Manuscript Database
Creator/Title
Richards, Channing, 1838-1896. Papers, 1861-1904.
Call No.
Mss. A R514 1-2
Content
Writing in his diary on 9 October 1861, Richards expresses much fear about what little has been accomplished by the Union forces. In a letter to his sister dated 30 October 1861 he says the North hasn't "fully resolved to conquer." In a letter dated 25 December 1861 Richards says he's not as much worried about England (entering the war presumably) as the inaction of the Union forces. In a letter dated 31 July 1861 Richards rates various generals with special disdain for McClellan. He writes about the need for the draft and feels the North isn't committing its full strength to the war as the South is doing. On 2 September 1862 Richards expresses great dissatisfaction with the progress of the war. He feels they've followed a mistaken policy - "a war conducted on peace principles." He now feels the "war is to be prosecuted in earnest" using confiscation and emancipation. From time to time throughout the journal Richards writes about the course of the war and comments on various generals' abilities and actions.