Diary of Dr. Alfred L. Castleman, August 16, 1861

I am still at Barnum's, and having transferred my sick to the charge of Mr. S., I have a little more time to think, and to journalize my thoughts. I have looked around a little to-day, and my observations have almost made me wish I had no country. When every right which freemen hold dear is at stake, to see men calculating the pecuniary cost of preserving them, sickens the heart, and shakes our confidence in human nature. When the poorer classes are laboring day and night, and exposing their lives in the cause of that government on which the rich lean for protection in the possession of their wealth, to see these loud mouthed patriotic capitalists cheating them in the very clothes they wear to battle, the soul revolts at the idea of human nature civilized into a great mass of money-makers. May we not expect, ere long, that these same patriots will be found opposing the war because it will require a tax on the riches which they shall have amassed from it, to defray its expenses? We shall see.

There must be great imbecility too, somewhere, in the management of our affairs. We are 20,000,000 of people fighting against 6,000,000.* We boast that we are united as one man, whilst our enemies are divided. Congress has voted men and money ad libitum. We boast of our hundreds of thousands of soldiers in the field, whilst the rebel army is far inferior. Yet Sumter yielded to the superiority of numbers. Pickens dares not venture out of her gates, on account of the hosts surrounding her. At Big Bethel we fought against great odds in numbers. At Martinsburg we were as one to three. At Bull Run the united forces of Beauregard and Johnston bore down on and almost annihilated our little force; whilst even in the west we see the brave Lyon sacrificed, and Sigel retreating before superior numbers. And yet we seem insecure even in the defences of our great cities. We are in daily apprehension of an attack on Washington. Baltimore is without an army. St. Louis is in danger, and even Cairo defended by a handful of men compared to the number threatening to attack her. Surely the god of battles cannot have made himself familiar to our leaders.

_______________

* I assume that the slave population are not of those against whom we fight.

SOURCE: Alfred L. Castleman, The Army of the Potomac. Behind the Scenes. A Diary of Unwritten History; From the Organization of the Army, by General George B. McClellan, to the close of the Campaign in Virginia about the First Day January, 1863, p. 15-6

William T. Sherman to Ellen Ewing Sherman, January 5, 1861

LOUISIANA STATE SEMINARY                

of Learning and Military Academy,        

Alexandria, Jan. 5, 1861.

 . . . I have finished my report and placed all the papers in the hands of Dr. Smith the vice-president. I walked into town the day before yesterday, poor Clay being dead and buried. Dr. Smith was away and I only remained a few hours. Alexandria at best is not a cheerful town, but now decidedly the reverse. Everybody naturally feels the danger which envelopes us all in one common cause. I have had nothing said to me at all, and I discuss the questions of the day freely with my equals, and try to keep my peace with loungers about the street corners and ferry-boat landing. I always say what is my real belief, that though the slavery question seems to be the question soon it will sink into insignificance.

Our country has become so democratic that the mere popular opinion of any town or village rises above the law. Men have ceased to look to constitutions and law books for their guides, but have studied popular opinion in bar rooms and village newspapers, and that was and is law. The old women and grannies of New England, reasoning from abstract principles, must defy the constitution of the country, the people of the South not relying on the federal government must allow their people to favor filibustering expeditions, against the solemn treaties of the land; and anywhere from California to Maine any man could do murder, robbery or arson if the people's prejudice lay in that direction. And now things are at such a pass that no one section believes the other, and we are beginning to fight.

The right of secession is but the beginning of the end; it is utterly wrong and the president ought never for one moment to have permitted the South Carolinians to believe he would not enforce the revenue laws and hold the public property in Charleston Harbor. Had he promptly reinforced Maj. Anderson the Charlestonians would have been a little more circumspect. My only hope is that Maj. Anderson may hold out, that more reinforcements may reach him, and that the people may feel that they can't always do as they please. Or in other words that they are not so free and independent as they think. In this view I am alone here, but I do so think, and will say it. . .

If still this Civil War should pass over I shall require you all to come down regardless of consequences, for here I must stay summer and winter, or else give it up. . .

St. Louis will be paralyzed with Civil War, and California will be a foreign country. My only hope is that bad as things now look there may occur some escape, or if dissolution is inevitable that Ohio and Louisiana may belong to the same confederacy. I am so far out of the current here that I can only judge by newspapers and they all indicate a bias. The Louisiana convention will surely secede, but then the reconstruction. At all events I cannot do anything till that is over, if they turn me out I must stay and get my dues, and I will send you every cent I can. The house is now done and the carpenters leave it to-day for good. People begin to wonder why you don't come down, and the fact is operating to my prejudice, but at this time it would be imprudent to do so. Maybe a change may yet occur. . .

SOURCE: Walter L. Fleming, General W.T. Sherman as College President, p. 329-31

After the St. Louis Rebels, Male and Female

ST. LOUIS, Jan. 26 – The following special Order will be issued in the morning:

HEADQUARTERS, Department of Missouri.

1.  The President, Secretary, Librarian, Directors or other officers of the Mercantile association, President, Secretary and Directors or other officers of the Chambers of Commerce of this city, are requested to take the oath of allegiance prescribed by Article 6, State Ordinance of October 16, 1861.  Any of the above officers who shall neglect to file in the office of the Provost Marshal General within 10 days of the date of this order the oath so subscribed, will be deemed to have resigned and any one who, after neglecting so to file his oath of allegiance within the time prescribed, shall attempt to exercise the functions of such an office, will be arrested for contempt of this order and punished according to the laws of war.

2.  It is officially reported that carriages bearing the enemy’s flag are in the habit of driving to the vicinity of the military prison in McDowell’s College.  The Commanding officer of the Prison Guard will seize and take possession of any carriage bearing the enemy’s flag, and the horses, carriage and harness to be confiscated.

3.  It is officially reported that certain women are in the habit of approaching the vicinity of the military prison, and waving hostile flags for the purpose of inciting our troops and carrying on communication with the prisoners of war.  The commanding officers of the Prison Guard will arrest and place in confinement all women so offending.

4.  Any carriage or other vehicle bearing a hostile flag in the city, will be seized and confiscated.  The City Police and Patrol Guards are directed to arrest persons in vehicles under such flags, also persons wearing or displaying a hostile flag in the city.

By command of Major Gen. Halleck,

N. H. McLEAN, Ass’t. Adjt. Gen.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, February 1, 1862, p. 4

The Foe in our Midst

In St. Louis there are scores of dangerous men, zealous and scheming rebels, who are both acting the part of spies in our camp, and, by their position, presence, example and counsel, are rendering valuable service to the enemy.  The immunity with which they have long done this emboldens others to follow in their footsteps, and gives encouragement to the almost despairing foe in the field.  It is time that these mischief makers were placed where their influence would be powerless.  The peace of the city, the welfare of the State, and the cause of the country, as well as genuine kindness to these disturbers and their friends, all demand this. – Justice, policy, precedent and propriety alike require it.

During the struggle that gave birth to the Republic, the country was grievously infested by active and bitter tories.  In certain portions of the land they especially abounded, and in some were actually predominant in numbers.  They frustrated the efforts of patriots, gave invaluable information to the enemy, and materially aided in protracting the conflict.  Many of them were wealthy, educate, of high standing, had even gained a reputation for integrity, and thus wielded an influence mischievous in the extreme.  The journals of that time have since been published, tell us how these citizens were disposed of.  They were made to pay heavily for carrying on the war, and were removed to some region where their power for evil ceased.  This course was adopted by the advice and with the hearty concurrence of Washington.

In principle, the secessionists of this war are more flagitious than the tories of ’76, and in practice those of them near our military lines are worse.  The difference between the olden and the modern tory is purely circumstantial, and the circumstances are in favor of the former.  The one breathed in the times of ’76, when a republic was an experiment, the other knows that the experiment has been gloriously successful for four score years.  The one was opposed to a government of the country by the people of the country, and the other is so opposed.  The first was unwilling to have the people of the land rule the land, and the second is similarly unwilling.  But while one objected to sacrifice, peace and the ties of the fatherland, with its hallowed memories and proud historic associations, to enter upon a novel experiment under gloomy auspices, the other invokes war, tramples upon every sentiment of national price, outrages the glorious history and flag of his country, in order to render abortive the tried and well proved experiment of national self government.  Every sentiment that palliated the course of the tory of ’76, aggravates that of the secessionist of to-day.

What plea can be urged in behalf of further tolerance to the foe in our midst?  Why has he more claim to the shelter of constitutional law than the [foe] in the field?  How, when his whole spirit, all his aspirations, hopes, efforts and influence, are known to be hostile, is he not amenable to the laws of war?  Are the friends and well wishers of the enemy to be indefinitely harbored and cherished among us? – It is time that all illusions were at last dissipated, and that many of our citizens, who seem to be still dreaming amid the terrible realities upon us, were startled with a discovery of the serious nature of their position.  We are at war, St. Louis is a military post, yet in all quarters she is infested with prying, hypocritical, plotting, ingenious, implacable and deadliest foes.  What shouts of jubilee would they send up in our streets should some chance of war enable the enemy, through their aid, to gain possession of St. Louis?  How much mercy would be shown to their Union fellow-citizens?  Not a particle.  Every Unionist would be banished, or imprisoned and his property confiscated.  The wealth of the patriots of St. Louis has been by Sterling Price distinctly offered, though with absurd imbecility, as the prize of his rebel horde!  We urge no such wholesale treatment of those here who may sympathize with the enemy. – Yet the busy leaders and conspicuous intriguers among these sympathizers ought to be, and we trust soon will be, marked and effectually disposed of.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, February 8, 1862, p. 2

The report of the Iowa Sanitary Commission . . .

. . . has just been issued in a neat pamphlet.  Of the whole Iowa force in the field 2,000 are on the sick list, with an average of 80 sick to each regiment, and this is deemed below the actual average.  The report pertinently says:

The U. S. Commission keeps “a reserve stock” at Washington ‘for special emergencies such as a general engagement or an epidemic.’  The Western division of the army is exposed to the one of these, if not the other.  When a battle on the Potomac was first expected – and there might be at any moment five or ten thousand soldiers requiring instant shelter and treatment, and in case of victory, as many wounded rebels besides, for whom the Government would be bound to provide with tenderness and humanity – ‘there was not at Washington a reserve of hospital stores or unoccupied beds for three hundred additional patients.’  We are in a similar case at St. Louis now, and St. Louis sustains the same relation to our Western army that Washington does to the Eastern.  We ought to collect a reserve of hospital stores at St. Louis.  Where shall they be had?  The long delay to strike has been favorable to sanitary precautions and preparations but deplorably unfavorable to the health of the soldier himself, and it has given us no such gain on actual sickness and suffering as fits us to meet great and sudden increase.  ‘In some modern battles one-third the whole number has been wounded.’  It would take us a long time at the present rate of supply to accumulate hospital stores for even three thousand sick and wounded Iowa soldiers.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, February 8, 1862, p. 2

Major General William T. Sherman to Senator John Sherman, September 22, 1862

Memphis, Sept. 22,1862

Dear Brother:

Troops are moving up through Arkansas for Missouri. It looks as though they want to swap countries with us. It is about time the North understood the truth. That the entire South, man, woman and child are against us, armed and determined. It will call for a million men for several years to put them down. They are more confident than ever, none seem to doubt their independence, but some hope to conquer the northwest. My opinion is there never can be peace and we must fight it out. I guess you now see how, from the very first I argued, that you all underestimated the task. None of you would admit for a moment that after a year's fighting the enemy would still threaten Washington, Cincinnati and St. Louis. We ought to hold fast to the Mississippi as a great base of operation. I should regard the loss of St. Louis as more fatal to our future success than the capture by them of Harrisburg and Philadelphia. Your brigade is now with Buell. I don't understand his move, but now suppose he will cross Green River and fight north of it. Still I don't see exactly his strategy or tactics. The passage of the enemy north of us, leaving us among a hostile population, was a bold and successful movement and will give them great credit in Europe. You doubtless, like most Americans, attribute our want of success to bad generals. I do not. With us you insist the boys, the soldiers, govern. They must have this or that or will cry down their leaders in the newspapers, so no general can achieve much. They fight or run as they please and of course it is the general’s fault. Until this is cured, we must not look for success. But on the whole, things look more favorable than at any former time, as the numbers engaged on both sides are approaching the occasion.

The war is, which race, that of the North or South, shall rule America. The greatest danger North is division and anarchy, but I hope the pressure from the South will keep all united until our armies begin to have some discipline and see how important it is to success.

Our fort here is nearly done, I have 20 heavy guns mounted and about 30 field pieces, 7000 Infantry and 600 Cavalry. Some of my regiments are now in fine drill and discipline and all are doing well. We are all, however, tied down till events elsewhere develop.

Affectionately yours,

W. T. SHERMAN.

SOURCE: Rachel Sherman Thorndike, Editor, The Sherman letters: correspondence between General and Senator Sherman from 1837 to 1891, p. 161-3

The President's Emancipation Message - Response Of The City And County Of St. Louis

We are gratified with the action of the County Convention yesterday on the proposal of President Lincoln on Emancipation.  The resolution was adopted unanimously and enthusiastically; not one dissenting voice.  This expression is of the Union men of the city and county of St. Louis.  That this is the sentiment of the unconditional Union men of Missouri there is little doubt.

When the resolution, which has passed the house of representatives, shall have been concurred in by the Senate, it will be a distinct proffer on the part of the General Government of aid and co-operation with such of the slave states as desire to inaugurate the policy of emancipation for themselves.  Until accepted by one or more of such States, it simply remains a standing offer of co-operation – nothing more.  But there is reason to believe that Delaware and Maryland will ere long take steps for the adoption of such a policy, and they the offer by acceptance will become operative.

Has not the time now come when the people of Missouri, too, will begin to consider the necessary preliminaries for the inauguration of that policy for their own State?  That the interests of Missouri would be in calculably advanced by adopting measures for the gradual, but sure, extinction of slavery, upon just principles, within her limits, is a proposition almost too plain for argument. – St. Louis. Dem.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Thursday Morning, April 3, 1862, p. 2

St. Louis Market

Tuesday Evening, May 20.

An improvement was noticed in the higher grades of wheat to-day – one lot of choice white being sold as high as 95c.  Whiskey, corn and hemp have but little demand.  Tobacco is higher, and in good demand.  One [illegible] fine leaf, grown by Mr. Groff, from Franklin county, Mo., sold at the state Tobacco Warehouse for the handsome sum of $32.85.

WHEAT – Market steady and advancing on choice grades.  We quote sales of 315 sks white fall at 88c; 397 red fall at 83C84c; 216 spring at 80c; about 625 sks spring and fall choice at 90@91c; 61 sks at 92c; 118 sks choice white at 95c, and about 3,500 sks on private terms.

CORN – Market dull with sales of 441 sks at 35c, 212 at 35½c, delivered as 1,200 sks at 34½@35.

POTATOES – sales of 300 sks neshannocks at 32c, 20 prime at 35c, and 180 sks damaged at 22½c.

OATS – but few transactions and those mostly on private terms.  We quote sales of 790 sks in lots at 40c; 40 sks at 38c, 117 sks at 39c; 239 sks at 40½c, and about 2,400 sks on private terms.

FLOUR – Market unchanged.  We give sales of 140 bbls country double extra at $4.25; 100 do at $4.80; 80 extra at $3.90, 175 sks at $3.50, 50 bbls extra on private terms; 340 sks at $1.57½, and 130 do at 1.62½.

HAY – Sales of 812 bales at $1; 200 bales at $1.08 and 200 bales private.

WHISKEY – Dull, with sales of 27 and 50 bbls in lots at 19c.

GUNNIES – 10 bales heavy new at 16c.

HIDES – Dry flint at 13c.

BARLEY – Sales of 63 sks fall at 80c; 50 spring at 55c; 110 do at 50c, and 690 sks spring at 54c.

RYE – Sales of 223 and 1204 sks at 50c, sks in; 192 and 46 at 44c, sacks out.

DRIED FRUIT – Sales of 300 bushels apples at $1.20; 20 sks poor peaches at $1.25.

SEED – Small lots of clover sold at $3.

EGGS – 5 bbls sold at 5½c, ad 20 bxs private.

PORK – Sales of 16 cks shoulders at 3½ ad 4c 10 cks rib sides, to arrive, at 5½c.

LARD – 150tcs at 7c; 13 manufacturing at 6½.

BROOMS – 76 doz at $1.

COOPERAGE – 135 whisky bbls at $1.15, and 427 flour bbls at 37c.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, May 24, 1862, p. 3

Gunboat Building at St. Louis

We have already stated that contracts have been secured for the building here of two and probably three large iron boats, at a cost each of $320,000.

We have now the pleasure of adding that Messrs. Brown, McCord and Sanger, of this city, have contracted with the government, for the building of three iron clad gunboats, at an aggregate cost of $450,000.  These will be constructed on the plan submitted by them, and approved by the Board of Naval Construction.

The iron mail for these boats will be furnished from the works of the well known firm of Chouteau, Harrison and Valle.  This will cost $100,000, besides which the same house furnishes the iron used for the machinery of these boats.

This machinery, which is now in a very forward state, is being constructed by Messrs. McCord & Co., of the Franklin Foundry, and will cost some $70,000.

Two of the hulls are on the stocks at Cairo, and are nearly completed.

The whole work for the largest of these boats will very probably be done here; as we understand the question, as to the cost of furnishing the timber required, will be decided favorably; and it is to be hoped with favorable results as to other boats, the whole of which might and ought to be built here. – {St. Louis Republican.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington Iowa, Saturday, May 24, 1862, p. 3

Three large iron boats . . .

. . . at a cost of $320,000 each, and three iron clad gunboats at an aggregate cost of $450,000 are being built for the Government at St. Louis.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, May 24, 1862, p. 2

Gen. Fremont Exculpated by the War Committee --- Secretary Stanton Promises to Reinstate Him

From the Wash. Cor. of the Philadelphia Inquirer.

The President and a number of the cabinet are favorable to giving Fremont another command, but it is opposed by the anti-Fremonters.

The Committee on the Conduct of the War express themselves satisfied with his course, part of his original plan having been to go up the Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers, seize the railroads, and then take Memphis, and open the cotton ports, instead of carrying on a filibustering war around the Missouri swamps and Arkansas wilds; first having left St. Louis so that it could be defended against all odds by a small force.

The committee called on Secretary Stanton and asked the reinstatement in command at once of Fremont, and informed him that his war record was clear.  Ben. Wade wanted him to have command of the whole army of the Potomac.  Secretary Stanton pledged his word that he should be placed where he could fight for his country.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Monday Morning, February 17, 1862, p. 2