A Military Genius Part 8

[Footnote 14: Truman Smith was a Member of Congress from Connecticut for a long time.]

GREENSBURG, Pa., _May 3, 1873_.

Miss Carroll:

I do remember well that Mr. Lincoln expressed himself in wonder and admiration at your papers on the proper course to be pursued in legislating for the crisis.

In this connection I know that he considered your opinions sound and, coming from a lady, most remarkable for their knowledge of international law.

EDGAR COWAN.[15]

[Footnote 15: Edgar Cowan was U. S. Senator from Pennsylvania during the whole war.]

QUINCY, ILLINOIS, _Sept. 17, 1873_.

Miss A. E. Carroll:

During the progress of the War of the Rebellion, from 1861 to 1865, I had frequent conversations with President Lincoln and Secretary Stanton in regard to the active and efficient part you had taken in behalf of the country, in all of which they expressed their admiration of and grat.i.tude for the patriotic and valuable services you had rendered the cause of the Union and the hope that you would be adequately compensated by Congress. At this late day I cannot recall the details of those conversations, but am sure that the salutary influence of your publications upon public opinion and your suggestions in connection with the important military movements were among the meritorious services which they recognized as ent.i.tled to remuneration.

In addition to the large debt of grat.i.tude which the country owes you, I am sure you are ent.i.tled to generous pecuniary consideration, which I trust will not be withheld.

With sentiments of high regard, I am,

Your obedient servant,

O. H. BROWNING.[16]

[Footnote 16: O. H. Browning, of Illinois, was Senator during the war, in confidential relations with President Lincoln and Secretary Stanton.]

WASHINGTON, D. C., _May 13, 1874_.

Miss A. E. Carroll:

I am gratified to have the opportunity of expressing my knowledge and appreciation of the valuable services rendered by you to the cause of the Union at the beginning of and during the late war.

Being a Marylander and located officially in Baltimore in 1861, 1862, 1863, and 1864, I can speak confidently of the important aid contributed by you to the Government in its struggle with the rebellion. I recollect very distinctly your literary labors, the powerful productions of your pen, which struck terror into the heart of the rebellion in Maryland and encouraged the hopes and stimulated the energies of the loyal sons of our gallant State.

Especially do I recall the eminent aid you gave to Governor Hicks, and the high esteem he placed upon your services. Indeed, I have reason to know he possessed no more efficient coadjutor, or one whose co-operation and important service he more justly appreciated. I can say with all sincerity I know of no one to whom the State of Maryland--I may say the country at large--is more indebted for singleness of purpose, earnestness, and effectiveness of effort in behalf of the Government than to yourself.

A failure to recognize these service will indicate a reckless indifference to the cause of true and unfaltering patriotism, to which I cannot think a just Government will prove ungrateful.

I am, dear Miss Carroll, always most sincerely and truly yours,

CHRIS. C. c.o.xE.[17]

[Footnote 17: Christopher C. c.o.xe held many offices of trust throughout the war, was quite eminent as a poet and man of letters, and was pension agent at Baltimore.]

PETERSBORO', N. Y., _May, 1874_.

Miss Anna Ella Carroll:

Surely nothing more can be needed than your pamphlet, ent.i.tled "Miss Carroll's Claim before Congress," to insure the prompt and generous payment of it. Our country will be deeply dishonored if you, its wise and faithful and grandly useful servant, shall be left unpaid.

GERRITT SMITH.[18]

[Footnote 18: Gerritt Smith was a noted philanthropist, Member of Congress, one of the first so-called Abolitionists, and a man of immense wealth.]

WASHINGTON, D. C. _June 5, 1874_.

Dear Miss Carroll:

I did not receive your polite note and the pamphlet in relation to your claim till this morning. The statement of your case is very strong, both as to the clear proof of "value received" from you by the Government, and on which was founded its promise to pay, and as to the favorable opinions of your literary and military services expressed by leading men. I know of no instance in which a woman not born to sovereign sway has done so much to avert the impending ruin of her country, and that not by cheap valor, like Joan of Arc, but by rare mental ability. As a Marylander, I am proud that the "Old Maryland line" was so worthily represented by you in the struggle for the Union.

You would have had your substantial reward long ago but for the very absurd opinion that by some fixed, mysterious law of nature the labor done by women is worth less than precisely similar work done by men. You should persist in your just claim, if only to establish the principle that the value of work should be estimated according to its merits and not with reference to the worker; but, whatever may be the fate of your demand on the Government, you cannot fail to receive the thanks of the people.

Very respectfully,

SAM'L T. WILLIAMS.

PRINCESS ANNE, Md., _August 22, 1874_.

My Dear Miss Carroll:

I have read with interest and gratification the publication respecting your claim now pending before Congress.

I well remember that you were an earnest supporter of the Union in the hour of its trial, and that you did much by word and pen to encourage and sustain those who battled against the rebellion, and for such services you are ent.i.tled to high consideration and reward. The proofs adduced are very full and direct. I don't see how its payment can be resisted without impeaching the evidence of Mr. Scott, the late a.s.sistant Secretary of War, and of Judge Wade, Chairman of the Committee on the Conduct of War--an alternative which their official and personal characters forbid, even in cases where their personal interests were involved.

With, my best wishes, I have the honor to be very truly yours, &c.,

J. W. CRISFIELD.[19]

[Footnote 19: J. W. Crisfield was a Representative from Maryland during the war.]

c.u.mBERLAND, Md., _August 25, 1874_.

My Dear Miss Carroll: