Lieutenant-General William T. Sherman to Senator John Sherman, December 30, 1866

ST. LOUIS, Sunday, Dec. 30, 1866.

Dear Brother: I came up from New Orleans right through the country that I had been the means of raiding so thoroughly, and did not know but I should hear some things that would not be pleasant, but, on the contrary, many people met me all along the road in the most friendly spirit. I spent a whole day at Jackson, where chimney stacks and broken railroads marked the presence of Sherman's army. But all sorts of people pressed to see me, and evinced their natural curiosity, nothing more. . . .

I expect to have two Indian wars on my hands, and have no time for other things. The Sioux and Cheyennes are now so circumscribed that I suppose they must be exterminated, for they cannot and will not settle down, and our people will force us to it. It will also call for all possible prudence to keep us from war with the Mormons, for there are people that yearn for the farms and property the Mormons have created in the wilderness.

I have a despatch from Mr. Stanton, saying that my action in the delicate mission to Mexico meets the approval of the President, the Cabinet, and himself, so I got out of that scrape easily. I do not want to come to Washington, but to stay here quietly as long as possible. When Grant goes to Europe, then I shall be forced to come. The longer that is deferred the better for me. Affectionately,

W. T. SHERMAN.

SOURCE: Rachel Sherman Thorndike, Editor, The Sherman Letters: Correspondence Between General and Senator Sherman from 1837 to 1891, p. 287

Lieutenant-General William T. Sherman to Senator John Sherman, about January 8, 1867

I see occasionally that a move in Congress is made about the Mormons. We shall this year and next have our hands full with the Indians, and the conflict of races in the South, without begging any new cause of trouble. As I am interested, I want you to know that my opinion is emphatic that we should attempt nothing with the Mormons until the railroad is finished as far as Fort Bridges. That cannot be until about the year 1869. As long as cases have to be tried by juries, all laws counter to the prejudice of the whole people are waste paper.

I got your letter a few days ago, and am glad you feel so confident of the political situation. I am not alarmed at the fact that universal suffrage-blacks, whites, Chinese, and Indians is to be the basis, but the devil comes in when we shall be forced to contract the right of suffrage. It is easy enough to roll down hill, but the trouble is in getting back again; but I am out and shall keep out. G. W. Custer, Lieutenant-Colonel Seventh Cavalry, is young, very brave, even to rashness, a good trait for a cavalry officer. He came to duty immediately on being appointed, and is ready and willing now to fight the Indians. He is in my command, and I am bound to befriend him. I think he merits confirmation for military service already rendered, and military qualities still needed—youth, health, energy, and extreme willingness to act and fight.

SOURCE: Rachel Sherman Thorndike, Editor, The Sherman Letters: Correspondence Between General and Senator Sherman from 1837 to 1891, p. 288-9

Diary of Mary Boykin Chesnut: March 14, 1862

Thank God for a ship! It has run the blockade with arms and ammunition.

There are no negro sexual relations half so shocking as Mormonism. And yet the-United States Government makes no bones of receiving Mormons into its sacred heart. Mr. Venable said England held her hand over “the malignant and the turbaned Turk” to save and protect him, slaves, seraglio, and all. But she rolls up the whites of her eyes at us when slavery, bad as it is, is stepping out into freedom every moment through Christian civilization. They do not grudge the Turk even his bag and Bosphorus privileges. To a recalcitrant wife it is, “Here yawns the sack; there rolls the sea,” etc. And France, the bold, the brave, the ever free, she has not been so tender-footed in Algiers. But then the “you are another” argument is a shabby one. “You see,” says Mary Preston sagaciously, “we are white Christian descendants of Huguenots and Cavaliers, and they expect of us different conduct.”

Went in Mrs. Preston's landau to bring my boarding-school girls here to dine. At my door met J. F., who wanted me then and there to promise to help him with his commission or put him in the way of one. At the carriage steps I was handed in by Gus Smith, who wants his brother made commissary. The beauty of it all is they think I have some influence, and I have not a particle. The subject of Mr. Chesnut's military affairs, promotions, etc., is never mentioned by me.

SOURCE: Mary Boykin Chesnut, Edited by Isabella D. Martin and Myrta Lockett Avary, A Diary From Dixie, p. 143

Polygamy

In the progress of the war, and the general interest with which all classes regard its prosecution, the proceedings of Congress, though of unusual importance, excite but little attention.  The action of that body in respect of the passage of a General Bankrupt Law, and the establishment of a National Armory in the West, except to a few immediately interested, seems to have lost interest; more, perhaps, from the fact that the public had settled down in the conclusion that nothing would be done with either of these measures at the resent session.

A bill has recently been passed by the House of Representatives that is calculated to produce great excitement in one portion of our Republic, and perhaps lead to sedition.  We allude to Mr. Ashley’s bill for the punishment of polygamy.  This is the corner-stone of the proposed State of Deseret, just as slavery is that of the projected Southern Confederacy and the Mormons intend to demand immediate admission into the Union with a State government based upon this principle, so revolting to enlightened humanity.  As congress “declares their fundamental system a crime, which morals and justice alike forbid,” and will not for a moment listen to the admission of a new State into the Union on such grounds, and the Mormon leaders are all in earnest in their demand, and emeute may be expected among the Priams of the far West that may require a few brigades to be kept in the field, after the little affair down South has been settled to the satisfaction of all loyal citizens.

As the Western troops have so distinguished themselves in fighting the rebels against our Government, we suggest that a sufficient number be detailed from them to whip the rebels against decency back into the path of virtue and morality.  The ties of a common Westernhood will not unnerve our brave boys; though they love the beautiful West, its broad prairies and invigorating atmosphere, they love more the Government that protects them in their rights, and they wish to enjoy those rights uncontaminated by sin and shame.

The great lights of Mormondom have recently been reflecting their rays on the obtuse faculties of their followers, in a series of set speeches on this libidinous feature of their corrupt system. – Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball and other “apostolic” dignitaries in Utah, who mould the deluded followers of the Mormon heresy at their will, we see it stated, boldly avow their purpose to make a direct issue with the Government.  In effect, they say, “that they have suffered unjust persecution until forbearance is no longer a virtue, and that they now insist upon a full recognition of their rights, on an equal footing with the States.”  Brigham recently expressed the views of the priesthood in a violent philippic; a single passage of which will reflect the whole:–

“We are not going to be satisfied with a mere pre-emption right on the soil in this territory.  Should the Government grant to every head of a family six hundred and forty acres of land, and to each wife and child their portion, as was done in Oregon territory, that would give me and to my sons and daughters quite a scope of country, and the whole people would swallow up all the land in this territory.  But shall we be satisfied with that?  No, I am going to have a larger pre-emption that the territory of Utah.  In a few years this territory will contain my own posterity.  In twenty years from now this spacious hall will not hold them, and in twenty years more they will more than fill this territory.  I cannot put up with this small possession.”

In a few years according to Brigham’s constructive tree of genealogy, Mormon offspring will be more numerous than the locusts of Egypt, and, like them, will devour the fat of the land. – Slavery and polygamy, “twin relics of barbarism,” must be wiped out from the fair record of our country, then our nation will march on to true greatness.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Saturday Morning, May 10, 1862, p. 2

What Does It Mean?

Our curiosity was considerably excited a few days since, while passing through Fisher’s Grove, Page, county, on seeing about fifty horsemen, performing some remarkable equestrian feats, and going through various sword exercises.  The most remarkable feature presented was the peculiar position in which they were stationed.  Above them, on a nicely hewn pole, about fifty feet in height, was fixed a large banner, on which was inscribed in large letters, “PEACE.”

Taking pains to inquire into the matter we ascertained that they were Mormons, but did not succeed in learning the object of their singular proceeding.  The appearance of the group was more warlike than peaceful, notwithstanding their “peace”ful motto. – Panora Ledger.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Friday Morning, April 4, 1862, p. 2

Iowa Items

Some citizens of Des Moines, it will be remembered, in order to secure the location of the State capitol at their village, agreed to furnish capitol grounds and building free of charge to the State.  They borrowed the money from the school-fund for the purpose, and now, being unable or unwilling to pay, come forward, and ask that they be released from the payment of some $44,000, on the ground that they have furnished the State with a capitol!  If they succeed in this effort, we suggest that these “responsible” citizens of Des Moines had better try to get the different State asylums to their city, on the same terms, and wind up with the State Prison, so that said “responsibles” can finish their career as near home as possible.

At the municipal election in Muscatine last Monday, about 800 votes were polled.  George Mason was elected Mayor for the third time, John Wiley re-elected Treasurer, and Marx Block chosen wharfmaster.  No party lines were drawn.

Dr. Thompson, of Muscatine, on Monday last, extracted from the hip of Mr. Newton Brown, a ball, or rather the piece of one, which he received at the battle of Wilson’s Creek.  The ball entered the leg a little above the knee.

A soldier died very suddenly in Dubuque last Friday, from, it is supposed, congestion of the lungs.  A person thought he recognized him as one John Garon, formerly a resident near Dubuque; he is supposed to have been one of the regiment of Mechanic Fusiliers, recently disbanded at Chicago.

The Dubuque Herald says that Messrs. J. Throp, Wm. Canfield, and another miner, after laboring in the lead region for five weeks, have at last truck a lead at the depth of twelve feet from the ground.  They took out in three days, 3,000 bounds of mineral, which they sold at $34.50 per thousand – being $11.50 a day for each man.

It has been proposed in our Legislature to change the names of Floyd and Jones counties respectively to Baker and Lyon.  It was ascertained, in the course of debate, that Floyd county was named in honor of a sergeant in Lewis and Clark’s expedition, and consequently is not intended to perpetuate the name of the traitor secretary.  The Anamosa Eureka says that George W. Jones, then surveyor-general, gave his own name to Jones county, which then contained about two hundred inhabitants.  The Eureka is anxious that the county should be purged of the traitor’s name, and something more honorable be given it.

MORMONS IN LEE COUNTY. – The Keokuk Constitution says there is now a Mormon church in Des Moines township, in that county, which numbers thirty members, who have a preacher and hold regular meetings every Sunday, and have preaching and prayer meetings one a week.  They are followers of young Joseph Smith.

WOLVES. – During the first two weeks of February, twelve wolves and one wild cat were killed in this vicinity.  It was not much of a time for wolves either. – Montezuma Rep.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Monday Morning, March 10, 1862, p. 2

Polygamy Abolished

The lower house of Congress has passed a bill, by a large majority, prohibiting polygamy in all the Territories, and repealing the laws of Utah on that subject.

This the Mormons will regard as striking at the principle of “popular sovereignty” with a vengeance, and we may have another rebellion on our hands in that quarter.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, May 3, 1862, p. 2

It is said there is only one Irish Mormon at Salt Lake . . .

. . . but he “improves his opportunities.” He has nine wives and forty-seven children.

A few days since, a little girl in West Canaan, N. H., while playing with matches sucked the phosphorus from some of them and being taken violently sick in consequence soon after died.

– Published in the Stark County News, Toulon, Illinois, Thursday, April 23, 1863