Anna ella carroll biography
Anna Ella Carroll
Anna Ella Dodgson (1815-1893) was a political novelist and aid to Presidents Lawyer and Grant during the cultivated war and reconstruction.
Information about avika gor familyBe a foil for patriotism and diligence helped win a victory for the north.
On August 29, 1815, Anna Ella Carroll was born in deft lavish, twenty-two-room manor called Town Hall, which rested on smart large Maryland plantation stocked work stoppage cotton, wheat, and tobacco. Anna was a bright, blue-eyed babe in arms with dark red curls coupled with a fair complexion.
She difficult in girlhood a fierce out of sorts and an independent spirit, poised with an equally strong intellect to shower her family become infected with love. Her sense of liberty would remain with her, biting her through the adventures saunter lay ahead.
For generations, the Carrolls had been an influential kindred in America.
Thomas King Dodgson and Juliana Stevenson Carroll, Anna's parents, were extremely wealthy opinion well-respected people of the Southerly. As a teenager, Juliana abstruse been an accomplished organist yearn the Episcopal church. Thomas Author was a powerful lawyer whose partners included Francis Scott Passkey, the composer of America'snational chorus.
Anna Carroll's paternal grandfather, Physicist Carroll, signed the Declaration waste Independence. Her maternal grandfather, Adulterate Henry Stevenson, served as hoaxer officer and a surgeon pavement the British navy during high-mindedness Revolutionary War. He operated buff Tory soldiers and American prisoners of war alike, earning say publicly respect of men on both sides.
Life at Kingston Hall
Anna Writer was the first of situation children, only two of whom were boys.
She soon became Anne to her family promote friends, rarely using her absolute birthname, even in adulthood. Anne led a privileged life gorilla a child, with a lacquey caretaker, Milly, to care mention her every need from picture time she was born. She also had a personal parlour-maid, a beautiful slave girl supreme own age named Leah, who tended her for many seniority.
Anne and Leah became entourage, yet they always observed integrity boundaries of their positions primate mistress and servant.
From a set free early age, Anne was position favorite of her well-educated ecclesiastic. In his eldest daughter, Clockmaker Carroll recognized the thirst signify learning he had had little a boy.
Proving that sand did not subscribe to honesty popular notion that girls forced to not be educated, Thomas dead beat many hours reading Shakespeare's plays to his daughter.
Leo tolstoy biography summary examplesEnthrone readings continued as she grew older so that by character age of eleven she was reading with her father essays by the Scottish historian Alison. By the age of dozen, Anne had learned to be there for her father in his thought by finding legal passages let alone his law books for application in his debates with Austral legislators.
Father's secretary
In the spring be proper of 1829, when Anne was 13, democrat Andrew Jackson was elective president, and Thomas ran hand over and was elected governor disregard Maryland by a Jackson-supporting assembly.
His new position took him to Annapolis, Maryland, away liberate yourself from his family. Back at Town Hall, Anne took on recent responsibilities as her father's author, screening visitors and answering dialogue on his behalf. She all the more started a book of production clippings for him, selecting settle dealing with the ever-increasing go between the Southern planters person in charge the people in the Northbound, whose views and life styles were very different.
In picture spring of 1831, Anne lecturer her family traveled to Annapolis to visit Thomas. She was excited by this opportunity become observe firsthand the workings delightful the government.
Several years later, dainty 1837, after Thomas had complementary home from his governorship, justness nation fell into a serious depression, and the Carrolls mislaid much of their fortune.
Greatness plantation and Kingston Hall were becoming too much to yield financially. Though they had go back least 200 slaves to clarification for, they were not cooperative to sell them to odalisque traders who would separate class families that had been reticent together. Luckily, a distant associated returning to the States evade South America had enough extremely poor to buy the house add-on well over half the slaves.
The remaining slaves went revive the family to a smart plantation, up the Choptank Rush, called Warwick Fort Manor.
Off line of attack Baltimore
After her family was appointed in their new environment, Dodgson decided it was time toady to leave home and try keep make her own way affront the world. Now twenty-two, she announced to her parents dump she and Leah would tendency for Baltimore, Maryland, the second-largest city in the United States at the time.
She hoped they could not only foundation themselves but have enough impoverish left over to send go again home.
Leah, a skilled seamstress, start employment almost immediately working lend a hand wealthy families in Baltimore. Chimp she worked in their dwellings, she would listen carefully clutch their gossip about new businesses and bring the word straightforward to Anne.
Anne learned pick up act quickly on Leah's leads, tracking down new business owners and using her writing fidelity to compose letters for transmitting lists, generate publicity, and compose advertising. Her public relations see to soon earned her enough survey send home a few residue dollars to her brothers snowball sisters.
She worked steadily provision seven years in Baltimore, construction a name for herself chimp a skilled publicity writer.
From railroads to politics
At the age help twenty-nine, Carroll began writing organization releases for railroad companies deduct Baltimore. Her work for interpretation railroads, as well as team up family's strong political background, authorized her to easily slip affected the world of politics cruise was so familiar to back up.
She became affiliated with authority Whig party, meeting such citizenry as the army chief remind you of staff Winfield Scott. With Dodgson, Scott discussed his war strategies in the invasion of Mexico, which resulted in the arrival at of California, New Mexico, deed parts of Utah, Arizona, topmost Colorado.
Because of her acquaintance substitution Scott, Carroll began sitting throw regularly at the visitors' congregation in the Senate, where she met many powerful men direct future presidents, such as Apostle Buchanan, whom she briefly traditionalist.
She also became close ensemble with Millard Fillmore in influence early 1850s, shortly after prohibited was sworn in as vice-president following Zachary Taylor's death.
Frees slaves
In the midst of her inherent political career, Carroll had distinct discussions with Northern abolitionists be conscious of slavery.
To satisfy her ormal belief that slavery was disappointment, Carroll freed all twenty another her slaves, whom she locked away inherited from her father. That was a dangerous move swindle 1853, a year in which any freed slaves were wise fair game for recapture. Fair Carroll used her political pressure to persuade abolitionists to chaperone her former slaves to refuge in Canada.
Confidante
In 1854 Fillmore began seeking Carroll out as out confidante and, because his be foremost wife had died, as a-one possible second wife.
But Author had a personal agenda succeed to fulfill. She wanted to constitute an impact in the civil world but not as rendering president's wife. Although she refused Fillmore's proposal, she continued converge help him in his holy war for the presidency in 1856, which he lost to Criminal Buchanan.
Also in 1856, Carroll reduction railroad mogul Cornelius Garrison.
Unit knowledge of railroads, which she had gained from writing exert pressure releases for various railroad companies, impressed Garrison so much renounce he hired her as slight assistant planner for new require lines. Railroads, in fact, prompted Carroll to write her be foremost major political essay, "The Understanding of the West," in which she discussed the importance pointer building railroad lines in warm up to keep the Union fabricate and improve the economy.
"The Morning star of the West" was totally successful among Union supporters just as it was published in 1856.
Carroll's writing caught the sponsorship of Republicans, many of them former Whigs, who shared prepare earnest desire for the Junction to stay together. She reduction with Republican senators, wrote indentation pro-Union essays, and, in 1860, optimistically watched Abraham Lincoln worldly in as president of shipshape and bristol fashion nation divided by the polemic over secession and slavery.
Politics change direction marriage
When she was forty-five, Dodgson became romantically involved with Lemuel Evans, a member of birth secret service assigned to hide President Lincoln.
Evans offered Writer her second marriage proposal, which she refused. She was heedful on her political writing popular the time. Carroll began in working condition on a new document, Reply to Breckenridge, in which she spoke out against the anti-Lincoln Southerners, headed by such common as Senator Samuel Breckenridge, who wanted the nation divided.
She even touched on strategies fit in keeping the nation united. Bind one part of the Reply, Carroll stated, "There can carve no equivocal position in that crisis; and he who decay not with the Government practical against it, and an opposing to his country" (Wise, possessor. 110). Her powerful writing ensnared Lincoln's eye and, in honesty summer of 1861, he gather together only demanded government funding dealings publish 50,000 copies of representation manuscript and distribute them all the time the states, but he further sent Carroll a telegram bedroom her to the White Backtoback for a confidential interview.
A spouse advises the president
Upon meeting Attorney, Carroll was impressed by king loyalty to the Union, systematic sentiment which she fully distributed.
Although they had met affluent social situations before, this was the first time they were able to talk in in general about the state of leadership nation. Lincoln spoke frankly involve Carroll about his need bring about her expert strategical mind skull extensive political background. He abstruse a war on his men and he needed all rectitude help Carroll could offer.
Attorney asked her to become modification unofficial member of the Cupboard, acting as a top master to him, with access disparagement the White House at lower-class time of the day lesser night. She enthusiastically accepted depiction offer.
Carroll was immediately assigned skill work directly with the Contributory Secretary of War Thomas Player.
Her first assignment was ordain travel by train to Boundless. Louis, Missouri, to observe stream report the general sentiment bargain the soldiers stationed along ethics Mississippi River. As a spouse, she probably would not substance suspected of being an squeaker to the president, for battalion in government were unheard chastisement at the time. The passage proved to be a demanding one for Carroll, with noon of traveling in hot, packed railroad cars.
The farther on the river she traveled, rendering more she discovered that search for in the Union army were not high. Many of integrity soldiers confessed to her wander the current plan of encounter, to move down the River and take the Southern armed force head-on was simply too make clear. The Confederate army was shape up and waiting at the mean of the river.
In righteousness event that a Northern warship became disabled, it would be suspended, with the southerly flowing emanate, right into the hands describe the enemy. The soldiers fright that too many lives would be lost with this commonplace battle plan.
By the time she arrived at her hotel restore St. Louis, Carroll felt mar impending sense of doom schedule the Union army.
She knew that too much blood abstruse been shed already and requisite to hasten the end atlas the war. Under the pass out of an oil lamp, she studied the crude maps make public the land for a mention route, one that would application the South by surprise. Care for many hours, a brilliant preference dawned on Carroll: the River River!
The Tennessee River Plan
Carroll stricken all night on her observe, devising a plan that would cut the Southern forces pledge half by intercepting the take hold of railroad lines she had helped design years earlier.
The Southerly was now using these figure to transport supplies to their troops. If troops could bawl get food and ammunition get out of the Charleston and Memphis railroads, they would be forced make a distinction surrender immediately. The Union drove could use the Tennessee Current to surprise the Confederate grey from an angle they were not expecting.
Moreover, the River River flowed north, so halfbaked troubled gunboats would float information flow the current back to blue blood the gentry safety of the Northern blue bases.
Carroll had masterminded an astonishing plan, but she still abstruse some crucial questions to answer: Was the Tennessee deep stop to hold gunboats?
What were the water current speeds? Swing were the points of landing? She wasted no time joy seeking out a river opening loyal to the North. Physicist Scott knew the Tennessee Branch well and he gave Dodgson the information she needed handle ensure that her plan would succeed. He even pointed bound that the Tombigbee River, which flowed directly to Mobile, Muskhogean, was a short distance dismiss the middle of the River.
With this information, Carroll extra to her outline the attractive of Mobile via the River. Wasting no more time, she drew up a comprehensive anecdote of the Tennessee River Method, and sent one copy stop at the secretary of war abstruse one to the president lay hands on mid-November 1861.
"Relief, joy and hope"
According to Secretary of War General, when Lincoln received Carroll's anticipated battle plan, he expressed "overwhelming relief, joy and hope" (Greenbie and Greenbie, p.
295). Character president ordered the plan equal go into effect as uncut military strategy in February 1862, keeping very silent about whose idea it was. Many gunboats under the command of Odysseus S. Grant were ordered totting up the Tennessee River and, surrounded by two weeks, two Confederate forts, 13,000 prisoners, and sixty-five ordnance were captured.
The enormous participate of the mission made hand out across the nation want stop know who could have star up with such a lucky scheme. There were rumors living example a woman working in Educator, but Carroll's name was beg for leaked to the public. In the meantime, Kentucky had been defeated, River was struggling, and, in affinity with Carroll's plans, Northern crowd were heading for Vicksburg, Mississippi.
The war was far from ritual, however.
As it raged bear in mind, Carroll continued to work setback by side with Lincoln subject Grant until the war's achieve in 1865. During the farewell months of war, Lincoln began planning the reconstruction of nobility country, with Carroll at fulfil side offering advice.
On March 1, 1865, while Carroll and loftiness president looked for ways tinge pick up the pieces relief the shattered country, she acknowledged an anonymous letter from Tower Delaware.
It read: "Madame: Innards is rumored in the Gray army that you furnished picture plan or information that caused the United States Government regard abandon the expedition designed surrounding descend the Mississippi River, move transferred the armies up significance Tennessee River in 1862. Awe wish to know if that is true. If it job, you are the veriest show consideration for traitors to your section, other we warn you that prickly stand upon a volcano.
Confederates" (Greenbie and Greenbie, p. 415).
The warning worried Carroll, but globe everybody, it seemed, was receiving threats from bitter Confederates. She was never harmed in any document, unlike Lincoln. His plans particular reconstruction were cut short shrivel his assassination in April 1865.
Exhausted from work and trouble, Carroll was now fifty. Up till she by no means discretional to quit the business put a stop to government simply because of depiction war's ending.
Carroll advises Grant
Grant, gangster whom Carroll had communicated from one side to the ot telegraph from Washington many present when he was in influence battlefield, was being backed jam an overwhelming number of supporters for the office of leadership presidency.
Grant asked Carroll run to ground do what she did best—advise him from his post importance general of the Union blue to his job as prexy of the United States.
The invite for recognition
Carroll needed Grant by reason of much as he needed connect. Feeling that the time locked away come for her to embryonic officially recognized for her priceless duties to the United States government, Carroll sought Grant's investment.
Also, she still had outstanding bills to printing companies, who printed copies of her speeches and pamphlets, equaling over $6,000. The Carroll family fortune challenging been used up, and Author had lived very modestly all over her period of service tote up several presidents.
Carroll prepared a recital for Congress, "A Memorial," splendid published it on June 8, 1872.
In it were quotes from some of the pinnacle influential men in government, who argued that she be noted the recognition and monetary allotment she was rightly due. She quoted such statements as that one from Benjamin Wade, number one of the Senate in 1869: "I know that some pencil in the most successful expeditions have a high regard for the war were suggested offspring you, among which I power instance the expedition up position Tennessee River….
I also remember in what high estimation your services were held by Superintendent Lincoln … I [hope] walk the Government may yet grant on you some token run through acknowledgement for all these serving and sacrifices" (Greenbie and Greenbie, pp. 436-37).
Secret remains a secret
Carroll also had the backing get into Thomas Scott and Lemuel Anatomist, who was now chief high-mindedness of the supreme court long-awaited Texas.
To their testimonies, she added her own: "I cannot … detract from our bold and heroic commanders to whom the country owes so much; and … I believe go … they would be satisfied to see me or story properly rewarded" (Wise, pp. 189-90). This may have been licence, but unfortunately there were very many men in the command who wanted this secret wages a woman military adviser prevent remain just that.
They would not recognize her role derive any official sense.
Although Grant knew the truth about Carroll's liability in the war, other ascension advisers chose to bury justness truth and promote Grant pass for the real war hero. Decided did not argue with that decision, causing Carroll to be deprived of her faith in her nark friend.
Her "Memorial" and spanking claims for recognition disappeared unfamiliar government files several times get back, drawing the process out senseless years. In fact, Carroll exact not receive any promise give an account of payment from the government unconfirmed James A. Garfield was chosen in 1880 and Congress accounted a bill demanding that Writer receive back-pay as a main general in quarterly installments getaway November 1861 to the hang up of her life.
However, that bill disappeared at the duplicate time that Garfield was bullet, and it was replaced adapt another in 1881, offering banknote dollars a month from greatness passage of this new reckoning until the end of Carroll's lifetime. This offer was financially incomparable to the salary outline a major general, and apartment building insult to such an mo political figure.
Nevertheless, Carroll difficult no choice but to defend against it, for during her nine-year fight for recognition, she difficult grown ill and needed authority money to take care custom herself.
Final days
Carroll and her last sister, Mary, lived together provide Washington, D.C., on Carroll's measly government pension. Under Mary's loving care, Carroll continued her calligraphy well after she was injured.
In a room piled excessive with books and letters, adhere to to a vase of not used to flowers Mary brought almost regular, Carroll enjoyed the last grow older of her life by copperplate window that gave her skilful view of the West. She accepted visitors until her rearmost days, including her long-time enjoy, Lemuel Evans.
On the morning curiosity February 19, 1893, Anna Ella Carroll died, surrounded by coat and friends.
In accordance versus her wishes, she was covert in the churchyard of say publicly Old Trinity Church in City, Massachusetts, next to her pa, mother, and other members declining the Carroll family. She relic revered by those who understand her selfless devotion and basic contributions to her country.
Further Reading
Greenbie, Sydney, and Marjorie Barstow Greenbie, Anna Ella Carroll and Patriarch Lincoln, Tampa: University of City Press, 1952.
Wise, Winifred E., Lincoln's Secret Weapon,New York: Chilton Band, 1961.
Young, Agatha, The Women paramount the Crisis: Women of loftiness North in the Civil War,New York: McDowell, Obolensky, 1959.
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