Harper’s Weekly – November 24, 1860

Harper's Weekly archives ^ | November 24, 1860

[Homer_J_Simpson]

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[Homer_J_Simpson]

Free Republic University, Department of History presents U.S. History, 1855-1860: Seminar and Discussion Forum
Bleeding Kansas, Dred Scott, Lincoln-Douglas, Harper’s Ferry, the election of 1860, secession – all the events leading up to the Civil War, as seen through news reports of the time and later historical accounts

First session: November 21, 2015. Last date to add: Sometime in the future.
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/3906799/posts

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Scenes in Charleston, S.C. – 1-2
The Return – 3
Editorials – 3-4
The Hut on the Vacant Lot – 4
The Lounger – 4-5
Humors of the Day – 5
Charles Dickens – 6
Great Expectations, by Charles Dickens, Ch. I-III – 7-10
The Explosion of the Propeller “Globe” – 10
The Principal Boarder – 10
Domestic Intelligence – 10-11
Foreign News – 11
Patriots of the Olden Time – 12-14
A Beautiful Devil – 14-16
A Head of Hair for Sale – 16, 18
Possible Effects of Disunion upon New York City Life – 17
A Day’s Ride: A Life’s Romance, by Charles Lever. Ch. XX-XXI – 18-20
De Gustibus, &c – 21
Caution to Young Ladies who ride in Crinoline on Small Ponies – 21

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Continued from November 23 (reply #30). Link follows.

https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/3906799/posts#30

The Diary of George Templeton Strong, Edited by Allan Nevins and Milton Halsey Thomas

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Governor Joseph E. Brown to John B. Floyd, November 24, 1860

EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,
MILLEDGEVILLE, Georgia,
November 24th, 1860.

Hon. JOHN B. FLOYD,
Secretary of War, Washington, D. C.:

SIR: Being desirous of having manufactured in Georgia a supply for the State of certain military equipments, I am compelled again to trespass upon your kindness to ask of you the favor to help me in some way — by sale or cause to be advanced to our State as a part of Georgia’s quota of arms, etc., for the coming year — two sample sets of each of the following equipments, viz:

First. Equipment for riflemen, consisting of knapsack, cartridge box, and belt, complete.

Second. Equipments for infantry, complete.

Third. Saber equipment, complete, including pouch for Colt revolvers. All of the latest and most approved styles and patterns adopted by the U. S. Army.

I dislike to trouble you with this small matter, but really I know of no other method of obtaining, with certainty as to kind, etc., samples or patterns of the equipments desired. I would prefer to purchase the articles to obtaining them otherwise, if I knew where they could be obtained. Be pleased to cause the sample sets, two of each, furnished me, in some way least troublesome to yourself, of the said equipments, and you will lay me under renewed obligations for your kindness.

I am very sincerely, your obedient servant,
JOSEPH E. BROWN.

[First indorsement.]

QUARTERMASTER-GENERAL’S OFFICE
December 1st, 1860.

I respectfully report to the Secretary of War that such of the military equipments asked for as belong to this department can be furnished without inconvenience, viz: Two knapsacks, $5.56; two haversacks, 78 cents; and two canteens and straps, 92 cents.

J. E. JONNSRON,
Quartermaster-General.

[Second indorsement.]

ORDNANCE OFFICE,
December 1st, 1860.

Respectfully returned with the report that the State of Georgia, having drawn her full quota, including that for 1861, cannot obtain the accoutrements by issue, on that account, from the Government supply, nor can such articles as are wanted be sold by the Government.

There will be no difficulty, however, in Governor Brown’s obtaining them, if he will write to Maj. W. A. Thornton, U. S. Arsenal, New York, and request him to purchase for the State two sets of infantry accoutrements, complete, two saber-belts and plates, complete; two saber-knots, two holster pouches for Colt belt pistols; all of the latest U. S. Army patterns.

I doubt not that Major Thornton will make the purchase for the Governor with pleasure.

WM. MAYNADIER,
Captain of Ordnance.

SOURCE: Allen D. Candler, The Confederate Records of the State of Georgia, Volume 3: Official Correspondence of Governor Joseph E. Brown 1860-1865 inclusive, p. 3-5

Link to source follows.

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2014/08/governor-joseph-e-brown-to-john-b-floyd.html

[Morgana]

Where was the Dakota terratory?

[Homer_J_Simpson]

“Where was the Dakota terratory?”

Nowhere, in 1860. I wasn’t created until March 2, 1861. Did you read about it in Harper’s Weekly? I missed the mention. Anyway, it was a rough rectangle where North and South Dakota are now.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dakota_Territory

[M Kehoe]

Thanks.

Next up, cannon and gunpowder.

Oh, and hardtack...worst than C rats.

5.56mm

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Photograph taken today, November 25, 1860, in Chicago.

“An 11-year-old girl named Grace Bedell wrote to Lincoln, asking "let your whiskers grow ... you would look a great deal better for your face is so thin. All the ladies like whiskers and they would tease their husbands to vote for you and then you would be President." and the president-elect responded "As to the whiskers have never worn any do you not think people would call it a silly affection if I were to begin it now?" Regardless, the next time he visited his barber William Florville, he announced "Billy, let's give them a chance to grow."[66] By the time he began his inaugural journey by train from Illinois to Washington, D.C., he had a full beard.”

List of photographs of Abraham Lincoln (Wikipedia)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_photographs_of_Abraham_Lincoln

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Continued from November 18 (reply #X).

https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/3906799/posts#10

With Lincoln in the White House: Letters, Memoranda, and Other Writings of John G. Nicolay, 1860-1865, edited by Michael Burlingame

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Continued from November 24 (reply #3).

The Diary of George Templeton Strong, Edited by Allan Nevins and Milton Halsey Thomas

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Charles Russell Lowell to John N. Dennison, October 25, 1860

BURLINGTON, October 25, '60.

I know I may assume without vanity that you will be sorry to hear I have resigned my place on B. & M. — I know it because I am sorry myself to tell you so, though I am changing to a business which has always had the strongest attractions for me.

I have never got over the "iron-fever," and when a place was offered me at Mt. Savage, though the pecuniary prospect was no better than at Burlington, the chance to become an iron-master was too good to be refused.

SOURCE: Edward Waldo Emerson, Life and Letters of Charles Russell Lowell, p. 191

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2014/08/charles-russell-lowell-to-john-n.html

Pete Muggins to Abraham Lincoln, November 25, 1860

Fillmore La Nov 25th 1860

Old Abe Lincoln

God damn your god damned of hellfire of god damned soul to hell god damn you and god damn your god damned family’s god damn hellfired god damned soul to hell and god damnation god damn them and god-damn your god damn friends to hell god damn their god damned souls to damnation god damn them and god damn their god damn families to eternal god damnation god damn souls to hell god damn them and God Almighty God damn Old Hamlin to go hell God damn his God damned soul God all over everywhere double damn his God damned soul to hell.

Now you God damned old abolition son of a bitch God damned you I want you to send me God damn you about one dozen good offices Good God almighty God damn your God damned soul and three or four pretty Gals God damn you you

And by doing God damn you

Will Oblige

Pete Muggins

SOURCE: Hate Mail for Old Abe Lincoln, Adam Matthew Blog, posted August14, 2014, accessed August 1, 2020

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2020/08/pete-muggins-to-abraham-lincoln.html

[M Kehoe]

Hi Professor.

Happy Thanksgiving.

I could do much better than that “gentleman” who wrote the hate mail.

If the racist and whore are inaugurated, I may send a bile full screed the next day (no threats of course).

5.56mm

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Old Pete doesn’t show a lot of imagination in his writing.

[C19fan]

What joy it brings to me to see perhaps Charles Dickens’ greatest work and my favorite Dickens’ novel “Great Expectations” in its original serial illustrated form. I have seen various movie and TV adaptations. Some of my favorites are the David Lean 1946 version with a young Jean Simmons as young Estella, the gritty BBC miniseries with Ioan Gruffudd, and the 2012 movie with Helena Bonham Carter as Miss Havisham, I tried to watch the Ethan Hawke version set in modern days but I proverbially threw a brick at the TV when Estella decided to sleep with Pip called Finn in this movie. That one moment destroyed the whole point of the Pip-Estella story line. I wold imagine perhaps people reading this was a type of escape from all the political turmoil engulfing the United States.

[C19fan]

Would people be interested in using the serial publication of “Great Expectations” for book club type discussion here? We could read the chapters and comment.

[C19fan]

Opening of David Lean’s “Great Expectations”. One advantage of B&W is it does enhance the more Gothic elements.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXyo68s-f1E

[C19fan]

I wonder if readers went oh another orphan...

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Continued from November 25 (reply #10).

The Diary of George Templeton Strong, Edited by Allan Nevins and Milton Halsey Thomas

[Homer_J_Simpson]

William Henry Trescot to Governor William H. Gist, November 26, 1860

(STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL.)

WASHINGTON, November 26, 1860.

Dear Sir: I am aware (and I do not deem it necessary to specify my source of information) that apprehensions exist in the mind of the President that before the State acts in convention some attempt will be made to take the forts in Charleston harbor. Feeling that his personal honor would be involved in such an attempt, he may make his apprehensions the pretext or ground on which to order an increased force to those posts. This order will be resisted to the very last, and at any cost, by the Southern members of the Cabinet, but they would be incalculably strengthened in their position if you were at liberty to say directly to the President that you could answer, on your responsibility, that so long as no change was made in these garrisons, so long as no additional force was sent there and the State remained in the Union, no such attempt would be made, and that any increase of force made in the face of this notice would lead to instant collision, and that for every drop of blood shed under such circumstances he, and he alone, would be responsible.

I wish you distinctly to understand that there is no possibility of such an order being issued without the dissolution of the Cabinet and your receiving ample notice. While I answer for this, I write with the confidence that such an assurance will prevent any hasty and indiscreet movement on the part of the State. Believing that you agree fully with me that, for the sake of the State and of the South, our move toward secession ought to be regular and orderly, and that all collision should be avoided, and feeling that the Southern members of the Cabinet are entitled to the support of the State, I write to you to indicate how you can support them. To that point alone, this letter is addressed. If it becomes necessary for the State to look to itself, you shall know promptly and certainly.

If, therefore, you can write such a letter as I indicate, the Southern members of the Cabinet can rest upon it triumphantly no such order will be issued in the face of it, and if it is, you will be free to act, will have ample information as to the necessity of action, and the whole responsibility of what comes will be, not on the head of South Carolina, but of the President of the United States.

If so, your letter must be here by return mail, directed under cover to me. Telegraph me also when this is received, and if you intend to answer yes or no to my proposition. Details I cannot give you, but trust that my signature will command your confidence.

I am, yours respectfully,

WM. HENRY TRESCOT.

TO GOVERNOR GIST.

SOURCE: Samuel Wylie Crawford, The Genesis of the Civil War: The Story of Sumter, 1860-1861, p. 30-1

My source follows.

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2015/01/william-henry-trescot-to-governor.html

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Continued from November 10 (reply #7) .

https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/3904291/posts#7

William J. Cooper, Jr., Jefferson Davis, American