Diary of John Hay: June 5, 1864

For a day or two the house has been full of patriots on the way to Baltimore who wish to pay their respects, and engrave on the expectant mind of the President their images in view of future contingencies. Among the genuine delegations have come some of the bogus and the irregular ones. Cuthbert Bullitt is here with Louisiana in his trousers' pocket. He has passed through New York and has gotten considerably stampeded by the talk of the trading pettifoggers of politics there. He feels uneasy in his seat.

The South Carolina delegation came in yesterday. The President says “let them in.” “They are a swindle,” I said. “They won't swindle me,” quoth the President. They filed in; a few sutlers, cotton-dealers and negroes presented a petition and retired.

Florida sends two delegations; neither will get in. Each attacks the others as unprincipled tricksters.

Lamon hurt himself badly yesterday by falling from his carriage on the pavement. I went to see him this morning; found him bruised but plucky. Says he intends to go to Baltimore to-morrow. Says he feels inclined to go for Cameron for the Vice-Presidency, on personal grounds. Says he thinks Lincoln rather prefers Johnson or some War Democrat as calculated to give more strength to the ticket.

Nicolay started over to-day in company with Cameron. . . . .

SOURCES: Clara B. Hay, Letters of John Hay and Extracts from Diary, Volume 1, p. 196-7; see Michael Burlingame & John R. Turner Ettlinger, Editors, Inside Lincoln’s White House: The Complete Civil War Diary of John Hay, p. 199-200 for the full diary entry.

John Hay to John G. Nicolay, August 7, 1863

Executive Mansion,

Washington, August 7, 1863.

MY DEAR NICO:

. . . . Bob and his mother have gone to the white mountains. (I don't take any special stock in the matter, and write the locality in small letters.) Bob was so shattered by the wedding of the idol of all of us, the bright particular Teutonne, that he rushed madly off to sympathise with nature in her sternest aspects. They will be gone some time. The newspapers say the Tycoon will join them after a while. If so, he does not know it. He may possibly go for a few days to Cape May, where Hill Lamon is now staying, though that is not certain.

This town is as dismal now as a defaced tombstone. Everybody has gone. I am getting apathetic and write blackguardly articles for the Chronicle from which West extracts the dirt and fun, and publishes the dreary remains. The Tycoon is in fine whack. I have rarely seen him more serene and busy. He is managing this war, the draft, foreign relations, and planning a reconstruction of the Union, all at once. I never knew with what tyrannous authority he rules the Cabinet till now. The most important things he decides, and there is no cavil. I am growing more and more firmly convinced that the good of the country absolutely demands that he should be kept where he is till this thing is over. There is no man in the country so wise, so gentle and so firm. I believe the hand of God placed him where he is.

They are all working against him like braves though, — Hale and that crowd — but don't seem to make anything by it. I believe the people know what they want, and unless politics have gained in power and lost in principle, they will have it

SOURCES: Clara B. Hay, Letters of John Hay and Extracts from Diary, Volume 1, p. 89-91; For the whole letter see Tyler Dennett, Editor, Lincoln and the Civil War in the Diaries and letters of John Hay, p. 75-6 and Michael Burlingame, Editor, Inside Lincoln's White House: The Complete Civil War Diary of John Hay, p. 48-9.

Major Robert Anderson to Colonel Lorenzo Thomas, April 4, 1861

fort Sumter, S. C., April 4, 1861.

(Received A. G. O., April 6.)

Col. L. Thomas, Adjutant-General U. S. Army:

Colonel: I have the honor to send herewith a report of the circumstances attending a firing yesterday afternoon by the batteries on Morris Island at a schooner bearing our flag, bound from Boston to Savannah, which, erroneously mistaking the lighthouse off this harbor for that of Tybee, and having failed to get a pilot, was entering the harbor.

The remarks made to me by Colonel Lamon, taken in connection with the tenor of newspaper articles, have induced me, as stated in previous communications, to believe that orders would soon be issued for my abandoning this work. When the firing commenced some of my heaviest guns were concealed from their view by planking, and by the time the battery was ready the firing had ceased. I then, acting in strict accordance with the spirit and wording of the orders of the War Department, as communicated to me in the letter from the Secretary of War dated February 23, 1861, determined not to commence firing until I had sent to the vessel and investigated the circumstances.

The accompanying report presents them. Invested by a force so superior that a collision would, in all probability, terminate in the destruction of our force before relief could reach us, with only a few days’ provisions on hand, and with a scanty supply of ammunition, as will be seen by a reference to my letter of February 27, in hourly expectation of receiving definite instructions from the War Department, and with orders so explicit and peremptory as those I am acting under, I deeply regret that I did not feel myself at liberty to resent the insult thus offered to the flag of my beloved country.

I think that proper notification should be given to our merchant vessels of the rigid instructions under which the commanders of these batteries are acting; that they should be notified that they must, as soon as a shot is fired ahead of them, at once round to and communicate with the batteries.

The authorities here are certainly blamable for not having constantly vessels off to communicate instructions to those seeking entrance into this harbor.

Captain Talbot is relieved, of course, by order No. 7, from duty at this post. I avail myself of this opportunity of stating that he has been zealous, intelligent, and active in the discharge of all his duties here, so far as his health permitted him to attempt their performance. I send him on with these despatches, to give the Department an opportunity, if deemed proper, to modify, in consequence of this unfortunate affair, any order they may have sent to me. I will delay obedience thereto until I have time to receive a telegram after Captain Talbot's having reported to the War Department.

I am Colonel, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

Robert Anderson,

Major, First Artillery, Commanding.

_______________

[Inclosure.]

SOURCES: Samuel Wylie Crawford, The Genesis of the Civil War: The Story of Sumter, 1860-1861, p. 378-9

Specials to the New York Papers

(Special to Post.)

WASHINGTON, Jan. 29. – Gen. McClellan was before the Van Wyck Contracts Investigating Committee to-day.

Mr. Henderson, the New Missouri Senator, is in favor of the expulsion of Bright.

It is proposed to modify the language of the resolution, in which shape it will probably pass.

Extensive frauds have been discovered in army contracts in Philadelphia, and two members of the committee on the conduct of the war have left for Philadelphia to investigate the affair.

(Times correspondence.)

The House Committee on Commerce at their meeting to-day, authorized  Gen. Ward to report on the Canadian reciprocity treaty.  The report will suggest a number of important changes, making it more equal and favorable to the U. S.

Certain prisoners released from Richmond and returned here to-day say that of all the clothing forwarded to them by Gen. Wool from Ft. Monroe, some months since, by way of Norfolk, care of Gen. [Huger], not one garment ever reached Richmond.  It is supposed they were appropriated by the confederates.

(Tribune’s Dispatch.)

WASHINGTON, Jan. 29. – The Special Committee on the defences and fortifications of lakes and rivers had an important meeting this morning.  General McClellan laid before the Committee many facts showing the importance of immediate action.  He favors the fortification of a few commanding points, such as Mackinaw, Fort Gratiot, and some place on the Sault St. Marie canal, and the reliance elsewhere upon naval defences, to supply which he recommends the establishment of one or more depots of arms on the lakes.  It is understood that the Committee concur in the General’s views and will make a report in accordance therewith at an early day.

The statement that the House Committee on the District of Columbia has decided to report against the abolition of slavery in the District is untrue.  Whatever is the sentiments of the committee they have not yet been expressed by the vote.  Mr. Upton, of Virginia, to whom the question was referred reported orally that in his judgment, it was inexpedient at present.  No action was taken upon his report, but Mr. Ashley gave notice that if a majority of the Committee espoused Mr. Upton’s views he should submit to a minority report to the House, accompanied by a bill providing for the immediate abolition of slavery within the District.

Gen. Stoneman, Chief of Cavalry, has recommended the consolidation of the seventy seven regiments of volunteer cavalry into fifty regiments.  He advised that the field and line officers already mustered in be examined by a Board of Officers who shall sift out at least one third, and recommends the men also be sifted and those not fit for horsemen mustered as infantry our mustered out altogether.

Mr. Tucker was confirmed to-day as Assistant Secretary of War, and Frederick Steele of Missouri, as Brigadier General.

Secretary Seward has issued an order to Ward H. Lamon, Marshal of the District, instructing him not to receive or retain in his custody any persons claimed to be held to labor or servitude unless they are charged with crimes or are held as fugitive slaves under the law of Congress, and to retain none claimed a fugitives longer than thirty days, unless in compliance with a special order emanating from some competent tribunal.

(Times Dispatch.)

Secretary Stanton was shown private letters to-day from Kentucky containing important and extraordinary statements regarding the battle at Somerset, to wit.  That one entire rebel regiment threw down their arms in the conflict and declared their purpose no longer to fight against the government.  This example was followed by companies and individuals of other regiments and accounts for the complete failure and small slaughter attending a deliberate confederate attack.

Gen. Thomas is not pursuing Zollicoffer’s defeated army, the road’s and inadequate transportation not permitting.  He is building a road of thirty miles in length to render his advance into Tennessee easy and permanent.

A deserter from Stuart’s 2nd Cavalry came in our lines this morning and was brought to Secretary Stanton.  He reports Beauregard gone to Kentucky with 5,000 men.

Gen. Smith succeeds in the command at Centreville.

The deserter reports suffering among the rebels from a lack of suitable clothing, salt, coffee, &c.  They have plenty of meat and bread.

(Herald Specials.)

About a dozen vessels ran the blockade of the Potomac yesterday, some up and some down the river.  None were fired at.

Last night the Reliance went down to convoy two transports.  Sixty or seventy shots were fired at them, but with what effect is unknown.

The confirmation of Gen. Stoneman as chief of Cavalry and Gen. Barry as Chief of Artillery have been delayed by an opposition arising from charges brought by personal enemies of the Generals.  They will probably be confirmed in spite of such influence.

On account of some malicious representatives the nomination of Gen. Sturgis was not sent to the Senate with the list of other nominations as Brigadier Generals.

Gen. Sturgis had an interview with the President to-day, and his nomination was immediately sent to the Senate to date for his original appointment.

There is no doubt that Gen. Stone will be deposed and another General not now named will be detailed to the command of the division at Poolsville.

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

Fugitive Slaves in Washington

WASHINGTON, May 29 – Recently John Dean, Esq. presented to the Circuit Court the petition of Daniel Breed for a writ of Habeas Corpus to Marshal Lamon for the discharge of a colored man claimed by a citizen of Maryland, as his slave on the ground that said alleged fugitive is illegally detained, and the restraint in imprisonment is not authorized by the fugitive slave law of 1850, or in other words that the law does now apply to the case.

Mr. Dean to-day, entered argument to show that the writ could not be refused.

The Court had previously intimated that it would not grant the prayer, and to-day said an appeal could be taken to the Supreme Court of the United States on the refusal just as well as upon the writ within.  Further argument will be heard to-morrow.

The fugitive slave law continues to be enforced.  During this month about fifty slaves have been returned to their claimants.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, May 31, 1862, p. 3