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OLD 1861 CIVIL WAR LETTER FROM AURORA, NY SUPER CONTENT

Price= $295.00

Rather amazing FOUR page Civil War letter (7.5 x 10”) just PACKED WITH CONTENT about the MILITARY & POLITICAL situation and events as they existed in America as of October 1861. This letter is in good condition (see scan) and written QUITE LEGIBLY with dark brown ink on lined white paper.

Increasing the importance of this letter is the fact that it was sent between two important civic leaders of Cayuga County and the town of Auburn, New York. Salem Town, the writer of the letter was an important educator at Cayuga Academy, and addressee Col. E. B. Morgan who was perhaps the leading citizen in Aurora (see brief Bio of both men below).

In his long letter, Town presents his criticism of what he considers oversights of the Lincoln administration. He believes that the government in Washington has been in general too lenient with “Traitors,” and that “SECESSIONISM COULD AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN UTTERLY CRUSHED OUT” of Baltimore especially. He gives reasons why he feels that too many troops have been wasted guarding Washington DC instead of fighting in Virginia, Kentucky, and Missouri. He describes the panic (that he himself witnessed) in surrounding states when Confederate General Buckner threatened Louisville, Kentucky. He writes about incompetence in Missouri especially that led to the death of Union General Lyon, and “THE STATE RAVAGED AND PLUNDERED BY THE REBELS.” He supports Union General Fremont as “A TRUE MAN,” and important to the loyalty of the Northwestern states. Most of all, he criticizes misuse and incompetence in the Army of the Potomac wasting away outside Washington, fears Foreign recognition of the Confederacy, and concludes, "IN CONSCIENCE NO MORE.”

Historians have generally agreed with most of the criticisms Salem Town outlines in this rather EXTRAORDINARY LETTER. A Full transcription follows:

“Greencastle, Oct. 29, 1861
Col. E. B. & H. Morgans,
I am well aware that those least competent to form correct opinions of public measures, are inclined to censure the most confidenlly. Such may be my case. But in taking a plain common sense view of matters of fact, as they have transpired, I cannot (in my own mind) avoid the conclusion that some serious errors, or if you please, OVERSIGHTS have been committed by the administration, tending to protract the war, and render the subjugation of rebellion far more difficult.

In the first place actual traitors, proved to be such, have been treated with too much leniency. This we know has emboldened rebellion. Baltimore is the heart of Maryland, and as soon as Washington was safe, SECESSIONISM COULD AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN UTTERLY CRUSHED OUT, instead of being left, covertly to contribute so much, as we know she has, to aid rebellion wherever she could. Remove over awing restraints, and Baltimore, with the mass of state population, are this day as bitter secessionists as those of SC. Facts which have transpired for the last three months, have demonstrated the truth of this assertion, not withstanding the multiplication of all their hypocritical professions of loyalty, with which the Gov. have been cajoled.

WASHINGTON HAS LONG SINCE BEEN OUT OF DANGER, and yet, troops by thousands from all quarters have been pouring into that City and vicinity, too much to the neglect of western VA, KY, and MO, where rebellion could have been checked in its incipient state, by a moderate force before it had time to become formidable. In each of those states, the rebels had ample time to lay their plans,
[page 2]
and rally their forces, before any effective measures were properly inaugurated to meet the emergencies. As to this, we are assured by what has actually occurred. Treason, always works secretly and in the dark. No doubt, a large majority of Kentuckians are loyal. Hence the safety of the state was presumed on without sufficient precautionary measures to guard against possible contingences when, to their surprise, they learned that BUCKNER WAS MOVING TOWARDS LOUISVILLE, where there were few defenses except home guards. I WAS IN CINCINNATI WHEN THE EXPRESS CAME FOR TROOPS FROM CAMP DENISON to be forwarded with all dispatch, and saw them embark. The Louisville papers say, the City, in all probability would have been taken, but for the removal of the rails to stop the immediate progress of the cars, as done by some true Union men. This, so delayed Buckner, and gave time for the arrival of troops, that Louisville is now considered safe.

As hopes and fears did prevail more or less in KY, the safer course would have been to have thrown a few regiments into some locality, at an early day, whence they could most expeditiously be moved to any point of danger, should that occur. The same should have been done in West Va as soon as practicable after they cut loose from. E. Va. I believe Gov. could have done this much without imperiling any other important interest.

But MO ESPECIALLY, HAS BEEN MOST SHAMEFULLY NEGLECTED. Secession became rife, (though with much secrecy) long before any strong measures were taken to counter act it. The Federal officers at St. Louis and vicinity, were at length constrained, mainly on their own responsibility, to strike, and the blow was not only timely, but efficient. This drew out all the concealed secessionism throughout the State, and it was discovered to be widespread and formidable.

[page 3]
There were neither troops nor munitions of war at hand, adequate to the impending struggle. Our officers and soldiers accomplished all that such disparity in numbers could do, carrying several important points most triumphantly, yet the BRAVE LYON FELL. LEXINGTON WAS TAKEN, and many parts of the state ravaged and plundered by the rebels. And why? Yes why? Most obviously for the want of men and means the general Gov. had neglected in reason to supply When Fremont received his appointment, it is notorious his embarrassments were very serious, and forced him, by a military necessity to act mainly on his own responsibility to secure those indispensables to sustain his troops, and facilities of transporting the same. The state of things admitted of no delay. A bold stroke must be made or the loyal cause suffer disheartening checks. Under these circumstances, it is not surprising if some unprincipled contractors took advantage of Fremont’s necessities to extort extravagant prices. Be it so, it was not so much his fault as the necessity of the case, which demanded prompt action to meet the rebels on the very threshold of their bold adventures. FREMONT IS A TRUE MAN, energetic and I believe competent. He is certainly the idol of the Northwest and of his army. Telegraph reports of his removal one day and denials the next, have been so often repeated, that the people have become indignant, an many of his soldiers boldly say, if he is removed they will stack their arms and go home. No greater calamity could befall the N.West at this moment, than the supercedure of Fremont, and I cannot believe it will be done. I am not aware, that he has ever received specific instructions from the gen. Gov. And I am sure his department has been illy supplied from headquarters, or aided.
[page 4]
Again, look at the state of things on the Potomac. Our grand army at WASHINGTON IS VIRTUALLY BLOCKADED. The navigation of the river closed. 40,000 horses, even now put on short allowance. What can a railroad do in supplying such an army? A long time since, before the rebels had planted any very formidable batteries on the banks, Col. Ward, repeatedly asked a regiment and 2 or 3 armed tugs, and he would clear off the woods on every. Point where batteries would be dangerous; after which, it would be an easy to prevent the erection of batteries now so formidable. What 1000 men could, in this way have done, at one time, with two armed tugs plying up and down, and watching every point, cannot now be secured with out a heavy body of land and naval forces. Was not this an oversight? The rebels well knew the obstruction of that river would seriously embarrass our great army at Washington and it should have been anticipated, and measures adopted by the war department at a time when the rebel plans might, in a great measure, have been frustrated, at least their works never been carried forward to their present formidable strength. Again what is our great army at Washington and along the Potomac to do? The troops are said to be well disciplined, can take 600 cannon into the field with well practiced gunners, are said to have 40,000 horses for Cavalry and other purposes, an abundance of all the munitions of war, and an enthusiastic soldiery, anxious to do something besides lying there and watching the rebel army. If they winter in their several localities on the Potomac, virtually blockaded as now, and make no demonstrations further than occasion picket skirmishes, which amount to nothing, the patriotism of the country will become disheartened, the rebels encouraged, and FOREIGN POWERS infer, that the Gov. of the US is unequal to the crisis threatening her overthrow. Thus much, and you will say, "IN CONSCIENCE NO MORE.”
S. Town
Salem Town L.L.D. Oct / 1861 (On the Rebellion)”

The letter writer, Salem Town (1779-1864), “was graduated at Middlebury College in 1805 and received the A.M. degree there in 1807. In 1829 at the age of fifty, he moved with his family to Aurora and became Principal of Cayuga Academy. Soon after his arrival he began writing textbooks, chiefly spelling books and readers. The book for which he was best known was his "Analysis of the English Language" which ran through more than thirty editions and was used in schools for fifty years, 1835-1885. It is estimated that more than one million of his books were used. In 1835, due to a long illness, Salem Town resigned as Principal, but remained in the Academy as "Teacher of Philology and Lecturer on Ancient and Modern History and the Origin and Progress of the Arts and Sciences." Although his chief interest was in English, he was evidently well qualified in science as shown by the fact that in 1863 at the age of 84 he gave a series of lectures on Astronomy at Indiana Asbury College (now DePauw University), Greencastle, Indiana [from where Town wrote this letter in October, 1861]. When he retired in 1850 he became President of the Board of Trustees of Cayuga Academy. At Ithaca, New York, in April 1843, Salem Town was the chief instructor at the first Teacher's Institute held in America. Largely due to the reputation of Salem Town as a teacher, Cayuga Academy became well-known beyond its immediate neighborhood. Students came to it from states as far away as Illinois and Kentucky.” Town was an ardent Freemason. One of his students at Cayuga Academy in the 1840s was Ely Samuel Parker, a Seneca Indian, later a sachem. During the Civil War, Parker became a Brigadier General on General Grant's staff.

The recipients of this letter from Salem Town, were:

--Colonel Edwin Barber Morgan (1806-1881) — “of Cayuga County, N.Y. Nephew of Noyes Barber; brother of Christopher Morgan. Republican. U.S. Representative from New York 25th District, 1853-59; delegate to Republican National Convention from New York, 1856. Died in 1881. Interment at Oak Glen Cemetery, Aurora, N.Y.” Col. E. B. Morgan, was a co-founder of The New York Times. With his lifelong friend and partner Henry Wells (1805-1878), Morgan was an early investor in the American Express Company as well as the Wells Fargo Express Company (Morgan was the Company’s 1st president), which included the stagecoach line that became a national symbol of the pioneer spirit. Morgan also invested in many local enterprises, including the construction of steamboats and the Oswego Starch Company. Both Morgan and Wells were friends and business partners with a prominent citizen of nearby Ithaca – Ezra Cornell (1807-1874), a self-taught mechanic and inventor who became the largest stockholder of the WU Telegraph Company and founded Cornell University.

--Henry Morgan (1810-1886), was the third of six Morgan brothers who shaped much of Aurora’s history. Henry was a local capitalist and the second president of the Cayuga Lake Railroad Company.


Price= $295.00


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