Harper’s Weekly – April 6, 1861

Harper's Weekly archives ^ | April 6, 1861

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Today’s posts:

“The Coming Fury,” reply #16
Mary B. Chesnut, #17
George Templeton Strong, #18
Links to 6 items at Civil War Notebook, #19
Diary of John Beauchamp Jones, a new regular at Civil War Notebook, #20

[BroJoeK]

"Bruce Catton, The Coming Fury"

And yet again a concise explanation that's been debated over dozens of FR CW threads, in thousands of posts, here summarized in one page, including Robert Toombs clear & accurate warning to Jefferson Davis not to start Civil War at Fort Sumter.

But Davis was headless of Toombs' warning because of "other considerations".

[DiogenesLamp]

So much wrong with this statement.

Porter did not defer to Meigs. According to his own memoirs, Porter tried to openly defy him and even considered ramming the ship Meigs was in. Meigs only stopped Porter by interposing his ship between the Powhatan and Porter's intended target. (Confederate shore batteries.) Porter set about doing everything in his power to provoke a gunfire exchange between the Powhatan and the Confederates, and he did in fact fire on two Confederate ships while he was in Pensacola, with no word having reached him about events in Charleston.

The orders that Porter had were not incidental, they were secret orders that were not to be shared with the normal chain of command. We've seen the text of the order issued to Captain Mercer, but we have never seen the text of the order issued to David Porter, even though he's written several books on the subject. I dare say Porters actual orders are not what we have been led to believe judging by Porter's behavior in executing them.

Also left out is the fact that Porter disguised the ship so that it wouldn't be recognizable to those "who knew her well", and he sailed deep out into the Atlantic to avoid being seen by other ships, and he made the trip flying a British Flag.

If these were ordinary orders Porter was operating under (Relieving a Captain and putting a Lieutenant in charge of a major warship? A Lieutenant was two ranks below a captain in the system of that era.) then there would have been no need to conceal them from the normal chain of command because all the other orders went through that chain of command.

There is so much wrong with the claims made in this excerpt that I cannot do justice to all that is wrong with it in such a short message.

This excerpt is narrative spinning, not history.

[Homer_J_Simpson]

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

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Diary of William Howard Russell: April 9, 1861 (Mr. Russell seems to have spend a rainy day in the bar of Willard’s Hotel and the evening at the British Legation.)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2015/05/diary-of-william-howard-russell-april-9.html

Diary of John Beauchamp Jones: April 9, 1861 (He’s heading south.)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2014/11/diary-of-john-beauchamp-jones-april-9.html

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Brigadier-General Albert Sidney Johnston to William Preston Johnston, April 9, 1861

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, April 9, 1861.

MY DEAR SON: Yesterday the newspapers of this city announced that Texas had completed all arrangements contemplated as necessary to separate her destiny from the General Government, the final act being the taking the oath of allegiance to the new Confederacy by the Legislature and other State officers. I have hoped to the last that a reconciliation would be, by some great statesmanlike move in the right direction, effected, with such guarantees as would be satisfactory and reestablish the tranquillity of the Southern mind and those fraternal relations which alone make our confederate system possible. Whether these acts could or could not be rightfully done under the Constitution need no longer be discussed. The people have resolved, and so declared to the world, to establish a government for themselves. A great fact thus presents itself, which must be dealt with not with technicalities, but in view of all the considerations and interests which affect the future of two great sections of our country. To continue to hold my commission after being apprised of the final action of my State, to whose partiality in a great measure I owe my position, could find no justification in my own conscience; and I have, therefore, this day forwarded the resignation of my commission for the acceptance of the President, which I hope may be promptly accepted. I have asked that my successor be appointed and ordered to relieve me as soon as practicable.

You probably have seen a paragraph in the papers to the effect that evidence is in possession of the War Department that General Johnston and other officers are conspiring to establish a Pacific republic. I say the whole charge is false in every particular, and that there is not the slightest ground for it. I am a stranger here, and have had no conversation even with any one who desires such a result or entertains such views. If the War Department has such information, why don't they order an investigation, and not give it to the letter-writers to damage the reputation of officers? My escutcheon is without a blur upon it, and never will be tarnished. I shall do my duty to the last, and when absolved take my course. I must now look out for a livelihood for my poor family; how or where to find it is not apparent, but with my courage all will not be lost. Give my love to Hennie, Rosa. Mrs. Duncan, and the children.

Your affectionate father,

A. S. JOHNSTON.

You had, perhaps, better let the announcement of my resignation come from the department.

SOURCE: William Preston Johnston, The Life of General Albert Sydney Johnston, p. 270-1

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2014/08/brigadier-general-albert-sidney_16.html

[M Kehoe]

“My escutcheon is without a blur upon it,”

A shield or emblem bearing a coat of arms.

The “Kehoe” coat of arms is a little strange.

Hey, the marketing and product promotion back then was a little primitive.

5.56mm

[BroJoeK]

DiogenesLamp: "The orders that Porter had were not incidental, they were secret orders that were not to be shared with the normal chain of command.
We've seen the text of the order issued to Captain Mercer, but we have never seen the text of the order issued to David Porter..."

Our counsel defending the Confederacy desperately wishes to convince us that it was not Jefferson Davis' order to "reduce" Fort Sumter which started Civil War, but rather it was "secret orders" from Lincoln to Porter (and others) that they should "attack confederates" in Charleston, SC, and Pensacola, FL, to get some kind of battle going that Lincoln could then blame on Davis.

And Jefferson Davis himself well understood an advantage would go to the side which did not fire the first shots, but in the end that was outweighed in Davis' mind by "other considerations".
As a result, Davis' orders to "reduce" Fort Sumter caused the opening shots of the Civil War.

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Continued from April 8 (reply #16)

Bruce Catton, The Coming Fury

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Continued from April 6 (reply #7).

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

[Homer_J_Simpson]

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

[Homer_J_Simpson]

William H. Seward to Charles Francis Adams, April 10, 1861 (Long letter of instruction from the Secretary of State to his Minister to Great Britain.)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2016/09/william-h-seward-to-charles-francis.html

Rutherford B. Hayes to Sardis Birchard, April 10, 1861 (After being voted out of his Cincinnati Solicitor’s office, Hayes has accepted employment with a law firm.)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2014/03/rutherford-b-hayes-to-sardis-birchard_24.html

Diary of William Howard Russell: April 10, 1861 (Mandatory reading. Russell dines at home of Gen. Winfield Scott. Wm. Seward & Edward Bates also guests. Long and informative piece, with some cloak and dagger stuff at the end. Contains several LOLs from Russell and even one from Gen. Scott. Who knew the old boy was such a wag?)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2015/06/diary-of-william-howard-russell-april.html

Diary of John Beauchamp Jones: April 10, 1861 (Jones resumes his journey south. In the company of Major Holmes, recently resigned from the U.S. Army rather than take part in the operation supporting Ft. Sumter. The major approves of Pres. Davis’s selection of Generals Beauregard and Bragg.)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2014/11/diary-of-john-beauchamp-jones-april-10.html

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Louis T. Wigfall to Jefferson Davis, April 10, 1861

CHARLESTON, 10 April, 1861.

No one now doubts that Lincoln intends War. The delay on his part is only to complete his preparations. All here is ready on our side. Our delay therefore is to his advantage, and our disadvantage. Let us take Fort Sumter, before we have to fight the fleet and the Fort. 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. Let me urge the order to attack most seriously upon you.

L. T. WIGFALL.

SOURCE: Louise Wigfall Wright, A Southern Girl in ’61, p. 36-7

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2015/07/louis-t-wigfall-to-jefferson-davis.html

Charlotte Cross Wigfall to Louise Wigfall, April 10, 1861

CHARLESTON, April 10th, 1861.

You see we are still here and it is quite impossible to say for how long a time. Your father has been with General Beauregard almost constantly since we came, until yesterday, when General Beauregard requested him to go on his staff, and since then he has been actively engaged in carrying out his orders. I suppose you know the condition of things from the papers — that the administration after their professions of peace have determined to re-inforce the Fort at all risks, and we are in hourly expectation of the arrival of the store-ship and the fleet sent to protect it. General Beauregard is only waiting for the arrival of the troops from the country to make the attack on the Fort. He is quite confident of the result, and God grant he may be right. We are all anxious enough as you may suppose.

SOURCE: Louise Wigfall Wright, A Southern Girl in ’61, p. 35-6

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2015/06/charlotte-cross-wigfall-to-louisa.html

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Today’s posts:

“The Coming Fury,” reply #29
“Jefferson Davis, American,” #30
George Templeton Strong, #31
Civil War Notebook links, #32
Letters from Mr. & Mrs. Wigfall, from Civil War Notebook, #33

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Continued from April 10 (reply #29).

1

2

3

4

5

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]

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

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Major Robert Anderson to Brigadier-General Pierre G. T. Beauregard, April 11, 1861

FORT SUMTER, S. C., April 11, 1861.

GENERAL: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your communication demanding the evacuation of this fort, and to say, in reply thereto, that it is a demand with which I regret that my sense of honor, and of my obligations to my Government, prevent my compliance. Thanking you for the fair, manly, and courteous terms proposed, and for the high compliment paid me,

I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

ROBERT ANDERSON,
Major, First Artillery, Commanding.

Brig. Gen. BEAUREGARD,
Commanding Provisional Army.

SOURCE: Samuel Wylie Crawford, The Genesis of the Civil War: The Story of Sumter, 1860-1861, p. 423; The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume 1 (Serial No. 1), p. 13.

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2017/03/major-robert-anderson-to-brigadier.html

Leroy P. Walker to Brigadier-General Pierre G. T. Beauregard, April 11, 1861

MONTGOMERY, April 11, 1861.

General BEAUREGARD, Charleston:

Do not desire needlessly to bombard Fort Sumter. If Major Anderson will state the time at which, as indicated by him, he will evacuate, and agree that in the mean time he will not use his guns against us unless ours should be employed against Fort Sumter, you are authorized thus to avoid the effusion of blood. If this or its equivalent be refused, reduce the fort as your judgment decides to be most practicable.

L. P. WALKER.

SOURCE: Samuel Wylie Crawford, The Genesis of the Civil War: The Story of Sumter, 1860-1861, p. 424; The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume 1 (Serial No. 1), p. 301.

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2017/04/leroy-p-walker-to-brigadier-general.html

Diary of John Beauchamp Jones: April 10 &11, 1861

These two days were mainly lost by delays, the floods having swept away many bridges, which had not yet been repaired. As we approached Richmond, it was observed that the people were more and more excited, and seemed to be pretty nearly unanimous for the immediate secession of the State. Everywhere the Convention then in session was denounced with bitterness, for its adherence to the Union; and Gov. Letcher was almost universally execrated for the chocks he had thrown under the car of secession and Southern independence. I heard very many who had voted for him, regret that they had ever supported the clique of politicians who managed to secure his nomination. And now I learned that a People's Spontaneous Convention would assemble in Richmond on the 16th of the month, when, if the other body persisted in its opposition to the popular will, the most startling revolutionary measures would be adopted, involving, perhaps, arrests and executions. Several of the members of this body with whom I conversed bore arms upon their persons.

SOURCE: John Beauchamp Jones, A Rebel War Clerk's Diary at the Confederate States Capital, Volume 1, p. 15-6

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2014/11/diary-of-john-beauchamp-jones-april-10_30.html

Charlotte Cross Wigfall to Louise Wigfall, April 11, 1861

CHARLESTON, April 11th, 1861.

. . . Your father was gone all night with Captain Hartstein, seeing to placing light boats, with fires of pine wood, in the harbor, for the purpose of detecting the approach of the enemy's boats. He has gone again to-day and will not return until evening. . . . A demand for the surrender of the Fort was made to-day, but the answer has not yet come. In case of Anderson's refusal (of which there is little doubt), the fire of the batteries on him will open at 8 to-night. God grant the Fort may be surrendered before the arrival of the Fleet, for although I believe General Beauregard is prepared on every side, yet I should feel all danger were over if we had the Fort. It will be a night of intense excitement and although I can't help feeling shivery and nervous, yet I am not as much alarmed as I might be, and something tells me it won't be so bad after all I am going down after a while to walk with Mrs. Chesnut on the Battery and will add more when I hear the answer Anderson returns.

SOURCE: Louise Wigfall Wright, A Southern Girl in ’61, p. 37-8

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2015/07/charlotte-cross-wigfall-to-louise.html

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Today’s posts:

“The Coming Fury,” reply #35
John G. Nicolay, #36
George Templeton Strong, #37
Major Anderson will not evacuate Fort Sumter, thank you very much, and 3 other items from Civil War Notebook, #38

[Homer_J_Simpson]

James Chesnut Jr. & Captain Stephen D. Lee to Major Robert Anderson, 3:20 a.m., April 12, 1861

FORT SUMTER, S.C., April 12, 1861 — 3.20 a.m.

SIR: By authority of Brigadier-General Beauregard, commanding the Provisional Forces of the Confederate States, we have the honor to notify you that he will open the fire of his batteries on Fort Sumter in one hour from this time.

We have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servants,

JAMES CHESNUT, JR.,
Aide-de-Camp.

STEPHEN D. LEE,
Captain, C. S. Army, Aide-de-Camp.

Maj. ROBERT ANDERSON,
U. S. Army, Commanding Fort Sumter.

SOURCE: Samuel Wylie Crawford, The Genesis of the Civil War: The Story of Sumter, 1860-1861, p. 426; The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume 1 (Serial No. 1), p. 14.

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2017/04/james-chesnut-jr-captain-stephen-d-lee.html