Iowa Heritage Digital Collections
State Library of Iowa

58. U.S. Rep. William A. Hall to Lincoln on disarming of Missouri militia company

Title

58. U.S. Rep. William A. Hall to Lincoln on disarming of Missouri militia company

Description

Letter from U.S. Representative William A. Hall (Democrat, Missouri) to Abraham Lincoln reporting the disarming of a Missouri Enrolled Militia company by regular Union troops, a move he believes will incite worse violence in the state. Hall also expresses a lack of confidence in General Samuel R. Curtis as Commander of the Department of the Missouri. April 22, 1863. Hall's letter reflects longstanding tensions between the Enrolled Militia, which was under state control, and the U.S. Army. Copy.

Date

1863-04-23

Contributor

Becki Plunkett and Stephen Vincent

Rights

Copyright State Historical Society of Iowa. Information at http://www.iowahistory.org/libraries/services-and-fees/conditions-for-image-reproductions.html

Digital Reproduction Information

Original scanned at 600 dpi w/ sRGB color space.

Repository

State Historical Society of Iowa, Des Moines

Repository Collection

Special Collections: Samuel R. Curtis Papers

Digital item created

12/17/2008

Transcription

(copy) Huntsville[,] April 22. /[18]63[,] Hon. A. Lincoln[,] Pres. U.S. Sir; A company of U.S. Volunteers disarmed a company of enrolled malitia [sic] a few days ago. I do not know the cause, but I do know that had there been good reasons for it, the Governor would have had it done[,] and a proceeding of this kind is calculated to produce an alienation of feeling between the State and Federal authorities in our state which at this time when we are looking for an invasion from Arkansas is particularly unfortunate. We have a class of politicians in this state who openly declare that they desire to see see [sic] the rebellion renewed in Missouri, that if it is, you can be induced to apply your proclamation of Jan[uar]y 2d to this State. Unfortunately it is believed that this class have the confidence of the Commanding General in this Department. If they will let us alone, we will keep the state quiet and adopt a gradual System of emancipation. Our convention is called in June for that purpose You would do a very great service to the Union cause in our state if you would make a change in the Commandr [sic] of this Department. The bare possibility of a collision between the enrolled malitia [sic] & the Federal Troops fills me with alarm. Yet such might be the result of proceedings like that mentioned above. Such is the management in the western part of this State that the loyal citizens are flying by hundreds & abandoning their houses. Wagons are passing here every day going to Illinois & Indiana & the peaceable parts of this state with destitute families flying from Union Troops who are sent there to protect them. The policy of burning houses & desolating a country because a band of thieves who care nothing for the people organise [sic] in it is most inhuman & injust, and the fruits are the ruin of the best part of this State. I am very Resp[ectfull]y, Your Ob[edien]t Serv[an]t, Wm. A. Hall (signed)