Governor John A. Andrew to Senator Charles Sumner, June 4, 1862

What means Stanley¹ in N. C.? Don't they know whom they send? Do they wish to drive our N. E. troops out of the field and disgust mankind? The most “hunker” officers we have ever sent, cry out, in their private correspondence, that the army is so managed in its relations to Southern men that a positive bribe is held out to whites and blacks both to be disloyal. Even guards are furnished for rebels' property not vouchsafed to men of known loyalty. This in McClellan's Department.

My letter to Mr. Stanton was within the truth. Our militia, startled by the most startling summons I issued at midnight, based on the telegram of the Sec. of War, supposing the very capitol in danger, rushed to Boston. But all were unwilling, and but a handful consented, to go for the full Militia period. It was not so a year since. No one was reluctant. No one stipulated for short terms. Twenty regiments eagerly pressed for leave to go for any term however indefinite. Now, a battery Co. whose enlistment began a week yesterday has not 85 men. And they are only enlisting for Six Months. The War looks to be of indefinite length. . . .

Perhaps all men do not reason out a conclusion by careful logic or minute observation, but the instinctive sagacity and practical sense of our people is an element we may always be sure exists. Most public men despise the people, think they are foolish and knowing their own personal limitations, believe the people not to be honest.

But Yankees are pretty knowing; they are by instinct sagacious; they have sense of the hardest sort; and they are by disposition honest and manly.

In the long run he will always dupe himself who doubts the people. An honest and brave man who looks into his own heart will find public opinion just there. He need not look at the clouds nor the church steeples, watching the wind for evidence.²

_______________

¹ Edward Stanly, a conservative, appointed May 19 military governor of North Carolina.

² June 4, 1862.

SOURCE: Henry Greenleaf Pearson, The Life of John A. Andrew: Governor of Massachusetts, 1861-1865, Volume 2, p. 22-3

From Washington

WASHINGTON, May 19.

No official dispatch has been received from Com. Goldsboro about the expedition up James River.  It comprised the steam frigate Susquehanna, three gunboats and tug Wave.  The latter mounting one gun.  They found the first rebel battery at Dog’s Point deserted.  The rebel flag was flying over the battery at Hardy’s Point, 15 miles above Newport News, but on landing was found deserted.  Also all the rebel batteries between there and Jamestown, with guns mostly dismounted.  Near Jamestown they met a squadron under Commander Rogers, which had previously gone up the river, and learned from them particulars of the fight at Fort Darling, and the disaster to the Naugatuck.

Goldsboro’s expedition was last heard from Friday, and was still going up river, securing most of the ordnance left by the rebels.

The general evacuation below Fort Darling doubtless gives Goldsboro a chance to bring up mortar boats, &c., to act effectively against the fort.  James River and banks are now clear of rebel soldiers.  The Monitor and Galena were the only vessels run by Dog’s Point and Hardy’s bluff batteries.  The remainder of the fleet stopped below.  Of twenty-eight shells which struck the Galena eighteen penetrated.  None did the Monitor any damage, all glancing off.  Both returned down river Friday last.  The Galena is not materially injured.  They doubtless followed Goldsboro, Saturday up the river.

The universal topic is of course the President’s proclamation, denouncing and repudiating the conduct of Maj. Gen. Hunter.  It was understood yesterday that the President would await advice of the authenticity of the alleged proceeding of Hunter, but to-day it was too obvious that the mischief would be irreparable, if immediate action was not taken.  The effect in Washington has been most happy and reassuring.  The grand patriarchal spirit manifested, yearning for the good of the whole nation more than ever, exalts the President in the confidence and love of the people, and increases the sway he has over al extremes of political parties here represented.

The circuit court to-day appointed three commissioners for adjudication of cases arising under the fugitive slave law.  Seven arrests only were made to-day.  There seems to be concurrent jurisdiction claimed by the military authorities, regarding the fugitives under their protection, therefore it cannot be said the law has full course.

This morning about 50 of the citizens of the adjoining counties of Maryland, proceeded to the White House, accompanied by Messrs. Crissfield, Calvert, Webster, and Leary, representatives in Congress from that state, who had a conversation with the President regarding the interest of their constituents, as involved in the fugitive law.  They say the President promised a response on some other occasion.

The U. S. military telegraph has an office open and working, in a saw mill, at the 14th mile post from Richmond.  The lines to the various camps and stations between headquarters and Fort Monroe are in good condition and working admirably, under the personal superintendence of F. F. Rekert.

WASHINGTON, May 20.

Hon. Edward Stanley is on the eve of departure for North Carolina.  He to-day received his commission as Military Governor of that State.  He is invested with the powers and duties of that station, including the power to establish all necessary offices and tribunals, and suspend the writ of Habeas corpus, during the pleasure of the President, or until the loyal inhabitants shall organize a State government in accordance with the Constitution of the United States.  His powers are exactly similar to those with which Gov. Johnson, of Tennessee, is invested.

An army officer, just arrived here, from Port Royal, denies the published statement that at the last accounts our pickets were within four miles of Savannah.

A private letter from an officer of the flotilla, speaking of the recent engagement, says: The iron-clad Galena was maneuvered so beautifully and saucily that she passed five or six times as close as she could get, and silenced one of the batteries; she then passed and repassed the second battery six times, but finding they were using so much ammunition, for which we expect to have better use further up, Rogers, the commander, ordered the wooden vessels to run up, whilst he in the galena lay just off the battery, and disconcerted the rebel gunners.  The Galena then followed, but the buoys have been displaced so that the pilots lost their bearing, and run the galena ashore, and she is still aground.  None of our vessels are seriously injured.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Wednesday Morning, May 21, 1862, p. 1

From North Carolina

A Healthy Reaction.

NEWBERN, N.C., May 14, 1862.

The climate here this far has been delightful – neither too warm nor too cold.  Fewer deaths by sickness have occurred since our troops have been in this State than before we came.  Our troops have been here since January last, and, on the whole, have suffered less by sickness than the troops in Virginia.  If the remainder of the year should prove as healthy, and doubtless it will, then we shall have no fault to find with the climate of the Old North State.

The Western part of this State is considered the paradise of America.  When the Yankees shall have discovered this beautiful section of the country, you may expect to see it soon peopled by a different class of inhabitants, whose industry and ingenuity will make the State what it should be – one of the wealthiest and most prosperous in the Union.

The authorities at Richmond, who have been in the habit of dragging the citizens of this and other Southern States before their star chamber in the most summary manner, and executing them without trial, for entertaining Union sentiments, have been very unexpectedly snubbed in these unwarrantable proceedings by the Governor of North Carolina, backed up by the State Convention.  It appears that Jeff. Davis ordered the arrest of Mr. Respess, the Mayor of Washington, N. C., charged with having an interview with Gen Burnside soon after Newbern was taken.  The Mayor was arrested in the night time, in the most summary manner, and hurried off to Richmond in irons, where he was thrust into a dungeon, and not allowed to see any of his friends or receive any food or clothing from them.

This outrage created the most intense excitement throughout the State.  Gov. Clark was instructed by the Convention, now in session in Raleigh, to make a peremptory demand on the authorities at Richmond in the name of the State for the immediate delivery of the person of Mayor Respess, which demand was refused by President Davis.  Then a Committee was appointed by the Convention to wait on Davis & Co. and inform them that the demand made by the Governor must be immediately complied with otherwise the State of North Carolina would resort to forcible measures if necessary.

Mr. Respess was on trial before Davis when Gov. Clark first made the demand for his release.  Davis answered that the trial must go on, and not until the Committee made the demand in person was Mr. Respess released.  This Committee was also instructed to inform Jeff. Davis that North Carolina considered herself capable of inquiring into the conduct of her own citizens, and that the Richmond authorities must make no more arrest in this state.  Mr. Respess was brought to Raleigh by the Committee, where he was set at liberty, and will soon join his family and friends.

This movement on the part of Gov. Clark and the State Convention is rather ominous, to say the least – especially so when it is understood that North Carolina has withdrawn all of her aid, from Davis, and refused to meet a renewed demand from the Rebel President for more troops and additional transportation facilities.  The State has positively refused to allow any of her troops to accompany the retreating rebels into the Cotton States.  Her railroads, however, are placed at the disposal of the traitors to enable them to return to their respective States.

We hear of Union meetings in different parts of the State.  The old flag is floating defiantly in the western counties, where they are having great Union gatherings almost within sight of the State Capital.  Last Saturday two great Union meetings came off in this part of the State – one in Craven County, the other in Carteret.  Strong Union resolutions were passed. Charles Henry Foster was indorsed as the representative of the Union sentiment by these meetings, and also much satisfaction was expressed over the appointment of Mr. Stanley by President Lincoln as Military Governor.  This gentleman is a native of this county, and has represented this district in Congress several terms.  He is greatly respected by the people of this State, and his return from California to his old home will be hailed with delight by his numerous old friends.  Gov. Stanly will doubtless proceed to Raleigh as soon as he arrives, and confer with Governor Clark and the Convention, who no doubt will accept him as a medium through whom they will act in arriving at an understanding with the Federal Government prior to resuming their old position in the Union as one of the original States. –{Cor. N. Y. Tribune.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday May 24, 1862, p. 2