Sources of Information in The Valley of the Shadow- Why the North entered the War

In general, see Transcribed Newspaper Articles--Franklin County: The 1860-61 Sectional Crisis,
located at http://jefferson.village.virginia.edu/vshadow2/Browser1/frbrowser/fr.file.sectional.html

Specific Articles:
Valley Spirit, February 27, 1861: Article accuses Lincoln of pursuing a war policy and indicates that violent opposition to civil war will spring up in the North.
Located at http://jefferson.village.virginia.edu/vshadow2/Browser1/frbrowser/feb61.html#2.27a

Valley Spirit, March 20, 1861 Article extracts sections of the Confederate Constitution and bemoans that "We may as well look the present national calamity squarely in the face--the Union is dissolved, the country on the eve of civil war, and the Republican party is alone responsible for all the trouble."
Located at http://jefferson.village.virginia.edu/vshadow2/Browser1/frbrowser/march61.html#3.20b

Franklin Repository and Transcript, June 6, 1860 A list of seventeen planks of the Republican platform, which include prohibition of slavery in the territories, admission of Kansas to statehood, and construction of a railroad to the Pacific Ocean.
Located at http://jefferson.village.virginia.edu/vshadow2/Browser1/frbrowser/frjune60.html#6.6e

Franklin Repository and Transcript,May 9, 1860 Editorial lays the blame for sectionalism on the Democratic party in the South. Located at http://jefferson.village.virginia.edu/vshadow2/Browser1/frbrowser/frmay60.html#5.9a

The Valley Spirit, September 12, 1860 Argues that the Republicans should not blame Southerners for disunion since so many Republicans have long sought to break up the Union. The abolitionists realize that it is impossible to abolish slavery under the current system of government. Instead, according to the Spirit, abolitionists hope to drive the South to secession and then blame Southerners for destroying the Union.
Located at http://jefferson.village.virginia.edu/vshadow2/Browser1/frbrowser/sept60.html#9.12b

Valley Spirit, April 24, 1861- expresses pro-war feelings, Expresses strong support for the Union cause. "There is but one sentiment--one purpose--one determination among men of all political parties, and that is, to stand up for the Government and sustain it in all efforts to put down rebellion and re-establish the Union."
Located at http://jefferson.village.virginia.edu/vshadow2/Browser1/frbrowser/april61.html#4.24a

Valley Spirit, April 24, 1861 Editors declare loyalty to Union. "A formidable band of traitors have broken up the Union and made war against the government. While we considered them friends we battled for their rights in the Union, but when they determine to break up the Union and array themselves as enemies against us, we are their enemies."
Located at http://jefferson.village.virginia.edu/vshadow2/Browser1/frbrowser/april61.html#4.24b

Slavery as an issue:
Repository and Transcript, June 27, 1860 Accuses Douglas, the recently nominated Democratic presidential candidate, of playing a large role in promulgating slavery in the territories. Article argues that he is the perfect representative for the "slavocrats." Located at http://jefferson.village.virginia.edu/vshadow2/Browser1/frbrowser/frjune60.html#6.27f

Democrats v. Republicans as the cause of secession:
Valley Spirit, December 26, 1860 The Spirit bemoans the fact that the Union is dissolving. The crux of the disagreement is that the Democrats "maintain that our government was formed by white men to be controlled by white men for the prosperity and happiness of their race." However, the Republicans, according the the Spirit, "contend that the negro is entitled to equality with the white man."
Located at http://jefferson.village.virginia.edu/vshadow2/Browser1/frbrowser/dec60.html#12.26a

Faults Repubs and Northern laws for causing secession:
Valley Spirit, December 12, 1860 The Spirit states that it cannot see how civil war will be averted as things are going, especially if Northern states don't repeal their "aggressive laws." Also blames Republican view of all-slave or all-free states as a cause of the upcoming war.
Located at http://jefferson.village.virginia.edu/vshadow2/Browser1/frbrowser/dec60.html#12.12a

War caused by northern stubborness and laws: Valley Spirit, November 28, 1860 Southern states will leave the Union if Northern states don't "strike from their statute books all laws that infringe the constitutional rights of the South."
Located at http://jefferson.village.virginia.edu/vshadow2/Browser1/frbrowser/nov60.html#11.28a

Diary and Letters: Generally, search the Simon Cameron Papers,
located at http://jefferson.village.virginia.edu/vshadow2/personal/cameron/cameronlist.html  In here are many good letters on topic.

To Edward McPherson from A. K. McClure, Chambersburg December 14, 1860 Summary: McClure praises the moderate Republican position, but questions the possiblity of a compromise between the North and South.
Located at http://jefferson.village.virginia.edu/vshadow2/personal/mcpherson/em12.html

To Edward McPherson from S. G. Lane, Chambersburg December 14, 1860 Summary: Lane asks Edward for help in getting Congressmen to lecture in Chambersburg, and talks of politics and preserving the Union.
Located at http://jefferson.village.virginia.edu/vshadow2/personal/mcpherson/em19.html

Diary of Reverend Abraham Essick, 1849-88 Columbia May 8, 1861 My dear Friend, I received your letter after considerable delay. The mails are evidently much deranged. I am told all letters are examined in certain post-offices near "Mason and Dixon's Line," which suggests the caution of being being very careful about what we write. I am distressed exceedingly for our beloved country. Never did I anticipate such a state of things in my day. Our lot has been cast in calamitous times, and we who are near the confines of slave and free territory will, doubtless, be the greatest suffered. The war spirit aroused in both sections is wonderful. No one could have imagined that the sober-minded Pennsylvavnians could be so aroused. Yet it seems that she is taking the lead in furnishing men and means and all the essestials of war. Such unanimity I never heard of. Conservative men, who did all in their power to avert the collision before our flag was dishonored, are now burning with indignation. I have not heard a dissenting voice. From the minister of the gospel through all classes of the community, the sentiment is universal, that the government must be sustained, rebellion suppressed and the honor of the nation vindicated. May God defend the right! The position of Baltimore is sadly deplored. It has no doubt, given great satisfaction to the seccessionists: but it seems to me that nothing could have operated more to their detriment. It has done almost as much as the affair at Fort Sumpter to arouse the l ion of the North. The idea that the Federal troops should not be allowed to pass peaceably through a city or state stil owing allegiance to the union, to the defense of their own capital, has justly awakened the extreme indignation of a loyal people. Baltimore is now very much in the position of Sodom and Gomorrah and it is only the assumed that there ris a large number of loyal citizens threre that s aves it from a similar doom. Of course I am not giving any opinion as to what o ught to be done in sucha case, but simply giving expression to teh universal feeling around me. On Saturday I visited "Camp Curtin" at Harrisburg. The scenes were new to me and though the display of the military was beautiful and imposing, yet it was sad to think of the terrible havoc that will be made by these gathering hosts. Whil I was present Governor (Curtin) reviewed the troops,a nd there were five thousand on parade, never before had I so lively an imporession of the phrase "Terrible as an army with banners." I spoke with a number of the soldiers, and found them all determined and eager for the fight. I saw Eugene Rizer, in the Sunbury Company,a nd was told that even his father (a clergyman) will lead a company from Sunbury, if their services are needed. Everywhere I heard ministers of the gospel declaring that the government must be sustained, that to fight for the union was doing God service, and that it is the duty of all good christians to come up to the rescue. I found large numbers of the members of churches in the army. >From our own town many of the most pious and active members of congregations have shouldered the muskey. I have been told that there is a regular union prayer meeting, kept up in the camp at York. The Lutheran church and Harrisburg (Dr. Hay's) had been used to quarter soldeirs last week. I preached for Dr. Hay on sabbath evening, adn found the carpet, sofa and other furniture removed. Dr. Hay and another clergyman were appointed to preach to the solders in Camp Curtin on sabbath afternoons, but were prevented by the rain. I was told that REv. Dr. Brown, recently from Newberry College South Carolina, where he was obliged to flee on account of his union sentiments) has accepted a chaplaincy to one of the Penna regiments. At the depot in Harrisburg I met Rev. Gottwald from Shipensburg. He was on his way to Springfield, Ohio, where he intends leaving his wife and chiold, while he joins the army either as chaplain o r a private. (note - neither of these gentlment became a chaplain). In these items you have a sample of the feeling whihc activates the people of the free states. If the conspirators encouraged themselves by the hope that love for the old union had died out, they will be woefully mistaken. Our people love their country as they love th eir mothers, and, though they quietly submitted to the indignities heaped upon her a long time, yet are they ready now in the hour of her danger and impending dishonor, to imperil their lives adn shed their blood for defence. In these time the sentiment of the Jewish exiles is in the hearts and upon the lips of thousands, who love the church and the nation with pious affection and filial gratitude: "If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning: if I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth. If I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy." Dec 31, 1861 This is the evening of the last day in the year. It has been a year of sad and stirring events in this land. From a quiet and peacable people, who scarcely knew of thought anything about war, the military feeling has been aroused through out the entire land. Upwards of six hundred thousand (600,000) soldiers are in the field from the loyal states, for the purpose of putting down the great rebellion, which threantens to destroy our beneficent government. How many are in arms against us, we cannot tell; but the number is very great - perhaps not much less than our own army. During the last week a regiment of Cavalry from western New York came to make their winter quarters at this place. Our usually quiet streets are full of soldiers and drilling is going on every day. I deplore the existence of this unnatural war with all my heart. There was no justifiable ground for it. Nobody was suffering from bad government. The country (especially the southern states) was never more prosperous than when the war commenced. It is a war between brethren. Families are literally divided, brother against brother, and father against son, in numerous cases one member of a family being in the northern army while another is in the southern. For our sings, the Lord is chastising the nation. What the issue will be no mortal can predict. Our trust in is the Lord. But for this I would despair. The Lord reigneth, let the earth rejoice. The past year has been one of great abundance. The country was never more blessed with a full harvest. The whole country has been healthy, there being no prevailing epidemics, on this account the country was never in a better condition to sustain a war. Our government is greatly annoyed by the sympathy manifested on the other side of the ocean, especially in England and France, with this deplorable rebellion. The only solution of this unnatural state of things that seems plausible, is found in the jealousy with which the great poewrs have been viewing our nation. The United States have been growing immensely in all the elements of greatness. The experiment of free institutions has shown here here a degree of prosperity unequalled in the whole world. In t he eyes of the aristocratic nations abroad the example was considered dangerous. And hence the desire to have it dismembered and weakened. They are disposed to favor the south the mroe also because it is there where they find the nearest approach to an aristocracy, among the slaveholders. The people of the North are firm in their sense of right, and, I think are deterimned to sustain the government and preserve the union at all sacrifices. Not related to the topic of what started the war, but an interesting account of Gettysburg battle: June 26, 1863 This was a memorable day in Gettysburg. Pennsylvania is invaded by the army of the Confederate States. They had made their appearance at Greencastle and Chambersburg some ten days ago, and we had many rumors of their advance in this direction. Our merchants sent away most of their goods and the horses had been removed from the town and surrounding country several times under false alarms. But today they came numbering, according to the best estimates, about three thousand, consisting of cavalry and infantry supported by four or five [caissons]. The place was not defended and of course they met with no resistance. A regiment of militia had arrived from Harrisburg the evening before, but these made no stand. About two hundred of them were captured and paroled. A small troop of horsemen (about 25) from Philadelhpia and another collected in the country made their escape from the east end of town as the enemy entered at the west. I witnessed the charge down York street, and it was truly terrific to one unaccustomed to such things. They rode at the top of their speed and yelled like demons, their faces [?] and their hair streaming in the winds. They overtook a number of citizens endavoring to make their escape with their horses, and captured a car of government stores. They gathered up all the horses they could find. They demanded of the twon, among other things, ten barrels of whiskey, sixty barrels of four, one hundred beef cattle and five thousand dollars. The town council refused to give them anything. They then proceeded to help themselves to such things as they wanted. They took a great many things from the stores, for which they paid confederate scrip or left a recept and order upon their government. Their stay was very brief lasting only from about three o`clock PM to the following morning. They burned some eight or ten cars and the railroad bridge over [Rock] Creek. With few exceptions they molested no families. They pushed forward from this to Hanover and York, destroying railroad bridges and ware-houses and capturing horses. June 29 Yesterday (Sabbath) about two thousand union cavalry entered our town. They are the advance of Gen. Hooker's army which is said to be near Frederick Md. They were ordered back again this morning, for what reason we do not know. All our communications are cut off and we receive no mails from any direction. The rebels are said to be in very heavy force in the Cumberland Valley adn moving upon Harrisburg. They are also said to have done immense damage in York and along the Northern Central Railroad. Our town is completely invested by the two armies, though, at present, not occupied by either. I am alone. My wife has gone upon a visit to her sister, Mrs. [Thodes] at Bellefonte. John is in Franklin Co with his uncle, and the two younger children are with my brother in Columbia. I can hear from none of them. Our citizens are deeply depressed today. All business is suspended and nobody does anything but inquire for the news and anxiously await the decision of the great contest. The farmers are in great distress about their crops. Haymaking and harvest are upon them and no horses to do the work. June 30 Our town was occupied this morning buy a large force of Federal Cavalry. The confederate pickets were in sight when the advance entered, but they fell back along the Chambersburg road toward the mountain, where they are said to be in heavy forces. News of a fight between Pleasonton's Cavalry and the Confederate Cavalry under Stuart near Littlestown, was brought in this evening. It is impossible to get reliable information, but it seems evident that both armies are in large force in this region and a great battle is imminent any day. Gettysburg, 1863 - no date A great battle was fought at Gettysburg on the first, second and third days of July. I remained in our house alone (my family having gone o n a visit to Columbia) during the first day's fight. Shells shrieked over the town for more than three hours and then, on the retreat of our men, they fell around the house in the yard. During the early part of the day, I watched the movements of the armies from the steeple of the church, which stands next (to) the parsonage - saw the wounded and dying constantly brought in. In the afternoon our church was taken for a hospital, but before night the wounded had to removed, because the enemy outnumbering the union forces three to one on this first day's fight, drove our men into the town and through it. Night closed in leaving us within the enemies lines. The streets were strewn with dead men and horses and littered with the debris of the battle. Some of my neighbors were roughly treated during the night - and some of the stragglers of the rebel army threatened to strip us of shoes and other garments. On this account I left with a number of other citizens on the morning of the second day's fight. We proceeded north as far as Petersburg (14 miles) meeting the entire Cavalry of the enemy at various points of the road. I remained at Petersburg with my early friend and college chum, Rev. P. Raby, until Sabbath. During these dreary days we heard the cannonading very distinctly, but could get not news of battle. When at length the welcome news came that the enemy were retreating Bro. Raby and myself went on foot to Gettysburg, taking with us such things as we could carry to assist the wounded soliders. It was nearing night of the Sabbath when we reached the village. On Monday morning we proved to the battled fileld and saw sights which I cannot describe. Dead men and horses already far gone into decay, muskets, knapsacks, broken caissons, and cannon, etc etc. lay everywhere. During these days the entire stock of provision in the whole county for many miles, was exhausted. The railroad was broked up and bridges burned, so that we were cut off from any immediate supply. Immediately upon the cessation of hostilities our friends from a distance came in with provisions to relieve immediate necessities. Otherwise I cannot see how it would have been possible to avoid great suffering. My church was occupied for a hospital and it was several weeks before it could be used for religious services. For many weeks after the battle there was a stench filling the air, which was almost unendurable. This caused a great deal of sickness. I was taken down with fever and was unable to perform ministerial duties for about two months. Two of my children had severe illnesses (obscured). We were fortunate to escape with very little loss of property during the battle. Some of my neighbors had their houses thoroughly plundered. Quite a number of houses and barns in teh county neaer the village were burned. Several members of my church lost nearly all their property and one member, a young lady Miss Jennie Wade, was shot and killed during the battle.