Reminiscences of Sixty Years in Public Affairs/Chapter 25
XXV
THE OPENING OF THE WAR
WHEN the call was made for seventy-five thousand men, the Sixth Regiment of Massachusetts was one of the first to respond. On the night of the 16th of April some, if not all, of the regiment, were quartered in Boston. I called upon Company B, of Groton, then in the hall over the Williams Market. I found that they understood that the movement meant war and duty. One of the men said to me:
“Some of us will never see Massachusetts again.”
After the affair in Baltimore on the 19th of April, Governor Andrew asked me to go to Washington with despatches for Mr. Lincoln and General Scott. The message was communicated to me through Mr. John M. Forbes. In his letter of request and appointment Governor Andrew said:
“We need your information, influence and acquaintance with the Cabinet, and knowledge of Eastern public sentiment, to leave immediately for Washington. Hope you will proceed at once and open and preserve communication between you and myself.” This letter was dated April 22. Under the same date the Governor wrote to President Lincoln:
“Ex-Governor Boutwell has been appointed Agent of the commonwealth to proceed to Washington to confer with you in regard to the forts in Massachusetts and the militia.” I was instructed also to see General Wool in New York. I received a package of letters, the contents of which were disclosed to me, one hundred dollars in gold, and a small revolver loaded.[1] I took with me a young man named Augustus Bixby, who then lived in Groton, but who had seen something of the world, and was not daunted by the uncertainties of life. He was afterwards a cavalry officer. During the war I one day read in the papers that Bixby had been promoted for gallantry in an affair in the Shenandoah Valley. Within a few days after I met him in Washington on a crutch, or walking with the help of a cane. He had been wounded in the contest. I said:
“Bixby, what did you do?” He replied:
“I don’t know, except I sailed in.”
At New York I telegraphed Vice-President Hamlin, then in Maine, that he should come as far South as New York, that he might be in a situation to act in case of the death or capture of Mr. Lincoln, of whom we then knew nothing. At New York, April 24, I telegraphed Governor Andrew: “General Wool and Vice-President Hamlin are in favor of your taking the responsibility of sending two regiments to take charge of the forts, and to furnish and arm three vessels for the protection of the coast. You can exercise the power, under the circumstances, better than anyone else.” The same day I sent this despatch: “Send without delay a steamer with provisions for General Butler’s command at Annapolis.”
At Perryville, at the mouth of the Susquehanna, I sent Bixby with the despatches by the first boat to Annapolis, with instructions to make his way to Washington at the earliest moment. I followed in the next boat. Upon my arrival at General Butler’s headquarters, I learned that Bixby had left on foot. As the troops were at work in re-laying the track, there was no danger. Indeed, the small squads of men who had burned bridges and torn up tracks disappeared upon the arrival of troops. At nine o’clock in the evening, a train, the first train, carrying the New York Sixty-ninth Regiment, left for Annapolis Junction, at which place we arrived at one o’clock in the morning. The only light upon the train was the headlight, and we moved only the length of the train at each inspection of the road. I made a pillow of my small valise, and a bed of my blanket, and camped on the floor of one of the small houses at Annapolis Junction. In the morning I found Colonel Butterfield of the New York Twelfth and Colonel Scott, a nephew of General Scott, who assumed the direction of affairs. He afterwards joined the rebels. I observed also that our encampment was commanded by hills on the north and east, and Colonel Butterfield informed me that the picket line was a long way inside the base of the hills. At about six o’clock in the evening, a train with troops and three civilians was made ready for Washington. The American flag was displayed at many of the houses on the line of the road.
I arrived in Washington the 27th day of April. I annex a copy of a letter that I wrote to Governor Andrew the day following:
Washington, April 28, 1861.
To His Excellency Governor Andrew.
Sir:—I arrived in Washington to-day, after a journey of
forty-eight hours from Philadelphia by Annapolis. There
have been no mails from the North for a week; and you may
easily understand, that the mighty public sentiment of the
Free States is not yet fully appreciated here.
The President and Cabinet are gaining confidence; and the measures of the Administration will no longer be limited to the defence of the capital. Secretary Welles has already sent orders to Captain Hudson to purchase six steamers, with instructions to consult you in regard to the matter. I regret that the Secretary was not ready to put the matter into the hands of commissioners, who would have acted efficiently and promptly.
Mr. Welles will accept, as a part of the quota, such vessels as may have been purchased by Mr. Forbes.
Senator Grimes of Iowa will probably give Mr. Crowninshield an order for arms. The United States Government may do the same; but no definite action has yet been taken.
Martial law will be proclaimed here to-morrow. Colonel Mansfield will be appointed general, and assigned to this district. He is one of the most efficient officers in the country.
Baltimore is to be closed in from Havre-de-Grace, from the Relay House, from the Carlisle line, and by an efficient naval force. She will be reduced to unconditional submission. The passage of the troops through Maryland has had a great moral effect. The people are changing rapidly in the country places. Many instances of a popular revolution, in towns through which troops have passed or been stationed, have come to my knowledge. I came to Washington with the Twelfth New York Regiment; and from Annapolis Junction there were cheers from three fourths of the houses by the wayside.
Everything appears well at Annapolis, where General Butler commands in person. There is a large body of troops, the people are gradually gaining confidence in the army and the Government, and the regulations seem to be effective. General Butler is popular with the officers whom I met. He has taken command of the highlands that command the town and the encampment. All sorts of rumors are spread among the troops concerning an attack upon the Annapolis Station; but the place can be defended under any conceivable circumstances. I am sorry to say, that everything is in confusion at Annapolis Junction, and a moderate force might, in a single night, break off the connection of this city with the North. It is at present a military station without a permanent head. Each colonel, as he moves towards Washington, commands for twelve or twenty-four hours. My own belief, however, is, that Maryland will never see two thousand men together as a military organization in opposition to the Government.
I presume that your Excellency has means of obtaining information concerning the condition of Massachusetts men, morally and physically; but, as I am here, I shall try to obtain and transmit any information that seems important. I may say now, that the Eighth Regiment is quartered in the rotunda of the Capitol; and a military man, not of Massachusetts, says, that they are already suffering from the cold and dampness of the place. He advises tents and out-door encampment.
I repeat what is every hour said in my hearing, that Massachusetts has taken her place at the head of the column in support of the Government; and our regiments are everywhere esteemed as noble examples of citizen soldiers. I, for one, feel anxious that everything that is proper should be done.
I have written this communication in great haste; and I have only time to subscribe myself your Excellency’s obedient servant. George S. Boutwell.
The next day I called upon General Scott. It was apparent
that he was in no condition to organize or to lead armies. He
was lying upon a lounge, and when he arose he walked with
his hand upon his hip and gave an account of his wound
at the battle of Lundy’s Lane. He was national in his views
of duty, and he spoke with earnestness in reprobation of the conduct of Virginia. He spoke also of the efforts that had
been made to induce him to go with his State. He seemed like
a man without hope, but there were no indications of a lack
of fidelity to the country. Aside from the circumstance that
he was a native of Virginia and that Virginia was engaged in
the Rebellion, it was too much to expect that at his age he
could cope with so formidable a movement as the rebellion of
eleven States. While I was in Washington I presented
to General Scott a young man, Henry S. Briggs, a son of
ex-Governor Briggs, whom General Scott had known when
Governor Briggs was in Congress. Young Briggs was a
lieutenant in the Berkshire regiment, then on duty in
Washington. He wished for a corresponding appointment in the
regular army. This appointment General Scott secured for
him. Afterwards he became colonel of a Massachusetts
regiment of volunteers and at the end of the war he was a
brigadier-general of volunteers.
I left Washington for Massachusetts May 1. I was delayed a night and until four o’clock the day following at Annapolis, where General Butler was in command. I had my quarters with him, and during the night the long roll was beaten. The troops came out, and I waited for the result, which was the discovery that the call was due to a misunderstanding of the signal rockets. I left Annapolis in a small steam tug that came out of the Raritan Canal. We were buffeted about in the bay by a heavy wind, the captain lost his reckoning, anchored, and the next morning we found ourselves uncomfortably near to the Maryland shore.
The next day, May 2, I reached New York and from there I sent the following letter to Governor Andrew:
New York, May 2, 1861.
Sir:—I arrived here this afternoon, and I hope to report to you in person Saturday. I had free conversations with the President, General Scott, Mr. Seward, Mr. Chase, General Cameron, and Mr. Blair, upon public affairs. The impression I received from all, except perhaps Mr. Seward, was favorable to a vigorous prosecution of the war. Mr. Seward repeated his words of December and February. “The crisis is over.” It is, however, understood at Washington that Mr. Seward favors vigorous measures. Mr. Chase says that the policy of the Administration is vigorous and comprehensive, as sure to succeed in controlling the Rebellion, and preserving the whole territory of the Union. I will only say now, that I left Washington with a more favorable impression of the policy of the Government than I entertained when I left Boston.
General Cameron agreed to authorize Massachusetts to raise two regiments in addition to that of Dwight. The papers were all made, and only a Cabinet meeting prevented their completion on Tuesday. I did not wish to remain another day, and I left the papers with the chief clerk; and I also received the assurance of Colonel Ripley, that he would give personal and prompt attention to transmitting them to Boston. I shall expect them on Saturday.
Colonel Ripley issued an order on Tuesday for rifling cannon. Mr. Forbes’ letter aided very much.
I am very truly your most obedient servant,
George S. Boutwell.
I was in Washington again in the month of May, and I
made a third visit the second day after the first battle of
Bull Run. At one of these visits I met General Hooker, at
Mr. Summer’s quarters on F. Street. He had then recently
arrived from California and his appearance indicated poverty.
His dress was worn, and his apparel was that of a decayed
man of the world. He had called upon Senator Sumner to
secure his aid in obtaining the command of a Massachusetts regiment, he being a Massachusetts man by birth. In the
course of the conversation Hooker said that if he could obtain
a regiment, he would come to the command of the army, and
take Richmond. When he came to the command of the army
it seemed possible that his vain boast might be fulfilled in
both particulars. The cause of his failure may be the
subject of debate, but, at Chancellorsville, his orders were not
obeyed. It is probable, however, that Hooker lacked the
qualities of a great commander. He inspired his soldiers
with enthusiasm, he was brave, and his heart was in the
cause. With many faults, he was one of the great soldiers of
the war, and with less sensitiveness of spirit he might have
been one of its renowned chieftains.
I have obtained from the War Department copies of two letters that I wrote to Gen. Cameron, Secretary of War, dated at Havre de Grace, April 26, 1861. They throw some light on the war movements at that time.
Havre de Grace, April 26, 1861.
Hon. Simon Cameron:
Sir: I have written upon the letter of Governor Andrew,
which Mr. Bixby will hand to you.
I cannot too strongly impress upon the Government the importance of authorizing Governor Andrew to procure three steamers for the protection of the coast and to aid in a blockade of the southern ports. The New York merchants are anxious to do the same. I hope you will grant the order. Governor Andrew will put the work of preparation into the hands of our best merchants, who will charge no commissions whatever.
The whole North is wild and determined in its enthusiasm. Should not the Government make another requisition? They will be needed, I fear, and a short and vigorous campaign round Washington will be advantageous in the highest degree. I am, very truly, your obedient servant,
George S. Boutwell.
Havre de Grace, April 26, 1861.
Hon. Simon Cameron:
Sir: I have obtained an order from General Wood to garrison the forts and arsenals, but it is of the utmost importance to obtain authority to purchase at least three steamers and equip them for coast defense. This can be done at a moderate cost and the merchants of Boston are anxious to secure so great a protection to commerce. They can be used effectively upon the Southern coast. I trust that you will transmit an order to Governor Andrew by the bearer of this, Mr. Augustus H. Bixby.
I am, your obedient servant,
George S. Boutwell.
- ↑ This revolver gave me and my friend, Ebenezer F. Stone, then Adjutant-General of the State, more anxiety than all things else connected with the expedition. It never occurred to me to return the pistol. I discharged the barrels and laid the weapon away, only too glad to have it out of sight. Some years after the war, the Adjutant-General’s department was investigated, and a shortage of arms was discovered. I received a letter asking me if I had a pistol belonging to the State. I returned the weapon which I neither wanted nor needed, and to that extent I relieved General Stone.