Your second letter, dated the first of May has just come to hand. I
commenced writing you a letter three or four days ago but was
interrupted so often that I did not finish it. I wrote one to Mary
which no doubt was duly received, but do not remember whether it
answers your questions or not.
At the time our first Galena company was raised I did not feel at
liberty to engage in hot haste, but took an active interest in
drilling them, and imparting all the instruction I could, and at the
request of the members of the company, and of Mr. Washburn, I came
here for the purpose of assisting for a short time in camp, and of
offering, if necessary, my services for the war. The next two days
after my arrival it was rainy and muddy so that the troops could not
drill and I concluded to go home. Governor Yates heard it and
requested me to remain. Since that I have been acting in that
capacity, and for the last few days have been in command of this camp.
The last of the six regiments called for from this State, will
probably leave by to-morrow, or the day following, and then I shall be
relieved from this command.
The Legislature of this State provided for the raising of eleven
additional regiments and a battalion of artillery; a portion of these
the Governor will appoint me to muster into the service of the State,
when I presume my services may end. I might have obtained the
colonelcy of a regiment possibly, but I was perfectly sickened at the
political wire-pulling for all these commissions, and would not engage
in it. I shall be in no ways backward in offering my services when and
where they are required, but I feel that I have done more now than I
could do serving as a captain under a green colonel, and if this thing
continues they will want more men at a later day.
There have been fully 30,000 more volunteers who have offered their
services, than can be accepted under the present call, without
including the call made by the State; but I can go back to Galena and
drill the three or four companies there, and render them efficient for
any future call. My own opinion is that this war will be but of short
duration. The Administration has acted most prudently and sagaciously
so far in not bringing on a conflict before it had its forces fully
marshalled. When they do strike, our thoroughly loyal states will be
fully protected, and a few decisive victories in some of the southern
ports will send the secession army howling, and the leaders in the
rebellion will flee the country. All the states will then be loyal for
a generation to come. Negroes will depreciate so rapidly in value that
nobody will want to own them, and their masters will be the loudest in
their declamation against the institution from a political and
economic point of view. The negro will never disturb this country
again. The worst that is to be apprehended from him is now: he may
revolt and cause more destruction than any Northern man, except it be
the ultra-abolitionist, wants to see. A Northern army may be required
in the next ninety days to go South to suppress a negro insurrection.
As much as the South have vilified the North, that army would go on
such a mission and with the purest motives.
I have just received a letter from Julia. All are well. Julia takes a
very sensible view of our present difficulties. She would be sorry to
have me go, but thinks the circumstances may warrant it and will not
throw a single obstacle in the way.
There is no doubt but the _valiant_ Pillow has been planning an attack
on Cairo; but as he will learn that that point is well garrisoned and
that they have their ditch on the outside, filled with water, he will
probably desist. As, however, he would find it necessary to receive a
wound, on the first discharge of firearms, he would not be a
formidable enemy. I do not say he would shoot himself, ah no! I am not
so uncharitable as many who served under him in Mexico. I think,
however, he might report himself wounded on the receipt of a very
slight scratch, received hastily in any way, and might irritate the
sore until he convinced himself that he had been wounded by the enemy.
Tell Simpson that I hope he will be able to visit us this summer. I
should like very much to have him stay with us and I want him to make
my house his home.
Remember me to all.