"'I guess we were a little late in removing the commander of Camp Chase; it ought to have been done sooner. Mr. Lyon,' said the President to me, 'we will have to watch those fellows. They are doubtless up to some game.'
"He asked me to keep Henry in Canada if I thought he could do good by staying there. I promised him to do so, and after getting Jackson's commission and bidding the President good-by I left for home, feeling gratified at the recognition given me. Arriving at home, I found my wife better, and when she found that Jackson had a commission as Brigadier-General she seemed so happy that we felt that she would entirely recover.
"I placed Jackson's commission in an envelope with a letter explaining how the President came to promote him. When the boy returned from the post-office he brought me a morning paper containing an account of Beall's raid on St. Albans, Vt.; how he had sacked the town, robbed the banks and alarmed the people. I said to Seraine, 'There it is! They have carried out the first part of their program, and we will soon hear of trouble in all the prison camps. I regard this as the beginning of desperate work.'
"'Yes,' said Seraine; 'Henry was very sure that they were desperately in earnest; but I thought, perhaps, the warning we had given to the President might save any further disaster in that direction.'
"Seraine remained about a week longer, and then left for Detroit. I sent a letter to Henry, directing him to remain in Canada as long as necessary to find out when, where and how they were to move and operate.
My poor wife was soon taken ill again, and was quite feeble and almost helpless for some weeks. Aunt Martha was constantly by her bedside, waiting on her, as well as trying to entertain her with her curious interpretations of dreams and her experience while in slavery. My friends, this did not last a great while. More sorrows soon came to us."
CHAPTER XVII.
MOBS IN THE NORTH.--LAWLESS VIOLENCE AND OUTRAGE BY REBEL SYMPATHIZERS.--THE CLASH OF ARMS.--BATTLE OF THE CHAPARRAL BETWEEN GEN. SILENT AND GEN. LAWS.
"One day thou wilt be blest, So still obey the guiding hand that fends Thee safely through these wonders for sweet ends."
--Keats.
"After the battle of Middleton's Ridge some rest for Papson's troops was indispensable. As soon, how-ever, as it could be done consistently with the condition of things, Gen. Silent issued orders from his headquarters, then at Nashua, to Papson and Sherwood for a disposition of the troops to be made so as to protect the lines of communication between Louis City, Nashua and Chatteraugus north, and from Chatteraugus to Bridgeton, Huntersville and De Kalb west. This distribution was speedily made. The enemy was in no condition for serious offensive movements, and contented himself during the Winter with a continuous harassing of our troops whenever found in squads or small commands not sufficiently strong to make effective resistance.
"Near Huntersville a man by the name of John Cotton, with somewhere between fifty and one hundred men, was constantly raiding small corrals where only a few guards were left to watch them. His business seemed to be to steal mules and wagons, being one of the parties operating under a contract to plunder for fifty per cent, of the property so taken. He had the same authority and character of commission from the authorities at Richmond as Blackman and Beall, of whom I have heretofore spoken. During the Winter this man crossed the Little Combination River near Painter's Rock, and made a raid on Gen. Chas. Ward's corrals. Ward had been notified of the intention of John Cotton by a Union man named Harris, who resided near Huntersville. Gen. Ward had a company of infantry under cover near the corral, and about midnight Cotton made his appearance.
The men who were watching for him remained quiet until he was near the corral, and then fired a volley into his raiders, killing three and wounding ten. They then rushed at Cotton, and he, with nine of his men, were taken prisoners. The wounded were cared for and the dead buried.
The next day Gen. Ward organized a drumhead court-martial and tried those captured who were not wounded. The nine men claimed to have been forced into the service by Cotton, and were sent to Nashua and put to work, under sentence. John Cotton was treated differently. He was not troublesome again during the time that our troops remained at Painter's Rock. The understanding South and North among the friends of the rebellion was that raids were again to commence whenever they could be made at all advantageous to our enemies.
"The Knights of the Golden Circle, or 'Sons of Liberty,' began to be open and bold in their utterances and their villainous work. In New York they aroused their friends and got up mobs of such magnitude that they could only be suppressed by withdrawing troops from the field to operate against them. The recruiting offices were mobbed, offices and papers burned, and the officers brutally beaten; houses were set on fire in great numbers and destroyed. Many large stores were broken open and plundered by the mob. All helped themselves to dry goods, clothing, jewelry, watches, and whatever they discovered. Innocent men were brutally murdered in the streets. Women were driven from their houses and insulted in every possible way. Hospitals and asylums for orphans were plundered and burned, and the poor, helpless inmates driven into the streets. Children were clubbed and brained by brutes for no other reason than that they were colored. Wounded and sick soldiers were thrown on the sidewalks and left without aid or assistance of any kind.
Poor negro men were taken from hacks and wagons and hanged to lampposts.
In one instance a poor man was cut into halves as if he were a slaughtered beast. Men were sent from Canada, employed by Thomlinson and his co-conspirators, to come to New York and aid in this inhuman butchery."
"My God! What brutality and inhuman cruelty! It does seem impossible that such things could have transpired in a civilized community!" said Dr. Adams.
"Yes," continued Uncle Daniel, "it would really seem so. Yet these things did not only take place, but were carried on here in the North by the anti-war party, and were well known by all who were old enough at the time to understand matters; but they are now forgotten. Why, sir, mob violence was resorted to in many places. Inflammatory speeches were made in every community where they would be tolerated. Our people were alarmed everywhere in the North, and were preparing for great trouble at home in the absence of the army. Indiana was stirred up to white heat.
Many outrages were perpetrated on the State soldiers who returned home on a furlough, and in many instances they were murdered. One old man by the name of Banty, who had two sons in an Illinois regiment--they being residents of that State at the outbreak of the rebellion--was tied to a tree in the woods some distance from home, and remained in this condition till rescued by his wife. It became so intolerable that troops were held at Indianapolis for protection to the city and country. The Governor, as well as other citizens, were threatened:
"In Ohio the same condition of things existed. Camp Chase was about to be attacked. Troops had, of necessity, to be sent for the safe keeping of the prisoners.
"At Coleston, Ill., the Knights of the Golden Circle attacked a squad of Union soldiers, who had just returned home from the army on furlough, and killed seven of them. In one county further south in Illinois, the name of which I have forgotten, there were quite a number of soldiers killed in secret. A man by the name of Geo. Akers, who had once been Sheriff of the County, but at the time of which I am speaking was the Head Center of the Golden Circle in that part of the country, was so strongly suspected of having soldiers quietly 'put out of the way,' that a search of his premises was made by a Provost Marshal, and in his mill, which was on his place, were found many suits of Union soldiers'
uniforms, evidently taken from dead bodies. He was put in prison, but was aided to escape by his brother conspirators. In the same County a soldier by the name of Stacks, while home on a furlough, was called to his own door in the night and shot by one Honeycliff. I give these instances merely to have you understand the feeling and determination of the men in the North who sympathized with the rebellion, to aid it in all ways and by any means, no matter how foul or vile."
"Uncle Daniel," said Col. Bush, "I know about Akers and the cases you mention in Illinois, as I was sent there at that time with a battalion to look after those fellows, and you do not tell one-half the trouble there was in that part of the country."
"No, I presume not; I only remember these facts in regard to matters in that State that fastened themselves irrevocably upon my mind."
Said Dr. Adams: "It seems incredible that such things could have happened in the North, where the same men now claim to have been loyal then."
"But, Doctor," said Col. Bush, "all these things did occur, though they are now forgotten by many, and our young people, who know very little about the war, except such things as they may gather from imperfect and distorted histories, doubt the truthfulness of these facts, being unable to understand why traitors should go unpunished. Why, Doctor, many of the men who were harassing and alarming the people then as Knights of the Golden Circle, are now the leading men in the communities where they were then the most offensive to Union people and disloyal to their Government. They have so managed as to be at the front politically, and if affairs continue as they are now, and seem tending, very soon the same men will claim that they put down the rebellion. They have already deceived many by their self-assertion. You see, Doctor, the policy of not allowing ourselves to speak of the war nor any of its concomitants, leaves the young people in ignorance of what we suffered during its existence."
"That is true, I am sorry to say," replied Dr. Adams; "but we who do know all about it should teach the present and coming generations these very important facts. The difficulty is, however, that when you undertake it many people insist that they wish to forget all about it, and that they do not want their children to know anything of its horrors. But, Uncle Daniel, please continue what you were telling us."
"The Richmond authorities," said Uncle Daniel, "had detached a portion of Biggs's command under Gen. Brice, some 20,000 strong, and sent them into Missouri, where they had made the homes of many Union people desolate, and spread terror throughout that State and a portion of Kansas. Brice had organized bands of marauders and bushwhackers, as they were termed, in the same way and under the same character of agreements as made with Blackman and others. Quartel's and Stringfinder's bands were the most destructive to life and property, murdering Union men as they moved, and making the country a desolate waste through which they passed. The smoke rising from houses, barns, etc., could be seen in every direction. It could well have been termed 'a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night.'
"At the same time the rebel cruisers were a terror on the high seas. The Alabama, the Florida, and the Shenandoah were a dreaded scourge among our merchantmen. Our commerce was being driven from the seas and passing under the flags of other countries.
"'All these things were very discouraging to the loyal people of our country, and at the same time greatly encouraged the rebels and their allies and friends in the North. The demagogues of the anti-war party traversed the whole country, haranguing the people, preaching peace and crying high taxes, and insisting that the war had so far been a total failure, and that it would not be any better in the future. In fact, they were carrying out to the letter that which had been suggested by Valamburg and his friends at St. Catharines, in Canada, at the meeting about which I have heretofore spoken. Many of our best men had to return home from the army for a brief period and canvass as stump orators before the people, in order to quiet their apprehensions and fears as to the chances of our ultimate success."
"Yes," said Capt. Inglesby, "I well remember the very great anxiety then amongst our people. I returned home about the time mentioned, and the question was constantly asked me if I thought we could ever suppress the rebellion. All our successes during the Summer and Fall before seemed to have had only a temporary effect upon our people. In fact, they were easily discouraged during the whole period through which the war was continued."
"Yes, Col. Bush, that is easily accounted for. We left behind us an element nearly or quite a majority; certainly so in many parts of our country North, which was constantly decrying the war and the means which were being used against the rebellion. Their constant talk in the same direction could not help having a great influence, especially on the minds of weak men, aud in many instances on those whose nearest and dearest relatives were in the army taking the chances of their lives; and, as you all well know, these pretended friends to our faces were in their hearts wishing and praying for the success of our enemies."
"Yes, that is true; and it was strange and hard to understand at the time, as these same people could have gained nothing by the success of the rebellion. They lived North, and would have been equally despised by the rebels (if they had succeeded) as a part of the Yankee Nation."
"Doubtless that would have been so, but it was not particularly the love that they had for the rebels or their cause, but their hatred for the party in power. They had been in power so long, that being ousted by the voice of the people made a number of the leaders who had lost in the political contest feel a desire to see the people who had beaten them lose in the contest against the rebellion. They had said so many bitter things against Mr. Lincoln and prophesied war and final separation between the slave and free States, that they were willing to see the country destroyed in order to be considered among the people as wise oracles and political prophets; so that they made it their interest politically that the rebellion should succeed. Many people were followers of these men in all the States North. Out of this feeling grew and prospered the Knights of the Golden Circle, or Sons of Liberty."
"Well, gentlemen," said Dr. Adams, "I agree with all you have said; but I am growing somewhat impatient to again hear Uncle Daniel."
All were again listeners, and Uncle Daniel proceeded:
"I was speaking of the alarming condition of the country and the dangers that were menacing peaceful citizens, as well as their property. I became very much alarmed for the safety of the two families left in my charge. I sent a letter to Henry to come with his wife and make my house his home for the present. He and Seraine came at once, and were willing as well as happy in remaining with us for a while, Seraine feeling satisfied that, as her parents were two such quiet people, no harm could come to them. After the excitement and confusion created by the delight in the household over their arrival subsided, Henry took me aside and related his experience since leaving home.
"He said that he remained quietly in Detroit for some time at his wife's home. Then he went to Windsor, and there learned that the people of the Confederacy were very much disheartened, but were making a desperate effort to harass the armies of the Union, without fighting great battles, until their armies were recuperated and filled up with new recruits; that the plan was for their friends to confuse and excite the Northern people, just as they were doing. He stated Jacob Thomlinson's plans just as they were being literally carried out. After these plans were well on the way in the direction of being fully executed, C. C.
Carey left for Richmond, and Jacob Thomlinson for London, accompanied by Mr. Wintergreen, who was to act as his private secretary. On separating from Carey the understanding was that they would remain away from Canada until the political canvass for President had well advanced and until after the nominations by both parties had been made. During their absence they were to ascertain what new plans were being executed and what new schemes could be put into operation during the Fall and Winter following. Henry said the one mentioned was the only one matured, and that was being carried out.
"Gen. Silent had now been promoted and ordered East, and Gen. Sherwood put in command of the Center, with orders to make a campaign South, pushing and pressing the enemy at every point possible. This movement was to and did commence at the earliest possible moment in the Spring following. Simultaneously with this a movement was made in the East against the capital of the Confederacy.
"One evening, a few days prior to Gen. Silent's departure for the East in pursuance of his orders, while walking out on the bank of the Combination River a short distance from Nashua, as the shadows of night were quietly gathering about him, a form seemed to stand before him, which, from its appearance and the flowing white robes in which it was arrayed, he at once recognized as the strange specter that had appeared to him while sitting on a stone beneath a tree at Chatteraugus. Gen.
Silent was startled for a moment, but stood still with eyes fixed upon the apparition. Finally a light, beautiful and dazzling, shone around the figure. He did not move. It approached him, saying in a subdued, soft and melodious voice:
"'Gen. Silent, you have been selected to forever wipe out the crime of slavery. This can only be done by suppressing the rebellion now in progress against your Government, which must be completed within fourteen months from this day or all will be lost. Start East at once; take no rest with either of your great armies until this is accomplished. All is with you. The matter is exclusively in your hands.'
"After speaking thus, the specter disappeared and all was still. He stood for a moment, bewildered. When he had collected his thoughts he turned and walked rapidly to his quarters, which were at the Nashua House. He entered his room and sat for some time in deep meditation.
While at Victor's Hill he had thought of moving his army across to Mobile, and thence to Savannah and North to the rear of Richmond. He was not a superstitious man, but at the same time was forced by what he had seen and heard that night to consider well that which seemed to be before him. The condition of the armies of the Union, and also that of the rebels, was taken in at one grasp of the mind. The East and West were carefully considered, and a plan seemed to be placed before him that would certainly be successful. The whole question of the suppression of the rebellion seemed to be disclosed to his mind, and indelibly photographed thereon, as if in a vision from on high. He could see his Army of the West and Center combined under one commander, making their way against obstinate resistance to the sea; and then coming north to the rear of Richmond, breaking the shell of the Confederacy as it marched. At the same time he saw the great rebel army of the East, under Laws, in Virginia, melt away before him, driven, demoralized, and finally captured. This all seemed to be a dream, and yet it was the true method to pursue in order to put down the rebellion. These things were at once firmly fixed in his mind, and thus he would undertake to bring success, should he be selected as the commander of all the armies of the Union, as had just been indicated to him.
"Just then a rap was head at his door. 'Come in,' was the response, and Gen. Anderson entered. Gen. Silent met him with great cordiality and asked him to be seated. They conversed for some time on the subject of the war and the probabilities of success.
"Finally Gen. Anderson said: 'General, this war can be concluded in but one way, and that is by desperate fighting. The armies on both sides are made up of Americans, each believing they are right, and numbers and endurance will finally determine the contest, provided our people do not become alarmed at the constant cry for peace by the Northern Golden Circles and other sympathizers with the South.'
"'That is true,' said Gen. Silent; 'I feel more bitterness towards those Northern croakers and sympathizers than I do toward the rebels in the South, who take their lives and put them in chance for what they believe to be right. Wrong as they are, they are better men than those who are behind us trying to discourage us, and to encourage the rebels, without the nerve to fight on either side.'
"'Yes,' said Anderson; 'I fully agree with you. Allow me to ask at about what time will our Spring campaign begin?'
"'At the very first moment that we can move on the roads in safety. I am now sending Sherwood with what troops are within his call from Victor's Hill east to Meredith, breaking railroads, destroying bridges, etc., so that when we commence our movements in the Spring, Biggs will have no line save the one due south or east. We will then force him into the extreme South or cause him to make a junction with the army in the East, under Laws, where our Army of the West and Center must pursue him. The destruction of the two great rebel armies must be our task. This done, the rebellion will be at an end. This must be accomplished within the next fourteen months; sooner if we can, but within that time we must succeed, if at all, and I have no doubt whatever of a final triumph. The Almighty is only permitting the continuation of this struggle in order that the people shall become thoroughly satisfied with the destruction of slavery. Whenever that time comes He will give our enemies over into our hands.'
"'Gen. Silent, your faith is certainly very strong.'
"'Yes; I am now thoroughly convinced in my own mind that within the time mentioned our enemies will be at our feet. I am going East, where I am ordered by the President for some purpose. I intend to lay my whole plan before him and urge its adoption, believing that if followed the rebellion will end as I have stated. Would you like to go East, Gen.
Anderson, if I should wish you to do so?'
"'I would certainly not disobey your orders, Gen. Silent, but I have a good command, and one with which I am well acquainted, and perhaps I would be of more service by remaining with it than by taking a new one.