VOTERS IN BLUE : THE CITIZEN SOLDIERS OF THE CIVIL WAR
By T. A Y WI IAMS I 86 e sec io a co o e sy w ic a e e a io e e a oo y ci i wa ega o o e a eca e e eo e o e o e s a es a e a e e issue w ic sym o i e e i e e ces e wee e sec io s — e issue o s a e y Downloaded from o e u ic o i io was i i e i i s a i u e owa e ecu ia i s i u io e e was e ea e-i -a o e a i u e o ma y emoc a s e ge - i -o -i -g a ua y o osa o co se - a i e e u ica s a e a o is -i -imme ia e y ema o http://jah.oxfordjournals.org/ a ica e u ica s a a o i io is s e g ea mass o i i i - ua s i e o su sc i e i a yi g qua i a i e eg ees o ese ee i e i g iew oi s w e os i i ies s a e A o ese co ic i g a i u es we e ca ie o e i o e a mies a e go e me o e U io c ea e e s o y a e e wa s a e e s a e y issue a e u a ew ow e co o e sy was as o w e e e es uc io o s a e y s ou at :: on October 29, 2012 e ma e o e o e wa aims e a ica e u ica s ema e ema ci a io maski g ei ea esig s e i e o o mi i a y ecessi y i co e co se a i e e u ica s a e Wa emoc a s e ie a e es o a io o e U io mus e e so e o ec i e o e wa e eace emoc a s c ie o a uce a e eco s uc io o e a io wi sou - e ig s gua a ee e w o e cou y e a e e ques io A gume s a cou e a gume s esou e i Co g ess i e ess o e s um a i c oss oa s s o es A i e cam s o e a mies e oices o co o e sy a ose as ou y as o e ome o as e me i ue oug e a y wi eac o e o e e g ea issue o e ay e e e a a mies we e com- ose o e w e mi g y o ice s a i a es o ci i e so ie s o me aw em o a i y om ci i ia i e o ig a wa ese me we e o i icia s a o e s i ci i ia i e a ey i o s e ei o i ica i eas o am i io s w e ey o e a u i o m ey co i ue o i k a a k i e ms o ei 8 88 THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY HISTORICAL REVIEW ewa e is e ce ey emai e o i icia s a o e s is was a a u a e e o me u i i es e e o e a mies wi ce ai c a ac e is ics a o a y o o e mi i a y ag- g ega io e e ma i es e : co i ua cam i e e a e a ou e wa aims o e go e me i e ac io a ism amo g o ice s a io e os i i y e wee ge e a s a commo so ie s e ge e e y i e e ces o o i ica o i io s U ou e y e s u y Ame ica s i i o emoc acy o uce ese c a - ac e is ics emoc a ic suc qua i ies mig e u ey i e - e e se ious y wi mi i a y e icie cy y es oyi g u i y a co-o e a io Wo se a a e e seeme a imes a ossi- Downloaded from i i y a e ci i e a my wou ecome so e a g e i a isa s i a so im esse wi e co ec ess o i s o i - ica o io s a i wou seek o im ose i s wi u o e cou y y o ce o ea o o ce us su e i g emoc a ic go - e me http://jah.oxfordjournals.org/ e s i i o o i ics ma e i s i s a ea a ce i e e so e o e o ice s o e a my om e egi i g ays o e wa o i icia s o a a ies wa c e e mi i a y a o age as g ee i y as ey i ci i o s a wi e same a isa mo- i es I u y o 86 e ese a i e Wi iam A ic a so o
I i ois a oug as emoc a com ai e i e ouse a e at :: on October 29, 2012 go e me a commissio e as ge e a s ou me w o we e a i ia e wi e ecki i ge wi g o e a y w i e o a si g e a oi me a go e o a oug as ma e wa e e a mi is a io o a a o is misgui e o icy e o u ee s w o we e ocki g o e co o s i e Wes we e oug as emo- c a s a ey wa e o e comma e y oug as o ice s I ey we e o ey wou o su o e wa O e o e si e o e o i ica e ce a a e co es o e o e ew Yo k r b n se i a is a c o is a e a ou e e o a- e emoc a ic com osi io o e o ice s o e O io oo s : "Go e o e iso as a oi e o e ee-yea s se ice we y- ee co o e s o i a y egime s we e o w om we e emoc a s i e e u ica s o e Ame ica a o e w ose o i ica a i ia io is u k ow " 2 C n r n l Gl b , C n S 24 t n l Int ll n r (W h n t n l 24 86 2 New York r b n , September 1, 1861. O E S I UE: CI I E SO IE S O E CI I WA 8 I e i s yea o e wa e g ea ma o i y o e ge e a o ice s we e emoc a s isg u e e u ica s es ima e a eig y o e 0 iga ie ge e a s a ou - i s o a e iga ie a ma o ge e a s e o ge o e o osi io a y e ee mos im o a comma s we e e y emo- c a ic ge e a s : Geo ge McC e a e y W a eck a o Ca os ue e a ge um e o emoc a s i e ig e a ks was e esu o is o ica acci e Mos o e ge e a o ice s we e Wes oi g a ua es a mos o e Wes oi e s a e e o e emoc a s u e si ua io a ge e a a a me e u ica ea e s ey a is u i g isio s o Downloaded from e emoc a ic mas e s o e a my ma c i g ei os s o Was i g o o o e ow e a mi is a io ey sus ec e ma y o e emoc a ic ge e a s o ou is i g a sec e sym-
a y wi e Sou a o a c i g easo a e a s o e- http://jah.oxfordjournals.org/ e a U io ic o y 4 A e 862 e e u ica s ea e a i e easie McC e a a ue we e emo e om comma a ma y o e esse emoc a ic o ice s me e same a e o we e e ega e o u im o a osi io s e a ica e u - ica s oug a ou e ow a o a um e o emoc a s y c ea i g e owe u Co g essio a age cy e Commi ee o
e Co uc o e Wa w ic a o e u ceasi g y o oiso at :: on October 29, 2012 i co s mi agai s a o ice s o emoc a ic ai e e - e ess a a ge o o io o emoc a s emai e amo g e ge e a s a u i e e o e wa ese me we e e ou ce i e y y e u ica ews a e s a e e e a e y y emoc a ic o es e ess wa o e e ge e a s assumes a s a i g sig i i- ca ce w e o e emem e s a e ews a e s ci cu a e ee y i e a my a we e ea o o y y e o ice s co ce e a
Se a o e y Wi so Congressional Globe, Co g 2 Sess 64 e ese a- i e Ma i Co way ibid., 8 e ese a i e Geo ge W u ia Speeches on Political Questions: 1850-1868 ( ew Yo k 8 2 202-204 e ese a i e us i S Mo i quo e i ew Yo k Tribune, May 2 862 4 ose Me i o E wi M S a o a ua y 2 862 Edwin M. Stanton Papers, i a y o Co g ess Ca Sc u o A a am i co o em e 8 20 862 e e ick a c o (e Speeches, Correspondence, and Political Papers of Carl Schurz (6 o s ew Yo k I 20 -2 0 2 6- u y o o S e ma a ua y 0 86 John Sherman Papers, i a y o Co g ess a y Wi iams " e Commi ee o e Co uc o e Wa " The Journal of the American Military Institute (Was i g o C III - 6 0 E MISSISSI I A EY IS O ICA E IEW ei ie s u a so y e commo so ie s w o se e u e em a ica e u ica e i o s co s a y u e e ug y c a ge a emoc a ic ge e a s sym a i e wi e Sou a i o wa o e ea e Co e e acy " ey wa o sa e e u io i suc ma e as o o u i s ea y assai a s i s im aca e oes " e ai e o ace G ee ey " e ce ey s ike i eso u e y u ious y i e ec i e y ey wai o e assu e a ei ow wi o eac oo a u i e ime o s iki g as asse " 6 e a ica ou a s ema e e isg ace a emo a o e e y o ice w o o ose ema ci a io as a aim o
e wa U i is was o e emoc a ic easo wou o Downloaded from ack e a mies a e ay o ic o y Some emoc a s e a ica s a ise s ou e cou -ma ia e a e ecu e " e s oo i g o a a o e im eci es a semi- ai o s w ose
s ou e s g is e wi si e s a s wou sa e s eams o http://jah.oxfordjournals.org/ ecious e ia oo " w o e e ew Yo k r b n Was - i g o co es o e e emoc a ic a e s e ie o e a ica c a ges wi cou e accusa io s a e e u ica s wa e o ou om e a my a e ca a e Wes oi e s a u i ei aces i com e e e u ica o i ica ge - e a s W a mus a e ee e eac io s o e e is e me w o ea a ei comma e s we e ai o s o oo s e at :: on October 29, 2012 e ec o mo a e a isci i e ca e imagi e e s a e y issue i i e e u ica a emoc a ic o ice s i o i e y os i e ac io s O e e u ica co o e w o e i - ig a y o is wi e : "Yes e ay I a qui e a S a wi e C a is — ou i issio [ ] Comma e — e is a os a e y Ge e a a e is ow o e A o i io is s I a some ai a k wi im a o im w a I oug o os a e y Ge - e a s — I a e o goo ee i g o im a I a e ma e u my
6 ew Yo k Independent, A i 86 New Yo k Tribune, a ua y 862 e i o ia ibid., u y 2 862 os o co es o e ce ibid., Augus 862 a my co es o e ce ibid., Se em e 2 862 e i o ia ibid., a ua y 22 86 e i o ia ibid., e ua y 2 86 os- o Traveler, quo e i e oi Free Press, a ua y 86 ew Yo k Independent, May 26 864 Wilkes' Spirit of the Times (New Yo k Oc o e ecem e 2 86 a Ma c 26 A i 2 864 8 ew Yo k Tribune, ecem e 862 2 ew Yo k World, a ua y 86 e oi Free Press, a ua y 24 86 ew Y r Journal of Commerce, t d n ibid., n r 2 86 O E S I UE : CI I E SO IE S O E CI I WA mi a I wi o go i o a o e a e u e is com- ma " 4 e u ica o ice s co s a y w o e e e s o ei Co g ess- me e ou ci g emoc a s u e w om ey se e o ei o osi io o ema ci a io a ema i g a Co g ess o ce e emo a o suc o ice s a secu e e a oi me o goo e u ica s i ei aces " O ice s w o wa e omo io o w o e a ei me i s a ee s ig e as e e o assu e i ue ia e u ica o i icia s a ey we e ig o e s a e y issue A ge e a w ose se ime s a ee ques io e w o e o Sec e a y o Wa E wi M S a o : "My ma im as Downloaded from a ways ee o eace wi s a e y a my o i io is a eace o a y o e e ms is ow im ossi e " Some imes ie s o a as i i g o ice wou w i e o e u ica Co -
g essme o ouc o e o ice s e u ica ism A ew Yo k http://jah.oxfordjournals.org/ a ke u gi g a omo io o Ge e a o M Sc o ie o Se a o Wi iam esse e a e aisi g Sc o ie s mi i- a y a i i ies "I ca a swe o im o e s a e y ques io oo e is a a o i io is a ema ci a io is " " I e i s a o e wa e u ica o ice s e i e y a ei me i s we e ig o e a ei omo io s e ack ey ame is o i co s ac ice o a i g ou im o a at :: on October 29, 2012 comma s o emoc a s i o e o a ac mem e s o a a y o e su o o e wa a o e McC e a - ue co - o o e a my W o e o e isg u e e u ica ge e a o 0 a s C eg o M s eg a ua y 2 86 eo o e C I ege (e h Civil War Letters of Colonel Hans Christian. Heg ( o ie Mi eso a 6 8 e e s o Se a o yma um u i e r b ll p r , i a y o Co - g ess om Ma o W Sc a e ecem e 24 86 ami o u e 862 Co o e Geo ge A e o em e 2 a ecem e 6 862 Co o e o i iso o em e 2 862 Co o e S o e a ua y 6 86 Co o e omas A e e ua y 20 86 e e s o Se a o o S e ma i e Sh r n p r om Co o e S a ey o em e 24 862 Co o e W e ick e ua y 86 12 W S okes o Co e y ecem e 86 r b ll p r Co o e W a e o o S e ma ecem e 0 862 Sh r n p r . Ge e a o e A e o S a o Se em e 2 864 St nt n p r . 4 E Wi iams o esse e A i 22 864 nd n p r , i a y o Co - g ess See a so ames A Ga ie o Sa mo C ase e ua y 86 eo o e C Smi h f nd tt r f Abr G rf ld (2 o s ew a e 2 I 2 6 ecomme i g Ge e a Wi iam S osec a s Ga ie o M s Ga ie o em e 862 b d., I 2 -4 o e Wa e An A nt f th r v t f nd bl S rv f S l n rtl nd Ch 192 THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY HISTORICAL REVIEW Secretary of War Stanton: "My policy was from the first to strike heavy blows against the rebels and to treat them just as we would treat any other enemy. That made McClellan and most of his staff my opponents as matters of course. My name was habitually suppressed in all relations of meritorious actions in which I had part. . . . I have felt all their weight because I have had only the dubious approval which 'conservatives' dealt out to men of my policy." 6 The political rivalry between Repub- lican and Democratic officers continued after McClellan and Buell were removed, being particularly malignant in the Army
of the Potomac. Military fortunes rose and fell according to Downloaded from what general commanded that ill-fated army. Democrats gnashed their teeth when Republican Joseph Hooker reigned; Repub- licans cursed when Democrat George Meade was in the saddle. In each case suspicion and intrigue ran rampant, military co- operation was nullified, and the morale of the whole army suf- http://jah.oxfordjournals.org/ fered. Hooker always believed that the Democratic officers had wanted him to fail when he commanded in 1863. He excoriated their political motives in a statement to the Committee on the Conduct of the War: At that time perhaps a majority of the officers, especially those high
in rank, were hostile to the policy of the government in the conduct at :: on October 29, 2012 of the war. The emancipation proclamation had been published a short time before, and a large element of the army had taken sides antago- nistic to it, declaring that they never would have embarked in the war had they anticipated this action of the government. When rest came to the army, the disaffected, from whatever cause, began to show themselves, and make their influence felt in and out of the camps. During Meade's tenure of command, the Republicans charged that he was elevating his Democratic friends to positions of power and keeping Republicans down. Several Republican offi- cers appeared before the Committee to denounce Meade. Said General Albion P. Howe, referring to the corps commands of the army : " [W] e say there is too much copperheadism in it. This is so for different reasons: with some there is a desire to raise up (Cincinnati, 1874), 498-9, quotation from Chase's diary, October 6, 1862; MS. diary of General Samuel Heintzelman, Library of Congress, entry of May 16, 1862. 6 E. D. Keyes to Stanton, May 13, 1863, St nt n p r . . p rt f th nt C tt n th C nd t f th W r (W h n t n 86 I 2 O E S I UE: CI I E SO IE S O E CI I WA Ge e a McC e a wi o e s e e is a is ike o some o e measu es o e go e me ey o o ike e way e eg o ques io is a e A agai e im essio is ma e u o my mi a e e a e some w o a e o ai i is wa w o a e o ea i i " " Ge e a A e ou e ay ec a e : " o ma w o is a a i-s a e y ma o a a i-McC e a ma ca e ec ece ea me i a a my I i k e e a e ee o-s a e y c iques co o i g a a my com ose o me w o wou o a e ee u wi i g o make a com o- mise i a o o s a e y "
Sec e a y o Wa S a o a a e a ica s a e a cam- Downloaded from aig i 86 ai e y e Commi ee o emo e emoc a ic o ice s a icu a y ose w o a oice o osi io o e ema ci a io oc ama io 20 is ew om emoc a s a g y
accusa io s a ei ee om o s eec was ei g a i ge http://jah.oxfordjournals.org/ ecause ey i o ag ee wi e u ica og as 2 e emoc a s mig o es u u ou e y ey we e awe y s e cou se O e co o e com ai e i e esi e - ia cam aig o 864 a e u ica s cou a k a ey wa e o a ou o i ics u emoc a s a o kee ei mou s s u i ey wa e o e ai ei osi io s : " a so ie w o o ag ee wi e A mi is a io mus e go i o You wou at :: on October 29, 2012 sca ce y c e i e um e o suc cases as is cases o e y s i e " 22 us as i e y as e ge e a s e commo so ie s a e mi o o ice s i e e a oug o e e o i ica as ec s o e wa e e is e ma o e U io a mies was a s u y i i i ua is a ea emoc a co scious o is emoc a ic ig s a ese u o mi i a y i e e e ce wi is ee om as a Ame ica ci i e Accus ome i ci i i e o c i ici i g e ac s o go e me o icia s o a y o i e e s o e ews a e s e saw o goo easo w y e s ou o i u ge i e same u u y 8 Ibid., I 2 -8 Ibid., I 20 E wi M S a o o Ma o C u e u ge-a oca e Se em e 86 S a o MS e e ooks i a y o Co g ess III a ew Yo k Independent, May 86 2 Co o e eo o e yma o Mea e s s a o M s yma Ma c 864 Geo ge Agassi (e Meade's Headquarters, 1863-1865: Letters of Colonel Theo- dore Lyman From The Wilderness to Appomattox ( os o 22 8- 22 Id. o id., ibid., 248 4 THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY HISTORICAL REVIEW co ce i g is mi i a y su e io s is ai a ac e a e io ea y i e wa a cause some o se e s o s ecu a e a ou e esu o mi i a y isci i e " e somew a c u e a mos y i ogica i eas o i e e e ce w ic a e ossessio o e Ame ica mi " e c aime o e ews a e "i e e e wi e w o esome isci i e o e cam s i o o e ie a e ci e a a ago is ic ee i g e wee i a es a o ice s " 2 Ge e a s w o a come u om Wes oi oug e egu a a my cou o s omac e i e e e ce o e ci i e so ie Wi iam S e ma e o e i a e e o is o i icia o - e : "Wi us you i sis e oys e so ie s go e ey Downloaded from mus a e is o a o ey wi c y ow e ea e s i e ews a e s so o ge e a ca ac ie e muc " " W e i was e o e a oo s o e e sy a ia ca a y a mu i ie e o e e a e o Mu ees o o ecause ey ou e e ca aci ies o ei o ice s o ea em o ic o y e ew Yo k http://jah.oxfordjournals.org/ s o e isgus e y : " e us a e a mi i a y mass mee - i g e o e e e y e gageme i o e o gi e e ow o e i a es a co o a s a o o u i y o e i g e Ge e a ow ey ee a ou is s a egy a is ac ics a o iscussi g w a ey a e e o u e e ci cums a ces " 2
e e was goo easo o oug u o se e s o iew wi at :: on October 29, 2012 a a m e emoc a ic i i i ua ism o e ci i e so ie s Cam i e c i icism o ge e a s a mess- ime e a es a ou s a egy we e i cessa i a e a mies o e u a io o e wa is esu e i some cases i a i e es a geme e- wee e comma i g ge e a a e oo s a i a mass emo a i a io o e a my Suc a si ua io e e o e i e A my o e o omac e commo so ie s i o i e McC e a w o assume e comma i e summe o 86 a e i u i is emo a i e summe o 862 26 e o o e ook 2 New York Tribune, September 4, 1861. 24 W. T. Sherman to John Sherman, September 22, 1862, Rachel S. Thorndike (ed.), The Sherman Letters: Correspondence between General and Senator Sherman from 1837 to 1891 (New York, 1894), 162. See also W. T. Sherman to Mrs. Sherman, August 3, 1861, M. A. DeWolfe Howe (ed.), Home Letters of General Sherman (New York, 1909), 211. 2 New York Times, January 9, 1863. 26 A sample opinion of the high regard of the army for McClellan may be had in a letter from Captain W. T. Lusk to his family, September 28, 1862, in War Letters of William Thompson Lusk (New York, 1911), 214. A rare example of criticism of O E S I UE: CI I E SO IE S O E CI I WA o e a su e e a isas ous e ea a seco Ma assas One o e ac o s a cause e s ee y ismissa o o e a the es o a io o McC e a was e a i u e o e so ie s w o s eame ack om e Ma assas e ac e cu si g o e a o e o is co s ge e a s I i Mc owe a k ow e emy o Mc- C e a s a c yi g o " i e Mac" o ea em " McC e - a s seco e u e o comma was s o A e e a e o A ie am e was agai a i a y emo e is aise a s o m o c i icism om a a ks i e a my a e e was wi a k o a mu i y Ma y so ie s we e co i ce a e a mi is a-
io a es oye McC e a ecause e was a emoc a " e Downloaded from a my a u a y ooke wi is a o u o Am ose u si e w o succee e o e comma a w e e was e ea e wi oo y osses a e e icks u g e issa is ac io o e so -
ie s mou e o a ge ous eig s e A my o e o omac http://jah.oxfordjournals.org/ a is oi was a ea e cowe o ga i a io mo e emo a i e a a y o e a my i e wa wi e e ce io o ue s a my i e Wes Mo a e was a a ow e ese io s we e i e a e cam s ame wi c i icism o u si e s ge e a s i 2 Some o e o ice s a i a es e esse ei a g y ee i gs a ou ei ea e s i e e s o e ews a e s ° I was rum-
McC e a is i osia M a i r f Y n Off r (C icago 0 at :: on October 29, 2012 6-8 27 ew Yo k r b n , Se em e 862 a my co es o e ce Wi iam E os e n ln nd Ep d f th C v l W r ( ew Yo k -6 28 e e o a so ie i oc es e Un n, quo e i ew Yo k r b n , o em e 22 862 i a e ia In r r, o em e 24 quo e i b d., ecem e 862 o A ams a c a ai o M s A ams a ua y 86 M r l nd tt r f v r nd hn . Ad (Cam i ge 8 0 8 e oi r r , a ua y 22 86 29 es imo y o Ge e a a ie E Sick es e o e e Commi ee o e Co uc o e Wa p rt f th nt C tt , I a es imo y o Ge e a a ie u e ie b d., I W usk W r tt r , 2 4- A ams M r l nd tt r , 8 - 0 t n l Ant Sl v r St nd rd (Was i g o a ua y 86 Was i g o co es o e ce a cis Wa ke t r f th S nd Ar C rp ( Yo k 886 8 Ge e a o Coc a e h W r f r th Un n ( ew Yo k 8 46- E G ay o G v rn r l bl W rr n: h f nd tt r f An A r n S ld r, 8 0 882 ( os o 2 ew Yo k r b n , a ua y 86 a my co es o e ce e y W aymo (e "E ce s om e ou a o e y aymo " S r bn r M nthl ( ew Yo k I a ua y 880 420 e e o W Coe a age o e Co ec icu egis a u e se o e cam a a mou o ook a e e ea a wou e i e s a e s egime s i Wa e - u y A r n, quo e i e oi r r , a ua y 86 ew Yo k , a ua y 6 86 a my co es o e ce a o g a esc i i e accou 30 e e s om u a o C r r, quo e i e oi r r , a ua y 6 86 6 THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY HISTORICAL REVIEW o e a e go e me was so ig e e y e see i g is- co e o e me a e a my wou e oke u i o sma u i s a sca e e oug ou o e a sa e a mies e ew Yo k r b t a my co es o e i a a y i g e oo s o e ou e w o e : is a my ee s a g ea ea o eo ga i a io e imi a io a s e isci i e a isci i e w ic s a eac o o ice s a me o o mo e ac i g a ess i ki g e g ea e i ec io o is a my as ee o ass u gme u o ma e s a me a ou w ic i as o ig o s eak o i i i ua y ques io e easi i i y a o icy
o e e y ac o ei su e io s 2 Downloaded from E e ua y e mo a e o e a my im o e A eo ga i a io a s ake-u i e wi e o 86 esu e i e emo a o a s e o some o e McC e a o ice s y s i g muc o
e emo a i a io a a is e a oug e e we e some mu - http://jah.oxfordjournals.org/ e i gs i e a ks agai s e ew comma e ose ooke a e u ica a e e was a goo ea o cam i e c i icism o is ac ics a e e e ea a C a ce o s i e I e as yea a a a o e wa wi Mea e a e G a a e e m isse sio a issa is ac io seem o a e ee a a mi imum e so ie s i e wes e a mies ma c e ei o e s o e Eas i c i ici i g ge e a s O e ou a is a e ou i g at :: on October 29, 2012 U ysses S G a s a my w o e o e ee i g o e me owa ei comma e : " o es ec is e o im a o co i e ce is e i im a is co uc was o e o ic o iscussio a ou cam i es u i g my s ay " 4 o u a issa is ac io wi a comma i g ge e a eac e i s ig es oi i e Wes i e a my u e Ge e a ue i e a e a o 862 w e ue ai e o smas e Co e e a es u e a o agg i e from Providence Post, ibid., January 22; from Concord Patriot and Hartford Times, ibid., January 29. See also Washington Republican, quoted in ibid., January 15; Indianapolis Journal, ibid., January 31; New York Herald, January 10; New York Tribune, January 8. 81 New York Times, January 16, 1863, army correspondence. 2 New York Tribune, February 5, 1863, Army of Potomac correspondence. This reporter said he had often heard officers denounce the plans of their superiors in front of privates. Detroit Free Press, February 13, 1863; Doster, Lincoln and Episodes of the Civil W r, 199-201. 4 Columbus Ohio State Journal, quoted in New York Tribune, May 5, 1862. See also Boston Traveler, army correspondence, in New York Tribune, May 31, p. 1. O E S I UE: CI I E SO IE S O E CI I WA Ke ucky cam aig e u cia io s o ue s a ege i a o y ac ics a g oug e cam s oice y o ice s a i a es O ice s co em e ue ee y i e ese ce o e me e emo a i a io i a e a i u si e s a my e e was a k amo g e o ice s o a es i g ue a some o em ema e is emo a i a e i io se o i co " "I a e ea a g ea ea o mu mu i g amo g o ice s a me " sai o e ge e a i esc i i g e si ua io " e im essio ecame ge e a a Ge e a ue i o wa o ig agg a e was u wi i g o isk a e gageme w i e e me e o ice s a oo s ge e a y we e a ious o ig co scious o Downloaded from ou a i i y o w i agg s a my Some asc i e i o imi - i y some o u e ce [S]ome we so a as o im ug e oya y o Ge e a ue " ue a os co o o is a my
a is was a ma o ac o i is emo a om comma http://jah.oxfordjournals.org/ W e e ci i e so ie s we e o ig i g o c i ici i g e co uc o ei ge e a s ey we e e a i g e issue o ema - ci a io ey s i co si e e emse es o e ci i e s as we as wa io s a ey i sis e o e e cisi g a ei o i ica e oga i es e s ec ac e o a a my w a g i g a ou e wa aims i s go e me s ou u sue e ci e i e a e a a a m wi mos Ame ica s O e e i o e c aime : at :: on October 29, 2012 A o u ee a my accus ome o o e a ome o goi g i o cam ecome so ie s ye emai ci i e s We o o ike e commo ase w ic s eaks o ci i e s a so ie s as i e wo we e is i c I a ce o ussia so ie s may e me e mac i es u o so i is cou y e e ey a e i e ige ci i e s wea i g o a w i e a ess o wa w ic ey wi g a y a a y ay ow o o ec o e emse es wi e ga me s o eace — e e o a mome ceasi g ei i e es i e ci i a ai s o e cou y 8
ege Heg Letters, 42 e y i a Memoirs of Henry Villard: Journalist and Financier, 1835-1900 (2 o s os o 04 I 0 - 02 C u i o ose o Se em e 2 862 Joseph Holt Papers, i a y o Co g ess es imo y o Co o e A S eig e o e e cou o i qui y i es iga i g ue s e u e o comma The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records f th Union and Confederate Armies (Was i g o 8 - 0 Se ies o ume I 48- [ e ea e ci e as 0. d es imo y o Ge e a S S y ibid., 2 e e o a i a e i Ci ci a i Commercial, quo e i ew Yo k Tribune, Oc o e 6 862 i s u g Gazette quo e i ibid., Oc o e 6 862 6 0. R., Se o I 4-8 46 Ibid., -4 8 ew Yo k Independent, Oc o e 86 8 THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY HISTORICAL REVIEW o i icia s a ou a is s e ig e i is emoc a ic i i i - ua ism o e commo so ie a e e wea ie o aisi g is i e ige ce a k ow e ge a ou o i ica a ai s " I e ige e was a e ke os e o o i ics y ea i g e ews a e s a iscussi g wi is e ows e iews o e e i o s "Ou a my is o e a ea s a i ks " w o e a e o e w o k ew e so ie s o e A my o e o omac " " ey wi a k a ey wi w i e a ea e a e s " o se e a o ice 4 A a my co es o e o e ew Yo k Tribune esc i e ow e a see so ie s ea i g a ou a a a e : " e co se- que ce is a e g ea ques io s o e age — co isca io wi Downloaded from e em oyme o acks i e go e me se ice a Ema - ci a io — a e ee o oug y iscusse " 42 Some imes e me u is e ei ow ews a e s a ese cam o ga s
we e o y a isa i ei co e s Ge e a ue su - http://jah.oxfordjournals.org/ esse o e o em e Huntsville Reveille, su ose y ecause i o owe e e u ica i e " egu a a my o ice s ike ue w o we e s ocke y e o i ica a o o ei oo s a w o ie o c eck e cam i e e a es we e c i ici e o i e e i g wi e emoc a ic ig o ee s eec "I a e see o o e a my i w ic e e was so i e i e a i y o se ime o ee om o iscussio " w o e o e ese u co - at :: on October 29, 2012 es o e " eque y w o e u i s com a ies iga es o egime s wou e com ose o e u ica s w i e ei o ice s we e emoc a s o ice e sa is a ways cause i i a io a some imes o e isse sio 46 I ue s a my a I ia a ma o ma e a s eec o is a au i g me i w ic e ques io e e oya y o e comma e w o was k ow as a a owe oe o
Senator Benjamin F. Wade, C n r n l Gl b , 38 Cong., 1 Sess., 3197; Senator James Lane, b d., 37 Cong., 2 Sess., 111; report of Secretary of War Simon Cameron, S n t Ex t v nt , 37 Cong., 1 Sess., I, no. 1, pp. 23-4. 40 York , January 16, 1863, army correspondence. 4 W G. Smith, f nd tt r f h S lb S th (New York, 1898), 269. See also letter of a soldier in New York r b n , November 1, 1861; New York Ind p nd nt, May 21, 1863. 42 New York r b n , August 7, 1862, p. 1. 4 York Ind p nd nt, May 21, 1863. 44 New York r b n , August 1, 1863, p. 1. 4 Ib d., January 21, 1863, army correspondence. 46 Blegen, tt r , 94-5. O E S I UE: CI I E SO IE S O E CI I WA ema ci a io 4 e u ica oo s o e ma i es e ei is- a o a o s a e y i e ia ce o ei o ice s o e s "You a e o i ea ow ee y e a o i io se ime is oo e i e O io oo s " w o e o e ge e a "I ca o se ou a e ac - me wi ou ei ca yi g o a s a e o se o some i g e se nd s y i g i e e o e y " 48 W e Ge e a a eck issue a o e a i g ugi i e s a es om is i es ma y o ice s a i a es e use o o ey i " So ie s w o we e im- ue wi a is a e y se ime s ese e ei su e io s com- e i g em o gua e o e y o " e e s" i occu ie a eas o o ai i e u i g ugi i e s a es Massac use s me o - Downloaded from e e o e o m suc wo k w o e i ig a e e s o ei Se a o C a es Sum e eseec i g im o ge em e ease " Wes e so ie s s a io e i A ka sas we e e o e o e o e e ge o mu i y ecause ey a o a es u away acks : http://jah.oxfordjournals.org/ " e e wi e a ee e e e o is su ec o some o ou o e egime s om Wisco si Ka sas Mi eso a a Iowa wi make a issue wi e ese mi i a y au o i y " e e u ica so ie s i ue s a my we e wi wi a ge a w a ey co si e e is misgui e e ie cy i ea i g wi sou e sym a i e s A ouse y e co em a io s o ue
a ey ea i ei ews a e s ey cou o e es ai e at :: on October 29, 2012 y o ice s om sei i g sus ec e " e e " o e y " O e i e e u ica wa io w o e i a ews a e e e : is ca o as a ways A Ame ica so ie is s i a Ame ica ci i e I we a e ake ou i es i ou a s a come o om ou omes ou wi es a ou c i e o gua e o e y a o sac e e e so s o o e a a owe ai o s e i g a e e e i om us Suc wi es ea o es s om e Iowa s Se a o ames W G imes so em y o wa e Wes oi ge e a s a ey 4 0. ?., S r l I pt pp 64 -2 48 Alb n S h pf t ph lt b r 0 86 lt p r . 4 York r b n , l 28 862 St rr p nd n 0 Ib d., A t 2 862 W h n t n rr p nd n Ib d., S pt b r 26 862 r rr p nd n 2 0. ., S r l I pt 0 4 6 -40 A St t ph lt v b r 862 lt p r . tt r n C n nn t G z tt , t d n Y r r b n , A t 8 862 S l th Y r r b n , n 4 862 p v b r 4 862 p 8 f r l r pl nt b t G n r l M ll 200 THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY HISTORICAL REVIEW could not treat citizen soldiers as mere automatons, that "the performance of no unsoldierly duty should be required of them that would be calculated to impair their self-respect, diminish their regard for their officers, incite them to rebel against dis- cipline, or taint their reputations at home." 4 Republican and Democratic soldiers expressed their political views on slavery and related issues in campfire discussions, let- ters to the press, and formal resolutions adopted by regiments and brigades. Republican newspapers carried frequent accounts by army correspondents of soldiers demanding that the govern- ment adopt an emancipation policy and frequent letters from Downloaded from soldiers advocating abolition. Indiana troops in the West passed resolutions denouncing the activities of the Peace Demo- crats in the legislature of that state. 6 Democratic soldiers dis- seminated their political convictions by the same media as Re- http://jah.oxfordjournals.org/ publicans. In the Democratic journals there appeared reports by correspondents describing the opposition of soldiers to eman- cipation and Negro equality and soldier letters condemning abolition. The greatest outburst of Democratic soldier opinion came after the passage of the Second Confiscation Act in July, 1862, which authorized the employment of Negro troops, and the
issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863. at :: on October 29, 2012 Many Democrats, officers and privates, declared they had taken up arms to save the Union and they would not fight to elevate Negroes. Among the officers there was a great deal of talk about resigning their commissions." A flood of protesting letters ap- peared in the press." Some Iowa regiments stationed in Missis- sippi adopted a resolution denouncing emancipation as a war aim. According to a press account, when their leaders read the 4 William Salter, The Life of James W. Grimes: Governor of Iowa, 1854-1858; A Senator of the United States, 1859-1869 (New York, 1876), 185. Samples of such accounts are in New York Tribune, May 6, 1862, letter of an army correspondent; ibid., May 22, p. 8, army correspondence from Fredericksburg; ibid., June 4, p. 5, letter of a soldier; ibid., September 1, p. 2, correspondence from Buell's army. 8 Ibid., January 24, 1863, correspondence from Roseerans' army. J. R. Adams, Memorial and Letters, 93; Taylor, Gouveneur Kemble Warren, 90-91; B. F. Stevenson, Letters from the Army (Cincinnati, 1884), 190; Indianapolis Journal, quoted in Detroit Free Press, January 31, 1863. 8 Letters from Providence Post, in ibid., January 22, 1863; letters from Concord Patriot and Hartford , b d., January 29, 1863. O E S I UE : CI I E SO IE S O E CI I WA 201 resolution to the men, "they pulled off their hats, and gave it three cheers. Not a dissenting voice was heard. Some of the officers looked pretty black, but they dared say nothing." Sol- diers from southern Illinois, a strong Democratic section, were reported to have mutinied when they heard about the Emancipa- tion Proclamation and to have deserted in large numbers." Henry J. Raymond, editor of the New York , found an in- teresting example of Democratic soldier opinion in Burnside's army. Certain New Jersey regiments stated that they did not want to fight any more because their state had just elected a
Peace Democrat to the United States Senate this showed New Downloaded from Jersey was opposed to the Republican war aims and hence her troops should not participate in a Republican war." The Republican and Democratic party organizations labored vigorously to spread their political doctrines among the soldiers. http://jah.oxfordjournals.org/ This was done partly to garner soldier votes in elections, but more because the politicians wanted to have the allegiance of the armies. With it they could command respect from their op- ponents with veiled threats of what their soldiers would do in the event a certain measure or program was or was not enacted without it they felt frightened and wondered if the opposition
would use the army against them. The parties distributed their at :: on October 29, 2012 propaganda to the armies mainly through the media of news- papers and Congressional documents. Republicans bitterly charged that the West Point Democratic generals tried to pre- vent the circulation of Republican papers in the camps, while encouraging the men to read Democratic journals. 62 The de- moralization in the armies of Burnside and Buell was ascribed by Republicans to the influence of Democratic papers sent to the soldiers." The situation in the Army of the Potomac was so
Ch , M r h 24 86 C n nn t C r l and Louisville rn l, quoted in New York r b n , n r 2 86 6 "Excerpts from the Journal of Henry Raymond," S r bn r M nthl , I 42 62 Y r r b n , September 29, 1862; diary of Congressman William P. Cutler, January 21, 86 t d n l r n C tl r f nd f Ephr C tl r th r ph l S t h f rv C tl r nd W ll r r C tl r (Cincinnati, 1890), 298 [hereafter cited as C tl r f ]. 6 Ib d., 298; New York r b n , January 19, 1863, Army of Potomac corre- spondence; J. L. Miner to John Sh r n br r 86 Sh r n p r Lucius
202 E MISSISSI I A EY IS O ICA E IEW desperate that the Republicans resolved to inaugurate a counter- propaganda offensive. The Congressional leaders met in Wash- ington and canvassed ways of getting more Republican papers into the hands of the men and of stopping the circulation of Democratic ones. This was followed by a government order pro- hibiting the sending of "disloyal" journals to the soldiers." Congressional documents, mostly pamphlet reproductions of speeches, were sent to the armies in large numbers throughout the war. A zealous Republican worker suggested to Senator Lyman Trumbull in 1862 a plan to distribute such propaganda:
"I have in my office a list of all the regiments in the state [Illi- Downloaded from nois] and in fact of the whole army of the West. I will be happy to give you any aid in my power to circulate Congressional mat- ter among our soldiers."" Another laborer reported in 1864: "The Cong. Com. got me to chase the army down with campaign http://jah.oxfordjournals.org/ documents. . . . I went into it, and have distributed nearly a million of documents, nearly all to the army from Maine to Louisiana." 66 Not a little propaganda was disseminated by officers in speeches and letters to the press. Sometimes officers sought promotion on the grounds that they could preach the creed of their party more effectively with a higher rank. "I have
learned by experience, much, very much, for good or evil, de- at :: on October 29, 2012 pends upon the character, example and teachings of our gen- erals," wrote a Republican colonel who aspired to be a briga- dier. 6 "Everybody can depend upon my preaching and prac- ticing abolition wherever I go," exclaimed another eager Re- publican volunteer officer. 68 The Republicans worried more about the political complexion of the armies than did the Democrats. The Republicans were the r h ld t Mr r h ld n r 86 r h ld p r , br r f th St t t r l S t f W n n M d n 64 C tl r f , 0 tr t r r , br r 6 86 W h n t n rr - p nd n Y r W rld, br r 6 86 6 S n n t r b ll b r 862 r b ll p r . 66 G r r n t d., v b r 864 b d. 6 h G All n t d., b r 862 b d. 68 C l n l S l M rr ll t Mr M rr ll A t 24 862 A l l r ( d " tt r fr C v l W r Off r " M pp ll t r l v ( tr t I 28 p 0 S l tt r fr G n r l v d nt r dv t n n p t n n Y r r b n , A t 4 862 p nd p l t l p h b G n r l W ll r n th f r ld r b d., p 2 VOTERS IN BLUE : CITIZEN SOLDIERS OF THE CIVIL WAR 203 dominant party, but they were not certain that they represented a safe and stable majority of the northern people. They feared a revolutionary movement to overthrow their power, particular- ly one headed by the army. Several times in the war they became genuinely alarmed by the apparent danger of such a movement developing. In September, 1862, Senator Trumbull wrote to Senator Grimes to ask if McClellan would try to raise the standard of Democratic revolt and to rally the armies behind him. Grimes replied that McClellan lacked the courage to at- tempt this, but suggested a scheme to counteract him if he did.
This was to get a Republican general placed at the head of the Downloaded from western army and to strengthen the size of that army. If the eastern army essayed a p, hurl the western troops against it. 6 General John M. Palmer, a radical Republican leader in Illinois before the war, advanced a similar plan to Trumbull : http://jah.oxfordjournals.org/ "Let our present army be made efficient, consolidate the radical regiments and be careful in doing so to retain only loyal incor- ruptible officers. . . ." ° The picture of two great armies, one Republican and the other Democratic, meeting in bloody conflict to decide the political mastery of the country is one to frighten a lover of democracy. Certainly the result would have been the
destruction of American democratic government. at :: on October 29, 2012 The threat of a military uprising to overthrow the civil gov- ernment gnawed at the minds of some of the politicians, but the threat never materialized. Possibly this was because no bold, imaginative general, who had the makings of a dictator, ap- peared, or b th n r l h t l d b t th n d f r a military dictatorship failed to win battles and hence could not command a following. The best explanation is that the citizen armies, dangerously infected with politics as they were, would not have permitted a military p d t t. The astute student of public opinion in the White House was not worried by the polit- ical activities of his soldiers. Early in 1863, after Fredericks- burg, there were rumors that the army would depose Lincoln and set up a military dictator, with Joseph Hooker or Benjamin F. Butler in the role of strong man. At this point Lincoln named Hooker to the command of the Army of the Potomac. To the new 6 James W. Grimes to Lyman Trumbull, October 6, 1862, r b ll p r . 0 l r t d., December 19, 1862, b d. 204 THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY HISTORICAL REVIEW commander, Lincoln wrote : "I have heard, in such a way as to believe it, of your recently saying that both the army and the government needed a dictator. . . . Only those generals who gain successes can set up dictators. What I now ask of you is military success, and I will risk the dictatorship."
Abraham Lincoln to Joseph Hooker, January 26, 1863, John G. Nicolay and John Hay (eds.), C pl t W r f Abr h n ln (12 vols., New York, 1905), VIII, 207. Downloaded from http://jah.oxfordjournals.org/ at :: on October 29, 2012