Rutherford B. Hayes to Sardis Birchard, April 15, 1861

CINCINNATI, April 15, 1861.

DEAR UNCLE: —  . . . We are all for war. The few dissentients have to run like quarter-horses. A great change for two weeks to produce. As the Dutchman said, "What a beeples." Poor Anderson! What a chance he threw away. The Government may overlook or even whitewash it, but the people and history will not let him off so easily. I like it. Anything is better than the state of things we have had the last few months. We shall have nothing but rub-a-dub and rumors for some time to come.

 All pretty well. Mother thinks we are to be punished for our sinfulness, and reads the Old Testament vigorously. Mother Webb quietly grieves over it. Lucy enjoys it and wishes she had been in Fort Sumter with a garrison of women. Dr. Joe is for flames, slaughter, and a rising of the slaves. All the boys are soldiers.

Sincerely,

R. B. HAYES.

S. BIRCHARD.

 SOURCE: Charles Richard Williams, editor, Diary and Letters of Rutherford Birchard Hayes, Volume 2, p. 9

Colonel Thomas Kilby Smith to Elizabeth Budd Smith, May 15, 1862

HEADQUARTERS 54TH REGT. O. V. INF.,

CAMP NO. 6 IN THE FIELD,

MISSISSIPPI, May 15, 1862.

We are still advancing, counter-skirmishing, and the din of cannonading is by day and night. We are close to Corinth. A great and decisive battle must soon be fought. We have been brigaded a second time. My regiment is now under command of Brigadier-General Morgan L. Smith, and consists of four regiments, the 55th Illinois, Colonel Stuart; the 57th Ohio, under Lieutenant-Colonel Rice, the Colonel being absent on sick leave; the 8th Missouri, and the 54th Ohio. I still preserve my position on the left flank, which gives me my position on the extreme left of the brigade, and as we march by the left flank, the advance of the army, which is a post of honor. The integrity and courage of my command is undoubted, and therefore the responsible trust. My address will now be 54th Regiment, Ohio Volunteers, First Brigade, Fifth Division, Major-General Sherman commanding.

SOURCE: Walter George Smith, Life and letters of Thomas Kilby Smith, p. 204

Major General George G. Meade to Margaretta Sergeant Meade, March 13, 1863

CAMP NEAR FALMOUTH, VA., March 13, 1863.

I am glad you went to Professor Cresson's experiments on the polarization of light, which must have been very interesting, even though unintelligible!

Captain Magaw and ladies left us to-day. Though we were utterly unprepared for such visitors, we managed to make them quite comfortable, and they left delighted. Yesterday I put the ladies in an ambulance and mounted Magaw on Baldy, and we went over and took a look at Fredericksburg, and afterwards called on Hooker. The General was, however, absent at a grand wedding which took place yesterday in camp, followed last night by a ball, and I understand another ball is given to-night by General Sickles. Not being honored with an invitation to these festivities, I did not go.

SOURCE: George Meade, The Life and Letters of George Gordon Meade, Vol. 1, p. 357

General Robert E. Lee to Jefferson Davis, December 14, 1864

NEAR PETERSBURG, December 14, 1864.

MR. PRESIDENT:

After sending my dispatch to you yesterday, knowing that the snow in the Valley was six inches deep and the weather very cold, and presuming that active operations would necessarily be suspended, I directed Rodes's division to march for Staunton and requested the quartermaster-general to send cars to convey it to Richmond. It is now on the road, and should reach Staunton tomorrow evening. If the quartermaster's department is active, it should arrive in Richmond Friday morning. A dispatch received from General Early last night stated that the scouts just in report that the Nineteenth Corps of the enemy had left the Valley, and that the Eighth was under marching orders. The latter might be preparing to move nearer the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, for I do not think they will strip it of all defense, or both corps may be coming to General Grant. Colonel Withers's scouts report that a New York regiment of infantry and part of the Seventh Regiment of cavalry had left the Kanawha for the valley; but I suppose they might have been intended to replace the garrison at New Creek. I do not know what may be General Grant's next move; his last against the Weldon Railroad and our right flank failed. The expeditions from Plymouth and New Berne against Fort Branch on the Roanoke, and Kinston, N. C., have both retreated, before the forces moved against them, back to their former positions. Everything at this time is quiet in the departments of Virginia and North Carolina. If the reports of the prisoners and the statements of Federal officers to the citizens of the country are true, the object of the last expedition was to make a permanent lodgment at Weldon, draw supplies by the Roanoke and Seaboard Railroad and thence operate against the railroad in North Carolina. General Grant may not now be prepared to break through our center, as the canal at Dutch Gap is reported nearly completed. As long as he holds so large an army around Richmond, I think it very hazardous to diminish our force. We now can oppose about a division to one of his corps. I fear Savannah is in great danger, and unless our operations there are bold and energetic I am apprehensive of its fall. I hope, though, if all our troops are united Sherman may be repulsed. But there is no time to lose. If the Nineteenth Corps does not come to Grant we might spare a division; but if the Nineteenth and Eighth are both drawn to him, we shall require more than we have. I ordered Gen. J. A. Walker with the Virginia reserves from Weldon to Kinston to oppose the movement against that place. He is now on his return to his position on the Danville and Southside Roads.

With a firm reliance on our merciful God that He will cause all things to work together for our good, I remain, with great respect,

Your obedient servant,

R. E. LEE,

General.

SOURCE: John William Jones, Life and Letters of Robert Edward Lee: Soldier and Man, p. 345-6

To The Ladies

An appeal is again made to the patriotism and benevolence of the ladies of Davenport, in behalf of the sick and wounded soldiers soon expected here; there is much work to be done to make them comfortable, and as yet but few have volunteered their assistance, it is therefore earnestly requested that there will be an increased attendance of patriotic ladies every day until the work is completed.  The place of meeting is in the lecture room of Christian Chapel, Brady st.  Entrance on the south side of the building.

BY ORDER OF PRES. SOL. AID SOCIETY.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Thursday Morning, May 22, 1862, p. 1

Among a large number of arrivals at . . .

. . . Keokuk Hospital, we find only two names from this neighborhood, viz: Corp. Samuel Campbell, Co. D, 11th Iowa Regiment, from Rock Island; and Wm. G. Schoen, Co. G, 16th, who is believed to belong to this city.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Thursday Morning, May 22, 1862, p. 1

Straw

A quantity of dry straw is needed immediately for the hospital at Camp McClellan.  Farmers in the vicinity can contribute to the comfort of the sick soldiers on their way to this city, by supplying the want without delay.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Thursday Morning, May 22, 1862, p. 1

Diary of Alexander G. Downing: Thursday, May 28, 1863

Last night we bivouacked twenty miles east of Vicksburg and remained there till noon, waiting for rations. We then moved on ten miles and went into bivouac for the night. The country is very rough in this part of the state and there are only a few small farms to be seen. Water is scarce, our main reliance being cistern water.

Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B., Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 118

151st Illinois Infantry

Organized at Quincy, Ill., and mustered in for 1 year's service February 23, 1865. Moved to Springfield, Ill.; thence to Nashville, Murfreesboro and Chattanooga, Tenn., and Dalton, Ga., February 23-March 13, 1865. Attached to 1st Brigade, 2nd Separate Division, District of the Etowah, Dept. of the Cumberland, to July, 1865. Dept. of Georgia to January, 1866.

SERVICE. – Duty at Dalton, Ga., till May 2, 1865. Moved to Resaca, Calhoun and Kingston, Ga., May 2-12. Surrender of Warford May 13-14-15. At Kingston, Ga., till July 28. Detachments at Adairsville, Rome and Cartersville. Moved to Columbus, Ga., July 28-31, and duty there till January, 1866. Mustered out January 24, 1866. Discharged February 8, 1866.

Regiment lost during service by disease 51.

SOURCE: Frederick H. Dyer, A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion, Part 3, p. 1102

152nd Illinois Infantry

Organized at Camp Butler, Ill., and mustered in for 1 year February 18, 1865. Moved to Nashville, Tenn.; thence to Tullahoma, Tenn., February 20-28, 1865. Attached to 2nd Brigade, Defences Nashville & Chattanooga R. R., Dept. of the Cumberland, to April, 1865. 2nd Brigade, 1st Sub-District, District of Middle Tennessee, to July, 1865. 1st Infantry Brigade, District of West Tennessee, to September, 1865.

SERVICE. – Assigned to duty as railroad guard on the Nashville & Chattanooga R. R. till July, 1865. Moved to Memphis, Tenn., and duty there till September. Mustered out September 9, 1865.

Regiment lost during service by disease 76.

SOURCE: Frederick H. Dyer, A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion, Part 3, p. 1102-3

153rd Illinois Infantry

Organized at Camp Fry, Chicago, Ill., and mustered in for 1 year February 27, 1865. Moved to Nashville, Tenn.; thence to Tullahoma, Tenn., March 4-10. Attached to 2nd Brigade, Defences of Nashville & Chattanooga R. R., Dept. of the Cumberland, to April, 1865. 2nd Brigade, 1st Sub-District, District of Middle Tennessee, to July, 1865. 1st Infantry Brigade, District of West Tennessee, to September, 1865.

SERVICE. – Assigned to guard duty on Nashville & Chattanooga R. R. till July, 1865. Moved to Memphis, Tenn., July 1, and duty there till September. Mustered out September 15, 1865, and discharged September 24, 1865.

Regiment lost during service by disease 37.

SOURCE: Frederick H. Dyer, A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion, Part 3, p. 1103

154th Illinois Infantry

Organized at Camp Butler and mustered in February 21, 1865. Moved to Louisville, Ky.; thence to Nashville and Murfreesboro, Tenn., February 24-March 3, 1865. Attached to 1st Brigade, Defences Nashville & Chattanooga R. R., Dept. of the Cumberland, to April, 1865. 1st Brigade, 1st Sub-District, District of Middle Tennessee, to September, 1865.

SERVICE. – Duty at Murfreesboro, Tenn., till May 13, 1865. Moved to Tullahoma, Tenn., May 13-15; thence to Nashville June 11 and Garrison duty there till September. Mustered out September 18, 1865.

Regiment lost during service by disease 76.

SOURCE: Frederick H. Dyer, A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion, Part 3, p. 1103

155th Illinois Infantry

Organized at Camp Butler and mustered in February 28, 1865. Moved to Louisville, Ky.; thence to Nashville and Tullahoma, Tenn., March 2-10, 1865. Attached to 2nd Brigade, Defences Nashville & Chattanooga R. R., Dept. of the Cumberland, to April, 1865. 2nd Brigade, 1st Sub-District, District of Middle Tennessee, to September, 1865.

SERVICE. – Guard Block Houses on Nashville & Chattanooga R. R. by Detachments from Nashville to Duck River till September. Mustered out September 4, 1865.

Regiment lost during service by disease 71.

SOURCE: Frederick H. Dyer, A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion, Part 3, p. 1103

156th Illinois Infantry

Organized February 16, 1865. Moved to Nashville, Tenn., and attached to 3rd Brigade, 2nd Separate Division, District of the Etowah, Department of the Cumberland.

SERVICE. – Engaged in guarding R. R. and Post duty in Department of the Cumberland till September. Mustered out September 20, 1865.

Regiment lost during service 2 Enlisted men killed and 24 Enlisted men by disease. Total 26.

SOURCE: Frederick H. Dyer, A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion, Part 3, p. 1103

In The Review Queue: Loathing Lincoln

Loathing Lincoln: An American Tradition from the Civil War to the Present

By John McKee Barr

While most Americans count Abraham Lincoln among the most beloved and admired former presidents, a dedicated minority has long viewed him not only as the worst president in the country's history, but also as a criminal who defied the Constitution and advanced federal power and the idea of racial equality. In Loathing Lincoln, historian John McKee Barr surveys the broad array of criticisms about Abraham Lincoln that emerged when he stepped onto the national stage, expanded during the Civil War, and continued to evolve after his death and into the present.

The first panoramic study of Lincoln's critics, Barr's work offers an analysis of Lincoln in historical memory and an examination of how his critics -- on both the right and left -- have frequently reflected the anxiety and discontent Americans felt about their lives. From northern abolitionists troubled by the slow pace of emancipation, to Confederates who condemned him as a "black Republican" and despot, to Americans who blamed him for the civil rights movement, to, more recently, libertarians who accuse him of trampling the Constitution and creating the modern welfare state, Lincoln's detractors have always been a vocal minority, but not one without influence.

By meticulously exploring the most significant arguments against Lincoln, Barr traces the rise of the president's most strident critics and links most of them to a distinct right-wing or neo-Confederate political agenda. According to Barr, their hostility to a more egalitarian America and opposition to any use of federal power to bring about such goals led them to portray Lincoln as an imperialistic president who grossly overstepped the bounds of his office. In contrast, liberals criticized him for not doing enough to bring about emancipation or ensure lasting racial equality. Lincoln's conservative and libertarian foes, however, constituted the vast majority of his detractors. More recently, Lincoln's most vociferous critics have adamantly opposed Barack Obama and his policies, many of them referencing Lincoln in their attacks on the current president. In examining these individuals and groups, Barr's study provides a deeper understanding of American political life and the nation itself.

About the Author: John McKee Barr is professor of history at Lone Star College Kingwood.

ISBN 978-0807153833, Louisiana State University Press, © 2014, Hardcover, 480 pages, Endnotes, Bibliography & Index. $35.95.  To purchase this book click HERE.

Dead Soldiers

The following names soldiers died in the Keokuk Hospital on the 19th inst.: S. R. Dysart, Co. C, 15th Regt.; N. J. Ohmert, Co. K, 13th Regt.; and J. A. Fairman, Co. B, 11th Regiment.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Thursday Morning, May 22, 1862, p. 1

Dead Soldiers

The following Iowa soldiers died in the hospitals at Cincinnati last week, viz:  Francis Varner, Co. A, 18th regiment, James A. Whitney, Co. E, 2d regiment, and George Hubbard, Co. E, 12th regiment.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Thursday Morning, May 22, 1862, p. 1

The Jones Family

One would naturally suppose that Geo. W. Jones, after his arrest for treasonable correspondence with the arch traitor Jeff. Davis and incarceration at Fort Lafayette and release only on taking the oath of allegiance to support the Government and the capture of his son in arms against the Government at Fort Donelson, would not have the temerity to show his face to the people of Iowa, let alone traveling among them and trying to reorganize the Democratic Party.  But the brazen impudence of the man is only exceeded by the fact that loyal Iowa should contain enough disloyalists to give a show of success to his efforts.  Another item has leaked out to show the treason of the Jones family.  A Shiloh correspondent of the N. Y Times, who was in the battle at Wilson’s Creek, picked up a letter from another son of the notorious George W., introducing to a Captain in the rebel army a citizen of Dubuque, who wished to fight against his Government.  But the letter and extract will explain the matter, and show the traitor propensities of the family:

In roaming about the woods I found a well worn letter, whose contents may prove of interest.  It is dated:

DUBUQUE, Iowa, July 1, 1861.

DEAR HUNTER: By this I introduce to you my friend, Daniel O. C. Quigly, of this town, and bespeak your kindness and attention toward him.  I believe he will prove himself worthy of your friendship.  With every wish for your prosperity and happiness, your friend.

CHARLES D. JONES.

To Captain S. E. Hunter, Hunter’s Rifles,

Clinton, Louisiana.

The particularities of this document consist in the fact that the writer is a son of Gen. Geo. W. Jones, of Dubuque, (late Minister to Bogota, Fort Lafayette, &c.,) and a brother of the Lieut. Jones who was bagged at Fort Henry.  The Quigly spoken of, is a son of a prominent citizen of Dubuque, and one who, soon after the war commenced, bolted to the South and offered his services to the scoundrels who are trying to break up this government.  I offer the letter for publication from the fact that the writer now lives in Dubuque, and pretends, as he ever has pretended since the war began, to be loyal.  How far such loyalty will be tolerated by a Government whose burdens are already heavy enough, should be tested.  The letter was given, and for a treasonable purpose, at a time when the gallant Lyon was struggling against the traitorous uprisings in Missouri – at a time when hundreds of Jones’ townsmen in the First Iowa, were toiling and suffering beneath the burning sun of Missouri, inspired only by motives of patriotism, by a wish to preserve intact their beloved Constitution – it was at such a time that Jones chose to perpetrate his treason and assist in the work of breaking up the Government.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Wednesday Morning, May 21, 1862, p. 2

See Also:

• The Jones Family of Dubuque, Iowa

Hunter’s Proclamation

The President of the United States has issued his proclamation revoking that of Maj. Gen. Hunter’s, although he has not yet received any information with regard to the authenticity of the document attributed to Gen. Hunter.  Outside pressure, and not internal conviction has no doubt been the cause of this move on the part of the Executive.  In due time the world will be ready for General Hunter, but at this stage he too is far in advance of political demagoguery.  A stride too great just now might imperil the whole.  Prudence, caution, discretion, are absolutely necessary at this juncture.

Slavery is a tremendous evil, and has fast hold upon the people; its grasp must be loosened by degrees; any sudden attempt to detach it would render it more tenacious.  Had President Lincoln issued his emancipation message six months before he did, it would have failed of its object.  Had Gen. Fremont waited six months longer, he might have published his order with impunity.  We live in an age of progress, and somehow the United States has come to be the nucleus around which the concretions gather.  The war with its ten thousand evils is doing wonders in the way of enlightening our people upon certain truths, to which they have before been blind.

Before slavery “let slip the dogs of war” upon the North, our people in large numbers had been accustomed to regard it as a local institution – one affecting only those among whom it existed, having no bearing upon the free States of the North; that the efforts of the Republican party to circumscribe its limits was intermeddling with a matter that did not concern them; while the denunciations of the whole institution by certain persons, was looked upon as purely fanaticism.  The lessons of a twelvemonth have opened the eyes of our understanding, and we see things in a different light from what we had been accustomed to regard them.

The enormity of the evil of slavery, its wide-spread influence, is beginning to be felt and acknowledged, and as men get greater insight into it they find it to contain more ills than Pandora’s box, and, as good citizens, they would rid themselves of it altogether.  The feeling is growing; day by day, the tentacles of reason are reaching out and grasping truths with which to fortify the human mind.  What to-day would be temerity, tomorrow may be discretion.  Men who oppose the confiscation of rebel property now, will be as heartily ashamed of their course a year hence, as they are at this time free to disown their actions of a twelvemonth ago.  Gen. Hunter’s proclamation startles the North, and its friends say it is premature – six months hence, and it will be the policy of the Government, and the man who has the hardihood to oppose it will be branded as entertaining secession proclivities.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Wednesday Morning, May 21, 1862, p. 2

Diary of Alexander G. Downing: Wednesday, May 27, 1863

Our brigade, with four others, all under the command of General Blair, left this morning for Benton's Crossroads. The expedition is to keep General Johnston from coming in to reinforce the rebels at Vicksburg. Cannonading and picket firing opened up early this morning. Our army, by sapping and mining after night, is gradually working its way closer to the fortifications. Our men are well protected during the day by earthworks.

Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B., Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 118