Showing posts with label Elizabeth S Nealley Grimes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Elizabeth S Nealley Grimes. Show all posts

Saturday, November 15, 2014

Senator James W. Grimes to William P. Fessenden, July 19, 1865

Burlington, July 19, 1865.

Your letter leads me to think that you may possibly be inclined to come West, though I am quite skeptical on the subject. I do hope you will come; I think you ought to come, not for your own pleasure, or the pleasure of your friends alone, but as a leading public man you ought to see this country for yourself. I am only a few hours' ride from Chicago, but in a far more quiet, respectable, moral, healthy, comfortable place. I cannot promise you the luxuries of a commercial metropolis on the seacoast, but I will feed you on grapes if you are here in September, and intoxicate you with their pure juice. I have between seven hundred and eight hundred vines loaded down with most promising grapes, though we have much wet weather, which is not propitious.

Of course, I always give a hearty support to the Administration, as in duty bound, but we will reserve our quarrel about the Navy Department, the Administration, and Charles Sumner, until you come here. I prefer to fight you in my own barn-yard. Mrs. Grimes says she shall never forgive you, if you do not come to see us, and spend at least two weeks with us.

SOURCE: William Salter, The Life of James W. Grimes, p. 280

Friday, November 14, 2014

Senator James W. Grimes to Elizabeth Nealley Grimes, April 19, 1865

April 19th. — We have four days of universal and heartfelt sorrow and mourning; business has been nearly suspended. There was a meeting in Union Hall on Monday evening, and, although very rainy, the hall was full. I presided, and spoke a few minutes, and was followed by Mr. Salter, Father Donelan, and Mr. Darwin. At twelve o'clock to-day there were religious services in all the churches, and I hear that all were crowded; Mr. Salter's certainly was. In the afternoon there was an immense procession through the streets, ending its march at the hall, where as many entered as could, leaving a large part out-of-doors. I again presided, and opened and closed with a few remarks. There was not a business-house, or a drinking-house even, open during the day, nor an inebriated man to be seen in the town. No Sunday was ever so universally kept sacred in Burlington. The real grief does not seem to be confined to any party or sect. Everybody seems ready to canonize Mr. Lincoln's memory. If there ever was a man who was happy in his death, that man was Mr. Lincoln. He is for all time to enjoy the reputation of carrying the country successfully through a four years' terrible civil war, and is to have none of the odium and hate that are sure to be engendered by the rival schemes and rival parties for the adjustment of our troubles.

SOURCE: William Salter, The Life of James W. Grimes, p. 279

Wednesday, November 12, 2014

Senator James W. Grimes to Elizabeth Nealley Grimes, April 16, 1865

Burlington, April 16, 1865.

Day before yesterday was a day of rejoicing and gladness in Burlington. The country people were in town in large numbers, and there were processions, torch-lights, fireworks, illuminations, and every one seemed happy at the thought of a speedy and honorable peace.

That day of jubilee has been succeeded by two very sorrowful ones. About nine o'clock on Saturday, the intelligence reached us of the assassination of Mr. Lincoln, and the attempt upon Mr. Seward's life. Immediately the people began to assemble about the Hawkeye office, and soon Third Street became packed with people. And such expressions of horror, indignation, sorrow, and wonder, were never heard before. Shortly, some one began to decorate his house with the habiliments of mourning, and soon all the business part of the town, even the vilest liquor-dens, were shrouded with the outward signs of sorrow. All business was at once suspended, and not resumed during the day, but every one waited for further intelligence from Washington.

This day has been remarkably pleasant, and every one went to church. I went early, and found our church packed full, so that it was with difficulty I found a seat. Many were there whom I never suspected of ever going to church before, among them many German Turners; and many were turned away.

I was kept busy last night trying to prevent the destruction of a foolish woman's store, who, it was said, expressed her joy at Mr. Lincoln's murder. Had she been a man, so much was the old Adam aroused in me, I would not have uttered a word to save her.

I am full of forebodings about Johnson. He is loyal enough, but he is a man of low instincts, vindictive, violent, and of bad habits. His course will depend much upon the hands he falls into at the outset. I hope he will be equal to the occasion, and prove to be a good President. The performance of the fourth of last month was not a very flattering augury of the future.

Mr. Lincoln is to be hereafter regarded as a saint. All his foibles, and faults, and shortcomings, will be forgotten, and he will be looked upon as the Moses who led the nation through a four years' bloody war, and died in sight of peace. Never did men make a greater mistake than did his assassins, if they desired lenity and favorable terms, when they slew him, and attempted to slay Seward; for they had more to expect from them than from any men, indeed, from all men connected with the public councils in the North. Mr. Lincoln was the most amiable, kind-hearted man I ever knew, and would not, if he could avoid it, punish his most malignant enemy. If I am not greatly deceived, they have got a “Tartar” in his stead.

SOURCE: William Salter, The Life of James W. Grimes, p. 277-9

Tuesday, November 11, 2014

Senator James W. Grimes to Elizabeth Nealley Grimes, April 13, 1865

Burlington, April 13,1865.

Our place is more beautiful this spring than ever before; indeed, I know no more lovely spot anywhere, and my only want now is that you were here to enjoy it with me. We are having fine weather, with a prospect of an abundant supply of fruit. Cherries and pears are remarkably promising at present, and two or three vine-dressers, who have been here, say my grapes look better than anybody's about here.

Among other strange things that I have done, I gave this week six hundred and forty acres of land, worth I suppose about four to five thousand dollars, to the Congregational College at Grinnell. I thought I would administer thus far on my own estate. The college is overrun with students, and I fancied that as good use would be made of it in this as in any other way.

SOURCE: William Salter, The Life of James W. Grimes, p. 276-7

Saturday, November 8, 2014

Senator James W. Grimes to Elizabeth Nealley Grimes, April 10, 1865

Burlington, April 10,1865.

I send you a copy of “Naval Warfare Ashore and Afloat,” a pamphlet composed of the speeches made in the Senate and House of Representatives against Davis’s and Wade’s amendments. I do not know who got it up, but several copies have been sent to me. My speech is given the post of honor, though not entitled to it; for the other speeches were prepared, and mine was impromptu, and addressed entirely to the subject in hand. Some of the other speeches were orations, while mine, if anything, was a simple argument of the question directly in issue, and only received the corrections that you and I gave it one Sunday afternoon. Read Mr. Pike's speech, if you have not; for I think it a speech of great power and merit, and about as symmetrical and perfect in all its parts as any congressional speech that you have read for many a day. My remarks were the last made on the subject in the Senate, and should properly have been published last, as the other Senators alluded to me by name as being about to follow and close the debate; but I suppose you will discern this. I would have liked also to have the fact appear that after the protracted debate of two days there was but a single vote in favor of Wade's proposition, and forty-odd against it.

SOURCE: William Salter, The Life of James W. Grimes, p. 272

Friday, November 7, 2014

William P. Fessenden to Senator James W. Grimes, July 24, 1864

Washington, July 24, 1864.

Your kind letter has neither been overlooked nor forgotten, for I have wished many times for a moment to acknowledge its receipt, and to tell you how highly I appreciate its assurances of friendly regard. You can well imagine, however, that I have been intensely occupied, and must be aware that I am overwhelmed with perplexities, and surrounded by dangers. Had I known but two weeks beforehand what was to happen, I think that with the aid of Congress I might have placed myself in a somewhat easier condition. But things must be taken as I find them, and they are quite bad enough to appall any but a man desperate as I am. I cannot commit to paper all I would say. If my bodily condition was better, perhaps I might work with more heart and energy; but I am run down with fatigue, retiring exhausted, and rising little refreshed — a poor state for such work as I have to do. But it must be done, and I will do it somehow.

I wish to assure you, my dear friend, that there are few people in this world for whom I have so high a regard as for yourself. There was no man in the Senate with whom I was on such close terms of intimacy, or who knew so much of me as you did. If at any time there was a moment's irritation, it always passed away with the moment, and left no trace behind. May it remain thus between us while we both live! Our country must be served honestly and faithfully, and we must do our duty, even if others fail in theirs. I want your aid and counsel more than ever, and trust you will not withhold either.

Give my love to your wife, and tell her to think as well of me as she can, whatever may be my errors.

SOURCE: William Salter, The Life of James W. Grimes, p. 265-6

Wednesday, November 5, 2014

Senator James W. Grimes to Elizabeth Nealley Grimes, June 19, 1864

Washington, June 19, 1864.

I hope to be at home by the 4th of July. It is possible I may not, however, because I am compelled to stop a day in Chicago, and I do not wish to be there on the 4th, which is the day the convention of the Democratic party assembles there. Rather than be incommoded by that concern in going west, or be mixed up in it, I will remain on the way a day or two. We have no news here. Grant's campaign is regarded by military critics as being thus far a failure. He has lost a vast number of men, and is compelled to abandon his attempt to capture Richmond on the north side, and cross the James River. The question is asked significantly, Why did he not take his army south of the James at once, and thus save seventy-five thousand men?

Smith, Bros. & Co., of whom I made mention in my remarks in the Senate, found themselves in Fort Warren day before yesterday, and will be tried before a court-martial, and will, I doubt not, be convicted.

SOURCE: William Salter, The Life of James W. Grimes, p. 263

Monday, November 3, 2014

Senator James W. Grimes to Admiral Samuel F. Du Pont, June 15, 1864

Washington, June 15, 1864.

I would be delighted to visit you near Wilmington, and I know Mrs. Grimes would be, but she went North about the 20th of April, where she remained a few weeks, and then returned to our home in Iowa, where she now is. As you can easily suppose, I am most anxious to leave here that I may join her, and shall not be inclined to tarry by the wayside on my journey westward. I intend some time, with my wife, to make you a visit, and I intend to do it at the first opportunity I have; and in this I am most heartily joined by Mrs. Grimes, for I need not tell you that she is a stanch adherent of yours.

SOURCE: William Salter, The Life of James W. Grimes, p. 263

Sunday, November 2, 2014

Senator James W. Grimes to Elizabeth Nealley Grimes, May 24, 1864

May 24th. — As you learn by the papers, I made a speech yesterday, but I did not, as they say I did, talk two hours. I think I made a good speech, and such seems to be the general impression, but you will see it in a few days, and can judge for yourself. At least there was no clap-trap and humbug about it.

SOURCE: William Salter, The Life of James W. Grimes, p. 262-3

Saturday, November 1, 2014

Senator James W. Grimes to Elizabeth Nealley Grimes, May 18, 1864

May 18th. — I wish I could satisfy your fears about the Army of the Potomac. Thus far we have won no victory. We have suffered a terrible loss of killed and wounded (nearly fifty thousand), and Lee is in an impregnable position. J. Grimes commanded the Seventeenth Regiment of Infantry, until he was finally knocked over by a broken shell. He is not much hurt, only bruised, and will return to the army, and try his chances again next Saturday.

I have just returned to my room from dining at Mr. Eames's with Mrs. Julia Ward Howe — for company, Admiral Davis, Foster, of Connecticut, Gurowski, and your husband — a pleasant time, of course. Mrs. Howe gave what she calls a reading, last night. I did not go, but, as she insists upon my going on Friday, I suppose I must comply.

The news from different directions is not at all pleasant to me. I confess that just at this present writing I feel pretty blue.

SOURCE: William Salter, The Life of James W. Grimes, p. 262

Friday, October 31, 2014

Senator James W. Grimes to Elizabeth Nealley Grimes, May 12, 1864

May 12th. — Fighting of the most terrific character still goes on only a few miles from us. On our side are not less than forty thousand men hors de combat. This includes killed, wounded, and missing. Still the cry is for more blood, and more is to be shed. Our troops are in good condition, hopeful, and anticipate success. Reinforcements of fresh men are being sent to Grant — a relief which it is understood cannot be sent by Lee's pretended government to him. The excitement occasioned by the continuous battles in the neighborhood has been so great, and has so unsettled everybody's mind, that the Senate to-day adjourned to Monday. I think that Grant will in the end destroy Lee's army, but his own will be also destroyed. It will be a sort of Kilkenny cat-fight; they, you know, fought until nothing was left of either but the tail; but Grant's tail is the longest. We have no other news here. We think of nothing else, inquire about nothing else, dream about nothing else.

SOURCE: William Salter, The Life of James W. Grimes, p. 262

Thursday, October 30, 2014

Senator James W. Grimes to Elizabeth Nealley Grimes, May 10, 1864


United States Senate-chamber,
Washington, May 10, 1864.

We have an intense anxiety here about the recent battles, though the people have not been so demonstrative as on many former occasions. The battle on Friday was fiercely contested all day, was almost entirely a musketry-fight, and was a success to us, inasmuch as the enemy did not accomplish his purpose, which was to whip us. We had two men to their one in action. Grant had one hundred and forty thousand men, and all engaged, save one brigade of colored troops, say six thousand men. Grant and Meade estimate Lee's army at seventy thousand, which I suspect is about the truth. On Saturday, Lee slowly and sullenly moved off in the direction of Orange Court-House, expecting, doubtless, that Grant would follow him, and that he would be able to resume the fight where he would have great advantages in the topography of the country. But Grant failed to be caught in that trap, and moved on the direct road to Richmond, via Spottsylvania Court-House. We have all sorts of rumors about battles since that of Friday, but there is nothing whatever reliable. Nearly all of our army was some time or other in the day soundly thrashed, but generally rallied very well. There were very few stragglers, less than were ever known before. The enemy's tactics consisted of the most frantic, impetuous and gigantic efforts to break our line by attacking it with large masses. Their troops are far better at this than ours are. At times they drove our whole line back, and took our positions, but we recovered them. We lost one entire brigade at one time, most of a brigade at another, and a regiment at another, by capture. We lost more prisoners than they did. Had the rebels not gone away from the battle-field, it would not have been claimed as a victory by us, for they lost no guns, comparatively no prisoners, no baggage, and carried away their wounded. They are probably far more exhausted by the battle than we are, and we hope that this is the beginning of the end. The rebels fight, though, like very devils incarnate. It is useless to attempt to disguise it, there is an abandon about their attacks that is not imitated even by most of our men.

SOURCE: William Salter, The Life of James W. Grimes, p. 261-2

Wednesday, October 29, 2014

Senator James W. Grimes to Elizabeth Nealley Grimes, April 29, 1864

April 29th. — I was never half so comfortable in Washington, without you, as I am now. I am in one of the best, most genteel, quiet, cultivated families I have ever known in Washington; my apartments are two nice, airy, neat, and convenient rooms, and I have the only breakfasts I have ever eaten at any boarding-house in Washington. My colleague Wilson, and Henderson, of Missouri, dine with me. Fessenden will adopt the same mode of life, and begin to dine with us on Monday, and Clark and Morrill are to be admitted to our club during the week. Of course, we have good dinners. So much for my creature comforts.

I have just received a long letter from Dr. Jonathan Blanchard, formerly of Galesburg, the old Orthodox apostle at Galesburg, in which he compliments me in very undeserved terms, and concludes by saying that all of my merits are to be attributed to your instructions and example. I believe that the general impression is, that I am of myself a most perverse mortal, toned and tempered down by you into a reasonably civilized piece of humanity.

We have no news here. Every one is incensed against Banks, and demands his supersedure. Our disaster in Louisiana was much greater than was reported. There will be no battle here for some weeks, probably; in the mean time a vast force is being concentrated. Last Monday more than forty thousand men marched through town, six thousand negroes, on their way southward. The universal opinion was that the negroes made much the best appearance, and there seemed to be the best of feeling between them and the white soldiers.

SOURCE: William Salter, The Life of James W. Grimes, p. 260-1

Tuesday, October 28, 2014

Senator James W. Grimes to Elizabeth Nealley Grimes, April 24, 1864

Washington, April 24,1864.

Frank Fessenden has been wounded and captured. It is not known how badly he is wounded. His regiment behaved well, and so did he. Everybody curses Banks loud and deep. I have not seen Fessenden since the news came. I send you Foster's speech on Sumner. It is regarded as capital here.

SOURCE: William Salter, The Life of James W. Grimes, p. 260

Monday, October 27, 2014

Senator James W. Grimes to Elizabeth Nealley Grimes, November 26, 1863

Boston, November 26th.

I have been to church at King's Chapel, and heard a good, patriotic sermon (Thanksgiving-day). Judge Collamer is at Cambridgeport with his whole family on their way to Washington.

SOURCE: William Salter, The Life of James W. Grimes, p. 240

Sunday, October 26, 2014

Senator James W. Grimes to Elizabeth Nealley Grimes, November 24, 1863

Portland, November 24, 1863.

I reached Mr. Fessenden's without accident, and am now at his house. I wanted to leave to-day for Boston, but he has restrained me, and I shall not go until to-morrow. I shall be in Boston until Friday, when Mr. Fessenden is to meet me, and we shall go to Washington together. I judge Portland to be one of the very pleasantest cities in the United States. Fessenden has a grand old place; house and everything in it appearing to be not less than fifty years old and upward. He expressed his regret that you were not with me. All of his family, including sons, brothers-in-law, etc., seemed to be pleased to see me, and all inquired kindly for you, as though they knew you. In Fessenden's chamber I found four framed pictures, his wife, Samuel, who is also dead, my wife, and my wife's husband.

SOURCE: William Salter, The Life of James W. Grimes, p. 239-40

Friday, October 24, 2014

Senator James W. Grimes to Elizabeth Nealley Grimes, October 2, 1863

Dubuque, October 2d.

It is a comfort to me to know that one week from to-night my labors will be over. My health is very good, save that I am worn down by speaking every day, and nearly every day in the open air. We shall carry the State by an unprecedentedly large majority, because the people are in earnest to sustain the Government.

SOURCE: William Salter, The Life of James W. Grimes, p. 238-9

Thursday, October 23, 2014

Senator James W. Grimes to Elizabeth Nealley Grimes, September 28, 1863

West Union, Fayette County, September 28th

My course has finally brought me to this place, and my face is at last turned homeward, though I have many angles to make, and about three hundred miles to travel before I reach there.

Stone will be elected by a very large majority; larger, I think, than was ever given to any candidate for Governor. You may be interested to know that the people seem to be unanimously in favor of my reelection to the Senate. So far as I can learn, no Senator or Representative will be elected by the Republicans who is not pledged to my election. Of course this makes me proud, for I have not electioneered for it.

SOURCE: William Salter, The Life of James W. Grimes, p. 238

Wednesday, October 22, 2014

Senator James W. Grimes to Elizabeth Nealley Grimes, September 20, 1863

Independence, September 20th.

I have spoken every day since I was at Des Moines, in the open air, to large crowds, and generally in a strong gale of wind. Still I got along very well until yesterday, when I made pretty much of a break-down. I caught a very bad cold, and my strength is nearly exhausted. I do not believe that I can keep up long. I never had anything to do with a campaign that required half the labor that this does.

SOURCE: William Salter, The Life of James W. Grimes, p. 238

Tuesday, October 21, 2014

Senator James W. Grimes to Elizabeth S. Nealley Grimes, September 9, 1863

Grinnell, September 9, 1863.

I am thus far on my tortuous way. We have very large meetings, never so large in the State before, and, so far as I can learn, the very best of feeling prevails among our friends. I cannot doubt our success in the State. The Democrats were never working so hard before, but we shall beat them.

SOURCE: William Salter, The Life of James W. Grimes, p. 238