War Diaries (June 6) (nonfiction)

War Diary entries for June 6.

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Diaries

James K. Polk: June 6, 1845

My Dear Sir:

It gave me sincere pleasure I assure you to receive your kind letter of the 26th ultimo, written at New Orleans. It could not fail to revive, pleasant recollections of our early and intimate association, in public as well as private life. I am glad that you are on your way to the Hermitage and hope you may see our venerable friend before he sinks to the tomb. I know he bears for you an ardent personal affection, and the meeting will be as gratifying to him as it can be to you.

I congratulate you upon the certainty, of which you give assurance, that Texas, will accept the proposition for annexation made to her by the U. States, and that she may in effect be now regarded as a part of our Union. If the terms proposed in our Resolutions are not so liberal to Texas, as the ardent friends of the measure in the U. States desired or as Texas expected, you should remember that parties were very, nearly equally balanced in our last Congress, and that it was with very great difficulty that any proposition could be passed. We have now however the certain prospect of a decided majority favourable, to annexation, in both Houses of the next Congress, who will, I have no doubt be ready, and willing to do the full measure of justice, which the citizens of the new State can reasonably desire. I think it very important that Texas, should accept the terms offered without change or alteration. If she accepts unconditionally, the great measure, of the re-union of the two countries, will be placed beyond danger and may be regarded as consummated, for the next Congress as a matter of course will redeem the National faith and admit her into our Union. Let this be done and I have no hesitation in saying to you that you may safely rely, upon our magnanimity and justice, to do all which your citizens may reasonably ask or desire. I will recommend the most liberal policy, and have every confidence that I will have the cooperation of Congress, in carrying it out. You may have no apprehensions in regard to your boundary. Texas [was] once a part of the Union, and we will maintain all your rights, of territory, and will not suffer them to be sacraficed. I mention the question of your boundary, because you allude to it in your letter, and to assure you that it will be my duty as it will be my pleasure to guard your interests in that respect with vigilance, and care. I hope the Texas Convention, which I see is to meet on the 4th of July, may be able without delay to form a Republican Constitution, and that Senators and Representatives under it may be here at the meeting of our Congress in December next. I shall be rejoiced to see you as one of her Senators, bearing her Constitution in your hands, ready to introduce the Young Republic (whose Independence you have contributed so largely to establish), into our Union, upon an equal footing with her sister States.

I will not fail to remember your wishes in regard to your friend Mr Miller, and will when the proper time arrives, gratify your wishes and his.

I hope My Dear Sir: to hear from you often during your stay at the Hermitage, and after your return home.

JAMES K. POLK

—President James K. Polk, Washington City (letter to Sam Houston)

• https://trace.tennessee.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1004&context=utk_polk

Van Buren Oldham: June 6, 1864

Martin Van Buren Oldham.

The surg[eon] did not prescribe anything for me this morning but I am continuing the old prescription. I have felt much better and think that I will be sent off tomorrow or next day. A woman, the "keeper" of a little grocery nearby of where I have bought several drinks of whiskey, gave me butter and a very large onion. I saw an advertisement here for a clerk. If I thought I would be accepted I would apply for the position since my health is very bad. But I know there is no such good thing in store for me. I came in this army with a musket in my hands (nor had I higher aspirations) and it is my doom to serve during the war as a [peon] in the cast of danger. A good soldier is never favored while one that is of no count is living on the "fat of the land." I have a notion of going to the theater tonight if I can manage to slip off from the surg[eon].

—Martin Van Buren Oldham, Company G, 9th Tennessee Infantry ("The Hickory Blues") (diary)

• https://www.utm.edu/departments/special_collections/E579.5%20Oldham/text/vboldham_1864.php
• https://www.utm.edu/departments/special_collections/E579.5%20Oldham/text/vboldham_indx.php

Helga Deen: June 6, 1943

Transport. It is too much. I am broken and tomorrow it will happen again. But I want to [persevere], I want to because if my happiness and willpower die, I too will die.

—Helga Deen, death camp prisoner (diary)

• https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/diaries-of-another-anne-frank-shed-light-on-camp-hell-535326.html
• Helga Deen @ Wikipedia

George Beck: June 6, 1944

Today marks the greatest day of my prison life. News received from our inside information man "the second front has arrived". What excitement it brought to us lads who are always eager to snatch at the least thing regarding the war. This morning, our troops landed in France at Le Havre, Midday we were in Dieppe, Cherbourg, Biscay and one or two other places. Good foothold has been obtained and we await further results. Eisenhower's speech was great.

—George Beck,1st Battalion The Duke of Wellington's Regiment, prisoner of war (diary)

• http://www.pegasusarchive.org/pow/george_beck1.htm

Fiction cross-reference

• Gnomon algorithm
• Gnomon Chronicles

Nonfiction cross-reference

• George Beck (nonfiction)
• Helga Deen (nonfiction)
• Martin Van Buren Oldham (nonfiction)
• War (nonfiction)
• War Diaries (nonfiction)

External links

• https://www.utm.edu/departments/special_collections/E579.5%20Oldham/text/vboldham_1864.php
• https://www.utm.edu/departments/special_collections/E579.5%20Oldham/text/vboldham_indx.php
• https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/diaries-of-another-anne-frank-shed-light-on-camp-hell-535326.html
• Helga Deen @ Wikipedia
• http://www.pegasusarchive.org/pow/george_beck1.htm