Civil War History - Secession and PoliticsWas it Slavery, or was it States Rights? Perhaps it was the election of Lincoln? What were the real reasons for Southern Secession and what were the political issues in this time of war? Find your answers here in the Secession and Politics Disussion.
A Captain Webber from Illinois came into my house. Of him I claimed protection from the vandals who were forcing themselves into my room. He said that he knew my brother Orrington (the late Orrington Lunt, a well known early settler of Chicago). At that name I could not restrain my feelings, but, bursting into tears, implored him to see my brother and let him know my destitution. I saw nothing before me but starvation. He promised to do this, and comforted me with the assurance that my dwelling-house would not be burned, though my out-buildings might. Poor little Sadai went crying to him as to a friend and told him that they had taken her doll, Nancy. He begged her to come and see him, and he would give her a fine waxen one. (The doll was found later in the yard of a neighbor, where a soldier had thrown it, and was returned to the little girl. Her children later played with it, and it is now the plaything of her granddaughter.)
He felt for me, and I give him and several others the character of gentlemen. I don't believe they would have molested women and children had they had their own way. He seemed surprised that I had not laid away in my house, flour and other provisions. I did not suppose I could secure them there, more than where I usually kept them, for in last summer's raid houses were thoroughly searched. In parting with him; I parted as with a friend.
Sherman himself and a greater portion of his army passed my house that day. All day, as the sad moments rolled on, were they passing not only in front of my house, but from behind; they tore down my garden palings, made a road through my back-yard and lot field, driving their stock and riding through, tearing down my fences and desolating my home - wantonly doing it when there was no necessity for it.
Such a day, if I live to the age of Methuselah, may God spare me from ever seeing again!
As night drew its sable curtains around us, the heavens from every point were lit up with flames from burning buildings. Dinnerless and supperless as we were, it was nothing in comparison with the fear of being driven out homeless to the dreary woods. Nothing to eat! I could give my guard no supper, so he left us. I appealed to another, asking him if he had wife, mother, or sister, and how he should feel were they in my situation. A colonel from Vermont left me two men, but they were Dutch, and I could not understand one word they said.
My Heavenly Father alone saved me from the destructive fire. My carriage-house had in it eight bales of cotton, with my carriage, buggy, and harness. On top of the cotton were some carded cotton rolls, a hundred pounds or more. These were thrown out of the blanket in which they were, and a large twist of the rolls taken and set on fire, and thrown into the boat of my carriage, which was close up to the cotton bales. Thanks to my God, the cotton only burned over, and then went out. Shall I ever forget the deliverance?
To-night, when the greater part of the army had passed, it came up very windy and cold. My room was full, nearly, with the negroes and their bedding. They were afraid to go out, for my women could not step out of the door without an insult from the Yankee soldiers. They lay down on the floor; Sadai got down and under the same cover with Sally, while I sat up all night, watching every moment for the flames to burst out from some of my buildings. The two guards came into my room and laid themselves by my fire for the night. I could not close my eyes, but kept walking to and fro, watching the fires in the distance and dreading the approaching day, which, I feared, as they had not all passed, would be but a continuation of horrors.
NOVEMBER 20, 1864.
This is the blessed Sabbath, the day upon which He who came to bring peace and good will upon earth rose from His tomb and ascended to intercede for us poor fallen creatures. But how unlike this day to any that have preceded it in my once quiet home. I had watched all night, and the dawn found me watching for the moving of the soldiery that was encamped about us. Oh, how I dreaded those that were to pass, as I supposed they would straggle and complete the ruin that the others had commenced, for I had been repeatedly told that they would burn everything as they passed.
Some of my women had gathered up a chicken that the soldiers shot yesterday, and they cooked it with some yams for our breakfast, the guard complaining that we gave them no supper. They gave us some coffee, which I had to make in a tea-kettle, as every coffeepot is taken off. The rear-guard was commanded by Colonel Carlow, who changed our guard, leaving us one soldier while they were passing. They marched directly on, scarcely breaking ranks. Once a bucket of water was called for, but they drank without coming in.
About ten o'clock they had all passed save one, who came in and wanted coffee made, which was done, and he, too, went on. A few minutes elapsed, and two couriers riding rapidly passed back. Then, presently, more soldiers came by, and this ended the passing of Sherman's army by my place, leaving me poorer by thirty thousand dollars than I was yesterday morning. And a much stronger Rebel!
After the excitement was a little over, I went up to Mrs. Laura's to sympathize with her, for I had no doubt but that her husband was hanged. She thought so, and we could see no way for his escape. We all took a good cry together. While there, I saw smoke looming up in the direction of my home, and thought surely the fiends had done their work ere they left. I ran as fast as I could, but soon saw that the fire was below my home. It proved to be the gin house (cotton gin) belonging to Colonel Pitts.
My boys have not come home. I fear they cannot get away from the soldiers. Two of my cows came up this morning, but were driven off again by the Yankees.
I feel so thankful that I have not been burned out that I have tried to spend the remainder of the day as the Sabbath ought to be spent. Ate dinner out of the oven in Julia's [the cook's] house, some stew, no bread. She is boiling some corn. My poor servants feel so badly at losing what they have worked for; meat, the hog meat that they love better than anything else, is all gone.
NOVEMBER 21, 1864.
We had the table laid this morning, but no bread or butter or milk. What a prospect for delicacies! My house is a perfect fright. I had brought in Saturday night some thirty bushels of potatoes and ten or fifteen bushels of wheat poured down on the carpet in the ell. Then the few gallons of syrup saved was daubed all about. The backbone of a hog that I had killed on Friday, and which the Yankees did not take when they cleaned out my smokehouse, I found and hid under my bed, and this is all the meat I have.
Major Lee came down this evening, having heard that I was burned out, to proffer me a home. Mr. Dorsett was with him. The army lost some of their beeves in passing. I sent to-day and had some driven into my lot, and then sent to Judge Glass to come over and get some. Had two killed. Some of Wheeler's men came in, and I asked them to shoot the cattle, which they did.
About ten o'clock this morning Mr. Joe Perry (Mrs. Laura's husband) called. I was so glad to see him that I could scarcely forbear embracing him. I could not keep from crying, for I was sure the Yankees had executed him, and I felt so much for his poor wife. The soldiers told me repeatedly Saturday that they had hung him and his brother James and George Guise. They had a narrow escape, however, and only got away by knowing the country so much better than the soldiers did. They lay out until this morning. How rejoiced I am for his family! All of his negroes are gone, save one man that had a wife here at my plantation. They are very strong Secesh (Secessionists). When the army first came along they offered a guard for the house, but Mrs. Laura told them she was guarded by a Higher Power, and did not thank them to do it. She says that she could think of nothing else all day when the army was passing but of the devil and his hosts. She had, however, to call for a guard before night or the soldiers would have taken everything she had.
NOVEMBER 22, 1864.
After breakfast this morning I went over to my grave-yard to see what had befallen that. To my joy, I found it had not been disturbed. As I stood by my dead, I felt rejoiced that they were at rest. Never have I felt so perfectly reconciled to the death of my husband as I do to-day, while looking upon the ruin of his lifelong labor. How it would have grieved him to see such destruction! Yes, theirs is the lot to be envied. At rest, rest from care, rest from heartaches, from trouble. . . .
Found one of my large hogs killed just outside the grave-yard. Walked down to the swamp, looking for the wagon and gear that Henry hid before he was taken off. Found some of my sheep; came home very much wearied, having walked over four miles.
Mr. and Mrs. Rockmore called. Major Lee came down again after some cattle, and while he was here the alarm was given that more Yankees were coming. I was terribly alarmed and packed my trunks with clothing, feeling assured that we should be burned out now. Major Lee swore that he would shoot, which frightened me, for he was intoxicated enough to make him ambitious. He rode off in the direction whence it was said they were coming, Soon after, however, he returned, saying it was a false alarm, that it was some of our own men. Oh, dear! Are we to be always living in fear and dread! Oh, the horrors, the horrors of war!
NOVEMBER 26, 1864.
A very cold morning. Elbert (the negro coachman) has to go to mill this morning, and I shall go with him, fearing that, if he is alone, my mule may be taken from him, for there are still many straggling soldiers about. Mounted in the little wagon, I went, carrying wheat not only for myself, but for my neighbors. Never did I think I would have to go to mill! Such are the changes that come to us! History tells us of some illustrious examples of this kind. Got home just at night.
Mr. Kennedy stopped all night with us. He has been refugeeing on his way home. Every one we meet gives us painful accounts of the desolation caused by the enemy. Each one has to tell his or her own experience, and fellow-suffering makes us all equal and makes us all feel interested in one another.
DECEMBER 22, 1864.
Tuesday, the nineteenth of the month, I attended Floyd Glass's wedding. She was married in the morning to Lieutenant Doroughty. She expected to have been married the week after the Yankees came, but her groom was not able to get here. Some of the Yankees found out in some way that she was to have been married, and annoyed her considerably by telling her that they had taken her sweetheart prisoner; that when he got off the train at the Circle they took him and,some said, shot him.
The Yankees found Mrs. Glass's china and glassware that she had buried in a box, broke it all up, and then sent her word that she would set no more fine tables. They also got Mrs. Perry's silver.
DECEMBER 23, 1864.
Just before night Mrs. Robert Rakestraw and Miss Mary drove up to spend the night with me. They had started down into Jasper County, hoping to get back their buggy, having heard that several buggies were left at Mr. Whitfield's by the Yankees.
Nothing new! It is confidently believed that Savannah has been evacuated. I hear nothing from my boys. Poor fellows, how I miss them!
DECEMBER 24, 1864.
This has usually been a very busy day with me, preparing for Christmas not only for my own tables, but for gifts for my servants. Now how changed! No confectionery, cakes, or pies can I have. We are all sad; no loud, jovial laugh from our boys is heard. Christmas Eve, which has ever been gaily celebrated here, which has witnessed the popping of fire-crackers (the Southern custom of celebrating Christmas with fireworks) and the hanging up of stockings, is an occasion now of sadness and gloom. I have nothing even to put in Sadai's stocking, which hangs so invitingly for Santa Claus. How disappointed she will be in the morning, though I have explained to her why he cannot come. Poor children! Why must the innocent suffer with the guilty?
DECEMBER 25, 1864.
Sadai jumped out of bed very early this morning to feel in her stocking. She could not believe but that there would be something in it. Finding nothing, she crept back into bed, pulled the cover over her face, and I soon heard her sobbing. The little negroes all came in: "Christmas gift, mist'ess! Christmas gift, mist'ess!"
I pulled the cover over my face and was soon mingling my tears with Sadai's.
(The records in the journal for the year 1865 are full of details of farm work.)
__________________ Thea
No one has permission to use any material from any of my posts on any CWT forum, the archives, or any other forum without my express written permission.
Seven months before the Battle of Franklin, Captain Pleasant M. Hope wrote this letter to his infant daughter whom he had never seen. He told his baby girl that this is "... the first letter you ever received."
Camp *******s near Mobile, Ala.
Apr. 25, 1864
Dear Child,
It is with pleasure and delight that I write you a few lines, which
will be the first letter you ever received, and one too which I hope you will preserve until you can read it. By the misfortunes of war, I have been separated from your Momma, but by the blessings of God, I hope to soon return to you, never more to leave you, until death shall separate us. My dear and only child, be a good girl, ever love and obey your affectionate Momma, and don't forget your first letter writer, who has not nor never will forget you, who daily prays to God, in his infinite mercy, to spare, bless and protect you amid the troubles of this world, and should you live to become old, may God bless you and prepare your soul in this life to go to that happy world after death.
Your Father,
P. M. Hope
On November 30, 1864, the remnants of the 46th Tennessee Inf. were engaged in the tragic battle of Franklin in their home state. Most of the regiment was killed or wounded that day.
Dearing the battle, Captain Pleasant M. Hope reportedly turned to his ensign Paul Sullivan and said, "Paul, the cause is lost, save yourself." Minutes later, while crouching near the breastworks, the young Captain Hope was struck by a ball and died almost instantly.
Lt. William L. Hope of the 46th Tennessee Inf.(Pleasant Hope's brother) fell within 40 yards of the breastworks, his body pierced thirteen times. He lingered for five days before he died on December 5.
__________________ Steven Noel Cone Living Historian and Battlefield Preservationest
"Silver Spring Mess" ; "Citizens of the Bonnie Blue" ; "46th Tn Inf. Co. K"
Yes it is Tommy.. The orginal is in the Carter House Museum In Franklin.
And It really hit home for me.. Ome of my 3rd grt granduncles Enlisted in Sept. of 1861 with the 22nd. alabama along with his brother and brother-n-law.
In Oct. of 1861 His wife gave birth to their child. I have no knowlege if he ever saw his child or wife again . But He he was killed in the Battle of Stones River Dec. 31 1862 in the early fighting.
Here is some more info on the Hope Family.
Out of the 4 Hope Brothers that enlisted to fight for the southern cause. (James Kinkead Hope 5th Tn inf, Adam A. Hope, William L. Hope, Pleasant M. Hope were in the 46th ) only James K. Hope - 5th Tennessee lived.
On July 28, 1864, during General Hood's third sortie in the defense of Atlanta, some men of the 46th regiment were caught in a brief encounter with federal troops during the Battle of Ezra Church. During a skirmish on Lick Skillet Road, Adam A. Hope was killed. When the fighting was over, William And Pleasant returned to the battle site to search for Adam's body, but his remains were never recovered. Adam was described by his fellow soldiers as "a most pious Christian." His wife Margaret gave birth to their only daughter about the time of his death. She named the girl Adam Margaret.
Here is a letter he Wrote to his Wife in Nov. of 1862:
Port Hudson, Louisiana
November 27th 1862
Dear Margy and Children,
Through the kind providence of God, I am well. Nothing of any strange nature has taken place since my last which I sent by Colonal Dawson. Will and Ples are well. Our Company (46th Tenn) is in as good health as could be expected. Horris Jackson & 15 others arrived here last week from whome we learned from you all. Mr. Kennerly sent a letter to C.M. which we were glad to read. Horris said you was at the house not long before he left & that Bob was running about quite peart. I would like to see him cut up some of his pranks. I dream of home every night. Dream variously. I spoke of my effort to come home in another letter, but since these recruits have come in & told of the condition of everything there I reckon it is well enough that I did not get off for I guess the Yankees have got all of you sworne not to feed Southern boys. Unless they press it & I alone might fare badly in this. The weather is very fine. We had a fine frost this morning.
I was ordered this morning to report at the Brigade Commissary which I did and was assigned a position in the perchising department provided I get a horse, they are very high down here. I wish some of our Henry County horses down here. I shall look for a letter from you every opportunity in which I shall expect to hear from home gennerly. Tell Jose and Uncle Peter they must write to me about how their corn turned out & you whether you sowed any wheat, & where. Tell me who are your Circuit Preachers, & of your big revival, and if the yankees are doing any damage & what. Tell Erasmus that he must be a good boy & learn fast, & that he must hug and kiss Ma for Pa & Bob must hug & kiss him for me.
I can say for our boys all, that they are improving in their drilling very fast they have all drawn uniforms of blue pants and grey jacketts. We all have beef, meal, and potatoes as our principle subsistance. I saw a walnut on yesterday which reminded me of home very much. If you have an opportunity I would like to have some socks. For they are very hard to come at here. I have the same ones you gave me yet, all other clothing is tollerably plentiful except shoes & I have as good of boots as I ever wore.
We heard of King since the Perryville fight and was glad to hear he was well. Throw me a few Royal Red apples & save me a good churn of butter-milk & role of butter. Milk is worth $1.00 per gal, & butter the same per pound, fish 50 cts per pound. I would like to exchange this old tent to our humble little cottage, & rough words of a soldier to those of a lovely wife & children. Tell Ma, Pa, Mol & Bet that I would like to read some of their composition, also give my best wishes to them, Pappa Aunt Thurza & John Watts families. Special regard for Jose cat and the gals, respects to all enquiring friends. I often think of Green too tell him and all, the black ones howdy & to pray for me. I ask an interest in prayers of all good persons. Dear Margy let us trust in the Lord for he is able to save us from harm. May his blessing be with you & those dear children, of ours.
A.A. Hope
__________________ Steven Noel Cone Living Historian and Battlefield Preservationest
"Silver Spring Mess" ; "Citizens of the Bonnie Blue" ; "46th Tn Inf. Co. K"
There were twelve of us in the Mess, and when Lee surrendered at Appomattox Court house, I was the only representative, save my body guard, an old Negro named Simon, left of them. I had been hit six times. Every man of them had done his duty as he saw it. And now at Appomattox Court house, after four years under "Marse Robert" little and scrawny, I was the sole survivor fit for duty. It was gloomy that day. It was desolate, and in the sentiment of the poet:
I feel like one who treads alone,
Some banquet hall deserted.
Whose hopes are fled, whose garlands dead,
And all but him departed.
I wonder if when this toilsome life is over for all of us, shall we meet again, and if so, will the imprint of our life here have any trace left upon us, for when Scott Lynch starts to Heaven, he will have to go by Gettysburg to get part of his bones, and then, he shall have to go down to North Carolina to get the balance. And so, with Bill Phillips, now living at Monticello, Arkansas. He will have to visit Knoxville, Tennessee to make himself a full proportioned man. And so, with you, Cul *******s, if you do not want to appear maimed before St. Peter, you will have to go to Gettysburg. And Ed Thurmond will also have to do some traveling.
And last and least of all, is the writer, W.M. Abernathy, of McKinney, Texas. He received several wounds in more than one battle. And content with the presence of the loveliest woman on earth and happiness of a lovable family, he awaits the coming and the sound of the Trumpet.
Your humble servant,
W.M. Abernathy
__________________ Thea
No one has permission to use any material from any of my posts on any CWT forum, the archives, or any other forum without my express written permission.
No one has permission to use any material from any of my posts on any CWT forum, the archives, or any other forum without my express written permission.
Thea,
That is a great site. It has the dubious honor of being one of the first civil war related sites to be bookmarked by me. I especially like the one titled The Black and the Grey, about reenacting. It is so well written, so informative, so insightful.
Mrs. Clement C. Clay, Jr., of Alabama told in her memoirs:
"As times grew more and more stringent, tea and coffee proved to be our greatest lack...we were glad to drink potato coffee and peanut chocolate. The skin of the raw potato was scraped off-to pare it might have been to waste it-and the potato cut into slices or discs as thin as paper. It was then carefully dried, toasted and ground, and made into what proved to be a really delicious beverage. Our chocolate was made in this wise: Peanuts, or pinders, or goobers, as they were variously called, were roasted and the skin slipped off. They were next pounded in a mortar; when, blended with boiled milk and a little sugar (a sparing use of this most costly luxury was also necessary), the drink was ready for serving, and we found it delightful to our palates."
__________________ Thea
No one has permission to use any material from any of my posts on any CWT forum, the archives, or any other forum without my express written permission.
During the Siege of Vicksburg, a Northern woman who found herself in the South during the War wrote:
"I am so tired of corn-bread, which I never liked, that I eat it with tears in my eyes. We are lucky to get a quart of milk daily from a family near who have a cow they hourly expect to be killed.
I send five dollars to market each morning, and it buys a small piece of mule-meat. Rice and milk is my main food; I can't eat the mule-meat. We boil the rice and eat it cold for supper. Martha runs the gauntlet to buy the meat and milk once a day in a perfect terror."
__________________ Thea
No one has permission to use any material from any of my posts on any CWT forum, the archives, or any other forum without my express written permission.
From the Milling Family Papers
Mill View Fairfield Dist SC 26th Feby 1864
My Dear Son
"It is now over a year since I attempted to write you, and now it may be very uncertain whether you will receive it, or come to hand. We have abundant reason to thank God our lives have been spared thus far; altho (sic) numbers around us have been called from time to eternity, not only by this cruel and (unclear) war, but also from the domestic circle. Notwithstanding our white family been spared, there have been several deaths among the Negroes, Bristo, Dave, Old Bob and another old man by name of Deme, he was one (of) a family I bought of Mrs C, Means some years ago. You have been informed of the severe wound Willie received at the Battle of Seven Pines near Richmond a year past in May last. His wound healed up well but he can undergo very little labour or much fatigue. At present he is engaged as a government agent receiving corn or tax in kind at Yonguesville Fairfield dist SC. Rus lost his right leg at the Battle of Chickamauga Tenn, amputated near his body; the wound has pretty well closed up, and he enjoyes good health and gets about on his crutches pretty well, and now occasionally on horse-back. John is in Longstreet's corps Tenn. I understand today near Knoxville his health is good at present and has again re-enlisted for the war, altho quite tired of infantry service, and speaks of changing. By a letter from James several months ago, he stated you had been home to see your family (which I hope you found well) that your health was better and had returned to duty, being stationed near Shreveport. I was sorry to hear of Isaac's death(.) It was a considerable loss to you, but your own health is better, and your life spared to your family you will have great reason to thank God as you will soon recover from other losses. Many families have lost more or less, and not a few all. William Sloan's three sons were killed in less than a year. Mr Nelson's two sons John and Calvin were died from fever contracted in service, and three of Joseph Gladney's sons, Washington, Raply and John, all by sickness contracted in camps; and the old man himself died about two months ago, sonce that time one negro boy and Old Lady herself on a death-bed now. Mrs Harvey died about two weeks ago, from pnemonia (sic). One of Hugh Milling's sons named Brown by Scarlet fever. The sword has cut down many since this war commenced, disease of various kinds has done no small share. Thomas remains still on the coast, he has stood camp life exceedingly. I question anyone in ranks has lost less time than he; he has had a few chills but soon passed off. I hope his health will continue good and that he will come out of this unnatural war unhurt.
The accounts from La seems unfavorable. I fear for the safety of James and his property but hope he has taken the precaution to have his negroes removed at least into Texas so that they will (be) at a greater distance from the enemy. It is anticipated by many that this spring campaign will terminate the war either way for or against us. I trust and pray to God it may end in our favour, we are certainly the unoffending party, contendig for our rights against an invading and relentless enemy, regardless of the means they use in order to accomplish their hellish and vile ends, unprecedented in the history of any civilized warfare. But why talk thus, they are only instruments in the hands of Providence of inflicting this severe chastisement upon themselves as well as us. We have great reason as a state and people to humble ourselves before God and give thanks that we in a great measure are exempt from the atrocities and cruelties commenced by the enemy on other States they not only invade but nearly passed through. It has been with us confined to the coast thus far altho this is the 219 days they have bombarded Charleston and seems they are not much nearer their purpose than when they commenced.
Margaret is still at home, she taught school a part of last year and expects to commence this year in a few days. She is fond of it and enjoys good health. Uncle John is still with us he has been very quiet for a good while, longer than for several years back, it may possibly be that it will wear off entirely. The other children are only tolerable. Andy at present confined to bed with severe cold or pluresy. I hope he will soon recover. We who are at home are kept in mind of the war by the continued call for taxes in various ways, and you who are giving your personal services in the field are not exempt if not excused all the taxes they ought to be in part. Altho the taxes pinches close we ought not to complain of giving a part to support the war for what would be the consequence as suppose the enemy conquers us(.) they will take all without asking permission, and many innocent lives besides. The crops about home were light last year. We had an abundance of rain during this season, but scarce just at the period when crops were making. The crop on J. Creek exceedingly light, not even good as at home. At Buckhead it was better, a fair crop of corn. We were restricted in planting cotton last year to one acre to the land. Consequently the cotton is not much spoken of. In all the places made a little over twenty thousand pounds (20,000) but then we will have to keep it on hand not being able to procure bagging. Cotton is selling from 85 to 90 cents per pound. Corn $8 to 10 dollars per bushel. Flour from $50 to 60 dollars per 100, bacon $2 1/2 to 3 dollars per lb. Those are samples of the prices, other things in proportion. I raised enough meat to do us, and sold some hogs besides the Govt takes the tenth."
From your father
David Milling
__________________ Thea
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