Posted on 09/28/2021 5:11:57 AM PDT by Homer_J_Simpson
Free Republic University, Department of History presents U.S. History, 1861-1865: Seminar and Discussion Forum
The American Civil War, as seen through news reports of the time and later historical accounts
First session: November 21, 2015. Last date to add: May 2025.
Reading: Self-assigned. Recommendations made and welcomed.
Posting history, in reverse order
https://www.freerepublic.com/tag/by:homerjsimpson/index?tab=articles
To add this class to or drop it from your schedule notify Admissions and Records (Attn: Homer_J_Simpson) by reply or freepmail.
Link to previous Harper’s Weekly thread
https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/3996817/posts
The Diary of George Templeton Strong, Edited by Allan Nevins and Milton Halsey Thomas
James Russell Lowell to Sibyl Norton, September 28, 1861 (Lowell distrusts newspaper reports and dined with Prince Napoleon.)
https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2014/10/james-russell-lowell-to-sibyl-norton.html
Diary of John Beauchamp Jones: September 28, 1861 (“I sent the paper containing my article to J. R. Davis, Esq., nephew of the President, avowing its authorship, and requesting him to ask the President’s attention to the subject.”)
https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2015/06/diary-of-john-beauchamp-jones-september_25.html
From "Leaves of Grass" to "Beat! Beat! Drums!" --- Walt Whitman sounds all-in for war now.
Is that what Whitman intends to convey? My uninformed take is that he is just making an observation on the atmosphere around the country.
Hmmm...
Somewhere I read that Whitman may have helped Lincoln with some of his better speeches, notably at Gettysburg.
How else to explain such a country rube bumpkin writing so poetically?
Probably not strictly true, but just true enough that I’m reluctant to read Whitman’s “Drums!” even a little ironically.
Abraham Lincoln: Speeches and Writings 1859-1865, edited by Don E. Fehrenbacher
The Civil War Papers of George B. McClellan: Selected Correspondence 1860-1865, edited by Stephen W. Spears
Continued September 27 (reply #29).
https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/3996817/posts#29
Douglas Southall Freeman, Lee, an abridgement by Richard Harwell
All for the Union: The Civil War Diary and Letters of Elisha Hunt Rhodes, edited by Robert Hunt Rhodes
Commandant Samuel F. Dupont to Gustavus V. Fox, September 29, 1861 (DuPont requests a command for Percival Drayton. He will get the Pocahontas.)
https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2018/10/commandant-samuel-f-dupont-to-gustavus_10.html
Major Rutherford B. Hayes to Lucy Webb Hayes, September 29, 1861 (“We have three generals here. Rosecrans, Cox, and Schenck. We suppose, but don’t know, that there are three generals in the enemy’s camp, viz: Lee, Wise, and Floyd.”)
https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2015/01/major-rutherford-b-hayes-to-lucy-webb_9.html
Major Wilder Dwight: Friday, Sunday Evening, September 29, 1861 (“If so, and the report [of a great battle involving the 2nd Mass] ran home by telegraph, you have had a very needless alarm. Never was repose so undisturbed as ours.”)
https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2015/08/major-wilder-dwight-friday-sunday.html
Diary of Josephine Shaw Lowell: September 29, 1861 (Words of wisdom from Henry Ward Beecher: “You trust in God and worry all the time. It’s just as if I should pay my passage through to Albany in the cars and then walk up all the way.”)
https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2014/10/diary-of-josephine-shaw-lowell_24.html
Diary of John Beauchamp Jones: September 29, 1861 (“To-day Mr. Benjamin issued several passports himself, and sent several others to me with peremptory orders for granting them.”)
https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2015/06/diary-of-john-beauchamp-jones-september_15.html
Today’s posts:
Abraham Lincoln, reply #8
George B. McClellan, #9
“Lee,” #10
Elisha Hunt Rhodes, #11
Links to 5 items at Civil War Notebook, #12
Civil War 1861 Engagements to Date
| Date | Engagement | Military Units | Losses | Victor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 12-14 | Fort Sumter, SC | Confederate artillery (Beauregard), Union garrison (Anderson) | None | CSA |
| April 15 | Evacuation of Fort Sumter, SC | Union garrison | Two Union soldiers killed, four wounded by accidental explosion | N.A. |
| April 19 | Baltimore Riots, MD | MA 6th, PA 26th vs secessionist crowd | 4 Union soldiers killed, 12 civilians killed, hundreds wounded | USA |
| May 10 | St. Louis Riots, MO | Union forces vs secessionist crowd | 4 Union soldiers killed, 3 prisoners, 28 civilians killed | USA |
| May 18-19 | Sewell's Point, VA | Union naval squadron vs Confederate shore artillery | 10 total | inconclusive |
| May 29- June 1 | Aquila Creek, VA | Union naval squadron vs Confederate shore artillery | 10 total | inconclusive |
| June 1 | Fairfax Court House, VA | detachments from CSA & USA armies | 8 on each side, 1 each killed | inconclusive |
| June 1 | Arlington Mills, VA | detachments from USA ( ~200 McDowell) & CSA (~9 Bonham) armies | Union 2-total (1 killed); CSA 1 wounded | inconclusive |
| June 3 | Philippi, WVA | Union Dept of Ohio (McClellan) -3,000, CSA infantry (Porterfield) -800 | Union 4, CSA 26 (killed or wounded) | USA |
| June 10 | Big Bethel, VA | Union (Butler) -3,500, CSA (Magruder) -1,400 | Union 71-total (18-killed); CSA: 10-total (1-killed) | CSA (CSA outnumbered) |
| June 15 | Hooe's Ferry (near Mathias Point) VA | Union schooner Christina Keen; CSA Farmer's Fork Grays | none -- Christina Keen captured and burned | CSA |
| June 17 | Vienna, VA | Detachments from both Union & CSA armies | Union: 12-total (8 killed); CSA: none reported | CSA |
| June 17 | Boonville, MO | Union Western Dept (Lyon) -1,700 vs. MO State Guard (Marmaduke) ~1,500 | Union: 12-total (5-killed); MO Guard 22-total (5-killed) | USA |
| June 18 | Camp Cole, MO | Union Home Guards (~500) vs. Confederate State Guards (~350) | Union: 120-total (35 killed, 60 wounded 25 captured); CSA: 32-total ( 7-K, 25-W) | CSA (CSA outnumbered) |
| June 27 | Matthias' Point, VA | Union gunboats ~50 vs. Confed garrison ~500 | Union: 1-killed, 4-wounded; CSA none | CSA |
| July 2 | Hoke's Run, WVA | Union Army of the Shenandoah (2 brigades, Patterson) -8,000 vs. Confederate Army of the Shenandoah (1 brigade, Stonewall Jackson) - 4,000 | Union: 70-total (3-killed); CSA 23-total ( 9-killed) | USA |
| July 5 | Carthage, MO | Union Department of the West (Sigel) -- 1,000 vs. Confederate Missouri State Guard (Jackson) -- 4,000 | Union: 44-total; CSA 200-total | CSA |
| July 5 | Neosho, MO | Union 3rd Missouri vs. Confederate cavalry | Union: 137-total; CSA zero total | CSA |
| July 8 | Laurel Hill, WVA | Union Dept of Ohio vs. Confederate Army of the Northwest | Union: 8-total; CSA unknown | USA |
| July 11 | Rich Mountain, WVA | Union Department of the Ohio (McClellan & Rosecrans) -7,000 vs. Confederate Army (Pegram & Garnett) -1,300 | Union: 46-total; CSA 300-total | USA |
| July 12 | Barboursville, WVA | Union 2nd Kentucky vs. Confederate rangers & locals | Union: 16-total; CSA 1-total | USA |
| July 13 | Corrick's Ford, WVA | Union Department of the Ohio (McClellan & Rosecrans) -20,000 vs. Confederate Army (Garnett) -4,500 | Union: 53-total; CSA 620-total CSA Gen. Garnett killed | USA |
| July 17 | Scary Creek, WVA | Union Department of the Ohio (Cox) -1,000 vs. Confederate Army of the Kanawha (Wise & George S. Patton) -800 | Union: 51-total; CSA 10-total including Patton wounded | CSA (CSA outnumbered) |
| July 18 | Blackburn's Ford, VA (pre-Manassas) | Union Department of NE Virginia (McDowell, Richardson) -3,000 vs. Confederate Army of VA (Beauregard, Longstreet) -5,100 | Union: 83-total; CSA 70-total | CSA |
| July 21 | Bull Run/Manassas, VA | Union Department of NE Virginia (McDowell, Patterson) -54,000 (18,000 engaged) vs. Confederate Army of VA (Beauregard, Longstreet) -34,000 (18,000 engaged) | Union: 2,708-total (481-killed); CSA 1,897-total (387-killed) | CSA |
| July 22 | Forsyth, MO | Union Department of the West vs. Confederate Missouri State Guard | Union: 3-total ;Confederates: 15-total | USA |
| July 25 | Mesilla, New Mexico | Union Department of the New Mexico (~300) vs. Confederate 2nd Texas Mounted Rifles (~380 +artillery ) | Union: 9-total (2-killed); Confederates: 19-total (13-killed) | CSA |
| July 27 | Fort Fillmore, NM | Union Department of the New Mexico (~500) vs. Confederate 2nd Texas Mounted Rifles (~300) | Union: 500-total (surrendered); Confederates: none | CSA (CSA outnumbered, Union surrendered) |
| Aug 2 | Dug Springs, MO (leadup to Wilson's Creek) | Union Department of the West (~6,000) vs. Confederate Missouri State Guard (~12,000) | Union: 38-total (8 killed ); Confederates:84-total (40 killed) | USA |
| Aug 3 | Curran Post Office, MO (leadup to Wilson's Creek) | Union Department of the West (~6,000) vs. Confederate 1st Arkansas Rifles | Unknown | inconclusive |
| Aug 5 | Athens, MO | Union 21st MO Infantry, Home Guards (~500) vs. Confederate Missouri State Guard (~2,000 + 3-cannons) | Union 23-total (3-killed); Confederate 31-total | USA (USA outnumbered) |
| Aug 7 | CSA burned Hampton, VA | Union (Butler) vs. Confederate Cavalry (Magruder) | Union unknown; Confederates unknown | CSA |
| Aug 8 | skirmish at Lovettsville, VA | Union vs. Confederate | Union unknown; Confederates 6-total | USA |
| Aug 10 | Wilson's Creek, MO | Union Dept of the West (Lyon -5,430)vs. Confederate MO State Guard, Dept 2 (Price -12,120) | Union 1,317-total (285-killed incl Gen. Lyon); Confederates 1.232-total (277-killed) | CSA |
| Aug 10 | Potosi, MO | Union Home Guard (~75 troops) vs. Confederate cavalry (~120 troops) | Union 5-total (1-killed); Confederates 5-total (2-killed) | USA (USA outnumbered) |
| Aug 17 | Palmyra, MO | Union 16th Illinois (entrained) vs. Confederate guerillas | Union 2-total (1-killed); Confederates 5-killed | USA |
| Aug 25 | Mason's Hill, VA | Union (Lowe's observation balloon) vs. Confederate Army NVA (Longstreet, Stuart) | Union unknown; Confederates unknown | USA |
| Aug 26 | Kessler's Cross Lanes, WVA | Union Dept of Ohio (Tyler ~1,000) vs. Confederate infantry (Floyd ~2,000) | Union 73-total (15 killed); Confederates 40-total | CSA |
| Aug 28 | Hatteras Inlet, NC | Union NY 9th & 20th Infantry (Butler -935) plus 7 US Navy ships (including Harriet Lane & Pawnee) vs. Confederate NC 17th Infantry (Barron ~900) | Union 3-total (1 killed); Confederates 715-total (4 killed, 691 captured) | USA |
| Aug 29 | Morse's Mills near Lexington, MO | Union MO Home Guards vs. Confederate cavalry | Union unknown; Confederates unknown | CSA |
| Aug 31 | Munson's Hill, VA | Union Army of the Potomac vs. Confederate Dept of Northern VA | Union 5-total; Confederates unknown | USA |
| Sep 2 | Dry Wood Creek, MO | Union Dept of the West (Lane ~1,200) vs. Confederate MO State Guard (Price ~12,000) | Union 25-total (2 killed); Confederates 14-total (5 killed) | CSA |
| Sep 3 | Bailey's Cross Roads, VA | Union & Confederat detachments | Union 8-total; Confederates none | CSA |
| Sep 10 | Carnifax Ferry, WVA | Union Dept of Ohio (Rosecrans ~5,000) & Confederat Army of Kanawha (Floyd ~2,000) | Union 158-total (17 killed); Confederates 32 total (2?-killed) | USA |
| Sep 11 | Lewinsville, VA (McLean, Fairfax County) | Union 79th NY Highlanders (Stephens ~1,800) & Confederate 1st & 13th VA (JEB Stuart ~400) | Union 12-total (3-killed); Confederates none | CSA (CSA outnumbered) |
| Sep 12-15 | Cheat Mountain, WVA | Union Ohio, Indiana & WVA regiments (Reynolds ~3,000) & Confederate Virginia, Tennessee & Arkansas regiments (RE Lee ~5,000) | Union 88-total (10-killed); Confederates 120-total (~100? -killed) | USA (USA outnumbered) |
| Sep 13-20 | Lexington, MO, 1st battle, aka: "Battle of the Hemp Bales" | Union Illinois 23rd Irish Brigade + 27 & 13th MO Infantry (Mulligan ~3,500) & Confederate Missouri Militia (Price ~15,000) | Union 3,000 surrendered (36-killed); Confederates 150-total (~30-killed) | CSA (Union surrender) |
| Sep 17 | Blue Mills Landing, MO | Union 3rd Iowa & MO Home Guard (Scott ~800) & Confederate 4th Div Missouri Militia (Atchison ~3,500) | Union 99 (19-killed); Confederates 21-total (3-killed) | CSA |
| Sep 19 | Barbourville, KY | Union KY Home Guard (Black ~300) & Confederate Dept 2 (Zollicoffer ~800) | Union 15 (1-killed); Confederates 7-total (7-killed) | CSA |
| Sep 25 | Alamosa, NM | Union Dep of NM (Minks ~100 cavalry)& Confederate cavalry (Coopwood ~112) | Union 33 (4-killed); Confederates 9-total (2-killed) | CSA (Union surrendered) |
| Sep 26 | Hunter's Farm, MO | Union Dep of the West (Steward under Grant ~200 & Confederate MO State Guard (under Thompson ~40) | Union none; Confederates 10-total (10-killed) | USA |
| Sep 27 | Fort Craig, NM | Union Haspel's cavalry ( ~100) & Confederate cavalry | Union 10-total; Confederates 10-total | CSA |
| Sep 27 | Pinos Altos, NM | Union allied Apaches (Cochise ~300) & Confederate Arizona Guards (Mastin ~15 +cannon) | Union Apaches 30-total (10 killed); Confederates 14-total (7-killed, incl. Mastin) | CSA |
Summary of Civil War Engagements as of Sep 27, 1861:
Engagements in Confederate states:
| State | Union Victories | Confederate Victories | Inconclusive | Total Engagements |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Carolina | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Virginia | 3 | 9 | 4 | 16 |
| North Carolina | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Total Engagements in CSA | 4 | 10 | 5 | 19 |
Engagements in Union states/territories:
| State | Union Victories | Confederate Victories | Inconclusive | Total Engagements |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maryland | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| West Virginia | 8 | 2 | 0 | 10 |
| Missouri | 8 | 8 | 1 | 16 |
| New Mexico | 0 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| Kentucky | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Total Engagements in Union | 17 | 16 | 1 | 34 |
| Total Engagements to date | 21 | 26 | 6 | 53 |
Lincoln's letter to Indiana's Republican Gov. Oliver P. Morton is quite telling.
Morton is a stalwart Lincoln supporter and has apparently asked for more weapons for both Indiana and Kentucky.
Lincoln responds that he's doing the best he can, but that he is currently, if not in range of Confederate guns, then still within hearing of their cannon shots.
Lincoln says there appear to be no immediate Confederate efforts to attack Washington, DC, but Confederates certainly would take the city if Lincoln were to send the troops requested from Washington in support of Louisville, Kentucky.
Lincoln does mention William T. Sherman, who is "now" just south of Louisville, KY, but does not mention U.S. Grant, who is near Paducah, Kentucky.
I wonder if those two ever join forces? ;-)
Lincoln has been personally introduced to W.T. Sherman. I bet he couldn’t pick Grant out of a lineup.
RE Lee's situation in West Virginia is similar to that of Confederate forces throughout the war -- seemingly adequate manpower, but very short on basic supplies.
The result could be inconclusive battles, for which Lee himself may, or may not, be blamed.
Continued from September 3 (reply #25).
https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/3990589/posts#25
William J. Cooper, Jr., Jefferson Davis, American
The Civil War Papers of George B. McClellan: Selected Correspondence 1860-1865, edited by Stephen W. Spears
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