Freezing in the shade Icesicles to our cabbin eves 18 inches to 2 ft long the ponds of water covered with thin ice, forenoon snowing moderately & afternoon occasionally spitting snow I am suffering with pane in my back the snow is from 6 to 8 inches deep with a perfect slush of mud & watter under it
SOURCE: Edgar R. Harlan, Currator, Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 15, No. 2, October 1925, p. 105
Ice on the ponds in Helena is barely sufficient to beare up a man & some are sliding & occasionally one breaks in & gets wet, some to the waste & there is a good time of the lookers on to chear, by noon it was thawing so that none went on it afternoon I received two letters bearing me the sad noose of the deep affliction of my Dear son Amandus he has been sick for several weeks & now inflamation of the brain & the letter states the Doctors say he only has one chance out of eleven to recover, Oh how my hart is smitten. Oh that God would spare my precious boy & grant us all the privilege of again enjoying our family alter together.
SOURCE: Edgar R. Harlan, Currator, Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 15, No. 2, October 1925, p. 105
Morning a fiew boys ventured on the ice some broke in. the day was mild & the snow melted fast, & the mud is in great abundance, at 2½ Oc I attended meeting in a log chapple without floor seats or pulpit save the ground there was a doore up and 2 holes for windows & a hole in the clapboard roof for a stove pipe but no stove or pipe there Our Chaplain preached & called on me & I closed after him text Come & let us reason together &c I am afflicted with paine in my back
SOURCE: Edgar R. Harlan, Currator, Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 15, No. 2, October 1925, p. 105
My back is yet suffering I fear it is rheumatism Our Capt TM Fee has gone out with a squad of men on picket his first adventure here
SOURCE: Edgar R. Harlan, Currator, Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 15, No. 2, October 1925, p. 105
My back is not much better Evening Capt TM Fee & 1 took a little tramp, & visited the fine former residence of the Rebble Brig Genl JC Tappan it is a verry elegantly finished two story frame building. the furniture is elegant & there remains the remnant of an extensive library I discovered on the book the Orderly had marked me unable for duty without my knowledge I had him stop it I have been marked four days the first and only time since I enlisted
SOURCE: Edgar R. Harlan, Currator, Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 15, No. 2, October 1925, pp. 105-6
Streets almost impassible for footmen. I called in a verry pretty residence surrounded with beautifull shrubery & had a social chat with two young ladys by the name of Head they have a brother in the Rebble army. I received a letter from Emma with encouraging information about my son Amandus, he is seeking the Saviour & is in a fare way to be up soon, though I have been much depressed in mind I feel greatly relieved & am hoping & praying for my son I answered the letter. A fleet passed down from Memphis with parts of Grants Armey the 15th & 16th Reg Iowa Vol was on board & the fiew minutes they layed here I improved & injoyed with the boys some from Keosauqua & vicinity
SOURCE: Edgar R. Harlan, Currator, Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 15, No. 2, October 1925, p. 106
I took a ramble out to some of the pickets. Capt T M Fee was officer of the day Brother Oliver Williams of the 24th Reg Iowa Vol passed the evening & night with us he & I slept together in my bunk & we had a good time generally
SOURCE: Edgar R. Harlan, Currator, Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 15, No. 2, October 1925, p. 106
Rainey with mud beyond description I have been boxing up some cotton seed &c to send home Rev Oliver Williams called & spent the afternoon & evening with us & is going to bunk with me this night, he is from Appanoos Co Iowa & is in the 24th Reg Iowa Vol
SOURCE: Edgar R. Harlan, Currator, Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 15, No. 2, October 1925, p. 106
Steady raine from 9 Oc morning untill now 11 Oc night, I went on picket this morning & expected to remain until tomorrow morning but our Brigade got Orders to march & I was reliaved tonight I took one Rebble with his horse &c about noon & sent them in by a sargent to the Provo Marshal
SOURCE: Edgar R. Harlan, Currator, Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 15, No. 2, October 1925, p. 106
The place is in a buisey mood Genl Fisks Bregade is buisey preparing to go on board the fleet tomorrow for some place south of this we think Vicksburg I expressed a box of cotton seed some cloths books &c to Keosauqua Iowa
SOURCE: Edgar R. Harlan, Currator, Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 15, No. 2, October 1925, p. 106
Raining almost incessantly we ware all ready & packed up, & expected to be ordered in line to march down to the boats at early dawn, the teams ware buisey moving down Com[missary] Long['s] store & about noon they ware stopped & a short time after, the orders we had received to march with our brigade was countermanded & fortunately for us we are this rainey night comfortable in our cabbans I received a letter dated 12th from my Daughter & I bless the Lord, my son is some better & I feel more at ease in my mind
SOURCE: Edgar R. Harlan, Currator, Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 15, No. 2, October 1925, p. 106
I am suffering with pain in my back, I dobed some on our cabbin & visited Genl Washburns Head Quarters in the Rebble Brig Genl Tappans house
SOURCE: Edgar R. Harlan, Currator, Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 15, No. 2, October 1925, p. 106
1 The writer was a brick and stone mason by trade.
SOURCE: Edgar R. Harlan, Currator, Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 15, No. 2, October 1925, pp. 106-7
The hospital boat Henry Von Phul came up from Vicksburg with sick soldiers, the Chaplain of the 24th Iowa Infty Rev Corkhill was along they went on up to Memphis no news of importance from below except the watter is passing through the cut of & our men are enlarging it I have been verry feeble this day We drilled in bayonet exersize I wrote a letter to the Rev Cyrus Morey at Atica Marion Co Iowa
SOURCE: Edgar R. Harlan, Currator, Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 15, No. 2, October 1925, p. 107
I am suffering with pains in all my bones & am indifference to moving when seated We drilled some in bayonet exersize, the volts; passades &c Our Major Woodward was unfortunate his servent Frank a white man road his fine horse to town & in jumping a ditch the horse broke his leg & they had to shoot him, the Major is quite sick & they have not yet let him know it
SOURCE: Edgar R. Harlan, Currator, Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 15, No. 2, October 1925, p. 107
1Clinton B. Fisk of St. Louis, became colonel of the Thirty-third Missouri Infantry September, 1862; brigadier-general in November, 1862; and was breveted major-general in March, 1865. He was soldier, business man, educator, reformer, and philanthropist. Fisk University was named in his honor. In 1888 he was the candidate of the Prohibition party for president of the United States. He died in 1890.
SOURCE: Edgar R. Harlan, Currator, Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 15, No. 2, October 1925, p. 107
WASHINGTON, January 16, 1848.
MY DEAR SON, — I received
this moment your favor of the 10th, and was glad to hear that all are well at
home. My cause is not likely to be reached, I fear, for two or three weeks, if
it be reached at all. I have not changed my purpose on the subject to which you
refer. I have only suspended the execution of it in deference to some friends
who fear that bad consequences to the cause and the country might ensue if I
were immediately to execute it.
Mr. Jacobs is to be
married to-morrow, and I shall go to his wedding.
I send a list of
some plants which Mr. Prince has forwarded to me.
I am sorry that you
indulge in bad spirits. You are wrong to do so, and I think you have no
occasion to do so. You have much to cheer and animate you. More by far than
most persons.
My love to Susan and
the children.
SOURCE: Calvin Colton, Editor, The Private Correspondence of Henry Clay, p. 553
WASHINGTON, February 1, 1848.
MY DEAR SON, — I
received your letter informing me of the occurrence which has taken H. E. Erwin
to New Orleans. I am deeply concerned about it; but I can not but think that
Mr. Prentiss will not fight him. If he should decline doing so I hope
Henry will let it drop there, without resorting to any measure of violence or
denunciation.
I have some hope of
getting my cause tried next week, although there is not, I regret to say,
entire certainty in regard to it.
I inclose a bill of
lading for a barrel of sperm oil, purchased by Mr. Coffin, which I will thank
you to hand to your mother.
I adhere to my
purpose communicated to you before I left home. I have suspended the execution
of it for the present, in consequence of strong assurances that if I take the
step now it will be ruinous to the Whig party. It places me in a state of
painful embarrassment.
My love to Susan and
the children.
SOURCE: Calvin Colton, Editor, The Private Correspondence of Henry Clay, pp. 553-4
WASHINGTON, February 15, 1848.
MY DEAR SIR, — I
received your letter of the 9th instant and I was gratified with the
proceedings in Bourbon, of which it gave a full account. I presume through
other channels you are advised of the state of public affairs here. I see no
prospect of peace at present. Upon my arrival here the strongest appeals have
been made to me to take no step withdrawing my name from among those from which
a selection is to be made of a candidate for the Presidency. I have been
assured that, if I did, it would lead to a prostration of the Whig
party, especially in the free States. Then they say that General Taylor can not
be supported in his present noncommittal position. Some doubt, if he were to
assume distinct Whig ground, whether he could obtain the Whig support. I have
suspended any definitive action.
Great surprise
exists here as to the hot haste of our Taylor friends in Kentucky. Why is it? I
am often asked, without being able to give any very satisfactory answer. What
will be the issue of the two Conventions in Frankfort next week? Nobody knows
here. After the long period of time during which I have had the happiness to
enjoy the friendship and confidence of that State, what have I done, it is
inquired, to lose it?
Those Conventions,
if they would act wisely, I think, would acquiesce in the National Convention
and leave their own delegates to act freely, according to all circumstances.
My suit has been
argued in the Supreme Court, and I shall leave this place next week for
Philadelphia, where some business takes me.
SOURCE: Calvin Colton, Editor, The Private Correspondence of Henry Clay, pp. 554-5
WASHINGTON, February 18, 1848.
MY DEAR GENERAL, — I
received your favor this morning. I have written this winter no letters to
Kentucky on public affairs but in answer to letters which I received, and of
this description only three. That which you thought ought to have been
addressed to you was of that character.
I remain in my
passive position in regard to the Presidency. To this course I have been
strongly urged. It is generally approved. Whether and when I may change it
depends on circumstances. There is no occasion for precipitate action. Mine at
least shall be deliberate; having due regard to country, party, friends. If I
were to credit all I hear and see, there would be no doubt of my election, if
nominated by the National Convention, with my consent; but experience has
brought diffidence, and I do not lend too ready an ear to even agreeable
things.
I learn from New
York that there is not a particle of doubt that, if I were a candidate, the
vote of that State would be given me by an immense majority. The Legislature (I
mean the Whigs) have had a caucus, in which they passed a resolution, with I
believe unanimity, designating me, although not naming me, and excluding our
friend General Taylor, though not naming him. Our Kentucky and other friends
ought to know what an up-hill business that is of supporting the General in the
free States; and yet I lose no suitable occasion to impress on all union,
harmony and concord.
I am fully convinced
that no preference will be expressed next week in Virginia, at Richmond, for
General Taylor; most probably none will be expressed for any one.
I expect to be in
Philadelphia the two or three last days of this month and the first week of the
next. If I can give any impulse to your business there, I shall not fail to do
it.
SOURCE: Calvin Colton, Editor, The Private Correspondence of Henry Clay, p. 555
