Uncas McCluer - 1864-11-20

Forest Home, October 3rd, 1864

Dear Friend Henry,
                               Your welcome letter dated the 20th last Ins't was duly received, for which receive many thanks.  I had almost come to the Conclusion that you had disappeared entirely, and that I should not hear from you again.  I am happy however to know I was in error.  I am afraid You will not be very much interested with this letter as I have had no opportunity of  attention of most any one who heretofore have failed to give them credence.
                    First, "Old Papa" as he is denominated by Abs tender footed Satraps, has, it seems in spite of all sayings & reassurances to the contrary, again come to life, and is very likely to create no little trouble to those "law" & "order" loving citizens who so nearly approximate to real tyrants of Nero's Style.  Though it would be but just that he should wreak vengence on those, who have made some of Missouri's best blood to flow like water, Yet I deprecate the stern necessity.  Henry I wish for peace, from my inmost heart I wish for it.  You know my position on this question Henry.  I never Have, nor never will swerve a hair's breadth from the basis of my principles.  No I would rather die, trator [sic] as I am styled in defence [sic] of those principles than desert them.  I could not conscienciously [sic] Do so.  The reason why I wish for peaces is that the dictates of humanity call for it in addition to all other reasons Combined; for of the ultimate success of the south I never Doubted.  When the war is finished the same issues come up for adjustment & compromise.  The South has professed her willingness to close the strife, on condition of an acknowledgement on the part of the North to her right of self government & independence.  She is willing to live in amity with the North, then why prosecute the war?  Does Union consist in force & coercive measures in law or arms.  Nay let the men who have, for a "little more blood-letting" only Consult the "Framers" of the constitution, and they will find that even Hamilton, one of America's proudest sons, the Strong Government man denounced force of arms or laws -- Said they were subversive of the principles upon which republican Government was founded.  I could go on and give you sufficent views of other talented statesmen, for I Have them, all copied & stowed away in my mind, but I need not Do so Knowing Your position as I Do.  I was about to wander off on a discourse concerning the questions at issue between the Contending Parties, but will desist.  You wished to know my opinion of "Mac" for President.  Well Henry if the war is to be continued, I would just as soon & a little rather that the present occupant of the White House should order it than a Democrat.  Let not the name of the Democracy be tarnished by such a blot upon its escutcheon.  The Republican party commenced the strife, broke up the Unions uprooted the Constitution, appealed to Mr. Lenards [sic] "Higher Law" principle, Made Null & void the right of trial by jury -- suspended the writ of Habeas  Corpus -- brought the country to shame & dishonor by sacrificing the "Monroe Doctrine" in the Case of Mexico & have spread "the blackness of darkness" throughout the land & Have sent a garb of mourning to every Home almost in the land.  No let them end it.  Though McClellan should bring peace to the land, yet the honor & reputation of the nation is gone, if not departed, at least as deeply tarnished that it will looked upon by the world in contempt and derision, wheras [sic] it was once the pride and exaltation of all.  As an upright, Honest, and able man, a brave General I believe McClellan knows but few superiors if any now in the land.   But Henry it was He who arrested the Sovereign Legislature of Maryland -- and proposed to Abraham Lincoln the present conscript scheme.  Yes Henry George B. McClellan Did Do this when He was in power when he must as an intelligent man have known He Had no right but that which might gives to act thus.  He knew the Constitution said that the military should always be subservient to the civil law, yes He knew this & yet He acted contrary to His knowledge of it, And now in His acceptance of [of] the Chicago nomination a platform is placed before Him to stand upon, and which is expressive of the desires of the Democracy, yet He pushes it aside, makes His own platform & issues. -- accepts the nomination.  How He can consitently [sic] Do this I for one am unable to see.  In His letter He says that in nominating Him, the convention must Have kept in view His public record & career.  I Do not remember if this is the exact language or not but is its essence I believe.  I wonder How He should like to Have all the people whom the Convention represented to know He advised the conscription, and arrested the Maryland Legislature.  I am afraid His chances for the Presidency would be very considerably lessened.  Again why does He as an Honorable Man act as He Has?  The Chicago Platform was a plain & expressive thing, could not be misunderstood.  If He could not accept the nomination in view of the principles it proposed & also in view of His past record and personal feelings in the Contest, Why Did He not decline the nomination?  There was no compulsion, The basis was before Him.  Now stand on this or not.  This was the issue with Him to accept or not upon this basis.  If Mr. McClellans letter is to be His platform and that of the Democracy then war -- Dark cruel, war will inevitably follow.  This is the view I Have of some of McClellans acts & positions.  I believe too Henry If McClellan was or is to be our next President He can wage a more destructive war against the South than the Republican Party if He So Desires.   If Peace is to be the result of McClellans election, I say God speed it -- but if the war is to proceed I say Nay to His success.  I cannot vote for Him because He makes His own platform & issues.  I go for Principles always not men.  Nor power.  If He is elected and His friends of the Peace Party succeed in making Him recind [sic] I shall then be thankful and Hope for peace.  But suppose that the south Does not acceed [sic] to the propositions laid Down even in the Chicago platform.  What then?  Is the war to go on?  I will tell you my opinion truly Nothing short of an armistice tending the preliminary of recognition of Southern Independence will satisfy Her & on no other grounds will she consent to stop the war  Then how will McClellan &nd [sic] the Democracy effect a peace.  I for one know not.  But I Have wearied you ere this no Doubt with my imperfect ideas on this Democratic nomination so I will cease for the present.  I Have not seen Mr. Watson lately to converse with Him about the present state of affairs so I cannot Give you His view of "Gen'l MClellans [sic] nomination.  If there had been any opportunity promising a talk with Him soon, I would have deferred writing for some time but as such is not the case I answer now.
            As to news from St. Charles I Have none.  No one that I Heard of was to be married.  I believe St. Chas is the driest place I ever was in or it was so the last time I was there, which Was not a good while ago.  Miss Lou & Mr. Harris are reported (as usual) to have some ideas of declaring "for better or worse" But as is about the sixth time I Have Heard it I put no confidence in the report at all.  Though both parties no Doubt would like very much to enter the Hymenial [sic] ring.  Uncas Has returned to the City.  I paid Him a visit a day or two befor [sic] His Departure  I partially promised to attend with Him, but things Have transpired in such a manner as to prevent my doing so, though I should Have been happy to Have Done so.  Since writing the foregoing I have received the St. Louis Republican & I find that a force supposed to be under Pric [sic] Have captured the town of Ironton near Pilot Knob  Some artilery [sic]  was taken, which had been spiked.  Gen Ewing the commandant Had to retire (in good order as usual)  At the present time the exact whereabouts of the Confeds is not known.  Ther's [sic] a mighty big scare in St. Louis just now.  I Dont apprehend any thing serious will Happen there more than is already past.  If Price is really in the state I Do not think He wants anything but recruits for the Southern army, which were gathered up last summer.  A company of young men left about 2 weeks ago enrout [sic] for Price from O'Fallon neighborhood.  Some of them were my schoolmates last winter.  The Bush whackers are getting as "thick as Hops" around Here now -- Last Saturday they were at Wentzville & Drilled all Day -- sacked two stores of all goods of any advantage to them -- killed one man & then  &  then Dcamped [sic]  nobody as usual knows their Headquarters.  There was a fight on the N-M R-R -- some days ago -- the account you may Have seen.  I will give you a correct version of it.  Andersons men captured a train as it was wooding & watering at some station 6 miles below Sturgeon, as there was government property abord [sic]  -- all they could not carry off was burned -- In the burning of the cars the Depot of the Station was got on fire & consumed.  The Commander Col. -- (I forget His name) seeing the smoke at Sturgeon came Down with 160 men to capture & disperse the bushwhackers.  Anderson seeing that He Had to fight Drew His men up about 80 yards from the timber in the open prairie & allowed the feds to come up within 80 yards & deliver their fire.  3 of his men were killed & several wounded.   He then ordered His men to charge (they being mounted) where upon every man springs from His past (with the reins of His bridle in His teeth) right into the feds.   They were armed with six navy revolvers each & such Havoc as the committed probably was never witness of the kind before but 25 of the feds got away, all those killed were shot through the Head -- The bushwhackers show with either hand right or left just as the case might be.  All this was told to me by a man whose veracity I can vouch for & He Had it from a union man who witnessed the fight .  Now this is all I know at present so I will close as you must be very weary ere this.  Excuse errors & blots -- write soon -- burn this part of my letter when you are through reading & know that I am as ever your true friend.

Geo [ or las ]

Note: I think this letter is probably from Uncas McCluer and the return address "Forest Home" is a thin disguise of Harvest Home, the McCluer estate.