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

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant Luman Harris Tenney: March 10, 1864

Major Nettleton returned. Told M. this morning in regard to F. and myself. She thinks as I do, that if the girl really loves me she ought to know it. If not, we ought to stop our intimacy. So shall I act. Received letter, unable to decide, does not know her own heart. Answered, after a crying spell, and consulting with Ma and M. We all think alike. Feel as if I were doing my duty anyway. Finished the letter and went to Friday prayer meeting. Spoke. Did me good. Determined through the grace of God to make my trial a blessing. Will be a man and a Christian. Called at Fannie Hudson's. Meeting in the evening.

SOURCE: Frances Andrews Tenney, War Diary Of Luman Harris Tenney, p. 109

Captain Charles Wright Wills: January 16, 1863

Camp 103d Illinois Infantry, Jackson, Tenn.,

January 16, 1862.

It commenced raining early the morning of the 14th and did not cease until about 2 a. m. the 15th, since when it has snowed steadily until within two hours. The snow is some eight inches deep, underneath which is mud immeasurable. The rain the last six or eight hours came through our tent as through a sieve, the snow came in at the top, through the door, and blew under the curtains. Everybody's wearing apparel, blankets, and self absorbed all the damp possible, and besides carried all that would hold on outside. Our stove was in this extremity our comfort and our joy. We kept two loyal Ethiopians busy during the two days, getting wood, and feeding said comforter. Great was the tribulation, and much audible cursing resulted, while the secret history of oaths unuttered, would I'm afraid, fill many volumes, and in all human probability cause, if made public, the appointment of many army chaplains. This is the first winter weather that we have had, and I'll be willing if it proves the last, although there is a half melancholy pleasure in spludging around in this slop and taking the weather as it comes, without its first being made to feel the refining influence of house walls and good warm fires. Our men have become quite soldier-like, and endure without much murmuring the little ills as they come. It shows some of the principles of manhood, you must believe, when men stand this weather in these worthless little wedge tents, without fires and without grumbling. I got four of my men discharged to-day, and want to discharge some six or eight more. When I get my deadheads off my hands will have some 70 good men left. Rather think now, that we are stationary here for the winter, but we may possibly be sent to Vicksburg, than which nothing will suit us better There are some eight or nine regiments here, two or three of them cavalry. The enemy is pretty well cleared out of this strip of country, and if Rosecrans gets down into North Alabama, opinion seems to be that some of us can be spared from here for Vicksburg and Port Hudson. Several houses have been burned here lately. This town will share the fate of Holly Springs, sure, if the Rebels trouble us here any more. 'Tis fearfully secesh, and a little fire will, I think, help to purify it. Isn't it wonderful how with so much fighting everywhere I have escaped so long? The whole of the 10th Illinois Infantry were with me in luck until the last fight at Murfreesboro, and am not certain they participated in that. There are two regiments here that have endured all of this storm without tents. I suppose the Lord takes care of them fellows, if it’s a fact that he looks after sheared sheep and birds. From my heart I pity them, though that strikes me as something like the little boy who, when his mother put him to bed and covered him with an old door, told her how much he pitied folks who had no doors to cover themselves with while they slept. That's a story mother and aunt used to tell me in my trundle-bed days. Wonder if aunty has forgotten the story that used to make Tip and me rave. All about how that “great big prairie wolf bit a wee boy's head off.” I almost forgot that I am out of woollen socks. Have only the pair of socks that are on my feet. Put them on this morning, and there were so many holes that I could hardly tell where to put my feet in. Wish you'd send me three or four pair. Will make cotton ones do until then. I can send you a nigger baby if it would be acceptable. They are more "antic" than either a squirrel or monkey. I have two he niggers, two she's and three babies, mess property. Think I will either have to drown the babies, or sell them and the women, whom I endure because their husbands are such good hands. Will you take one?

SOURCE: Charles Wright Wills, Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, p. 147-8

Diary of Lieutenant-Colonel Rutherford B. Hayes: June 21, 1862

Camp Jones, Flat Top. — . . . Rather agreeable social evenings with the officers at my quarters, the band enlivening us with its good music.

Dr. McCurdy having been appointed inspector of hospitals for this division, we had a Dr. Hudson, of Medina, a new state surgeon, assigned to us as assistant surgeon in Dr. McCurdy's place. Dr. Hudson turns out to be a thin-skinned, nervous, whimsical, whining Yankee. He has just heard of the death of a favorite daughter. His grief loses all respectability, coupled as it is with his weaknesses and follies. We agreed today with Dr. Holmes (the medical head man) to swap our Dr. Hudson “unsight, unseen” for any spare doctor he could turn out. We find we caught a Dr. Barrett, lately of Wooster, a young man of good repute. We take him, pleased well with the bargain.

SOURCE: Charles Richard Williams, editor, Diary and Letters of Rutherford Birchard Hayes, Volume 2, p. 291-2

Proclamation of Governor Samuel J. Kirkwood, September 10, 1861

PROCLAMATION.

FELLOW CITIZENS OF IOWA: – More soldiers are required for the war.  I therefore appeal to your patriotism to complete at once the quota demanded of our State.  Six regiments of infantry and two of cavalry, composed of your friends, your neighbors and your relatives, are now in the field.  Three more regiments of infantry and two of cavalry, composed of the same precious materials, are now in camp nearly organized, and eager to join their brothers in arms who have preceded them, and still four more regiments are required.  Will you permit these patriots who have gone forth animated with the spirit of their cause, to remain unsupported, and to fight alone the battles that are imminent?  Remember that they will not fight for themselves alone; it is for your cause as well as theirs in which they are engaged.  It is the cause of the Government, of home, of country, of freedom, of humanity, of God himself.  It is in this righteous cause that I call upon the manhood and patriotism of the State for a cordial and hearty response.

The gallant achievements of our noble Iowa First, have bestowed upon our State an imperishable renown.  Wherever fortitude is appreciated, and valor recognized as the attributes of a brave and greathearted people, the Iowa volunteer is greeted with pride and applause.  Shall it be said that you were unworthy the great deeds which were done in your behalf by that regiment of heroes, that you were laggard in the noble work which they so well begun?  Shall the fair fame of the State which they have raised to the highest point of greatness, lose its luster through your backwardness to the call of your country, made in the holiest cause that has ever engaged the efforts of a people? With you rests the responsibility. Men alone are wanted. Arms, equipments, liberal pay, the applause and gratitude of a Nation await the volunteers.  I cannot believe you will prove insufficient for the occasion when you know your country's need. Two regiments of those yet needed, are required for the defense of our own borders against the incursion of predatory tribes of Indians. While our loyal armies have been engaged with civilized traitors in a deadly struggle for the supremacy of the Government, the maintenance of the Constitution, the enforcement of the laws, and the protection of innocent and defenseless citizens, our own borders have become exposed to the ravages of savages. Some of the lawless tribes are now in league with the leaders of the rebellion in Arkansas and Missouri. Others have been incited by them to seize this opportunity to prey upon the defenseless inhabitants of our State. Some of our sparsely settled counties imperatively demand protection, and they must have it.

Four regiments in addition to those now organizing are needed. They must be had speedily. I hope for the good name of our State they will be furnished without resort to any other mode than that heretofore so successfully adopted. Let those who cannot volunteer lend encouragement and assistance to those who can. Let everyone feel that there is no more important work to be done until these regiments are filled.

SAMUEL J. KIRKWOOD

SOURCE: Henry Warren Lathrop, The Life and Times of Samuel J. Kirkwood, Iowa's War Governor, p. 161-2

The Note of Alarm -- Importance of Holding Memphis

(From the Memphis Avalanche, Feb. 26.)

We are gratified to find that the opinions expressed by us with regard to our proper line of defense in the State, are gradually being accepted by all reflecting minds.  Some of our journals have gone astray on the absurd idea that the enemy intended making their strong demonstration against Nashville, strangely concluding that the capital of our State, on a small stream, was of more value to our foe than the command of the great inland sea.

Last November, some of our most intelligent and sagacious citizens regarded Columbus as the point mostly coveted by the enemy, and urged instant and adequate preparations for its defense.

One of our cotemporaries, the Appeal, with more zeal than wisdom, ridiculed the idea of there being any necessity for such preparation as men of sounder judgment and greater sagacity thought advisable, and did much to dampen that spirit which is always essential for any great emergency.

We are glad to see the Appeal returning to a sensible view of this question of defense, and in so nearly our own language as to convince us that it has derived much benefit from the perusal of our late articles upon the importance of defending the Mississippi river, at all hazards.  Our cotemporaries south of us have never committed the blunder of the Appeal, in supposing that our invaders ever intended making anything like a serious demonstration against this valley by any land route nor have they made the worse blunder of discouraging our people from the active preparation in which consists our safety.  The chief object of the enemy was and is too patent for men of sagacity not to see it, and we may rest assured that the country now properly estimates the importance of the question involved, since the Appeal has at last comprehended it.

As we have said again and again, the enemy’s great blow will be struck in his attempt to gain command of this valley.  If Columbus and Memphis should fall he would have uncontrolled sway for two thousand miles of the richest agricultural region in the world, extending from the lakes of the North to the Gulf of the South.  He can move his gunboats and transports at will – not five miles per day, as he now moves his army on land but fifty or one hundred miles per day.  He will garrison towns as he goes with troops enough to keep down all opposition.  He will thus penetrate the heart of our cotton and sugar region, and it will be no ordinary task to drive him from it.  At least it will not be done till cities, towns, villages, hamlets and private dwellings are laid in ashes, and manhood and womanhood be made to drink the cup of bitterness to the dregs!

It is strange, passing strange, that any citizen of this valley could ever have been deluded as to the chief design of the enemy!  And it is strange – we had almost said criminal – that any respectable journal of the South could be found trying to prevent our people from making that preparation for defense called forth by the magnitude of the interests at stake on both sides.

Let Nashville fall, as it probably must but that need not create the panic which now seems really to have seized upon some of our people, a panic which most unfortunately has not been allayed by the adjournment of our executive and Legislature form Nashville to Memphis – a measure deemed by the Executive, Governor Harris, proper and necessary.  We repeat it – let Nashville fall – its value to us is nothing compared with Memphis and this valley!

Our duty is before us, and it is plain.  We must defend the Mississippi river and the Memphis and Charleston railroad!  While we would not pluck our opinion against any commanding officer at Columbus, we are frank to confess that we think Fort Pillow is the point for a stand on the Mississippi, if it be not too late to abandon Columbus.  The latter place is too far from the great artificial line of support and defense – the Memphis and Charleston Railroad – and if Fort Pillow can hold the enemy in check in his advance by water, he will never advance by land.

Be it Columbus or Fort Pillow, one or both must be held, and a point on the Tennessee river (say Hamburg).  With these two river fortifications made impregnable, and others between them, in easy supporting distances of each other, we can defy the advance of the foe for all time to come.  Men, however, are needed for this duty.  It will not do for us to rely upon President Davis, or any other great man, for help, in this hour of trial.

Much is said about President Davis sending us aid.  This may be so.  We trust it is so, but we confess we do not know what point on our Potomac or coast lines, can be safely weakened just now.  Large forces are threatening us in all quarters, and we must rely upon ourselves!  Upon the men from this great valley!  The Legislature will probably soon authorize the Governor to call the militia into active service.  For the sake of honor and manhood, we trust no young unmarried man will suffer himself to be drafted!  He would soon become a bye word – a scoff – a burning shame to his sex and to his State!  Leave that for old and married men but in the name of patriotism let us not see young men parading our streets as militia, when the guns of hundreds of sick soldiers are waiting for them at Columbus.

We invoke the attention of our girls and wives upon this subject, and if young men, in pantaloons, will stay behind desks, counters and molasses barrels, let the girls present them with the garment proper to their peaceable spirits.  Success will make demons of our invaders, and success in the invasion of this valley will be more cheering to them than victory at any other point.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, March 8, 1862, p. 3