SHERWOOD FOREST, May 4, 1861.
If we find it best
not to stay here, for health or other reasons, we will all go into the
mountains. What will become of the Villa remains to be seen. It will have to
take its chances. Was there ever such a savage, wicked war? It must be that
Heaven's wrath will fall upon the offenders, and punish them before they can
ever attempt to accomplish their fiendish purpose. The South will stand on the
defensive, and are ready for a brave and determined fight, if their soil is
invaded by an armed foe. Which will be victors of course cannot be foreseen,
but they of the North wickedly invade for an unholy purpose to devastate and
destroy, while the South is merely defending itself against them in the just
maintenance of her rights. I think her course will be favored of Heaven. Those
reports of vessels being sunk, and an Eastern captain hanged, are all lies, and
you need believe nothing of the sort that you hear. The Southerners are
committing no excesses of any description, and will not. Whatever they may be
obliged to do will be only in self-defense. A great many newspaper stories will
be got up for effect, and they may even be circulated by individuals, this
bitter feeling runs so high; but you must believe nothing you would not wish to
hear. The South will commit no crime or unfeeling act of any sort. See how they
acted in Charleston, with what generosity, bravery and magnanimity! See how
little the recipients ever appreciated it! It is a pity they were so courteous
and polite to the vanquished, I thought so at the time. The Southerners need
trust none, and expect no quarter. It is not the flag and the Union, but it is
their dread of the North losing its supremacy! We are all well at present. . .
. .
I will write again
soon. In haste, with love to all the household. Tell D—— the gentlemen on the
river are all soldiers, and batteries with cannon line each side of the river.
All seem prepared to perish or conquer if they are invaded.
SOURCE: Lyon
Gardiner Tyler, The Letters and Times of the Tylers, Volume 2, p.
649
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