Alexander Kelly McClure to Eli Slifer, July 23, 1861

    Source citation
    Alexander Kelly McClure, to Eli Slifer, July 23, 1861, MC 2003.4, Eli Slifer Papers Archives and Special Collections, Dickinson College, Carlisle, PA.
    Recipient (to)
    Eli Slifer
    Type
    Letter
    Date Certainty
    Exact
    Transcriber
    Sayo Ayodele
    Transcription date

    The following text is presented here in complete form, as it originally appeared in print. Spelling and typographical errors have been preserved as in the original.

    Chambersburg July 23

    D Sir-

    What a sad chapter in our National History is that of Sunday last. If not speedily redeemed, our Nationality will tremble in the [scale?] with a more than doubtful issue.

    The 200,000 rejected men, who were turned home sad & disappointed three months ago might now have their camps at Richmond. What a commentary upon our apology for a government.

    Penna seems to be crippled at every step. Her troops were badly officered & leave a record, which, however justifiable when closely scrutinized, will ever be a blot upon our fame.

    We have good men in all our regiments. Cant they be forced to the surface. The 2d (Col [Stumbaughs?]) has a Lieutenant (Stitzel) in one of our Chambersburg Companies, who is a first class military man; but he has the modesty of [one word illegible], & is not a politician. It must be so in all of the regiments. Do give this point special attention, and as regiments are reorganized, let all the efforts of the Departments be directed to having the men well officered. Dont hesitate to refuse commissions where combinations put incompetent men at the head of our troops.

    I have nothing from below - expecting to [hear] daily

    Col Eli Slifer                     Thine                 A K McClure

    How to Cite This Page: "Alexander Kelly McClure to Eli Slifer, July 23, 1861," House Divided: The Civil War Research Engine at Dickinson College, https://hd.housedivided.dickinson.edu/index.php/node/1694.