Thomas Wright's Diary

A Country Divided

"Force is all conquering, but it's victories are short lived."  Abraham Lincoln, from Life, War, Humor.

"My paramount objective in this struggle is to save the Union, and is not to either save or destroy Slavery" Abraham Lincoln letter to Horace Greeley 22, August 1862.

"As President, I have no eyes but Constitutional eyes; I cannot see you." Attributed reply to the South Carolina Commissioners.

This chapter starts in April 1861, what will the Wright family do, in the coming days.

                            15, April 1861

Monday, plowin has started for our garden, Mister Bowman be sending the slaves, out next week ta start the plowin for the crops this year. Lan sakes time has just blew by, like the winds from a heavy spring storm. Best get back ta plowin.

Joe supposed ta stop by, with the news papers, people leave behind. So I wouldn't have ta go over.

Late evenin 15, April 1861

South Carolina! Went an done it! They have started a War! Major Anderson done surrendered Fort Sumter! Call upon Lincoln and Davis, ta come ta some peaceful agreement! Joe only stayed long nough, ta tell me and drop the papers off. Say he best not stay, lot of Confederate sympathizers live here. He did not feel safe, bein from Ohio an all.

Cannot says I blame him one bit. Poppy rode out with him. Poppy is one upset man, never have I seen him this worked up. Say soon as he can if Kentucky don't go, he join a Confederate unit out of Kentucky. Say he knows they all won't stand around. Ifin they don't Virginia is close by.

I did my best ta calm him, Poppy have no part. Rightfully do not know, what I am goin ta do. Mister Lincoln say, he want no part of takin away slavery. Only stoppin it's spread. Constitution say it legal, and the States can do as they please. That is how I am takin it. I don'ts like slavery, one bit. I needs Mister Bowman's slaves ta plow an seed an harvest the crops.  Much as I hate it, least try an treat thum good. Proper food an water, keep the whippin down an such.

Why I could never pay for the help needed ta get it done. Like Poppy, I am stuck doin what I don't want. Lose the old place, again Poppy an Ma would just die. Betsy say, fer me not ta go fight some War ya don't even know the why. No stoppin Poppy, I ain't goin till I know, what is right.

                             18, April 1861

So many have left The Union, South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Texas. Virginia may have gone also. Me an Poppy went ta Joe's ta wait an see about word on it.

Virginia seceded, she captured Harpers Ferry Arsenal an maybe even Gosport Navy Yard. Poppy shook his head, War is on the way. Joe gave us both a whisky ta wash the news down. Told Betsy our country was, dividin an did not think we will be whole without a fight. She say Thom ya just stay put, ain't no business of yar to fight a War. When ya don't know why ya should. Reckon fer now she is right, save the Union or fight fer States rights an they slavery. Might late lot work ta be done.

I found something that I believe is fitting to add. Before we get into, the fight that killed more men than any war this country had been in and still stands that way today. The words you may not recognize. The story behind it, if told I don't remember it.

                              
                                  TAPS

We've all heard that haunting song, the one that brings tears to the eye, and the wrenching of the gut, slight lump in the throat. Few know the story behind the song. Reportedly it began in 1862, during the Civil War.

Union Captain Robert Ellicombe, was near Harrison's Landing in Virginia. The Confederate Army was opposite him, on a narrow stretch of land. He heard the moans of a soldier who lay severely wounded on the field. The Captain not knowing if he was Union or Confederate, crawled out to bring him back for medical attention.

He crawled through gun fire risking his life. The Captain pulled the stricken soldier back, not knowing who he fought for. Realizing he was dead an a Confederate soldier. Captain Ellicombe lit a lantern. To find the dead soldier was his son. His son had been studying music in the south. Unknown to him, he had enlisted into the Confederate Army. The following morning he asked for permission to give a full Military Funeral for his son with part of the Army band. They allowed the funeral no band, out of respect they gave him one musician. He chose the Bugler.

He asked the bugler to play a series of notes found in his sons pocket. The bugler played those notes.

                           The Words to Taps

Day is done. Gone the sun, from the lakes, from the hills, from the sky, all is well, safely rest God is nigh.

Fading light dims the sight, and a star Gems the sky, Gleaming bright from afar, drawing nigh falls the night. 

Thanks and praise for our days, neath the sun, neath the stars, neath the sky, as we go, this we know God is nigh.

I heard maybe the first verse, after thinking some on it. I didn't know the rest or if it had more. The story alone brings more meaning to that song than just to hear it's mournful tune.

I think the story even if found to be untrue. Shows that it was family against Family. Father against son, brother, uncle cousin. A War that killed so many, tore families, friends apart,  Divided a country. Took decades to set the country right after.

This is the best place to end this chapter, think on that short story of that Captain and his dead son, that is what Thomas Betsy and the Wright's have in front of them. Thanks for reading commenting and your vote. Dram12