Saturday, April 25, 2015

May 7, 1865---"We hope soon to be at home."


MAY 7, 1865:   

“Listen to my tale of woe” --- Lyrics to a popular air



I




Major Henry Wirz, the Swiss-born physician appointed as Commandant of the notorious Camp Sumter (Andersonville, Georgia) Prisoner of War Camp, is arrested and charged with conspiring with Jefferson Davis to "injure the health and destroy the lives of soldiers in the military service of the United States." Of the more than 45,000 Federal P.O.W.s held at Andersonville, 13,000 died.







II



Jefferson Davis moved southwestward through the Georgia countryside with a relatively small escort of several hundred infantrymen and cavalrymen (most of whom were violating their paroles to travel with the Confederate President). Davis was seeking his wife, who he knew was in the general vicinity with her own escort. But he was also dawdling along the way to talk to Confederate families and shake the hands of Southern soldiers. Some of the “Southern” soldiers happened to be Northern spies in disguise, and Davis’ exact location was soon known to the Federal commanders in the area.





John H. Reagan and Braxton Bragg, who had remained traveling with Davis, were stunned at Davis’ seemingly oblivious mien. Despite the fact that he was a hotly pursued man and that they were passing through regions of Georgia burned by Sherman, Davis was, even now, encouraging further resistance to the Yankees. Many Georgians, seeking a scapegoat for their woes, blamed Davis for the destruction of their farms and shops, and jeered at him as he passed. Some sang,





“And we’ll hang Jefferson Davis from a sour apple tree . . .”



 

With great dignity, Davis refused to react. However, when news that (formerly Confederate) raiders intended to interdict Varina Davis’ entourage, Davis rode off heedless of his own safety, to find his wife and children.  Reagan and part of the escort could do nothing but follow.






III



The demobilization of the United States armies begins.  Ira Lucas U.S.A.  writes to Sarah Sherburne:



Dear Friend Sarah

    

This is probably the last letter that I shall write you from Cav Corps. Hospital as all those who needed further medical treatment were sent to Gen. Hospital yesterday and we are to turn in all hospital stuff too morrow.

    

We will probably go to Washington soon and we hope soon to be at home.

    

May 4th I went to Richmond by way of Petersburg. I saw the rebel Capital and went into the Sennet chamber and sat in the chare of the traitors president this I did not considder very honorable. I saw Jeff. Davis' mansion and picked a flower and a leaf from one of the trees in the yard which I intend to keep as a memento of the pleasant places in which treason flourised and decayed and died.



I saw Libby prisson that wretched den in which so many patriots have sickened and died I saw the hole that Capt Strait and his noble fellows dug to escape from that awful denn.



I procured a few mementos from the prison. The main St of the city is in ruins and it looks desolate indeed. Washingtons statue yet remains in the state house and also one on his horse in the yard.



no more at present.



From your Friend



Ira.










IV

Confederates raid and burn the town of Kingsville, Missouri. Eight civilians are killed and two are wounded. 















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