Maitland, James M. (1815-1864) to Elhanan M. Mast
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC03523.10.089 Author/Creator: Maitland, James M. (1815-1864) Place Written: Kingston, Ohio Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 5 August 1863 Pagination: 3 p. ; 31 x 37.8 cm. Order a Copy
Reports to his brother-in-law, Lieutenant Colonel Mast, that he received word from his son Joseph near in Jackson, Mississippi. Joseph informed him that Confederate General Joseph Johnston evacuated Jackson 17 July. Writes, "I see it stated in the papers that Grant was a going to grant [struck: parole] [inserted: furlough] to one fifth of his army, if such be the case, perhaps Joseph will have a chance to come home awhile." Notes that Benjamin P. Runkle purchased a home in Urbana, commenting that Runkle did not "gain many Laurels" in the pursuit of Confederate General John Morgan during Morgan's raid through Ohio and Indiana. Discusses the election for Governor, expressing his disgust at the nomination of Clement Vallandigham. Writes "And now I wish to introduce a subject to you through the request of Eliza Chamberlain. It appears that Charlie Boon has a picture which he says he received from you, of a woman lying on a Lounge in a nude state. And that his Sister has been showing the Picture to some of her Female associates with the statement that Charlie had told her that you had told him that it was a picture of Liza: as soon as I heard it I denounced it as a falsehood: it has been going the rounds... " Notes that Eliza hoped Mast will inform all of those he knows that the report is false.
Jackson, Mississippi was first captured by the Union in May 1863, and fell a second time 16 July when Joseph E. Johnston's forces abandoned the city to Sherman.
During his July 1863 raid through Ohio and Indiana, Confederate General John H. Morgan captured supplies and soldiers, disrupted railroads, and destroyed bridges. Symbolically, Morgan's Raid was terrifying to many who feared Southern invasion of Union soil.
Clement Vallandigham was a Peace Democratic, or Copperhead, who openly criticized Lincoln and the War, believing that war should not be used as a means to prevent the South's secession. Lincoln banished Vallandigham in May 1863, and shortly thereafter Vallandigham traveled to Canada, where he ran a campaign for Governor of Ohio. He lost the campaign and returned to the United States in 1864, violating the military's court order.
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