Was elected major of the regiment in place of Chester resigned. It was hard for me to give up my company, but I should not decline promotion, as my promotion will give it to others—I trust I may always be able to do my duty.
SOURCE: Joseph Stockton, War Diary (1862-5) of Brevet Brigadier General Joseph Stockton, p. 9
December 29th, 1862.
As I was sitting by my cosy fire last evening—for we have evenings here, long, dreary ones—thinking of past events and trying, with my weak vision, to pierce the dark future, the thought occurred to me where is all the trust and confidence with which I started out, and which cheered and sustained me until our late defeat? Have we made no advance? Surely we have made blunders, but will we not profit by them? We are learning the art of war—time is required to change a citizen into a soldier. Our officers are being weighed the light weights cast aside or relegated to their class—and the good work will go on until one is found of size and weight to cope with Lee. 'Tis said, "Great generals are born, not made;" that true greatness is also modest, and does not vaunt itself; but our President is on the lookout for him and will find him—never fear—one who has the genius to plan, the will to do, the nerve to dare. As I pondered, hope returned and all my gloomy forebodings fled away.
As I was about to retire for the night, our door was thrown open and some letters were handed in. Among them was one for me. I recognized the well-known hand—tore open the envelope, and, after perusing the welcome contents over and over again, I went to bed and dreamed of home.
Inexpressibly dear, to the soldier, are letters from home. It is interesting to stand by as the mail is being distributed, and, as the names are called, witness the animated, joyful expression that illuminates the countenance of the happy recipients, while those less favored retire to their tents disappointed and sad.
Captain Goldsmith has returned, but will not stay long, as he has sent in his resignation. The regiment is hard at work building winter quarters. Our houses are all built after the same pattern-eight feet by ten in size, five feet high-rafters one-fourth pitch, covered with tent cloth. The different companies are separated by streets one rod wide. The men do not work with very good heart, as they expect orders to leave as soon as finished. They say this has been their experience in the past.
Contrary to expectations, the health of the men does not improve with frosty nights. Diarrhea, colds and rheumatism prevail, with now and then a case of fever.
SOURCE: David Lane, A Soldier's Diary: The Story of a Volunteer, 1862-1865, p. 24-5
Another day of sleet and
gloom. The pavements are almost impassable from the enamel of ice; large
icicles hang from the houses, and the trees are bent down with the weight of
frost.
The mails have failed, and
there is no telegraphic intelligence, the wires being down probably. It rained
very fast all day yesterday, and I apprehend the railroad bridges have been
destroyed in many places.
The young men (able-bodied)
near the Secretary of War and the Assistant Secretary, at the War Department,
say, this morning, that both have resigned.
It is said the Kentucky
Congressmen oppose the acceptance of the portfolio of war by Gen. Breckinridge.
Whoever accepts it must
reform the conscription business and the passport business, else the cause will
speedily be lost. Most of our calamities may be traced to these two sources.
SOURCE: John Beauchamp
Jones, A Rebel War Clerk's Diary at the Confederate
States Capital, Volume 2, p. 394-5
Cloudy and thawing.
No war news, but it
is known Sherman's army is not quiet, and must soon be heard from in spite of
the interdict of the government.
It is said Mr.
Trenholm, Secretary of the Treasury, is in the market buying gold, and that the
fall has already been from $50 to $30 for one.
Corn-meal has risen
from $50 up to $75 per bushel. Flour to $500 per barrel.
Vice-President
Stephens has not left the city, but presides in the Senate.
Messrs. B. Woolley,
Hart & Co., Nassau, N. P., write most pressing letters for the liquidation
of their claims against the Confederate States Government. Perhaps they are
becoming alarmed after making prodigious profits, etc.
Conner's brigade and
other troops are en route for South Carolina from Lee's army.
Judge Campbell,
Assistant Secretary of War, was smoked out of his room to-day, and came into
mine.
The judge, however,
does but little more just now than grant passports into the enemy's lines;
permission to speculators to bring into the city supplies for sale, often under
pretense of being intended for their own use; exemptions, details, etc. If he
were disposed, he could realize a million of dollars.
It is said the Hon.
A. R. Wright went North to get his son paroled, who is in prison there.
Judge Campbell talks
of resigning.
SOURCE: John
Beauchamp Jones, A Rebel War Clerk's Diary at the Confederate
States Capital, Volume 2, p. 378-9
November 28.
My decision to resign my commission was a little depressing, and may have had some influence in bringing on the attack of vertigo, but once decided upon and another surgeon found to take my place it has given me no more trouble. When a surgeon has not enough physical vigor to meet the ordinary exigencies of a regiment in the field, it is clearly his duty to resign, regardless of personal attachments or his own choice. After five months of struggle for strength to endure work in this climate, I take this step. To have sustained the relation of surgeon to the 1st S. C. Vols. and to have found in these brave freedmen, the noble, soldierly qualities which history will celebrate, and, above all, to have found such an unlooked for wealth of intellect, music and religion, is not this experience running over with compensation? As I think of it I am ashamed of any regrets at leaving and filled only with gratitude that I have been permitted to help this race begin to assert its rights to freedom. .
Since our skirmish with the rebels the other day they have condescended to ask a flag of truce with the Major of our regiment who was in command at the picket. The regiment returned to camp today. This is peculiarly gratifying since it indicates that they are compelled to respect the bravery of negro soldiers. They evidently mourn over the loss of their dogs a good deal more than over the loss of an equal or greater number of officers and soldiers. Uncle York says he "sposes ebery dog's wuth mo'n ten mens to de revels."
Capt. Rogers prepared the skin and bones of one of the dogs and took it North to be set up. His good boy "Si" for whom he risked his life at the Ferry, last summer, was followed by some of this same pack of hounds while escaping from bondage. He has gone to New York with the Captain.
SOURCE: Proceedings of the Massachusetts Historical Society, Volume 43, October, 1909—June, 1910: February 1910. p. 396-7
December 2, 1863.
Today is the anniversary of the date of my commission of surgeon, and today I have tendered its resignation on surgeon's certificate of disability. If it gets perfectly red-taped by the first of the year I shall be glad.
Rained all night,
but bright this morning.
We have no clear
account yet of the fighting yesterday; but we know the enemy was repulsed on
this side of the river. It is thought that the operations on the south side
were of greater magnitude, where we lost a brigadier-general (Dearing) of
cavalry. We shall know all in a few days. The fighting was not resumed this
morning.
It is rumored that
Mr. Seddon will resign, and be succeeded by Gen. Kemper. I am incredulous.
The
"dog-catchers," as the guards are called, are out again, arresting
able-bodied men (and sometimes others) in the streets, and locking them up
until they can be sent to the front. There must be extraordinary danger
anticipated by the authorities to induce a resort to so extreme a measure.
Two P.M. No news
from the field—no cannon heard to-day.
Large amounts of
cloth from Europe for the army have recently arrived at Wilmington, N. C.; but
the speculators occupy so much space in the cars, that transportation cannot be
had for it. The poor soldiers are likely to suffer in consequence of this
neglect of duty on the part of the government.
I have been kept for
a week, and am still, in a state of great anxiety about the dangerous political
excitements at home. The President has taken an attitude less friendly to the
secessionists. This has been owing, it would seem, to the occupation of Fort
Moultrie and the seizure of a revenue cutter, in the harbour of Charleston, by
the South Carolina authorities. General Floyd, as Secretary of War, had pledged
his honour to Governor Pickens that there should be no change in the status of
the fortifications in the harbour.
Major Anderson, in
command, with prudent strategy, shifted his little garrison of twenty men from
Fort Moultrie to Fort Sumter. The South Carolina Commissioners at Washington
protested, alleging breach of faith. Floyd demanded orders to Anderson to go
back. The President declined. Governor Pickens sent militia into Fort Moultrie
and seized a United States cutter. Floyd resigned on 29th of December, and his
resignation was quietly accepted on the 31st by the President, who appointed
Postmaster-General Holt to conduct the department until a successor was named.
The President has addressed Congress, announced his determination to protect
the property and collect the revenue of the United States with all the power at
his disposal, and is said to have directed the frigate Brooklyn to be held in
readiness at Norfolk, while two revenue cutters are proceeding to Charleston
harbour, on board which a new Collector, McIntyre, of Pennsylvania, will exact
the duties on imports. In the interim reinforcements are being sent to Southern
garrisons, as a determination to seize them has shown itself in Georgia,
Alabama, and North Carolina. These facts, if well founded, place the country in
imminent risk of civil war; and if, at the bottom of the whole, there exist, as
Mr. Daniel, our Minister to Turin, vehemently assured me on Monday last was the
case, an immense majority in the South who desire disunion and have been preparing
to accomplish it for twenty years, it would seem that a sanguinary convulsion
is unavoidable. Perhaps a large movement of militia, similar to the one made by
Washington in 1794 against our Whiskey Insurrection, would overawe the
disaffected and restore tranquillity. Certainly, South Carolina has taken, by
capturing forts and cutters, a more decisively insurrectionary character than
could be attributed to the disorderly riots of Pennsylvania.
My old friend
"Betsey Bonaparte" and her son have enlisted Berryer and Legrand in a
trial to come off on the 25th inst., before the Court of First Instance in
Paris, asserting the validity of the marriage of Jerome in Baltimore in 1803,
and claiming to share in the property he has left. If the marriage be sustained,
the necessary result would be the illegitimacy of Prince Napoleon and Princess
Mathilde. Here is fine garbage for Imperial scandal! and "Betsey" is
not one, though she can't lack much of eighty, to shrink in the pursuit of
money or to be scared by a crown.
APRIL, 1, 1861
RESOLVED, that in
the resignation of the late superintendent Colonel W. T. Sherman, the Academic
Board deem it not improper to express their deep conviction of the loss the
institution has sustained in being thus deprived of an able head. They cannot
fail to appreciate the manliness of character which has always marked the
actions of Colonel Sherman. While he is personally endeared to many of them as
a friend they consider it their high pleasure to tender to him in this
resolution their regret on his separation, and their sincere wish for his
future welfare.
SOURCE: Walter
L. Fleming, General W.T. Sherman as College President, p. 375
I received about
nine o'clock Saturday night, your telegraphic dispatch, which I have this
moment answered, “I cannot accept."
I have quite a large
family, and when I resigned my place in Louisiana, on account of secession, I
had no time to lose; and, therefore, after my hasty visit to Washington, where
I saw no chance of employment, I came to St. Louis; have accepted a place in
this company, have rented a house, and incurred other obligations, so that I am
not at liberty to change.
I thank you for the
compliment contained in your offer, and assure you that I wish the
administration all success in its almost impossible task of governing this
distracted and anarchical people.
The Arabia brings the news that Secretary Cobb has resigned. He goes then to join the Disunionists, who, in Georgia, object to joint, but are in favor of separate, secession. Mr. Cobb is forty-five years of age; before he becomes sixty, he will have discovered that a good cause is really only injured by violence, and best promoted by calm and steady action; he will then have become, for he has ample ability, a safe American statesman.
The news in no respect diminishes the gloom of affairs in the United States. The situation is deplorable already, and worse is in prospect. I think it at once proper and becoming to manifest sympathy with my countrymen in their present trials. I have, therefore, declined Mr. Bates's invitation to the New-Year festivities at Sheen. It is impossible to be merry when one's country is gasping for breath.
China news is highly interesting. The first Napoleon has been always condemned by the British press for despoiling the academies and temples of Italy of their treasures of art, which he collected in his gallery of the Louvre. Still, they vindicated the burning of our Capitol and White House in 1814 by Ross; they bombarded the superb private residence of Prince Woronzow at Odessa; and here they are again, this time conjointly with the French, avowedly plundering and carrying off the ornaments and comforts of an imperial summer palace! War necessarily leads to excesses, which every effort should be made to restrict as much as possible. What conceivable benefit to the cause in which they are engaged could the allies derive from purloining pictures, statuary, and articles of novelty? But such are the two heads of European civilization. The French have made a separate convention, after the Treaty of Peace, bargaining for liberty to carry off coolies (hem!), for a recognition of Catholicism throughout China, and an indemnity of twelve millions of dollars! Pretty well for Louis Napoleon, and better, considering his looting, for Marshal Montauban.
BATON ROUGE, Jan. 27, 1861.
MY DEAR SHERMAN: It
is with the deepest regret that the enclosed papers are forwarded to you. I am
so occupied with other matters that I do not know what the Board of Supervisors
have done or will do about your successor. Dr. Smith has made arrangements, I
think, to settle your salary as ordnance officer.
The ordinance
of secession passed the convention yesterday by a very large vote, and a
convention of Southern States will immediately meet to organize a new
confederacy. It will be in operation - a de facto government – before the 4th
of March. We hope this course will lead to a peaceable solution of the matters.
A separation is inevitable - nothing can prevent it now. Why should there be
any strife over it?
Still it is not for
individuals to control these matters. We can only strive and hope.
Wherever you go my
fervent prayers attend you for success and happiness. . .
SOURCE: Walter
L. Fleming, General W.T. Sherman as College President, p. 351
BATON ROUGE, January
28, 1861.
MY DEAR SIR: Your
letter was duly received, and would have been answered ere this time could I
have arranged sooner the matter of the five hundred dollars. I shall go from
here to New Orleans to-day or to-morrow, and will remain there till Saturday
after next, perhaps. I shall expect to meet you there, as indicated in your
note to me.
I need not tell you
that it is with no ordinary regret that I view your determination to leave us,
for really I believe that the success of our institution, now almost assured,
is jeopardized thereby. I am sure that we will never have a superintendent with
whom I shall have more pleasant relations than those which have existed between
yourself and me.
I fully appreciate
the motives which have induced you to give up a position presenting so many
advantages to yourself, and sincerely hope that you may, in any future
enterprise, enjoy the success which your character and ability merit and
deserve. . .
Colonel Bragg
informs me that the necessary orders have been given for the transfer and
receipt by Major Smith of the public property.
I herewith transmit
a request to the secretary to convene the Board of Supervisors, that they may
act as seems best to them in the premises.
In the mean time,
Major Smith will command by seniority the cadets, and the Academic Board will
be able to conduct the scientific exercises of the institution until the Board
of Supervisors can have time to act. . .
P.S. Governor Moore desires
me to express his profound regret that the state is about to lose one who we
all fondly hoped had cast his destinies for weal or for woe among us; and that
he is sensible that we lose an officer whom it will be difficult, if not
impossible, to replace.
SOURCE: Walter
L. Fleming, General W.T. Sherman as College President, p. 353-4
ALEXANDRIA, January
31, 1861.
DEAR SIR: A meeting
of the Board of Supervisors is called by instruction of Dr. S. A. Smith,
vice-president, at 11 a.m. Saturday, February 9, in Alexandria.
May I ask your
attendance, and your influence, with your neighbors for their attendance, as
Dr. Smith's absence will make a quorum hard to get.
Business of
importance will be laid before you, embracing the steps made imperatively
necessary, by my withdrawal from my present duties of superintendent and
treasurer. I have a sealed letter from Dr. Smith to the Board, and I cannot
tell whether he intends to be present or not.
NOTE BY GRAHAM
ENDORSED ON THE ABOVE
Have you received
notice to attend any such meeting? This letter of Colonel Sherman's is all I
know about it. I fear Sherman is to be chiselled out of the five hundred
dollars a year engaged to be paid him in the Arsenal bill of last year. That
bill authorizes it “to be paid quarterly on his own warrant.” The auditor, or
treasurer, one or the other, I understand will not pay it because it was not in
the Appropriation Bill, thanks to the experience and sagacity of some of our
friends. Once Colonel Sherman leaves here, he will neither come back, nor send
back to ask for it.
I am going to New
Orleans, whither I have been trying to get off for more than three months. My
trunk has been in Alexandria for that purpose since Sunday, and I must go on
the "Burton" on Thursday — but I wish that you gentlemen would do
what I should do myself if present: propose to and urge on the Board the passage
of a Resolution directing the vice-president to pay Colonel S. the full amount
due him on that score up to the day of his withdrawal, out of the Seminary
funds, and then take Colonel Sherman's warrant, on the auditor for the amount,
which when appropriated by the legislature would thus be returned to the
Seminary funds.
The increase of his
salary in that manner, was a part of the inducement to him to decline the
appointment to London, and I am sure there was no intention any where to
deceive or disappoint him, and under all the attendant circumstances now no
consideration whatever ought to be allowed to interfere with his immediate
reception of it, and I hope you gentlemen will urge and insist on it.
February 14, 1861.
SIR: I am instructed
by the Board of Supervisors of this institution to present a copy of the resolutions
adopted by them at their last meeting:
RESOLVED, that the
thanks of the Board of Supervisors are due, and are hereby tendered, to Colonel
William T. Sherman for the able and efficient manner in which he has conducted
the affairs of the Seminary during the time the institution has been under his
control – a period attended with unusual difficulties, requiring on the part of
the superintendent to successfully overcome them a high order of administrative
talent. And the Board further bear willing testimony to the valuable services
that Colonel Sherman has rendered them in their efforts to establish an
institution of learning in accordance with the beneficient design of the State
and Federal Governments; evincing at all times a readiness to adapt himself to
the ever-varying requirements of an institution of learning in its infancy,
struggling to attain a position of honor and usefulness.
RESOLVED further,
that, in accepting the resignation of Colonel Sherman as superintendent of the
State Seminary of Learning and Military Academy, we tender to him assurances of
our high personal regard , and our sincere regret at the occurrence of causes
that render it necessary to part with so esteemed and valued a friend, as well
as co-laborer in the cause of education.
POWHATAN CLARKE,
secretary to the Board.
ALEXANDRIA, Jan. 16,
1861.
DEAR GENERAL: It was
my purpose to wait patiently for the development of events, with my mind firmly
resolved to do no act hostile to the United States. I had given full notice of
such resolution to Dr. Smith and Governor Moore. The seizure of the forts, and
worse still the capture of the company of U.S. soldiers at Baton Rouge, where
they were stationed by invitation of the state authority for the protection of
the arms and munitions of war placed there for the safety of the state, are
regarded by me as acts of war and a breach of common decency. I forthwith repaired
to Alexandria and notified Dr. Smith of my opinion and that my longer stay here
was wrong. He thinks Governor Moore had reasons for his conduct not known to
the public and as he is on the point of going to Baton Rouge he asked me to
forbear till he could consult, and see what is to be done. He says he has
consulted with many, and that all understand my opinions, that as I am
entrusted with the moneys and management of the institution he cannot arrange
for my relief till time is given to provide a successor. He is unwilling that
Vallas should succeed to my power as superintendent — or that any one else to
the care of the moneys. But he pledged me his word that I should in no wise be
compromised in any act of hostility to the general government.
If I had in view any
occupation, by which I could maintain my family I would not stay, but as I have
no such employment in view, and as I cannot receive the compensation fixed by
law for me as superintendent of the central arsenal, and as I have laid by
little or nothing I have consented to await awhile, to allow the legislature to
appropriate the five hundred dollars due for last year* and for a little salary
to accumulate to give me the means of retiring to Ohio, and cast around for
some means of support.
* For the salary of
superintendent of the Arsenal. - Ed.
January 18, 1861.
MY DEAR SIR: I take
it for granted that you have been expecting for some days the accompanying
paper from me (the above official letter). I have repeatedly and again made known
to General Graham and Dr. Smith that, in event of a severance of the relations
hitherto existing between the Confederate States of this Union, I would be
forced to choose the old Union. It is barely possible all the states may
secede, South and North, that new combinations may result, but this process
will be one of time and uncertainty, and I cannot with my opinions await the
subsequent development.
I have never been a
politician, and therefore undervalue the excited feelings and opinions of
present rulers, but I do think, if this people cannot execute a form of
government like the present, that a worse one will result.
I will keep the
cadets as quiet as possible. They are nervous, but I think the interest of the
state requires them here, guarding this property, and acquiring a knowledge
which will be useful to your state in aftertimes.
When I leave, which
I now regard as certain, the present professors can manage well enough, to
afford you leisure time to find a suitable successor to me. You might order
Major Smith to receipt for the arms, and to exercise military command, while
the academic exercises could go on under the board. In time, some gentleman
will turn up, better qualified than I am, to carry on the Seminary to its
ultimate point of success. I entertain the kindest feelings toward all and
would leave the state with much regret; only in great events we must choose,
one way or the other.
January 19, 1861.
DEAR SIR: I have
just finished my quarterly reports to the parents of all the cadets here, or
who have been here. All my books of account are written up to date. All bills
for the houses, fences, etc., are settled, and nothing now remains but the
daily routine of recitations and drills. I have written officially and
unofficially to Governor Moore, but with my opinions of the claimed right of
secession, of the seizure of public forts, arsenals, etc., and the ignominious
capture of a United States garrison, stationed in your midst, as a guard to the
arsenal and for the protection of your own people, it would be highly improper
for me longer to remain.
No great
inconvenience can result to the Seminary. I will be the chief loser. I came
down two months before my pay commenced. I made sacrifices in Kansas to enable
me thus to obey the call of Governor Wickliffe, and you know that last winter I
declined a most advantageous offer of employment abroad; and thus far I have
received nothing as superintendent of the arsenal, though I went to Washington
and New York (at my own expense) on the faith of the five hundred dollars
salary promised.
These are small
matters in comparison with those involved in the present state of the country,
which will cause sacrifices by millions, instead of by hundreds. The more I
think of it, the more I think I should be away, the sooner the better; and
therefore hope you will join with Governor Moore in authorizing me to turn over
to Major Smith* the military command here, and to the Academic Board the
control of the daily exercises and recitations.
There will be no
necessity of your coming up. You can let Major Smith receive the few hundreds
of cash I have on hand, and I can meet you on a day certain in New Orleans, when
we can settle the bank account. Before I leave, I can pay the steward Jarreau
his account for the month, and there would be no necessity for other payments
till about the close of March, by which time the Board can meet, and elect a
treasurer and superintendent also.
At present I have no
class, and there will be none ready till about the month of May, when there
will be a class in “surveying.” Even if you do not elect a superintendent in
the meantime, Major Smith could easily teach this class, as he is very familiar
with the subject matter. Indeed, I think you will do well to leave the subject
of a new superintendent until one perfectly satisfactory turns up.
* Commandant of
cadets. – ED.
ALEXANDRIA,
Saturday, Jan. 19, 1861.
COL. W. T. SHERMAN,
Military Academy of the Independent State of Louisiana.
DEAR COLONEL: I have
been so bothered and run since the receipt of your last favor of recent date
that I have not been able to reply to it, and all I can do now in that way is
to enclose for your perusal two letters * from our friend Sanford which express
pretty well the condition into which the conservative people have been forced.
Whatever we may
think and feel we must go along with our section in the contest which has been
forced upon us, and in which we must take care of ourselves as best we may. For
the share which designing, selfish politicians and editors have had in exciting
the passions, alarming the fears, maddening the mind of the people on both
sides, may God deal with them as they deserve. They have unchained winds they
will be powerless to control. I did what I could to make the people sensible of
this before the election, but “Crucify him! Crucify him!” was the Democratic
cry, and now we must all go over the cataract together, of which I have told
them. Those of us, if any here, who may survive the storm may enjoy a peaceful
calm.
* These letters were
not found. - ED.
SOURCE: Walter
L. Fleming, General W.T. Sherman as College President, p. 346
SEMINARY, Jan. 20,
1861.
Here is another
Sunday. I have written you often enough of late to keep you in a perfect state
of uneasiness, but it does seem that each day brings forth something new. I now
have official notice that three thousand three hundred muskets, seventy
thousand cartridges, etc., are sent here from Baton Rouge, which must be a part
of those seized by the state or otherwise stolen, and I must make provision for
their storage. I must move to the new house in order to afford room for them in
my present quarters.
But my stay here
much longer is impossible. My opinions and feelings are so radically opposed to
those in power that this cannot last long. I send you a copy of a letter I
wrote to Governor Moore on the 18th, on the receipt of which he will be forced
to act. I hate to lose that five hundred dollars but I guess it can't be
helped. I know all about the forms of reports, returns, money accounts, etc.,
and no one here does, and I know of no one in the state that Moore can find.
Still I think he will feel bound to place the custody of these arms in the
hands of one more faithful to Louisiana than I profess to be.
I shall expect a
definite answer in a week, when I propose to go to New Orleans and settle the
bank account. I would then ship in some Cincinnati boat such traps as would not
bear railroad transportation and thence by railroad to Cincinnati, so that it
is not impossible I may be in Lancaster early in February. I must leave here
with a clean record, and this can only be done in the manner I have pointed out
to Governor Moore. He may endeavor to throw obstacles in my way, but I think
not. He is too fair a man.
I feel no desire to
follow an army necessarily engaged in Civil War, and as we could start out of
debt, it may be we can keep so.
Those now in debt
will suffer most, or least, for they will likely repudiate all debts. Down here
they think they are going to have fine times. New Orleans a free port whereby
she can import goods without limit or duties and sell to the up-river
countries. But Boston, New York, Philadelphia, and Baltimore will never consent
that New Orleans should be a free port and they subject to duties. The most
probable result will be that New Orleans will be shut off from all trade, and
the South having no money* and no sailors cannot raise a blockade without
assistance from England, and that she will never receive.
I have letters from
General Graham and others who have given up all hope of stemming the tide. All
they now hope for is as peaceable a secession as can be effected. I heard Mr.
Clay's speech in 1850 on the subject of secession and if he deemed a peaceable
secession then as an absurd impossibility, much more so is it now when the
commercial interests of the North are so much more influential. . .
* So written but
probably Navy is meant.—ED.
