MISS CARROLL BEFORE CONGRESS.
Miss Carroll's first memorial was brought before Congress March 31,
1870. It was simple and short, with a copy of the plan of campaign
appended.
A Military Committee, with General Jacob M. Howard as chairman, was
appointed to consider it. Thomas A. Scott wrote twice to the Military
Committee endorsing the claim. Mr. Wade, Judge Evans, etc., made their
statements on affidavit.
The evidence being thorough and incontrovertible, Mr. Howard reported
accordingly on February 2, 1871. He recapitulates the letters and
evidence received; gives Mr. Wade's testimony; states that a copy of
Miss Carroll's paper was shown him immediately after the success of
the campaign, by the late Hon. Elisha Whittlesey,[35] of Ohio (Mr.
Whittlesey had asked Miss Carroll for a copy that he might leave it in
his family as an heirloom); notes Miss Carroll's statement that no
military man had ever controverted her claim to having originated the
campaign, and concludes:
"From the high social position of this lady and her established
ability as a writer and thinker, she was prepared at the inception of
the rebellion to exercise a strong influence in behalf of liberty and
the Union; that it was felt and respected in Maryland during the
darkest hours in that State's history, there can be no question. Her
publications throughout the struggle were eloquently and ably written
and widely circulated, and did much to arouse and invigorate the
sentiment of loyalty in Maryland and other border States. It is not
too much to say that they were among the very ablest publications of
the time and exerted a powerful influence upon the hearts of the
people. Some of these publications were prepared under the auspices of
the War Department, and for these Miss Carroll preferred a claim to
reimburse her for the expenses incurred in their publication, which
ought to have been paid; and, as evidence of this, we subjoin the
following statement from the Assistant Secretary of War:--
"'PHILADELPHIA, _January 28, 1863_.
"'All my interviews with Miss Carroll were in my official
capacity as Assistant Secretary of War. The pamphlets published
were, to a certain extent, under a general authority then
exercised by me in the discharge of public duties as Assistant
Secretary of War. No price was fixed, but it was understood that
the Government would 'treat her with sufficient liberality to
compensate her for any service she might render.'"
[Footnote 35: Elisha Whittlesey was Comptroller of
the Treasury at the time of his death, a very
distinguished lawyer in Ohio, and for many terms a
Representative in Congress.]
On the fifteenth of June, 1870, Hon. Thomas A. Scott addressed a
letter to Hon. J. M. Howard, U. S. Senate, in which he says:
"'I learn from Miss Carroll that she has a claim before Congress
for services rendered in the year 1861 in aid of the Government.
I believe now that the Government ought to reward her liberally
for the efforts she made in its behalf to rouse the people
against the rebellious action of the South. I hope you will pass
some measure that will give Miss Carroll what she is certainly
entitled to.
"'THOS. A. SCOTT.'"
"In view, therefore, of the highly meritorious services of Miss
Carroll during the whole period of our National troubles, and
especially at that epoch of the war to which her memorial makes
reference, and in consideration of the further fact that all the
expenses incident to this service were borne by herself, the committee
believe her claim to be just, and that it ought to be recognized by
Congress, and consequently report a bill for her relief."
An accompanying bill was sent in, leaving the amount of compensation
blank for Congress to determine, but the committee agreeing that the
bill ought to be passed in some manner that should recognize the
remarkable and invaluable nature of the services rendered.
Congress having thus received the report made by their own Military
Committee appointed for the purpose, for reasons plainly given by Mr.
Wade and others, at once ignored it, tossing it over to the Court of
Claims, who would have nothing to do with it, and so that Congress
adjourned.
Then followed that singular and disheartening feature of congressional
committees.
Action having been taken, a Military Committee appointed, and a
conclusive report made, Congress could utterly neglect it, and at the
following Congress the previous action would count for nothing, and
the whole wearisome proceeding of a new memorial, a new effort to
procure attention, a new examination of evidence, a new report, a new
bill, and again utter neglect. But the brave woman continued. She was
really fighting alone and at terrible odds another Tennessee campaign
for the rightful recognition of woman's work.
Accordingly, the following year another memorial was sent in, another
committee appointed, renewed testimony given by Scott, Wade, Evans,
and others. Mr. Wilson testified that the claim was "incontestably
established," referred to the evidence given in Miss Carroll's own
memorial, but for want of time made no regular report, apparently,
except this:
_Report._
"Mr. Wilson, on behalf of the Committee on Military Affairs, laid
before the Senate the memorial of Anna Ella Carroll, of Maryland,
setting forth certain valuable military information given to the
Government by her during the war and asking compensation
therefor, which was ordered to be printed, together with a bill
rewarding her for military and literary services"--twice read in
United States Senate--amount left $----, to be filled by this
body. Then Congress again quietly dropped a recognition that
might interfere with party plans, and so _that_ Congress
adjourned.
And so the weary work went on of presenting new memorials and meeting
with the same neglect, Congress never denying the claim and none of
the military commanders making any claim or denying the facts.
Miss Carroll gave extracts from every known historical work showing
the surmises made, endeavoring to attribute the plan to one and
another, and no evidence found to establish such surmises.
Miss Carroll wrote to Hon. J. T. Headley, the distinguished historian
of the Civil War, and received the following letter:
NEWBURGH, N. Y., _February 6, 1873_.
My Dear Madam:
I am much obliged for the pamphlet you sent me. I never knew
before with whom the plan of the campaign up the Tennessee river
originated. There seemed to be a mystery attached to it that I
could not solve. Though General Buell sent me an immense amount
of documents relating to this campaign I could find no reference
to the origin of the change of plan. Afterwards I saw it
attributed to Halleck, which I knew to be false, and I noticed
that he never corroborated it. It is strange that after all my
research it has rested with you to enlighten me.
Money cannot pay for the plan of that campaign. I doubt not
Congress will show not liberality but some justice in the matter.
Yours very sincerely,
J. T. HEADLEY.
So matters went on. New memorials presented for the most part met with
"leave to withdraw." Then Miss Carroll gathered herself up for a
supreme effort, presented fresh testimony, and in 1878 sent in a
memorial that is a mine of wealth and the most interesting memorial
she has ever presented. It is labeled--
45th Congress, \ House of Representatives / Miss. Doc.
2d Session / \ No. 58
Being a document of the first importance and containing some singular
evidence, it has been systematically excluded from every Congressional
index, though published by order of Congress and included in the bound
volumes.
Miss Carroll having made in 1878 this very notable memorial, on
February 18, 1879--
45th Congress,\ Senate /Report
3d Session. / \ No. 775.
Mr. Cockrell made a report entered on the Congressional lists as
_adverse_, but really an additional evidence of the incontrovertible
nature of the facts and the testimony of the case, the report being
only adverse as to compensation. The report admits the services, both
literary and military, and even concedes the proposition that "_the
transfer of the national armies from the banks of the Ohio up the
Tennessee river to the decisive position in Mississippi was the
greatest military event in the interest of the human race known to
modern ages, and will ever rank among the very few strategic movements
in the world's history that have decided the fate of empires and
peoples_," and that "_no true history can be written that does not
assign to the memorialist the credit of the conception_."
The report thereupon proceeds to state the opinion of the committee,
that with all the evidence before them every subsequent Congress
having failed to make an award they must have had some unknown reasons
for the omission, and that the claim, having been so long neglected,
may as well be indefinitely postponed--a surprising mode of reasoning
and manner of disposition of a claim.
The report supposes the neglect was due to the fact that the services
were rendered to the Secret Service Commission and inclines to think
that the two thousand dollars received was considered a sufficient
remuneration for the literary work.
"The committee have not been able to find a precedent for payment of
claims of this character." * * * "But it would destroy much of the
poetry and grandeur of noble deeds were a price demanded for kindred
services, and achievements of this nature huckstered in the market as
commodities of barter." _And that is all a report intended to be
adverse can say against the claim._
One might remark that it is not wholly unprecedented for honorable
gentlemen to receive remuneration from the Government for services
rendered, or even to ask for their traveling expenses. But this looks
somewhat like a sneer.
Was it directed against the noble invalid who had devoted her life and
strength, her great ability, and her private fortune to the service of
her country for years, with such lavish prodigality and such brilliant
success, and had left a fitting award wholly to the determination of
Congress, asking only that it should be made in some way that should
mark the unusual and distinctive nature of the services rendered?
No; surely it must have been directed against the Government agent who
wanted Miss Carroll, for the consideration of $750, to give a receipt
in full for a bill of $5,000 remaining--a bill certified by the
highest authorities to be sufficiently low or altogether _too_ low for
the literary work performed. (No wonder if _such_ huckstering moved
Mr. Cockrell's righteous soul.) His remarks also were exceedingly
applicable to a liberal-minded person who shortly after sent in a bill
recommending that after all these years Congress would kindly allow
Miss Carroll a pension of _$50 a month_ for "the important military
services rendered the country by her during the late civil war." If
any more $50 miseries are proposed we would commend to the committees
Mr. Cockrell on "huckstering."
The true description of such a report would be "admission of the
incontestable nature of the services rendered."
Then followed the report of the Military Committee of 1881--the last
report, so far as I have been able to ascertain, "printed by order of
Congress."
It is as follows, verbatim:
46th Congress,\ House of Representatives. / Report
3d Session. / \ No. 386
* * * * *
ANNA ELLA CARROLL.
* * * * *
March 3, 1881.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House and
ordered to be printed.
E. S. Bragg, from the Committee on Military Affairs, submitted the
following
_Report._
(To accompany bill H. R. 7256.)
The Committee on Military Affairs, to whom the memorial of Anna Ella
Carroll was referred, asking national recognition and reward for
services rendered the United States during the war between the States,
after careful consideration of the same, submit the following:
In the autumn of 1861 the great question as to whether the Union could
be saved, or whether it was hopelessly subverted, depended on the
ability of the Government to open the Mississippi and deliver a fatal
blow upon the resources of the Confederate power.
The original plan was to reduce the formidable fortifications by
descending this river aided by the gunboat fleet then in preparation
for that object.
President Lincoln had reserved to himself the special direction of
this expedition, but before it was prepared to move he became
convinced that the obstacles to be encountered were too grave and
serious for the success which the exigencies of the crisis demanded,
and the plan was then abandoned and the armies diverted up the
Tennessee river and thence southward to the center of the Confederate
power.
The evidence before this committee completely establishes that Miss
Anna Ella Carroll was the author of this change of plan, which
involved a transfer of the national forces to their new base in north
Mississippi and Alabama, in command of the Memphis and Charleston
railroad. That she devoted time and money in the autumn of 1861 to the
investigation of its feasability is established by the sworn testimony
of L. D. Evans, chief justice of the supreme court of Texas, to the
Military Committee of the United States Senate in the 42d Congress
(see pp. 40, 41 of the memorial); that after that investigation she
submitted her plan in writing to the War Department at Washington,
placing it in the hands of Col. Thomas A. Scott, Assistant Secretary
of War, as is confirmed by his statement (see p. 38 of the memorial);
also confirmed by the statement of Hon. B. F. Wade, chairman of the
Committee on the Conduct of the War, made to the same committee (see
p. 38), and of President Lincoln and Secretary Stanton (see p. 39 of
memorial); also by Hon. O. H. Browning, of Illinois, Senator during
the war, in confidential relations with President Lincoln and
Secretary Stanton (see p. 39 of memorial); also that of Hon. Elisha
Whittlesey, Comptroller of the Treasury (see p. 41 of memorial); also
by Hon. Thomas H. Hicks, Governor of Maryland, and by Hon. Frederick
Feckey's affidavit, Comptroller of the Public Works of Maryland (see
p. 127 of memorial); by Hon. Reverdy Johnson (see pp. 26 and 41 of
memorial); Hon. George Vickers, United States Senator from Maryland
(see p. 41 of memorial); again by Hon. B. F. Wade (see p. 41 of
memorial); Hon. J. T. Headley (see p. 43 of memorial); Rev. Dr. R. J.
Breckenridge on services (see p. 47 of memorial); Prof. Joseph Henry,
Rev. Dr. Hodge, of theological seminary at Princeton (see p. 30 of
memorial); remarkable interviews and correspondence of Judge B. F.
Wade (see pp. 23-26 of memorial).
That this campaign prevented the recognition of Southern independence
by its fatal effects on the Confederate States is shown by letters
from Hon. C. M. Clay (see pp. 40, 43 of memorial), and by his letters
from St. Petersburgh; also those of Mr. Adams and Mr. Dayton from
London and Paris (see pp. 100-102 of memorial).
That the campaign defeated national bankruptcy, then imminent, and
opened the way for a system of finance to defend the Federal cause is
shown by the debates of the period in both Houses of Congress; by the
utterances of Mr. Spalding, Mr. Diven, Mr. Thaddeus Stevens, Mr.
Roscoe Conkling, Mr. John Sherman, Mr. Henry Wilson, Mr. Fessenden,
Mr. Trumbull, Mr. Foster, Mr. Garrett Davis, Mr. John C. Crittenden,
&c., found for convenient reference in appendix to memorial, page 59;
also therein the opinion of the English press as to why the Union
could not be restored.
The condition of the struggle can best be realized as depicted by the
leading statesmen in Congress previous to the execution of these
military movements (see synopsis of debates from _Congressional
Globe_, pp. 21, 22 of memorial).
The effect of this campaign upon the country and the anxiety to find
out and reward the author are evinced by the resolution of Mr. Roscoe
Conkling in the House of Representatives, 24th of February, 1862 (see
debates on the origin of the campaign, pp. 39-63 of memorial). But it
was deemed prudent to make no public claim as to authorship while the
war lasted (see Colonel Scott's view, p. 32 of memorial).
The wisdom of the plan was proven, not only by the absolute advantages
which resulted, giving the mastery of the conflict to the national
arms and ever more assuring their success even against the powers of
all Europe should they have combined, but it was likewise proven by
the failures to open the Mississippi or win any decided success on the
plan first devised by the Government.
It is further conclusively shown that no plan, order, letter,
telegram, or suggestion of the Tennessee river as the line of invasion
has ever been produced except in the paper submitted by Miss Carroll
on the 30th of November, 1861, and her subsequent letters to the
Government as the campaign progressed.
It is further shown to this committee that the able and patriotic
publications of the memorialist in pamphlets and newspapers, with her
high social influence, not only largely contributed to the cause of
the Union in her own State, Maryland (see Governor Hicks' letters, p.
27 of memorial), but exerted a wide and salutary influence on all the
border States (see Howard's Report, p. 33, and p. 75 of memorial).
These publications were used by the Government as war measures, and
the debate in Congress shows that she was the first writer on the war
powers of the Government (see p. 45 of memorial). Leading statesmen
and jurists bore testimony to their value, including President
Lincoln, Secretaries Chase, Stanton, Seward, Welles, Smith, Attorney
General Bates, Senators Browning, Doolittle, Collamer, Cowan, Reverdy
Johnson, and Hicks, Hon. Horace Binney, Hon. Benjamin H. Brewster,
Hon. William M. Meredith, Hon. Robert J. Walker, Hon. Charles
O'Connor, Hon. Edwards Pierrepont, Hon. Edward Everett, Hon. Thomas
Corwin, Hon. Francis Thomas, of Maryland, and many others, found in
memorial.
The Military Committee, through General Howard, in the Forty-first
Congress, 3d session, Document No. 337, unanimously reported that Miss
Carroll did cause the change of the military expedition from the
Mississippi to the Tennessee, &c.; and the aforesaid act of the 42d
Congress, 2d session, Document No. 167, as found in memorial, reported
through Hon. Henry Wilson the evidence and bill in support of this
claim. Again, in the Forty-fourth Congress, the Military Committee of
the House favorably considered this claim, and Gen. A. S. Williams was
prepared to report, and, being prevented by want of time, placed on
record that this claim is incontestably established, and that the
country owes to Miss Carroll a large and honest compensation, both in
money and in honors, for her services in the national crises.
In view of all these facts, this committee believes that the thanks of
the nation are due Miss Carroll, and that they are fully justified in
recommending that she be placed on the pension rolls of the Government
as a partial measure of recognition for her public service, and report
herewith a bill for such purpose and recommend its passage.
Hon. E. M. Stanton came into the War Department in 1862 pledged to
execute the Tennessee campaign.
Statement from Hon. B. F. Wade, chairman of the Committee on the
Conduct of the War, April 4, 1876. (This is the long letter from Mr.
Wade, which we have already given, and we need not repeat it.)
* * * * *
General Bragg prepared and suggested the following bill to accompany
the report:
[36]"_Be it enacted_, That the same sum and emoluments given by the
Government to the major generals of the United States Army be paid to
Anna Ella Carroll from the date of her services to the country, in
November, 1861, to the time of the passage of this act; and the
further payment of the same amount as the pay and emoluments of a
major general of the United States Army be paid to her in quarterly
installments to the end of her life, as a partial measure of
recognition of her services to the nation," and recommend its passage.
[Footnote 36: I copied this from a printed account
some years ago. Conversing lately with a friend of
General Bragg, I was assured that this was the
first bill prepared.]
To suggest a bill that should rightfully mark the preëminently
military nature of the services rendered without giving offense to the
class accustomed to monopolize the sounding titles and to wear the
glittering plumes was a wonderfully difficult thing to do. Here at
least was a brave and honest effort to accomplish what no previous
committee had even attempted. The other committees had left the award
a blank, to be filled in by a puzzled and unwilling Congress, who
preferred to do nothing at all.
In England probably there would not have been the same insuperable
difficulty, a sovereign lady holding high military office as a matter
of course; but we have thrown aside some noble traditions, and America
never has a sovereign lady.
There was something noble and fitting in this recommendation of award
by General Bragg. Considering how great public services have been
formerly rewarded, it was certainly not extreme.
To go back to English history:
"The Duke of Marlborough, who commanded the allied armies of England,
Austria, and Germany, received the most flattering testimonials in all
forms. A principality was voted to him in Germany, while the English
Government settled upon him the manor of Woodstock, long a royal
residence, and erected thereon a magnificent palace as an expression
of a nation's gratitude. On the Duke of Wellington honors, offices,
and rewards were showered from every quarter. The crown exhausted its
stores of titles, and in addition to former grants the sum of £200,000
was voted in 1815 for the purchase of a mansion and estate, etc. The
rank of field marshal in four of the greatest armies in the world was
bestowed by the leading governments of Europe.
"In England it has for a long time been the custom to reward and honor
those illustrious in the realms of science and literature as well as
of military success. Though with less demonstration and expenditure of
wealth, our own country has not overlooked signal services in its
behalf. The government of Pennsylvania in the days of the Revolution
voted £2,500 for the political writings of Thomas Paine, and New York
a farm of 300 acres in a high state of cultivation, with elegant and
spacious buildings. Washington himself gave a woman a sergeant's
commission in the army, who stood at the gun by which her husband had
fallen, and on his recommendation she was placed on the pay-roll for
life.
"Congress, in pursuance of this feeling, has not been unmindful of
Anderson's heroic defense of Fort Sumter, of Farragut's capture of New
Orleans, of Rawlins, etc., of Stanton, and of Lincoln, in conferring
tokens of recognition for their services upon the families who
survived them. Many instances might be cited where public-spirited
women have been rewarded for services rendered in individual cases
during the late struggle and in other forms since."
And was it not fitting that the author of such influential pamphlets
and the designer of the remarkable plan of the Tennessee campaign
should be honorably recognized and rewarded?
Miss Carroll was in her 66th year at the time of General Bragg's
recommendation. Her father was no longer living, her family was
scattered, her health was failing, and her time, strength, and fortune
had been wholly expended in the service of her country with noble
generosity and the most brilliant results. Surely she deserved to
spend the remaining years of her life in honorable independence,
distinguished and beloved by the nation to whom she had rendered
incalculable service.
Now it seemed as if, after such an unqualified indorsement of her work
by three successive military committees appointed for the purpose, and
a suitable bill prepared, that surely her cause was won. Miss Carroll
had been informed of the report and of the bill that had been
prepared. But the Military Committee, having made this excellent
summary of evidence, indorsed Miss Carroll's claim in the strongest
manner, and prepared a noble and fitting bill, became greatly alarmed
at what they had done. Leaving their report unchanged, at the last
moment they hastily withdrew the dignified and fitting bill and
substituted in its place the following surprising performance:
"_Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled_, That the Secretary of
the Interior be, and he is hereby, authorized and directed to place
upon the pension-rolls of the United States the name of Anna Ella
Carroll, and to pay to her a pension of fifty dollars per month from
and after the passage of this act, during her life, for the important
military service rendered the country by her during the late civil
war."
_Such_ a report and _such_ a bill side by side stand an anomaly
unparalleled.
Truly the life of the nation was rated as a cheap thing.
Of course the bill died immediately of its own glaring and ineffable
meanness.
One can hardly say whether it would have been the more unworthy
thing to pass such a bill or to pass none at all; but the last, being
the most timorous course, had been adopted for ten successive years,
as it has also been resorted to in the ten succeeding ones.
The Military Committee of 1881, having accomplished this astonishing
feat, threw away their arms and ignominiously fled--and Congress
followed in the rear, indefinitely postponing action on an unwelcome
claim, that always _would_ turn up "incontestably proven."