bombardment on the same day of Sewalls Point, with a view to landing
there by Wool & a march on Norfolk; he cordially seconded my proposition to take the Revenue Cutter & go myself in search of a landing
in Lynnhaven Bay, when the landing at Sewalls Point was pronounced
by Wool impracticable; and when the landing was found in three
or four hours, he urged Wool, nothing loth by the way, to the prompt
embarkation & march. The next day witnessed the march; a panic; the
Capture of Norfolk; and the following morning the Merrimac was
blown up. Nothing of all this I verily believe would have occurred but
for Stanton's energy of will & thought.We have had sharp fighting yesterday according to McClellans
telegrams and have lost Reno.6 Why will our generals --the best of
them-- expose themsel[ves] as Special Marks to the enemy. The rebel
generals wear no such conspicuous distinctions. We understand that LongstreetMaj. Gen. James Longstreet7 hastened back from Hagerstown to reinforce the enemy
driven by Burnside & Reno, and at this moment probably the battle is
renewed with the advantage of position on our side & perhaps the
advantage of numbers, as Franklin8 was engaged on the road to Harpers Ferry, on theirs. Porters large reinforcement was near McClellan
and will probably reach him today. Porter himself was with McClellan
last nightYour friend S P CHASEHon H. Greeley
| So Chase dated the letter, but his reference to the death of Jesse Lee Reno "yesterday" requires a date of September 15, confirmed by his journal entry for that day. The Cincinnati Historical Society holds a copy of this letter in Jacob Schuckers's handwriting. It appears at micro 22:0765 and, like the letterpress copy, is dated September 12. Chase Papers, 1:1388. | |
| The new tariff had become law on July 14. Statutes at Large, 12:543-61. | |
| According to Greeley, the contract related to "mechanical work" in the U.S. appraiser's stores and entailed "extensive patronage and influence." Greeley had previously expressed concern that the new tariff might affect the low bidder's profitability. Chase's informant was apparently Maunsell B. Field, who served at this time as deputy assistant treasurer at New York. Chase to Greeley, Sept. 7, 1862 ( Greeley Papers, Rare Books and Mss. Div., New York Public Lib., Astor, Lenox, and Tilden Foundations); Greeley to Chase, Aug. 8, 1862 ( Chase Papers, Hist. Soc. of Pa.) | |
| Lincoln's General War Order No. 1, issued on January 27, 1862, and Special War Order No. 1, issued January 31, had called for general movement of U.S. land and naval forces and for George B. McClellan to begin advancing toward Manassas, Va., by February 22. Basler, Collected Works, 5:111-12, 115. | |
| Chase discussed the trip to Hampton Roads, Va., in correspondence to his daughter Janet, May 7, 8, and 11, 1862 (above) and in his journal under the same dates ( Chase Papers, 1:336-44). | |
| Maj. Gen. Jesse Lee Reno died at the battle of South Mountain, September 14. According to the New York Tribune, he "was killed while reconnoitering in the woods to the left of our batteries. A Rebel sharpshooter shot him dead instantly." Long, Civil War Day by Day, 266; OR, ser. 1, v. 19, pt. 2:289; New York Tribune, Sept. 16, 1862. |
-268-
Questia, a part of Gale, Cengage Learning. www.questia.com
Publication information:
Book title: The Salmon P. Chase Papers.
Volume: 3.
Contributors: John Niven - Editor, James P. McClure - AssociateEditor, Leigh Johnsen - AssociateEditor, Salmon Chase - Author.
Publisher: Kent State University Press.
Place of publication: Kent, OH.
Publication year: 1993.
Page number: 268.
This material is protected by copyright and, with the exception of fair use, may not be further copied, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means.
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