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THBCivil War Diary for 1861 Written by a Minister in Oneida County, New York
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About Auction
LiveOct 31, 2018
Cowan's is honored to present the Magnificent Sword Collection of William Koch in its two-day firearms, militaria, and American history auction. Cowan's Auctions dawnie@cowans.com
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- Lot Description
Civil War Diary for 1861 Written by a Minister in Oneida County, New York
"Composition"-type book, 7 x 8 in., leather spine over marbled paper boards. Entries date from July 17, 1861 to March 30, 1862. The writer does not specifically identify himself, but a few hints throughout suggest it is one Reverend Coburn, minister of the Unitarian Congregational Society. He mentions that the Baptists do not have a minister (1861) and he meets with the Presbyterian and Methodist Episcopal ministers periodically. The only other church we can find in Verona (at the time) is Unitarian. Later he notes that " Our prospects as a society ... are very promising " in reference to local religious organizations. He is a native of Vermont, however, and at the end of March 1862, he leaves to return to his boyhood home to care for his aging parents.
Too old for service, Reverend Coburn does what he can to help families in Verona suffering losses during the war, visiting families of the dead and performing many funerals. July 17, the first entry in the diary, " This day completes my forty-seventh year. Several years on the last half of my earthly life are gone. ..." Not surprisingly he is obsessed with the war. July 21: " The great Battle at Bull's Run or Stone Bridge was fought between the Rebels under Beauregard & Johnson, and the Union forces under Gen. McDowell. Success seemed at first to favor the Union forces. But overpowered by numbers & a senseless panic, a complete rout, eclipsed the brilliant successes of the first part of the engagement. .." He goes on to give reported losses, commenting on the perceived accuracy of each.
August 10: ".. .the tenth of Aug. which will ever be memorable in American History, for the Battle of Wilson's Creek near Springfield Mo. Between the US Government forces, Commanded by Gen. Lyon and the Rebels led by Gens. Price and Ben McCullough - 5000 Loyalists to 25000 Rebels. The latter were beatten [sic] but the former in consequence of the smallness of their forces thought best to retire which they did in good order and the enemy reoccupied the field and entered Springfield which they hold - Great slaughter on both sides - Gen. Lyon killed ."
Overall he seems most concerned with the war in Missouri and Kentucky, possibly there were kin in those areas. He also gives fights in the trans-Mississippi more weight than history has seen fit to give them. He keeps track of the navies and actions in coastal forts. For example, later he is concerned with actions at Island No. 10 and Fort Donelson, and notes when a fleet leaves for Ship Island (near the mouth of the Mississippi).
On February 4 he is invited to visit an Oneida (Indian) school to see the progress made by the students. He approves, noting: " Their writing, I think, taking them all together, would surpass any white school in the country ."
The following day he takes on slavery: ".. .Nothing particularly new from the war - The papers are full of the sufferings of the people of 'Secession.' A fearful retribution is already being visited upon the instigators of this wicked Rebellion, and the upholders of the 'sum of all villanies,' American slavery. It is rumored that the Agents abroad of the sham Confederacy, have offered if England will interfere and help establish their Government to abolish slavery. Slavery must die either by act of the North or the South or by Act of both North and South. A return to the old condition of things I regard as impossible and if in consequence of this war slavery shall come to an end, if four millions of God's children shall be lifted from the condition of the most degrading servitude to the condition of freeman, if they shall be brought to the light of education and a pure Christianity. This alone will in some degree compensate for the losses of the war. .."
February 6: "... The war news is still unimportant. Long intervals of inactivity seemingly follow every brilliant achievement of the Union forces. The country is heartily sick and tired of this dilly dally way of crushing the Rebellion. If the Government has the power as it claims to have of making this a short but successful war. Why this delay? There is a screw loose somewhere bout the machinery of the government, and the man is yet to be found who has the knowledge, integrity, courage and strength to tighten it. ..."
Later he expands on his earlier comment on a " fearful retribution " for the war. February 17: "... If any people ever merited a severe visitation of Divine Judgment it is those who have instigated this foul revolt against so good a government as ours. - A government under which the South has grown strong as well as insolent. She had always received the lion's share - and what ails her now is that she can't always have - in other words that she can no longer rule ."A 2.5 x 5.75 in. piece of the bottom of page with Aug. 26 / Aug. 28 has been cut out. A couple of early signatures coming loose, but all pages present. Front hinge nearly separated, holding by one string.Condition
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