[Homer_J_Simpson]

Free Republic University, Department of History presents U.S. History, 1855-1860: Seminar and Discussion Forum
Bleeding Kansas, Dred Scott, Lincoln-Douglas, Harper’s Ferry, the election of 1860, secession – all the events leading up to the Civil War, as seen through news reports of the time and later historical accounts

First session: November 21, 2015. Last date to add: Sometime in the future.
Reading: Self-assigned. Recommendations made and welcomed.

Posting history, in reverse order

To add this class to or drop it from your schedule notify Admissions and Records (Attn: Homer_J_Simpson) by reply or freepmail.

Link to previous thread

[Homer_J_Simpson]

To Our Readers-War in Europe – 2
The Late Assassinations at Tacubaya, in Mexico – 2-4
Editorials – 4-5
Correspondence – 5-6
The Lounger – 6-7
The French Army in Northern Italy – 8-9
Trumps, by George William Curtis, Ch. XXVI-XXVIII – 10-13
The Seat of War-Alessandria and Turin – 14-17
Anecdotes of the Court of Louis XIV – 17-19
Our Special Paris Correspondence – 19-20
The Weekly Farmer – 20
The Sardinian Army – 21-23
The War in Europe – 21
A Tale of Two Cities, by Charles Dickens, Book II, Ch I-II – 24-27
Humors of the Day – 27
Adieu!-A Dew-Drop From Memory – 27
Sardinia’s Challenge to Austria – 27

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Gerrit Smith to John Brown, June 4, 1859

PETERBORO', June 4, 1859.

CAPTAIN JOHN BROWN.

MY DEAR FRIEND, — I wrote you a week ago, directing my letter to the care of Mr. Stearns. He replied, informing me that he had forwarded it to Westport; but as Mr. Morton received last evening a letter from Mr. Sanborn, saying your address would be your son's home, — namely, West Andover, — I therefore write you without delay, and direct your letter to your sou. I have done what I could thus far for Kansas, and what I could to keep you at your Kansas work. Losses by indorsement and otherwise have brought me under heavy embarrassment the last two years, but I must, nevertheless, continue to do, in order to keep you at your Kansas work. I send you herewith my draft for two hundred dollars. Let me hear from you on the receipt of this letter. You live in our hearts, and our prayer to God is that you may have strength to continue in your Kansas work. My wife joins me in affectionate regard to you, dear John, whom we both hold in very high esteem. I suppose you put the Whitman note into Mr. Stearns's hands. It will be a great shame if Mr. Whitman does not pay it. What a noble man is Mr. Stearns!1 How liberally he has contributed to keep you in your Kansas work!

Your friend,
GERRIT SMITH.

________________

1 To those who could read between the lines, this letter disclosed the whole method of the secret committee. No one of them might know at any given time where Brown was, but some other was sure to know, — and in this one note four persons are named who might be at any time in coromnnication with Brown wherever he was, — George L. Stearns, Edwin Morton, F. B. Sanborn, and Mr. Smith himself. The phrase “Kansas work” misled none of these persons, who all knew that Brown had finally left Kansas and was to operate henceforth in the slave States. The hundred dollars given by Mr. Smith April 14, added to the two hundred mimed in this letter, and the note of E. B. Whitman, of Kansas, which Brown received from Mr. Smith, make up five hundred and eighty-five dollars, or more than one-fifth of the two thousand dollars which he told Brown he would help his "Eastern friends" raise. Those friends were Stearns, Howe, Higginson, and Sanborn, — for Parker was then in Europe, and unable to contribute.

SOURCE: Franklin B. Sanborn, The Life and Letters of John Brown, p. 524

civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com

Franklin B. Sanborn to Thomas Wentworth Higginson, June 4, 1859

June 4, 1859.

Brown has set out on his expedition, having got some eight hundred dollars from all sources except from Mr. Stearns, and from him the balance of two thousand dollars; Mr. S being a man who, “having put his hand to the plow, turneth not back.” Brown left Boston for Springfield and New York on Wednesday morning at 8.30, and Mr. Stearns has probably gone to New York to-day, to make final arrangements for him. Brown means to be on the ground as soon as he can, perhaps so as to begin by the 4th of July. He could not say where he should be for a few weeks, but letters are addressed to him, under cover to his son John, Jr., at West Andover, Ohio. This point is not far from where Brown will begin, and his son will communicate with him. Two of his sons will go with him. He is desirous of getting some one to go to Canada, and collect recruits for him among the fugitives, — with Harriet Tubman or alone, as the case may be.

SOURCE: Franklin B. Sanborn, The Life and Letters of John Brown, p. 524-5

civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Continued from June 3 (reply #5.)

The Diary of George Templeton Strong, Edited by Allan Nevins and Milton Halsey Thomas

[M Kehoe]

Hi.

War in Europe. Eighteen fifty nine.

War in Europe nineteen sixteen.

War in Europe nineteen thirty nine.

War in Europe...

5.56mm

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Continued from May 17 (reply #10.)

Abraham Lincoln: Speeches and Writings 1859-1865, edited by Don E. Fehrenbacher

[Homer_J_Simpson]

John Brown to John H. Kagi, June 9, 1859

KEENE, N. Y., June 9, 1859.

DEAR SIR, — After being delayed with sickness and other hindrances, I am so far on my way back, and hope to be in Ohio within the coming week. Will you please advise the friends all of the fact, and say to them that as soon as I do reach, I will let them know where I will be found. I have been middling successful in my business.

Yours in truth,

JOHN BROWN.

J. HENRIE, ESQ.

SOURCE: Franklin B. Sanborn, The Life and Letters of John Brown, p. 523

civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com