Louisiana Politics


Capt. Thornton to Gen. Shepley on private matter, Washington, 1864

Capt. Thornton to Gen. Shepley on private matter, Washington, 1864
Item 76538   info
Maine Historical Society

Shepley got entangled in various controversies in Louisiana. Among the most contentious was when Louisiana would be able to rule itself -- and elect representatives to the U.S. Congress.

Capt. Charles Thornton of Scarborough, formerly of Co. C of the 12th Maine Regiment, who was serving on Shepley's staff, wrote to Shepley from Washington, D.C., about a private dispatch he delivered to Secretary of War Edwin Stanton.

The dispatch apparently referred to some charge against Shepley. Thornton reported that Stanton's response to the charge was, "Slander Captain nothing but slander."

Thornton wrote, "The scoundrel Cottman started the infamous slander." He probably refers to Thomas Cottman, a Louisiana planter who had signed the articles of secession, but in 1864 was pressuring Lincoln and others to allow Louisiana to keep its old constitution and hold new elections.

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