[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/4125606/posts

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Army Beef – 1, 13
General Butler – 2
The First Waits: A Meditation For All – 2
No Surrender! – 2
The Lounger – 2-3
Humors of the Day – 4
Domestic Intelligence – 4-5
Foreign News – 5
Reception of the Copperheads at Richmond – 5
Contrabands Coming In – 6, 21
Murfreesboro, Tennessee – 7, 22
“A Dark Night’s Work,” by Charles Reade, Ch. IV – 8-9
Prince Hassan and the Ogre – 9-10
The Loss of Galveston – 11-12, 22
The Snow at Fredericksburg – 13
Bessie Crompton – 13-16
Manager Lincoln – 16
Charleston, South Carolina – 17, 22
The Late Reverend Lyman Beecher – 18
The Attack on Vicksburg – 18-19
The Mississippi from St. Francis to Vicksburg, Showing Arkansas Post – 20
John Morgan’s Substitute – 21-22

[Homer_J_Simpson]

The following long excerpt from “Never Call Retreat” is not applicable to a particular date in 1863 but I want to post it on our timeline just the same. I never knew about this sorry aftermath of emancipation so probably some others don’t either. I saw the article “Contrabands Coming In,” in this week’s Harper’s Weekly and decided to post it now.

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Bruce Catton, Never Call Retreat

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Diary of Judith Brockenbrough McGuire: January 31, 1863 (“We are in statu quo, and our armies quiet. The Northern army seems to be in commotion. Burnside has resigned, and “fighting Joe Hooker” has been put in his place.”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2015/07/diary-of-judith-brockenbrough-mcguire_18.html

Diary of Private Daniel L. Ambrose: Saturday, January 31, 1863 (“War is atheistic, heathenish, devilish; qualify it as you may with all that civilization and christianity can do”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2021/09/diary-of-private-daniel-l-ambrose.html

Major-General Thomas J. Jackson to Mary Anna Morrison Jackson, January 31, 1863 (“Captain Bushby, of the British Army, called to see me to-day, and presented me with a water-proof oil-cloth case in which to sleep on a wet night in summer campaigning.”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2014/08/major-general-thomas-j-jackson-to-mary_11.html

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Continued from January 30 (reply #29).

https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/4125606/posts#29

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

[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]

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

[Homer_J_Simpson]

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

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Major General William T. Sherman to Senator John Sherman, February, 1863 (“The press has now killed McClellan, Buell, Fitz-John Porter, Sumner, Franklin, and Burnside. Add my name and I am not ashamed of the association.”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2012/12/major-general-william-t-sherman-to_7.html

Charlotte Cross Wigfall to Louise Wigfall, February 1863 (“Your father has gone to introduce [John] Burke (the scout) to Mr. [James] Seddon.”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2015/08/charlotte-cross-wigfall-to-louise_21.html

Major General George G. Meade to Margaretta Sergeant Meade, February 1, 1863 (“in my judgment it will be some months before we can undertake operations of any magnitude.”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2014/03/major-general-george-g-meade-to_16.html

Captain Charles Russell Lowell to Anna Jackson Lowell, February 1, 1863 (“I am very glad to see that the Negro Army Bill has got so well through the House, — Governor Andrew is going to try a Regiment in Massachusetts.”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2014/11/captain-charles-russell-lowell-to-anna_29.html

Captain Charles Wright Wills: February 1, 1863 (“We are a little afraid of the result of the Vicksburg fight. If we get whipped I’d like to die there, for I believe if that army is whipped it will be annihilated; and the cause about lost”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2017/08/captain-charles-wright-wills-february-1.html

Diary of Corporal David L. Day: February 1, 1863 (“I shall decline all promotions; I had rather be a doorkeeper at the guardhouse than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2021/03/diary-of-corporal-david-l-day-february.html

George S. Denison to Salmon P. Chase, February 1, 1863 (“An army of negroes could be made most formidable. They could be inspired with a religious enthusiasm as terrible and persistent as that of the followers of Mahomet.”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2019/08/george-s-denison-to-salmon-p-chase.html

Charles Eliot Norton to George William Curtis, February 1, 1863 (Louis Agassiz and Oliver Wendell Holmes comment on Gen. McClellan.)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2015/04/charles-eliot-norton-to-george-william_12.html

Diary of John Beauchamp Jones: February 1, 1863 (“The Virginia Legislature, now in session, has a bill under discussion for the suppression of extortion.” List of pre-war and current prices included.)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2017/01/diary-of-john-beauchamp-jones-february.html

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Continued from January 29 (reply #24).

https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/4125606/posts#24

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Bruce Catton, Never Call Retreat

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Brigadier-General Thomas Kilby Smith to Elizabeth Budd Smith, February 2, 1863 (“We broke camp yesterday and are now on the march.”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2014/08/brigadier-general-thomas-kilby-smith-to_10.html

Governor Samuel J. Kirkwood to Abraham Lincoln, February 2, 1863 (Kirkwood alerts the President to problems with enforcement of the Emancipation Proclamation in the west.)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2014/11/governor-samuel-j-kirkwood-to-abraham.html

Diary of John Beauchamp Jones: February 2, 1863 (Gen. Beauregard and Commodore Ingraham pronounced the blockade at Charleston raised.)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2017/01/diary-of-john-beauchamp-jones-february_24.html

Diary of Private Louis Leon: February 1 and 2, 1863 (“There is nothing new, but cold, cold, cold.”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2022/03/diary-of-private-louis-leon-february-1.html

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Continued from January 22 (reply #23). Gen. Johnston’s report to President Davis is dated today.

https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/4123944/posts#23

Bruce Catton, Never Call Retreat

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Continued from January 1 (reply #45)

https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/4119128/posts#45

Nathan Bedford Forrest: A Biography, by Jack Hurst

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Diary of Gideon Welles: Tuesday, February 3, 1863 (“The I. P. Smith,1 a purchased steamer of eleven guns, is reported captured in Stono River.”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2016/12/diary-of-gideon-welles-tuesday-february.html

Major-General Thomas J. Jackson to Mary Anna Morrison Jackson, February 3, 1863 (“My old Stonewall Brigade has built a log church. As yet I have not been in it.”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2014/08/major-general-thomas-j-jackson-to-mary_12.html

Diary of John Beauchamp Jones: February 3, 1863 (“They are getting up a fine rumpus in the North over the imprisonment of an editor.”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2017/01/diary-of-john-beauchamp-jones-february_25.html

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Continued from January 30 (reply #28).

https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/4125606/posts#28

Personal Memoirs of U.S. Grant, Volume One

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Diary of Gideon Welles: Wednesday, February 4, 1863 (“We have the whole world agog with an account of an onset on our fleet before Charleston.”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2017/01/diary-of-gideon-welles-wednesday.html

Colonel Thomas Kilby Smith to Eliza Walter Smith, February 4, 1863 (Col. Smith shares Gen. Sherman’s regard for reporters.)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2014/06/colonel-thomas-kilby-smith-to-eliza_7.html

Captain Robert Gould Shaw to Annie Kneeland Haggerty Shaw, February 4, 1863 (Excerpt) (“Father has just left here. He came down yesterday, and brought me an offer from Governor Andrew of the colonelcy of his new black regiment .”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2014/08/captain-robert-gould-shaw-to-annie.html

George S. Denison to Salmon P. Chase, February 4, 1863 (“A great military movement commences shortly — in three or four days perhaps. An advance will be made up the Teche with a large force, and right through to Red River.”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2019/09/george-s-denison-to-salmon-p-chase.html

Diary of John Beauchamp Jones: February 4, 1863 (“One of the enemy’s iron-clad gun boats has got past our batteries at Vicksburg. Gen. [John C.] Pemberton says it was struck “three times.” But it is through.”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2017/01/diary-of-john-beauchamp-jones-february_26.html

Diary of Private Louis Leon: February 4, 1863 (The 53rd North Carolina makes a miserable march in the snow to Kinston, NC.)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2022/03/diary-of-private-louis-leon-february-4.html

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Continued from January 28 (reply #17).

https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/4125606/posts#17

Doris Kearns Goodwin, Team of Rivals

[Homer_J_Simpson]

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

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Diary of Gideon Welles: Thursday, February 5, 1863 (The Navy Secretary has a disagreement with the Secretary of State.)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2017/01/diary-of-gideon-welles-thursday.html

George S. Denison to Salmon P. Chase, February 5, 1863 (“Notwithstanding my personal regard for Gen. Banks, I repeat the conviction so often expressed before, that he is not the man for this important place. Gen. Butler is the only man who is equal to the situation, and he ought to come back.”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2019/10/george-s-denison-to-salmon-p-chase.html

Diary of John Beauchamp Jones: February 5, 1863 (“A dispatch from Gen. Beauregard says sixty sail of the enemy have left Beaufort, N. C., for Charleston.”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2017/01/diary-of-john-beauchamp-jones-february_27.html

Diary of Private Louis Leon: February 5, 1863 (“We went to sleep in our wet clothing, with a cup of coffee as our supper. It rained and snowed all night.”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2022/03/diary-of-private-louis-leon-february-5.html

Diary of Sarah Morgan: Thursday Night, February 5, 1863 (Letter from Lavinia in California. I don’t know who Lavinia is.)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2016/02/diary-of-sarah-morgan-thursday-night.html

[Homer_J_Simpson]

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David Herbert Donald, Lincoln

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Diary of Gideon Welles: Friday, February 6, 1863 (Welles is still annoyed with Sec. Seward.)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2017/01/diary-of-gideon-welles-friday-february.html

Major General George G. Meade to Margaretta Sergeant Meade, February 6, 1863 (“To-day an order is issued abolishing grand divisions and returning to the system of corps. I am announced as in command of the Fifth Corps.”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2014/03/major-general-george-g-meade-to_17.html

Dr. Seth Rogers to his daughter Dolly, February 6, 1863 (“We are just now through with the hardest and coldest north east storm that we have had since I came to the Department of the South.”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2023/01/dr-seth-rogers-to-his-daughter-dolly_75.html

George William Curtis to Charles Eliot Norton, February 6, 1863 (Concern about the future of the Republican Party.)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2014/12/george-william-curtis-to-charles-eliot_25.html

Diary of John Beauchamp Jones: February 6, 1863 (“Gen. Lee thinks Charleston will be assailed, and suggests that all the troops in North Carolina be concentrated near Wilmington”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2017/01/diary-of-john-beauchamp-jones-february_28.html

General Robert E. Lee to Eleanor Agnes Lee, February 6, 1863 (“Our horses and mules suffer the most. They have to bear the cold and rain, tug through the mud, and suffer all the time with hunger.”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2013/12/general-robert-e-lee-to-eleanor-agnes_5.html

Diary of Private Louis Leon: February 6, 1863 (Pvt. Leon and 2 companions forage for food. Get caught stealing chickens.)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2022/03/diary-of-private-louis-leon-february-6.html