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He wrote to
E. L. Pierce, Dec. 3, 1862:—
If there be anything in the message which you do not like, treat it as surplusage.1 The operative part is the last paragraph, where the President announces and vindicates emancipation.
The country will be saved!
To his colored friend,
J. B. Smith, on Christmas day:—
I am happy to assure you that the President will stand firm.
He is now in favor of employing colored troops to occupy the posts on the Mississippi River, South Carolina, and the Southern places.
To
Dr. Howe, December 28:—
You will be glad to know that the President is firm.
He says that he would not stop the proclamation if he could, and he could not if he would.
Let New Year's day be a day of jubilee!2
The year 1862 closed disastrously to our arms; and the first half of the next year was discouraging to the patriot heart.
Vicksburg in the
West still resisted siege and assault.
In December, 1862, our army was defeated at
Fredericksburg under
Burnside, and in May, 1863, at
Chancellorsville under
Hooker.
Rebel war-vessels, built and equipped in
England, with more in process of construction, were destroying our commerce; and our slow progress in the suppression of the rebellion was stimulating unfriendly opinion in
England and
France to press intervention.
It was a period of despondency among soldiers and among the people.
Many of
Sumner's correspondents describe the deep and prevailing gloom in the community.
He, however, never lost heart, even in the darkest hours.
He expected reverses, assured of ultimate success.
The basis of his trust in our final triumph was, as already stated, largely
moral,—‘in the providence of God,’ to which he often referred.
He would not believe it possible that a conspiracy founded on slavery as a corner-stone could ever prevail; and his confidence was assured when our government at last, by declaring emancipation and arming the slaves, had placed itself before mankind openly and irrevocably on the side of freedom.
McClellan was relieved from command in November, 1862, and from that time took no part in the war. Late in January
