Civil War Notebook

Sunday, August 4, 2024

Diary of Private Adam S. Johnston, June 11, 1862

Left Camp Nell and arrived at Manchester the same night, and encamped, making a march of 25 miles.

SOURCE: Adam S. Johnston, The Soldier Boy's Diary Book, p. 17

Diary of Private Adam S. Johnston, June 12, 1862

Left Manchester camp and arrived at Shelbyville, and encamped for the night at Camp Cooper, making a march of 25 miles.

SOURCE: Adam S. Johnston, The Soldier Boy's Diary Book, p. 17

Daniel Webster to Millard Fillmore, February 3, 1851

February 3, 1851.

MY DEAR SIR,—You will receive the suggestion which I am about to make as being unexpected.

I look upon the Nicaragua Mission, and all the Nicaraguan affairs, as being, at this moment, the most delicate and important point in our foreign relations. Among all who are applying for appointments abroad, members of Congress, and others, I do not know a man whom I think qualified to be Chargé d'Affaires at Nicaragua. We are in danger of collision with England, and of entanglements, on the other hand, with these little republics.

At the same time, the amount of transit of goods and passengers across the Isthmus, at this point, is very large and fast increasing. We need a well-informed, safe, sound, and accomplished political agent; and the best qualified man I know is William Hunter, one of the senior clerks in this Department. Mr. Hunter is about forty years old, belongs to Rhode Island, and is a sober, clear-headed, hard-working man. He was originally well educated, has been in this Department a good while, and for ten years or more has had charge of all the correspondence with the South American States. He reads and speaks Spanish well. All the South American Legations here, know him, and regard him highly. He is perfectly familiar with the constitutions, interests, and objects of all these American States, from Mexico to Buenos Ayres. If he were at Nicaragua, I should feel perfectly confident that no European agent, and no American government or minister, would obtain any advantage over him, or be able to lead him into any act of imprudence.

As to political effect, I know nothing to be expected from his appointment, but the general satisfaction which the selection of a person purely from considerations of capacity and fitness would give to the country.

All this is merely for your consideration. Of course I have said nothing of it to Mr. Hunter himself, nor has any such idea, I presume, ever entered his mind.

Yours truly,

DAN'L WEBSTER.

SOURCE: Fletcher Webster, Editor, The Private Correspondence of Daniel Webster, Vol. 2, p. 416-7

William M. Richards and Others to Daniel Webster, February 14, 1851

New York, February 14, 1851.

DEAR SIR,—A number of the citizens of New York, without distinction of party, beg leave, through the undersigned, to ask your acceptance of a carriage, harness, and horses, which have been selected for you as a small token of the high estimation in which they hold your long course of public services in the councils of the nation, as the expounder of the Constitution, and the defender of the Union.

It must be a source of great gratification to you, to know that, in the crisis which has just passed, your bold and manly course in espousing the great cause of the Union, and its recent compromise, at the peril of loss of favor with a section of that party with which you have ever acted, and whose principles you have ever maintained, has met with the warm approval and cordial support of your countrymen at large.

That your valuable life may be long spared to your family and your country, is the ardent wish of your friends, whom we represent, and of ourselves.

We are, dear Sir, your obedient servants,

WM. M. RICHARDS,

CHAS. A. STETSON,

SAM'L E. SPROULLS,

CHAS. W. A. RODGERS.

Honorable DANIEL WEBSTER.

SOURCE: Fletcher Webster, Editor, The Private Correspondence of Daniel Webster, Vol. 2, p. 419

Daniel Webster to Mr. Plumer, February 14, 1851

Washington, February 14, 1851.

DEAR SIR,—I wish it were in my power to find time to write or speak of your father, and gather up the recollections which I have of him. But in truth, my time at present is absolutely and altogether devoted to public duties.

I knew your father very well from 1801 to 1817, when I left the State. The first time I saw him was at Mr. Peabody's, in Exeter, where he took the lead in a table conversation, upon the merits and demerits of Gibbon's History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire. I remember also his speaking of the Edinburgh Review, and Mr. Jeffrey, both just then becoming conspicuous. He left the Senate, I think, in 1807. We did not agree upon the embargo policy of Mr. Jefferson and Mr. Madison, and the subsequent war with England. But I do not suppose that we ever differed upon any other important practical questions, nor upon any great constitutional question.

I expect to be in Boston about the 1st of April or the latter part of March. If you could conveniently meet me there, I would cheerfully pass an hour or two with you, in stating what I recollect of him, and expressing the opinion which I entertain of his talents and character.

I remain, very truly, yours,

DAN'L WEBSTER.

SOURCE: Fletcher Webster, Editor, The Private Correspondence of Daniel Webster, Vol. 2, p. 419-20

Daniel Webster to Richard M. Blatchford, March 9, 1851

Washington, March 9, 1851.

MY DEAR SIR,—I thank you for your brother's letter, which I should like to keep in the Department. I thank you also for your short note received to-day. I keep it for the warmth and strength of its expression.

I have a reply from Vienna, very amiable. To-morrow or next day will be published a despatch to Mr. Marsh respecting Kossuth.

Yours,

D. WEBSTER.

To Richard Milford Blatchford, towards whom my feelings, founded in regard, have grown into affection.

DAN'L WEBSTER.

SOURCE: Fletcher Webster, Editor, The Private Correspondence of Daniel Webster, Vol. 2, p. 421

Saturday, August 3, 2024

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant Benjamin F. Pearson, September 1, 1862

I sent my team some 10 or 11 miles west to get a fifer & drummer for tomorrow they got in after night & about midnight M H Hare came in in the stage & put up with us & we had a pleasant time

SOURCE: Edgar R. Harlan, Currator, Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 15, No. 2, October 1925, p. 88

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant Benjamin F. Pearson, September 2, 1862

10 Oc we marched out & met the Bellair Co & marched into town we trained some in town & around it & at noon we marched out north of town & there was a fine dinner prepared & the soldiers eat first then the ladies & then the other men after which M H Hare & Mr Grenell made good speeches then we formed & marched to town & dismissed & I got teams engaged to take us to Ottumwa free

SOURCE: Edgar R. Harlan, Currator, Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 15, No. 2, October 1925, p. 88

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant Benjamin F. Pearson, September 3, 1862

I am unwell so that I did not drill it is the first day that I have not been with the Company 36 soldiers to dinner with us & 4 not soldiers Mrs. Capt Fleck Walden buried her little daughter age 9 months Materials to make our Co a flag arived & the committy selected Miss C Stratton & my Daughter to superintend the making of it

SOURCE: Edgar R. Harlan, Currator, Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 15, No. 2, October 1925, p. 88

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant Benjamin F. Pearson, September 4, 1862

I am better was up with the men but did not drill Suffer some inconvenience with a large boil under my right arm

SOURCE: Edgar R. Harlan, Currator, Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 15, No. 2, October 1925, p. 88

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant Benjamin F. Pearson, September 5, 1862

9 Oc night Augustus Richards other little twin daughter died the other died Aug 2nd

SOURCE: Edgar R. Harlan, Currator, Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 15, No. 2, October 1925, p. 88

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant Benjamin F. Pearson, September 6, 1862

3 Oc I started to Salem Church my Daughter & I in buggy & L Bryant along we took supper at Brother Morises Candle lighting Brother Bruce conducted a prayer meeting we staid all night with Brother John Whites

SOURCE: Edgar R. Harlan, Currator, Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 15, No. 2, October 1925, p. 88

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant Benjamin F. Pearson, Sunday, September 7, 1862

9 Oc we had a speaking meeting L Bryant opened it we had a good time 11 Oc Brother Boyer Local preached text 2nd Corinthians 5th & 1st v I exorted after him we had a good time. I took dinner with Wm Bryants and at 3 Oc started home evening Oliver Williams preached in Centerville I closed after him, text 1st Corinthians 3 ch 22nd & 23 verse. Brother Benjm Morrisons son died age one year

SOURCE: Edgar R. Harlan, Currator, Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 15, No. 2, October 1925, p. 88-9