty working members, and will soon select a site for a fairgrounds, lots and scales.

On New years night we organized a club in Fremont Township.  The preamble and constitution of that club, I will have published through the Sentinel, according to promise for a kind of guide for other clubs, yet to organize.

Farmers, organize soon in the various neighborhoods, and send the names of your President and Secretary to Hon. W. D. Wilson, Des Moines Iowa; also the name of the club.  He will forward documents, reports and seeds to your address.

Mr. Wilson informs me that he can send all the tobacco and cotton seed the farmers want.  I will write to the commissioner at Washington for a supply of good seeds and cuttings, for gratuitous distribution among the regular organized clubs.

W. Watts,
Sec. Clark[e] County Ag’l Society.

– Published in The Union Sentinel, Osceola, Iowa, Saturday, January 3, 1863