HIGHLY IMPORTANT NEWS: Two Thousand Rebels Routed in Western Virginia; GEN. SICKLES’ EXCELSIOR BRIGADE; DEATH OF STEPHEN A. DOUGLAS (6/4/1861)

New York Times archives – Times Machine ^ | 6/4/1861

[Homer_J_Simpson]

WASHINGTON, Monday, June 3.

The official details of the action at Fairfax Court-house, on Saturday morning, you will see do not in any way justify the lengthy dispatches forwarded to some of your cotemporaries. It was a most brilliant exhibition of courage on the part of our troops, but one in which we suffered the loss of six killed and missing, to one rebel killed and five taken prisoners. Considering the disparity of forces, this was a lucky escape on our part. The manner of stating the affair as a charge at two-forty, does injustice to our men, for in reality they rode at a deliberate pace, so slow, indeed, that the prisoners on foot had no difficulty in keeping up with the troops. The deliberate coolness of our troops did more to unnerve the rebels than would a dozen such mad charges as your cotemporaries represent.

I see that one of those cotemporaries questions the accuracy of my statement that there were no rebel troops at Fairfax Court-house on Wednesday, because two regiments were found there on Saturday morning. The writer is so slow a coach himself, that he cannot comprehend how forces can be at a place to-day who were not there at the commencement of the war.

A gentleman who has reached here from Murfreesboro, N.C., tells a frightful story of the sufferings inflicted upon those who will not join the secession movement. Men are frequently found dead by their friends, having been caught and hung by the rebels, because they were known to be friendly to the Union.

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Free Republic University, Department of History presents U.S. History, 1855-1860: 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: 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 New York Times thread

https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/3964640/posts

[Homer_J_Simpson]

1

2

3

4

5

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Highly Important News: Two Thousand Rebels Routed in Western Virginia– 2-3
Battle in Western Virginia – 3
Military and Naval Movements – 3
Gen. Sickles’ Excelsior Brigade – 3
Editorial: The Death of Senator Douglas – 4
Editorial: The Habeas Corpus Case – 4
Death of Stephen A. Douglas – 4-5

[stanne]

I am sure some people enjoy these archives. If the poster could consider what it’s like to read HIGHLY IMPORTANT NEWS, when it isn’t, at a time like this...

[Stosh]

It’s interesting that Lincoln had tendered to Stephen Douglas an appointment as a major general in the Army before Douglas’s illness and death; Douglas also appeared to be reasonably supportive of Lincoln’s policies as well.

[LuxAerterna]

This wasn’t unusual. Lincoln appointed influential “political generals” as a direct tactic to shore up Democratic support for the war effort. Benjamin Butler, for instance, was a prominent anti-Secession Democrat who was appointed a general in the Union Army in spite of almost zero military experience.

[nuke_road_warrior]

This wasn't unusual. Lincoln appointed influential “political generals” as a direct tactic to shore up Democratic support for the war effort. Benjamin Butler, for instance, was a prominent anti-Secession Democrat who was appointed a general in the Union Army in spite of almost zero military experience.

As was Dan Sickles. His "problematic" relationship with superior officers culminated in his disobeying a direct order at Gettysburg, and imperiling the entire Union position on Cemetery Ridge, as well as getting his command shot to hell. After the battle he insisted that he was solely responsible for the Union victory despite evidence to the contrary.

[M Kehoe]

Thanks for all you do Professor.

I had to go to Ft. Monroe TDY in 1979-80.

Interesting place (just like Ft. Detrick, but different architecture).

The place looks like a fort from the 19th century. Has a moat, and used to have a drawbridge.

Today Ft. Monroe is TRADOC, but is still an active Army fort.

5.56mm

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Today Ft. Monroe is TRADOC, but is still an active Army fort.

I did not know that. I also don't know what TDY or TRADOC are.

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Is Fort Monroe named for President James Monroe? I’m surprised he hasn’t been canceled for being a Virginian and the founder of the Monroe Doctrine.

[Bull Snipe]

Fort Monroe cease to be an active Army post in 2011. It was closed by BRAC. TRADOC relocated to Eustis. The masonry fort is in the custody of the National Park Service and the remaining land is now the property of Virginia

[M Kehoe]

LOL.

You know it is.

Again, in the fwiw department, Ft. Monroe’s guns (8 lbs and above), dominated the entrance to both the Chesapeake and Hampton Roads.

Hindsight. If I were general Lee, I would have attcked Ft. Monroe at the on set of hostiles, and given much attention to Harper’s Ferry. I don’t understand Bull Run as being the best idea (yes, I know who won because my Delorean still worked).

Then again, my Delorean is down for repairs, so I can’t add anything else.

5.56mm

[Joe 6-pack]

Sickles was really the Charlie Sheen of his day. He took a prostitute to Queen Victoria's coronation, and was the first successful defendant in the US to plead not reason by guilty of temporary insanity when he killed Francis Scott Key's son for diddling his (Sickle's) wife.

Sickles killed the younger Key at the edge of Lafayette Park in D.C. After the civil war, Sickles was a leading voice in preserving the key battlefields of the war, particularly Gettysburg. One of the important considerations of shoring up the Gettysburg properties was drawing the boundary between the National Military Cemetery and the local cemetery. Sickles had the fence from Lafayette Park (where he had killed Key) in DC brought to Gettysburg and set between the two.

[M Kehoe]

Sorry guy.

TDY=Temporary duty.

TRADOC=TRAINING AND DOCTRINE COMMAND.

5.56mm

[M Kehoe]

Thanks.

5.56mm

[M Kehoe]

See post 11.

5.56mm

[BroJoeK]

"Editorial: The Habeas Corpus Case – 4"

Again our editors argue that the US Constitution was not intended for civil war and therefore laws of war and necessity take precedence over the Constitution.

In fact the Constitution does contemplate rebellion, insurrection, domestic violence, invasion and treason.
But the Constitution assumes that, as in declarations of war, Congress would take the required actions.
It did not contemplate that when the need arose Congress would be out of secession.

President Washington's 1792 Militia Act and President Jefferson's 1807 Insurrection Act both authorize the US President to call forth militias to suppress rebellions, insurrections & civil disorders.

In July 1861 Congress took up the Habeas Corpus question and

"...in the summer of 1861, Congress did adopt more general retroactive language rendering Lincoln's previous actions during the spring "in all respects legalized".[42]"

John Merryman was charged with treason, but Chief Justice Crazy Roger Taney refused to allow a trial, as did his successor, Chief Justice Salmon Chase.

[BroJoeK]

So far the Civil War has recorded 8 minor engagements with about 145 total casualties.

• 3 in Virginia
• 2 in South Carolina
• 1 in Maryland
• 1 in Missouri
• 1 in West Virginia

Date	Engagement	Military Units	Losses	Victor
April 12-14	Fort Sumter, SC	Confederate artillery, Union garrison	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	34 Union soldiers killed, four civilians killed	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 3	Philippi, WVA	Union Dept of Ohio (McClellan), CSA infantry	Union 4, CSA 26	USA