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Franklin Repository: April 5, 1865 Go To Page : 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |

Richmond Has Fallen!
(Column 1)

Summary: Describes the surrender of Richmond.

Full Text of Article:

The rebel capital; the last rebel strong-hold, has surrendered to the matchless heroism of the Army of the Potomac. The hope so long deferred has at last reached the ful[l]ness of fruition, and the soldiers of crime retire from their long and stubbornly defended citadel of power, with their last army shattered to fragments; with no safety in retreat; no hope in further resistance to the overwhelming might of the brave defenders of the Republic.

Let loyal men rejoice! We have had victories before--the same dauntless courage; equal endurance in the defense of the right; but never has a triumph been achieved so crowning in the measure of its results--so utterly destructive to the country's foes. It leaves them without an army; without a government; without credit; without hope. It is the great retributive stroke which in the ful[l]ness of His time, has vindicated Humanity and Justice!

It proclaims the safety of the Republic! Centuries hence, when the heroism of the last four years will still be undimmed on the shifting canvass of the past, the victories which culminated in the possession of Richmond, will be pointed to as the fields where the sons of the North baptized their Freedom in their noblest blood, and re-achieved their title to their proud inheritance--the best, the most beneficent government on earth.

All honor to the gallant Army of the Potomac! How nobly it has struggled, undaunted by defeat against the choicest troops of the foe, let its sacrifices on the Peninsula, at Antietam, at Fredericksburg, at Chancellorsville, at Gettysburg, and from the Wilderness to the South-side road and Richmond tell. It has made the heroism of all armies in the history of warfare pale before its unfaltering courage, and grand achievements; and now it fitly crowns the glory of the war by striking the last great blow to make treason hated by all the living, and shunned by all who shall live hereafter. Gratefully indeed will a long imperiled Nation cherish the noble deeds; the patient endurance; the unflagging gallantry of the Army of the Potomac, and the memory of its slain--rich sacrifices to the madness of treason--will live in perpetual freshness in every patriot heart.

The Republic is rescued from the murderous grasp of Treason, thanks to a faithful North and to a just and beneficent God!

The Niagara Peace Effort
(Column 1)

Summary: Details the correspondence between Horace Greeley and Abraham Lincoln which began last July. Greeley urged Lincoln to discuss a peaceful end of the war with rebel citizens in Canada. The correspondence occurred during a time of Union defeats, high casualties, and financial instability.

Full Text of Article:

We give in another column of to-day's paper a letter written to the President in July last, by Mr. Greeley, of the Tribune, on the necessity of proposing or receiving terms of adjustment to close the war. Important as is everything coming from the pen of the ablest journalist and one of the most intelligent and experienced politicians of the Nation, this letter of Mr. Greeley possesses especial importance, because of the fact that it was the opening of a correspondence that resulted in the memorable letter of Mr. Greeley possesses especial importance, because of the fact that it was the opening of a correspondence that resulted in the memorable letter of President Lincoln, addressed "To Whom it May Concern," and proposing terms of peace for the consideration of certain rebel leaders then in Canada.

The remarkable letter of the President borne by Maj. Hay to be delivered to Messrs. Sanders, Clay and Holcombe, prominent rebel civilians then at Niagara, as it then appeared in the public prints without any explanation of the circumstances which called it forth, astounded the Nation, and staggered many of the truest friends of the administration. Few condemned, but there were few who did not regret that such a letter had been written and so delivered, as it appeared to afford the rebel leaders the very pretext they most desired to "fire the Southern heart," and unite their desponding and divided people in support of the rebellion. All the public knew was that Messrs. Clay, Holcomb and Sanders were in Canada; that they had been visited by prominent Democratic politicians--such as Hon. Jere. S. Black, Gov. Bigler, Senator Buckaiew and others of this State; that a crazy adventurer named Jewett had been peddling peace propositions to and from everybody with whom he could get audience; but in all this there was no visible motive for a declaration from Mr. Lincoln in the midst of a Presidential struggle, of terms of adjustment which the rebels would most certainly then reject, and which might weaken, but could not possibly strengthen the administration and its cause.

We are glad that the letter of Mr. Greeley has found its way into the public prints. How it happened to come to us by way of England--as it first appeared in the ManchesterExaminer--is of no consequence. It is enough that it is now public property; that the door to the secret working of the Niagara Peace effort has been unlocked, and we may now learn the whole history of that comedy of errors. Mr. Greeley opened the correspondence on the subject with the letter we print to-day, and it will be observed how earnest is the tone that pervades his sentences in behalf of peace. He sought peace not because it would have been right in the abstract, or because such a peace was then attainable as the Nation and its great cause should command; but he earnestly sought peace to save "fresh conscriptions;" "further wholesale devastations;" "new rivers of human blood," and to save some little of "our bleeding, bankrupt, almost dying country." These considerations in connection with "the momentous election soon to occur in North Carolina" and the "draft to be enforced in the Free States," induce Mr. Greely to demand, in the most positive terms that Mr. Lincoln should do something to prove to all, loyal and disloyal, that he was not prosecuting war merely for the love of war.

This letter was written in July last--just at the darkest period of the year; when gloom hung over the Nation like a pall, paralyzing its energies and wasting its hopes. Grant had reached the James without decisive results, after an appalling sacrifice of life; Sherman had been fought at every step from Chattanooga on his perilous march to Atlanta, and his success was deemed more than doubtful; new levies had to be ordered to save the country's cause; our credit was more depressed than ever before, and the shrewdest of politicians confessed the Presidential contest lost miles saved to Mr. Lincoln by the folly of his foes, as it was by the Chicago platform. It was, under these circumstances that Mr. Greely wrote, and he was evidently prepared for peace on almost any terms that would save us a respectable semblance of government, and he insisted that unless terms were proposed, or notice given that terms would be received and considered, all was inevitably lost. The Tribune was then as now the most powerful political organ of the Nation, and an expression in its columns of the convictions of its chief editor as given to Mr. Lincoln in the letter in question, would have been a confession of hopeless discomfiture alike in the pending political struggle, and in the attempts to preserve the Union by an appeal to the arburament [sic] of the sword.

So much the public are now advised of by Mr. Greeley's letter; but the whole story is far from being told. No public explanation of the "To Whom It May Concern" letter was made by the President, because it could not be done without giving to the world Mr. Greeley's first letter, in which there were such sad, and as events have proved, such groundless confessions of political and National weakness. Such a letter published at any time before November 1864, would have been the most potent political document the Vallandighams and Woods could have circulated, and it would have been worth a corps to the insurgent army. It could not therefore, be given to the world, and without it there could be no explanation of the series of events which led the President to startle the country by proposing terms of adjustment to the rebel citizens in Canada. But now the Nation can afford to have the whole history of this bungling diplomacy, and we trust that it will be speedily given to the public. Some twenty letters and dispatches passed between the President and Mr. Greeley on the subject before the President consented to take the step proposed and then, as his letters and dispatches will show, he did it with the extremest reluctance, without hope of its success, and accepted it only as a lesser evil than have so powerful an organ as theTribune practically surrender the Presidential election and the war.

When the entire correspondence shall be published, as we doubt not it will at an early day, it will be seen that the President fully vindicated himself for refusing Mr. Stephens safe conduct to Washington, and that he clearly foresaw the result that attended his proposition, but as a necessity he accepted the condition imposed, and framed his terms of adjustment in substantial accordance with Mr. Greeley's suggestions. In other words, he proposed such terms of peace as Mr. Greeley who plead the claims of the informal rebel commission as to [illegible] proposition laid down for his guidance and such as Mr. Greeley evidently believed and affirmed would prove acceptable to the Southern people.

It is now due alike to Mr. Greeley, to the President and to the country that the entire correspondence be given to the public, and we hope to see it published in a very few days. When it shall appear many who censured President Lincoln for the course he was induced to take will feel that he acted then, as ever, with enlightened judgment and unfaltering fidelity to our imperiled government.

[No Title]
(Column 2)

Summary: The author reports that the Repository has received no information on the location of Lee. Still, the author asserts that Lee can not avoid an engagement with Union forces.

[No Title]
(Column 2)

Summary: Describes the military rule in Richmond. The author remarks on the irony of "military rule with dark skins" in the "hot-bed of treason."

Washington. Large Number of Rebel Deserters in Washington--Charges between Washington and City Point--Order from the War Department on Raising the Old Flag over Sumpter--Bewilderment of the New York papers as to who was the Hero of Fort Steadman--Supplemental Draft in the District--Orders to Returned Prisoners
(Column 3)

Summary: Describes the rebel deserters in Washington, the capture of Fort Sumter, the heroes of the capture of Fort Steadman, the supplemental draft, and orders to returned prisoners.

Trailer: "S. C."

Harrisburg. The Deserted Village--Perplexities of Our Correspondent--The Draft in this District--Pennsylvania and her Executive--Political Gossip--Jack Heistund for Auditor General.
(Column 3)

Summary: Describes Harrisburg as quiet, the importance of Pennsylvanian troops, and the support for Jack Heistund for Auditor General.

Trailer: "Horace"

Personal
(Column 4)

Summary: Reports Gen. Anderson's progress toward Charleston to raise the flag over Fort Sumter, the admission of 350 children of deceased soldiers to orphan schools in Pennsylvania, Lincoln's visit with Gen. Grant within six miles of Richmond, and the death of Major Sanno, of Carlisle, on March 20.
(Names in announcement: Major Michael Sanno)

Summary Of War News
(Column 5)

Summary: Details the rebels' fear of their black troops, the refusal of prisoners captured at Fort Steadman to be exchanged, the arrangement of a treaty between the rebels in Texas and the Indians, the rebel loss of ten guns and 7,000 prisoners in the battle of Bentonsville, and Lee's capture of 9 cannon, 8 mortars and between 500 to 600 soldiers during the Fort Steadman engagement.

The Niagara Falls Peace Negotiations
(Column 6)

Summary: Reprints Horace Greeley's initial letter to Lincoln, in which he gave a "plan of adjustment" that includes abolishing slavery with compensation.

Full Text of Article:

New York, July 7, 1864

My Dear Sir: I venture to inclose you a letter and telegraphic dispatch that I received yesterday from our irrepressible friend Colorado Jewett, at Niagara Falls. I think they deserve attention. Of course I do not indorse Jewett's positive averment that his friends at the Falls have "full powers" from J.D., though I do not doubt that he thinks they have. I let that statement stand as simply evidencing the anxiety of the confederates everywhere for peace. So much is beyond doubt.

And therefore I venture to remind you that our bleeding, bankrupt, almost dying country also longs for peace--shudders at the prospect of fresh conscriptions, of further wholesale devastations, and of new rivers of human blood; and a wide-spread conviction that the Government and its prominent supporters are not anxious for peace, and cannot improve proffered opportunities to achieve it, is doing great harm now, and is morally certain, unless removed, to do far greater in the approaching elections.

It is not enough that we anxiously desire a true and lasting peace; we ought to demonstrate and establish the truth beyond cavil. The fact that A.H. Stephens was not permitted a year ago to visit and confer with the authorities at Washington, has done harm, which the tone at the late National Convention at Baltimore is not calculated to counteract.

I entreat you, in your own time and manner, to submit overtures for pacification to the Southern insurgents, which the impartial must pronounce frank and generous. If only with a view to the moment[o]us election soon to occur in North Carolina, and of the draft to be enforced in the Free States, this should be done at once. I would give the safe conduct required by the Rebel envoys at Niagara, upon their parole to avoid observation and to refrain from all communication with their sympathizers in the loyal States; but you may see reasons for declining it. But whether through them or otherwise, do not, I entreat you, fail to make the Southern people comprehend that you, and all of us, are anxious for peace, and prepared to grant liberal terms. I venture to suggest the following

Plan of Adjustment.
1. The Union is restored and declared perpetual.
2. Slavery is utterly and forever abolished throughout the same.
3. A complete amnesty for all political offences, with a restoration of all the inhabitants of each State to all the privileges of citizens of the United States.
4. The Union to pay four hundred million dollars ($400,000,000) in five per cent United States stock to the late Slave States, loyal and secession alike, to be apportioned pro rata, according to their Slave population respectively, by the census of 1860, in compensation for the losses of their loyal citizens by the abolition of Slavery. Each state is to be entitled to its quota upon the ratification by its Legislature of this adjustment. The bonds to be at the absolute disposal of the Legislature afor[e]said.

5. The said Slave States to be entitled henceforth to representation in the House on the basis of their total, instead of their Federal population, the whole now being free.
6. A National Convention to be assembled so soon as may be, to ratify this adjustment, and make such changes in the Constitution as may be deemed advisable.

Mr. President, I fear you do not realize how intently the people desire any Peace consistent with the National Integrity and honor, and how joyously they would hail its achievement, and bless its authors. With United States stocks worth but 40 cents in gold per dollar, and drafting about to commence on the third million of Union soldiers, can this be wondered at?

I do not say that a just Peace is now attainable, though I believe it to be so. But I do say that a frank offer by you to the insurgents of terms which the impartial world say ought to be accepted will at the worst, prove an immense and sorely needed advantage to the National cause. It may save us us [sic] from a Northern insurrection.

Yours truly, Horace Greeley.

Hon. A. Lincoln, President, Washington, D.C.

P.S.--Even though it should be deemed unadvisable to make an offer of terms to the Rebels, I insist that, in any possible case, it is desirable that any offer they may be disposed to make should be received, and either accepted or rejected. I beg you to invite those now at Niagara to exhibit their credentials and submit their ultimatum.

H.G.

The Battle Of Bentonville
(Column 7)

Summary: Reports that Gen. Schofield occupied Goldsboro and Major General Terry secured Cox's bridge.

About The Draft
(Column 1)

Summary: Lists the numbers of men provided by the districts in Franklin County that provided: Antrim-55, Greencastle-5, Fannett-12, Green-17, Guilford-15, Hamilton-26, Letterkenny-43, Lurgan-11, Metal-8, Montgomery-66, Mercersburg-5, Peters-2, Quincy-46, St. Thomas-4, Washington-31, Waynesboro-12. Franklin County sent 348 of the 1,048 men sent to the front by Provost Marshal Capt. Eyster. The article also lists substitute brokers who unsuccessfully attempted to deceive Capt. Eyster.
(Names in announcement: Capt. Eyster)

The Cheering News
(Column 1)

Summary: Details Chambersburg's celebration of the news of the capture of Richmond.

Full Text of Article:

The news of the capture of Richmond practically suspended business here on Monday last. Citizens greeted each other on every hand, and the church bells rang out their loudest peals proclaiming to the world that the death-blow had been given to the rebellion. Groups were to be seen on every corner discussing the great event, and planning out Grant's pursuit of the defeated Lee; and the telegraph offices were thronged during all the afternoon by anxious men, women and children, to get the details of the news. The schools were dismissed at noon, soon after the official announcement was received, and the boys made the welkin ring with their hearty shouts for the triumphs of the brave Union army. Little girls clapped their hands and waved their handkerchiefs, and stout-hearted men who have been bereaved by the murderous work of treason, wept tears of joy. It was a memorable day in desolated Chambersburg, and our very blackened walls seemed to proclaim that they have been avenged by the valor of our heroic troops.

[No Title]
(Column 1)

Summary: Reports that the Whitfield family, who moved to Chambersburg from McConnellsburg, and then to Philadelphia, were caught and killed in a coal oil fire in Philadelphia.
(Names in announcement: John WhitfieldEsq.)

Casualties In The 209th
(Column 1)

Summary: Relates a report from Capt. McCulloh of the casulties in Co. D, 209th regiment: Killed--Wolfe (shot in the head); Wounded--Deitrich (arm and leg), Bard (head), Riddle (right arm), Bouser (shoulder), Mann (leg), Miller (left ankle), Rennecker (groin), Sherman (left hip), Swanger (hip), and Strine (head and right side).
(Names in announcement: Jacob D. Wolfe, Sergt. G. J. Deitrich, Robert Bard, George Riddle, David Bouser, J. B. Mann, Joseph Miller, A. Rennecker, S. G. Sherman, D. C. Swanger, J. G. Strine, Capt. McCulloh)

Paroled
(Column 1)

Summary: Reports the parole of Alexander Lewis, a black citizen of Chambersburg, captured at Winchester, Va., in June 1863. Lewis served as a cook for the 3rd Pa. Cavalry when captured.
(Names in announcement: Alexander Lewis)

Arrived At Nashville
(Column 1)

Summary: Announces news from J. Porter Brown, David M. Eiker, and George Caufman, Chambersburg citizens who escaped from prison in Salisbury, N. C. the three men reached the Union lines at Nashville and head home.
(Names in announcement: J. Porter Brown, David M. Eiker, George Caufman)

[No Title]
(Column 1)

Summary: Charles Kinsler, of Chambersburg, who was captured by the rebels at Hagerstown in July 1863, died in Philadelphia last Friday. He was exchanged two weeks ago.
(Names in announcement: Mr. Charles Kinsler)

Postmaster Appointed
(Column 1)

Summary: Announces the appointment of William W. Britton as postmaster at Upper Strasburg, to replace James S. Slyder who resigned.
(Names in announcement: William W. Britton, James S. Slyder)

Peace Dawns through Victory!! Richmond Fallen!! Petersburg Captured!! Three Days Of Deadly Conflict! Lee Routed At All Points! Over 15,000 Rebels Captured! Most of Their Guns And Materials Taken! Lee Retreating And Grant Pursuing! Sherman and Thomas Closing in on the Rebels!
(Column 2)

Summary: Discusses the fall of Richmond and the capture of Petersburg. The Confederates abandoned both Petersburg and Richmond.

The Patience Of Abraham Lincoln
(Column 3)

Summary: Describes Lincoln's impatience with Georgian men claiming loyalty and demanding compensation for property damage.

Patriotic
(Column 3)

Summary: Relates that the Mennonites, at their annual conference, passed resolutions to support the Union's efforts to "crush the present wicked rebellion."

A Rich Haul
(Column 3)

Summary: Details the expensive possessions taken from three men fleeing from Richmond during its capture. One of the men moved to Richmond to take advantage of wartime money-making opportunities.

Latest from Richmond--Weitzel's Capture--Sheridan Picking up Lee's Stragglers--Lee's Army Utterly Routed
(Column 4)

Summary: Summarizes a report from Secretary Stanton.

Thanksgiving
(Column 4)

Summary: Reports that Gov. Curtin issued a proclamation of thanks at the capture of Richmond.

Rejoicing over the Victory Order from Gen. Cadwalder. Rejoicings in Washington. Rejoicings in Harrisburg. Rejoicings at Baltimore.
(Column 4)

Summary: Describes the celebrations in Washington, Harrisburg, and Baltimore.

Finance And Trade.
(Column 4)

Summary: Notes the continuation of the 7-30 loans and the further decline in gold prices following the capture of Richmond and Union successes. Advises people to stop hoarding their money because there is no scarcity.

Married
(Column 5)

Summary: On March 22, at the home of the bride's aunt, Mrs. Latham, in Springfield, Illinois, by Rev. Birch, Dr. Senseny, of Chambersburg, married Rosa Murdoch, of St. Louis, Missouri.
(Names in announcement: Rev. W. F. Birch, Dr. B. Rush Senseny, Miss Rosa Murdoch, Mrs. Latham)

Died
(Column 5)

Summary: On April 4, in Green Township, Emma, daughter of John and Isabella Werdebaugh, died at 7 months and 17 days.
(Names in announcement: Emma Jane Werdebaugh, John Werdebaugh, Mrs. Isabella Werdebaugh)

Died
(Column 5)

Summary: On March 29, near Welsh Run, Catharine Hursh died of Consumption at 22 years, 9 months, and 2 days.
(Names in announcement: Catharine Hursh)

Died
(Column 5)

Summary: Jacob D. Wolfe, son of Jacob Wolfe, near Marion, was killed (shot in the head) at the battle of Fort Steadman on March 25. He was a member of Co. D, 209th, Regiment Pa. Vols.
(Names in announcement: Jacob D. Wolfe, Jacob Wolfe)