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Field name |
Value |
Collection Reference Number
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GLC04385.01
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From Archive Folder
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Unassociated Civil War Documents 1863
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Title
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John Pope to Valentine Baxter Horton regarding family matters and military concerns
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Date
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27 February 1863
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Author
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Pope, John (1822-1892)
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Document Type
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Correspondence
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Content Description
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General Pope, commander of the Department of the Northwest, writes to father-in-law. Notes that his mother's health is better than it has been for the past two years. States, "I find the whole public mind in the West possessed with the belief that I am to command at Vicksburg and many of the papers are loudly advertizing it." Notes that the Chicago Tribune and the Missouri Democrat have both reported on his possible command. Mentions Fremont and Sigel (possibly Generals John C. Fremont, former commander of the Department of the West, and Franz Sigel). Writes, "...I would much regret being forced into prominent & active position under present circumstances - I trust matters may improve in the Administration of the Govt especially of the War Dept of it so that an officer can with good heart & some confidence take his part in this War- At present I am more than content to remain where I am... I do not find myself in the mood to go..." Mentions his wife Clara, in New York (Horton's daughter). Hopes to hears Horton's views of Congress as the current session ends. Mentions a proposal to nominate Horton as a candidate for Governor (possibly of Ohio), but thinks he would feel separated from public affairs.
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Subjects
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Civil War Military History Union General Union Forces Children and Family Health and Medical Journalism Election Congress
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People
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Horton, Valentine Baxter (1802-1888) Pope, John (1822-1892) Fre´mont, John Charles (1813-1890) Sigel, Franz (1824-1902) Pope, Clara Pomeroy Horton (b. 1834)
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Place written
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Milwaukee, Wisconsin
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Theme
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The American Civil War; Children & Family; Arts & Literature; Government & Politics
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Sub-collection
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Papers and Images of the American Civil War
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Additional Information
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Horton was a United States Representative from Ohio 1855-1858 and 1861-1862.
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Copyright
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The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History
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Module
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Civil War, Reconstruction and the Modern Era: 1860-1945
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Civil War: Recipient Relationship
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Father-in-law
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Transcript
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Show/hide Milwaukee, Wisconsin February 27 63 My dear Sir I have not written to you since I left New York because I really had nothing to write which could have much interested you - I found them all well in St. Louis & my mother looking & feeling better than she has for several years - She, now may hope for a good many more years of life & I need not tell you how great a trial it would be to all her children if she should be taken from us - I suppose of course that you saw James Yeatmen in Washington though I have not heard directly from any of the family there - If Lucretia & Patsy are still with you I hope you will jog their memory on this subject & I think Katy too is a fair subject of lecture about it - I find the whole public mind in the West possessed with the belief that I am to command at Vicksburg and many of the papers are loudly advocating it - The most prominent on the subject are the "Chicago Tribune" & the "Missouri Democrat" both of which I had supposed would have been unfriendly on account of Sigel & Fremont - You know my views on this subject & that I would much regret being forced into prominent & active position under present circumstances - I trust matters may improve in the Administration of the Govt especially of the War Dept of it so that an officer can with good heart & some confidence take his part in this War - At present I am more than content to remain where I am & keep very quiet on the hope that I may be "let alone" - I fear there is not much hope that I shall be permitted to remain here much longer - The town is very pleasant and the people most hospitable & cordial It is hard to realize that one has so many friends among people he has never seen or heard of before - I had designed to stop at Springfield as I came here but thought it best not to do so as the Legislature was in session and my object might have been misconstrued - I receive many letters & I see many more published in the newspapers from the troops at Corinth and Vicksburg expressing the hope that I may be sent down to command, but gratifying as are such exhibitions of confidence & good feeling I do not find myself in the mood to go - I hear from Claire regularly and am very sorry to know that she will be detained in New York much longer than she expected I had hoped she would be able to come out here when you came West but I fear I must be content to wait longer - My duties separate me so much from her that I do not easily content myself under separation from any other cause - You no doubt hear very [4] regularly from her. I should like to hear your views of the condition of affairs as Congress closes its session and if you have leisure I hope you will write me before you leave Washington - I understand in Cincinnati that it was proposed to put you in nomination for Governor - I don't know how you would like this but I think you will not find it easy to be separated from direct participation in public affairs in such times as these - I fear you will find Pomeroy very dull & about intolerable in the midst of the [illegible] which are now transpiring - Please give my love to Mrs Horton & all the others & remember me to my friends whom you may see - I shall hope to hear from you before you leave Washington. Affectionately yours Jno Pope Hon V.B. Horton [docket] Gen John Pope Recd at Washington March 21 1863
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