Oliver Otis Howard, Autobiography of Oliver Otis Howard, major general , United States army : volume 1

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[104] resistance at Alexandria. The new President's protegaeacute and friend, young Colonel Ellsworth, had hauled down a hostile flag flying from the belfry of the Marshall House. The proprietor, Jackson, waylaying his descent, had shot him to death.

I recall, as if it were yesterday, a visit of an officer's wife to our house, about the time General Scott had ordered the first movement from Washington. She was from a cotton State and was outspoken for the Southern cause. She greatly deprecated this “forward” movement. Just before leaving our house, she said: “If it were not for those wretched Republicans and horrid abolitionists, we might have peace!”

I replied: “The Republicans who have now elected their president are not abolitionists, certainly not in your sense of that word. They only want to stop the extension of slavery.”

“ Ah, I tell you,” she rejoined, “it is all the same thing! Why stop the extension of slavery? It shows that they are against us. It is all very plain.”

I said: “Surely, it is wise to keep slavery outside the free States and the territories!”

The lady showed intense feeling, and shaking her finger at me, said excitedly: “If Mr. Lincoln has such sentiments as you express, sitting there in that chair, there'll be blood, sir, blood”

Certainly, it was a great trial to Southern officers when the mails teemed with urgent epistles, calling upon them to resign their commissions, and no longer serve a Yankee government. “Come home” said the appeals, “and join your fathers, your brothers, and your friends. Do not hesitate. No man of Southern blood can fight against his State I If you remain North you shall never darken our doors again.”