DIY History | Transcribe | Civil War Diaries and Letters | George C. Burmeister diary, 1862

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1862-11-19 -- 1862-11-20

Wed. 19.  It has generally been maintained by our democratic friends that, the majority of the union troops now in the field were of their party, but the recent elections show quite a different state of things, it seems that at least two thirds are Republicans.  The democratic organ published in this city by E.H. Thayer, called the “Muscatine Courier”, denounced the administration in the most insulting terms, and appears to sympathize very strongly with the rebels, such conduct is decidedly wrong and should not be bourne by northern freemen, who are in favor of retaining a united Republic.  Many of these sympathizers have been incarcerated in prison, but were unfortunately released upon their taking the oath of allegiance, after this they were seven times worse than they were before.  I hope the people will treat them with deserving contempt.  If we had no croakers among us, but all strove to accomplish the annihilation of this so called southern Confederacy, I think this war would be of short duration, but alas, the rebels profit greatly by our own internal divisions.
Thurs. 20.  The President’s Emancipation Proclamation is the topic of universal discussion, it gives freedom to all the slaves, who are in the rebellious districts after the first day of January A.D. 1863.  It is vehemently opposed by the anti administration democrats, while most of the union men hail it as a glorious day.

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Wed. 19. It has generally been maintained by our democratic friends that, the majority of the union troops now in the field were of their party, but the recent elections show quite a different state of things, it seems that at least two thirds are Republicans. The democratic organ published in this city by E.H. Thayer, called the “Muscatine Courier”, denounced the administration in the most insulting terms, and appears to sympathize very strongly with the rebels, such conduct is decidedly wrong and should not be bourne by northern freemen, who are in favor of retaining a united Republic. Many of these sympathizers have been incarcerated in prison, but were unfortunately released upon their taking the oath of allegiance, after this they were seven times worse than they were before. I hope the people will treat them with deserving contempt. If we had no croakers among us, but all strove to accomplish the annihilation of this so called southern Confederacy, I think this war would be of short duration, but alas, the rebels profit greatly by our own internal divisions. Thurs. 20. The President’s Emancipation Proclamation is the topic of universal discussion, it gives freedom to all the slaves, who are in the rebellious districts after the first day of January A.D. 1863. It is vehemently opposed by the anti administration democrats, while most of the union men hail it as a glorious day.