Maitland, James M. (1815-1864) To Joseph M. Maitland
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC03523.10.080 Author/Creator: Maitland, James M. (1815-1864) Place Written: Kingston, Ohio Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 17 July 1863 Pagination: 2 p. ; 31 x 19 cm. Order a Copy
Tells his son that "my prayer is daily that you all may be prepared that if the Master calleth you may be received to that Land where there is no more death, no more bloodshed." Informs him that General George Meade was "not quite swift enough to Capture [General Robert E.] Lee and his Army after the Battle of Gettysburg. I think that if the Rebel Army of the Potomac could have been bagged with the taking of Vicksburg and Port Hudson there would seem to be some prospect of Conquering the Rebs. Our state was thrown into a great excitement by the entry of the Rebel Gen Morgan with about 5,000 Cavalry on Monday at Oxford. I was in Urbana when the news came by dispatch... Morgan after he came into Ohio did not do much damage, reason why he had not time as he was so closely pursued, that he had enough to do to keep out of the way of our forces: he kept near the Ohio River all the way... " Comments on the New York City Draft Riots: "There has been a terrible riot and Bloodshed in the City of New York the cause as near as I could learn in the first place resistance to the draft, which terminated in destruction of Property for the sake of Plunder. the negroes were set upon and killed wherever they could be found... " Includes a short note at the end of the letter written 18 July.
Joseph Maitland enlisted on 8 August 1862 as a private. He was mustered into "G" Co. OH 95th Infantry. He was mustered out 31 May 1865 at Memphis, Tennessee.
During his July 1863 raid through Ohio and Indiana, Morgan captured supplies and soldiers, disrupted railroads, and destroyed bridges. Symbolically, Morgan's Raid was terrifying to Northerners who feared the Confederate invasion of Union territory.
Congress passed an Enrollment Act in March 1863. Wildly unpopular among lower social classes, enforcement of the draft catalyzed the New York City Draft Riots in July 1863.
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