Rose O’Neal Greenhow to William H. Seward, November 17, 1861

Washington, November 17, 1861.

398, 16th Street.

HON. WM. H. SEWARD, SEC. OF STATE.

Sir, — For nearly three months I have been confined a close prisoner, shut out from air and exercise, and denied all communion with family and friends.

“Patience is said to be a great virtue,” and I have practised it to my utmost capacity of endurance.

I am told, sir, that upon your ipse dixit the fate of citizens depends, and that the sign-manual of the ministers of Louis XIV. and XV. was not more potential in their day than that of the Secretary of State in 1861.

I therefore most respectfully submit that on Friday, August 23rd, without warrant or other show of authority, I was arrested by the detective police, and my house taken in charge by them: that all my private letters and papers of a life-time were read and examined by them: that every law of decency was violated in the search of my house and person, and by the surveillance over me.

We read in history that the poor Marie Antoinette had a paper torn from her bosom by lawless hands, and that even a change of linen had to be effected in sight of her brutal captors. It is my sad experience to record even more revolting outrages than that, for during the first days of my imprisonment, whatever necessity forced me to seek my chamber, a detective stood sentinel at the open door. And thus, for a period of seven days, I, with my little child, was placed absolutely at the mercy of men without character or responsibility; that during the first evening a portion of those men became brutally drunk, and boasted in my hearing of the nice times they expected to have with the female prisoners, and that rude violence was used towards a servant girl during that first evening. For any show of decorum afterwards practised towards me I was indebted to the detective called Captain Dennis.

In the careful analysis of my papers I deny the existence of a line that I had not a perfect right to have written or to have received. Freedom of speech and of opinion is the birthright of Americans, guaranteed to us by our charter of liberty — the Constitution of the United States. I have exercised my prerogative, and have openly avowed my sentiments. During the political struggle I opposed your Republican party with every instinct of self-preservation. I believed your success a virtual nullification of the Constitution, and that it would entail upon us all the direful consequences which have ensued. These sentiments have doubtless been found recorded among my papers, and I hold them as rather a proud record of my sagacity.

I must be permitted to quote from a letter of yours, in regard to “Russell of the London Times,” which you conclude with these admirable words: “Individual errors of opinion may be tolerated, so long as good sense is left to combat them.”

By way of illustrating theory and practice, here am I — a prisoner in sight of the executive mansion — in sight of the Capitol, where the proud statesmen of our land have sung their pagans to the blessings of our free institutions. Comment is idle. Freedom of speech, freedom of thought, every right pertaining to the citizen, has been suspended by what, I suppose, the President calls a “military necessity.” A blow has been struck by this total disregard of all civil rights against the present system of government far greater in its effects than the severance of the Southern States. The people have been taught to contemn the supremacy of the law, to which all have hitherto bowed, and to look to the military power for protection against its decrees. A military spirit has been developed which will only be subordinate to a military dictatorship. Read history, and you will find that the causes which bring about a revolution rarely predominate at its close, and no people have ever returned to the point from which they started. Even should the Southern States be subdued, and forced back into the Union (which I regard as impossible, with a full knowledge of their resources), a different form of government will be found needful to meet the new developments of national character. There is no class of society, no branch of industry, which this change has not reached, and the dull plodding methodical habits of the past can never be resumed.

You have held me, sir, to a man's accountability, and I therefore claim the right to speak on subjects usually considered beyond a woman's ken, and which you may class as “errors of opinion.” I offer no excuse for this long digression, as a three months’ imprisonment, without formula of law, gives me authority for occupying even the precious moments of a Secretary of State.

My object is to call your attention to the fact, that during this long imprisonment I am yet ignorant of the causes of my arrest; that my house has been seized and converted into a prison by the Government; that the valuable furniture it contained has been abused and destroyed; that during some period of my imprisonment I have suffered greatly for want of proper and sufficient food. Also, I have to complain that more recently a woman of bad character —  recognised as having been seen in the streets of Chicago as such, by several of the guard — calling herself Mrs. Onderdunk, was placed here in my house in a room adjoining mine.

In making this exposition, I have no object of appeal to your sympathies. If the justice of my complaint and a decent regard for the world’s opinion do not move you, I should but waste time to claim your attention on any other score.

I may, however, recall to your mind that but a little while since you were quite as much proscribed by public sentiment here, for the opinions and principles you held, as I am now for mine.

I could easily have escaped arrest, having had timely warning. I thought it possible that your statesmanship might prevent such a proclamation of weakness to the world as even the fragment of a once great Government turning its arms against the breasts of women and children. You have the power, sir, and may still further abuse it. You may prostrate the physical strength, by confinement in close rooms and insufficient food. You may subject me to harsher, ruder treatment than I have already received; but you cannot imprison the soul. Every cause worthy of success has had its martyrs. The words of the heroine Corday are applicable here: “C’est le crime qui fait la honte, et non pas l’échafaud.” My sufferings will afford a significant lesson to the women of the South, that sex or condition is no bulwark against the surging billows of the “irrepressible conflict.”

The “iron heel” of power may keep down, but it cannot crush out, the spirit of resistance in a people armed for the defence of their rights; and I tell you now, sir, that you are standing over a crater whose smothered fires in a moment may burst forth.

It is your boast that thirty-three bristling fortifications surround Washington. The fortifications of Paris did not protect Louis Philippe when his hour had come.

In conclusion, I respectfully ask your attention to this my protest, and have the honour to be, &c,

&c, &c,

ROSE O'N. Geeenhow.

SOURCE: Rose O'Neal Greenhow, My Imprisonment and the First Year of Abolition rule at Washington, p. 118-24

Battle of Corinth

Correspondence Gate City.

Corinth, Oct. 5, ’62.

ED. GATE: – I embrace this, the first opportunity since the close of the great battle, to give you a hurried account of the two days engagement, of the 3d and 4th.

It will be understood, of course, that [I d]o not pretend to give a full or general account, as that would be impossible, but simply to state such facts as come under my own observation.

On the morning of the 3d, at daylight, our division was leaving camp and marched to the west of Corinth.  We had been on our way but half an hour when we heard the roar of cannon, apparently four or five miles nearly due west of us, which continued at intervals until we reached our line of breast-works some [missing text] three miles m[missing text] the our [missing text]y advance [missing text] gade, to [missing text] came up [missing text] notwith [missing text] ing [missing text] m [missing text] reme [missing text] here of [missing text] ich  [missing text] [illegible] [missing text]but  [missing text] storming  [missing text] less than fifteen  [missing text] came to sight.  T [missing text] the breastworks flanked  [missing text]caused us to fall badk, w  [missing text] good order, for nearly a  [missing text] we formed in line of battle – our regiment, as usual supporting a battery – the gallant 2d to our right.  We had not more than fairly dressed up in line of battle, when on they came again.  Then came the tug of war.  We were ordered to fall flat upon our faces, which we did, whilst they rained down upon us such a storm of shot and shell, grape and canister, as nothing it seemed, for a time could resist.  Some idea of the force of the shooting may be formed from the fact that a majority of my company, and I think, of both the 2d and 7th Iowa, were struck by either pieces of shell, or shot or limbs of trees.  The number killed at this place in the ten regiments, I do not know.  Of my company Corporal John Scott was killed; privates Robt. Criswell, Peter Miles wounded; and Corp. J. O. Percy, Serg’t W. W. Sapp and private P. Cadie were missing – supposed to be drowned or taken prisoners.  Gen. P. W. [sic] Hackleman, the commander of our Brigade, was killed – shot through the neck.  Gen. Oglesby, Col. Baker of the 2d, and Lieut. Col. Mills, of the same, Major McMullin and lieutenants John and Irwin of our regiment were wounded, and Lieut. Camp  [missing text] isomer.

[Missing text] eries had exhausted their  [missing text] they had been gon  [missing text], being unable  [missing text].  Our policy  [missing text] to  [missing text].

[There is a large hole in the top of this article, and the bottom was torn from the upper left to the lower right, and the rest of the column is missing, the article picks up at the top of the next column.]

J. M. McCormick, were wounded.  Lieut. Bess and McCormick, both had narrow escapes – one had his canteen shot through, and the other his haversack cut off by a bullet.  The loss of their side is not known yet, only thus far, that our loss counts by hundreds, while that of the enemy will have to count by thousands.  This is not a victory made by official or any other kind of reports, but by hard fighting in which the valor of the Iowa troops was as conspicuous as it has become proverbial, as we are still lying out without tents, camp equipage or any else except hard bread, coffee and ammunition, waiting for another attack from a force said to be advancing from the east.  My accommodations for writing are rather limited, and I must close.  We had 345 officers and privates in the [ac]tion, 120 of whom are killed wounded [or] missing.

C. F. CONN.

– Published in The Union Sentinel, Osceola, Iowa, Saturday, October 17, 1862, p. 2.

Governor Samuel J. Kirkwood to the Legislature of Iowa, May 24, 1861

Executive Chamber.

Des Moines, May 24, 1861.

Gentlemen of the Senate and House of Representatives: — Since the commencement of your session, I have been engaged, as fully as my other duties would permit, in collecting and comparing information from the different parts of our exposed frontier, as to what is necessary for the protection of that portion of our State, and in making estimates of the sums necessary, in my opinion, for that and other purposes connected with the present and possibly future emergency.

The pressing need upon our border is for arms and ammunition. The people are willing and confident of their ability to defend themselves from what they most fear, the depredations of Indians and plunderers, provided they are promptly furnished with good arms and ammunition, and until this shall be done they will be in a state of uneasiness and alarm to a greater or less degree, as the various localities are more or less exposed. I consider it a matter of primary importance that your action on this matter be as speedy as may in your judgment be consistent with proper deliberation. I would have sent an agent to find and contract for arms for this purpose in anticipation of your action, but for the fact that the provisions of the bill for that purpose pending before you, require that said agent shall be nominated to and confirmed by the Senate. The appointment by me of an agent for that purpose, and the sending him on his mission in advance of the passage of the law, under the circumstances, would have been improper and highly censurable.

I fear that the present great demand for arms by the United States and the different States, will cause considerable delay in procuring arms after I have authority to act, and I therefore again respectfully recommend that your action on this subject be as speedy as possible. I am distinctly of the opinion that in view of our present condition, and the uncertainty of the future, it is highly desirable with reference both to our duty to our State and to the General Government, that you make provision for the organization, encampment and drilling for a limited time, of not less than three skeleton regiments at the expense of the State. With a liberal provision for the purchase of arms and ammunition for the use of mounted men, for the defense of the border, and a provision for three regiments for a limited time at the expense of the State, I think Iowa will be placed in a position consistent alike with her honor and safety.

But to do this, and at the same time make prudent provision for the uncertain future will in my judgment require that you make provision for the loan of at least a million of dollars. The best estimates I can make are that the expenses already incurred, and that must be incurred in case that the measures above recommended be adopted, will amount to half a million, and it seems to me very clear that to leave me with all this machinery on hand for the purposes above indicated, and without leaving under my control the means necessary for the purposes for which it was provided, will not be either safe or prudent.

SAMUEL J. KIRKWOOD

SOURCE: Henry Warren Lathrop, The Life and Times of Samuel J. Kirkwood, Iowa's War Governor, p. 132-3

Senator James W. Grimes to Senator William P. Fessenden, June 6, 1861

Burlington, June 6, 1861.

The whole action of the President in regard to the volunteers the blockade, etc., has been unconstitutional, but I am willing to overlook that, dangerous as it may be. But I cannot and will not agree that he shall be permitted to remodel the army, more than double its size, and appoint nine hundred new officers, without any authority of law, and without the slightest justification in the condition of the country. I say, condition of the country; by that I mean, that the country demanded immediate troops, if any at all, and they could only be secured by volunteering. Do you know that, while we are paying the officers of the new regiments their salaries, there are not so many men as there are officers? While four hundred thousand volunteers have rallied to our standard) there have not been fifteen hundred men recruited for the regular army. These new regiments cannot be got ready for the field for a year yet, and then they will be raw men, no better than volunteers. They say we shall want them when the war shall be over. Well, who is to judge of that, the President or Congress? Was it not possible to wait until the 4th of July, to let the constitutional authority speak on that subject? The precedent is the thing that troubles me. Will it not justify the next President in doing the same thing, and if so, how extensive must the insurrection be that will justify him? Where is this thing to stop? I see conscription and direct taxes in the future. I shall be the only man in the Senate who will vote against the increase of the standing army.

SOURCE: William Salter, The Life of James W. Grimes, p. 140-1

Salmon Brown to John Brown, June 22, 1855

Osawatomie, K. T., June 22, 1855.

Dear Father, — We received your letter from Rockford, Ill., this week, and are very glad that you are going to get through there soon, and that you are going to be here before fall. In answer to your questions about what you will need for your company, 1 would say that I have one acre of corn that looks very well, and some beans and squashes and turnips. You will want to get some pork and meal, and beans enough to last till the crop comes in, and then I think we will have enough grain to last through the winter. I will have a house up by the time that you will get here. My boots are very near worn out, and I shall need some summer pants and a hat. I bought an axe, and that you will not have to get. There are slaves owned within three miles of us.

Your affectionate son,

Salmon Brown.

SOURCE: Franklin B. Sanborn, The Life and Letters of John Brown, p. 198

Diary of Major Rutherford B. Hayes: Thursday, August 8, 1861

Rumors of the approach of a great army under Lee from eastern Virginia are still rife. The enemy is said to be near Monterey, the other side of the Alleghanies and aiming to come in this direction to reoccupy western Virginia, capture our stores, and to dash the war if possible into Ohio. The United States ought promptly to push into western Virginia an army of at least fifty thousand men to repel any such attack if made and to push on to the railroad leading from Richmond southwesterly through Lynchburg towards east Tennessee. This would cut off Richmond from the southwestern States and be otherwise useful. Horsemen and waggons are now passing towards Bulltown. This is the hottest day yet; it must rain before night.

SOURCE: Charles Richard Williams, editor, Diary and Letters of Rutherford Birchard Hayes, Volume 2, p. 58

Major-General George G. Meade to Margaretta Sergeant Mead, February 16, 1864

Headquarters Army Of The Potomac, February 16, 1864.

I reached camp yesterday about 4 P. M., but was so much engaged talking to those who came to see me that I had no time to write to you. I had a grand sleep last night in my old buffalo robe, and feel a great deal better to-day, the cold in my head being much better. Indeed, it may be imagination, but I think getting back to camp has been decidedly beneficial, notwithstanding I arrived in a snow storm and that it has been very cold to-day. My friend Lyman had a big fire in my tent all day before I came. By-the-by, Lyman tells me his father-in-law, Mr. Russell, studied law in your father's office, and remembers you very well. If you see Colonel Bache, you can tell him Lyman is the son of his old friend, as Lyman tells me his father was Mayor of Boston and married a Miss Henderson, of New York.

I have been overwhelmed with business and papers to-day. Among others, I have some fifteen applications for autographs and cartes-de-visite.

SOURCE: George Meade, The Life and Letters of George Gordon Meade, Vol. 2, p. 165-6

Brigadier-General Thomas Kilby Smith to Elizabeth Budd Smith, December 26, 1864

26th. – Detained at Clarkesville by the unwarrantable interference of the officer in charge of the gunboat fleet who deemed it necessary to give us convoy against guerillas, lay there all night and until 9 A.M. of the 27th, which passes without event. Scenery on the river beautiful, high rocky cliffs of limestone, iron in abundance in these hills. Arrived at Nashville about two o'clock in the morning of the 28th. City dirty and disagreeable; has been the abode of wealth, as evidenced in the splendid architecture of the private dwellings, but everything now shows the brunt of war and war's desolation.

I find many friends and am hospitably entertained at the quarters of General Sawyer, General Sherman's Adjutant-General. The military are all agog at the good news from Sherman, but everybody here is as ignorant as I am of Hood's movements, of Thomas's intent. I have telegraphed to Gen. A. J. Smith, who is far to the front, but as yet receive no response. Railroad communication will be opened soon, we hope, to near the front, when I shall progress as soon as possible.

P. S. — You may have noticed in the papers that the train from Louisville to this point was attacked and captured, and that thus travel by rail was interrupted. With my usual good fortune, I have escaped this calamity, and it is doubly well with me that I came by boat.

SOURCE: Walter George Smith, Life and letters of Thomas Kilby Smith, p. 373-4

Diary of Alexander G. Downing: Wednesday, October 28, 1863

The weather is getting quite cool, particularly the nights, and a little fire in our tents in the evening makes it quite comfortable and homelike. It is different on picket, where no fires are allowed, except on the reserves’ posts. Troops are leaving Vicksburg nearly every day, going to northern Mississippi and western Tennessee to occupy garrisons made vacant by General Sherman's men going to the relief of the army cooped up in Chattanooga.

Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B., Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 149

Diary of Private Charles H. Lynch: November 25, 1863

Thanksgiving Day. Weather fine. Our second one in the U. S. service. Some of the boys received boxes from home containing good things which they divided with others. Connecticut mince pies were all right. We had baked chicken prepared by a baker in town. Our Thanksgiving in camp passed very quiet and pleasant. Excused from all duty except picket and guard. These days are passing quietly, nothing extra so far to perform. Kept busy most of the time.

December came in quite pleasant. Weather permitting, drilling is kept up.

SOURCE: Charles H. Lynch, The Civil War Diary, 1862-1865, of Charles H. Lynch 18th Conn. Vol's, p. 30

11th Ohio Infantry

Organization commenced as 7th Ohio Cavalry October, 1861. Consolidated with 6th Cavalry as a Battalion of four complete Companies December 1, 1861. Duty at Camp Dennison, Ohio, till February, 1862. Ordered to St. Louis, Mo. Battalion permanently detached from 6th Cavalry, and designated 1st Independent Battalion Ohio Cavalry. Ordered to Fort Leavenworth, Kans., April 4, 1862. March to Fort Laramie April 26-May 30. Assigned to duty along the North Platte and Sweetwater Rivers with headquarters at Pacific Springs, N. T., and the South Pass. Engaged in guarding Overland Mail routes across the plains from Julesburg to Green River, June, 1862, to July, 1866. Action at Upper Crossing, Sweetwater, N. T., November 24, 1862. Another Battalion organized at Camp Dennison and Camp Chase, Ohio, June 26 to July 31, 1863, assigned and designation changed to 11th Regiment Cavalry, July, 1863. Action at Platte River, N. T., April 17, 1863. Cheyenne Fork July 19, 1863, and July 19, 1864. Deer Creek, Telegraph Station July 26. Operations against Indians in Nebraska August 11 to November 28, 1864. La Bonte Creek, I. T., August 14, 1864. Operations on North Platte February 2-18, 1865. Mud Springs, N. T., February 5 to 9, 1865. Rush Creek February 8-9. La Prelle, I. T., February 12. Poison Creek, I. T., March 8. LaBonte Creek, I. T., March 28. Sage Creek Station, D. T., April 6. LaPrelle Creek, I. T., April 21. Marshall Camp, I, T., April 23. Scout from Fort Laramie to Wind River, N. T., May 3-21. Skirmish at Sweetwater Station May 26. Operations on Platte and Sweetwater Rivers May 26-June 9 (Detachment). Skirmish St. Mary's Station May 27 (Detachment). Skirmishes at Sweetwater Station, N. T., May 28 and June 1. Dry Creek, I. T., June 3. Skirmish at Sage Creek, D. T., June 8 (Detachment). Platte Bridge, D. T., July 26. Tongue River, D. T., August 29. North Platte, D. T., September 15. 1st Battalion mustered out April 1, 1865. Regiment mustered out July 14, 1866.

Regiment lost during service 3 Officers and 20 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 1 Officer and 60 Enlisted men by disease. Total 84.

SOURCE: Frederick H. Dyer, A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion, Part 3, p. 1479

Capt. Robert Gould Shaw to Annie Kneeland Hagerty Shaw, February 8, 1863

February 8.

You know by this time, perhaps, that I have changed my mind about the black regiment. After father left, I began to think I had made a mistake in refusing Governor Andrew's offer.  . . .  Going for another three years is not nearly so bad a thing for a colonel as for a captain, as the former can much more easily get a furlough. Then after I have undertaken this work, I shall feel that what I have to do is to prove that a negro can be made a good soldier, and, that being established, it will not be a point of honor with me to see the war through, unless I really occupied a position of importance in the army. Hundreds of men might leave the army, you know, without injuring the service in the slightest degree

I am inclined to think that the undertaking will not meet with so much opposition as was at first supposed. All sensible men in the army, of all parties, after a little thought, say that it is the best thing that can be done; and surely those at home who are not brave or patriotic enough to enlist should not ridicule or throw obstacles in the way of men who are going to fight for them. There is a great prejudice against it, but now that it has become a government matter, that will probably wear away. At any rate, I sha'n't be frightened out of it by its unpopularity

I feel convinced I shall never regret having taken this step, as far as I myself am concerned; for while I was undecided I felt ashamed of myself, as if I were cowardly.

SOURCE: Thomas Wentworth Higginson, Editor, Harvard Memorial Biographies, Volume 2, p. 202-3

James G. Blaine to Senator William P. Fessenden, May 16, 1860

Private.

Chicago, Monday A. M., May 16, 1860.

My Dear Sir, — I arrived here Saturday night.  . . . I may mention, however, that the Seward force is on the ground and assume an air of dictation which is at once unwarranted and offensive, and which I think will create a reaction before Wednesday. They cannot count up more than a third of the votes from States that can carry the ticket, and how much they intend or expect to make from such delegates as come from slave States has not yet transpired. Should he be nominated by the aid of the delegates that can promise him no support, the Pennsylvanians would consider it a most insulting disregard of their rights and wishes. I do not myself believe that he will be nominated, though a great many here think otherwise. If he is not, I will adhere to the opinion I expressed to you in Portland, that the game lies between Lincoln and yourself — Chase, McLean, Banks, and Bates stand no chance. Cameron is hotly urged by a majority of the Pennsylvanians, but the proposition is scouted on all hands outside of that State. Wade cannot be made a compromise candidate. His speeches in Maine and on the Western Reserve are remembered by too large a number.

SOURCE: Francis Fessenden, Life and Public Services of William Pitt Fessenden, Volume 1, p. 112

Governor Samuel J. Kirkwood to the House of Representatives of the State of Iowa, May 23, 1861

Gentlemen of the House of Representatives: — In reply to your resolutions of inquiry in regard to clothing furnished the First Iowa Regiment, I have the honor to say:

When the telegraphic dispatch from the Secretary of War informing me of the requisition for the First Regiment reached me, I did not anticipate the uniforming the men at the expense of the State, as such course had not, so far as I knew or could learn, been pursued in the Mexican War. Fearing, however, that the suddenness of the danger might render it desirable to furnish uniforms, I immediately wrote to the Secretary of War asking information on that point; but the interruption of communication at Baltimore prevented me from receiving any answer. Judging from the fact that other States were preparing for uniforming their volunteers, that it would be desirable to have the same done here, I sent an agent to Chicago to purchase materials for uniforms; but the sudden and great demand for that kind of goods had exhausted the supplies in that city. On learning this by telegraph, and fearing there would not be time to await a supply from New York, I immediately instructed the persons acting as Commissaries to purchase materials and make uniforms at the points where the several companies had been raised. The persons who had the matter in charge at the several points were, at Dubuque, D. N. Cooley Esq. and Capt. F. J. Herron. Capt. Herron was sent specially from Davenport to Dubuque to select the materials and direct the uniforms in such manner as the companies preferred. At Cedar Rapids, Dr. Carpenter; at Davenport, Hiram Price Esq.; at Muscatine, Hon. Jos. A. Greene, and at Burlington, Major J. G. Laumau. At Muscatine and Iowa City the material was purchased and the making of the clothes superintended by committees of citizens. Under these circumstances it was impossible to procure the same uniform for the whole regiment. All that could be done was to have the men of each company clothed alike, but differing from those of other companies. It was also impossible to procure as good material as would have been desirable, had more time been allowed. Much of the clothing was made by the ladies, which to that extent lessened the cost. The amount of clothing furnished, so far as the means now in my possession enable me to state, is as fallows:

Capt. Herron's company, Dubuque; each man, hat, frock coat, pants, two flannel shirts, two pairs of socks and pair of shoes.

Capt. Gottschalk's company, Dubuque; blouse instead of coat, and other articles same as Capt. Herron's.

Capt. Cook's company, Cedar Rapids; hat, two flannel shirts, pants, socks and shoes, no jacket or coat.

Capt. Mahanna's company, Iowa City; hat, jacket, pants, two flannel shirts, socks and shoes.

Capt. Wentz's company, Davenport; hats, blouse, pants, two flannel shirts, socks and shoes.

Capt. Cumming's company, Muscatine; cap, jacket, pants, two flannel shirts, socks and shoes.

Capt. Mason's company, Muscatine; same as Capt. Cumming's.

Capt. Matthies' company, Burlington; hat, blouse, pants, two flannel shirts, socks and shoes.

Capt. Streaper's company, Burlington; same as Capt. Matthies’.

Capt. Wise's company, Mt. Pleasant; same as Capt. Matthies’.

I am not certain that all the companies were furnished with socks, shoes and shirts. Some of the shoes, I have reason to believe, were not of good quality costing only from $1.25 to $1.50 per pair, others I know were good, costing from $2.00 to $2.50 per pair. One thousand extra shirts were sent to Keokuk to supply any deficiency that may have existed in that particular. Most of the material for pants was satinett, and not of good quality, costing, as far as the same came under my observation, from forty to sixty cents per yard by the quantity. The entire amount expended for clothing, so far as I can give it from the data in my possession, is about $12,000 or $13,000. If it be desirable in your judgment to have the companies of this regiment uniformed alike, it will be necessary to furnish all with coats and pants of the same make, and to furnish an additional number of hats or caps. Hats were procured for all, but some preferred the cap and procured it, and the cost has been provided for. I cannot think that all the companies need new shoes, as some of the shoes furnished were of excellent quality and have not yet been worn more than two or three weeks.

I am satisfied that it is for the comfort of these troops that many of them be furnished with pants and shoes, and some with socks. As the Second and Third regiments will be clothed throughout alike, it would no doubt be very gratifying to the First regiment to be placed in the same position, and it will afford me much pleasure to carry out whatever may be your wishes in regard to it.

SAMUEL J. KIRKWOOD.

May 23, 1861.

SOURCE: Henry Warren Lathrop, The Life and Times of Samuel J. Kirkwood, Iowa's War Governor, p. 131-2

Senator James W. Grimes to Senator William P. Fessenden, May 12, 1861

Burlington, May 12,1861.

I have just received your note of the 9th inst., inclosing one to your son, which I reinclose to you. I returned from Washington last Monday in the night, whither I went at the instance of our State authorities, and found that Frank had been here and left, remaining but one day, and that he spent at the tavern. Mrs. G. says she tried to induce him to remain, and to make our house his home, but he had his head full of the army, and was in a great hurry to get away. I am sorry that he did not remain a little longer, that we might have seen more of him.

It is quite evident to my mind that this great rebellion is to be suppressed; but, in the effort, it occurs to me that we are about to encourage precedents that will be very dangerous to the rights of the States, and to the liberties of the people. This attempt of Mr. Lincoln to add ten legions to the regular standing army, each legion to equal in size three regiments, without any authority of law, and against law, is the most extraordinary assumption of power that any President has attempted to exercise. Our ancestors were so jealous of executive power that they refused to allow the President to call even the militia into service for a period exceeding thirty days after the assembling of the next ensuing session of Congress. Mr. Lincoln is not content with violating that law, and calling for volunteers for three years, making them in effect a standing army subject to his will, but he goes away beyond that, and more than doubles the standing army, and issues commissions to officers which are not authorized by law. Where is this to stop? Will he be content with ten legions? If so, will the next President? What do you think of this thing? I do not wish to oppose the Administration, but I will not support such a measure.

SOURCE: William Salter, The Life of James W. Grimes, p. 140

Congressman James A. Garfield to Corydon E. Fuller, October 3, 1865

Hiram, O., October 3, 1865.

My Dear Corydon: — Your welcome letter of the 26th is received. It finds me at home, and, for the time being, a cripple. Four weeks ago I sprained my ankle precisely where it was sprained thirteen years ago, when we roomed together. You remember what a long siege I had with it then. I have not yet been able to use it, more than to bear a part of my weight upon it, and the rest on a cane. Indeed, I have had some fear that, in view of the former hurt in the same joint, it would be permanently injured, but I hope not.

I am greatly distressed to hear that your health is failing, so much so that you are compelled to resign your position in Washington. I beg of you to take all pains to restore your health first of all.

I was hard at work in the State campaign when my accident occurred. Since then I have made no speeches, nor shall I be able to make any more during the campaign. The early part of the season I was engaged in the oil business, and hope yet to realize something from my investments in that direction. I am trying to do a good deal of reading to prepare myself for the struggle which will be upon us when the 39th Congress meets. I look forward with great anxiety, not unmixed with alarm, at the signs of the times in the immediate political future. I fear that President Johnson is going too fast on the road toward reorganization. I fear it leads too far into rebeldom. I agree with you, that it would at least be decent to wait until the grass is green on the graves of our murdered patriots.

Your letter has made me very anxious for you. Be assured, my dear brother, that I cherish the same old love, and my heart responds as ever to all your joys and sorrows. With all my heart I am, as ever,

Your brother,

James.

P. S. — “John Jordan” came to hand a few' days ago. It was news to me in many particulars. Such is “rags and lampblack” fame.

J. A. G.

SOURCE: Corydon Eustathius Fuller, Reminiscences of James A. Garfield: With Notes Preliminary and Collateral, p. 392-3

Jason T. Brown to John Brown and Family, June 23, 1855

Osawatomie, K. T., June 23, 1855.

Dear Father, Mother, Brothers, And Sisters, — We received a few days since a letter from mother, since then one from father, which we were all very glad to get. I should have written you before, but since we laid little Austin in the grave I have not felt as if I could write. I shall not attempt to say much now. We fully believe that Austin is happy with his Maker in another existence; and if there is to be a separation of friends after death, we pray God to keep us in the way of truth, and that we may so run our short course as to be able to enjoy his company again. Ellen feels so lonely and discontented here without Austin, that we shall go back to Akron next fall if she does not enjoy herself better. I am well pleased with the country, and can be as well content here as anywhere else if it proves to be healthy. It is a very rich and beautiful country. I should think it would be altogether best for father to come by land from St. Louis. Salmon has a very good claim (as well as the rest of us), and seems to be very much pleased with it. We are all living together in tents and in the wagon, and have no houses yet. I used all the money I had for freight and passage before I got here, and had to borrow of John. We have no stoves; I wish now that we had brought ours along. We would all like to hear from you often. All well.

Your affectionate son and brother,

J. L. Brown.

P. S. If you should come by Akron on your way here, and could buy and box up a middle-sized stove and furniture, with about four lengths of pipe, and send or bring it to me at Kansas City, I will contrive some way to pay you for it. I think they can be got there and shipped here cheaper than they can be bought here. I would like to have you inquire, if you will.

SOURCE: Franklin B. Sanborn, The Life and Letters of John Brown, p. 197

Diary of Major Rutherford B. Hayes: Wednesday, August 7, 1861

Another bright, warm day. With Adjutant Fisher pistol shooting this A. M. Tolerably good firing. Last night a picket shot through the hand; said he fired twice at his assailant; doubted. Supposed to be an accidental wounding. Letters from Ohio.

SOURCE: Charles Richard Williams, editor, Diary and Letters of Rutherford Birchard Hayes, Volume 2, p. 58

Major-General George G. Meade to Margaretta Sergeant Mead, February 14, 1864 – 7 p.m.

Willard's Hotel, Sunday, February 14, 1864—7 P. M.

I felt very badly at leaving you, but I tried to reconcile myself to what was inevitable and could not be helped. We had a very pleasant journey to this place. Mr. Cram and Colonel Bache joined us at the depot, and at Wilmington I found General Hartsuff and Colonel Sackett on the train and took them into the car. Mr. Felton, the president of the company, was at the cars and was very civil. When we crossed the Susquehanna an elegant cold collation with champagne was set out, of which we all freely partook. On arriving here we took tea, and soon afterwards, about nine o'clock, I went to bed. The next day I spent all the day at the Department and White House. The Secretary was, as he always is, very civil and ready to accede to all my suggestions. He gratified me very much by saying that there was no officer in command who had to so great a degree the implicit confidence of all parties as myself; but he said there were several officers in my army that did not have the confidence of the country, and that I was injuring myself by retaining them. I told him I did not know who they were, but that if he was aware of this fact, I thought it was his duty to retire them, and I should not object; and I suppose the result will be a pretty general sweeping out. While with the Secretary, Mr. Usher, Secretary of the Interior, came in and invited me to his house at seven o'clock. Supposing it to be an evening party, where I could show myself and slip out, I accepted; but on going there I found it to be a regular dinner party. Senators Collamore, Wilson, Wilkeson and Powell, together with Judges Holt and Law, and the ladies of the family, constituted the party. All received and treated me with great distinction and civility, and about 10 P. M. I got home, and, after a talk with Cram, went to bed, a little tired. I had intended to go down to the army this morning, but received last night a note from the Secretary, saying he wanted to see me to-day; so I had to spend some four or five hours at the Department, and the rest of the day have remained quietly in the house with Cram.

Mr. Harding with Mrs. Harding are here, also Cortlandt Parker. I have not seen our friends the Harrises, except the Senator.

SOURCE: George Meade, The Life and Letters of George Gordon Meade, Vol. 2, p. 164-5

Brigadier-General Thomas Kilby Smith to Elizabeth Budd Smith, December 25, 1864

On Board Str. “Huntsman,”

Cumberland River, Christmas, 1864.

We left Louisville Thursday evening last and, just as the boat was shoving off, I indicted you a brief note. We have progressed thus far, having a few moments since left Fort Donaldson without accident. Fort Donaldson, as you are aware, was the scene of General Grant's first great victory, and the starting-point to his present greatness. I caught but a bird's-eye view of the fortifications; from the river side they seem almost impregnable. It is now garrisoned by some twelve hundered troops. All the way to this point we have been warned to keep a bright lookout for guerillas, this boat being the pioneer from Louisville. I have apprehended no danger and feel satisfied that so far as these gentry are concerned we shall reach our destination unobstructed. The anniversary, as usual, brings no joy to me, save that, to-day, I have leisure in quiet to make a retrospect of the past. Last Christmas I passed on the banks of the Yazoo, reviewing the field of battle on which I had fought just a year prior to this time. How fraught with events to me these years have been, and now I wonder where my next Christmas will find me.

I thought when I started to keep something like a log or diary of my wanderings, but so thorough a nomad have I become, so used to the current events of everyday travel, especially by steamboat, that something of a really startling nature must transpire to make me think it worth while to note. I would renew a former injunction to follow my course on the map. Trace me down the Ohio to the mouth of the Cumberland, and up. It will be a good way for the children to learn something of the geography of the country by following in imagination their father's wanderings, in thousands of miles through various States from the Gulf of Mexico to the extreme New England coast. It will seem incredible to you, until after careful study, how much I have passed over within the past year, and all without the slightest accident from the perils of navigation or travel by land. I lay me down at night to sleep with the same confidence with which I share your pillow; I wake in the morning to find myself hundreds of miles from where I had my last waking dream or dreaming thought. The bird of passage is hardly fleet enough of wing to outstrip me in my wandering. The weather was very cold the day we left Louisville, the next still colder but clear and beautiful and the morning sun rose and glittered upon one of the strangest scenes I have ever witnessed in nature. A very heavy fog rose from the river about one o'clock, and settling upon the trees and shrubs imperceptibly froze and gathered until everything that had a spray was clothed with the lightest feathery texture that can be imagined, lighter, purer, whiter than the softest driven snow, and each little flake looking like a small plume, all nodding and waving to the passing air; all this the sun shone upon from a cloudless horizon through rosy tints and such a sunrise has rarely been witnessed. The captain of our boat, an old man, who has been upon the river thirty years, saw no sight like it, and the commonest deckhand looked on with rapture at the beauty. All day under a bright sun, but with a freezing atmosphere we glided through the drift of a full and rising river, and, by starlight, kept on through the night coursing the bends and running the chutes bank full; the next day was warm, and yesterday, as we struck the mouth of the Cumberland, the air was soft and balmy as a day in May. We are running now nearly due south, but a light rain is falling; it is a soft, green Christmas here. No passengers on the boat; Joe and the horses, and officers and the crew, all. We are freighted with iron and lumber, oats and corn. I tread the deck sole monarch of the steamboat. The Cumberland winds through high banks of limestone rock, rich with iron and coal, occasional bottoms fertile for corn, but the rolling land back thin and sterile.

SOURCE: Walter George Smith, Life and letters of Thomas Kilby Smith, p. 371-3