The following vitriolic letter was directed toward Gideon Welles, Secretary of the Navy in the Lincoln/Johnson Administration. It was written by an anonymous former Massachusetts soldier who probably spent time as a prisoner of war at Andersonville and who disliked the reconstruction plan laid out by President Johnson and members of his cabinet, including Welles who publicly supported the plan.

In less than a month after becoming President, Johnson began executing his plan for reconstructing the South. Johnson pardoned all rebels except Confederate leaders. He also restored all rebel property except for slaves. Finally, he authorized each rebel state to call a convention of white delegates to draw up a new constitution. Once completed, a new state government could then be formed, and the state could apply for readmission to the Union. 

When Congress finally met in early December, the Republicans, in control of both the House and Senate, expressed outrage at the actions of Johnson and his supporters in the Executive branch, albeit not as strongly as the author of this letter. They saw the same men who had led the rebellion returning to power throughout the South. Worse still, the new Southern governments were passing “black codes,” which made it difficult for freedmen to work in certain jobs, own land, or even quit a white employer. Most troubling to Republicans in  Congress was that President Johnson had, on his own authority, established a reconstruction plan for the South. Many Republicans believed this was the job of Congress and Congress alone. This schism between the President and Congress eventually led to Johnson’s impeachment.

The letter itself is on a single half sheet of paper and relatively short. Apparently after he sealed the letter, he thought of a few more things to say!

[Note: This letter is from the private collection of Richard Weiner and was made available for transcription and publication on Spared & Shared by express consent.]

Transcription

Boston [Massachusetts]
September 25, [1865]

Do you think we of the army are going to see you stand by old villainous Johnson? Some of us are crippled for life. Some starved in prisons while our dear families starved at home. Do you think that a body of men who suffered hunger while in prisons fear your waning party? I have got you under my thumb, and the Cabinet [too]. I will have sweet political revenge, sir.

— Andersonville

The letter’s original cover, addressed to “Gideon Welles, Sec. of Navy, Washington, D.C.”, is franked by a #65 3c rose tied by Sept- 26 dated CAMBRIDGE/MASS double circle & circle grid. More interestingly, the envelope (both front & back) contains more angry & disturbed scribbling by the same writer. On face: “When did you suffer the pangs of hunger, Sir? Did that vile ‘my policy’ man ever have an empty belly? I sneer at you both; will have sweet revenge. Will take the stump against our enemies; mark it: Andersonville.”  Separately on the cover face is the docketing “anonymous.”

Writing all across the back of cover, the anonymous author continues: “Conservatives are played out. The soldiers detest them. What ‘we’ of the North swear to accomplish, God helping, is to raise an army to help carry out the confiscation act—take rebel property and give it to poor soldiers. If the next Congress (I warn them in time) do not confiscate the properties of late traitors, 500,000 soldiers from the north will go down South and drive them all into the gulf of Mexico. Conservatives must beware; Soldiers will not listen to them. So Conservatives, stand from under; we’ll make your eyes stick out. We come soon – vi et armis – voe victis.” [Latin for “by force & arms – woe to the defeated”]