Moore, John (1826-1907) to Mary Moore Kelly
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC04195.30 Author/Creator: Moore, John (1826-1907) Place Written: Hanging Rock, South Carolina Type: Autograph letter Date: 27 February 1865 Pagination: 8 p. ; 24.7 x 19.5 cm. Order a Copy
He describes their march through South Carolina, wading through swamps, repairing roads, and taking Columbia. Although they were welcomed by the townspeople, drunk Union soldiers set buildings on fire, and the wind carried flames throughout town. Homes were disgracefully pillaged. He describes the surrounding area and its Revolutionary War history. "I can't get up much sympathy of the Columbians for I believe both they and the people of Charleston deserve to have their cities blotted out of existence. The next day we went to work on their public buildings, such as Arsenals, Armorys, depots &c, and the main printing establishment of the Confederacy, an immense establishment; all were burned or blown up." Letter is incomplete.
Excerpts:
"Those who had their houses burned, saved very little and this only by assistance of our soldiers. On the other hand the most disgraceful pillaging was committed by drunken soldiers, and negroes. I hope never to see another such fire, with its accompanying horrors."
"Large quantities of stores had been removed to this place from Charleston, as this was one of the places they had determined the Yankees would never reach, as the chivalric sons of Carolina were determined the Yanks should first march over their dead bodies etc, etc, but as far as yet ascertained the chivalry of this state are about as anxious to escape with a whole skin as any people we have met with."
After serving in the Utah War, Moore returned east, assigned to the Marine Hospital in Cincinnati until August 1862. As a newly promoted major, he transferred to the Army of the Potomac, assigned as medical director of the Central Grand division, where he participated in the second battle of Bull Run, Antietam, Fredericksburg, and in Chancellorsville as medical director of the 5th Corps. In June 1863 Moore became the medical director of the Department of the Tennessee, assisting in the battles of Chickamauga, Lookout Mountain, and Sherman's march on Atlanta, where he acted as medical director of the armies of Georgia, Tennessee, and Sherman's army, and was given the rank of lieutenant colonel and then colonel. Moore saw the end of the war in Missouri in St. Louis and Vicksburg.
Following the war Moore served two years at Fort Wadsworth and Fort Columbus in New York Harbor then practiced as a surgeon in the New York City area. After short stints in Europe, Virginia, Texas, Washington, and California, he was named Surgeon General in 1886. He retired in 1890 and continued living an active life in Washington, D.C. until his death in 1907.
Kelly is Moore's sister.
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