According to Historynet, 150 years ago today the 1st Louisiana Native Guard became the first African-American regiment accepted into United States service. It was organized by Ben Butler during his military supervision of New Orleans.
1st Louisiana Native Guard guarding a railroad
You can see more images and read about this regiment in the February 28, 1863 edition of Harper’s Weekly at Son of the South.
‘sanguinary conflict … for mutual slaughter’
Here a Democrat newspaper from upstate New York in a single column comments on three events on eight days in September: The Battle of Antietam on the 17th, President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation of the 22nd, and the president’s order subjecting those who discouraged enlistment to martial law and denying the writ of habeas corpus to those same people (24th).
You can browse to Civil War Daily Gazette for those dates and get a good report on these issues. One of the things I did not realize is that the timing of the Emancipation Proclamation was tied to Mr. Lincoln’s warning to the southern states on July 25th that if they were still in rebellion in sixty days all property would be subject to confiscation. That would seem to be an important factor because as late as September 13th the president wrote that emancipation at that time would be unenforceable. The following editorial would agree that it still is unenforceable.
From a Seneca County, New York newspaper in 1862:
The Battle of Sharpsburg.
gallant, invincible, omnipresent at Sharpsburg
We offer no apology for publishing the thrilling narrative of the Battle of Sharpsburg, found on the first page of to-day’s paper. It was by far the bloodiest, and most fiercely contested engagement of the war. Both armies fought with a desperate valor, and an unflinching heroism, which were never surpassed on any of the historical battle-fields of the old world, – but as it was only men of the same lineage and race, trying to vanquish each other, one need not be surprised that after the day’s slaughter, it was difficult to determine which was the winner. Subsequent events, however, have demonstrated that the enemy were unwilling to renew the contest, hence their retreat on the following day, while their dead and wounded were being cared for. The Generalship displayed on both sides was of the most brilliant character. – there were no retreats, or panics in that dreadful days work, but every officer, high and low, were prompt to obey orders – supported by the rank and file – who resisted the rebel legions that were furiously hurled against them, in quick succession. The presence of the commanding officer – the gallant and invincible MCCLELLAN – on all parts of the battlefield, inspired our troops with renewed courage, and a fierce determination to conquer or die. Never did men fight more determinedly, more heroically. And yet, when one peruses the thrilling detail of this terrible struggle, the heart sickens at the thought that a people, only a few days since so prosperous and happy – men of the same lineage, and with a common destiny, should so soon array themselves in sanguinary conflict and for mutual slaughter. The thought is terrible, and the progress of events since President LINCOLN’s Inauguration seem like a horrid dream. Verily, is not this the bloodiest and most unnatural war of modern times?
_____________________________________
‘If he has the Constitutional authority to free negroes, he has a corresponding Constitutional authority to enslave them’
Proclamation of Emancipation.
President LINCOLN has finally yielded to the Abolition pressure, and issued a Proclamation, declaring all slaves free in States which shall be in rebellion on the 1st of January next. The President ought to issue another Proclamation declairing the rebel army disbanded, and then he would reach the climax of Abolition folly and madness. It remains to be seen what effect this Proclamation will have towards liberating the four millions of slaves in the Southern States. We do not believe that it will in any way disturb the status of slavery. Proclamations against slavery, and those in arms against the Government, amount to nothing unless we have the power to enforce them. So far we have made poor headway towards subduing the rebel army, or penetrating the enemy’s country. The whole world will laugh at the impotence of this mere Paper Proclamation.It will not add to our strength, but on the other hand, and under existing circumstances, it will strengthen the rebellion three fold, and prolong almost indefinitely the horrors and miseries of this most wicked war.
The President has no power or authority for issuing a Proclamation of this character. The Constitution does not give him the power, – it is usurpation. If he has the Constitutional authority to free negroes, he has a corresponding Constitutional authority to enslave them. If not, why not? President LINCOLN we fear is fast assuming the power of an usurper, and unless the people arouse themselves to the dangers by which we are threatened, all hopes of a free people will be blasted and withered, and we soon numbered among the nations that have gone down in blood and disaster.
_______________________________
THE President has issued a proclamation against discouraging volunteer enlistments and prohibiting other disloyal practices. – The writ of habeas corpus is suspended in regard to all persons arrested, and confined in military prisons. What next, Mr. President?
‘What next, Mr. President?’
This image is used at Wikipedia’s article on the Emancipation Proclamation in the section on “Political Impact” – where you can read more about Democrat party reaction.
Angel knows best
Hundreds of Tons Warehoused
From The New-York Times September 26, 1862:
Protest Against Sending Presents to Soldiers.
CENTRAL OFFICE, SANITARY COMMISSION,
WASHINGTON, Sept. 20, 1862.
The Sanitary Commission, at the request of Gen. HALLECK, Commanding in Chief the Armies of the United States, most earnestry advises against the practice of sending presents to soldiers of articles which it is supposed will add to the conveniences of their camp life. To the knowledge of the Commission, many hundred tons of such presents are now piled uselessly in store-houses and yards, and upon old camp-grounds; while thousands have probably been destroyed to prevent their falling into the hands of the enemy, and but a small part of all that have been received by those to whom they were addressed have been of the smallest value to them, except as tokens of the affectionate interest of their friends. For this purpose, letters and such other small and light articles as can be transmitted by mall would have been much better. Larger gifts occasion serious practical mischief -men and officers being [???] averse to throwing them away — they add to the incumbrances, which are a chief cause of the excessive fatigue, and thus of the sickness of the soldier. …
FRED. LAW [???] [Olmsted], General Secretary.
Frederick Law Olmsted was a landscape architect (New York City’s Central Park, for example) who did serve as General Secretary of the U.S. Sanitary Commission during the war. He also helped found the Union League Club of New York in 1863. And he achieved a lot more during his long career.
Frederick Law Olmsted
Town of Tyre in deficit
A Democrat newspaper found a graphic way of illustrating Democrat support for the Civil War by using a table of enlistment results – its majority Democrat county easily reached its quota of volunteers under the federal administration’s call for 600,000 recruits in the summer of 1862. The only laggard town? The county’s most Republican town. The last part of this article apparently shows a creditor giving a recruit a $100 break on his mortgage.
From a Seneca County, New york newspaper in 1862:
Quota for Seneca County.
The following statement shows the quota of each town in this county towards the 600,000 volunteers called for since July 2, 1862:
It is gratifying that this, the only Democratic county in Western New York, should have so promptly furnished her quota of the 600,000 men called for, and that every democratic town in the county has a surplus, and that the surplus is somewhat in proportion to the democratic majorities. Junius, the strongest Abolition Republican town in the county, is the only one that has not furnished her quota of men.
Of these 909 men furnished from this county, we have no doubt, from all we can learn, over 500 are Democrats.
Are Democrats opposed to the vigorous prosecution of the war? — Observer.
When it is remembered that, on the breaking out of the rebellion, the town of Seneca Falls promptly furnished over five hundred volunteers; and that, during the past year, Lieutenant J. MARSHALL GUION and others recruited here for the old regiments, about one hundred and fifty more, (for all of which the town gets no credit in the above estimate,) the surplus furnished by Seneca Falls will be readily appreciated. Waterloo, Fayette, and other Democratic towns, have also done well. The cost to individuals, and to the towns, of these recruits, has been enormous, and we think we ask nothing unfair, when we claim that Republican Junius, and other laggard towns, should at least pay a proportion of the public bounties, that would tend somewhat to equalize their contributions to the war.
The following receipt, endorsed on a mortgage given for the purchase money of property over two years ago, has just been shown us, by one of the volunteers from this town in Col. JOHNSON’s Regiment, will serve to illustrate the cost to individuals (this being in addition to all other bounties) of getting up the recent quota:
“In consideration of LEONARD MAURER enlisting as a private in the service of the United States, for three years or during the war now existing, and of his being mustered into the service, I do hereby acknowledge payment of One Hundred Dollars upon his bond and mortgage, dated September 1, 1860.
“Seneca Falls, Sept. 17, 1862.
“JOSIAH T. MILLER.
“In presence of H.A. PALMER.”
40 year old recruit got break on mortgage
A different newspaper clipping allows a response from Junius (the clipping was beat up).
Defence of Junius against the Seneca Observer.
JUNIUS, August 18, 1862.
Friend Fuller – DEAR SIR: – I ask for a corner in the COURIER to expose a few of the false hoods of the last Observer.
In its article headed, Democrats opposed to the war,” it takes particular pains to single out Junius as a Republican town and as doing as near nothing [?] … We plead g[uilty to]not doing as much as larger towns [?] … people of Junius are nearly all farmers, who need to hire two rather than spare one.
I will give you an account of what they have done and are still doing in this town. 13 have enlisted with Mr. Munson, been examined and mustered in. 5 went with the Waterloo Company last Wednesday from Waterloo, all mustered in. We have raised a fund by subscription of $500 or $600; give to each man that goes from town $10 (unless he received that when he enlisted), let him go into any Company he chooses, if in this District, the balance of the fund to be used for the benefit of the families of those who may need help.
According to an 1862 directory Josiah T. Miller was a partner in a firm of attorneys, insurance agents, and “AGENTS TO LOAN MONEY”. As it turns out Mr. Miller is going to be involved with Seneca Fall’s McClellan Club; the 1862 midterm elections are approaching.
The map is at Harvest of History
new club would agree
From a Seneca County, New York newspaper in September 1862:
McClellan Club.
The undersigned hereby form themselves into a Club, to be known as the “McClellan Club of Seneca Falls,” to [be] organized to support “the Constitutio[n,] the Union, and the enforcement of t[he] Laws.”
The first meeting of the Club will be at Concert Hall, on the 29th of September, 1862, at 7 1-2 o’clock P.M.
[the names of 61 men.]
It is said that George B. McClellan supported Democrat Stephen A. Douglas in the 1860 presidential campaign. It would not surprise me if some of the 61 members who were organizing the club were involved with The Little Giants during the 1860 campaign.
Brothers in the 14th Indiana Infantry Company D
According to 14th Indiana Volunteers Phillip Letsinger was killed at Antietam.
headed to Fort Warren?
According to this report, an Albany, New York newspaper thinks the Confederacy is doing as well as it is in the rebellion because its government is non-partisan and set up on a war footing. The Lincoln administration, on the other hand, is preoccupied with partisan politics and the spoils system.
From the Richmond Daily Dispatch September 20, 1862:
The contrast.
[From the Albany (N. Y.) Atlas.]
At a public meeting in New Hampshire, Senator Hale of that State is reported to have said: “I may be ordered to Fort Warren for the expression I am about to make, but I do not hesitate to declare that there is nothing that can parallel the exhibition of ability, vigor and resource shown by the Confederate Government, except the incapacity and imbecility of our own.”
Senator Hale has not yet been sent to Fort Warren, and will not be. That place is reserved for Democrats, who, at some former day, may have offended a Cabinet officer, and who are badgered with false charges of disloyalty now.
What is the secret of the contrast between rebel efficiency and governmental helplessness? When the Confederate Government was organized, the opposition was at once associated in the administration. Stephens, who ran with Douglas, was made Vice President. A Cabinet of all parties was constructed. When Cabinet officers were proved insufficient, they were dismissed. Laggart Generals were cashiered, deserters shot, peculators punished. The South was organized on a war basis.
President Lincoln, on the other hand, made up his Cabinet out of the dead-wood of the Chicago Convention. Seward, Chase, Cameron, Bates, were all his rivals, and enemies of each other — all disappointed and rejected men! These worn-out politicians had their followers to provide for; and they fed them upon the plunder of the treasury — upon the commissariat of the army — upon the spoils of patronage. In the crisis the first battle of Bull Run, the President was engaged in settling paltry claims of partisans to post-offices; and, fourteen months later, when Washington was in hourly danger of capture, was busy making up partisan lists of Tax Collectors, and Assessors — selecting them upon occasion from the exposed and condemned shoddy contractors.
dead-wood
One Army, at a conjuncture when the fortunes of the whole contest were depending upon it, has been sacrificed to political jealousies. Another General whose name has always been associated with defeat has been kept in command by the Nepotism of Cabinet ministers! All the while the energies of the Government have been directed against the press, or the free discussion of citizens, or to seconding the private revenges and political hates of men who have secretly instigated accusations against their neighbors. Never on so great an occasion had an administration confined itself to such paltry objects!
But did not Mr. Lincoln preface his inaugural oath by the declaration that he considered the decision of the Supreme Court, in regard to the subject of slavery, as not binding upon him; while he felt bound to obey the instructions of the Chicago platform? A stream never rises higher than its fountain; nor an administration, than its head.
All this while the people have placed in the hands of the President, at Washington, unlimited resources of men and money, arms, ships, and public credit.
It is customary to say in excuse for the present state of affairs that the Confederacy has exhibited unexpected resources. True; but has not the North shown a power and wealth of means equally surprising? We have raised armies such as Europe never equalled; navies which have never been surpassed in extent or in the use of modern improvements of warfare. We have spent money at a rate that startles the most extravagant schemers of the Old World. There is not an invention of war.–plated ship, mammoth gun, marine ram, ærial [aerial?] telegraph, balloon of reconnaissance, diving ball, or pontoon — which we have not had. No army ever marched, no navy ever sailed with such pay or provision or armament as ours.
We stood as immeasurably above our adversaries in resources on the last day’s battle at Bull Run as a year ago. We are now as far above them as at any time, if we had men in charge of public affairs capable of handling there resources. There, and there alone, the contrast lies between ourselves and our adversaries.
John Parker Hale was the nominee of the Free Soil party in 1852 and later became a Republican. President Lincoln appointed Mr. Hale as minister to Spain in 1865.
on board a famous ‘plated ship’ – there’s (many) more where that came from
temporary hospital after the battle
150 years ago today George M. Guion wrote a report for his hometown newspaper about the casualties his unit suffered during the Battle of Antietam.
From a Seneca County, New York newspaper in 1862:
Letter from Captain Guion.
BATTLEFIELD OF SHARPSBURG,
September 19, 1862.
EDITOR REVEILLE: – Enclosed I send you a list of the killed, wounded and missing in Co. A, during the battle of the 17th:
Killed – Charles P. Siegfred [Seigfred?], Frank Reynolds.
Wounded – Jacob Bay, head, severe; Thos. W. Clark, head, slight; Chas. F. Smith, thigh, severe; Wm. F. Hecker, head, severe; J.W. Hendricks, leg, slight; John Coshen, head, severe.
Missing – Patrick Anderson, supposed to be wounded.
Our Brigade lost about 350 men, of which number 44 are from the 33d.
I cannot speak too highly of the firmness and unflinching bravery displayed by those under my command during the entire action, and especially while under the fire of the enemy’s artillery and infantry. All did nobly, and none more so than those whose names are mentioned above, fully sustaining their well earned reputation of “veterans.” The remains of the two who fell while gallantly fighting for the cause so dear to us all, were removed from the field and buried in a neighboring cemetery. The wounded are all in the hospitals receiving the best possible attention.
Your in haste,
G.M. GUION,
Capt. Co. A, 33d N.Y.S.V.
‘fell while gallantly fighting for the cause so dear to us all’
another gallant veteran ‘buried in a neighboring cemetery’
At Dunker church
Without a telegraph connection it took a long time for news to travel 150 years ago. I did not see an “extra”; there was not much accurate news about the Battle of Antietam in the Dispatch for a few days after it was fought. There seems to have been quite a few rumors about the battle both North and South.
From the Richmond Daily Dispatch September 18, 1862:
Thanksgiving day.
To-day being the day appointed for Thanksgiving by the President, no paper will be issued from this office to-morrow. Should any news of interest transpire it will be issued in an extra.
Drawing it for the North
A few of the rebel dead
The 33rd fighting in Franklin’s corps
A severe and unexpected volley from the woods on our right struck full on the Seventy-seventh and Thirty-third New York, which staggered them for a moment, but they closed up and faced by the rear rank, and poured in a close and scorching fire, driving back and scattering the enemy at this point. As soon as my line was formed, facing the belt of the woods and the open ground to its right, the men were ordered down. Pickets were posted on the crest of a small hill along our front, and all kept in readiness to hold firmly to the position or to attack. A battery of the enemy advanced and played with severity along my flank and through the line of the Twentieth New York, which, from the nature of the ground, was compelled to refuse its left, and thus received the fire along its entire front. Sharpshooters from the woods to the right and to the extreme left also opened upon us. Shell, grape, and canister swept from left to right. The practice of the enemy was rapid and very accurate, and in a short time our loss was very heavy, and the dead and wounded encumbered our ranks. They were carried to the rear to a temporary hospital, where Asst. Surg. Richard Curran, Thirty-third New York Volunteers, was assiduous in his attention to the wounded.
Richard J. Curran
Asst. Surg. Richard Curran, Thirty-third New York Volunteers, was in charge of our temporary hospital, which unavoidably was under fire but he attended faithfully to his severe duties, and I beg to mention this officer with particular commendation. His example is but too rare, most unfortunately.
Richard Curran would be awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroism in caring for the wounded at Antietam. You can read an excellent article about Mr. Curran at Irish in the American Civil War. He tells about his experience during the battle in Deeds of valor:
how America’s heroes won the Medal of Honor edited by Walter Frederick Beyer, Oscar Frederick Keydel (page 81). These two links show an image of Curran’s “Improvised Straw-Stack Hospital”
Richard Curran
Hal Jespersen’s map is licensed by Creative Commons
Somewhere on the battlefield of September 17, 1862
