A Military Genius Part 7

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, _May 13, 1862_.

Miss Carroll:

I send a package by your servant which came here yesterday, I suppose, as I had the honor to frank some of your doc.u.ments from here. If you will excuse my poor writing I will tell you what Mr. Lincoln said about you last night.

I was there with some seven or eight members of Congress and others, when a note and box came from you with products from Central America. He seemed much delighted and read your letter out to us and showed the contents of the box. He said, "This Anna Ella Carroll is the head of the Carroll race. When the history of this war is written she will stand a good bit taller than ever old Charles Carroll did." I thought you might like to hear this.

WM. MITCh.e.l.l.

WAs.h.i.+NGTON, D. C., _September 9, 1863_.

My Dear Miss Carroll:

I have read with great pleasure the ma.n.u.script left with me. Like all that emanates from your pen, it is profound and able, and I concur with you that its publication would now be timely. As you requested, I forward the package to New York.

Very sincerely and respectfully your friend,

S. P. CHASE.

The Hon. B. F. Wade (then President of the United States Senate) writes from Was.h.i.+ngton:

_March 1, 1869._

Miss Carroll:

I cannot take leave of public life without expressing my deep sense of your services to the country during the whole period of our national troubles. Although the citizen of a State almost unanimously disloyal and deeply sympathizing with secession, especially the wealthy and aristocratic cla.s.s of the people, to which you belonged, yet, in the midst of such surroundings, you emanc.i.p.ated your own slaves at a great sacrifice of personal interest, and with your powerful pen defended the cause of the Union and loyalty as ably and effectively as it ever has been defended.

From my position on the Committee on the Conduct of the War I know that some of the most successful expeditions of the war were suggested by you, among which I might instance the expedition up the Tennessee river.

The powerful support you gave Governor Hicks during the darkest hour of your State history prompted him to take and maintain the stand he did, and thereby saved your State from secession and consequent ruin.

All these things, as well as your unremitted labors in the cause of reconstruction, I doubt not are well known and remembered by the members of Congress at that period. I also well know in what high estimation your services were held by President Lincoln, and I cannot leave this subject without sincerely hoping that the Government may yet confer on you some token of acknowledgment for all these services and sacrifices.

Very sincerely, your friend,

B. F. WADE.

BALTIMORE, _September 28, 1869_.

I have known Miss Carroll many years; she is a daughter of Governor Carroll, and by birth and education ent.i.tled to the highest consideration.

She writes exceedingly well, and during the late war published several pamphlets, etc., which I have no doubt proved most serviceable to the cause of the Union. Her own loyalty was ardent and constant through the struggle.

REVERDY JOHNSON.[11]

[Footnote 11: Reverdy Johnson--a distinguished lawyer from Maryland, U. S. Senator, Attorney General in Taylor's Cabinet, and Minister to England during Johnson's Administration.]

DAYTON, _Nov. 23, 1869_.

My Dear Miss Carroll:

Your letter finds me in the midst of care, labor, and preparation for removal to Was.h.i.+ngton.

Pardon me, therefore, if I write briefly. You must see me when the session of Congress commences, that I may say much for which there is not s.p.a.ce or time on paper. n.o.body appreciates more highly than I do your patriotism and your valuable services with mind and pen through so many years.

Yours faithfully and truly,

ROBERT C. SCHENCK.[12]

[Footnote 12: Robert C. Schenck--General through the war, Member of Congress, and Minister to England.]

LONDON, E. C., _July 30, 1872_.

Dear Miss Carroll:

I have read with pleasure the pamphlet you were so kind as to send me, and am glad to see that your claim is so strongly endorsed--so strongly that it can hardly be ignored by Congress.

Very truly yours,

H. MCCULLOCH.[13]

[Footnote 13: Hugh S. McCulloch was Secretary of the Treasury under Lincoln, Johnson, and Arthur.]

WAs.h.i.+NGTON CITY, _January 20, 1873_.

My Dear Miss Carroll:

I owe you an humble apology for not calling to pay my respects to you, as I intended to do; but I have been so occupied with numerous engagements that the purpose indicated escaped my recollection until I was on the point of leaving for my home in Connecticut, and can only now proffer to you my cordial and heartfelt wishes for your health, prosperity, and happiness.

I have too much respect for your name and character to address you in the accents of flattery, and I presume you will not suspect me of any such purpose when I say that of the many characters, both male and female, of whom I have formed a favorable opinion since I was introduced into public life, there is no one for whom I cherish a higher esteem than Miss Carroll, of Maryland.

May the richest of Heaven's blessings rest upon your ladys.h.i.+p, and may the inappreciable services which you rendered your country in the dark hour of its peril be recognized by your countrymen, and to a just extent rewarded.

I have the honor to be and to remain, my dear Miss Carroll, most faithfully and truly your friend,

TRUMAN SMITH.[14]