Maitland, James M. (1815-1864) to Joseph M. Maitland
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC03523.10.087 Author/Creator: Maitland, James M. (1815-1864) Place Written: Kingston, Ohio Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 31 July 1863 Pagination: 2 p. ; 31 x 19 cm. Order a Copy
Discusses life on the farm. Notes that the draft is not in place in his county, but hopes it will be implemented soon. Discusses Morgan's Raid, writing, "John Morgan with 28 of his Officers are confined in the Ohio Penitentiary. The authorities intend keeping them as Hostages against those of our men who were taken in North Carolina." Argues that Morgan's Raid proved that all Northern Democrats are not traitors, since even citizens in the area of the notorious Peace Democrat/ Copperhead Clement Vallandigham remained loyal to the Union and supported Morgan's capture. Ohio authorities intend to keep them as hostages for exchange with some Union soldiers captured in North Carolina "with Col Straight when he was committing similar depradations [sic]." Writes, "I myself do not think there are near the number of Traitors in the North as is represented, the great Majority of the Democratic Party are as strongly for the Union as the Administration..." There is a short note at the end of the letter written 1 August.
Joseph Maitland enlisted on 8 August 1862 as a private. He was mustered into "G" Co. OH 95th Infantry. He was mustered out 31 May 1865 at Memphis, Tennessee.
During his July 1863 raid through Ohio and Indiana, Confederate General John H. Morgan captured supplies and soldiers, disrupted railroads, and destroyed bridges. Symbolically, Morgan's Raid was terrifying to many who feared Southern invasion of Union soil. Morgan escaped from the Ohio Penitentiary in November 1863. Also in 1863, Union Colonel Abel D. Streight was ordered to cut the Western and Atlantic Railroad in north Georgia, and was captured by Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest. Streight and over one hundred soldiers succeeded in escaping from Libby Prison in 1864.
Clement Vallandigham was a Peace Democratic, or Copperhead, who openly criticized Lincoln and the War, believing that war should not be used as a means to prevent the South's secession. Lincoln banished Vallandigham in May 1863, and shortly thereafter Vallandigham traveled to Canada, where he ran a campaign for Governor of Ohio. He lost the campaign and returned to the United States in 1864, violating the military's court order.
[excerpt] [draft]
You no doubt have heard frequently by the papers & other sources that there was a great Division in the Public mind in the North that all those who would not swallow the whole of Old Abe's acts were Traitors, Butternuts & Copperheads. the late raid of Morgan has shown quite the contrary as he passed through Vallandingham's District it was reasonable to suppose that the Copperheads so called would play into the hands of Morgan. but instead of that the [sic] were among the first to start in pursuit of him. I myself, do not think there are near the number of Traitors in the North as is represented, the great Majority of the Democratic Party are as strongly for the Union as the Administration. but many of them think that many of the Act of Old Abe's administration does more for disunion than any thing done on the part of the Democrats, and they call upon the Authorities to modify and repeal some of the most obnoxious of them. but very few are in favor of stopping the war until the Rebels will lay down their arms & submit to the Constitution. Now I have objections to the conscription act in some of its provisions but the principal I am in favor of, if we can not get men by the Volunteer principal then we must resort to other means to fill up the ranks, and that right speedily.
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