New York, May 1862.
Sir: You desired
me to put in writing the statements made to you by me while in Washington. In
compliance with that request I have the honor to submit the following. The
printed portions were written by myself.
WESTERN TEXAS.
A very large portion of the population of Western Texas
continue loyal. In Austin (the Capital) three-fourths of the residents are
loyal, and dare express their sentiments openly. In most other places any
expression of opinion favorable to the Government is not tolerated. The Germans
can be relied on almost without exception.
It is important that Western Texas should be made a Free
State, and it can be accomplished. It is important because, thereby, the Slave
States will be surrounded by the Free, and the slave power be rendered
incapable of extension. They now hope to acquire some portion of Mexico for
slavery, and while they hold Western Texas, will not cease to strive for that
end. Hence, from its geographical position, Western Texas, is more important (with
respect to slavery) than any other portion of the United States. It is very
healthy, adapted to white labor, and but few slaves are there. In most portions
of that country slave labor is not profitable, and, among others, the Germans
are well known to be opposed to it. Among the leading Union men areEx-Governor
Pease, Judge Norton (editor of the Intelligencer) A. J. Hamilton (former member
of Congress) and Judge Paschal — all of Austin. I cannot say whether they
desire a Free State, but most Texas loyalists would do anything for the sake of
the Union. Mr. Charles Anderson is perhaps the best man the Government could
select for a high civil position. He is well known there, is popular,
able, eloquent and fearless, and his recent persecution by the rebel authorities
enlisted the sympathy of all Union men, and of some others.
Col. Bomford was made prisoner of war by Gen. Twigg's
surrender. He has been exchanged and is assigned to the 16th regiment of
Regular infantry — is a graduate of West Point — was distinguished in Mexico — has
been stationed several years in Texas, and, I understand, has recently been
highly recommended by Gen. Scott for an appointment of Brigadier. He is a fine
officer, and thoroughly familiar with Western Texas, its resources, forts,
road, etc., the character of the people and their method of fighting.
“Sibley’s Brigade” contained about Twenty seven Hundred men,
and went to New Mexico. There were some respectable men in it, but most were
ruffians and desperadoes, and all would fight well. Most of them were armed
each with a double-barrel shot-gun and navy revolver, though some had minie
muskets (stolen from U. S.) or common rifles, and four companies had nothing
but unwieldy lances. For artillery they had nine mountain howitzers. These were
all mounted men, and were joined in Arizona by Col. Baylor's regiment numbering
seven hundred, and provided with other artillery (ordinary brass field pieces).
I should think there were in February last, about 1,000 men at the various
forts in the Indian country, some or all of whom, I understood were to be sent
on to reinforce Sibley. The colonels of the regiments serving under Sibley are
Riley (formerly of Ohio) Green (formerly of Tennessee), Steele (formerly Capt.
U. S. Army), and Baylor. They were insufficiently supplied with provisions — nor
did they have sufficient ammunition — for so long an expedition. I have
frequently seen Sibley's Brigade, and what I say about it, is reliable.
In February last, there were about Seven Thousand men around
and between Galveston and Houston. Fortifications (field works) were prepared
near Galveston, and they had considerable artillery there, including a few
siege guns said to have been brought from New Orleans. There had already been
sent out of the State (as I was
informed) Thirteen to Fifteen Thousand men besides Sibley's
Brigade. I was told by a Rebel officer that Thirty Two Thousand men were then
underarms in Texas, including troops at Galveston, Houston and Brownsville. I
think his statement greatly exaggerated, though he included all the
home-guards, organized militia, etc., most of whom are poorly armed.
There were at or near Brownsville eight or nine hundred men.
Fort Brown is near the town and contains eighteen guns, as I am informed. They
also have four or five mountain howitzers and at least one battery of field
pieces. Matamoras is opposite Brownsville, and the Rebels have organized quite
an extensive trade there. Vessels sail for Matamoras and land their cargoes at
Brownsville. These two towns are twenty or twenty-five miles from the mouth of
the Rio Grande. Large amounts of coffee have been imported from Mexico through
Brownsville and sent to Eastern Texas and Louisiana. Many officers of the
regular army have heretofore been stationed at Fort Brown and know all about
it. It is said not to have been much strengthened by the rebels.
Mr. George Giddings of San Antonio was proprietor of the San
Antonio and San Diego overland mail line. Early last winter he was appointed,
by Jefferson Davis, agent to receive and collect all cotton contributed in the
Southwest, for the Confederate government. It was said that he also received a
large amount of Confederate money with which to buy cotton. It was said — and
believed by all — that he was instructed to take all the cotton he could collect,
through Brownsville to Matamoras or Tampico, and export it to Foreign
countries, bringing back in exchange arms and munitions of war. I am unable to
say whether the plan was relinquished subsequently to my leaving, but at that
time he had a great number of Mexican carts in his employ, and almost all
transportation there is done by these carts.
Corpus Christi is the healthiest place on the coast of
Western Texas, and a majority of the inhabitants were for the Union. The harbor
is not good, but troops can march from there to within thirty miles of San
Antonio, and have good drinking water all the way — an important consideration
in that dry country. Officers of the regular army, familiar with Texas, can
tell where a landing should be made, much better than I can. It is important
however, that an army once landed, should push forward rapidly so as to give
protection to Union men who would otherwise be forced into the rebel army or
massacred. Probably Twenty-five Thousand Federal troops could take and hold the
whole State — certainly the Western portion. Col. Bomford thought fifteen
Thousand could march even from Galveston to San Antonio, and garrison all
important points on the road.
The Eastern part of the State, including Houston and
Galveston, is Secession, though there are many Union men even there. I found
Union men in all the states through which I passed, except Mississippi.
The want of arms is severely felt and this want is becoming[g]
greater rapidly. I do not think they have received from abroad more than one
tenth, certaintly not more than one-fifth, of the arms which are reported to
have been received. I refer to reports prevalent in the South, all of which may
not have been heard of in the North. I never saw but one foreign musket in the
hands of a Southern soldier.
The Southern leaders do not hesitate to make any statement
which will encourage their own people.
The gentleman from Memphis referred to in the printed column
was a Mr. Randolph, an East Tennessee Union man, who had been to Memphis to
attend the Legislature, of which he was a member. He passed through Corinth
about the twentieth of March, or a little later. At that time there were
between Forty and Forty-Five Thousand rebel troops there. Reinforcements came
in as fast as they could be raised. The battle of Shiloh was fought about
sixteen days afterward. They might have received reinforcements at the
rate of 2,000 per day, but I should not think they received more than one
thousand per day. According to this estimate the rebel force in that battle was
not far from Sixty Thousand.
About the first of April, the number of troops in East
Tennessee, as well as I could judge, was not far from ten thousand, of whom
between three and four thousand were at Cumberland Gap, which is a position
strong by nature and strongly fortified.
The gentleman referred to in the printed column is named
McDowell, a nephew of Gen. Floyd and a relative of our Gen. McDowell. I knew
him in Texas, and he is now an officer in the Rebel army. He said that
immediately after Floyd ceased to be Secretary of War, a plantation with
negroes in South Carolina, was purchased in Mrs. Floyd's name, and $700,000 in
cash paid down for it.
The journey from N. Orleans to Richmond occupied seven days.
I was told by members of the Rebel Congress in Richmond — (among others, Col.
Wilcox, formerly U. S. Congressman from Mississippi) — that they now expected
the war would continue six or seven years longer. I have also heard military
men there say the same. Secretary Benjamin told me that the Federals arrested
and put in prison every one who reached them from the South. In case their
large armies are dispersed, their intention undoubtedly is, to adopt a general
system of guerilla warfare, and thus wear out their enemies, and make the
Government weary of the war.
In the Gulf States East of the Mississippi river, it seemed
to me that nearly every able bodied man had been sent to the war. In the State
of Mississippi, but few men were to be seen in any of the villages through
which I passed. It is necessary, however, in estimating the number of troops
they can raise, to note the following facts.
1st. In the beginning of the war thousands left the South
and came North. I estimate the number at not less than fifty Thousand men, nor
more than 100,000.
2nd. The mortality by sickness in the Southern army
has been great. In the last part of October I learned (indirectly) from an
officer of high position, that Thirty Thousand southern soldiers had already
died from sickness alone. Assuming this to be true, their whole loss from
sickness up to the present time cannot be less than Sixty Thousand.
3rd. Thousands have returned home invalids, and will be of
no further use during the war. I cannot estimate the number well, but should
think that (including those disabled by wounds) it is at least 30,000 and
probably twice as many.
4th. Their loss in killed, deserters and prisoners has been
large. You can estimate this number better than I can.
The above statements only approximate to the truth.
Throughout the South it is impossible to obtain any accurate information. Facts
are suppressed for fear of discouraging the people now in rebellion. It really
seems to me that the rebels cannot raise many more men than they now have in
the service. At any rate they would not be efficient, unless supplies of arms,
etc. are received from abroad. It is the opinion of the Federal officers
before-mentioned (Col. Bomford and others) that the United States needs more
men in the field — at least 100,000 more.
The Yellow Fever generally prevails in New Orleans about one
year out of three. It can be prevented by strict quarantine, though this fact
is sometimes disputed. The epidemic generally commences in the last part of
August (seldom before the 15th) and ends with the first frost, which usually
occurs in the first week of November. The number of inhabitants remaining in
the city during an epidemic is about Eighty Thousand, and the number of deaths
is usually about four thousand or a little more. Sometimes (never except twice)
the disease is very malignant and does not yield to former remedies, as in
1853, when it commenced in May and Thirteen Thousand died in the city during
the epidemic. With proper sanitary and hospital arrangements I should estimate
the number of the army who would escape the disease entirely, at ten per cent.
of the whole, and the number who would die at not more than ten per
cent. If there is no yellow fever, they would probably be as healthy as
Southern soldiers. Probably ninety nine out of a hundred of the Southern army
would suffer as much from Yellow fever as our own soldiers, and they will never
undertake to occupy any place where the epidemic already prevails. This disease
is prevalent along the whole Gulf coast from Key West to the Rio Grande, except
the islands, the Texas Coast near Corpus Christi and a few other localities. It
extends far inland where the country is slightly elevated above the sea, but
never prevails in Western Texas except near the coast.
The Southern climate (near the Gulf) is far less healthy for
armies than the Northern, but undoubtedly Federal armies will suffer from
sickness no more and probably less, than Southern armies under the same
circumstances. I am informed that this was true in the Mexican War. The second
year is said to be more dangerous to Northern men than the first. They should
be sent South in the Fall or Winter, and, during the hot season, sanitary
precautions used, which all good physicians understand.
I think the South can be conquered without abolishing
slavery in the Gulf States or elsewhere. To abolish it in the Gulf States would
produce a unanimity among the people of those States which does not now exist.
They all abhor the idea of the negroes being set free among them and (as they
express it) made their equals. It is worth while to treat with conciliation and
kindness those who are, or have been, Union men.
The original secessionists are a minority in every
state except South Carolina, and perhaps Mississippi. Conciliation and kindness
toward them is utterly thrown away. They expect and deserve the same treatment
they have given Union men in their midst, and will fight to the last. But few
of them will become good citizens again, and when subdued many of them will
leave the country forever.
If Western Texas is to become a Free State, it must be
before the close of this war. Eastern Texas is more populous and strongly pro-slavery,
and will prevent any division of the state in time of peace.
With more time I could have made the foregoing statements
more concise. I shall be gratified if they prove to be of any use.
SOURCE: Diary and correspondence of Salmon P. Chase, Annual
Report of the American Historical Association for the Year 1902, Vol.
2, p. 300-6
