Front matter
THE REBEL RAM AN KANSAS RUNNING THROUGH OUR FLEET CAMP-FIRE AND COTTON-FIELD: SOUTHERN ADVENTURE IN TIME OF "WAR. LIFE WITH THE UNION ARMIES, AND RESIDENCE ON A LOUISIANA PLANTATION. ET THOMAS W. KNOX, HERALD CORRESPONDENT. WITH ILLUSTRATIONS. NEW YOEK: BLELOCK AND COMPANY, 19 BEEKMAiNr STREET. 1865. Entered according to Act of Congress, in tho year 1685, Bt BLELOCK & COMPANY. In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the Southora District of New York. JOHN A. GRAY & GREEN, Printers, Stereotypers, and Binders, 16 & 18 Jacob St., N. Y. TO THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE PRESS, WHO FOLLOWED THE TOETUNES OP THE NATIONAL AEMIES, AND BECOEDED THE DEEDS OP YALOR THAT SECURED THE PERPETUITY OP THE REPUBLIC, Œflis Tolumt IS SYMPATHETICALLY. INSCRIBED. TO THE BEADEE. A preface usually takes the form of an apology.
The author of this volume has none to offer. The book owes its appearance to its discovery of a publisher. It has "been prepared from materials gathered during the Campaigns herein recorded, and from the writer's personal recollections. Whatever of merit or demerit it possesses remains for the reader to ascertain. His judgment will he unprejudiced if he finds no word of promise on the prefatory page. New York, September Ibth, 1S65. IllttstntiffitJ. The Eam Arkansas running through our Fleet above Vicksburg Frontispiece PAGE Hauling down a Eebel Flag at Hickman, Kentucky The Opening Gun at Booneville 08 4G The Death op General Lyon 80 General Sigel's Transportation in Missouri Shelling the Hill at Pea Bidge . 03 142 General Nelson's Division Crossing the Tennessee . Punning the Batteries at Island Number Ten The Eebel Charge at Corinth, Mississippi Assaulting the Hill at Chiokasatv Bayou 154 170 214 248 Strategy against Guerrillas 416 The Steamer Von Phul Eunntng the Batteries 472 21 AU CONTENTS.
Chapter I
ante bellum. At she Eocky Mountains. — Sentiment of the People. — Firing the Southern Heart. — A Midwinter Journey across tho Plains. — An Editor's Opinion. — Election in Missouri. — The North springing to Arras. — An amusing Arrest. — Off for the Field. — Final Instructions. — Niagara. — Curiosities of Banking. — Arrival at the Seat of War 19
Chapter II. Missouri In The Early Days
Apathy of the Border States.: — The Missouri State Convention. — Sterling Price a Union Man. — Plan to take the State out of the Union. — Capture of Camp Jackson. — Energy of General Lyon. — Union Men organized. — An Unfortunate Collision. — The Price-Harney Truce. — The Panic among the Secessionists. — Their Hegira from St. Louis. — A Visit to the State Capital. — Under the Eebel Flag. — Searching for Contraband Articles. — An Introduction to Eebel Dignitaries. — Governor Jackson. — Sterling Price. — Jeff. Thompson. — Activity at Cairo. — Kentucky Neutrality. — The Rebels occupy Columbus 27 CHAPTER HI. THE BEGINNING OF HOSTILITIES. General Harney Relieved. — Price's Proclamation. — End of the Truce. — Conference between the Union and Eebel Leaders. — The First Act of Hostility. — Destruction of Eailway Bridges. — Promptness of General Lyon. — Capture of the State Capital. — Moving on the Enemy's Works. — Th« Night lefore Battle.— A Correspondent's Sensation CONTENTS.
Chapter IV. The First Battle In Missouri
Moving up the River.— A Landing Effected.— The Battle.— Precipitous Retreat of the Rebels.— Spoiling a Captured Camp.— Rebel Flags Emblazoned with the State Arms. — A Journalist's Outfit. — A Chaplain of the Church Militant.— A Mistake that might have been Unfortunate.— The Eeople of Booneville— Visiting an Official.— Banking-House Loyalty. — Preparations for a Campaign 47
Chapter V. To Springfield And Beyond
Conduct of the St. Louis Secessionists. — Collisions between Soldiers and Citizens. — Indignation of the Guests of a Hotel. — From St. Louis to Rolla. — Opinions of a "Regular." — Railway-life in Missouri. — Unprofitable Freight. — A Story of Orthography. — Mountains and Mountain Streams. — Fastidiousness Checked. — Frontier Courtesy. — Concentration of Troops at Springfield. — A Perplexing Situation. — The March to Dug Spring. — Sufferings from Heat and Thirst 55
Chapter VI. The Battle Of Wilson Creek
The Return from Dug Spring. — The Rebels follow in Pursuit. — Preparations to Attack them. — The Plan of Battle. — Moving to the Attack — A Bivouac. — The Opening Shot. — "Is that Official ?" — Sensations of a Spectator in Battle. — Extension of Distance and Time. — Characteristics of Projectiles. — Taking Notes under Fire. — Strength and Losses of the Opposing Armies. — A Noble Record. — The Wounded on the Field. — " One More Shot." — Granger in his Element. — General Lyon's Death 67
Chapter VII. The Retreat From Springfield
A Council of War. — The Journalists' Council. — Preparations for Retreat.— Preceding the Advance-Guard. — Alarm and Anxiety of the People.— Magnificent Distances.— A Novel Odometer.-— The Unreliable Countryman.— Neutrality.— A Night at Lebanon.— A Disagreeable Lodging-place.— Active Secessionists.— The Man who Sought CONTENTS. and Found his Eights. — Approaching Civilization. — Eebel Couriers on the Eoute. — Arrival at Eolla 81
Chapter VIII. General Fremont's Pursuit Of Price
Quarrel between Price and McCulloch. — The Rebels Advance upon Lexington. — A Novel Defense for Sharp-shooters. — Attempt to Ee-enforce the Garrison. — An Enterprising Journalist. — The Surrender. — Fremont's Advance. — Causes of Delay. — How the Journalists Killed Time. — Late News. — A Contractor " Sold." — Sigel in Front. — A Motley Collection. — A Wearied Officer. — The Woman who had never seen a Black Eepublican. — Love and Conversion 93
Chapter IX. The Second Campaign To Springfield
Detention at Warsaw. — A Bridge over the Osage. — The Body-Guard. — Manner of its Organization. — The Advance to Springfield. — Charge of the Body-Guard. — A Corporal's Ruse. — Occupation of Springfield. — The Situation. — Wilson Creek Revisited. — Traces of the Battle. — Rumored Movements of the Enemy. — Eemoval of General Fremont. — Danger of Attack. — A Night of Excitement. — The Eeturn to St. Louis. — Curiosities of the Scouting Service. — An Arrest by Mistake 103
Chapter X. Two Months Of Idleness
A Promise Fulfilled.— Capture of a Rebel Camp and Train.— Rebel Sympathizers in St. Louis. — General Halleck and his Policy. — Refugees from Rebeldom. — Story of the Sufferings of a Union Family. — Chivalry in the Nineteenth Century. — The Army of the Southwest in Motion. — Gun-Boats and Transports. — Capture of Fort Henry. — The Effect in St. Louis. — Our Flag Advancing 113
CHAPTER XL ANOTHER CAMPAIGN IN MISSOURI.
From St. Louis to Eolla.— A Limited Outfit.— Missouri Eoads in Winter. — "Two Solitary Horsemen."— Eustricted Accommodations in a CONTENTS. Slaveholder's House. — An Energetic Quartermaster. — General Sheri dan before he became Famous.—" Bagging Price."— A Defect in the Bag. — Examining the Correspondence of a Eebel General. — What the Rebels left at their Departure 121
Chapter XII. The Flight And The Pursuit
From Springfield to Pea Ridge. — Mark Tapley in Missouri. — " The Arkansas Traveler." — Encountering the Eebel Army. — A Wonderful Spring. — The Cantonment at Cross Hollows. — Game Chickens. — - Magruder vs. Breckinridge. — Eebel Generals in a Controversy. — Its Eesult. — An Expedition to Huntsville. — Curiosities of Eebel Currency. — Important Information. — A Long and Weary March. — Disposition of Forces before the Battle. — Changing Front. — What the Rebels lost by Ignorance 127
Chapter XIII. The Battle Of Pea
R'lDGE. The Rebels make their Attack. — Albert Fike and his Indians. — Scalping Wounded Men. — Death of General McCulloch. — The Fighting at Elkhorn Tavern. — Close of a Gloomy Day. — An Unpleasant Night. — Vocal Sounds from a Mule's Throat. — Sleeping under Disadvantages.— A Favorable Morning. — The Opposing Lines of Battle.— A Severe Cannonade. — The Forest on Fire. — Wounded Men in the Flames. — The Eebels in Eetreat. — Movements of our Army. A Journey to St. Louis j3f
Chapter XIV. Up The Tennessee And At Pittsburg Landing
At St. Louis.— Progress of our Arms in the Great Valley.— Cairo.— Its Peculiarities and Attractions.— Its Commercial, Geographical, and Sanitary Advantages.— Up the Tennessee.— Movements Preliminary to the Great Battle.— The Rebels and their Plans.— Postponement of the Attack.— Disadvantages of our Position.— The Beginning of the Battle.— Results of the First Day.— Re-enforcements.— Disputes between Officers of our two Armies.— Beauregard's Waterino-- Place CONTENTS. 11
Chapter XV. Shiloh And The Siege Of Corinth
The Error of the Rebels.— Story of a Surgeon. — Experience of a Eebej Eegiment. — Injury to the Eebel Army. — The Effect in our own Lines. — Daring of a Color-Bearer. — A Brave Soldier. — A Drummer- Boy's Experience. — Gallantry of an Artillery Surgeon. — A Eegiment Commanded by a Lieutenant. — Friend Meeting Friend and Brother Meeting Brother in the Opposing Lines. — The Scene of the Battle. — Fearful Traces pf Musketry-Fire. — The Wounded. — The Labor of the Sanitary Commission. — Humanity a Yankee Trick. — Besieging Corinth. — A Cold- Water Battery. — Halleck and the Journalists. — Occupation of Corinth 157
Chapter XVI. Capture Of Fort Pillow And Battle Of Memphis
The Siege of Fort Pillow. — General Popj. — His Reputation for Veracity. — Capture of the "Ten Thousand." — Naval Battle above Fort Pillow. — -The John, H. Dickey. — Occupation of the Fort. — General Forrest. — Strength of the Fortifications. — Their Location. — Eandolph, Tennessee. — Memphis and her Last Ditch. — Opening of the Naval Combat. — Gallant Action of Colonel Ellet. — Fate of tho Rebel Fleet.— The People Viewing the Battle.— Their Conduct. . 1C9
Chapter XVII. In Memphis And Under The Flag
Jeff. Thompson and his Predictions. — A Cry of Indignation. — Memphis Humiliated. — The Journalists in the Battle. — The Surrender. — A Fine Point of Law and Honor. — Going on Shore. — An Enraged Secessionist. — A Dangerous Enterprise. — Memphis and her Antecedents. — Her Loyalty. — An Amusing Incident. — How the Natives learned of the Capture of Fort Donelson. — The Last Ditch. — A Farmer- Abolitionist. — Disloyalty among the Women. — "Blessings in Disguise." — An American Mark Tapley 179
Chapter XVIII. Supervising
A REBEL JOURNAL. The Press of Memphis.— Flight of The Appeal. — A False Prediction.— The Argus becomes Loyal. — Order from General Wallace.— Installed CONTENTS. in Office.— Lecturing the Rebels.— " Trade follows the Flag."— Abuses of Traffic— Supplying the Rebels.— A Perilous Adventure.— Passing the Rebel Lines.— Eluding Watchful Eyes 189
Chapter XIX. The First Siege Of Vicksburg
From Memphis to Vicksburg. — Running the Batteries. — Our Inability to take Vicksburg by Assault.— Digging a Canal.— A Conversation with Resident Secessionists.— Their Arguments pro and con, and the Answers they Received. — A Curiosity of Legislation. — An Expedition up the Yazoo.— Destruction of the Rebel Fleet.— The Arkansas Running the Gauntlet. — A Spirited Encounter. — A Gallant Attempt. — Eaising the Siege. — Fate of the Arkansas 197
Chapter XX. The March Through Arkansas
— THE SIEGE OF CINCINNATI. General Curtis's Army reaching Helena. — Its Wanderings. — The Arkansas Navy. — Troops and their Supplies "miss Connection." — Rebel Reports. — Memphis in Midsummer.— -" A Journey due North." — Chicago. — Bragg's Advance into Kentucky. — Kirby Smith in Front of Cincinnati. — The City under Martial Law. — The Squirrel Hunters. — War Correspondents in Comfortable Quarters. — Improvising an Army. — Raising the Siege. — Bragg's Retreat 205
Chapter XXI. The Battle Of Corinth
New Plans of the Rebels. — Their Design to Capture Corinth. — Advancing to the Attack. — Strong Defenses. — A Magnificent Charge. — Valor vs. Breast-Works. — The Repulse. — Retreat and Pursuit. — The National Arms Triumphant 213
Chapter XXII. The Campaign From Corinth
Changes of Commanders. — Preparations for the Aggressive. — Marching from Corinth.— Talking with the People.— "You-uns and We-uns." —Conservatism of a " Regular."— Loyalty and Disloyalty.— Condition of the Rebel Army.— Foraging.— German Theology for American Soldiers.— A Modest Landlord.— A Boy without a Name.— The CONTENTS. Freedmen's Bureau. — Employing Negroes. — Holly Springs and its People? — An Argument for Secession 219
Chapter XXIII. Grant's Occupation Of Mississippi
The Slavery Question. — A Generous Offer. — A Journalist's Modesty. — Hopes of the Mississippians at the Beginning of the War. — Visiting an Editress. — Literature under Difficulties. — Jacob Thompson and his Correspondence. — Plans for the Capture of Vicksburg. — Movements of General Sherman. — The Raid upon Holly Springs. — Forewarned, but not Forearmed. — A Gallant Fight 233
Chapter XXIV. The Battle Of Chickasaw Bayou
Leaving Memphis. — Down the Great River. — Landing in the Yazoo. — Description of the Ground. — A Night in Bivouac. — Plan of Attack. — Moving toward the Hills. — Assaulting the Bluff. — Our Repulse. — New Plans. — Withdrawal from the Yazoo 243
Chapter XXV. Before Vicksburg
Capture of Arkansas Post. — The Army returns to Milliken's Bend. — General Sherman and the Journalists. — Arrest of the Author. — His Trial before a Military Court. — Letter from President Lincoln. — Capture of Three Journalists 253
Chapter XXVI. Kansas In War-time
A Visit to Kansas. — Recollections of Border Feuds. — Peculiarities of Kansas Soldiers. — Foraging as a Fine Art. — Kansas and Missouri. — Settling Old Scores. — Depopulating the Border Counties. — Two Examples of Grand Strategy. — Capture of the "Little-More-Grape" Battery. — A Woman in Sorrow. — Frontier Justice. — Trial before a "Lynch" Court. — General Blunt's Order.— Execution of Horse- Thieves. — Auction Sale of Confiscated Property. — Banished to Dixie' CONTENTS.
Chapter XXVII. Gettysburg
A Hasty Departure.— At Harrisburg.— En route for the Army of tho Eotomac— The Battle-Field at Gettysburg.— Appearance of the Cemetery.— Importance of the Position.— The Configuration of Ground. —Traces of Battle.— Round Hill.— General Meade's Head-Quarters. —Appearance of the Dead.— Through the Forests along the Line. — Retreat and Pursuit of Lee 275
Chapter XXVIII. In The Northwest
From Chicago to Minnesota. — Curiosities of Low-Water Navigation. — St. Paul and its Sufferings in Earlier Days. — The Indian War. — A Brief History of our Troubles in that Eegion. — General Pope's Expeditions to Chastise the Eed Man. — Honesty in the Indian Department. — The End of the Warfare. — The Pacific Eailway. — A Bold Undertaking. — Penetrating British Territory. — The Hudson Bay Company. — Peculiarities of a Trapper's Life 289
Chapter XXIX. Inauguration Of
A GREAT ENTERPRISE. Plans for Arming the Negroes along the Mississippi. — Opposition to the Movement. — Plantations Deserted by their Owners. — Gathering Abandoned Cotton. — Rules and Regulations.— Speculation. — Widows and Orphans in Demand. — Arrival of Adjutant-General Thomas. — Designs of the Government 305
Chapter XXX. Cotton-planting In
1863. Leasing the Plantations.— Interference of the Rebels.— Raids. Treatment of Prisoners.— The Attack upon Milliken's Bend.— A Novel Breast- Work.— Murder of our Officers.— Profits of Cotton-Planting.— Dishonesty of Lessees.— Negroes Planting on their own Account. 313
Chapter XXXI. Among The Officials
Reasons for Trying an Experiment.— Activity among Lessees.— Opinions of the Residents — Eebel Hopes in 1863.— Removal of Negroes to CONTENTS. 15 West Louisiana. — Visiting Natchez. — The City and its Business. — " The Eejected Addresses " 323
Chapter XXXII
A JOURNEY OUTSIDE THE LINES. Passing the Pickets. — Cold Weather in the South. — Effect of Climate upon the Constitution. — Surrounded and Captured. — Prevarication and Explanation. — Among the Natives. — The Game for the Confederacy. — Courtesy of the Planters. — Condition Of the Plantations.— The Eeturn 331
Chapter XXXIII. On The Plantation
Military Protection. — Promises. — Another Widow. — Securing a Plantation. — Its Locality and Appearance. — Gardening in Louisiana. — How Cotton is Picked.—" The Tell-Tale."— A Southerner's Opinion of the Negro Character. — Causes and Consequences 341
Chapter XXXIV. Rules And Regulations Under The Old And New Systems
The Plantation Record. — Its Uses. — Interesting Memoranda. — Dogs, Jail, and Stocks. — Instructions to the Overseer. — His Duties and Responsibilities. — The Order of General Banks. — Management of Plantations in the Department of the Gulf. — The two Documents Contrasted. — One of the Effects of " an Abolition War " 355
Chapter XXXV. Our Free-labor Enterprise In Progress
The Negroes at Work.— Difficulties in the Way. — A Public Meeting. — A Speech. — A Negro's Idea of Freedom. — A Difficult Question to Determine. — Influence of Northern and Southern Men Contrasted. — An Increase of Numbers. — " Ginning " Cotton. — In the Lint-Boom. — Mills and Machinery of a Plantation. — A Profitable Enterprise . . 371
Chapter XXXVI. War And Agriculture
m Official Favors. — Division of Labor. — Moral Suasion. — Corn-gathering in the South. — An Alarm. — A Frightened Irishman. — The Rebels CONTENTS. Approaching.— An Attack on Waterproof.— Falstaff Redivivus.— His Feats of Arms. — Departure for New Orleans 381
Chapter XXXVII. In The Cotton Market
Now Orleans and its Peculiarities. — Its Loss by the Rebellion. — Cotton Factors in New Orleans.— Old Things passed away.— The Northern Barbarians a Race of Shopkeepers. — Pulsations of the Cotton Market. — A Quarrel with a Lady. — Contending for a Principle. — Inharmony of the " Regulations." — An Account of Sales 391
Chapter Xxxviii. Some Features Of Plantation Life
Mysteries of Mule-trading. — " What's in a Name ?" — Process of Stocking a Plantation. — An Enterprising White Man. — Stratagem of a Yankee. — Distributing Goods to the Negroes. — The Tastes of the African. — Ethiopian Eloquence. — A Colored Overseer. — Guerrillas Approaching. — Whisky vs. Guerrillas. — A Hint to Military Men. 405
Chapter XXXIX. Visited By Guerrillas
News of the Raid. — Returning to the Plantation. — Examples of Negro Cunning. — A Sudden Departure and a Fortunate Escape. — A Second Visit.—" Going Through," in Guerrilla Parlance.— How it is Accomplished.— Courtesy to Guests. — A Holiday Costume. — Lessees Abandoning their Plantations. — Official Promises 417
Chapter XL. Peculiarities Of Plantation Labor
Eesuming Operation.— Difficulties in the Way.— A New Method of Healing the Sick.— A Thief Discovered by his Ignorance of Arithmetic.— How Cotton is Planted.— The Uses of Cotton-Seed.— A Novel Sleeping-Boom.— Constructing a Tunnel.— Vigilance of a Negro Sentinel CONTENTS. 17
Chapter XLI. The Negroes At
A MILITARY POST. The Soldiers at Waterproof. — The Black Man in Blue. — Mutiny and Desertion. — Their Cause and Cure. — Tendering a Eesignation. — No Desire for a Barber. — Seeking Protection. — Falsehood and Truth. — Proneness to Exaggeration. — Amusing Estimates 433
Chapter XLII. The End Of The Experiment
The Nature of our "Protection." — Trade Following the Flag. — A Fortunate Journey. — Our Last Visit. — Inhumanity of the Guerrillas. — Driving Negroes into Captivity. — Killing an Overseer. — Our Final Departure. — Plantations Elsewhere 441 CHAPTER XLHI. THE MISSISSIPPI AND ITS PECULIARITIES. Length of the Great River, and the Area it Drains. — How Itasca Lake obtained its Name. — The Bends of the Mississippi. — Curious Effect upon Titles to Real Estate. — A Story of Napoleon. — A Steamboat Thirty-five Years under Water. — The Current and its Variations. — Navigating Cotton and Corn Fields. — Eeminiscences of the Islands 455
Chapter XLIV. Steamboating On The Mississippi In Peace And War
Attempts to Obstruct the Great River. — Chains, Booms, and Batteries. — A Novelty in Piloting. — Travel in the Days Before tho Eebellion. —Trials of Speed.— The Great Race — Travel During the War.— Running a Rebel Battery on the Lower Mississippi. — Incidents of the Occasion. — Comments on the Situation 405
Chapter XLV. The Army Correspondent
The Beginning and the End. — The Lake Erie Piracy. — A Eochester Story. — The First War Correspondent. — Napoleon's Policy. — Waterloo and tho Eothschilds. — Journalistic Enterprise in the Mexican War. — The Crimea and the East Indian Eebellion. — Experiences at the Beginning of Hostilities.— The Tender Mercies of the Insurgents. CONTENTS. —In the Field.— Adventures in Missouri and Kentucky.— Correspondents in Captivity.— How Battle-Accounts were Written.—Pro fessional Complaints.
CHAPTER XL VI.
THE PRESENT CONDITION OF THE SOUTH. Scarcity of the Population.— Fertility of the Country.— Northern Men already in the South. — Kansas Emigrants Crossing Missouri. — Change of the Situation.— Present Disadvantages of Emigration.— Feeling of the People.— Property-Holders in Eichmond. — The Sentiment in North Carolina. — South Carolina Chivalry. — The Effect of War. — Prospect of the Success of Free Labor. — Trade in the South 493
Chapter XLVII. How Disadvantages May Be Overcome
Conciliating the People of the South. — Railway Travel and its Improvement. — Eebuilding Steamboats. — Replacing Working Stock. — The Condition of the Plantations. — Suggestions about Hasty Departures. — Obtaining Information. — The Attractions of Missouri 503
Chapter XLVIII. The Resources Of The Southern States
How the People have Lived. — An Agricultural Community. — Mineral and other Wealth of Virginia. — Slave-Breeding in Former Times. — The Auriferous Region of North Carolina. — Agricultural Advantages.— Varieties of Soil in South Carolina.— Sea-Island Cotton.— . Georgia and her Railways.— Probable Decline of the Rice Culture.— The Everglade State.— The Lower Mississippi Valley.— The Red River.— Arkansas and its Advantages.— A Hint for Tragedians.— Mining in Tennessee.— The Blue-Grass Region of Kentucky.— Texas and its Attractions.— Difference between Southern and Western Emigration. — The End gpg CAMP-FIRE AND COTTON-FIELD.
Chapter I. Ante Bellum
At the Eocky Mountains. — Sentiment of the People. — Firing the Southern Heart. — A Midwinter Journey across the Plains. — An Editor's Opinion." — Election in Missouri. — -The North springing to Arms. — An amusing Arrest. — Off for the Field. — Final Instructions. — Niagara. — Curiosities of Banking. — Arrival at the Seat of War. I passed the summer and autumn of 1860 in the Rocky Mountain Gold Region. At that time the pop ulation of the young Territory was composed of emi grants from Northern and Southern States, those from the colder regions being in the majority. When the Presidential election took place, there was much angry discussion of the great questions of the day, and there were threats of violence on the part of the friends of the "institution." The residents of the Gold Region were unable to cast their votes for the men of their choice, but their anxiety to know the result was very great.
When it was announced that the Republican candi date had triumphed, there were speedy signs of discon tent. Some of the more impulsive Southerners departed at once for their native States, predicting a separation PREPARING FOR THE FIELD. of Dixie from the North before the end of the year. Some went to New Mexico, and others to Texas, while many remained to press their favorite theories upon their neighbors. The friends of the Union were slow to believe that any serious difficulty would take place. Long after the secession of South Carolina they were confident our differences could be healed without an appeal to arms. My visit to the Rocky Mountains was a professional one. During my stay in that region I supplied several Eastern journals with letters from Colorado and New Mexico. One after another, the editors of these journals informed me that letters from the Territories had lost their interest, owing to the troubles growing out of the election.
Wishing to take part in the drama about to be enacted, I essayed a midwinter journey across the plains, and, early in February, stood in the editorial room of The Herald. I announced my readiness to proceed to any point between the Poles, wherever The Herald desired a correspondent. The editor-in-chief was busy oyer a long letter from some point in the South, but his response was promptly given. Half reading,' half pausing over the letter, he briefly said : — ■ "A long and bloody war is upon us, in which the whole country will be engaged. We shall desire you to take the field ; probably in the West. It may be several weeks before we need you, but the war cannot be long delayed." At that time few persons in the North looked upon THE MISSOURI ELECTION. 21 the situation with any fears of trouble.
There were some who thought a hostile collision was among the possibilities, but these persons were generally in the minority. Many believed the secession movement was only the hasty work of political leaders, that would be soon undone when the people of the South came to their senses. That the South would deliberately plunge the country into civil war was difficult to comprehend, even after the first steps had been taken. The majority of the Northern people were hoping and believing, day by day, that something might transpire to quell the excitement and adjust the difficulties threatening to disturb the country. Before leaving the Rocky Mountains I did not be lieve that war was certain to ensue, though I considered it quite probable. As I passed through Missouri, the only slave State that lay in my route, I found every thing comparatively quiet.
In St. Joseph, on the day of my arrival, the election for delegates to the State Convention was being held. There was no disorder, more than is usual on election days in small cities. Little knots of people were engaged in discussion, but the discussions partook of no extraordinary bitterness. The vote of the city was decidedly in favor of keeping the State in the Union. Between the 7th of December and the 12th of April, the Northern blood warmed slowly. The first gun at Sumter quickened its pulsations. When the President issued his call for seventy-five thousand men for three MISTAKEN IDENTITY. months, to put down insurrection, the North woke to action. Everywhere the response was prompt, earnest, patriotic. In the Northern cities the recruiting offices were densely thronged. New York and Massachusetts were first to send their favorite regiments to the front, but they were not long in the advance.
Had the call been for four times seventy -five thousand, and for a service of three years, there is little doubt the people would have responded without hesitation. For a short time after my arrival at the East, I remained in a small town in Southern New Hampshire. A few days after the first call was issued, a friend invited me to a seat in his carriage for a ride to Portsmouth, the sea-port of the State. On reaching the city we found the war spirit fully aroused. Two companies of infantry were drilhng in the public square, and the citizens were in a state of great excitement. In the course of the afternoon my friend and myself were arrested, by a committee of respectable citizens, who suspected us of being Southern emissaries. It was with great difficulty we convinced them they had made a slight mistake.
We referred them to the only acquaintances we had in the city. They refused to consider the truth established in the mouths of two witnesses, and were not induced to give us our liberty until all convenient proof of our identity had been adduced. To be arrested within twenty miles of home, on sus picion of being delegated from Charleston or Montgom ery, was one of my most amusing experiences of the war. The gentleman who accompanied me was a very UNDER ARREST. 23 earnest believer in coercion. His business in Ports mouth on that occasion was to offer his services in a regiment then being formed. A few months later he received a commission in the army, but did not obtain it through any of our temporary acquaintances at Ports mouth. Our captors were the solid men of the city, any one of whom could have sat for the portrait of Mr. Turvey drop without the slightest alteration.
On taking us into custody, they stated the grounds on which they arrested us. Our dark complexions and long beards had aroused suspicions concerning the places of our nativity. Sus picion was reduced to a certainty when one of them heard me mention my presence in Missouri on the day of choosing candidates for the Convention. Our purpose was divined when I asked if there was any activity at the Navy Yard. We were Rebel emissaries, who de signed to lay their Navy Yard in ashes ! On our release and departure we were followed to our homes, that the correctness of our representations might be ascertained- This little occurrence, in the center of New England, where the people claim to be thoroughly quiet and law-abiding, indicated that the war spirit in that part of the North was more than mo mentary.
The West was not behind the Eastern States in the determination to subdue the Rebellion. Volunteers were gathering at Cairo, and threatening to occupy points further down the Mississippi. At St. Louis the struggle was active between the Unionists and the Seces- GOING WEST. sionists. A collision was a mere question of time, and of short time at the best. As I visited The Herald office for final instructions, I found that the managing editor had determined upon a vigorous campaign. Every point of interest was to be covered, so that the operations of our armies would be fully recorded from day to day. The war correspond ents had gone to their posts, or were' just taking their departure. One correspondent was already on the way to Cairo. I was instructed to watch the military movements in Missouri, and hastened to St. Louis as fast as steam could bear me.
Detained twelve hours at Niagara, by reason of miss ing a railway train, I found that the opening war gave promise of affecting that locality. The hotel-keepers were gloomy at the prospect of losing their Southern patronage, and half feared they would be obliged to close their establishments. There were but few visitors, and even these were not of the class which scatters its money profusely. The village around the Falls displayed positive signs of dullness, and the inhabitants had personal as well as patriotic interest in wishing there was no war. • The Great Cataract was unchanged in its beauty and grandeur. The flood from the Lakes was not diminished, and the precipice over which the water plunged was none the less steep. The opening war had no effect upon this wonder of the New World. In Chicago, business was prostrated on account of the outbreak of hostilities.
Most of the banks in Illinois had been holding State bonds as securities for the re- RUMORS OF WAR. demption of their circulation. As these bonds were nearly all of Southern origin, the beginning of the war had materially affected their value. The banks found their securities rapidly becoming insecure, and hence there was a depreciation in the currency. This was not uniform, but varied from five to sixty per cent., according to the value of the bonds the respective banks were holding. Each morning and evening bulletins were issued stating the value of the notes of the various bank ing-houses. Such a currency was very inconvenient to handle, as the payment of any considerable sum re quired a calculation to establish the worth of each note. Many rumors were in circulation concerning the inse curity of a Northern visitor in St. Louis, but none of the stories were very alarming.
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You’ve reached the end of Camp-Fire and Cotton Field: Southern Adventure in time of war. Life with the Union Armies ... With illustrations.