NICE, Jan. 19, 1872.
Dear Brother: The telegraph announces your re-election, and as quite a number of Americans and even foreigners have congratulated me on your re-election I can but join in the general acclaim. This carries your political career two years after Gen. Grant's second term.
SOURCE: Rachel Sherman Thorndike, Editor, The Sherman Letters: Correspondence Between General and Senator Sherman from 1837 to 1891, p. 334-5
Dear Brother: . . . Congress is going on with its usual round of debate and delay. I am quite busy with taxes and tariff, and spend most of the time in committee. My re-election has got to be an old story. As the session approached, the opposition to me in my own party died away, and I received the unanimous vote. Still there were five or six Republicans who were disposed to enter into the new party movement, among them Howard and certain Cincinnati members. They disavowed any hostility to me, but were inclined to support Cox as an Anti-Grant or new departure candidate. Perhaps if the whole body of the Democrats had gone into this movement it might have resulted in my defeat; but this was found impracticable, and so I was elected by seven majority over all. I think General Grant has found out that my strength in Ohio was equal to his own. I was in Columbus for one week, but was not put to either unusual trouble or expense, and now hold the office as independent in promise as any member of the Senate. . . . You are to have a grand trip. Your movements are observed and commented upon here kindly. By all means take it easy and don't hurry. . .
SOURCE: Rachel Sherman Thorndike, Editor, The Sherman Letters: Correspondence Between General and Senator Sherman from 1837 to 1891, p. 335
Had a call this evening from Mr. English, the Democratic candidate for Governor in Connecticut. He is very decidedly, and I think sincerely, in favor of the President's policy. With General Hawley, who is the Administration candidate, I am more intimate, and for him I personally feel special regard, yet such is the strange mixture of parties that his election would be hailed as a triumph by the opponents of the Administration. I am much embarrassed by this state of things. I believe Hawley intends to support the President, yet, tainted by party, he also aims to support Congress in its differences with the Executive. He will find it difficult to reconcile the two, and if compelled to make an election he would be more likely at the present moment to go wrong, I fear, than right.
Mr. English desired an introduction to the President, whom he wishes to see concerning some person who is imprisoned in Tennessee, and is acting in concert with a Mr. Fleming, whom, with his beautiful wife, I met this evening at the President's house.
Seward was not at the Cabinet to-day. I brought forward the subject of the test oath, and McCulloch says he has prepared a letter which he will show me. Dennison is to prepare one also.
On the subject of the Fenians there was less inclination to converse, but the subject was referred to the Attorney-General to send circulars to the District Attorneys, etc. I suggested that the Administration should show a solid front, and, therefore, General Grant should send a communication. To this Stanton demurred. It would necessarily come through his Department, and he would be openly committed.
SOURCE: Gideon Welles, Diary of Gideon Welles, Secretary of the Navy Under Lincoln and Johnson, Vol. 2: April 1, 1864 — December 31, 1866, p. 452-3
Rained yesterday and
last night. Clear and windy to-day.
It is said the
Blairs (who have been looked for on some sort of mission) turned back after
arriving in the camp of Gen. Grant. Of course they could not treat with this
government, under existing circumstances. The President and his cabinet could
not be expected to listen to such proposals as they might be authorized to
tender.
Butler's canal is
said to be completed, and probably operations will soon be recommenced in this
vicinity.
Congress seems to be
doing little or nothing; but before it adjourns it is supposed it will, as
usual, pass the measures dictated by the President. How insignificant a
legislative body becomes when it is not independent. The Confederate States
Congress will not live in history, for it never really existed at all, but has
always been merely a body of subservient men, registering the decrees of the
Executive. Even Mr. Miles, of South Carolina, before introducing a bill, sends
it to this department for approval or rejection.
Detailed soldiers
here are restricted in their rations this month to 31 pounds of meal, 21 pounds
of salt beef, etc. The commissary agent, Mr. Wilson, thinks no more "beef
shanks" can be sold. I have been living on them!
An order has been issued
that all detailed men in the bureaus (able-bodied) must go into Gen. Lee's
army; and the local defense troops will not be called out again except in the
last necessity, and then only during the emergency. I have not seen it, but
believe Gen. Lee has some such understanding with the President.
Mayor Arnold, and
other rich citizens of Savannah, have held a meeting (Union), and called upon
Gov. Brown to assemble a State Convention, etc.
Mr. Hunter followed
Judge Campbell into his office this morning (a second visit), as if there were
any more news. The judge gravely beckoned him into the office. I was out; so
there must be news, when Mr. H. (so fat) is on the qui vive.
Gen. Beauregard has
been ordered to the West to take command of Hood's army.
The Secretary of War
has ordered Col. Bayne to have as much cotton as possible east of Branchville,
S. C.
The farmers down the
river report that Grant is sending off large bodies of troops—so the Secretary
says in a letter to Gen. Lee.
SOURCE: John
Beauchamp Jones, A Rebel War Clerk's Diary at the Confederate
States Capital, Volume 2, p. 379-80
Bright and cold. Snowed
yesterday, and windy.
Gen. Whiting writes
that he had only 400 men in Fort Fisher, and it was a miracle that it was not
taken. He looked for it, and a determined effort would have carried it. He says
there is no reason to suppose the attempt has been abandoned, and it must fall
if a sufficient force be not sent thither.
If the enemy are
apprised of the weak condition of the fort, it is probable Grant has been
sending another and a stronger expedition there, and it may be apprehended that
before many days Wilmington will cease to be of value to us as a
blockade-running port of entry.
I saw the Hon. Mr.
Montague to-day, who told me there was a strong party in Congress (which he
opposed) in favor of making Gen. Lee generalissimo without the previous
concurrence of the President. He says some of the Georgia members declare that
their State will re-enter the Union unless Lee be speedily put at the head of
military affairs in the field—he being the only man possessing the unlimited
confidence of the people. I agreed with him that the President ought to be
approached in a proper manner, and freely consulted, before any action such as
he indicated; and I told him that a letter from Gen. Beauregard, dated 6th of
December, to the President, if ever published, would exculpate the latter from all
blame for the march (unopposed) of Sherman through Georgia.
Col. Baylor, whom
the President designated the other day as the proper man to raise troops in New
Mexico, Arizona, Lower California and in Mexico, is the same man who invited
the Indians to a council in 1861, to receive presents, whisky, etc., and then
ordered them, men, women, and children, to be slaughtered. Even Mr. Randolph
revolted at such conduct. But now the government must employ him.
The rotund Mr.
Hunter is rolling about actively to-day, hunting for more news. His cheeks,
though fat, are flat and emaciated—for he sees affairs in a desperate
condition, and he has much to lose.
SOURCE: John
Beauchamp Jones, A Rebel War Clerk's Diary at the Confederate
States Capital, Volume 2, p. 380-1
Bright, clear, and
cold.
It is said the
government depot at Charlotte, N. C., has been burned (accidentally), consuming
a large amount of corn.
We have nothing
further of the movement of Grant's troops. We have Hood's acknowledgment of
defeat, and loss of 50 guns before Nashville.
The papers contain
the proceedings of a meeting in Savannah, over which the Mayor presided,
embracing the terms of submission offered in President Lincoln's message. They
have sent North for provisions—indicating that the city was in a famishing
condition. Our government is to blame for this! The proceedings will be used as
a "form," probably, by other cities—thanks to the press!
The Examiner is out
this morning for a convention of all the (Confederate) States, and denouncing
the President. I presume the object is to put Lee at the head of military
affairs.
The rumor of the
death of Gen. Price is not confirmed. Gen. Pemberton has been relieved here and
sent elsewhere. The Piedmont Railroad has been impressed. A secret act of
Congress authorizes it.
Miers W. Fisher
writes that if the cabinet indorses the newspaper suggestions of giving up
slavery and going under true monarchies, it is an invitation to refugees like
himself to return to their homes, and probably some of the States will elect to
return to the Union for the sake of being under a republican government, etc.
He says it is understood that the Assistant Secretary often answers letters
unseen by the Secretary; and if so, he can expect no answer from Mr. S., but
will put the proper construction on his silence, etc.
Flour is $700 per
barrel to-day; meal, $80 per bushel; coal and wood, $100 per load. Does the
government (alone to blame) mean to allow the rich speculators, the
quartermasters, etc. to starve honest men into the Union?
* * * * * * * * * *
Grant and I at
Chicago had one or two stolen interviews in which he said he would leave me, as
I wished, at St. Louis till the last minute, viz., March 4, and he assured me
that he would oppose, if it came to him, any change as to the law in the matter
of the office of General, or the diminution of salary. The only trouble is in
my successor. Halleck is out of the question. Meade comes next on the list, but
is not a favorite. Sheridan comes next in order and is Grant's preference, I
think. Thomas could not be passed over if by the accidents of war Sheridan had
not already got over him.
Thomas is
universally esteemed, but was not made a regular Major General till his battle
of Nashville. Whereas Sheridan, at least 13 years younger in service, was made
a Major General for his Winchester battle the summer previous. So I think
Sheridan will be chosen by Grant as Lt. Genl. Say not a word of this, as Grant
will not wish to act till the last minute of time.
We had the most
enthusiastic meeting at Chicago possible, and on the whole it was the best
meeting we ever had or ever will have again. All persons, Grant included,
volunteered the most fulsome eulogies of my short address of welcome, which is
badly reported in the telegraphic despatches, but it was carefully written out
and will be correctly printed when the whole proceedings are booked.
SOURCE: Rachel
Sherman Thorndike, Editor, The Sherman Letters: Correspondence Between
General and Senator Sherman from 1837 to 1891, p. 324-5
Dear Brother: . . .
Your reception speech was universally approved. I saw Grant after his return
here, and he was quite exultant over the whole affair. He takes all things
tranquilly. . . .
I am in real
embarrassment about questions that I must now act upon. My conviction is that
specie payments must be resumed, and I have my own theories as to the mode of
resumption, but the process is a very hard one, and will endanger the
popularity of any man or administration that is compelled to adopt it. Our
party has no policy, and any proposition will combine all other plans in
opposition to it. . . .
SOURCE: Rachel
Sherman Thorndike, Editor, The Sherman Letters: Correspondence Between
General and Senator Sherman from 1837 to 1891, p. 325
* * * * * * * * * *
Of course I don't
profess to understand either your bill or Mr. Morton's. I should like to see a
consolidated 5 per cent bond gradually substituted to replace the present
bonds, to the extent of 2000 millions, requiring 100 millions annually for
interest, and a greenback for the balance of debt, say five hundred millions,
and all other paper money withdrawn and prohibited. I think Grant won't commit
himself to more than the general idea that the debt is sacred, and leave
Congress to devise the ways and means. He will of course try all means of
practical economy. I agree with him perfectly that no more money subsidies on
land grants should be made now or until the debt is in good shape. . .
SOURCE: Rachel
Sherman Thorndike, Editor, The Sherman Letters: Correspondence Between
General and Senator Sherman from 1837 to 1891, p. 326
* * * * * * * * * *
I doubt if you can
do much this session in the way of financial legislation, and I hope Congress,
on reorganizing after March 4, will follow the old custom of not doing anything
till winter. I doubt if as much good will result from debates, as from
observing the working of the present system of finance and reconstruction. Next
winter you will have the advantage of the experience meanwhile, and Grant will
be there, fairly installed, and better prepared to execute what is found to be
best. If ever a country was too much governed, ours is. Congress ought to set
the example of short sessions.
MANSFIELD, OHIO,
Oct. 10, 1869.
Dear Brother: The
panic in New York, though disastrous to a few, will do good. It will prove the
absolute necessity of getting upon a specie basis. This process is a hard one
and will affect the popularity of Grant's administration, but it must be gone through
with. . . .
SOURCE: Rachel
Sherman Thorndike, Editor, The Sherman Letters: Correspondence Between
General and Senator Sherman from 1837 to 1891, p. 329
Clear and cold. Ice
half an inch thick.
Gen. Longstreet is
again in the old lines on this side of the river. The reconnoissance, however,
is said to have been successful. Only a few were killed and wounded on either
side.
And Grant's column
was turned back from Meherrin bridge. Results of the movement unimportant, and
the supposition is that both armies will now go into winter quarters, after a
taste of this rigorous weather.
It is rumored and
believed (though I have seen no dispatch to that effect) that Sherman has
beaten and out-manoeuvred our generals, and got into communication with the
Federal fleet.
I read President
Lincoln's message carefully last night. By its commissions and omissions on
Mexican affairs, I think he means to menace Louis Napoleon, who may speak out
January 1st, 1865. Lincoln says:
"Mexico
continues to be a theater of civil war. While our political relations with that
country have undergone no change, we have at the same time strictly maintained
neutrality between the belligerents."
And his reference to
England is so equivocal, and his grouping of the Central and South American
Republics so prominent, and the boastful allusion to the
"inexhaustible" resources of the United States, may be considered as
a premeditated threat to Great Britain.
A
"confidential" letter came in to-day from Mr. Benjamin to the
Secretary of War.
Dr. Powell has sent
us a dozen rutabaga turnips, and a couple of quarts of excellent persimmons, which
the family enjoys most thankfully.
Dispatches from Lee:
"HEADQUARTERS ARMY NORTHERN VIRGINIA,
'December 10th, 1864.
"HON.
JAMES A. SEDDON, SECRETARY of War.
"Gen.
Hampton, after driving the enemy's cavalry upon his infantry, on the afternoon
of the 8th, recrossed the Nottoway and reached Bellfield at daylight yesterday.
"In
the afternoon the enemy attacked the position, but were successfully resisted.
This morning the enemy is reported retiring and Hampton following.
"The
bridge over the Meherrin was saved. Our loss, as far as known, was small. The
garrison, under Garnett, and the reserves, behaved well. R. E. LEE."
"HEADQUARTERS ARMY NORTHERN VIRGINIA,
"December 10th, 1864.
"HON.
JAMES A. SEDDON, SECREetary of War.
"About
noon yesterday the first division of the Second Corps of the enemy, supporting
their cavalry, forced back our cavalry pickets on the Vaughan Road, south of
the Appomattox, and advanced toward Dinwiddie Court House.
'To-day
our cavalry, reinforced by infantry, drove them back across Hatcher's Run,
capturing a few prisoners and re-establishing our lines. R. E. LEE."
SOURCE: John
Beauchamp Jones, A Rebel War Clerk's Diary at the Confederate
States Capital, Volume 2, p. 352-3
Rained all night;
spitting snow this morning. Although Gen. Bragg announces that the enemy's
fleet has disappeared off Wilmington, still the despondency which has seized
the croakers remains. It has probably sailed against Charleston, to co-operate
with Sherman. Sherman says officially that he got, with Savannah, about 1000
prisoners, 150 heavy guns, nearly 200 cars and several locomotives, 35,000
bales of cotton, etc. etc. And Gen. Foster says the inhabitants (20,000) were
"quiet, and well disposed." Most people believe Charleston will fall
next, to be followed by a sweep of the entire sea-board; and grave men fear
that the impetus thus given the invader cannot be checked or resisted.
The great want is
fighting men, and they are mostly exempted or detailed under that portion of
the "War Department" which is quietly worked by Judge Campbell, who
is, of course, governed by his own great legal judgment. Well, the President
has been informed of this, and yet waits for Mr. Secretary Seddon to suggest a
remedy. I have often thought, and still think, that either the Bureau of
Conscription must be abolished or the government must fail. The best generals
will not avail without sufficient men to fight.
Gen. Beauregard
telegraphs from Charleston, December 26th, that there is a conflict of
authority at Mobile as to which branch of the service, navy or army, shall
command the torpedo boat. The two Secretaries are referring it to commanders,
and I fear that, by the time the question is settled, some calamity will befall
the boat, and the city, and the country.
Grant is said to be
moving troops to the north side of the river again, fearing an attack from us,
or intending one himself.
SOURCE: John
Beauchamp Jones, A Rebel War Clerk's Diary at the Confederate
States Capital, Volume 2, p. 369
The last day of the
year. Snowing and wet. Gen. H. Cobb writes that the existing Conscription
Bureau is a failure so far as Georgia, Alabama, etc. are concerned, and can
never put the men in the field.
Wm. Johnston,
president of the Charlotte (N. C.) and South Carolina Railroad, suggests the
construction, immediately, of a railroad from Columbia, S. C., to Augusta, Ga.,
which might be easily accomplished by April or May. It would take that length
of time for the government to "consider of it." It will lose two
railroads before it will order the building of one.
There is supposed to
be a conspiracy on foot to transfer some of the powers of the Executive to Gen.
Lee. It can only be done by revolution, and the overthrow of the
Constitution. Nevertheless, it is believed many executive officers, some
high in position, favor the scheme.
To-morrow Gen. Lee's
army is to be feasted with turkeys, etc. contributed by the country, if the
enemy will permit them to dine without molestation. The enemy are kept fully
informed of everything transpiring here, thanks to the vigilance of the Provost
Marshal, detectives, etc. etc.
Gen. Cobb writes
that he is arresting the men who remained in Atlanta during its occupation by
Sherman, and subjecting themselves to suspicion, etc. Better march the men we
have against Sherman now, who is still in Georgia!
Gen. Lee writes that
Grant is concentrating (probably for an attack on Richmond), bringing another
corps from the Valley; and if the local troops are brought in, he does not know
how to replace them. His army diminishes, rather than increases, under the
manipulations of the Bureau of Conscription. It is a dark and dreary hour, when
Lee is so despondent!
Senator Henry writes
that any delay in impressing the railroad from Danville to Greensborough will
be fatal.
SOURCE: John
Beauchamp Jones, A Rebel War Clerk's Diary at the Confederate
States Capital, Volume 2, p. 370-1
FORT UNION, NEW
MEXICO, June 11, 1868, Thursday.
Dear Brother: I have now been in New Mexico three weeks
along with Col. Tappan, peace commissioner, for the purpose of seeing the
Navajos, and making some permanent disposition of them. By a debate in the
Senate I see you have a pretty good idea of their former history. These Indians
seem to have acquired from the old Spaniards a pretty good knowledge of
farming, rearing sheep, cattle, and goats, and of making their own clothing by
weaving blankets and cloth. They were formerly a numerous tribe, occupying the
vast region between New Mexico and the Colorado of the West, and had among them
a class of warriors who made an easy living by stealing of the New Mexicans and
occasionally killing. . . .
We found 7200
Indians there, seemingly abject and disheartened. They have been there four
years. The first year they were maintained by the army at a cost of about
$700,000, and made a small crop. The second year the cost was about $500,000,
and the crop was small. Last year the crop was an utter failure, though all the
officers say they labored hard and faithfully. This year they would not work
because they said it was useless. The cost has been diminished to about 12
cents per head a day, which for 7000 Indians makes over $300,000, and this is
as low as possible, being only a pound of corn, and a pound of beef with a
little salt per day.
Now this was the
state of facts, and we could see no time in the future when this could be
amended. The scarcity of wood, the foul character of water, which is salty and
full of alkali, and their utter despair, made it certain that we would have to
move them or they would scatter and be a perfect nuisance. So of course we
concluded to move them. After debating all the country at our option, we have
chosen a small part of their old country, which is as far out of the way of the
whites and of our future probable wants as possible, and have agreed to move
them there forthwith, and have made a treaty which will save the heavy cost of
their maintenance and give as much probability of their resuming their habits
of industry as the case admits of. . . .
Of course I have
noticed Grant's acceptance. I take it for granted he will be elected, and I
must come to Washington. I shall not, however, commit myself to this promotion
till he is not only elected but until he vacates and I am appointed and
confirmed. . . .
SOURCE: Rachel
Sherman Thorndike, Editor, The Sherman Letters: Correspondence Between
General and Senator Sherman from 1837 to 1891, p. 318-9
[ST. LOUIS, July
1868]
Of course Grant will
be elected. I have just travelled with him for two weeks, and the curiosity to
see him exhausted his and my patience. He is now cachéd down at his ranch
eleven miles below the city. . . .
SOURCE: Rachel
Sherman Thorndike, Editor, The Sherman Letters: Correspondence Between
General and Senator Sherman from 1837 to 1891, p. 320
[PHILADELPHIA,
September 1868.]
Grant will surely be
elected. If not, we shall have the devil to pay, and shall have to fight all
our old political issues over again. All indications are now in favor of the
overwhelming defeat of Seymour on account of the rebel and Copperhead stand of
the New York convention. . .
SOURCE: Rachel
Sherman Thorndike, Editor, The Sherman Letters: Correspondence Between
General and Senator Sherman from 1837 to 1891, p. 320-1
[Washington.]
I resume at once the
canvass, and am working very hard. The election of Grant seems our only
salvation from serious trouble.
SOURCE: Rachel
Sherman Thorndike, Editor, The Sherman Letters: Correspondence Between
General and Senator Sherman from 1837 to 1891, p. 321
* * * * * * * * * *
The Indian War on
the plains need simply amount to this. We have now selected and provided
reservations for all, off the great roads. All who cling to their old hunting
grounds are hostile and will remain so till killed off. We will have a sort of
predatory war for years, every now and then be shocked by the indiscriminate
murder of travellers and settlers, but the country is so large, and the
advantage of the Indians so great, that we cannot make a single war and end it.
From the nature of things we must take chances and clean out Indians as we
encounter them.
Our troops are now
scattered and have daily chases and skirmishes, sometimes getting the best and
sometimes the worst, but the Indians have this great advantage, they can steal
fresh horses when they need them and drop the jaded ones. We must operate each
man to his own horse, and cannot renew except by purchase in a distant and
cheap market.
I will keep things
thus, and when winter starves their ponies they will want a truce and shan't
have it, unless the civil influence compels me again as it did last winter.
If Grant is elected,
that old Indian system will be broken up, and then with the annuities which are
ample expended in connection with and in subordination to military movements,
will soon bring the whole matter within easy control. Then there are $134,000
appropriated for the Cheyennes and Arapahoes, all of whom are at war, and yet
the Indian Bureau contend they are forced by law to invest it in shoes,
stockings, blankets, and dry goods for these very Indians. They don't want any
of these things, but if it could be put in corn, salt, and cattle, we could
detach half the hostiles and get them down on the Canadian, two hundred miles
south of the Kansas road.
* * * * * * * * * *
Grant is still at
Galena, and I doubt if he will get to Washington till the November election is
over. I have written to him to come down here to the Fair which begins October
5, but the Democrats are so strong and demonstrative here that I think he is a
little turned against St. Louis. . . .
[MANSFIELD, OHIO, October
14, 1868.]
The October election
is now over, but I do not yet know precise results. I write, supposing that the
Republicans have carried Ohio and Pennsylvania and perhaps Indiana. Grant is
much stronger than our State or Congress ticket, and will get thousands of
floating and Democratic votes. I regard his election as a foregone conclusion.
This canvass has been very severe upon me and I shall now take a rest. If you
would like to join me, we can go to the Lake1 and have some fine
sport hunting and fishing. This relaxation will do us both good.
1 Lake Erie.
SOURCE: Rachel
Sherman Thorndike, Editor, The Sherman Letters: Correspondence Between
General and Senator Sherman from 1837 to 1891, p. 322-3
