“Show [the Copperheads] No Mercy”

By Bruce Allardice and Wayne Wolf · Originally published January 2021 · pp. 18–19

Newly discovered letters of a Union navy engineer shed light on the last days of the War and the reaction to Lincoln’s assassination. English-born George P. Hunt (1833–1887) had a career in the U.S. Navy that lasted from 1861–1887. He was appointed 3rd Assistant Engineer on July 1, 1861, and promoted to 2nd Assistant Engineer in 1862. From 1864–1865 he served aboard the USS Metacomet, in the Gulf Blockade Squadron, seeing action against blockade runners and in the Battle of Mobile Bay. Hunt was promoted to 1st Assistant Engineer on July 4, 1865, then to Chief Engineer on December 29, 1880. During the war he wrote numerous letters to his future wife, Cordelia Eames (1833–1900). The letter transcribed and edited below was written in the midst of the Lincoln assassination and the fall of the Confederacy. In it Hunt reveals his fervent Union devotion, especially fervent considering his English upbringing, and his adoration of President Lincoln. He shows how “fake news” is not a modern phenomenon, mourning the alleged death of Secretary of State Seward who, in fact, survived the attempt on his life. He relates unpleasant and little-known incidents following the assassination, when angry Union soldiers murdered civilians who praised the assassination. May 1, 1865 USS Metacomet Mobile Bay Dear Miss Eames: You will have heard long ere this of the surrender of Mobile.1

George P. Hunt. I wrote you with news up to the 7th April. I am uncertain whether I wrote since, or not, but believe that I did about the 16th, with a short acct of the

USS Metacomet, 1863.

surrender. I must thank you for your letter and papers of the capture of Richmond. Was glorious news. We fired a salute of 100 guns. The Admiral [Henry Thatcher (1806–1880)] is (if you will excuse the phrase) death on firing salutes and at target practice. He was at Fort Fisher. He left here on the 17th with sick and wounded to Pensacola. Returned on the 20th where we recd the dreadful news from Washington. He brought Gen. [Alexander] Asboth and party from Pensacola. They were aboard when we recd the news. The excitement, both on the vessel and among the troops here, was fearful. Only one man was found who could disgrace himself as to rejoice at the nation’s calamity and he would have been tied to the camp post by his own men only for the provost marshal and guard. Gen. [Nathaniel P.] Banks came down from Cairo to N.O. [New Orleans] by the steamer bringing the news. He made a speech at Baton Rouge, an Illinois Copperhead interrupted him exclaiming that ‘twas good news. He instantly fell to the ground pierced by 15 bullets. At New Orleans the same thing occurred. Five prominent secessionists or copperheads were shot by the colored troops for shouting out that the Railsplitter was dead and they would have to return to their masters. They tried to hush the matter up fearing a riot but the papers have never denied it.2 For my part I really could not credit the first report—but at last came the sad confirmation, not only of the assassination of the President but of the brutal murder of Secy. Seward. Whoever can be found to fill the place of two such men when the country more than ever needs their services. One account reports Seward alive. Surely his life will be spared, but for his foresight and good judgment the country would long ago have had trouble with the foreign govts. In diplomacy, he is second to none on this continent and Lord Palmerston and Napoleon (both who are considered to be the leading diplomatists in Europe) will lose nothing by a comparison. Heaven preserve our worthy Secretary, not only for the sake of his family, but for the sake of the nation. Nothing is said of who may be his assassins but whoever they are I believe they will be discovered and that this affair will tend to unite the North more than ever. I don’t know much of the abilities or fitness of Johnson in the presidency, but as Lincoln stated himself satisfied with his election and had every confidence in him I hope and trust that every thing my yet be well. If those miscreants called Northern Copperheads have anything, any hand in this foul, dastardly business I would hunt them yea to Death’s door and would show them no mercy, none. President Lincoln has won for himself a name which will exist while ever and wherever a fine Republican or Liberal form of government shall endure. Simple, warm-hearted, honest, generous to a fault, loyal, this beau ideal of a Republican President, has fallen, cut down in the midst of his glory, where, when can we find a fit successor. The Union will still live, but oh! That he had lived long enough to have realized the success of his great mission. Whatever may be the policy of President Johnson towards the people of the rebellious states, the leaders will find to their cost that the prevailing tenderness of Abraham Lincoln forms no part of Andrew Johnson’s character. May 15th Since writing the above I have recd your letter of April 20th and 21st with the 4 papers have come to had for which accept my warmest thanks…. I sent a couple of papers a few days ago and enclosed a pencil note of the surrender of Dick Taylor and command and Commodore Farrand and river navy here,3 opening of telegraphic communication with the Dept. at Washington for the first time. We leave here for Galveston in a day or two as flagship, Admiral Thatcher is going to visit Galveston. Some reports are in circulation respecting the expected surrender of that place. I have not been to N.O. since the receipt came to hand. We may call there as we return from the Gulf. My health is pretty good, better than it has been. We have been living upon all the luxuries of the season for the three past weeks, chickens, fish, fresh meat, new potatoes, green peas, strawberries, blackberries and good fresh milk. Quite an improvement on salt meat and hard tack. I have not been to the city [Mobile] yet. We are laying close by the obstructions and ¾ of a mile from the wharf. I did manage to go the front one day previous to the capture of Spanish Fort and had business ashore so availed myself of the opportunity to visit the front. I have not been ashore before or since then and don’t think of going. Have been ashore but twice since leaving N.O. in Feb. I asked permission to go ashore in N.O. to see fleet eng. Shock [William H. Shock (1821– 1905)] and Capt. [Pierce Crosby (1824–99), the Metacomet’s captain] refused, but afterwards after much ado granted me permission. Went ashore in Pensacola once, but was given to understand that I must be aboard at sunset. They appeared to think it such an immense favor being allowed to go at all. I have concluded to stay on board ship altogether except it be absolutely necessary for me to leave. I will not be long for my leaving for good one of these

Rear Admiral James E. Jouett, United States Navy. Courtesy Bill Gonyo.

William H. Shock, taken in the 1870’s.

fine days. I have missed Capt. Jouett [James Jouett (1826–1902), former captain of the Metacomet] considerable. He gave me too much liberty Crosby thinks, perhaps. I have spoken to him but three times since he took command. I am not alone. He is not very obliging to two or three others. I made some remarks to an officer in N.O. who was somewhat of a tale bearer that I was refused permission to go ashore, for the first time since I had been in the service, that I wished to see the fleet eng. about my examination, which was due me after two years service as second [engineer] and he had no earthly reason for refusing me.4 I had never committed myself in any way ashore or on board, had never asked permission to leave the ship when there was any duty to be attended to but the reverse of that, I should not make any complaint. He could keep me aboard whenever he felt like it. I suppose he told the captain something. Am careless whether he did or not. There is nothing in Mobile to tempt me ashore. I expected something like this when Jouett left and he came. I knew him when I was on the Lehigh and our present 1st lieutenant5 and myself have been at copperheads since we first found the ship as he is always trying to interfere in the engineer department but so long as Jouett was here he knew better than to interfere too far. But under the present command he has full power. The captain never interferes. Jouett sent me word the other day that he was trying to get me north. I am hoping every day. …. [Hunt speaks of being an American now and not longing for returning to England, and the capture of Jefferson Davis] I have no more news that I can think of, except what you will have heard as you receive this of the capture and destruction of the rebel ram “Webb” below N.O. by the Richmond. This vessel was blockaded in the Red River by the monitor Manhattan and Tennessee, but she succeeded in running past and steamed away down the Miss. River, having as cargo 370 bales of cotton, commanded by Lieut. Reed [Charles W. Read (1840–1890), CSN] of Tacony and Chesapeake notoriety. They were running the blockade with cotton on their own hook. The telegraphic wires all the way from the Red River were cut and they did not know of her coming in New Orleans more than 15 minutes before she passed by. The gunboats fired but she passed without returning the fire. Our shots struck in the city and in Algiers over the river. The big boat “Hollyhock”6 started after her firing at her. The wires were also cut below the city and she would doubtless have got to sea but fortunately the Richmond left here the day before and she was steaming up the river and knowing this vessel, seeing the chase, she stopped and first run her 11 nine inch guns out and waited coolly and patiently for a few moments when she could have given her such a broadside that would have sunk her, but they ran her ashore. Some ran away into the swamp, others set her on fire. They caught most of them. The vessel was burnt up, so much for the famous ran “Webb.”7 ‘Twas a good thing, no thanks to the Secesh in N.O. ‘Tis most bed time, so will say good night. Pleasant dreams, George Endnotes: 1. 2.

Mobile surrendered April 12, 1865. General Banks was in Baton Rouge on April 19th and arrived in New Orleans the next day. A search of the New Orleans Times-Democrat and Times-Picayune shows no mention of the shootings, but the shootings were mentioned in the Washington Evening Star, April 27, 1865. The TimesPicayune of the 20th carried first news of the assassination to the Gulf Squadron. Confederate General Richard Taylor, commanding the Dept. of Alabama and Mississippi, surrendered his army on May 4th. Commodore Ebenezer Farrand’s navy squadron surrendered on May 10. Hunt’s rank was 2ns Assistant Engineer. Henry J. Sleeper (1833-92). The gunboat USS Hollyhock.