My own dearest Father
The blow has at
last fallen, like a clap of thunder from
a cloudless sky. When I left home I was
undecided as to which course I would
pursue. Since, however, we have been
down here, we have, upon consultation
decided upon taking a step which
will for a long time, separate your
son from you all, and perhaps
forever. I have for a long time
deemed that I was pursuing a
course that concurred both with
respect & principle The "Cause
of the South" has always you
know, had my heartfelt sympathies
I have now determined to give
them my active support. I am
fully impressed with the dan
[page 2]
ger & discomfort that attends the
step, but I have resolved to take it
Whenever in life (as now) duty--
mere convenience
imperative duty &
incline to two
dically different courses , I shall never hes-
itate which to follow. Such is
now the case, duty--I feel, as well
as a feeling of self-respect, compels[?]
me to a step, which will banish
me from a home of comfort &
plenty, a home of comfort &
plenty, a home where I have
never received aught but kindness
& friendly offices. But I go, and
although I may never see you again
yet I know I carry with me
blessing &
the best wishes for my safety, We
have determined, very suddenly,
upon taking this step, therefore
you will have to excuse the
[page 3]
penmanship & orthography, I have
scarcely time to write you at all
much less in a manner I should
otherwise have done. And now
Father upon a subject which
has given me a great deal of
uneasiness for a long time. I
may have in an unguarded mo-
ment said & acted things of
which I have been ashamed &
for which I now ask your
forgiveness It has never been
for a want of respect for thee
No I have respected thee only
as a dutiful son can do, and
only regret I could not remain
long enough with you to repay
you. But I hope that when these
gloomy war clouds shall have
cleared away, and the rays
of an undimmed political sun
[page 4]
shall once
& may then be permitted to return
to the bosom of a fond family, al-
though it may not be with honors be
stowed upon me, yet feeling that
proud consciousness which always
follows duty performed. You
know
[the next nine lines inked through]
I hope you will excuse
this writing as I am in a great
hurry. Give my love to all the
family and Kiss them every one
for me. Tell them when I have
gone and also to pray for me.
from you devoted & affectionate
Son
Samuel
I will of course write
to you and give you the
directions----
Lt. Samuel Thomas McCullough, Co. d 2nd Battalion, Maryland Infantry
MSS 2907
I am surprised and delighted to see this. I have read all the McCullough diaries, and also this letter and others. I have been studying Samuel Thomas McCullough (of Annapolis, MD) and his first cousin William Ricketts McCullough (of Cecil County, MD) who also belonged to the Md. 2nd Infantry, CSA. The latter fellow was the "Willie" to whom Samuel sometimes referred in his diaries, and whom it appears he looked out for during the war. Their fathers, Passmore McCullough of Annapolis and Hiram McCullough of
ReplyDeleteElkton, Cecil County, Maryland were brothers.
Passmore was Sheriff of Anne Arundel County, Maryland during the Civil War, and also ran the McCullough Hotel (now the Maryland Inn) in Annapolis, which Hiram McCullough owned from 1855 until ca. 1866. The hotel is reputed to have been a stronghold of southern sympathy during the war. Hiram and Passmore, however, whatever their feelings, were staunch Union supporters. Passmore died early in 1865 and before Samuel returned to Annapolis. Hiram died in 1885. A lawyer, he was co-author of the first Maryland Code (published 1860) and was elected to Congress in 1864 and 1866 on the Democratic ticket.
Samuel after returning to Annapolis in June of 1865, married, then was widowed, and later married Jedediah Hotchkiss's daughter. A lawyer, he was active in Anne Arundel County politics and was the author of the first published code of Annapolis. Samuel met a most unfortunate end, dying in a mental hospital in Virginia. Jedediah Hotchkiss's letters reveal that his son-in-law was an alcoholic and violent.
William Ricketts McCullough, Samuel's cousin, survived the war, then died in 1867 in Santo Domingo while working there for a New York mining company. He died of yellow fever.