1860 Presidential Election: The Candidates

	Party	Home State	Running Mate
Abraham Lincoln	Republican	Illinois	Hannibal Hamlin
Stephen A. Douglas	Northern Democratic	Illinois	Joseph Lane
John C. Breckinridge	Southern Democratic	Kentucky	Edward Everett
John Bell	Constitutional Union	Tennessee	Herschel V. Johnson

Senator John Sherman to Major General William T. Sherman, November 16, 1862

MANSFIELD, OHIO, Nov. 16, 1862.

Dear Brother:

Two matters now excite attention among politicians. What is the cause and what will be the effect of the recent elections, and what are we to do about our depreciated paper money. No doubt many causes conspire to defeat the Union parties. The two I will name were the most influential, and yet the least will be said about them.

The first is, that the Republican organization was voluntarily abandoned by the President and his leading followers, and a no-party Union was formed to run against an old, well-drilled party organization. This was simply ridiculous. It was as if you should disband your army organization because it was tyrannical, and substitute the temporary enthusiasm of masses to fight regular armies. Political as well as military organization is necessary to success. Ward meetings, committees, conventions, party cries are just as necessary in politics, as drills, reviews, &c., are in war, so the Republicans have found out. If they have the wisdom to throw overboard the old debris that joined them in the Union movement, they will succeed. If not, they are doomed.

The other prominent reason for defeat is, the people were dissatisfied at the conduct and results of the war. The slow movements on the Potomac and worse still in Kentucky dissatisfied and discouraged people. It was a little singular that the Democrats, some of whom opposed the war, should reap the benefit of this feeling, but such is the fate of parties. Lincoln was a Republican. He put and kept in these slow generals and we shall be punished for it by having an organized opposition limiting appropriations. No doubt the wanton and unnecessary use of the power to arrest without trial and the ill-timed proclamation contributed to the general result. The other matter I allude to is demanding careful consideration. As it is my line of official duty, I have formed certain theories which may be all wrong; but as they are the result of reflection, I will act upon them. My remedy for paper money is, by taxation, to destroy the banks and confine the issue to Government paper. Let this only issue, as it is found to be difficult to negotiate the bonds of the government. As a matter of course there will a time come when this or any scheme of paper money will lead to bankruptcy, but that is the result of war and not of any particular plan of finance. I watch your course closely and take great interest and pride in your success.

Affectionately your brother,

JOHN SHERMAN

SOURCE: Rachel Sherman Thorndike, Editor, The Sherman letters: correspondence between General and Senator Sherman from 1837 to 1891, p. 167-8

Kingston, N. C. Taken

NEW YORK, March 25. – Advices per officers of the George Peabody state, according to contrabands, that our forces had taken Kingston, N. C., without sustaining losses.

The Rebel loss – killed and wounded is not fully credited.

Kingston is on the R. R. to Goldsboro.

The Union forces found at Newbern 500 of the finest Enfield rifles, part of the cargo of the Nashville, which brought 3,000.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, March 29, 1862, p. 4

From Winchester and Strasburg

WASHINGTON, March 25. – A dispatch received here late last night from Winchester says that Gen. Banks was then two miles from Strasburg, which place he intended to take to-day.

WASHINGTON, March 25. – Information received her shows that our army was at Strasburgh [sic] this morning and that the retreat of the enemy is a fight.  No details of the battle at Winchester have yet been received.

Officers of the army and correspondents were too busy yesterday pursuing the rebels to find time to give information to the public regarding the battle.  Our army encamped last night several miles distant from any telegraph station.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, March 29, 1862, p. 4

Diary of Alexander G. Downing: Saturday, February 1, 1862

I commenced cooking for twenty men of our company. None of the boys likes cooking, so the seven messes have been consolidated into three with a cook for each. Mess numbers 1 and 2 have been united, becoming mess number 1, and I am to be the cook.

Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B., Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 31

Good for the 1st Iowa Cavalry

ST. LOUIS, March 24. – The following is a copy of a dispatch to the Secretary of War:

“A detachment of the 1st Iowa Cavalry sent out from Jefferson city by Gen. Totten against a guerrilla band had a skirmish with the enemy killing and wounding one and taking seventy-five prisoners, over twenty horses, forty-eight kegs of powder and a quantity of arms were captured.  Our loss was four wounded.

(Signed.)

H. W. HALLECK,

Major General.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, March 29, 1862, 

Major General William T. Sherman to Senator John Sherman, October 1, 1862

MEMPHIS, Oct. 1, 1862.

Dear Brother:

I did not expect you would come if the confederates got possession of Kentucky. Even on the Mississippi the boats are fired on daily. I have been compelled to burn down one town and resort to retaliation. I understand Prentiss has ordered back from Helena a part of the forces towards St. Louis, on the ground that the confederates are again advancing on Missouri. I rather think you now agree with me that this is no common war, that it was not going to end in a few months or a few years. For after eighteen months’ war the enemy is actually united, armed, and determined, with powerful forces well handled, disciplined and commanded on the Potomac, the Ohio, the Missouri. You must now see that I was right in not seeking prominence at the outstart. I knew and know yet that the northern people have to unlearn all their experience of the past thirty years and be born again before they will see the truth. . . .

The South has united people and as many men as she can arm, and though our armies pass across and through the land, the war closes in behind and leaves the same enemy behind. We attempt to occupy places, and the people rise up and make the detachments prisoners. I know you all recognize in these facts simply that Mason is a coward, Ford an ass, McClellan slow, Buell over-cautious, and Wright timid. This may all be so, but the causes lie deeper. Everybody thought I exaggerated the dangers, so I have no right to an opinion, but I rather think many now see the character of the war in which we are engaged. I don't see the end or the beginning of the end, but suppose we must prevail and persist or perish. I don't believe that two nations can exist within our old limits, and therefore that war is on us and we must fight it out. . . .

When anybody tells you that I ever doubted your honesty and patriotism, tell him he says false. I may have said you were a politician and that we differed widely in the origin of this war, but that being in it, we fully agreed that it must be fought out. But you have more faith than I in the people. They are not infallible. People may err as much as men, as individuals and whole communities may err. Can the people of the North be right and the South too? One of the peoples must be wrong. . . .

Your brother,

W. T. SHERMAN.

SOURCE: Rachel Sherman Thorndike, Editor, The Sherman letters: correspondence between General and Senator Sherman from 1837 to 1891, p. 165-6

Diary of Alexander G. Downing: Friday, January 31, 1862

This is the end of January. Company E has been at Lookout Station thirty-seven days, and while our army service has not been hard, yet we are anxious to leave for more active service.

Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B., Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 31

From Newbern and Hatteras Inlet

NEW YORK, March 25. – The steamer George Peabody, from Newbern 22d, via Hatteras Sunday, has arrived here.  She left at the Inlet the Steamers New Brunswick and Louisiana with many of the wounded from the Burnside expedition.

The steamer Spaulding left on Sunday for Fortress Monroe with a part of the rebel prisoners.

The Peabody touched at Hampton Roads, where she saw a large fleet at anchor.

The expedition to Beaufort, North Carolina, had not been reported back, except the capture of the Nashville by our blockading fleet as she was leaving the place on the approach of our troops.

The Peabody returns immediately with stores.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, March 29, 1862, p. 4

From Fortress Monroe

FORT MONROE, March 25. – A flag of truce went to Norfolk to-day, but brought no news.

The Norfolk Day Book of this morning has the following:

RICHMOND, March 23. – The House of Representatives have adopted a resolution to apply a portion of the money belonging to the contingent fund, to the aid and relief of the captured troops now in the hands of the enemy as prisoners of war.

Heavy reinforcements are being sent to Old Point.  We learn that fourteen Federal steamers were at Old Point on Sunday, loading with troops, supposed to be for the Burnside Expedition.

RICHMOND, March 23. – The new Cabinet of President Davis has been formed:  Secretary of State, J. P. Benjamin, of Louisiana; Secretary of War, John Randolph, of Virginia; Secretary of Navy, S. R. Mallory, of Florida; Secretary of Treasury, C. G. Meminger, of South Carolina;  Attorney-General, Theodore Watts; Postmaster General, Reagin of Texas.

The new troops are pouring into this city. – Six or seven of the new regiments arrived in this neighborhood on Sunday by Railroad.

President Davis has declared martial law over the counties of Elizabeth City, York, Warwick, Gloster and Mathews.

Accounts are given in the Norfolk Day Book of an engagement near the Warrenton station on the Orange & Alexandria Railroad on Saturday last between 300 rebel cavalry, under Gen. Steward, and 500 Yankee cavalry.  40 of the latter are reported killed and 100 wounded. – We are said to have lost 6 killed and 18 wounded.

We take the above from the Lynchburg Virginian.

67 citizens of Lomdom were sent to Richmond on the Central cars Thursday night and committed to the military prison.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, March 29, 1862, p. 4

41st Tennessee Infantry, CSA

The 41st Regiment Tennessee Infantry was organized in November 1862, with ten companies A to K.  It was surrendered at Fort Donelson, Tenn., February 16, 1862; released at Vicksburg, Miss., about September 20, 1862; immediately re-organized; and declared exchanged at Aiken’s Landing, Va., Nov. 10, 1862.  The men not captured at Fort Donelson were assigned to other commands until after re-organization.  The regiment was consolidated with the 19th and 24th Regiments Tennessee Infantry about January, 1864, and formed a temporary field organization.

About April 9, 1865, the 4th, 5th, 19th, 24th, 31st, 33d, 35th, 38th and 41st Regiments Tennessee Infantry were consolidated and formed the 3d Consolidated Regiment Tennessee Infantry which was paroled at Greensboro, N. C., May 1, 1865.

SOURCE:  Printed on the bottom of each card in the Compiled Service Records of John T. Gregory, Private, Co. F, 41st Tennessee Infantry, from the National Archives and Records Administration downloaded from www.fold3.com. 

Diary of Alexander G. Downing: Thursday, January 30, 1862

A part of our company went out into the timber to gather persimmons. They are very plentiful in this locality; the trees are quite large and some of them are loaded with the finest fruit.

Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B., Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 31

20th Tennessee Infantry, CSA

Overview: 20th Infantry Regiment was organized during May and June, 1861, at Camp Trousdale, Tennessee, and in July contained 880 men. Its companies were raised in the counties of Davidson, Williamson, Rutherford, Sumner, Perry, Wayne, Humphreys, Hickman, Smith, Macon, and Wilson. It moved to Virginia, then Cumberland Gap, and later saw action at Fishing Creek, Shiloh, and Baton Rouge. After serving in the Vicksburg area, it was assigned to General Preston's, Bate's, Tyler's, and Palmer's Brigade, Army of Tennessee. The 20th fought with the army from Murfreesboro to Atlanta, returned to Tennessee with Hood, and was involved in the North Carolina Campaign. It had 505 effectives in September, 1861, suffered 110 casualties at Fishing Creek, and of the 400 engaged at Shiloh, forty-seven percent were disabled. The unit lost forty-eight percent of the 183 at Chickamauga, had few casualties at Missionary Ridge, and in December 1863, totalled 203 men and 123 arms. Only a handful surrendered on April 26, 1865. The field officers were Colonels Joel A. Battle, William M. Shy, and Thomas B. Smith; Lieutenant Colonels Mosco B. Carter, John S. Gooch, and Frank M. Lavender; and Majors Frederick Claybrooke, Patrick Duffy, John F. Guthrie, and Hency C. Lucas.

SOURCE: Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System

John T. Gregory, Private, Co. F, 41st Tennessee Infantry, CSA: Compiled Service Record

Appears on Company Muster Roll for Nov. 1, 1862 to Feb. 10, 1863.  Enlisted When: Nov. 6, 1862.  Where: Shelbyville.  By whom: Lt. Frierson.  Period: 3 yr.  Present.

Appears on Company Muster Roll of the organization named above, for Feb. 28 to June 30, 1863.  Enlisted When: Nov. 15, 1862.  Where: Shelbyville.  Period: 3 yr.  Present.

Appears on Company Muster Roll of the organization named above for June 30 to Aug. 8, 1863.  Enlisted When: Nov. 13, 1862.  Where: Shelbyville, Tenn.  By whom: Lt. Frierson.  Period: 3 yr.  Last paid by whom: Capt. Hughes.  To what time: March 13, 1863.  Present.

Appears on Company Muster Roll of the organization named above, for Aug. 8 to Oct. 3, 1863.  Enlisted When: Nov. 20, 1862.  Where: Shelbyville, Tenn.  By whom: Lt. Frierson.  Period: 3 years.  Last paid by whom: Capt. Hughes.  To what time: July 1, 1863.  Present.

Appears on Company Muster Roll of the organization named above, for Nov. & Dec., 1863.  Dated Dec, 31, 1863.  Enlisted when: Nov. 4, 1862.  Where: Shelbyville.  By whom: Lt. Frierson.  Period 3 yr.  Last paid by whom: Capt. Hughes.  To what time: Aug. 31, 186[3].  Remarks: Deserted Feb. 1864.

Appears on Company Muster Roll of the Organization named above, for Jan. & Feb., 1864.  Enlisted when: Nov. 20, 1862.  Where: Shelbyville.  By whom: Lt. Prierson.  Period 3 yr.  Last Paid by whom: Capt. Hughes.  To what time: Aug. 31, 1863.  Remarks: Deserted.  Accoutrements destroyed to the amount of $67.29.  Dropped on last Muster roll, but the charges were omitted.

Name appears as signature to an Oath of Allegiance to the United States, subscribed and sworn to on the day and year set opposite the several names.  Place of residence: Bedford Co., Tenn.  Complexion: Dark.  Hair: Black.  Eyes: Hazel; Height: 5 ft. 7 in.  Feb. 25, 1864.  Signs by mark.  Indorsement shows: “Roll of deserters from rebel army released on taking Oath of Amnesty at Chattanooga, Tenn.”  Number of roll: 6; sheet 1.

SOURCE: Compiled Service Records of John T. Gregory, Private, Co. F, 41st Tennessee Infantry, from the National Archives and Records Administration downloaded from www.fold3.com. 

From Dixie

CHICAGO, March 25. – The Tribune’s Special from Cairo says that a gentleman just from Memphis brings the following information:

Memphis is in a state of agitation and terror.  The Fair grounds are for a camp, every one capable of bearing arms being impressed into the service.  Men are even dragged from their beds.

The proclamation of the Mayor in regard to burning the city has no influence.  The majority of the Aldermen, in connection with the leading military officers, decided at a meeting held a fortnight ago, to burn the city when they evacuate in spite of the mayor.

There are no fortifications at Memphis.  The news of the battle of Pea Ridge caused great depression.  Federal gunboats expected daily. – Two hundred and five Union prisoners in the city, who are made victims of much abuse at the hands of the guards.  One of them was shot at for looking out of a window.  Three gun boats are on the way at Memphis, but it will take a long time to finish.

At Randolph only four guns are mounted, but at Ft. Pillow, however, there is a strong fortification, mounting 25 sixty-fours and thirty-twos.  There are about 7000 troops there.  At Union City there are only 450 troops.

Gens. Beauregard, Cheatham, Polk and Clark went to Corinth, Mississippi, a fortnight ago. – The rebels have a force of 38,000 men there and expect to make a stand either at Corinth or below.  It was the general impression that this battle would be the decisive one of the campaign, and that the fortunes of the South would hang upon its result.

At Memphis and other large points, even at New Orleans, considerable Union feeling prevails.  Southern papers do not represent the feelings of the mass of people.  They as well as everything else are under control of politicians and the military.

At New Orleans thirteen gunboats are on the ways to be plated with railroad iron.

Fort Pike represented to be in our possession was only a temporary structure mounting only three or four guns.

The report that the South is well supplied with provisions is absurd; they have not stock enough on hand to last three months.  Clothing, shoes, &c., are all very difficult to obtain.  No confidence is felt in southern currency, southern politicians or southern military leaders.  Jeff. Davis was universally denounced as incompetent.  Floyd is everywhere considered an arrant knave.

Mr[s]. Buckner had arrived at Memphis.  She complained of not being allowed to go further north than Cairo.  In the parlor of the Gaiso House she attracted the universal attention by her bitter denunciation of Pillow and Floyd.  The former is reported to have said that he would shoot Floyd whenever he met him.

It was the general opinion at Memphis that no stand would be made at Island No. 10, but that a battle would be risked at Fort Pillow. – At the latter place, however, retreat is cut off by land, as the country in the rear is inundated and swampy.

A detachment from Jeff Thompson’s band under the command of rebel Kithen made a demonstration in the vicinity of Bloomfield, Stoddard Co., Missouri, (about 12 miles north of the Cairo & Fulton Railroad) and succeeded in arresting two ladies residing there – the wife of Lieutenant McCall of Powell’s battery and Mrs. D. Basfort, of Bloomfield.  The ladies have been taken to Commerce Island, seventy miles below Bloomfield, near Arkansas, where Jeff’s camp is located.

Col. Michael Foley, of the 18th Illinois, who was wounded at Benton Barracks, arrived to-day en route for Pittsburg.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, March 29, 1862, p. 4

Senator John Sherman to Major General William T. Sherman, September 23, 1862

MANSFIELD, OHIO, Sept. 23rd, 1862.

Dear Brother:

The rapid change in our military condition in Kentucky drew to Cincinnati an immense body of irregular forces as well as a large number of the new regiments. I went there with the intention, if advisable, to go to Memphis, but all thought it wrong for me to venture. . . .

Since the date of your letter the condition of affairs has changed very much for the worse. The sudden over running of Kentucky, the surrender of Murfreesville, the battle of Richmond, the long and unaccountable delay of Buell, have all combined to make a gloomy feeling here, but do not affect the resolution to fight this war to a successful conclusion. We are now anxiously awaiting further movements in Kentucky by Buell. If he fails it is manifest a year is lost and our new levies will have to commence the war in the West over again. The terrible battles in Maryland and the retreat of the rebels into Virginia give only a ray of comfort, for we lost more than we gained. The surrender at Harper's Ferry loses us more material of war than the entire train of rebels is worth. And even now it is uncertain whether the retreat into Virginia is not a part of the plan of operations originally designed to carry the war into Western Virginia, Pennsylvania and Ohio. As one of the bad signs I regret to notice so many quarrels between officers. . . .

The feeling among the people is general that the regular officers are indisposed to treat with decent civility those who, like most of the great military men of history, are educated in the field rather than in the school. And it is feared that habits of education and association make them feel indifferent of the success of the war — fighting rather from a pride of duty than from an earnest conviction that the rebellion must be put down with energy. Since Halleck went to Washington every movement is left to him absolutely. No interference or even advice is tendered. He has chosen his own officers, and if he fails I see nothing left but for the people to resort to such desperate means as the French and English did in their revolutions.

I am rejoiced that you have been able to keep out of the adversities that have befallen us. Your course in Memphis is judicious. Your speech I can heartily endorse. I hope you can maintain yourself at Memphis until relieved, and I have no doubt you will fill an honorable place in the history of our times. By the way, I received within a day or two a letter from a gentleman of the highest political status containing this passage: “Within the last few days I heard an officer say he heard your brother the General, abuse you roundly at Corinth as one of the blank abolitionists who had brought on the war, and that he was ashamed to own you as a brother.”  I have no doubt the officer said this but I knew you did not, and so contradicted it with decided emphasis. I only repeat it now to show you how persistently efforts are being made to separate the class of high regular officers to which you belong from civilians. Whenever that separation is effected all important commands will gradually be transferred to such officers as Banks, Sigel, Morgan, Nelson, and to such regular officers as show a sympathy with the Radical faction as Hunter, Fremont and Doubleday. I earnestly deprecate all such tendencies. I want the war conducted regularly according to the tenets of civilized warfare. I prefer regular officers and scarcely ever criticise them and never in public, but if the time shall come when emancipation of blacks and civilization of whites is necessary in order to preserve the unity of this country, then I would prefer a fanatic like John Brown to lead our armies and an abolitionist like Chase with brains and energy to guide our counsels.

Affectionately yours,

JOHN SHERMAN.

SOURCE: Rachel Sherman Thorndike, Editor, The Sherman letters: correspondence between General and Senator Sherman from 1837 to 1891, p. 163-5

Diary of Alexander G. Downing: Wednesday, January 29, 1862

Our company has had a fine time while at Lookout Station and the men are all in good health with the exception of two or three who are suffering from varioloid as a result of vaccination.

Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B., Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 31

David C. Parkhurst, Private, Co. E, 20th Tennessee Infantry, CSA: Compiled Service Records

Appears on a register of Prisoners of War, Department of the Cumberland.  When captured: Dec. 1, 1863.  Where captured: Charleston, Tenn.  To what point forwarded: Louisville, Ky. Jany 8 1864.  Remarks: For Exchange.  Dept. of the Cumberland, Reg. No. 2; page 186 (Hd. Qrs. Prov. Mar. General, Nashville, Tenn.

Appears on a Roll of Prisoners of War received at Louisville, Ky., Military Prison for five days ending January 10, 1864, from Nashville, Tenn.  Roll dated Military Prison, Louisville, Ky., Jan. 10, 1864.  Where captured: Charleston.  When captured: Dec. 1, 1863.  Number of roll 105; sheet 6.

Appears on a roll of Prisoners of War, at Military Prison, Louisville, Ky.  When received: Jan 8, 1864.  Where captured: Charleston, Tenn.  When Captured: Dec. 1, 1863.  Louisville, Ky., Register No. 5; page 91.

Appears on a Register of Prisoners of War received at Military Prison, Louisville, Ky.  Where captured: Charleston, Tenn.  When captured: Dec. 1, 1863.  Terms: Rock Isle.  When: Jan. 17, 1864.  Louisville, Ky, Register No. 2; page 289.

Appears on a roll of Prisoners of War at Military Prison, Louisville, Ky.  When received: Jan. 8, 1864.  Where captured: Charleston, Tenn.  Date when captured: Dec. 1, 1863.  Date when discharged: Jan. 17, 1864.  Where sent: Rock Island.  Louisville, Ky., Register No. 6; page 7.

Appears on a Roll of Prisoners of War forwarded from Louisville, Ky., to Rock Island, Ill., Jan’y 17, 1864.  Roll dated Headquarters District of Kentucky, Louisville, Jan’y 17, 1864.  Where captured: Charleston.  When captured: Dec. 1, 1863.  Number of roll: 383; sheet 10.

Appears on a Roll of Prisoners of War at Rock Island Barracks, Ill., received from Louisville, Ky.  Roll dated Headquarters Rock Island Barracks, Ill., –, 1864.  Where captured: Charleston, Tenn.  When captured: Dec 1”, 1863.  Remarks: Entered Jany 20”, 1864.  Number of roll: 65.

Appears on a Register of patients in Prison Hospital, Rock Island, Ill.  No. of Barracks: 31.  Disease: Inflammation of Lungs.  Admitted: March 26, 1864.  Died: March 26, 1864.  Ward: 4.  Remarks: In pencil on Register.  Ill. Reg. No. 183; page 118.

Appears on a record of Prisoners of War who have died at Rock Island Barracks, Illinois.  Where captured: Charleston, Tenn.  When captured: Dec. 1, 1863.  When joined station: Jan 20, 1864.  Died: Mar. 26, 1864.  Cause of death: Infl. Lungs.  Number and locality of the grave:  932.  Rock Island, Ill., Register No. 3; page 82.

SOURCE: Compiled Service Records of David C. Parkhurst, Private, Co. E, 20th Tennessee Infantry from the National Archives and Records Administration downloaded from www.fold3.com. 

From California

PHILADELPHIA, March 25. – The latest news from Arizona represents that the country is almost depopulated on account of secession and the hostility of the Indians.  Davis’ troops numbering 900 awaiting reinforcements are at Lubuc.  They propose taking Fort Youma in California, but most of the five regiments of California troops are at this time in the state and would be prepared to meet an invading enemy.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, March 29, 1862, p. 4

Major General William T. Sherman to Senator John Sherman, September 22, 1862

Memphis, Sept. 22,1862

Dear Brother:

Troops are moving up through Arkansas for Missouri. It looks as though they want to swap countries with us. It is about time the North understood the truth. That the entire South, man, woman and child are against us, armed and determined. It will call for a million men for several years to put them down. They are more confident than ever, none seem to doubt their independence, but some hope to conquer the northwest. My opinion is there never can be peace and we must fight it out. I guess you now see how, from the very first I argued, that you all underestimated the task. None of you would admit for a moment that after a year's fighting the enemy would still threaten Washington, Cincinnati and St. Louis. We ought to hold fast to the Mississippi as a great base of operation. I should regard the loss of St. Louis as more fatal to our future success than the capture by them of Harrisburg and Philadelphia. Your brigade is now with Buell. I don't understand his move, but now suppose he will cross Green River and fight north of it. Still I don't see exactly his strategy or tactics. The passage of the enemy north of us, leaving us among a hostile population, was a bold and successful movement and will give them great credit in Europe. You doubtless, like most Americans, attribute our want of success to bad generals. I do not. With us you insist the boys, the soldiers, govern. They must have this or that or will cry down their leaders in the newspapers, so no general can achieve much. They fight or run as they please and of course it is the general’s fault. Until this is cured, we must not look for success. But on the whole, things look more favorable than at any former time, as the numbers engaged on both sides are approaching the occasion.

The war is, which race, that of the North or South, shall rule America. The greatest danger North is division and anarchy, but I hope the pressure from the South will keep all united until our armies begin to have some discipline and see how important it is to success.

Our fort here is nearly done, I have 20 heavy guns mounted and about 30 field pieces, 7000 Infantry and 600 Cavalry. Some of my regiments are now in fine drill and discipline and all are doing well. We are all, however, tied down till events elsewhere develop.

Affectionately yours,

W. T. SHERMAN.

SOURCE: Rachel Sherman Thorndike, Editor, The Sherman letters: correspondence between General and Senator Sherman from 1837 to 1891, p. 161-3