In War Time. Two Years in the Confederacy and Two Years North
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Library of Congress In war time. two years in the confederacy and two years north. With many reminiscences of the days long before the war. IN WAR TIME. TWO YEARS IN THE CONFEDERACY AND TWO YEARS NORTH. With Many Reminiscences of the Days Long Before the War. BY EDWIN G. BOOTH. THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS PHILADELPHIA: JOHN D. AVIL & CO., PRINTERS AND PUBLISHERS, 3941-43-45 Market Street, 1885. F280. 31620. 03 THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS PREFACE. W. S. 24011 The productions from which this book is composed originally appeared in the columns of Forney's Progress, and were drawn out by a request from myself for some circumstances of the life of Mr. Booth. There was no expectation that they would extend into book form, and consequently they are without the usual system or order. It is perhaps more desirable In war time. two years in the confederacy and two years north. With many reminiscences of the days long before the war. http:// www.loc.gov/resource/lhbcb.30531 Library of Congress that they thus spring from a warm heart than a cold head. They may be enlarged, classified and improved hereafter if their reception and circulation justify a second edition. J. W. FORNEY, Editor of Progress. 1526 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, February 2, 1885. To the Editor of Progress: Dear Sir:—I regret that the final proof sheets of your Progress arrived just as I am about leaving the city, compelling me to leave on you the responsibility of the whole publication, with its errors and merits, not being conscious of any special excellence myself. From hasty glances at portions I commend your skill in guessing at imperfect chirography and punctuation, and hope your expectations may not be disappointed. With high respect, EDWIN G. BOOTH. TABLE OF CONTENTS. PAGE Solicitations of Editors, and Responses, 4 References to Judges Moncure and Sharswood, 7 Incidents Connected with Running the Blockade and Marriage, 9 First Interview with President Lincoln, 12 Prisoners of War at Fort Delaware and Richmond, 13 Plans of Adjustment by Messrs. Ewing, Crittenden, etc., 15 In war time. two years in the confederacy and two years north. With many reminiscences of the days long before the war. http:// www.loc.gov/resource/lhbcb.30531 Library of Congress Appointment Offered to Robert E. Scott, Esq., 16 The Present Duty of All, 18 The South and the Tariff, 19 Visit to Washington City, and Great Speeches of Great Men, 21 Amusing Mistakes Connected with Virginia Convention of 1829, 23 Mr. Clay and Gov. Tyler at Dinner Party in Petersburg, Va., 27 Virginia Statesmen—W. C. Rives. Gov. Wise, W. C. Preston, and others, 31 Salt Pond in Giles County, Va., 33 Great Revivals—Drs. Bryor and Hoyt, 35 Philadelphia Centennial, 1876—Hon. S. J. Randall's Speech, 37 Yorktown Celebration—Mr. Winthrop, etc., 39 James River Mansions and Distinguished Families, 39 President Taylor, W. C. Preston, Revs. Drs. Plumer and Hill, 40 Mr. Blaine's Book, 43 The Slavery Question Settled; Tariff, etc., 46 References to Gen. Lee in Mr. Blaine's Book, 49 Misfortune of a Fortune and Fortune of a Misfortune, 52 In war time. two years in the confederacy and two years north. With many reminiscences of the days long before the war. http:// www.loc.gov/resource/lhbcb.30531 Library of Congress Peace Conferences in Washington in 1861, 54 Introduction to Supplement; Gen. Lee's Letter, etc., 59 Obstacles to Harmonious Co-operation Removed, 63 Gens. Reynolds and McCall as Prisoners, 65 Southern Prisoners and References to Hons. Davis, Hunter, and Toombs, 66 Mr. Toombs's Great Speech, 68 Mr. Lincoln's Apparition, 73 The Shipping Interest, 75 Briscoe G. Baldwin at Jamestown, 77 List of Delegates to Virginia Convention of 1829, 83 References to Particular Members, 86 Professional References to Case of George Chorpenning, 87 Response to Application for Advice from the South, 96 Proceedings in Memoriam of Judges Moncure and Ould, 104 Great Debate between Messrs. Webster and Hayne, 111 Address of Rev. Dr. Hoge at the Funeral of Judge Ould and Appendix by Mr. Booth, 140 The New and Higher Life, 142 In war time. two years in the confederacy and two years north. With many reminiscences of the days long before the war. http:// www.loc.gov/resource/lhbcb.30531 Library of Congress Sacred Poetry, 169 References to Sermon by Rev. Dr. H. A. Boardman, 172 Conversation between Rev. John Wesley and Mr. Simeon, 177 Remarks at Union Prayer Meeting in Calvary Church, 179 Extracts from Speeches in Virginia Convention of 1829, 182 Remarks at Prayer Meeting Preceding Communion, 203 Retrospect and Conclusion, 220 Over 60 Photographs, At the end of Book THE REQUEST TO MR. BOOTH. The readers of Progress are aware that I have been publishing a series of brief personal sketches under the head of “Little Biographies.” It was the intention that these sketches should include principally personages of particular interest to Pennsylvania and Philadelphia. The name of Mr. Booth having been mentioned in connection with this series, I recalled that Mr. Booth was possessed of a vast fund of reminiscences of men and things, both North and South, during and just preceding the war. In my request to him, therefore, that he would allow a sketch of himself to appear among the Progress biographies, I added that I would be still further obliged if he would detail some of his reminiscences. I then found that this same request had been made to Mr. Booth by prominent people North and South very frequently, but that he had not eared to undertake the work. However, he replied to my letter, and the first article appearing, he found himself in for it, and there was no retreat. It was then discovered that the matter would far outgrow the proportions of Progress, and this Progress Supplement is the result. In war time. two years in the confederacy and two years north. With many reminiscences of the days long before the war. http:// www.loc.gov/resource/lhbcb.30531 Library of Congress It will be noted that Mr. Booth goes over much of the ground covered by Mr. Blaine in his “Twenty Years in Congress,” but from different standpoints. J. W. Forney, Editor of Progress. 4 SOMETHING IN THE NATURE OF A PREFACE. Chestnut Hill, Wissahickon Inn, Philadelphia, June 7th, 1884. To the Editor of Progress: Your unexpected and unmerited application for some incidents of my life has remained unanswered from reluctance to encounter any appearance of egotism or vanity, and really from the dearth of materials for anything interesting or useful to others. For years and more especially in the last few weeks, I have been pressed and importuned for some delineation and perpetuation of occurrences transpiring during my residence for the first two years, in the Southern Confederacy and the last two in the North, without the least equivocation or concealment or insincerity of any kind, being over the fighting age and sufficiently connected with the politics and legislation of the country, and the preparation of what was regarded by others as the best code of laws in 1849, my native State of Virginia ever had, to command some confidence and consideration in whatever I might express or present. It is a remarkable fact, that under a special friendly invitation I took breakfast at his mansion with President Davis, in company with one of the present distinguished Southern Senators, and in about thirty days or less was with President Lincoln in his Presidential Mansion, having run the blockade under matrimonial proclivities existing before the war, presenting to him a telegram from a lady (in absence of any other safe communication) from a foreign locality, with the remark that such telegram would inform him where I came In war time. two years in the confederacy and two years north. With many reminiscences of the days long before the war. http:// www.loc.gov/resource/lhbcb.30531 Library of Congress from and where I came to and what for, and if I could not feel that I had bought, paid for and had a deed to every inch of land I walked on, I would seek the liberty of foreign monarchies. Some incidents that occurred might be too delicate and tedious for present presentation. It seemed just into his hand and good heart. My marriage occurred in Philadelphia in about ten days, I never having been catechised by any one as to my political predilections or encountering the slightest interruption. It is sufficient to say, that telegram is now before me, bearing date April 27th, 1863, with Mr. Lincoln's well-known signature and chirography on the back of it, and laughed at all the locksmiths, cannons and cannon balls and ocean tempests, never encountering a suspicion or equivocation or inquiry 5 into my sentiments or actions, helping all the Confederate prisoners under Government permit from the authorities of Federal prisons, having visited untrammelled Generals Reynolds and McCall in a Richmond prison; having also gone into Washington while Mr. Lincoln's dead body was in mournful prostration, and every inlet and outlet guarded by military in glittering array, looking for a ma nnamed Booth, but disappointed in the one whose name is now registered boldly on the books of Willard's and the War Department of that date, the peculiar incidents furnishing materials for a volume, and if desired, some may appear in a future communicatiou, unless you should be appalled by the rashness and futility of your unexpected application. My relations towards your distinguished father corresponding with any personal liberty he might seek, though differing politically, but with no recollection of a minute's conversation or correspondence with you, certainly not on these subjects, and by eliciting them in more permanent form and substance may render much service in scouting the absurd accounts of barbarity and inhumanity circulated on both sides of the contending nations, it being somewhat strange and unaccountable that at the present day the relish for such reminiscences seems to have revived, under the subsidence of the then existing angry white caps silencing all reason and credibility.