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The experience of this country, which demonstrated the value of a military telegraph, induced the immediate organization of such corps, but on a more strictly military basis, in all European armies. 39 A View of the Confederacy from the Inside Judge John A. Campbell, Assistant Secretary of War, C.S.A. the original of this letter,here printed for the first time,is in the possession of Charles P.Greenough,Esq.,of Boston.When Judge Campbell was imprisoned in Fort Pulaski, his former associates on the Supreme Bench, Judges Curtis and Nelson, both wrote to President Johnson, and finally succeeded in getting Judge Campbell released. This letter was written when Judge Campbell learned that Judge Curtis was making efforts on his behalf. The text of the original letter has been carefully followed—Editor [Century Magazine]. fort pulaski, georgia, july 20, 1865 My Dear Sir: I learn that you have interfered in my behalf to obtain my release from arrest and confinement.I am obliged by your interposition,and appreciate it the more because that the war has made no change in my feelings toward yourself.You are aware that I was not a patron or friend of the secession movement. My condemnation of it and my continuance in the Supreme Court were regarded as acts for which there could be no tolerance. When I returned to Alabama in May 1861, it was to receive coldness , aversion, or contumely from the secession population. I did not agree to recant what I had said, or to explain what I had done; and thus, instead of appeasing my opponents,I aggravated my offense. This was still more aggravated by my opinion that cotton was not king; that privateering would not expel Northern commerce from the ocean, but would affront European opinion,and that privateering and slavery would prevent recognition,and that the war would be long and implacable; that the Northern people were a proud and powerful people that would not endure the supposed insults they have suffered,and that their “pocket nerve” was not their most sensitive nerve. Messrs. Toombs and Benjamin were promising peace before the winter. I had no connection with the Confederate government in 1861, nor until the last of October 1862. [Brigadier General George W.] Randolph, whom I scarcely knew, asked me to be assistant secretary of war, with an apology for doing so. The war had then assumed gigantic proportions: confiscation acts and emanciThe Confederacy from the Inside • 491 07.465-498_Cozz 12/2/03, 8:57 AM 491 492 • part 7: fireside and field of battle pation proclamations, and the administration of government in New Orleans and north Alabama, seemed to place a new face upon the war. It appeared to be a war upon political and civil society and government within the Confederate States. The Southern country had greatly suffered: I had spent much time with the sick and wounded, and had witnessed bereavement,distress,destitution,suffering,as well as devotion and fortitude.The civil institutions were debilitated.Much of the business and feeling of the country centered in the War Department, and there was a want of some controlling mind in regulating its civil and judicial business. The conscription brought all persons of military age under its jurisdiction; impressments affected property,military domination very often infracted personal liberty and private right. There had been delay and vexation in the transaction of business. I did not desire a conspicuous place,and every overture to place me in Mr.Davis’s cabinet had been discountenanced with emphasis. I declined to go abroad. My wish was to be of use in mitigating the ills there were upon the country. I cannot make you feel how large they were. I never labored more. I do not know that any one man has suffered from any act of mine any aggravation of his calamity.I do know of large classes that experienced sympathy and assistance. When my arrest was known, the leading member of the Society of Friends called on Mrs. Campbell to say that every member of the society in the district would petition for my release, and he actually carried to Washington City such a paper. There are other testimonials equally grateful to my feelings. I resigned twice and attempted to do so at other times.But there were considerations that would not allow me to press the offer. I did not hold to the office from avarice, for the annual salary was never...

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