Notes and Queries

Abstract

NOTES AND QUERIES Edited by Boyd B. Stutler 517 Main Street Charleston 2, West Virginia This department is designed as an open forum for researchers into Civü War themes and for readers of Civil War History in general. It is open for questions on, and discussions of, all phases of die Great Conflict and its personnel. Also, notes on newly-discovered or little-known sidelights of die war are welcomed. Address Notes and Queries Editor. QUERIES No. 94—Friendship Cemetery and "The Blue and the Gray": In die Congressional Record Appendix, page A7625, September 22, 1961, under extension of remarks by Thomas J. Lane of Massachusetts, there is quoted an article by Vincent Edwards on die establishment of Friendship Cemetery at Columbus, Mississippi, and die origin of the famous poem, "The Blue and die Gray." The main factor of this interesting story involves the moving by wagons over more than 125 miles of country roads in Aprü, 1862, of fifteen hundred Confederate and one hundred Union dead from Shüoh to Columbus. In trying to find out what prompted die people of Columbus to undertake such a gigantic and gruesome project, and to include one hundred Union dead so soon after the battle of Shüoh, I have made considerable inquiry. I have been informed diat die story was probably untrue, that General Halleck, then in command, would not have permitted such an undertaking tiirough and behind his lines, diat die seventeen hundred Confederate dead at Shüoh are stiU buried diere, and diat civilians could not have completed such a project. However, it is possible, rather than probable, that fifteen hundred men could have died of wounds in die Corinth area and were shipped by die M & O Raüway to Columbus , where many wounded were taken for medical care. The deatii rate, it wül be recaUed, was extremely high, and Beauregard had 8,012 wounded. 324 Query: Is the story true? If true, what were the circumstances prompting such an undertaking? Ray S. Morgan No. 95—General John B. Turchins Papers: I am in die midst of gathering materials for a biography of General John B. Turchin, Cossack inteUectual, officer in the Russian army, and Union general. Turchin started in die war as colonel of the 19th Illinois, dien commanded the 8tii Brigade, Army of the Ohio, and later the 3rd Brigade, 4di Division, and 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, Army of the Cumberland . Query: Can any reader furnish or direct me to unpublished letters, diaries, or other documents relating to Turchin or the units which he commanded? James A. Treichel No. 96—Base Pay of Volunteer and Brevet Generals: Statements made by various writers about the base pay of general officers, volunteer ( temporary ) and brevet, during the Civü War do not agree and leave die student a bit confused, particularly as the Union army had general officers in diree different categories—Regular, Volunteer and Brevet. Query: What was the pay of Union brigadier and major generals of volunteers at the end of the war? What was the pay of brevet brigadier and major generals whüe the war was in progress? Was there any pay, allowance, or retirement pay granted to brevet general officers after the end of die war? James Barnett No. 97—Tutor of Lincoln's Children: Alexander WiUiamson was tutor to the Lincoln chüdren in the White House. I would like to know die date and place of his deatii, and any odier facts concerning his life. Can any reader of Civil War History help me? Wayne C. Temple NOTES A New England Soldier's Last Letter: [Contributed by Martin B. Duberman, Princeton University] William LoweU Putnam, the author of this recently-discovered letter , was the son of Samuel and Mary LoweU Putnam. His mother, an 325 326BOYDB. STUTLER older sister of James Russell Lowell, was in her own day a widelyadmired author and linguist. Annie Fields, wife of the famed publisher James T. Fields, described Mrs. Putnam as the foremost specimen of New England womanhood—and Annie had seen and known most of the Ukely competitors for that honor. This letter by her son, a young lieutenant of the 20th Massachusetts Infantry, is interesting...