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CHAPTER NINE: "Even More than Mother"
- University of Georgia Press
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C H A P T E R 9 E In the aftermath of Antietam, McClellanfailed to press Lee's weakened army. In fact, McClellan resisted moving the Army of the Potomac even after Lincoln visited camp and lived in a tent beside him. When he finally acted on October 2.6, it was too late. After midterm congressional elections indicated public dissatisfaction with the war, and frustrated with the slowness of McClellan, Lincoln ended the general's career by replacing him with Ambrose Burnside on November 5. Eleven weekslater, after Burnside's reckless assault at Fredericksburg and the infamous "mud march," Lincoln placed Joseph Hooker in his stead. The North's showcase army had changed commanders three times in three months. Captain Shawand the Second Massachusettsdid not participate in the fight at Fredericksburg, but stayed in quarters at Sharpsburg, Maryland, and Fairfax Station, Virginia. Reflecting on the war, Shaw vascillated between ideas of a long struggle and a contest shortened by the "Peace Party." He thought the Emancipation Proclamation was morally correct and hoped that justice would prevail in the end. Shawhad inklings of joining the cavalry,but his loyalty to his unit nixed that move. News of the battle deaths of his first cousin Theodore Parkman and of George Curtis's brother Joe made him worry over his own future. Still, Shawwasdetermined to finish the contest and wrote: "I had rather stay here allmy life . . . than giveup to the South." 2.51 ven more than mother" As his servicepassed its second Thanksgiving and Christmas, Shawfocused upon his dead and wounded comrades. He often retraced the events of Antietam by riding the battlefield to locate places where his friends had fallen. Living through the bitter cold winter of 1862-63, Shaw's thoughts carried him to the warmth of a woman, Annie Haggerty. He obtained a leave of absence to visit her and to see his family. Shaw wrote Annie that he loved her "even more than Mother," proposed marriage, and suffered through her uncertain answer. Maryland Heights [RGS] Oct. 5, 1862, Dear Mother, Your long letter of Sept. 30 reached me to-day, and I will try to answer some of your questions, or rather your objections to what I said in my last. I can't see any real solid reason for sending a private letter to a newspaper, unless there is something in it of personal interest to the families of soldiers, such as lists of wounded, &c., &c. I shouldn't object half so much if the extracts were practicallyanonymous; but it is always perfectly evident to all my acquaintance that I wrote them, and I am at this moment in a state of anxiety about what Father has had printed. It is the very last thing he would like, I know. The fact of it is, I can't write what I want to, if my letters are to be put in the papers. Don't imagine, from what I said in my last, that I thought Mr. Lincoln's "Emancipation Proclamation" not right; as an act of justice, and to have real effect, it ought to havebeen done long ago. I believe,with you, that the closer we adhere to Right and Justice, the better it will be in the end, and that, if we want God on our side, we must be on His side; but still, as a war-measure, I don't see the immediate benefit of it, and I think much of the moral force of the act has been lost by our long delay in coming to it. Jefferson Davis will either take no notice of it, or hewillthreaten some frightful retaliation; and as the slaves are sure of being free at any rate, with or without an Emancipation Act, lejeu nevautpas lachandelle.1 This isonly how the thing looks to me now; I shall no doubt change my opinion. I was very glad to get Harry's letter, and to know that he had time to go to the Island: I had already written to him. Charles Lowell came up to see me the other day, and I went to ride with him; he is a fascinating fellow to me.2 General McClellan sent him to Washington to present the Rebel flags captured at Antietam; it was considered a good deal of an honour. Give my love to Father and all. I owe Effie and Nellie manyletters. 2.52, B L U E - E Y E D C H I...