Major-General John A. Dix to Secretary William H. Seward, November 16, 1861

Unofficial.

November 16, 1861

Dr. Coxe, one of the most distinguished of the Episcopal clergy in this city, is a strong Union man. His congregation are the reverse. President Lincoln's Fast-day was scarcely observed. There were from one to two hundred persons in church. Yesterday (Jefferson Davis's Fast-day) it was crowded to overflowing. The attendance is but one manifestation among many of the bitter feeling of the Secessionists here. These people must be held by a hand as inflexible as iron. They are not to be conciliated. I speak of the principal portion of the wealthy classes. They are still as absurd in their confidence in the success of the Confederate cause as they are disloyal to their own government. The least advantage gained over us elates them ridiculously. I am satisfied that no act of clemency on the part of the Government will make any impression on them; and certainly, while they are making daily demonstrations of hostility, they deserve none.

I feel it my duty to say to you that, notwithstanding the overwhelming vote this State has just given, its quietude depends on prudent management and on the ability of the Government to keep the Confederate forces at a distance. The Union men are, for the most part, the quiet, industrious portions of the people. The Secessionists, on the other hand, are composed of the more active portions, sustained by a large majority of the wealthy and aristocratic citizens of Baltimore (most of whom are connected with the South by marriage and pecuniary interests) and the broken-down politicians, merchants, and spendthrifts, who hope to repair their fortunes by a change of government. The leaders are bold, fierce, and implacable; and if our forces were to be withdrawn from the fortification on Federal Hill, pointing its guns from the heart of the city into every ward and almost every street, and a successful demonstration should be made by the Confederate army on the Potomac, the State and the city would be thrown into commotion by the intrigues of these men. With the strong hand of the Government upon them they cannot conceal their enmity to it. On ’Change to-day, when the news of the capture of Messrs. Slidell and Mason on board a British mail-steamer was announced, they were jubilant with the hope that it would lead to a rupture with Great Britain, and that she would be thrown into the scale of the Confederates. While such a feeling exists, notwithstanding our recent successes, our hold on them cannot be safely relaxed.

I do not make this letter an official one. But I desire that the President and his Cabinet and Major-general McClellan should know what view I take of the existing status of Secessionism in this city.*

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* See Appendix VI.

SOURCE: Morgan Dix, Memoirs of John Adams Dix, Volume 2, p. 34-5

Major Wilder Dwight: August 18, 1861

Camp Below Sandy Hook, August 18, 1861.

Progress is the law of life. Therefore retreat is I abnormal and depressing. When I looked at Harper's Ferry drifting again under bare poles into secessionism, I felt low. There was the flagstaff in the silent town, — the flag had just been hauled down. The last flat-boat, with its last company, was coming across the river. On Friday evening the orders came to strike tents, leave a force on the Heights, and for the regiment to be ready to move. Colonel Gordon left me, with three companies, on our old ground. He took the rest below and waited the crossing of the river by Colonel Andrews.

It was just at dusk when the regiment moved off. The mists were drifting thickly down the mountain sides as the men wound off into the woods. I posted a new guard, got the men under cover as well as I could, and awaited the inevitable rain. We were without tents and without huts. The night passed wearily in a driving rain. The bands were playing confusedly on the other side of the mountain, as the forces were moving down the river. At last came light enough to call it Saturday morning. I was up and out agitating the breakfast question. By good luck I got hold of some stores accidentally left by the Quartermaster, and distributing them, succeeded in getting a hot breakfast into my three wet companies. Then I waited orders. At last Colonel Andrews brought them. I got the men in marching order, and in the blue rain we started. I got my command safely down to the river, and rejoined the regiment in Sandy Hook, where I found it just ready to march. Then again came orders to remain to hold Sandy Hook, and to send a force over to Harper's Ferry to seize all the flour in Herr's mill. Colonel Andrews returned to the Ferry with five companies. All last night the flour was coming across the river in boats. Our friend Mr. Herr was treated very unceremoniously, but he liked it. He seemed to think it a choice between secession bonds and Union gold; and if he could get the latter for his flour, he would be content. So the troops seized his premises and took his flour, and he acquiesced with a good grace. The rest of the regiment came down two miles below Harper's Ferry, and here we are, this Sunday morning, waiting to be joined by Colonel Andrews's companies, who have recrossed the river this morning, with all their flour safe on this side. I am scribbling this letter in the Doctor's tent, interrupted by questions, and bothered by difficulties of commissariat. These sudden moves and this detached service are hard tests of ingenuity. You see all the army conveniences move with the army. The regiment that is left behind is ill provided. We have been using the telegraph, and killing fresh beef, and seizing flour, and I think we shall not go hungry. The impression seems to be, that an attempt will be made by the Rebels to reach Baltimore, or get round Washington. That is thought to be the cause of our movement. If such an attempt is made, it will fail. My baggage is all gone.

I have nothing but a tent and a blanket, and so am free from care. Colonel Gordon is just galloping into camp. Orders are out for striking tents. We shall soon be in the midst of the work of getting into shape in a new camp nearer Harper's Ferry.

SOURCE: Elizabeth Amelia Dwight, Editor, Life and Letters of Wilder Dwight: Lieut.-Col. Second Mass. Inf. Vols., p. 75-7

Union Feeling At The South

The following is a copy of a letter found at Fort Henry.  It is one among many proofs of the prevalence of a felling at the South, which inspires the liveliest hopes of the speedy return of the Southern States to the Union.

NASHVILLE, TENN., January 7.

DEAR SON:  I received your always welcome letter yesterday, and I am going to answer it speedily.  I received your package containing $300 of C. S. script, for which I am very grateful.  I am glad that you are doing well and that you are well, but I tremble when I think of you being engaged in this horrid war.  Henry my son, I can but feel the South is in the wrong.  We may console ourselves with what ever belief we choose, the United States is bound to subdue us.  General McClellan has and is exercising great generalship.  I fear that soon a movement will be made that will crush us out.  Henry, I know you must think as I do.  I wish you would resign, and we will move North.  No one here suspects my Union proclivities.  I am obliged for the sake of your mother and sisters to talk and be a Secessionist, but I say to you, what I said when you were at home, I do not believe that Northern men desire the ruin of the South.

A great interest is felt here as regards your position; (Fort Henry,) if that is taken the South is surely conquered.  You can see this as well as others.  I bought yesterday old Collin’s man Bandy, and he will prove a good hand.  We have been cleaning out the warehouse the last week.

Destroy this letter, as it may get you into trouble.  Your affectionate father.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, March 1, 1862, p. 2

Iowa Items

The Muscatine Journal thinks that town pays an excellent price for an awfully poor article of gas.  $4.50 is the figures [sic] paid, while “A cat’s eyes” would make a good illuminator.  Bad state of affairs for our neighbors.

The Nonpareil says that Broadway street, Council Bluffs, is now navigable for small craft – mud fourteen inches in the channel and rising.

The McGregor Times says that the northern communities of Iowa will export through McGregor during the year, products to the value of six million dollars! and in return will purchase supplies to very near the same amount.

The Keokuk Constitution says that the 17^th regiment now at that city, has received its colors, descriptive and pay rolls, army regulations, &c., for the entire regiment.  Col. Rankin has been advised that his regiment as soon as organized, would be ordered to St. Louis and armed.

The Ottumwa Courier says that a Dr. Stark, who formerly resided in Wapello county, and was always very much enamored of the lovely system of slavery, at the breaking out of the war traded his farm for one in a northern county of Missouri.  When he arrived there, he and his son began to broach their secessionism among their neighbors.  It happened, however, that they had fallen among Union men, and a Minnie ball put a finale to the son’s treason, while the old man was notified that his gray hairs alone saved him from a similar fate, and was notified to leave the neighborhood, which he did.

FATAL ACCIDENT. – A portion of a train on the C. I. & N. RR. was thrown from the track on the 29^th ult., caused by a defective tie, producing the instant death of Mr. William Haney, of Clinton, a brakeman, who was thrown from the top of one of the cars and instantly crushed to death.

A deck-hand fell from the Hawkeye State at Keokuk, last Wednesday, and was drowned.  His name was not ascertained.

A. Ingalls, of Independence, Buchanan Co., has invented within the past two years a tire heater, corn husker, rat trap, iron upsetter, evaporator, can crusher, rotary harrow and seed sower.

The Burlington Hawkeye says that a man named John Duling was arrested on Saturday for passing a counterfeit bill on the State Bank of Iowa.  Upon searching him fifty dollars more of the same sort of currency were found on his person.

The river is three miles wide at Burlington, and still rising at the rate of a foot per day.  The Hawkeye says that the ferry boat now runs through the woods and over cultivated fields to Oquawka junction, a distance of seven miles!

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Wednesday Morning, April 9, 1862, p. 2