USA > Pennsylvania > Luzerne County > Wilkes-Barre > A history of Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania : from its first beginnings to the present time, including chapters of newly-discovered early Wyoming Valley history, together with many biographical sketches and much genealogical material. Volume IV > Part 47
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Privates-Lyman Atherholt, George W. Alter, Jacob Buffington, Thomas Bailey, Henry Badigan, Samuel Bowman, Fleming Betts, Ephraim Bowman, Joseph F. Bastine, John F. Bupp, William B. Bacon, Michael Burk, Michael Barrett, Benjamin Betts, Charles Bisbing, Amos Bisbing, Lorenzo J. Curtis, George Covert, Madison M. Covert, Samuel Cordenman, Charles F. Cook, Lemuel Closs, Wesley Creigle, George Chamberlain, Oscar D. Case, George W. Derr, Albert Edwards, Franklin Edwards, Emanuel Fink, Milton Frantz, John Fox, Amos Geer, George W. Gardiner, Samuel Galaspie, Chester B. Gorden, William Gross, Owen Hughes, Charles Hall, Charles Hoover, Albert Hoekenbury, John Hughey, Henry Hawk, Andrew J. Hughey, Philip Hines, Patrick Heart, George R. Hunlock, James Hoover, Abraham Hughey, George W. Hoover, Benneville Heffner, John Hobaugh, W. L. Hockenbury, James Jaquish, David Johnson, Benjamin N. Jenkins, George Knorr, Joseph Kunkle, William J. Klasprath, David Keister, John Lorkenbaugh, Augustus Line, Alexander Lamourex, George Lamourex, Samuel R. Laply, George W. Little, David Lapley, William H. and Stephen H. Leonard, Joseph R. Lamourex, Reuben H. Leonard, James Muchler, Joseph Miers, Joseph Montague, David Morgan, John M'Grath, Isaac Nelson, Sylvester Nolen, Ira Neely, Robert J. Orr, William R. Palmer, Timothy Powell, Aaron Porter, John P. Pridgens, Alfred Palmer, James A. Roat, Ira Ransom, Richard Randall, William L. Rummege, William Rosengrant, William F. Rugg, George Row, John Reese, Oliver P. Reese, Elias H. Robbins, Collins A. Rice, Joseph Siegler, Jacob Stichler, William Schooly, Daniel A. Sinclair, Wayman Scaddin, Joshua Swingle, Andrew J. Shonk, Patrick Smith, Ira G. Sutton, Major Sorber, Daniel K. Swartz, William Skaddin, Peter Santee, William Sorber, Eldad Turner, Charles J. Turpin, B. D. Thompson, Cor Van Buskirk, Elijah C. Vanloon, William J. Vanscoten, Theophilus Westover, William Welker, Alexander Warring, Ralph Williams, Ezra W. Wilkinson, Israel Willis, Horace M. Welsh, William H. White, Charles Williams, Alonzo F. White, John Yeager.
COMPANY E, 143RD REGIMENT
Officers-Captain-M. Lewis Blain. First Lieutenants-Zebulon M. Ward, resigned January 14, '63. Ezra S. Griffin, promoted from second lieutenant January 30, '63, died July 11, '64 of wounds. H. N. Greenslitt, promoted from first sergeant to second lieutenant, December 13, '64, first lieutenant, April 4, '64. Second lieutenants-William LaFrance, promoted from first sergeant, February 2, '62, commissioned first lieutenant, July 27, '64. Levi B. Tompkins, promoted from sergeant April 4, '65. First sergeant, David C. Sterling, promoted from sergeant December 31, '64. Sergeants-Francis E. Secor, promoted from private to corporal, March 11, '63, sergeant, October 26, '64. William H. Harding, promoted from private to corporal, January 25, '64, sergeant, December 13, '64. Ira Hinkley, promoted from private to corporal, February 15, '64, sergeant, February 23, '65. Samuel Rogers, December 4, '62, promoted to corporal October 26, '64, sergeant, April 4, '65. Ashbel F. Hobbs, transferred to veteran reserve corps, June, '64. William S. Young, died February 28, '63, at Belle Plain, Va. Cornelius Riley, died May 6, '64, of wounds. Benjamin H. Crippen, killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 1, '63. Corporals-Roger W. Cox, promoted corporal October 26, '64. Daniel Hunt, promoted corporal, October 26, '64. William Matthias, promoted corporal February 15, '64, missing in action at Wilderness, Va., May 5, '64. Amos Washer, promoted corporal, December 31. '61. John Otto, William Taylor, drafted, promoted corporal April 24, '65. Welcome Johnson, discharged January 19, '64, for wounds, with loss of leg, received at Gettysburg, Pa., July 1, '63. Robert L. Follet, died January 19, '63, at Washington, D. C. Henry LaFrance, died June 15, '64. Nelson Stevens, died June 22, '63. Charles T. Smith, died June 15, '63. Earnest K. Knierim, promoted corporal, died at York, Pa., October 3, of wounds received at Gettysburg, July 1, '63. Ephraim Sterling, died August 12, '64 of wounds received in action. George M. D. Secor, promoted corporal, died May 5, '64 of wounds. Gottlieb Kennich, promoted corporal, captured, died October 20, '64. Andrew Bisecker, promoted corporal, deserted December 22, '64. Musician, William A. Keene.
Privates-Benjamin Aston, Benjamin F. Allen, William Albro, Thomas Aumick, Carey D. Aumick, Philip W. Bunn, Hebron V. Bogart, Adam E. Bankeys, Jacob Betz, Frank Barringer, Daniel S. Bumer, Henry Briggs, John Blake, Henry V. Brooks, Robert Booth, M. Bumgardner, Benjamin F. Bonham, Thomas Brown, Derby Clark, Samuel W. Clark, Daniel N. Cupp, John R. Cramer, Robert M. Cary, Thomas Cupp, James Colwell, Frederick H. Carey, Livingston Dennis, John A. Dolph, Jacob Detmoler, Peter Depew, James Devitt, Thomas Davis, John Davis, Thurston Dickinson, George Funk, James Geary, Frederick Gorham, John Gorham, James . Hinkey, Benjamin H. Hayden, Calvin P. Hammond, Philip Hornbaker, Noah Headen, Charles E. Hutchins, David Hendershot, George M. Hatherill, John Heiser, David Hockenbury, Joseph W. Jackson, John W. Jackson, James H. Kilmer, Wesley Knapp, John Knockey, John M. Kelly, Jay Knickerbocker, George A. Kiliner, John J. Lehman, Samuel F. Lingfelter, Josiah L. Lewis, Shem Lloyd, John E. Morgan, William Morgan, Joseph Martin, William H. Miller, Westbrook Merring, Henry Meadons, George Muchler, Michael Morrison, Casper Myers, John A. Martin, Arthur Maley, John M'Vey, Abraham M'Graw, Benjamin M'Elroy, John Nolan, William Nyman, Hiram Oakley, John Patterson, David Patterson, George Rodimer, Thomas Richards, Adam Rinehart, Adam Richardson, Charles P. Russell, William Rodemire, David Richards, Benjamin F. Redick, Isaac Reed, Christian Rock, Jeffries Ringsdorf, David Reese, Joseph E. Ruple, Charles Sayers, Comfort Scull, Thomas Somers, Albert Sertz, George P. Shilitto, Robert Sherwood, John Skinner, Joseph Swank, Cornelius Short, Joseph Seip, Frederick A. Theirs, S. W. Thompson, George W. Tripp, William H. Turner, Ira Tinklepaugh, Joseph Umberger, Theodore Utt, Lewis Vansiekle, Daniel Vanluvender, D. Vanluvender, Stephen Varner, William B. Washner, Amos F. Williams, Nathan Wheeler, Francis Wheeler, Jacob O. Williams, Elhannan W. Wert, William D. Warfel, Christian Wart, George W. Walker, Loren B. Wickizer, William Walker.
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COMPANY F, 143RD REGIMENT
The members of this company were generally mustered in September 8, 1862.
Officers-Captains-Henry M. Gordon, promoted from first lieutenant May S, '65. William A. Tubbs, discharged on surgeon's certificate April 15, '64. First lieutenant, Robert P. Crockett, promoted from second lieutenant June 23, '64. Second lieutenants-Nathaniel J. M. Heck, promoted to sergeant December 1, '62, to first sergeant, second lieutenant, December 17, '64. Charles H. Campbell, promoted from sergeant to second lieutenant, July 1, '64, adjutant, December 13, '64. First sergeants-Hiram Campbell, promoted from corporal to sergeant, February 28, '63; first sergeant, December 17, '64. David P. Good, died at Wind Mill Point, Va., June 7, '63. Sergeants-Stephen H. Bonham, promoted from corporal, August 25, '63. Alexander S. M'Dannels, promoted from corporal, May 5, '64. John M. Culver, prisoner from July 1 to September 28, '63, promoted from corporal September 1, '64. Jonas B. Hoppus, promoted corporal January 25, '64, to sergeant, January 1, '65. Dyier C. Moss, discharged on surgeon's certificate, January 9, '63. Levi Arnold, transferred to veteran reserve corps, October 28, '63. William H. Thompson, died at Washington, D. C., February 21, '63. Gris C. Benscoter, promoted from private, killed at Wilderness, Va., May 5, '64. Corporals-Jacob H. Maze, promoted corporal January 1, '63. James Kester, promoted corporal, January 23, '64. John R. Seward, promoted corporal, January 25, '64, prisoner from May 5, to December 14, '64. James R. Dodson, promoted corporal May 5, '64. John Scott, promoted corporal, August 1, '64. Jonas C. Tubbs, prisoner from July 1 to August 26, '64, promoted corporal October 1, '64. James W. Rood, prisoner from July 1, to September 28, '63, promoted corporal December 17, '64. S. M. Blanchard, promoted corporal January 16, '65. James Roberts, discharged January 16, '65, for wounds. Daniel L. Schaffer, promoted corporal, died January 17, '64, at Culpepper Courthouse, Va. Musicians-Singleton M. Goss, Austin Sloat.
Privates-Asa R. Allen, Henry Asner, John E. Adams, Sol. E. Adleman, David Armstrong, William Bower, William H. Beagle, Josiah Bisher, C. L. Benscoter, Anthony Boyer, John N. Bonham, Benjamin Buttorf, Charles Buckalew, William Benscoter, Josiah Bear, John Bradly, Alex. Bonham, Henderson Bonham, James Bidlar, Thomas Barthurst, Nicholas J. Cox, Patrick Colter, Jasper N. Culver, William Cremens, Brazilia Cook, Samuel W. Dodson, Daniel Deater, Christian Eichner, Aaron Freeman, Thomas J. Gilmore, Adam Hain, Jacob Hoppus, Wesley M. Harned, Adam C. Hazlett, Wm. M. Harvey, Walter Hoffman, J. H. Haybecker, Wesley P. Hoyt, Conrad Junker, Norman D. Koons, William Kelly, James M. Killian, Joseph Kisner, Daniel Kopp, Joseph Luderbauch, Amos W. Laning, Richard Latchiford, Simon Masters, William H. Masters, George W. Miller, Sr., James W. Moore, Judson H. Marvin, John Moore, Charles L. Moore, William Miller, Frederick Mentz, Sylvester Masters, George F. Moore, Ira R. Moss, Joseph W. H. Mulligan, Peter M'Afee, Silas Nevel, Sidney Nafus, Alexander James Nevel, Samuel H. Pile, Samuel Peters, Simon Remaly, Almond W. Rood, Ira Rood, John Rood, Charles Rease, Samuel Simpson, Abile Sutliff, Sterling D. Sutliff, John Schechterly, Otis Sherwood, Charles Sanders, Merrit W. Smith, Walter Salsman, Isaac Sink, Ashel Sutliff, Thomas J. Stiles, John Smith, Isaac Scott, Elisha Scott, Jesse B. Stackhouse, George S. Seward, William J. Smith, George W. Solomon, Jacob W. Titus, Matthias H. Traugh, George W. Titus, Nicholas Vanhorn, Stephen W. Vangelder, Elijah Wheeler, William Winchker, George Wildoner, Simon Wolf, Columbus Wiser, Theodore F. Wolf, Levi S. Weatherby, John Woodruff.
COMPANY G, 143RD REGIMENT
Officers-Captains-Edward W. Wendell, discharged November 19, '63. Daniel J. Morton, promoted from sergeant to second lieutenant, March 15, '64, captain, September 25, '64. First lieutenant-George Collings, promoted from second lieutenant November 1, '63, commissioned captain, November 20, '63. L. R. Nicholson, died July 13 of wounds received at Gettysburg, Pa., July 1, '63. Second lieutenants-Alfred Groff, promoted from sergeant, November 1, '63, discharged May 8, '64. Frank H. Montonye, promoted from private to sergeant June 22, '63, first sergeant, second lieutenant, December 2, '64. First Sergeants-Patrick Murphy, promoted from corporal to sergeant, October 1, '62, first sergeant; commissioned second lieutenant, Septem- ber 15, '64, prisoner from May 5, '64 to May 20, '65. Jonas F. Westover, promoted from private to sergeant June 4, '65. Sergeants-William S. Randall, promoted corporal ; sergeant February 10, '65. William W. Schooley, promoted from private, discharged June 13, '65, for wounds received at Wilderness, Va., May 6, '64. Joseph Norris, promoted corporal; sergeant, February 10, '65. William S. Leach, transferred to veteran reserve corps, November 15, '63. Lloyd Harding, died at Washington, D. C., June 18, '63. William L. Dymond, killed at Hatcher's Run, Va., February 7, '65. Ozro Mandeville, deserted October 15, '62. Corporals-Joseph Hoover, pro- moted corporal, February 10, '65. James Kelly, promoted corporal September 24, '63; wounded at Wilderness, Va., May 6, '64. Charles D. Kunkle, promoted corporal, December 10, '63. Charles H. Evans, promoted corporal November 26 .. '64. Peter Hass, promoted corporal, Jan- uary 4, '65. William Winters, promoted corporal June 10, '65. Thomas Lahr, promoted corporal February 10, '65. George W. Thomson, promoted from corporal, June 4, '65. Lyman Harris, wounded at Wilderness, Va., May 5, '64, discharged on surgeon's certificate, January 26, '65. Erastus Shafer, transferred to veteran reserve corps, September 13, '64. James Hogaman, died at Washington, D. C., July 15, '63. William A. Harding, killed at Hatcher's Run, Va., February 6, '65. Daniel Wood, deserted November 4, '62. Musicians-Andrew S. Chilcoate, Samuel C. Parks.
Privates-William Arnold, Lewis Arnold, Washington Bierbower, Solomon Baker, Thomas P. Barringer, John Beam, Charles Bropst, Martin Browman, Lewis Bentz, John Bricker, George Brown, Valentine Boyer, John Bollinger, Charles Beven, Henry Belsia, Charles Corson, James M.
2082
Chapman, Lemuel Carl, Michael Corcoran, John Collers, Frederick Delong, John E. Dickinson, Robert Dougan, David Downing, John Engle, Daniel Etter, Joshua Edgin, Hiram Emmon, Isaac Ellison, Benjamin Fischborn, Michael S. Finck, Jacob Fisher, Thomas Finly, John Grintner, Dennis Gallagher, Franklin Granler, Andrew Hilbert, Charles Hotchkiss, Lee Higgins, John Harris, Samuel Hower, Isaac Huey, William Hampton, Henry Hoffman, Thomas M. Hotchkiss, Simon P. Hoover, George W. Hoover, William Jones, Eri P. Jackson, Jesse Jeffers, Joseph Kline, William Knarr, William F. Kreidler, Henry Kiely, John Koons, Samuel Kelly, Alexander Kepner, John M. Kelly, Jonas O. Kelly, Thomas Keen, John A. Kreidler, George Kroop, Jacob Long, Luther Lower, Samuel Lee, David R. Lutz, James E. Lobdell, William Lippencott, William Leonard, Richard Laughlin, Thomas Linkskill, Major Loudenberg, Michael Myers, John Mon- toyne, John Myers, George W. Miller, Charles B. Miller, Robert M'Neal, John M'Loughlin, John Nahtrieb, John Nash, George D. Nash, Francis O'Boyle, Henry Pace, William Perigo, Daniel Petty, John Quinn, Elijah Robbins, Samuel Reed, Charles D. Remmer, John Rinehart, Zura Root, Abraham Ramsay, William Ritter, William Ressler, Michael Roth, David C. Shoop, John Sollers, Samuel Spencer, Amos Staines, Lewis Strait, Joseph Sager, Halsey Skillinger, Silas Sollers, Simon Snyder, John W. Spencer, Daniel Stem, Barney Simonson, Harvey Taylor, Jesse T. Thompson, Daniel Thorn, David Vough, Benjamin Vaughn, Charles A. Westfield, John E. Wival, Calvin Williams, Wilson Williams, John Welsh, John D. Winer, John W. Williams, Jesse Weaver, Lazarus Yaytor.
COMPANY I, 143RD REGIMENT
Officers-Captains-Chester K. Hughes, promoted major October 27, '64. Harlow Potter, promoted from corporal to sergeant December 1, '63, from first sergeant to first lieutenant, January 2, '65; captain, April 15, '65. First lieutenants-Thomas Davenport, discharged on surgeon's certificate October 21, '64. William H. Blain, promoted from private to corporal, November 1, '63, sergeant, February 29, '64, first sergeant April 15, '65. Second lieutenants- Samuel F. M'Kee, promoted adjutant 147th Pa., December 6, '62. C. W. Betzenberger, promoted from sergeant January 1, '63, killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 1, '63. Jairus Kauff, promoted from sergeant to second lieutenant, September 1, '63, commissioned captain October 15, '64, captured, died at Columbia, S. C., October 31, '64. First sergeants-Jesse Harrison, commissioned second lieutenant, July 1, '63, died at Gettysburg, Pa., August 20, of wounds received in action, July 1, 63. Simon Hubler, promoted from corporal to sergeant January 2, '65, first sergeant, April 15, 65, commissioned second lieutenant, June 1, '65. Sergeants-Warren H. Crego, John Shafer, promoted corporal February 1, '63, sergeant November 1, '63. Paul Fullmer, promoted corporal November 1, '63, sergeant January 2, '65. Nathan Vosler, promoted corporal February 29, '64, sergeant April 15, '65. Edward P. M'Creary, promoted first lieutenant, Company B February 28, '64. Charles Wesley, promoted from private, died October 28, '64. Corporals-John Bellas, promoted corporal April 15, '65. C. Hagenbaugh, promoted corporal January 1, '64. W. R. Vandervort, promoted corporal February 29, '64. Jacob S. Keck, promoted corporal August 1, '64. Sylvester Moulthrop, drafted, promoted corporal January 2, '65. Stephen Eckrote, William H. Weaver and William H. Brown promoted corporals January 2, '65. William S. Downing, transferred to veteran reserve corps December 12, '63. George B. Howlan, transferred to veteran reserve corps, August 1, '63. Elias L. Tubbs, promoted to corporal, died at City Point, Va., October 28, '64. Frank B. Smith, promoted to corporal, died May 27, of wounds received at North Anna River, Va., May 13, '64. Joseph W. Mott, promoted corporal, died at Culpepper Court-house, Va., January 14, '64. Christopher Boston, died November 6, '63. Musicians- George W. Palmer and Harrison Wolf.
Privates-George Arnest, Andrew S. Aleworth, Ambrose Bonham, Benjamin Bellas, Alexander Buckman, Henry Boen, Levi Buckman, William Baker, George Bellas, Car. R. Buckalew, John Blain, Silas Bellas, Jacob Black, Amos Buckalew, Parsons Bonham, Silas Cavanes, Obadiah Campbell. William Cupp, Jacob L. Cary, Solomon Culver, Charles B. Clayton, Peter Chubb, G. W. Calendar, John Coughlin, Benjamin Behaven, Isaac Drum, Eli Davenport, John M. Downing, Albert Earl, George Ensmiger, John Eveland, Moses B. Eckrote, John A. Evans, John P. Fritz, Gilbert W. Flegal, Jackson H. Gearhart, Jeremiah W. Gano, Leonard Gow, Jacob L. Girton, Ellis B. Gearhart, James Gobbins, Nathan C. Hallstead, White N. Hosler. Philip S. Hartman, Henry Hoven, Jesse Harrington, Thomas D. Hanvey, John Huberlin, Darius Hanger- ford, Joseph Holland, Theodore Hagenbaugh, Isaiah N. Harrison, George Jacoby, Joseph Keener, Alfred Kishbaugh, Milford Kingsbury, David Kiner, George W. Kahle, John Kauk, Francis M. Lockard, George Lutz, Hiram R. Marshall, Peter Mowry, William Moyer, Jonathan F. Moss, George Miller, Reuben Moyer, George W. Markle, Alexander Morrison, Joseph M'Intire, James W. M'Neal, John N. Naugle, Reuben Naugle, Elias Pfaff, William G. Pauley, Irvin Pratt, Windle Pauley, John L. Pealer, Samuel P. Reed, Elisha Roberts, H. Rheinheimer, Benjamin Royer, Charles Rittenhouse, John A. Robins, John D. S. Reiner, Zebulon S. Rhone, George J. Skinner, William Sambler, Stephen Schelhammer, John Sims, Daniel B. Siglin, John Smith, Charles Sechrist, Joseph Sikart, Henry Stout, John A. Steirs, Abraham Sleppy, Samuel Stout, Jacob Stair, Edward Trexler, Sydney H. Telle, Earl J. Tubbs, Anson Underwood, John Vosler, Josiah M. Wolf, Edward Welsh, Edward B. Wirth, Tobias Wehr, Charles Warner, Nathan Warner, Henderson Wolf, Horace Williams, Jacob Yale.
The return of the 143d was as unusual and spectacular as had been its departure. It proved the only service regiment permitted to reach Luzerne County intact from the seat of war and from its home community to proceed
PRESIDENT LINCOLN IN REPOSE
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to Harrisburg for muster out. Companies of other regiments, recruited in the county, clung together by force of habit from the place of disbandment until they reached their homes. But in the whole period of the war, which was to de- mand so much of sacrifice and take such heavy toll of its manhood, the 143d was the only organization, scarred and battered by its long and glorious service for the Federal cause, which was to be acclaimed as a unit by the people of a community who had seen it start on a career from Camp Luzerne,
In a report of the regiment's reception in Wilkes-Barré during its brief stay on home soil after its full duty had been performed, the Luserne Union of June 21, 1865, had this to say :
"Thursday last (June 17th) was a gala day for Wilkes-Barre. About noon of the day previous, Col. Dana telegraphed that his regiment would be here at 11 o'clock on Thursday, en route for Harrisburg, where they are to receive their pay. The citizens accordingly assembled in the Court House, and in a short time had the plans perfected for a proper reception to the returning heroes. Tables were erected in the Square, and a most sumptuous dinner provided by the citizens, of which probably a thousand persons partook.
"About 10 o'clock, the Fire Companies and citizens marched down to the Third Ward, as an escort, and were met by the regiment, Col. Dana at the head. Here the procession formed, and marched up to the Court House, thence up Main and around one or two other streets to the dinner stands. Gen. W. S. Ross, President of the Town Council, made the speech of welcome, to which Col. Dana replied briefly in his usual happy manner. He stated in substance that he did not design to make a speech, but that the hearty and cordial reception the regiment had met with, and the kind words of welcome to which they had just listened, would not permit him to be silent. He knew the regard in which they had been held by this community, and on more than one sanguinary field had the arms of the regiment been nerved to a more vigorous discharge of their duty by the knowledge of the kind solicitude of friends at home. But this reception surpassed all they could have anticipated.
"Col. Dana then stated to the boys that he would not keep them from the dinner table by any further remarks; and to the citizens, that he would be happy to address them more fully on some other occasion.
"Having partaken of the dinner, and filled their haversacks, the regiment then encamped around the Square, with their arms stacked, thus giving to the people of our town an idea for an afternoon at least of a miniature battle field.
"The regiment numbers now, as we gleaned from Col. Dana's remarks, 538 men, not over 130 however, of those who originally left here with them in the Fall of '62. Death, disease, the battle and rebel prisons had destroyed the rest. When the regiment left Camp Luzerne it consisted of about 800 men, principally from this county. Now, we presume it is a moderate calculation to say that three-fourths of them "sleep the sleep of death" beneath a Southern soil. Such is the havoc of war!
"We take pleasure in saying that a regiment of soldiers never behaved better than did the 143d in Wilkes-Barre. They received the congratulations of friends, remained one night with us, and left for Harrisburg at 6 o'clock Friday morning, where it is hoped they will be paid off with as little delay as possible."
The organization of the 143d completed, available manhood of Luzerne County had practically reached a limit insofar as volunteer service was concerned. After Gettysburg, the man power of the hard pressed Confederacy likewise began to show an ominous decline from the peak reached in the Fall of 1862. The settled opinion of all concerned indicated that the war would continue until either or both sides showed complete exhaustion, neither side being able to strike that telling blow so essential to winning a prompt and early decision.
The strategy of Confederate leadership concerned itself with the adoption of defensive warfare devoted to taking as heavy a toll of its adversary as the best generalship could inflict. Back in the minds of Confederate leaders was a hope of open recognition by foreign powers, implying that this augured a loosening of purse strings in their direction in exchange for concessions as to cotton, the South's chief product.
With these new sources of funds and supplies available, the South felt that it could hold out until it forced its will as to secession upon the northern states.
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Quite naturally this strategy was met with a policy of preventing recognition of the Confederacy at any cost. With Russia arrayed openly and defiantly upon the Federal side, a natural hesitation settled upon the attitude of Great Britain and most of the other powers which in earlier stages of the conflict had been on the verge of granting such recognition as would give the Confederacy at least a temporary advantage in the long controversy.
To the outside world, the public finances of North and South soon demon- strated to financiers which side, in all human probability, was to be victorious. Organizing its resources so as to provide liquid funds for the payment of men and material, the Federal government in February, 1863, set in motion the Nat- ional Banking Act which lived up to the promises of its sponsors. In the Fall, it floated a loan of nine hundred million dollars, disposing of these securities at par and thus negotiating one of the largest transactions then known to history. Confederate finances on the contrary were in deplorable condition. In the first rush of enthusiasm for the cause, the South had placed a loan of some eight million dollars among its own adherents. Thereafter appeals for funds and more funds in the same quarter met with a discouraging response. Such wild dreams of southern financiers as the Produce Loan, by whose terms a certain percentage of the selling price of staples was to be invested in Confederate bonds, could not materialize, owing to an inability to market goods where de- sired excepting through the uncertain means of blockade running.
The Cotton Purchase was another dream which practically came to naught for the same reason. This provided that the Confederacy could pay planters for their. cotton in Confederate currency, supervise the blockade runners on which cargoes were to be exported, and then realize a clear profit on this much demanded article. The Sequestration Law, a third device prescribing that all debts owing to northern creditors should be paid in full to the Confederate treasury, likewise produced but little.
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