At the
Cabinet-meeting the President requested each member to give him an opinion as
to what course the Government should pursue in relation to the recent massacre
at Fort Pillow. The committee from Congress who have visited the scene returned
yesterday and will soon report. All the reported horrors are said to be
verified. The President wishes to be prepared to act as soon as the subject is
brought to his notice officially, and hence Cabinet advice in advance.
The subject is one
of great responsibility and great embarrassment, especially before we are in
possession of the facts and evidence of the committee. There must be something
in these terrible reports, but I distrust Congressional committees. They
exaggerate.
Mrs. W. and Edgar
left to-day for New York. She is to spend a few days at Irvington; Edgar to
complete his college course.
Tom is filled with
unrestrained zeal to go to the army. It is much of it youthful fervor but none
the less earnest.
SOURCE: Gideon Welles, Diary of Gideon Welles,
Secretary of the Navy Under Lincoln and Johnson, Vol. 2: April 1, 1864 —
December 31, 1866, p. 23-4
No comments:
Post a Comment