Devotion And Unswerving Loyalty

The Union Colored Regiments from Massachusetts and Pennsylvania got their “Grand Review” November 14^th 1865 in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

Most Union troops paraded through Washington, DC on May 23^rd and 24^th 1865 in front of dignitaries and citizen in a “Grand Review of the Armies”.  There were however about 180,000 soldiers missing, the United States Colored Troops.

The black soldiers who had served in regiments formed in Massachusetts and Pennsylvania gathered for a “Grand Review” of their own in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania November 14^th 1865.  A prominent resident and recruiter of Colored Troops, Thomas Morris Chester was the grand marshal for the parade.  The troops marched through the main streets of Harrisburg; the capital of Pennsylvania, to the home of Senator Simon Cameron.  Cameron, who was an abolitionist and advocate for raising black soldiers, delivered the speech in their honor.  He said, “I cannot let this opportunity pass without thanking the African soldiers for the compliment they have paid me, but more than all to thank them for the great service which they have been to their country in the terrible rebellion. Like all other men, you have your destinies in your own hands, and if you continue to conduct yourselves hereafter as you have in the struggle, you will have all the rights you ask for, all the rights that belong to human beings.”  There were letters read from those who couldn’t attend, including Union General Benjamin F Butler, who wrote, I “witnessed…[African American soldiers’] bravery and good conduct on the battle-field, and, above all, their devotion and unswerving loyalty to the flag and government.”

It was reported that about 7,000 Colored soldiers attended the “Grand Review”.  It ended with a grand ball held for the soldiers.

A Wheeler Dealer

Simon Cameron resigns January 11^th 1861 as the United States Secretary of War.

Simon Cameron was born March 8^th 1799 in Maytown, Pennsylvania the son of Charles and Martha [Pfoutz] Cameron.  He was an orphan by the time he was nine, and was apprenticed to Andrew Kennedy the editor of the Northumberland Gazette.  Cameron became an editor himself in 1821 when he took over the helm of the Bucks County Messenger, before moving to Washington, DC where he worked for Gales and Seaton Printers.  After moving back to Pennsylvania, Cameron was the state printer from 1825 to 1827, the Pennsylvania state adjutant general in 1826, the founder of several rail lines, a bank, and the state commissioner of claims for the Winnebago Indians.

After being a Whig, Cameron joined the Democratic Party and was voted into the United State Senate in 1844.  He switched to the Republican Party and was nominated for President at the 1860 Republican National Convention.  As part of the wrangling of the Convention, Cameron threw his support behind Abraham Lincoln.  The payoff was that Cameron was named the United States Secretary of War.  While in office he centralized recruiting, but was criticized for awarding contracts and positions through favoritism.  Cameron was notoriously corrupt and was forced to resign January 11^th 1862.  When discussing Cameron’s corruption; Thaddeus Stevens told Lincoln that, "I don't think that he would steal a red hot stove".

Cameron finished out the years of the Civil War, as the United States Minister to Russia.  In 1866 he ran and was elected again to the United States Senate from Pennsylvania.  He served until 1877, when the Pennsylvania General Assembly assured him if he resigned, his son James Donald Cameron would be placed in his seat.  Cameron retired to his estate near Maytown, Pennsylvania.  He died June 26^th 1889 at his home.  Cameron is buried the Harrisburg Cemetery in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

Another good web site for information  Simon Cameron

The GOP Choice

United States Representative Abraham Lincoln was nominated at the National Republican Convention May 16th 1860.


At the second ever National Convention of the Republican Party held on May 16th 1860 at the Wigwam in Chicago Illinois, Abraham Lincoln was nominated for President of the United States. Senator Hannibal Hamlin of Maine was nominated for Vice President. This convention is notable as every person who was nominated would eventually become a member of Lincoln’s cabinet, including William H Seward of New York, Simon Cameron of Pennsylvania, Salmon P Chase of Ohio and Edward Bates of Missouri. It took three votes before Lincoln received enough votes to get the conformation, finally happening on May 18th 1860. The final count was 364 votes out of 466 votes cast.

The Lincoln / Hamlin ticket defeated three other tickets in 1860’s election.

Another good web site with more information about this subject
Mr Lincoln and New York