1863 January 26 Chattanooga

                                Chattanooga  January 26th 1863
Dear Major
                                 I send by William the package of
papers from Major Wicks -- Met Col. Richmond this
morning & advised him of the Box left by you for Genl.
Polk.  Nothing from the Colonel.
Dr Blackburn says he read in the Nashville papers at
Genl. Braggs Hdqrs. that the Democrats of Indiana
had seriously attempted the forcible seizure of the
Arsenal as reported, but were forestalled by the activity
of Gov Morton.  The Republicans have absented themselves
from the Legislature to prevent a quorum - the elec
-tion of U.S. Senators bring the order of the day.  It was
moved to send for the absentees & was objected to on the
ground that the Democrats could as well do without
a representative in the Senate as the Republican Govr Morton
could without the legislature. The Republicans demanded
the platform upon which the Democrats proposed to put
forward their candidate for senator and were answered
the Majority would give no assurance to the minority
in advance -- One member, however announced that the
time had come to denounce Lincoln as a Usurper &
Tyrant, and he would vote for no man who would
as senator vote Lincoln another dollar or another
man - he was for peace first and union afterwards
No news from the Army -- I regret your indisposition
                            Very respectfully yours
                                  Thos W Bartlett

possibly Captain Thomas W. Bartlett of the 13th Arkansas; found in the papers of J. T. Champneys, an officer of the staff of General Leonidas Polk

MSS 992