Diary of Colonel Rutherford B. Hayes: Tuesday, March 24, 1863

Rain all night and this A. M.! Army movements very slow. Vicksburg the great point of interest for a month past. Things looking like fight in Rosecrans' vicinity; Charleston also a point of attack.

In the North a reaction favorable to the war is taking place. The peace men, sympathizers with the Rebels, called Copperheads or Butternuts, are mostly of the Democratic party. They gained strength last fall by an adroit handling of the draft, the tax-law arrests, the policy favorable to the negro, and the mistakes and lack of vigor in prosecuting the war. This led to overconfidence, and a more open hostility to the war itself. The soldiers in the field considered this a "fire in the rear," and "giving aid and comfort to the enemy." They accordingly by addresses and resolutions made known their sentiments. Loyal Democrats like John Van Buren [and] James T. Brady begin to speak out in the same strain. A considerable reaction is observable. The late acts of Congress, the conscription, the financial measures, and [the] Habeas Corpus Act, give the Government great power and the country more confidence. If the conscription is wisely and energetically administered, there is much reason to hope for good results.

In the meantime the Rebels are certainly distressed for want of provisions. The negro policy doesn't seem to accomplish much. A few negro troops give rise to disturbances where they come in contact with our men and do not as yet worry the enemy a great deal.

SOURCE: Charles Richard Williams, editor, Diary and Letters of Rutherford Birchard Hayes, Volume 2, p. 397

Captain Charles Wright Wills: April 24, 1863

Camp 103d Illinois Infantry, Lagrange, Tenn.,

April 24, '63.

We have just returned from the hardest and yet by far the most pleasant scout in which I have up to this time participated. We started from here one week ago to-day, Friday, and my birthday (how old I am getting) on the cars. We were four and a half regiments of infantry, one six-gun battery and no cavalry. At 3 o'clock p. m. we were within seven miles of Holly Springs and found two bridges destroyed. We worked that p. m. and night and finished rebuilding the bridges by daylight the 18th. We had only moved two miles further when we reached another bridge which we found lying around loose in the bed of the stream. The general concluded to abandon the railroad at this point, so we took up the line of march. We passed through Holly Springs at 12 m. I don't believe that I saw a human face in the town. A more complete scene of desolation cannot be imagined. We bivouacked at dark, at Lumpkin's mill, only one mile from Waterford. At 9 p. m. a dreadful wind and rain storm commenced and continued until 1. We were on cleared ground, without tents, and well fixed to take a good large share of both the wind and water. I'm positive that I got my full portion. 'Twas dark as dark could be, but by the lightning flashes, we could see the sticks and brush with which we fed our fire, and then we would feel through the mud in the right direction. Nearly half the time we had to hold our rubber blankets over the fire to keep the rain from pelting it out. After the storm had subsided I laid down on a log with my face to the stars, bracing myself with one foot on each side of my bed. I awoke within an hour to find that a little extra rain on which I had not counted, had wet me to the skin. That ended my sleeping for that night.

Nineteenth. — We went down to Waterford and then turned westward, which course we held until nearly to Chulahoma. When we again turned southward and reached the Tallahatchie river at "Wyatt," where we camped for the night. Our regiment was on picket that night and an awful cold night it was. We marched through deep, yellow mud the 19th nearly all day, but I don't know that I marched any harder for it. Up at 3 o'clock and started at 4, the 20th, and marched 25 miles southwest, along the right bank of the Tallahatchie. Our rations were out by this time and we were living off the "citizens." The quartermaster with a squad of men he had mounted on contraband horses and mules would visit the chivalric planters, take their wagons, load them with their hams, meal and flour, and when we would halt for dinner or supper, issue the chivalries' eatables to us poor miserable Yankees. While the quartermaster attended to these principal items the "boys" would levy on the chickens, etc., including milk and cornbread. Gen. W. S. Smith commanded and the butternuts failed to get much satisfaction from him. The first night out a "citizen" came to him and complained that the soldiers had killed nine of his hogs, and asked what he should do to get his pay. "My dear sir," said the general, "you'll have to go to the boys about this matter, they will arrange it satisfactorily to you, I have no doubt." “Citizen” didn't go to the boys though. Another one came to ask pay for his hams. "Your hams, why everything in this Mississippi belongs to these boys, a great mistake, that of your's, sir." The men soon found out what kind of a general they had and whenever a butternut would appear among us they would greet him with a perfect storm of shouts of, "here’s your ham, here's your chicken," etc., and often a shower of bones of hams or beef would accompany the salute. On the 20th the general decided to make some cavalry, and on the 21st at night we had nearly 400 men on "pressed" horses and mules. These soldiers would just mount anything that had four legs, from a ram to an elephant, and the falls that some of the wild mules gave the boys would have made any man laugh that had life enough in him to breathe. How the women would beg for a favorite horse! I saw as many as five women wringing their hands and crying around a little cream-colored mare on whose head a soldier was arranging a rope bridle as coolly as though he was only going to lead her to water. You could have heard those women a quarter of a mile begging that cuss of an icicle to leave the pony, and he paid no more attention to them than he would have done to so many little chickens. An officer made the man leave the animal and I think the women took her in the house. I saw two girls, one of them perfectly lovely, begging for a pair of mules and a wagon a quartermaster was taking from their place. They pushed themselves in the way so much that the men could hardly hitch the animals to the wagon. But we had to take that team to haul our provisions. The night of the 20th at 8 o'clock, the general called all the officers up to his quarters and told us that we would have a fight with General Chalmers before breakfast the next morning. He ordered all the fires put out immediately and gave us our instructions for defense in case we should be attacked during the night. After he was through I, with eight other officers, was notified that we should sit at once as a court martial to try the adjutant of the 99th Indiana, for straggling and conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman in taking from a house sundry silver spoons, forks, etc. I'll tell you our sentence after it is approved. That kept us until 11 o'clock. At 1 o'clock a. m. we were wakened without bugles or drums, stood under arms, without fires until 3, and then marched northwest. At this point we were only eight or nine miles from Panola, Miss. We marched along through Sardis on the Grenada and Memphis R. R. and northwest about 15 miles to some cross roads, which we reached just 20 minutes after the Rebels had left. 'Twas useless for our infantry to follow their mounted men, so we turned homeward with 75 miles before us. Just look over and see how much sleep I got in the last four nights. We marched through the most delightful country from the time we left Wyatt. I think it will almost compare favorably with Illinois. We saw thousands of acres of wheat headed out which will be ready to harvest by the 15th or 20th of May. Some of the rye was as tall as I am. Peaches as large as filberts and other vegetation in proportion. There seemed to be a plenty of the necessaries of life, but I can assure you that eatables are not so plentiful now as they were before we visited the dear brethren. We reached the railroad at Colliersville last night. That is 26 miles west, making in all some 175 miles in eight days. The guerrillas fired on one column a number of times but hurt no one until yesterday, when they killed two of the 6th Iowa, which regiment was on another road from ours, the latter part of the trip. We took only some 20 prisoners but about 400 horses and mules. They captured about a dozen of stragglers from us and I am sorry to say two from my company, Wilson Gray and Stephen Hudson. The last three days we marched, every time that we would halt ten minutes one-fourth of the men would go to sleep. You should have seen the boys make bread after their crackers gave out; some lived on mush and meal, others baked cornbread in cornshucks, some would mix the dough and roll it on a knotty stick and bake it over the fire. It was altogether lots of fun and I wouldn't have missed the trip for anything.

SOURCE: Charles Wright Wills, Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, p. 171-4

Captain Charles Wright Wills: April 6, 1863

Board of Survey Office, Lagrange, Tenn.,

April 6, 1863.

I was in Memphis a few days since. It is quite a lovely town and quite Northern-like in its general appearance. Many of the blocks would pass muster creditably in Chicago, though the numerous fires it has furnished for the edification of the “Vandal Yankees” have somewhat marred its streets. I think the Fair grounds are not excelled even by those at St. Louis, and we certainly have none in Illinois that will compare with them for beauty, location, or in extent. There are some most beautiful country seats on the M. & C. R. R. scattered along within six miles of the city. I saw but one park. 'Tis called Court Square and is very pretty. 'Tis just about the size of our Canton square and filled with forest trees and evergreens. I think as many as fifty squirrels live in the park. They are very tame and playful. The city is full of butternut refugees from North Mississippi and some from Arkansas, but I could find none from the vicinity of Madison. The M. & C. R. R. is almost classical. From Memphis to Decatur, Ala. (that is as much as I've seen of it) you are rarely out of sight of fortifications, and on almost every mile, lay the remains of a burned train of cars. Hardly a bridge, culbert or cattle guard but has been burned from three to ten times and rebuilt as often. Night before last I had just retired (12 o'clock) when an order came to have the regiment in line and ready for action at a moment's notice. We got up, stacked arms on the color line, and — went to bed again. Heard in the morning that 2,500 Rebel cavalry caused the scare. We still continue to guard against daybreak surprises by rising at 4 a. m., and standing at “guard against secesh” until daylight. All of the vigilance I like. I would hate to be surprised and gobbled without having half a chance. Am still on Board of Survey.

SOURCE: Charles Wright Wills, Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, p. 169

1st Lieutenant Charles Wright Wills: August 3, 1862

Tuscumbia, Ala., August 3, 1862.

In the last 15 days I have only written you once; partly because I have been so busy, more, because of my laziness. There is but little save rumors that can be of any interest to you from here, and shall not inflict any of them on you, for the newspapers have certainly surfeited everyone's taste for that article. All this blowing and howling we have in the papers of raids everywhere, and overwhelming forces of the enemy confronting us at all points, is, I candidly believe, part of the plan to raise volunteers. It certainly is one grand humbug as far as this field is concerned. Every officer here that knows anything about the condition of the enemy, their positions and numbers, believes that if our army were concentrated and set at the work, we could clear out all the enemy south of this and west of Georgia in a short two months. The soldiers are all anxious to begin, all tired of inaction, all clamoring for the war to be ended by a vigorous campaign, we running our chances of being whipped by the enemy, instead of waiting until next spring, and then being forced by bankruptcy to abandon our work. The way we are scattered in this country now the enemy can take 1,000 or 2,000 of us just any morning they may feel so disposed, and their not doing it lowers them wonderfully in my opinion. There are about 6,000 of us stationed at nine points along 75 miles of railroad, and there is no point that 4,000 men could not reach and attack, and take before assistance could be afforded. But the Rebels don't show any more dash or spirit than we do, so we all rest perfectly easy in our weakness, confiding in their lack of vim, which we gauge by our own. A line drawn through Fulton, Miss., Warrenton, Ala. and thence to Rome, Ga. (at which last place we think the enemy are concentrating) will give you the route over which the enemy are now moving in considerable bodies, while whole brigades of their numerous cavalry pass nearer us, through Newburg, Moulton and Somerville, Ala. ’Twould be so easy for them to detach a division and send it up to this line of road. Buell, with a very respectable force, is near Stephenson in northeastern Alabama moving so slowly that no one can tell in which direction. I wish they'd give Grant the full control of the strings. He would be sure to have somebody whipped, and I'd rather ’twould be us than live much longer in this inactivity. People are most outrageously secesh here, generally, although there are said to be some settlements very Union. I saw two men yesterday who were raising the 1st Union Alabama Regiment. They have two full companies they say, but I'll never believe it until I see the men in blue jackets. This is the most beautiful valley that I ever saw. It lies between the Tennessee river and a spur of the Cumberland mountains, which are craggy and rough, and rocky enough to disgust an Illinoisan after a very short ride over and among them. Howwever, they form a beautiful background for the valley, and are very valuable in their hiding places for the guerrillas who infest them, and sally out every night to maraud, interfere with our management of this railroad and to impress what few able bodied butternuts there are left in their homes. They either cut the wires or tear up a little road track for us every night. We have guards too strong for them at every culvert, bridge and trestle. This country was entirely out of gold and silver until our cotton buyers came in with the army, and every man of money had his little 5-cent, 50-cent, etc., notes of his own for change. Mitchell's men counterfeited some of them and passed thousands of dollars of their bogus on the natives. I send you a couple of samples of what is known here as Mitchell money. The man I got these of had been fooled with over $20 of it. The boys couldn't get the proper vignette so, as you will observe, they used advertising cuts of cabinet warehouses and restaurants. Many of our men have passed Mustang Liniment advertisements on the people, and anything of the kind is eagerly taken if you tell them it is their money; of course I refer to the poor country people, who, if they can read, don't show their learning. This man with $20, like that which I send you, is a sharp, shrewd-looking hotel keeper. His house is larger than the “Peoria House.” General Morgan, who is in command of the infantry here, is a fine man, but lacks vim or something else. He isn't at all positive or energetic. The weather still continues delightful. I have’nt used any linen clothing yet, although I believe there is some in my trunk. We ride down to the Tennessee river every night and bathe, and 'tis so delightful. I don't believe anybody ever had a nicer place than I have, or less reason to be dissatisfied. Well, I do enjoy it; but don't think I'd worry one minute if sent back to my regiment or further back to my old place in the 8th. I believe I have the happy faculty of accommodating myself to cirumstances, and of grumbling at and enjoying everything as it comes. I am still desperately “out” with these secesh, but borrow books from them to while away my spare time. These people, safe in the knowledge of our conciliatory principles, talk their seceshism as boldly as they do in Richmond. Many of our officers have given up all hope of our conquering them and really wish for peace. For myself, I know its a huge thing we have on our hands, but I believe I'd rather see the whole country red with blood, and ruined together than have this 7,000,000 of invalids (these Southerners are nothing else as a people) conquer, or successfully resist the power of the North. I hate them now, as they hate us. I have no idea that we'll ever be one nation, even if we conquer their armies. The feeling is too deep on both sides, for anything but extermination of one or the other of the two parties to cure, and of the two, think the world and civilization will lose the least by losing the South and slavery.

SOURCE: Charles Wright Wills, Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, p. 119-121

1st Lieutenant Charles Wright Wills: July 17, 1862

Camp at Rienzi, July 17, 1862.

I think there is more point and policy in that General Order 92 than in any one that has yet been issued in the West, or East either for that matter; but still I do not think it remarkable for perspicuity, and it is neither as strong nor as definite as the army demands. If I know anything of the “laws of war and humanity,” the soldiers will bless “92” for one thing, its relieving them from guarding the property of secessionists, and if they don't make sundry potato patches, cabbage gardens and fields of roasting ears that I know of, “hop” ’twill surprise me much. There will be some wondrous sudden conversions to Unionism when these butternuts get the drift of that order. An old pup in this town that drank “Southern Independence or the World in Flames” the other evening, in the presence of several United States officers has Union soldiers guarding his property, to preserve it from the Northern vandals, and he has used language equally insulting, times without number, yet the guard is kept up. I suppose, to conciliate him. General Ashboth visits all the secesh and rides around town with the daughter of the man I've been speaking of, who is more intensely secesh than her father, if that is possible. Maybe I'm jealous of him, for the girl is very handsome, but I don't think a United States general at all excusable in such conduct, though it may be overlooked in a lieutenant. Did you see Beauregard's answer to Halleck? I honestly think there is more truth in that document, than in any other military paper of the kind I have seen. Suppose you have seen Granger's review thereof. You notice he don't touch any of the principal points and shows his whole object in publishing the article, in these four words, “I led the pursuit.” I'll swear we haven't taken, in deserters, prisoners and sick, since the evacuation of Corinth, 500 men (although hundreds have doubtless deserted who did not enter our lines.) I know this because we have had the advance all the time, and on the only roads there have been fighting and prisoners, and all the deserters have passed through our hands. There were about 18 cars burned, but the ruins show there was nothing of much value on them. ’Twas not intentional, of course, but Elliott did burn several men in the depot, or else the people of Boonville are liars, to a man. That fight the other day at Boonville amounted to nothing. The enemy's official report of their loss is four killed and ten wounded. There is an awful sight of bombast and lying about army reports. Beat politicians all hollow. We have had very heavy rains for the last 36 hours, and as water can now be procured on the hitherto dry ground between the armies, I expect some cavalry skirmishing, at least, and if the enemy is yet in force at Tupelo, now is the time for them to attack us, for our army is scattered for 300 miles, almost along the Tennessee line, and cannot be concentrated in time to resist a large force. Many of the officers expect a big fight, but your brother don't.

SOURCE: Charles Wright Wills, Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, p. 114-6

Diary of John Beauchamp Jones: May 10, 1863

Detachments of Federal troops are now marching into the city every few hours, guarded by (mostly) South Carolinians, dressed in home-spun, died yellow with the bark of the butternut-tree. Yesterday evening, at 7 o'clock, a body of 2000 arrived, being marched in by way of the Brooke Pike, near to my residence. Only 200 Butternuts had them in charge, and a less number would have sufficed, for they were extremely weary. Some of them, however, attempted to be humorous.

A young officer asked one of the spectators if the “Libby” (the prison) was the best house in the city to put up at. He was answered that it was the best he would find.

Another passed some compliment on a mulatto wench, who replied: “Go long, you nasty Abolition Yankee.”

One of our soldiers taken at Arkansas Post, just exchanged, walked along with the column, and kept repeating these words: “Now you know how we felt when you marched us through your cities.”

But generally a deep silence was maintained, and neither insult nor indignity offered the fallen foe. Other columns are on the way —and how they are to be subsisted is a vexatious question.

The Washington papers of the day preceding the first battle contain Hooker's address to his army — how different from Lee's! It is short, though:

“headquarters Army Of The Potomac,

“Camp near Falmouth, April 30th.

“general Orders No. 47.

“It is with heartfelt satisfaction that the Commanding General announces to the army that the operations of the last three days have determined that our enemy must either ingloriously fly or come out from behind his defenses and give us battle on our own ground, where certain destruction awaits him. The operations of the 15th, 11th, and 12th corps have been a succession of splendid achievements.

“By command of Maj.-gen. Hooker.

“S. Williams, Ass't. Adjt.-Gen.”

Another column of between twelve and fifteen hundred prisoners marched in this afternoon. It is said a copy of the New York Herald is in town, which acknowledges Hooker's loss to be fully 40,000. There are rumors, also, that our army in Tennessee has gained a great victory. Rumors from the West have hitherto been so very unreliable, that I shall wait patiently for the confirmation of any reports from that quarter.

SOURCE: John Beauchamp Jones, A Rebel War Clerk's Diary at the Confederate States Capital, Volume 1, p. 318-9

Diary of John Beauchamp Jones: May 8, 1863

To-day the city is in fine spirits. Hooker had merely thrown up defenses to protect his flight across the river. The following dispatch was received last night from Gen. Lee:

“Chancellorville, May 7th, 1863.

“To His Excellency, President Davis.

”After driving Gen. Sedgwick across the Rappahannock, on the night of the 4th inst., I returned on the 5th to Chaccellorville. The march was delayed by a storm, which continued all night and the following day. In placing the troops in position on the morning of the 6th, to attack Gen. Hooker, it was ascertained he had abandoned his fortified position. The line of skirmishers was pressed forward until they came within range of the enemy's batteries, planted north of the Rappahannock, which, from the configuration of the ground, completely commanded this side. His army, therefore, escaped with the loss of a few additional prisoners.

“R. E. Lee, General.”

Thus ends the career of Gen. Hooker, who, a week ago, was at the head of an army of 150,000 men, perfect in drill, discipline, and all the muniments of war. He came a confident invader against Gen. Lee at the head of 65,000 “butternuts,” as our honest poor-clad defenders were called, and we see the result! An active campaign of less than a week, and Hooker is hurled back in disgrace and irreparable disaster! Tens of thousands of his men will never live to “fight another day” —and although the survivors did “run away,” it is doubtful whether they can be put in fighting trim again for many a month.

And the raiding cavalry have not been heard from to-day. If they be not back on the north side of the Rappahannock by this time, it is probable they will reach Richmond in a few days without arms, and on foot.

Gens. Hood's and Pickett's divisions (Longstreet's corps) are now passing through the city — perhaps 15,000 of the best fighting men in the South. Oh, what wisdom and foresight were evinced by Gen. Lee, when, some ten days ago, he telegraphed the President to send him Longstreet's corps, via Gordonsville! It was referred to the Secretary of War, who consulted with Gen. Cooper —and of course it was not done. This corps was not in the battle. If it had been on the field, Hooker's destruction would have been speedy and complete; and his routed regiments would have been followed to the very gates of the Federal capital. As it was, Lee lost a day in driving Sedgwick back — and then Hooker “escaped,” as Lee expresses it.

I do not understand the Assistant Secretary of War's official correspondence. He sent in the other day a letter addressed to him two years ago to be filed — and to day an envelope addressed to him as Assistant Secretary by Mr. Benjamin, Secretary of State, merely covering a letter (sealed) for R. S. Bunkee, Mobile, Alabama. Well, it is filed.

The pressure for permits to leave the Confederacy is not renewed to-day. Judge Campbell will not have so many passports to “approve,” and I trust confidence in the permanency of the Confederacy will be unshaken. How must they feel who, in anticipation of Lee's defeat, had received, in advance, a pardon from the powers at Washington!

Col. Lay was in to-day; he thinks the North will be cheered a little by their capture of Grand Gulf, in the West. But that is not Vicksburg, or Charleston, or Richmond.

We have had short allowance of food yesterday and to-day; the country people being afraid to come to market, lest their horses should be seized to go in quest of the enemy's cavalry. My family dined to-day on eight fresh herrings, which cost two dollars.

The trains from Fredericksburg brought down several hundred Federal officers; among them was a general, a large number of colonels, lieutenant-colonels, majors, captains, etc. These, when exchanged, as I suppose they will be—for victory makes our government magnanimous—may, if they choose, deny the report that the raiding cavalry destroyed the railroad.

Now what will the Tribune say? It did say, a few months ago, that if the effort to crush the rebellion failed this spring, it would be useless to prolong the war — and that peace should be made on the best practicable terms. Since the beginning of the war, I doubt not 500,000 men have been precipitated upon Virginia. Where are they now? In the third year of the war, we see “the finest army the world ever saw,” overthrown by about half its numbers, and in full retreat toward its own frontier. Perhaps 100,000 invaders have found bloody graves in Virginia — and an equal number have died of their wounds, or from disease contracted in this State. The number of maimed and disabled must also be 100,000 — and yet Richmond is not taken, or likely to be. To invade and subjugate a vast territory, inhabited by millions of warlike people, the assailants must always have four times as many men as the assailed; therefore we stand on an equal footing with the United States in this war, and they may, if they be insane enough, protract it indefinitely, and in the end reap no substantial benefit. On the contrary, the fortune of war may shift the scene of devastation to their own homes. Perhaps Lee may follow up this blow until he enters Pennsylvania.

SOURCE: John Beauchamp Jones, A Rebel War Clerk's Diary at the Confederate States Capital, Volume 1, p. 314-6

Diary of Sergeant Major Luman Harris Tenney, Sunday, December 7, 1862

Up and off as early as usual. I carried a carbine and rode as usual in the ranks. Saw a large flock of wild turkeys. Advance ran after three “butternuts.” Took two horses. Saw any number of rebels around Diamond Grove. Encamped four miles west of Sherwood.

SOURCE: Frances Andrews Tenney, War Diary Of Luman Harris Tenney, p. 49

The Great Jubilee

It being a part of our business to notice events of a public character we trust we shall be pardoned if we have a word to say concerning the proceedings in this place Saturday last, when a welcome was extended by the leaders of the Democratic party of this County, to Jim Naylor, who with others was arrested last summer for disloyalty, and boarded with Uncle Sam till lately, when, as our special correspondent informs us, Uncle Sam becoming tired of him, analyzed his character and having come to the conclusion that he did not know enough to do much damage, let him go at large again.  We will not say that his arrest was uncalled for, but there are those who think that he belongs to that class of persons whose insignificance not [infrequently] shields them from the punishment their misconduct merits.

He pretends to be loyal, and it is possible he does not desire the overthrow of the Government, but he certainly talks as no loyal man of good sense would talk.  He has a great passion for becoming a public speaker, and evidently mistakes the term notoriety (taken in its ill sense) for celebrity.  He reminds us of the man who tried to assassinate one of the crowned heads of Europe, who was loved by all his subjects.  When asked why he tried to kill the King, he replied that he wished his name to go into history, and he knew of no other way to accomplish this object.  We have believed from the first that he desired to be arrested, as such an event would bring him into public notice.  His self-esteem looms up like a donkey’s ears, and when it comes in contact with his patriotism, (if he has any) the latter comes out of the little end of the horn.  But to the reception.

Business prevented us from being present on the occasion, and we have had the misfortune to lo[o]se some notes given to us by a gentleman who was there, so we shall not go into particulars, but simply notice a few items, the authority for which is not confined to Republicans, or they might be pronounced abolition lies.

Mr. James Tompson was made president of the meeting, after which Mr. Parrot made an introductory speech, in which he labored to show that they were Lawfully assembled, and that the Constitution of the United States as well as that of the State of Iowa gave them the privalige [sic] of expressing their sentiments.

Now we wish to know the object of all this.  Did Mr. Parrot suppose that he was to be interrupted for the expression of loyal sentiments?  Not a bit of it.  They intended to utter sentiments insulting to the Union people of this county, and they did it, as those who were present well know.

In conclusion, Mr. Parrot introduced the “injured” Naylor, who, amid the shouts of his sympathizers, proceeded to lay bare his injuries to the eager ears of his over true and loving brethren; and the recital was enough to bring fears of pity from a gate post.

He has been arrested, put in prison, had to lie on the floor, was called a Rebel, a traitor, a tory, a butternut, and many other names, which will in all probability injure his political health, for years to come, if not for life.  Yet for all this his spirit was still unbroken, he had said that the President and a part of the Cabinet were guilty of the crime of perjury and he did not hesitate to repeat it on that occasion.  Then came cries of “Good! Good! – That’s so.”

Now we would like to know what these expressions mean when defined by the Democratic dictionary.  We often heard just such expression in Missouri at the commencement of this war; and most of those who used them, as well as those who applauded them, are today either in the Rebel army or in the devil’s army, though they were leaders or good members of the Democratic party at that time.

Another thing don’t look exactly right to loyal men, and that is the cheering of the Butternuts.  We are told by both Republicans and Democrats that this was done, and that such men as Scovill and Parrot, leaders of the Democratic party in this county, threw up their hats as though their patriotic hearts would burst with joy at the mention of the name.

Is this Democracy?  And do they propose to put down this rebellion by cursing the Administration and cheering the Butternuts?  And will the democrat whose son is on the battle field applaud the hand that sends the bullet and bayonet through that son’s heart?  Will you stoop to degradation on which the dog that licks the foot that kicks him, might look down with contempt?  Is the tie that binds you to party stronger than your affection for him who is your own flesh and blood – your own son?  Has consistency ceased to be a word in your language that you are to know it no more?  Has manhood fled from our land that we dare not break the bands that bind us to party, the name of which, though once honored, is now used as a screen to hide the treachery of thousands of our country’s foe, who are among us?  Will you withhold your applause and congratulations from the bleeding soldier who comes home to your door, maimed for life, to heap them upon BUTTERNUTS, and men whose [illegible] activities banished them for a time [missing text].  Why have not the soldiers [missing text] home from the army from [missing text] looking as though the thread [missing text] out to break – why have not they [missing text] recipients of such favors as are now heaped on these fellows?  Oh, it is a very slight thing to be crippled for life, or have your constitution broken by exposure night and day to the winter’s storms and summer’s heat upon the battlefields by long marches, often destitute of food, water and sufficient clothing.  It looks to us as though these were the fit subjects for the patriots applause, and we thank God that there are a few democrats who take the same view of matters, a few who cannot be taken by these gudgeon-fishers; a few who have witnessed the wool pulling operation too often to heed Mr. Scovill’s charge that the Republican party is the Disunion Party.  What a charge!  We wonder if there was one in all his crowd of loving friends that was soft enough to believe him.

We must confess that it was rather the weakest point we ever knew that gentleman to try to make.  It is doubtless of his strategy.  We [suppose] he had the same object in view, as did the thief who, when he was being pursued, pointed to another man and cried “Thief – Thief!”

This latter gentleman having relieved his stomach of about the usual amount of vituperation, with the usual amount of cheering at this or denunciation of the Administration and Republicans, the meeting, which was a disgrace to our country, broke up, many of them doubtless disappointed at not having been interrupted by the Republicans.

“Coming events cast their shadows before.”  A cloud of indignation is assuming proportions, and ere long will find public expression.

– Published in The Union Sentinel, Osceola, Iowa, Saturday, January 3, 1863.  Note, there was a tear in the newspaper resulting in several instances of missing text.

An Interesting Letter found at Benton Barracks

Benton Barracks St. Louis Mo.
Jan. 15th 1864.

Friend Caverly:

Sir

Below is a letter that was picked up by a member of Co. H., 9th Iowa Cav. It will show the people of Clark, what a true Democrat is.

May 11th, 1863

Dear Brother:

I again seat myself to write you another letter to let you know that we are all well at this time except father; he is sick and has been for too or three days, he is better today than he has been. I hope this letter will find you in good health and enjoying all the fun you can have. I dont have any fun nowadays; I feel more like fighting than any thing els, for the damed abolitions is trying to put down the democeats, and have a good time with the sons of b-----s. They give the democrats the Name of butternuts; and it didnet make us mad, and they are beat bad Over it. we got Butternuts and made Breastpins out of them. and wore them, and it makes them awful mad They threaten to take the butternuts of our democrats and have tride it but have failed in the effort. I just dare any of the niggerheads to take one of ove me Ill be g-d d----d if they ever take of any more. Brother I want you to stick to the democrats as long as you live. John I wish to god that every durned abolitionist in the country wor in the hotest place in h-ll, for they are the very ones that caused this war, and wanted to carry it on till every man, woman and Child, in the south is killed and every nigger set free. the cursed preachers preach that very doctrine. I have qite going to meeting any more for there is no good a going, the devil is in the people and he will have to come out some way. the democrats wants the union as it was, and the constitution as it is, and the niggers with thare masters. Dear Brother you must not think strange of me writing such a letter to you; if you was here you would know all about it. Brother I want you lived and dye a democrat; you will remember one for they are all the Party that will save the government if the can have the power to do so. they have arrested several of the democrats, and put them in prison, but they have release them again, they arrested John Vaness, Decatur, you know him I have nat heard what they have done with him John we are going to have war here at home, I think it is not far of. I think our country is sore and awful bad fix now, and god only knows what is to happen next. I have said enough about the war. I will haftoo close; write swon if you please excuse bad writing and mistakes.

John you must not think Strange of me Swaring for I fell from grace long, ago, I never swore as much in my life till since the war commence, the bible says that david curse in his wrath and so curse I.

– Published in The Union Sentinel, Osceola, Iowa, Saturday, January 23, 1864

Physical Training For The Soldier:

The importance of physical training to him who goes into battle, whether officer or soldier, can have no better illustration then in achievments [sic] during the late battle of Chancelloreville [sic] of the captain of the color company of the 102d Regiment, N.Y.V. a man thoroughly trained in the use of his muscles and his sword. After a desperate hand to hand conflict with a captain and a color sergeant of the 12th Georgia, he finally wrenched away the sword of the captain, a stalwart six footeer [sic] disarmed the color sergeant, tearing his colors from the flag-staff, when he found two more butternuts upon him. Seizing his musket from one by sheer strength, sent him spinning on his back, and then seized the other, an ambulance sergeant in three minutes having taken without assistance, one captain, two sergeants and one private. The name of this hero is William Nelson Green. He retains the sword by leave of his Brigadier General, and the flag was sent to Gen. Hooker by his order. {N.Y. Tribune

– Published in The Union Sentinel, Osceola, Iowa, May 30, 1863