Franklin County: Alex Cressler to Henry A. Bitner, June 10, 1861
June 10th 1861.
Dear Henry:--
Yours of the 22nd
ultimate was received in due time, but
not answered as soon as its demands required, but "better late than
never." [added: "]So here goes."
In my last I spoke of the sight presented in our
streets, but since that time things have changed considerably, and
the scenes presented in our streets on Friday and Saturday of last week
were quite a different aspect reality be stamped on every move.
On Friday five companies of Cavalry, the heroes
of
Sumpter
(except
Major
Anderson), four Regiments of troops,
accompanied by their bands and
followed by their baggage wagons,
which make a peculiar rumbling noise, this Brigade was six miles long
(Captain
McMullens
Philadelphia Rangers were in the crowd.)
You may and can only
imagine what the effect of such [added: a]
scene would be, the sight
was the most sublime that I
ever witnessed, the bands of
music with numerous fifes and drums,-- the
heavy tread
[page 2]
of about forty wagons, all conspired to bewilder the
understanding
and render vague all our preconceived ideas of war.
The movements of Saturday were not quite so imposing, but
for the cavalry [deleted: it] they would have been equally grand.
Sabbath
approached finding our citizens in a state of uproar &
confusion, cars were running and
screaming - men were working
wagons were moving through our streets
from morning till night
and citizens [added: were] on a continual parade.
Truly such scenes, such
sabbaths, and such times, were never before
ours to behold.
Uncle Stumbaugh will in my opinion leave very
soon, but when
I do not know, but think, tonight or tomorrow,
if you should happen
to see any of our folks and it is not to much trouble, you
would
oblige me by telling them, that if they want to see him that
now is the time.
Isadore
has been confined to bed sick for several
days and doesn't seem to improve much, and I fear that he will
not be able to go along with his fellow soldiers.
There were fifty wagons brought up on Saturday night, and by
seven O'Clock Sunday morning they were all
unloaded.
I received a letter from D.R.P. Shoemaker
on Saturday. I must
answer it today or
tomorrow,
he is yet at Pleasant Hill and
says that if anything would
induce him to shoulder a musket it would
be an invasion of old Franklin.
Good for him he seems
to be a Union man: even to the
point of his nose, and [added: so] he
should be.
[page 3]
You seemed to think that some other Nation
might join with the South
but I believe our cause is a just one, and
if, all the other nations
of the earth should join with their teeming
millions and come
to our shores in battle array against us, that by
trusting in the
god of battles, who I believe is superintending our
movements, that
triumph must be ours, but we must do our share of the
work and
stand right up to the mark, whether death be our lot
or not
Henry, I have no fear of the result,
we may lose many good
men, but if
we go to the work right I feel confident of
success.
I am sorry that I have not time to answer your letter fully
but if you knew how often I have been called away from
my writing I know [added: you] would excuse me,
there has been about
eight persons in here bothering me all the
time, and no person in
the office to be bothered but myself
as
Messieurs
Carlisle &
Stewart have not reached yet.
If I have time I [added: will]try and
do better the next time. [added: Give] my respects to all
inquiring
friends if any there be.
Yours very Respectfully
Alex. CresslerEllic.
