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.
CHARLESTON MERCURY, January 24, 1863, p. 1, c. 2
Richmond, Tuesday, January 20.
. . . Speaking of Vicksburg, I give you an instance of female heroism recorded in a letter from a friend, who reached the City of the Hills too late to take an active part in its defence. He is an officer of high character and undoubted veracity. He says: "I must tell you of a feat performed by a young girl, as told me by one who saw it, on the day of the hardest fight. Her brother belonged to one of the batteries, and hearing that he was wounded, she started out alone and on foot for the battle field; and, against the remonstrances of all who saw her, walked along the line of entrenchments and across an open field, swept by a murderous fire of musketry, grape and canister, as if she had been going to church to show her new bonnet, to the point where his battery was. You can imagine that the men whom she passed did not fight the worse for the sight." . . . Hermes.
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Alexander H. Stephens,
"The Honor of this Country"
Speech Before the United States House of Representatives,
2 February 1848
[Excerpts]
The honor of this country does not and cannot require us to force and compel the people of any other to sell theirs. I have, I trust, as high a regard for national honor as any man. It is the brightest gem in the chaplet of a nation's glory; and there is nothing of which I am prouder than the high character for honor this country has acquired throughout the civilized world -- that code of honor which was established by Washington and the men of the Revolution and which rests upon truth, justice, and honesty, which is the offspring of virtue and integrity, and which is seen in the length and breadth of our land, in all the evidences of art, and civilization, and moral advancement, and everything that tends to elevate, dignify, and ennoble man. This is the honor of my admiration, and it is made of "sterner," purer, nobler "stuff" than that aggressive and degrading, yea, odious principle now avowed of waging war against a neighboring people to compel them to sell their country. Who is here so base as to be willing, under any circumstances, to sell his country? For myself, I can only say, if the last funeral pile of liberty were lighted, I would mount it and expire in its flames before I would be coerced by any power however great and strong, to sell or surrender the land of my home, the place of my nativity, and the graves of my sires! Sir, the principle is not only dishonorable, but infamous.
As the Representative upon this floor of a high-minded and honorable constituency, I repeat, that the principle of waging war against a neighboring people to compel them to sell their country, is not only dishonorable, but disgraceful and infamous. What! shall it be said that American honor aims at nothing higher than land -- than the ground on which we tread? Do we look no higher, in our aspirations for honor, than do the soulless brutes? Shall we disavow the similitude of our Maker, and disgrace the very name of man? Tell it not to the world. Let not such an aspersion and reproach rest upon our name. I have heard of nations whose honor could be satisfied with gold -- that glittering dust which is so precious in the eyes of some -- but never did I expect to live to see the day when the Executive of this country would announce that our honor was such a loathsome, beastly thing, that it could not be satisfied with any achievements in arms, however brilliant and glorious, but must feed on earth -- gross, vile dirt! -- and require even a prostrate foe to be robbed of mountain rocks and desert plains!
SOURCE: Excerpted and reprinted in Roy P. Basler, editor, Abraham Lincoln: His Speeches and Writings (Cleveland: World Publishing Company, 1946), pages 215-216.
In addressing you thus, I would have you understand me as being not a personal enemy, but as one who would have you do what you can to save our common country. A word 'fitly spoken' by you now would indeed be like 'apples of gold in pictures of silver.' I entreat you be not deceived as to the nature and extent of the danger, nor as to the remedy. Conciliation and harmony, in my judgement, can never be established by force. Nor can the Union under the Constitution be maintained by force. The Union was formed by the consent of independent sovereign States. Ultimate sovereignty still resides with them separately, which can be resumed, and will be, if their safety, tranquillity, and security, in their judgment, require it. Under our system, as I wiew it, there is no rightful power in the General Government to coerce a State, in case any one of them should throw herself upon her reserved rights and resume the full exercise of her sovereign powers. Force may perpetuate a Union. That depends upon the contingencies of war. But such a Union would not be the Union of the Constitution. It would be nothing short of a consolidated despotism. Excuse me for giving you these views. Excuse the strong language used. Nothing but the deep interest I feel in prospect of the most alarming dangers now threating our common country could induce me to do it. Consider well what I write, and let it have such weight with you as in your judgment, under all the responsibility resting upon you, it merits.
Yours respectfully,
Alexander H. Stephens
(letter to Abraham Lincoln, 30th December, 1860)
The Harrisburg Pennsylvania Telegraph
April 2, 1861
Since 1833 the secession movement of the South has been gaining strength with every successive triumph of the Democratic Party, until it has culminated in the success of its leaders so far as they have been able to entrench themselves behind their defiance of the legitimate government of the country. The idea that the treason of Jeff Davis was induced by present causes is as foolish as the assertion that South Carolina went out of the Union to vindicate a right or redress any real wrong. The actual motive of both was revenge. The true cause of the secession movements, the disappointment of those who have instigated it, in maintaining their positions in power, and covering up the corruptions which have disgraced their rule from the hour they gained possession of the government. The enormity of these corruptions has to often startled the nation to be repeated by us - and as there is a God to punish the crimes and the excesses of nations as well as men, we need to be surprised that he has suffered the American people to go astray in their pursuits of peace and prosperity. The corruption of our government has indeed become unparalleled in history or experience. From secret fraud to open bribery, we have arrived at the dreadful vortex of disunion, in which are concealed civil war, social extinction and national extermination.
The Harrisburg Pennsylvania Telegraph
April 5, 1861
Why is peaceable secession not practicable? Why, if the people of the slave States are determined to organize a government of their own, should the people of the free States object? When rebellion first showed itself in South Carolina, it was within the power of the federal authorities to have reduced the rebels to subjection - but as the federal government was then in the hands of those who sympathized with secession, the movement was permitted to go on until it has become one of formidable proportions and strength. War with the seceded States will not bring them back into the Union - it will not inspire them with fresh allegiance to their old attachments, nor can its results be other than sanguinary and mournful to one, and, perhaps, fatal to both parties. Why, then, should not the cotton States be allowed to remain where they are, adrift among the nations of the world, until they discover their own folly, and of their own volition seek again an association in a union with their old friends and neighbors? Such a recognition of peaceable secession would not increase the danger and difficulties by which we are already surrounded, nor would it affect any more than they have been affected, the destiny and development of the free States. In the present juncture, a resort to arms seems utterly impracticable. And yet the complication of affairs seems so completely to perplex those who are without official information on the subject, that we most patiently wait until the wisdom of the administration has devised some plan to rescue the country from its impending ruin."
Carrie Berry Diary August 1, 1864-January 4, 1865
The following passages were taken from the Diary of Carrie Berry, a 10 year old resident of Atlanta, Aug. 1, 1864 - Jan. 4, 1865. They provide a first hand account of war through the eyes of a child. A typed copy of the original manuscript was provided by the Atlanta History Center to Duke Univ.
Gen. Johnston fell back across the river on July 19th, 1864, and up to this time we have had but few quiet days. We can hear the canons and muskets very plane, but the shells we dread. One has busted under the dining room which frightened us very much. One passed through the smoke-house and a piece hit the top of the house and fell through but we were at Auntie Markham's, so none of us were hurt. We stay very close in the cellar when they are shelling.
Aug. 1. Monday. It was raining this morning and we thought we would not have any shelling today so I nurst Sister while Mama would do a little work, but before night we had to run to the cellar.
Aug. 2. Tuesday. We have not been shelled much today, but the muskets have been going all day. I have done but little today but nurse Sister. She has not been well today.
Aug. 3. Wednesday. this was my birthday. I was ten years old, But I did not have a cake times were too hard so I celebrated with ironing. I hope by my next birthday we will have peace in our land so that I can have a nice dinner.
Aug. 4. Thurs. The shells have ben flying all day and we have stayed in the cellar. Mama put me on some stockings this morning and I will try to finish them before school commences.
Aug. 5. Friday. I knit all the morning. In the evening we had to run to Auntie's and get in the cellar. We did not feel safe in our cellar, they fell so thick and fast.
Aug. 6. Sat. We have ben in the cellar all day. Cousin Henry Beatty came this evening and brought some Yankee coffee for me to grind for him. some he had captured yesterday in a skirmish.
Aug. 7. Sun. We have had a quiet day it all most seems like Sunday of old. Papa and I went to Trinity Church. Mr. Haygood preached. It is the first time I have been to Church in a month.
Aug. 8. Mon. I got up early this morning and cleaned up the house for Mama. I nursed Sister while Mama got dinner. We had Cousin Eddie Stow to take dinner with us to day. I did not knit much to day. I went up to Auntie's in the afternoon. We have not had many shells to day.
Aug. 9. Tues. We have had to stay in the cellar all day the shells have ben falling so thick around the house. Two have fallen in the garden, but none of us were hurt. Cousin Henry Beatty came in a and wanted us to move, he thought that we were in danger, but we will try it a little longer.
Aug. 10. Wed. We have had but few shells to day. It has ben raining nearly all day and we had to stay in the house very close.
Aug. 11. Thurs. Mama has ben very buisy to day and I have ben trying to help her all I could. We had to go in the cellar often out of the shells. How I wish the federals would quit shelling us so that we could get our and get some fresh air.
Aug. 12. Fri. Mary came home yesterday and we have not had so much wirk to do so I have ben knitting on my stocking. We had a present to day of a bag of nice pears fro our friend Mrs. Green. We enjoyed them very much. We do not get any nice fruit since the army has been here.
Aug. 13. Sat. We have had a very quiet day to day. We have all ben very buisy trying to work some while we could get out in safety. We fear that we will have shells to night. We can hear muskets so plane.
Aug. 14. Sun. Sure enough we had shells in abundance last night. We averaged one every moment during the night. We expected every one would come through and hurt some of us but to our joy nothing on the lot was hurt. They have ben throwing them at us all day to day but they have not ben dangerous. Papa has ben at work all day making the cellar safe. Now we feel like we could stay at home in safety. I dislike to stay in the cellar so close but our soldiers have to stay in ditches.
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The diary continues at the site:
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Letter from DH Hill to JG Foster:
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OFFICIAL RECORDS: Series 2, vol 5, Part 1 (Prisoners of War) p. 389-390
GOLDSBOROUGH, N. C., March 24, 1863.
Major General J. G. FOSTER, Federal Army.
SIR: Two communications have been referred to me as the successor of General French. The prisoners from Swindell’s company and the Seventh North Carolina are true prisoners of war and if not paroled I will retaliate five-fold. In regard to your first communication touching the burning of Plymouth you seem to have forgotten two things. You forget, sir, that you are a Yankee and that Plymouth is a Southern town. It is no business of yours if we choose to burn one of our own towns. A meddling Yankee troubles himself about everybody’s matters except his own and repents of everybody’s sins except his own. We are a different people. Should the Yankees burn a Union village in Connecticut or a cod-fish town in Massachusetts we would not meddle with them but rather bid them God-speed in their work of purifying the atmosphere. Your second act of forgetfulness consists in your not remembering that you are the most atrocious house-burner as yet unhung in the wide universe. Let me remind you of the fact that you have made two raids when you were weary of debauching in your negro harem and when you knew that your forces outnumbered the Confederates five to one. Your whole line of march has been marked by burning churches, school-houses, private residences, barns, stables, gin-houses, negro cabins, fences in the row, &c. Your men have plundered the country of all that it contained and wantonly destroyed what they could not carry off. Before you started on your freebooting expedition toward Tarborough you addressed your soldiers in the town of Washington and told them that you were going to take them to a rich country full of plunder. With such a hint to your thieves it is not wonderful that your raid was characterized by rapine, pillage, arson and murder. Learning last December that there was but a single weak brigade on this line you tore yourself from the arms of sable beauty and moved out with 15,000 men on a grand marauding foray. You partially burned Kinston and entirely destroyed the village of White Hall. The elegant mansion of the planter and the hut of the poor farmer and fisherman were alike consumed by your brigands. How matchless is the impudence which in view of this wholesale arson can complain of the burning of Plymouth in the heat of action! But there is another species of effrontery which New England itself cannot excel. When you return to your harem from one of these Union-restoring excursions you write to your Government the deliberate lie that you have discovered a large and increasing Union sentiment in this State. No one knows better than yourself that there is not a respectable man in North Carolina in any condition of life who is not utterly and irrevocably opposed to union with your hated and hateful people. A few wealthy men have meanly and falsely professed Union sentiments to save their property and a few ignorant fishermen have joined your ranks but to betray you when the opportunity offers. No one knows better than yourself that our people are true as steel and that our poorer classes have excelled the wealthy in their devotion to our cause. You knowingly and willfully lie when you speak of a Union sentiment in this brave, noble and patriotic State. Wherever the trained and disciplined soldiers of North Carolina have met the Federal forces you have been scattered as leaves before the hurricane.
In conclusion let me inform you that I will receive no more white flags from you except the one which covers your surrender of the scene of your _ust, your debauchery and your crimes. No one dislikes New England more cordially than I do, but there are thousands of honorable men even there who abhor your career fully as much as I do.
Thanks for the wonderful words from Rose Greenhow, who has long been a favorite of mine, Hal.
I offer something a bit different today:
1862: The Memphis Appeal
Summary: Lists the enemies of the Confederate cause, including not only the United States government, but also Southern critics of the Confederate government and army. Speculators who are amassing large profits from their countrymen in time of war constitute the third group of enemies of the Confederacy.
Full Text of Article:
"The Confederate States have three distinct cl***** of enemies, which the Memphis Appeal forcibly describes as follows. We think our home enemies are worse and more detestable than the Yankees themselves."
"1. The Government and people of the United States are our enemies. But they are open enemies. They meet us upon the field with arms in their hands, and make war upon us. They shoot down our soldiers, burn our houses, destroy our property, and steal our negroes. We know where to find and how to deal with such an enemy."
"2. The second class of enemies are the croakers--the long faced men of faint hearts and weak nerves, who go up and down the country, seeking to impart their own despondency and cowardice to all with whom they come in contact.--Everything goes wrong, according to these Dismal Jemmies. The government is weak and negligent; our officers are lacking in skill; and the army is destitute of courage. If the government has done its duty, this or that thing would not have happened. If the officers had possessed a grain of foresight, they could have held this or that position against the enemy. Nothing is done right, according to these gentry, and everything goes wrong."
"The enemy will certainly overrun the country; the Confederate government will fail; and we will all go to perdition together. If they only had charge of affairs, how smoothly and successfully everything would move. Arms would be procured immediately; an army would be improvised in the twinkling of an eye; and the enemy--McClellan, Buell, Halleck, and all--would be driven out of the country the first pleasant day that came. Napoleon would still be the "little corporal" by the side of these wonderful warriors--the mighty men of valor.--Weak of purpose, faint of heart, and cowardly in spirit, they would destroy the confidence of every body else and abandon every thing to the Federals. We would suggest to have petticoats put upon these miserable creatures, and curls hung about their craven foreheads, but for the insult we should thereby offer to our brave women."
"3. The speculators and extortioners constitute the third class of enemies. These characters operate upon the necessities of the country.--They are interested in the war, insomuch as it enables them to make money. Beyond this, they care but little who wins or who loses.--They set no fixed price upon what they have to sell. Their price is all they can get. The purchaser may be a poor man, a needy woman, a destitute soldier, or the widow of some brave fellow who has fallen in battle with his feet to the foe. Still, if the extortioner can grind out of her five dollars per bushel for salt, he takes it; if ten dollars, he takes it; if a thousand dollars, still he would take it. As between him and a Lincolnite, we have infinitely more respect for the latter. The one is an open enemy, and meets you on the field; the other is a secret foe who takes advantage of your necessities, and seeks to undermine the cause by oppressing the people and sapping the foundations of our strength."
Origin of Article: Memphis Appeal
Editorial Comment: "We think our home enemies are worse and more detestable than the Yankees themselves:"
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Some of these remarks that are getting marked with ***** are so silly. A word meaning famed, or notable gets marked out for four letters in the middle: il****rious.
And anything that starts with letters that would spell donkey, namely an ***, gets marked through so as to make the sentence almost illegible.
This is crazy!
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Summary: Warns that plundering may soon become standard practice among Northern troops in the war. Advises that Southerners in the areas where the enemy is to pass should "leave nothing for the enemy to commit robbery upon." Implores generals to protect the property of the South and civilians to do their part in keeping that property from falling into enemy hands.
Full Text of Article:
The county Courts ought to appoint patrols of some guards in every neighborhood. Neighbors ought to organize themselves and be ready to render such assistance as exigencies may require. All that is wanted besides is a little vigilance, but vigilance and organization are not to be dispensed with in such times as the present. We trust these intimations will be received as a word to the wise.
There are other subjects that deserve much attention at this time. The enemy are changing their system of war. The plundering that was occasional and sporadic before, depending somewhat on the character of the commander, is probably to become universal. The country through which they may pass is to be despoiled. The citizens are to be indiscriminately robbed in the latest despatches which have come to us through the enemy's papers, touching the operations of McClellan's army, we find the following:
"General Pleasanton is now seizing all horses to be found for the use of the Government, without reference to the opinions of the owners."
Now, so far as possible, we ought to leave nothing for the enemy to commit robbery upon. At all events anything that has legs, like a horse or a beef, should be driven away before he comes.
The negroes whom he has heretofore seduced, he will probably hereafter constrain. They should be kept out of his way as far as possible in the districts which have been ravaged by the war, these removals will be difficult for the owners to effect for want of transportation and other facilities. We entreat therefore, our Generals in command in the various localities, and those who have the direction and management of affairs to make it a prominent idea in their plans subordinate only to the exigencies of important military operations to afford every possible facility and protection to the citizens in removing their property out of the enemy's grasp. We know that it is the policy of the Commissary Department to draw its supplies from the exposed localities first; and that arrangements have been made to effect this. We entreat all connected with the transportation service whether in a civil or military capacity, to bend their energies to the promoting of the same end. It is a high duty of patriotism, because it is an important patriotic service. We shall thus save our citizen from plunder, deprive the enemy of this source of supply, and secure to ourselves the benefit of all our resources.
Let the citizens themselves be active in effecting the removals we have mentioned. Government should do all it can, but cannot do all it may wish. Take command of your own ingenuity and energy, and act without unnecessary delay.--Richmond Enquirer.
Origin of Article: Richmond Enquirer
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