Harper’s Weekly – April 6, 1861

Harper's Weekly archives ^ | April 6, 1861

[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/3946351/posts

[Homer_J_Simpson]

The Census of 1860 – 1, 3
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State – 2-3
A Presidential Patent – 3
The Galway Steamers – 3
The Lounger – 3-4
Humors of the Day – 4-5
Lost Jewels – 5
Our Fort Pickens Pictures – 5-7
Great Expectations, by Charles Dickens, Ch XXIX-XXX – 8-10
Domestic Intelligence – 10-11
Foreign News – 11
Our Virginia Scenes – 11-12
Bessie Elmore – 11, 13
A Day’s Ride: A Life’s Romance, By Charles Lever, Ch XLVI-XLVII – 13-15
Coats of Arms of the States – 16, 18-19
The Great Yelverton Case – 17-18
The Ganoid –19
The “Makewake’s” Dog – 19-20
Ode to a Bob-Tailed Cat – 20
A Would-Be Representative Abroad – 21
Proposed New Style of Whisk-ar – 22

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Continued from April 4 (reply #32).

https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/3946351/posts#32

Bruce Catton, The Coming Fury

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Continued from April 1 (reply #16).

https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/3946351/posts#16

Doris Kearns Goodwin, Team of Rivals

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Abraham Lincoln: Speeches and Writings 1859-1865, edited by Don E. Fehrenbacher

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Mathew Brady photographed Lincoln in Washington today. “Lincoln's drooping left eyelid is clearly visible in this image.”

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

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Continued from March 29 (reply #29).

https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/3944470/posts#29

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

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Mary Chesnut’s Diary, Edited by Isabella D. Martin and Myrta Lockett Avary

[Homer_J_Simpson]

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

[Homer_J_Simpson]

William H. Seward to Lieutenant David D. Porter, April 6, 1861 (Secretary of State directly orders change of command of a navy vessel. What could go wrong?)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2020/03/william-h-seward-to-lieutenant-david-d.html

Commander Andrew H. Foote to Gideon Welles, April 6, 1861 (Confusion about orders, part 3)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2018/06/commander-andrew-h-foote-to-gideon.html

Commander Andrew H. Foote to Gideon Welles, April 6, 1861 (Confusion about orders, part 4)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2018/06/commander-andrew-h-foote-to-gideon_8.html

Lieutenant Francis Asbury Roe to Commander Andrew H. Foote, Saturday, April 6, 1861 – 5 p.m. (Confusion about orders, part 5)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2018/07/lieutenant-francis-asbury-roe-to.html

Lieutenant David D. Porter to William H. Seward, April 6, 1861 (Navy lieutenant declines order from Secretary of state)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2020/03/david-d-porter-to-william-h-seward.html

Commander Andrew H. Foote to Gideon Welles, April 6, 1861 – 6 p.m. (Confusion about orders, part 6)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2018/06/commander-andrew-h-foote-to-gideon_27.html

Gustavus V. Fox to Virginia Woodbury Fox, April 6, 1861 (Capt. Fox aboard S.S. Bath, ready to sail on a secret mission)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2018/05/gustavus-v-fox-to-virginia-woodbury-fox.html

Andrew G. Magrath to Leroy Pope Walker, April 6, 1861 (SC Convention Delegate informs Southern Commissioner in Washington that the Feds are planning not to evacuate Sumter but to resupply it)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2017/02/andrew-g-magrath-to-leroy-pope-walker.html

James E. Harvey to Andrew G. Magrath, James L. Petigru, B. F. Dunkin & Miss S. C. Harvey, April 6, 1861 (Newly appointed Minister to Portugal attempts to aid and abet secessionists)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2017/02/james-e-harvey-to-andrew-g-magrath.html

Diary of William Howard Russell: April 6, 1861 (Russell on Winfield Scott, William Seward, attitudes north and south)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2015/05/diary-of-william-howard-russell-april-6.html

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Today’s posts:

“The Coming Fury,” reply #3
“Team of Rivals,” #4
Simon Cameron to Robert S. Chew, #5
Mathew Brady photo of Lincoln, #6
“Jefferson Davis, American,” #7
Mary B. Chesnut, #8
George Templeton Strong, #9
Ten items from Civil War Notebook, #10
That is all.

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Continued from April 6 (reply #3).

Bruce Catton, The Coming Fury

[Homer_J_Simpson]

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

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Diary of William Howard Russell: April 7, 1861

Raining all day, cold and wet. I am tired and weary of this perpetual jabber about Fort Sumter. Men here who know nothing at all of what is passing send letters to the New York papers, which are eagerly read by the people in Washington as soon as the journals reach the city, and then all these vague surmises are taken as gospel, and argued upon as if they were facts. The “Herald” keeps up the courage and spirit of its Southern friends by giving the most florid accounts of their prospects, and making continual attacks on Mr. Lincoln and his government; but the majority of the New York papers are inclined to resist Secession and aid the Government. I dined with Lord Lyons in the evening, and met Mr. Sumner, Mr. Blackwell, the manager of the Grand Trunk Railway of Canada, his wife, and the members of the Legation. After dinner I visited M. de Stoeckl, the Russian Minister, and M. Tassara, the Minister of Spain, who had small receptions. There were few Americans present. As a rule, the diplomatic circle, which has, by-the-by, no particular centre, radii, or circumference, keeps its members pretty much within itself. The great people here are mostly the representatives of the South American powers, who are on more intimate relations with the native families in Washington than are the transatlantic ministers.

SOURCE: William Howard Russell, My Diary North and South, p. 68

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2015/05/diary-of-william-howard-russell-april-7.html

[BroJoeK]

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

This page holds many of the Lost Causer arguments we've seen posted on CW threads all these years.
Davis thought it would be a good idea to let the Union fire the first shots, but there were "other considerations" which prevented that.

Those "other considerations" most especially included Virginia flipping from Union to Confederate:

"That same day, Davis received a telegram from Louis T. Wigfall, urging, "General Beauregard will not act without your order.
Let me suggest to you to send the order to him to begin the attack as soon as he is ready.
Virginia is excited by the preparations, and a bold stroke on our side will complete her purposes.
Policy and prudence are urgent upon us to begin at once."
[Wigfall to Davis, 10 Apr 1861, quoted in Richard N. Current, _Lincoln and the First Shot,_ p. 151]"

So, it would be nice to let the Union fire the first shot, but even better to flip Virginia.

Many, many years later:

"When touring the South in 1886 and 1887, Davis attended many Lost Cause ceremonies, and large crowds showered him with affection as local leaders presented emotional speeches honoring his sacrifices to the would-be nation.
According to the Meriden Daily Journal, at a reception held in New Orleans in May 1887, Davis urged southerners to be loyal to the nation – "United you are now, and if the Union is ever to be broken, let the other side break it." "

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Continued from April 7 (reply #12).

Bruce Catton, The Coming Fury

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Mary Chesnut’s Diary, Edited by Isabella D. Martin and Myrta Lockett Avary

[Homer_J_Simpson]

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

[Homer_J_Simpson]

From Robert S. Chew to Abraham Lincoln, April 8, 1861 (Lincoln’s messenger reports back that he delivered the message to Gov. Pickens that an attempt will be made to resupply Fort Sumter.)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2014/02/from-robert-s-chew-to-abraham-lincoln.html

Major Robert Anderson to Colonel Lorenzo Thomas, April 8, 1861 (Major Anderson sends No. 96 to the Army Adjutant-General. I don’t know what No. 96 was.)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2016/10/major-robert-anderson-to-colonel_29.html

Major Robert Anderson to Colonel Lorenzo Thomas, April 8, 1861 (Major Anderson tells the Army Adjutant-General that it would be a bad idea to try resupplying Fort Sumter.)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2016/10/major-robert-anderson-to-colonel_18.html

Captain John G. Foster to Brevet Brigadier-General Joseph G. Totten, April 8, 1861 (Major Anderson’s engineering officer updates the Army Chief Engineer about the state of affairs at Fort Sumter. It is a grim picture.)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2016/10/captain-john-g-foster-to-brevet.html

Edwin M. Stanton to Major-General John A. Dix, April 8, 1861 (Former Attorney General tells former Treasury Secretary that he is in the dark as to the actions of the Lincoln administration.)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2015/07/edwin-m-stanton-to-major-general-john.html

Diary of William Howard Russell: April 8, 1861 (The London Times correspondent visited the Smithsonian, where he got some strange ideas about U.S. geography, and has a remarkable interview with State Secretary Seward over cards and cigars.)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2015/05/diary-of-william-howard-russell-april-8.html

[Homer_J_Simpson]

John Beauchamp Jones today joins William Howard Russell as a dedicated diarist whose writings are collected at Civil War Notebook. Here is his initial entry.

Diary of John Beauchamp Jones: April 8, 1861

BURLINGTON, NEW JERSEY.—The expedition sails to-day from New York. Its purpose is to reduce Fort Moultrie, Charleston harbor, and relieve Fort Sumter, invested by the Confederate forces. Southern born, and editor of the Southern Monitor, there seems to be no alternative but to depart immediately. For years the Southern Monitor, Philadelphia, whose motto was “The Union as it was, the Constitution as it is,” has foreseen and foretold the resistance of the Southern States, in the event of the success of a sectional party inimical to the institution of African slavery, upon which the welfare and existence of the Southern people seem to depend. And I must depart immediately; for I well know that the first gun fired at Fort Sumter will be the signal for an outburst of ungovernable fury, and I should be seized and thrown into prison.

I must leave my family — my property — everything. My family cannot go with me — but they may follow. The storm will not break in its fury for a month or so. Only the most obnoxious persons, deemed dangerous, will be molested immediately.

8 O'CLOCK P.M. — My wife and children have been busy packing my trunk, and making other preparations for my departure. They are cheerful. They deem the rupture of the States a >i>fait accompli, but reck not of the horrors of war. They have contrived to pack up, with other things, my fine old portrait of Calhoun, by Jarvis. But I must leave my papers, the accumulation of twenty-five years, comprising thousands of letters from predestined rebels. My wife opposes my suggestion that they be burned. Among them are some of the veto messages of President Tyler, and many letters from him, Governor Wise, etc. With the latter I had a correspondence in 1856, showing that this blow would probably have been struck then, if Fremont had been elected.

SOURCE: John Beauchamp Jones, A Rebel War Clerk's Diary at the Confederate States Capital, Volume 1, p. 13-4

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2014/11/diary-of-john-beauchamp-jones-april-8.html