sold The Rebels Are Beaten, But Surly, at the Start of Reconstruction

John Porter Hatch. Union general who served under Sherman, from February 26 to August 26, 1865, he was in command of the Charleston district, Department of South Carolina. Thus, at the beginning of Reconstruction, he was assigned to the area which had been the very cradle of secession. His characterization of it is enormously interesting.

Autograph Letter Signed, two pages, Charleston, S.C., July 29, 1865, to southern-born West Point graduate John Love, who remained loyal to the Union and served under the U.S. flag in the Civil War. “I received your note today and have written to Col. Houghton commanding in Columbia to send an officer to visit your mother and tender her any assistance I can render her. I am here filling the most unpleasant position in the Army, commanding a district of South Carolina which contains the greater part of the original secessionists. A bitter people they are, whipped but surly. I need the support of the government, which I am sorry to say is not given me as speedy as it should be. All manner of charges are constantly brought against me. At first, I very foolishly allowed them to worry me, now I fight them but keep my temper. I have done as nearly right as I could, and if in the end I am not supported I shall say, ÔRepublics are very ungrateful.’ Give my kind regards to Mrs. Love. Tell her I have two children living, a girl and a boy. My wife and family live in New York City. Mrs. H has always retained her regard for Mrs. Love and we have often thought and spoken of you.”

That he found the South Carolinians morose might well be expected; that the U.S. government was already disengaged is, however, a surprise.