Union Weapons in Rebel Hands
Gerald A. Patterson's article "Arming the South with Guns From the North" in the October 2007 issue examined the role of Paul J. Semmes (among other notable Confederates) in securing arms and munitions from Northern states prior to the Civil War. Semmes' distant cousin Raphael Semmes, who commanded the raider CSS Alabama, was also involved in the effort to obtain arms from the North. In his book Services Afloat, Raphael Semmes explained his willingness to become involved even before the Confederacy had established its navy. Specifically, the future admiral secured machinery necessary to furnish Southern armories, such as machines to rifle cannon barrels.
Semmes wrote: "I found the [Northern] people everywhere, not only willing, but anxious to contract with me. I purchased large quantities of percussion caps in the city of New York and sent them by express without any disguise to Montgomery [Ala.]. I made contracts for batteries of light artillery, powder, and other munitions and succeeded in getting large quantities of the powder shipped. It was agreed between the contractors and myself that when I should have occasion to use the telegraph, certain other words were to be substituted for those of military import to avoid suspicion."
Thomas K. Tate
Orefield, Pa.
Thumbs Up for Stonewall Account
I thoroughly enjoyed the article on Stonewall's last journey—"He Is Dead, Yet He Liveth," by Tom E. Sanders (January 2008). It is fascinating to read the story of someone who was present at a momentous event—in this case made even more poignant by the inclusion of quotes from a letter, as well as the reunion photo of the 12th Georgia and the ambulance route map. Mr. San ders' ancestor, John James Carson, who was wounded three times, served alongside my own ancestors in the "Calhoun Rifles." Learning about the proceedings of the 1919 United Confederate Veterans annual meeting was an added treat. I hope to see more stories of this nature in the future.
Stephen F. Gates
Charleston, S.C.
Enlightening Shiloh Story
My thanks to Timothy B. Smith for his outstanding article on Lew Wallace and the Battle of Shiloh ("Why Lew Was Late") in the January 2008 issue. Most of us are aware of Wallace's efforts to defend his actions during the battle, but I cannot recall a better explanation of this debate, Wallace's personal arguments and then Smith's expert analysis of this dispute in history and memory. Smith's article will be especially useful as my Civil War students prepare for an intense study of Shiloh.
Susannah U. Bruce
Sam Houston State University
Huntsville, Texas
Thanks for Getting It Right
In my role as the public relations specialist for the Museum of the Confederacy, I wanted to thank you for your piece on the MOC in the January issue ("Civil War Today," P. 12). Civil War Times is the first publication to take the time to get the facts completely right about plans for the new MOC system. Because it is a complicated idea, many other sources have gotten parts of the plan incorrect, leading some of our supporters to develop misconstrued conceptions and to have doubts about our institution's future.
We really appreciate being a part of Civil War Times and knowing that the readers of your magazine benefit from having the correct information provided to them.
Megan E. Stagg
Museum of the Confederacy
Richmond, Va.
Smalls' Role in Reconstruction
The item on Robert Smalls in the "Civil War Today" section of the February issue states that he was elected to the South Carolina legislature and to the U.S. Congress, where he served five terms. The term "elected" is actually misleading, at least regarding his appointment to the state legislature.
From 1865 to 1877, South Carolina was under martial law. The state government was little more than a screen of diplomacy made up of appointed puppets whose primary purpose was to serve the U.S. military command. Because of Chapter CLII of the Reconstruction Act, it was impossible for the majority of state residents to vote in any elections. That act refused the right to vote to anyone who had supported or served the Confederacy. Thus few people were qualified to vote aside from former slaves and Northern immigrants. The loss of voting rights and the right to hold public office was also part of the 14th Amendment. This was obviously the period during which Smalls was a member of the state legislature.
During what amounted to a 12-year continuation of hostilities by the occupying Federal Army, state citizens were subjected to every despicable act imagi nable. Governor Andrew Gordon Magrath was removed from office in May 1865 and jailed by the Union army—simply because he was the governor. At least two of the Union-appointed South Carolina governers were little more than carpetbaggers. During their tenure they managed to pillage, ransack and bankrupt the state.
Smalls went on to write his condemnation of South Carolina and the state government after former Confederate General Wade Hampton was elected to office. His condemnation, titled "Election Methods in the South," is actually a transposition of the crimes committed against the state during those 12 years of so-called Reconstruction.
Hampton actually had to "take" the office after it was shown that the election in which he had been declared the loser had been rigged, by omitting the votes of two primary counties.
Tom Irby
Belton, S.C.
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