Harper’s Weekly – August 9, 1862

Harper's Weekly archives ^ | August 9, 1862

[Homer_J_Simpson]

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[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/4082641/posts

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Ex-President Van Buren – 1, 9
A Proclamation by the President of the United States of America – 2
A New Move by the European Board – 2
Turning Over a New Leaf – 2-3
McClellan Under Fire – 3
The Lounger – 3-4
Humors of the Day – 4
Domestic Intelligence – 4
Foreign News – 5
The Army of the Potomac – 5-6, 9, 11
The Army of Virginia – 5, 7, 9
The City of Richmond, Va. – 8-9
Storks – 9-10
The Rod in Pickle – 10
The Rose and Ring – 12-13
Without Sail or Rudder – 13-15
Brig.-General Keyes, U.S.A. – 15
The Rebel Iron-Clad “Arkansas” – 15-16
The New Commander-in-Chief – 15-17
No Name, by Wilkie Collins, The Fourth Scene, Ch II-III – 16, 18-19
Pleasant – 21

[Homer_J_Simpson]

8/9 reply #1:

Battle Maps of the Civil War: The Eastern Theater, American Battlefield Trust

The West Point Atlas of War: The Civil War, Chief Editor, Brigadier General Vincent J. Esposito

Continued from August 5 (reply #15).

https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/4082641/posts#15

Bruce Catton, Terrible Swift Sword

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Continued from August 5 (reply #16).

https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/4082641/posts#16

Douglas Southall Freeman, Lee, an abridgement by Richard Harwell

[Homer_J_Simpson]

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

[Homer_J_Simpson]

General Robert E. Lee to Mrs. Julia E. Haskins Meade, August 9, 1862 (Letter to the mother of a fallen soldier.)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2014/05/general-robert-e-lee-to-mrs-julia-e.html

Major-General Henry W. Halleck to Major-General George B. McClellan, August 9, 1862 – 12:45 p.m. (“I am of the opinion that the enemy is massing his forces in front of Generals Pope and Burnside, and that he expects to crush them and move forward to the Potomac.”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2014/04/major-general-henry-w-halleck-to-major_3013.html

Diary of Lieutenant-Colonel Rutherford B. Hayes: Saturday, August 9, 1862 (“Sad news. The dispatch tells us that “General Bob McCook was murdered by guerrillas while riding in front of his brigade in Tennessee.” He always said he did not expect to survive the war.”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2017/03/diary-of-lieutenant-colonel-rutherford_25.html

Diary of Private Daniel L. Ambrose: August 9, 1862 (“Contrabands are coming in daily. While in this camp some of the boys bring in one of these exiles from bondage, to enlist as a company cook”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2021/05/diary-of-private-daniel-l-ambrose_44.html

Captain Charles Russell Lowell to Anna Jackson Lowell, August 9, 1862 (“I was out on Monday with Hooker and Sedgwick’s reconnaissance to Malvern Hill”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2014/11/captain-charles-russell-lowell-to-anna_22.html

Diary of John Beauchamp Jones: August 9, 1862 (“Jackson and Ewell are waiting and watching. Pope will expose himself soon.”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2016/04/diary-of-john-beauchamp-jones-august-9.html

Diary of Judith W. McGuire: August 9, 1862 (“We hear of a little cavalry fight at Orange Court House, in which we drove off the enemy. General Pope continues to commit depredations in his district of operations.”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2015/04/diary-of-judith-w-mcguire-august-9-1862.html

Diary of Sarah Morgan: August 9, 1862 (“Butler has ordered them to burn Baton Rouge if forced to evacuate it. Looks as though he was not so sure of holding it.”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2015/09/diary-of-sarah-morgan-august-9-1862.html

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Today’s posts:

American Battlefield Trust & West Point Atlas maps and “Terrible Swift Sword,” reply #3
“Lee,” #4
Lincoln’s letters to John Clay and Edwin Stanton, #5
Links to 8 items at Civil War Notebook, #6

[BroJoeK]

Here is a list of all 27 Virginia engagements to date, including Cedar Mountain:

Virginia Engagements 1861 - 1862 to date

Date	Engagement	Military Units	Losses	Victor
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 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 27	Matthias' Point, VA	Union gunboats ~50 vs. Confed garrison ~500	Union: 1-killed, 4-wounded; CSA none	CSA
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
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 25	Mason's Hill, VA	Union (Lowe's observation balloon) vs. Confederate Army NVA (Longstreet, Stuart)	Union unknown; Confederates unknown	USA
Aug 31	Munson's Hill, VA	Union Army of the Potomac vs. Confederate Dept of Northern VA	Union 5-total; Confederates unknown	USA
Sep 3	Bailey's Cross Roads, VA	Union & Confederat detachments	Union 8-total; Confederates none	CSA
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)
Oct 21	Ball's Bluff, VA	Union MA, NY, MI, MN & CA Infantry, RI Artillery (Stone -1,720) & Confederate VA & MS Infantry, VA cavalry & artillery (Evans -1,709)	Union 1,002-total, including Lt. Oliver Wendell Holmes (223-killed including US Senator Edward Baker R-OR)), Confederates 155-total (36-killed)	CSA
Nov 26	Skirmish at Hunter's Mills, VA	Union 3rd PA Cavalry (Bell ~94) & Confederate 1st NC Cavalry (Ransome ~120)	Union 33-total (1-killed), Confederates unknown 0?	CSA
Dec 20	Drainsville, VA	Union Pennsylvania Volunteers (Ord ~5,000) & Confederate VA, KY & NC Volunteers (Stuart ~4,000)	Union 71-total (?-killed), Confederates 230-total (?-killed)	USA (1st larger Union victory in VA)
Jan 3, 1862	Cockpit Point, VA	Union gun boats (Wyman ) & Confederate shore battery (French ~50)	none	Inconclusive
Mar 8-9	Hampton Roads, VA	Union Navy (Marsten, Worden, USS Monitor +11 ships) & Confederate Navy (Buchanan, Jones CSS Virginia +5 ships)	Union 369 total (261 killed, 7 ships sunk), Confederate 24 total (7- killed)	Inconclusive (Strategic USA)
Mar 23	Kernstown, VA	Union Army of Potomac V Corps (Kimball ~9,000) & Confederate Stonewall Division (Jackson ~4,200)	Union 590 total (118-killed), Confederate 718 total (80- killed)	USA tactical, CSA strategoc
April 5 - May 4	Yorktown, VA	Union Army of the Potomac (McClellan ~103,000) & Confederate Army (Magruder, JE Johnson ~72,000)	Union 182-total (unkn-killed), Confederate 300-total (unkn killed)	Inconclusive, Confederates retreated
May 5	Williamsburg, VA	Union Army of the Potomac (McClellan ~41,000), Confederate Army of Northern VA (JE Johnston, Longstreet ~32,000)	Union 2,283-total (~342-KIA), Confederates 1,682-total (~252 kia)	Inconclusive (Confederates withdrew)
May 7	Eltham's Landing, VA	Union Army of the Potomac (Franklin ~11,300), Confederate Army of Northern VA (GW Smith ~11,000)	Union 194-total (~29 killed), Confederates 48-total (~7-killed)	Inconclusive (Confederates withdrew)
May 8	McDowell, VA	Union OH & WVA infantry (Milroy, Schenck ~6,500), Confederate Virginia Infantry (Stonewall Jackson, E Johnson ~9,000)	Union 259-total (~28 killed), Confederates 532-total (~146-killed)	CSA
May 15	Fort Darling, VA	Union VA River Squadron (Rogers 5-river warships), Confederate fort (Farrand, Mahone -fort artillery)	Union 27-total (14-killed), Confederates 15-total (7-killed)	CSA
May 23	Front Royal, VA	Union Dept of Shenandoah (Kenly ~1,063), Confederate Army of the Valley (Stonewall Jackson ~3,0000)	Union 773-total (83-killed), Confederates 36-total (unkwn-killed)	CSA
May 25	Winchester, VA	Union Dept of Shenandoah (Banks ~6,500), Confederate Army of the Valley (Stonewall Jackson ~16,0000)	Union 2,019-total (62-killed), Confederates 397-total (68-killed)	CSA
May 27	Hanover Court House, VA	Union V-Corps (Porter ~12,000), Confederate NC Infantry (Branch ~4,0000)	Union 397-total (62-killed), Confederates 930-total (70-killed)	USA
May 31 - June 1	Seven Pines / Fair Oaks, VA	Union Army of the Potomac (McClellan ~34,000), Confederate Army of Northern VA (JE Johnston ~39,000)	Union 5,431-total (790-killed), Confederates 6,134-total (980-killed)	Inconclusive (both sides claimed victory)
June 6	Good's Farm, Harrisonburg, VA	Union PA Inf, NJ Cav, Confederate Steuart's VA Inf (Ashby+)	Unknown	CSA
June 8	Cross Keys, VA	Union Mountain Dept, (Fremont ~11,500), Confederate Army of the Valley (Ewell ~5,800)	Union 684-total (114-killed), Confederates 287-total (42-killed)	CSA
June 9	Port Republic, VA	Union Dept of Rappahonnock (Tyler ~3,500), Confederate Army of the Valley (Stonewall Jackson ~6,000)	Union 1,002-total (150?-killed), Confederates 816-total (122?-killed)	CSA (CSA outnumbered)
June 25 - Jul 1	Seven Days, near Richmond, VA	Union Army of Potomac (McClellan ~115,000), Confederate Army of N VA (Lee ~92,000)	Union ~18,000-total (2,100-killed), Confederates ~19,000-total, (~3,200-killed)	CSA
July 3	Evelington Heights, VA	Union Army of Potomac, Confederate Army of N VA -- monor skirmish	no casualties reported	USA
Aug 9	Cedar Mountain, VA	Union Army of VA (Banks -8,030, Confederate Army of NVA ("Stonewall" Jackson -16,868)	Union 2,353-total (314-killed), Confederates ~1,338-total (231-killed)	CSA

This makes a total of 131 engagements so far, by my count, resulting in over 145,000 total casualties, including at least 18,000 killed in action.

Summary of Civil War Engagements as of August 9, 1862:
Engagements in Confederate states:

State	Union Victories	Confederate Victories	Inconclusive	Total Engagements
South Carolina	2	2	1	5
Virginia	7	20	10	37
North Carolina	5	1	0	6
Florida	1	0	0	1
Louisiana	3	1	0	4
Tennessee	5	3	0	8
Arkansas	4	0	1	5
Georgia	1	0	0	1
Mississippi	1	0	0	1
Total Engagements in CSA	29	27	12	68

Engagements in Union states/territories:

State	Union Victories	Confederate Victories	Inconclusive	Total Engagements
Maryland	1	0	1	2
West Virginia	9	3	2	14
Missouri	12	9	1	22
New Mexico	5	8	0	13
Kentucky	4	3	2	9
Oklahoma	0	3	0	3
Total Engagements in Union	31	26	6	63
Total Engagements to date	60	53	18	131

[BroJoeK]

** correction: 37 not 27 Virginia engagements to date!

[Homer_J_Simpson]

8/10 reply #1:

Home Letters of General Sherman, edited by M.A. DeWolfe Howe, 1909

[Homer_J_Simpson]

All for the Union: The Civil War Diary and Letters of Elisha Hunt Rhodes, edited by Robert Hunt Rhodes

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Diary of a Confederate Soldier: John S. Jackman of the Orphan Brigade, Edited, with an introduction, by William C. Davis

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Diary of Lieutenant-Colonel Rutherford B. Hayes: 9:30 a.m., Sunday, August 10, 1862 (The 23 Ohio destroyed a Confederate salt mine.)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2017/03/diary-of-lieutenant-colonel-rutherford_27.html

Lieutenant-Colonel Rutherford B. Hayes to Lucy Webb Hayes, August 10, 1862 (“This war has added to my confidence in you, my love for you, and my happiness that I have so dear a wife.”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2017/03/lieutenant-colonel-rutherford-b-hayes_29.html

Diary of John Beauchamp Jones: August 10, 1862 (Union officers taken prisoner at Cedar Mountain are to be treated not as P.O.W.s but as felons.)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2016/04/diary-of-john-beauchamp-jones-august-10.html

Diary of Sarah Morgan: Sunday, August 10, 1862 (The Morgans’ place of refuge is shelled so they are on the road again.)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2015/09/diary-of-sarah-morgan-sunday-august-10.html

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Today’s posts:

William Tecumseh Sherman, reply #10
Elisha Hunt Rhodes, #11
John Jackman, #12
Links to 4 items at Civil War Notebook, #13

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Continued from July 21 (reply #9).

https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/4079493/posts#9

James Lee McDonough, William Tecumseh Sherman: In the Service of My Country, A Life

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Continued from August 9 (reply #4).

Douglas Southall Freeman, Lee, an abridgement by Richard Harwell

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Diary of a Confederate Soldier: John S. Jackman of the Orphan Brigade, Edited, with an introduction, by William C. Davis

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Major-General William T. Sherman to Salmon P. Chase, August 11, 1862 (“It is idle to talk about Union men here: many want peace, and fear war and its results, but all prefer a Southern, independent government, and are fighting or working for it.”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2020/04/major-general-william-t-sherman-to_78.html

Major-General Thomas J. Jackson to General Robert E. Lee, August 11, 1862 – 6:30 a.m. (“On the evening of the 9th, God blessed our arms with another victory. The battle was near Cedar Run, about six miles from Culpepper Court-House.”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2014/07/major-general-thomas-j-jackson-to.html

Major-General Thomas J. Jackson to Mary Anna Morrison Jackson, August 11, 1862 (“I can hardly think of the fall of Brigadier-General C. S. Winder without tearful eyes.”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2014/07/major-general-thomas-j-jackson-to-mary_20.html

George William Curtis to Charles Eliot Norton, August 11, 1862 (“Mrs. Forbes is incessantly working on preserves and comforts for the soldiers, and we all pull lint at intervals.” The Forbes summer residence sounds sweet.)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2014/11/george-william-curtis-to-charles-eliot_28.html

John Hay to John G. Nicolay, August 11, 1862 (“The Tycoon has given orders that [Pope] shan’t fight unless there is a first-rate chance of cleaning them out. The Tycoon thinks a defeat there would be a greater nuisance than several victories would abate.”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2016/12/john-hay-to-john-g-nicolay-august-11.html

Diary of Gideon Welles: Monday, August 11, 1862 (“Full dispatches received from Admiral Farragut, who has got his larger vessels down the river to New Orleans.”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2015/01/diary-of-gideon-welles-monday-august-11.html

Diary of Lieutenant-Colonel Rutherford B. Hayes: Monday, August 11, 1862 (Lt. Col. Hayes disgruntled Maj. Comly.)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2017/03/diary-of-lieutenant-colonel-rutherford_30.html

Diary of Josephine Shaw Lowell: August 11, 1862 (Miss Shaw heard of a battle in the Shenandoah Valley in which the 2nd Massachusetts suffered badly.)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2014/12/diary-of-josephine-shaw-lowell-august.html

Diary of John Beauchamp Jones: August 11, 1862 (Jones gives an account he has heard of some of the action at Cedar Mountain.)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2016/04/diary-of-john-beauchamp-jones-august-11.html

Diary of Sarah Morgan: August 11, 1862 (Further adventures in the wake of the Battle of Baton Rouge.)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2015/09/diary-of-sarah-morgan-august-11-1862.html

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Today’s posts:

“William Tecumseh Sherman: In the Service of My Country, A Life,” reply #15
“Lee,” #16
John Jackman, #17
Links to 10 items at Civil War Notebook, #18

[Homer_J_Simpson]

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