George William Curtis to Charles Eliot Norton, July 12, 1864

And how is Ashfield? I should have written you there before if I had supposed there was a post-office at such a height. Do you have to eat oil more than three times a day to keep warm in this weather? We don't. But then we live upon an island in the temperate zone. Or are you warmed by the news of the isolation of Washington? There is something comical about it which I cannot escape, with all the annoyance. The great Dutch Pennsylvania annually sprawling on its back, and bellowing to mankind to come and help it out of the scrape, is perfectly ludicrous. I hope that this year all the States will learn that, while they have no efficient and organized militia, they will be constantly harassed by raids to the end of the war. We have all kinds of rumors here at every moment, from which you are free. But the sense of absurdity and humiliation is very universal. These things weaken the hold of the administration upon the people; and the only serious peril that I foresee is the setting in of a reaction which may culminate in November and defeat Lincoln, as it did Wadsworth in this State. I wish we had a loyal governor, and that New York city was virtuous.

Have you thought what a vindication this war is of Alexander Hamilton? I wish somebody would write his life as it ought to be written, for surely he was one of the greatest of our great men, as Jefferson was the least of the truly great; or am I wrong? Hamilton was generous and sincere. Was Jefferson either? In Franklin's life how the value of temperament shows itself! It was as fortunate for him and for us as his genius.

SOURCE: Edward Cary, George William Curtis, p. 180-1

Alexander Hamilton to John Jay, March 14, 1779

Head Quarters, March 14, 1779.

Dear Sir:

Colonel Laurens, who will have the honor of delivering you this letter, is on his way to South Carolina, on a project which I think, in the present situation of affairs there, is a very good one, and deserves every kind of support and encouragement. This is, to raise two, three, or four battalions of negroes, with the assistance of the government of that State, by contributions from the owners, in proportion to the number they possess. If you should think proper to enter upon the subject with him, he will give you a detail of his plan. He wishes to have it recommended by Congress to the State; and, as an inducement, that they would engage to take their battalions into Continental pay.

It appears to me, that an expedient of this kind, in the present state of Southern affairs, is the most rational that can be adopted, and promises very important advantages. Indeed, I hardly see how a sufficient force can be collected in that quarter without it: and the enemy's operations there are growing infinitely serious and formidable. I have not the least doubt, that the negroes will make very excellent soldiers, with proper management: and I will venture to pronounce, that they cannot be put in better hands than those of Mr. Laurens. He has all the zeal, intelligence, enterprise, and every other qualification, requisite to succeed in such an undertaking. It is a maxim with some great military judges, that, with sensible officers, soldiers can hardly be too stupid: and, on this principle, it is thought that the Russians would make the best soldiers in the world, if they were under other officers than their own. The King of Prussia is among the number who maintains this doctrine, and has a very emphatic saying on the occasion, which I do not exactly recollect. I mention this because I have frequently heard it objected to the scheme of embodying negroes, that they are too stupid to make soldiers. This is so far from appearing to me a valid objection, that I think their want of cultivation (for their natural faculties are as good as ours), joined to that habit of subordination which they acquire from a life of servitude, will enable them sooner to become soldiers than our white inhabitants. Let officers be men of sense and sentiment; and the nearer the soldiers approach to machines, perhaps the better.

I foresee that this project will have to combat much opposition from prejudice and self-interest. The contempt we have been taught to entertain for the blacks, makes us fancy many things that are founded neither in reason nor experience; and an unwillingness to part with property of so valuable a kind, will furnish a thousand arguments to show the impracticability, or pernicious tendency, of a scheme which requires such sacrifices. But it should be considered, that if we do not make use of them in this way, the enemy probably will; and that the best way to counteract the temptations they will hold out, will be, to offer them ourselves. An essential part of the plan is, to give them their freedom with their swords. This will secure their fidelity, animate their courage, and, I believe, will have a good influence upon those who remain, by opening a door to their emancipation. This circumstance, I confess, has no small weight in inducing me to wish the success of the project; for the dictates of humanity, and true policy, equally interest me in favor of this unfortunate class of men.

While I am on the subject of southern affairs, you will excuse the liberty I take in saying, that I do not think measures sufficiently vigorous are pursuing for our defence in that quarter. Except the few regular troops of South Carolina, we seem to be relying wholly on the militia of that and the two neighboring States. These will soon grow impatient of service, and leave our affairs in a miserable situation. No considerable force can be uniformly kept up by militia; to say nothing of the many obvious and well-known inconveniences that attend this kind of troops. I would beg leave to suggest, Sir, that no time ought to be lost in making a draught of militia to serve a twelvemonth, from the States of North and South Carolina and Virginia. But South Carolina, being very weak in her population of whites, may be excused from the draught, on condition of furnishing the black battalions. The two others may furnish about three thousand five hundred men, and be exempted, on that account, from sending any succors to this army. The States to the northward of Virginia, will be fully able to give competent supplies to the army here; and it will require all the force and exertions of the three States I have mentioned, to withstand the storm which has arisen, and is increasing in the South.

The troops draughted, must be thrown into battalions, and officered in the best possible manner. The supernumerary officers may be made use of as far as they will go. If arms are wanted for their troops, and no better way of supplying them is to be found, we should endeavor to levy a contribution of arms upon the militia at large. Extraordinary exigencies demand extraordinary means. I fear this southern business will become a very grave one.

With the truest respect and esteem,

I am, Sir, your most obedient servant,

Alex. Hamilton.

His Excell'y John Jay,

President of Congress.

SOURCE: John C. Hamilton, Editor, The Works of Alexander Hamilton, Volume 1, p. 76-78

The Carondelet Brushing Around

OTHER GUNBOATS RUN THE REBEL BLOCKADE.

Gen. Pope’s Division Cross the River.

SPEEDY TERMINATION OF THE SIEGE.

_____

Special to the Chicago Tribune.

CAIRO, April 7, 1862 – 10 P. M.

We have glorious news to-night from New Madrid.  Last night the gunboat Pittsburgh ran the blockade in safety under a terrible fire from the rebel batteries.  Four steam transports and five barges were also got through the slough from Phillip’s Landing above Island No. 10, by Col. Bissell’s corps of engineers.

This morning, under fire of the gunboats, silencing one of the rebel batteries, a company of men under Capts. Lewis and Marshal crossed the river and spiked a battery.  Another force took three other batteries, spiked the guns and threw the rebel ammunition into the river.

At eleven o’clock, in the face of a fire from other batteries, Gen. Paine with four regiments and a battery of artillery, crossed the Mississippi to the Kentucky shore.  Subsequently the division of Gen. Stanley and Gen. Hamilton crossed, and also Gen. Granger with his cavalry.  They are strongly posted and ready for any emergency.

The spectacle of so large a body of troops crossing in the teeth of the enemy’s batteries was truly magnificent.  The praises of Gen. Pope are upon every tongue.

It is believe here that forty-eight hours will decide the fate of Island No. 10.

It is hardly credible, but reports thus far agree that not a single casualty occurred during the whole of the magnificent affair.

FROM NEW MADRID DIRECT.

NEW MADRID, April 7.

There was heavy cannonading this morning in the direction of Point Pleasant, commencing at about 9 o’clock and continuing with scarcely any intermission until this hour (4 p. m.)  At noon, as the roar of the cannon was heard, I repaired to New Madrid and discovered the Carondelet steaming down the river, belching forth shot and shell at a line of rebel batteries on the Kentucky shore, opposite the lower fort.  The fire was vigorously returned from their batteries, most of which fell short and did no damage.  The Carondelet was aided by our battery established on the Missouri shore, between the lower fort and Point Pleasant, some of whose shot did splendid execution.

It is said that the guns on Wattrous Point, the most northerly battery, are silenced and destroyed.  Whether true or not, we have no means of determining.  We only know that after a shell from our guns struck their entrenchments, there was an immense cloud of dust raised, and the rebels were seen running about in wild confusion, and the guns afterwards maintained a mysterious and obstinate silence.

At this moment, standing on the river bank below the upper fort, I can see the Carondelet steaming below the point at a distance from here apparently of 10 miles.  She must be approaching Riddle’s Point.

Besides the rebel batteries above mentioned, there are two heavy guns opposite Point Pleasant, and the same number opposite Riddle’s Point, below the latter.

A man who has just returned from that point, informs me that the rebels have collected some fifteen gunboats, prepared to dispute the passage of the Carondelet.  One of this is just visible in the distance, slowly poking her horns around the point, evidently intending to engage the Carondelet.

An express has just ridden post haste for Gen. Pope’s headquarters with some message of importance, the purport of which is not yet known, but probably relating to the passage of the Carondelet.

The smoke from the chimneys of the rebel transports is plainly discernable from any point of observation.

Things are working in this region, and you may be prepared to hear of stirring movements at any moment.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Wednesday Morning, April 9, 1862, p. 1

Des Moines Correspondence

DES MOINES, March 6.

The stage has at last reached here, but we have no Davenport mail yet since the storm.  Representative McCall, of Story county reached here yesterday, after three days traveling from Nevada, a distance of thirty miles.  He says he hasn’t seen the roads so bad for years.  The weather, after four or five as tedious days as any mortal need desire is moderating somewhat.  The wind has ceased to blow, and we are now expecting a thaw.

The Senate has passed the bill providing for the permanent location of the Deaf and Dumb Asylum at this place.  The vote on its final passage stood: Yeas 31, nays 5.  It has now under consideration a bill providing for the erection at this place of a State Arsenal.  The State will be in possession of a large quantity of arms at the close of the war, and at present there is no suitable place to keep them.  The bill provides that a fire-proof building shall be erected at a cost not to exceed $5,000, in which the State arms shall be stored.  Some have objected to the location at this point, arguing that it should be on the river.  The majority, however, in consideration of the fact that the arms will be needed if at all, on the western, northern, and southern borders of the state, seem to favor the location at the Capital.

In the House, on Wednesday, fourteen bills were passed; many of them of local interest, others of minor importance, and a few worthy of note.  Stanton’s railroad bill was among the number.  It is so amended as to oblige the railroad companies in all cases to pay for damages done to live stock, instead of compelling them to fence their roads, this was deemed a necessary amendment.  It would be of a great tax on the companies to oblige them to fence at present.  The strict provision now inserted instead of the fencing clause will accomplish the same end, by insuring owners of cattle against loss.

To-day the House considered at some length, the Senate bill for a settlement with Messrs. Brown and Alexander of Van Buren county, providing for the payment by the State of $30,000 to these parties, on condition of their releasing the State from its obligation to keep up the dam in the river so as to furnish them with water power for thirty-nine years from the date of the contract, I think in 1852.  It lies over as unfinished business.  The amount to be paid by the state seems large, but it is the impression of those best informed on the subject that the State will be a gainer in the sum of $50,000, by making this contract, and thus obtaining a release from its obligations to these parties.  Should the dam wash away to-night the State is bound to build a new one, and if it doesn’t wash away it will require rebuilding once or twice before the time is out, and the expense each time would be about twice the amount proposed to be paid to these men.  The settlement thus becomes a matter of economy to the State.

The jayhawking bill was also fully discussed.  It provides for the punishment of jayhawking on the borders, and also attaches heavy penalties to the act of receiving the property of a rebel to prevent its confiscation.  The bill is drawn to meet the difficulties in Fremont county, but made applicable to all difficulties that may arise on the border.  It will probably pass as it now stands, being ordered engrossed for a third reading.

This evening Mr. Palmer, of the Register, gave a lecture before the Lecture Association on Alexander Hamilton.  It is spoken of in the highest terms, as a noble lecture, well conceived, ably written, and in every respect worthy of the vigorous min that originated it.

Mr. West of Henry County has been excused for the remainder of the session.  He is a Sergeant in Company I, 14^th regiment and a noble man at that.  Whenever the character of the soldiers whether officers or privates was spoken of in other than the most respectful language he rose to defend them.  He has proven himself faithful, earnest, and efficient as a Representative and now leaves on business connected with the regiment.  He was the only soldier in the House after the departure of Capt. Price of Jefferson county the first week of the session.  Now we have no soldier Representative, unless it be the gentleman from Decatur who has just returned from a trip to Fort Donelson.

The Governor and commissioners, who went down to look after our wounded soldiers have arrived, and report the soldiers cared for and doing well.

J. R. C.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Wednesday Morning, March 12, 1862, p. 1