THE CABINET CRISIS: A Full Exposition of the Causes Which Led to It; Action of the Senate Republican Caucus (12/22/1862)

New York Times - Times Machine ^ | 12/22/1862

[Homer_J_Simpson]

WASHINGTON, Saturday, Dec. 20, 1862.

The political crisis which has been impending so long, was precipitated by the military disaster of Saturday last. Not even the most reckless politicians affect to regard it with indifference, and the universal feeling is one of gloom and apprehension.

On Tuesday last the death of Mr. HANCHETT, of Wisconsin was announced in both Houses: the Senate, consequently, adjourned at a very early hour. Before the Senators had separated, each of the Republicans was notified, not in the usual way by a printed notice, but by the Sergeant-at-Arms, to attend a caucus immediately. Twenty-four were present, and as soon as the caucus had organized, Mr. GRIMES offered a resolution to the effect that the welfare of the country required the withdrawal from the Cabinet of the Secretary of State. Mr. GRIMES accompanied the resolution with a speech denouncing Mr. SEWARD in the sharpest manner; and he was followed by Mr. FESSENDEN, Mr. TRUMBULL, Mr. WADE, Mr. FIELD the new Senator from New-Jersey, and several others in the same strain. The general tenor of their remarks was that Mr. SEWARD exercised a complete and controlling influence over President LINCOLN, and that this influence was the cause of the tardy and ineffectual prosecution of the war. It was alleged that he had resisted strenuously the Proclamation of Emancipation, as well as the removal of MCCLELLAN, -- and that the departure of Gen. BANKS for the Gulf, just at the moment when he was needed to cooperate with BURNSIDE in the movement upon Richmond, was due entirely to him. The attack was evidently concerted, and was pressed with the utmost vehemence. The more conservative Senators, taken entirely by surprise, met it mainly by pleas for delay.

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Free Republic University, Department of History presents U.S. History, 1861-1865: Seminar and Discussion Forum
The American Civil War, as seen through news reports of the time and later historical accounts

First session: November 21, 2015. Last date to add: May 2025.
Reading: Self-assigned. Recommendations made and welcomed.

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Link to previous New York Times thread

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[Homer_J_Simpson]

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[Homer_J_Simpson]

The Cabinet Crisis: A Full Exposition of the Causes Which Led to It – 2-3
Latest from Washington: Mr. Seward Consents to Remain in the Cabinet – 3-4
General News from Washington: Our Special Washington Dispatches – 4
From the Army of the Potomac: Comforts and Delicacies for the Sick and Wounded – 4
The War in the Southwest: A Raid of Rebel Cavalry on the Railroad Near Jackson, Tenn. – 4
Editorial: The National Crisis – Affairs at Washington – 5
Fire in the Vermont State Insane Asylum – 5

[BroJoeK]

Yesterday, December 21, in Tennessee & Mississippi, Confederate generals Van Dorn and Forrest conducted raids against Union Gen. US Grant's supply lines.

Wikipedia says this about Forrest's December 21 activities:

"On the morning of December 21, Forrest resumed his advance toward Union City while Dibrell stayed as rear guard.
Seven miles north, near Dyer, Tennessee, Forrest captured a garrison of 30 men and its supplies.
He burned more bridges and rails and traveled another seven miles, where he overtook his Commissary Maj. G.V. Rambaut.
There was considerable federal resistance, and a firefight broke out against 250 federals who retreated to their fortification at Kenton Station (present-day Kenton, Tennessee).
Forrest surrounded the stockade to prevent escape into the Obion Bottoms; after a few cannon shots the stockade surrendered with white flags fluttering from all directions."

Those were all men of the newly mustered 119th Illinois Infantry.
The 30 men at Dyer Station included my great grandfather.

At a different time or place in the Civil War those men might have been killed right there, or taken to some Confederate POW camp to languish and die.
But in the "Western Theater" Forrest released them all "on parole" and they actually were held in a Union POW camp -- meaning they were well treated -- until exchanged later for captured Confederate soldiers.

I believe, the time will come, in a future battle, when the 119th Illinois Infantry will repay Nathan Bedford Forrest's actions in kind.

Some in my family also suspect, though we cannot prove, that Forrest's dashing cavalry example eventually lead my great grandfather's younger brother to join... the Confederate cavalry.
Others say, no, it was the Union cavalry, but there are no records to prove it and there would be if he was a Union soldier...