Harper’s Weekly – June 20, 1863

Harper's Weekly archives ^ | June 20, 1863

[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/4160530/posts

[Homer_J_Simpson]

The Iron-Clad Cincinnati – 1
Negro Troops – 2-3
The Great Canal Convention – 2, 10
Carrying the War Into the North – 3
The Lounger – 3-4
Humors of the Day – 4
Domestic Intelligence – 4-5
Foreign News – 5
Puebla – 5, 17
General Banks’s Campaign – 6-7, 15
“Very Hard Cash,” by Charles Reade, Ch. XIV-XV – 8-9
Haxa Bell – 9-10
The March on Vicksburg – 11-12, 15-16
Lawrence’s Enlistment – 13-14
Our Color-Sergeant – 14
Mildred’s Sacrifice – 14-15
The Peace-Preacher and His Clerk – 15

[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 Gideon Welles: Saturday, June 20, 1863 (“Tidings from New York to-day are sad respecting Admiral Foote. I fear he cannot recover and that his hours upon earth are few.”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2017/05/diary-of-gideon-welles-saturday-june-20.html

Major General George G. Meade to Margaretta Sergeant Meade, June 20, 1863 (“To-day we hear Ewell has crossed the Potomac at Williamsport. This indicates an invasion of Maryland, of which I have hitherto been skeptical.”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2014/05/major-general-george-g-meade-to_30.html

Colonel Charles Russell Lowell to Josephine Shaw, June 20, 1863 (“I don’t wonder Rob feels badly about this burning and plundering, — it is too bad. In stead of improving the negro character and educating him for a civilized independence, we are re-developing all his savage instincts.”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2015/03/colonel-charles-russell-lowell-to_24.html

Colonel Charles Russell Lowell to Major Caspar Crowninshield, June 20, 1863 (“The First Massachusetts Cavalry had a severe fight at Aldie on Wednesday afternoon.”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2015/03/colonel-charles-russell-lowell-to-major.html

Diary of Sergeant George G. Smith: June 20, 1863 (“Moved back to our old quarters in rear of the batteries.”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2016/11/diary-of-sergeant-george-g-smith-june_15.html

Diary of Sir Arthur James Lyon Fremantle: Saturday, June 20, 1863 (“Armed with letters of introduction from the Secretary-at-War for Generals Lee and Longstreet, I left Richmond at 6 A.M., to join the Virginian army.”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2016/09/diary-of-sir-arthur-james-lyon_9.html

Diary of John Beauchamp Jones: June 20, 1863 (“To-day, about one o’clock, the city was thrown into a state of joyful excitement, by the reception of news from the North. . . . a portion of our forces were in Pennsylvania!”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2017/08/diary-of-john-beauchamp-jones-june-20.html

Diary of Margaret Junkin Preston: June 20, 1863 (“Yesterday brought news of the capture of Winchester by Ewell.”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2015/04/diary-of-margaret-junkin-preston-june_30.html

A Woman’s Diary Of The Siege Of Vicksburg: June 20, 1863 (“The gentleman who took our cave came yesterday to invite us to come to it, because, he said, ‘it’s going to be very bad to-day.’”

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2016/03/a-womans-diary-of-siege-of-vicksburg_12.html

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

There is no reason to doubt, and every reason to expect the invasion of Maryland and Pennsylvania within the month.

NYT, June 20, 1863.

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

My bad, Harpers Weekly, not the NYT.

[Homer_J_Simpson]

That’s not bad coming from Harper’s Weekly. They are usually about 2 weeks behind the NYT with their news.

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

It was amazingly prescient, in retrospect. But why would the Rebels have given Lincoln any warning? The Army of the Potomac had its hands full defending Washington. Don’t tip them off that you are going into Pennsylvania, with the aim of influencing the ‘64 election.

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Lee envisioned simultaneous attacks in Pennsylvania and D.C. Davis vetoed the attack on Washington because it would have meant stripping the defenses of the south Atlantic states. History might look different if Lee had gotten his way.

[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 Gideon Welles: Sunday, June 21, 1863 (With Adm. Foote sick, Welles will appoint Adm. Dahlgren to replace Adm. DuPont.)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2017/06/diary-of-gideon-welles-sunday-june-21.html

Major-General Ulysses S. Grant to Acting Rear Admiral David D. Porter, June 21, 1863 (Grant learns from Confederate pickets that Pemberton’s army might try to escape Vicksburg by boat.)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2021/12/major-general-ulysses-s-grant-to-acting.html

Diary of Sergeant George G. Smith: June 21, 1863 (“Our brigade, under Gen. Morgan, with three batteries and a cavalry force under Col. Grierson, went out on the Jackson road in pursuit of some guerillas under Chief Logan.”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2016/11/diary-of-sergeant-george-g-smith-june_16.html

Diary of Private Daniel L. Ambrose: Sunday, June 21, 1863 (“The “long ears” are issued to the different companies to-day, and in every direction the men are seen trying the virtue of their steeds.”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2022/01/diary-of-private-daniel-l-ambrose_60.html

Diary of John Beauchamp Jones: June 21, 1863 (“To-day we have an account of the burning of Darien, Ga. The temptation is strong for our army to retaliate on the soil of Pennsylvania.”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2017/08/diary-of-john-beauchamp-jones-june-21.html

Dr. Spencer G. Welch to Cordelia Strother Welch, June 21, 1863 (“I am willing to endure almost anything, or to be deprived of almost everything, if we can have the pleasure of getting into Pennsylvania and letting the Yankees feel what it is to be invaded.”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2023/03/dr-spenser-g-welch-to-cordelia-strother_33.html

Diary of Private Louis Leon: June 20 and 21, 1863 (“Raining hard.”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2022/12/diary-of-private-louis-leon-june-20-and.html

Diary of Judith Brockenbrough McGuire: June 21, 1863 (“Our cavalry has been as far as Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, but I do not know what they have accomplished.”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2015/09/diary-of-judith-brockenbrough-mcguire_3.html

Diary of Sarah Morgan: Sunday, June 21, 1863 (“How about that oath of allegiance? is what I frequently ask myself, and always an uneasy qualm of conscience troubles me. Guilty or not guilty of perjury?”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2016/04/diary-of-sarah-morgan-sunday-june-21.html

A Woman’s Diary Of The Siege Of Vicksburg: June 21, 1863 (“a shell burst right outside the window in front of me. Pieces flew in, striking all round me, tearing down masses of plaster that came tumbling over me.”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2016/03/a-womans-diary-of-siege-of-vicksburg_18.html

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Continued from June 19 (reply #27).

https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/4160530/posts#27

Douglas Southall Freeman, Lee, an abridgement by Richard Harwell

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Continued from June 17 (reply #19).

https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/4160530/posts#19

Personal Memoirs of U.S. Grant, Volume One

[Homer_J_Simpson]

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

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Charles A. Dana to Edwin M. Stanton, June 22, 1863 – 9 a.m. (“Joe Johnston’s plan is at last developed. He began yesterday to throw his army across the Big Black at various points above Bridgeport”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2017/10/charles-dana-to-edwin-m-stanton-june-22.html

Diary of Gideon Welles: Monday, June 22, 1863 (Uneasy relations between War and Navy Departments.)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2017/06/diary-of-gideon-welles-monday-june-22.html

Rear Admiral David D. Porter to Major-General Ulysses S. Grant, June 22, 1863 (“I have received yours in relation to the movements of the enemy and have been prepared for it for some days.”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2021/12/rear-admiral-david-d-porter-to-major.html

Major-General Ulysses S. Grant to Brigadier-General Richard Taylor, June 22, 1863 (Son of President Zachary Taylor is on notice about the execution of captured negro soldiers.)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2014/05/major-general-ulysses-s-grant-to_29.html

Major-General Ulysses S. Grant to Brigadier-General Elias S. Dennis, June 22, 1863 (“There is some probability of an attack here by Joe Johnston within the next twenty-four or forty-eight hours.”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2021/12/major-general-ulysses-s-grant-to_68.html

Brigadier-General Elias S. Dennis to Major-General Ulysses S. Grant, June 22, 1863 (“From what I can learn, the rebels are unquestionably building skiffs and flat-boats at Vicksburg. You may rest assured, general, if they intend an attack upon us, they will not catch us napping.”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2021/12/brigadier-general-elias-s-dennis-to.html

Major-General Ulysses S. Grant to Major-General Francis J. Herron, June 22, 1863 (“You need not call on the navy for yawls just now. An attack from Johnston within forty-eight hours is not improbable.”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2021/12/major-general-ulysses-s-grant-to-major.html

Major-General Ulysses S Grant to Brigadier-General Peter J. Osterhaus, June 22, 1863 (This letter reads like it was written by Gen. Ord.)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2021/12/major-general-ulysses-s-grant-to_25.html

Major-General Ulysses S. Grant to Major-General William T. Sherman, June 22, 1863 (Sherman to command the force setting out to meet the possible attack by Johnston.)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2022/01/major-general-ulysses-s-grant-to-major_78.html

Colonel Thomas Kilby Smith to Elizabeth Budd Smith, June 22, 1863 (“Johnston’s movements are mysterious; we are always prepared for him.”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2014/07/colonel-thomas-kilby-smith-to-elizabeth_8.html

Colonel Charles Russell Lowell to Josephine Shaw, June 22, 1863 (“Lee is in earnest in some direction, and, within a month, I think we shall need all the troops we can raise, either to enable us to reap the full benefit of a victory or to lessen the disaster of a defeat.”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2015/03/colonel-charles-russell-lowell-to_28.html

Major Charles Fessenden Morse: June 22, 1863 (“We can only surmise whether Lee will attack us here or not; he is moving somewhere in our front but not very near.”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2016/05/major-charles-fessenden-morse-june-22.html

Diary of Sergeant George G. Smith: June 22, 1863 (“Back to our camping ground again. Major W. O. Fisk returned from New Orleans and took command of the regiment in place of Col. Holcomb, who was killed May 14th.”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2016/11/diary-of-sergeant-george-g-smith-june_17.html

Diary of Sir Arthur James Lyon Fremantle: Monday, June 22, 1863 (Fremantle meets members of Lee’s staff and goes to Winchester to find Longstreet’s HQ.)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2016/09/diary-of-sir-arthur-james-lyon_14.html

Diary of John Beauchamp Jones: June 22, 1863 (“[Vallandigham] says if we can only hold out this year that the peace party of the North would sweep the Lincoln dynasty out of political existence.”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2017/08/diary-of-john-beauchamp-jones-june-22.html

Diary of Private Louis Leon: June 22, 1863 (“The people [of Greencastle PA] seemed downhearted, and showed their hatred to us by their glum looks and silence, and I am willing to swear that no prayers will be offered in this town for us poor, ragged rebels.”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2022/12/diary-of-private-louis-leon-june-22-1863.html

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Today’s posts:

“Lee,” reply #12
Grant’s memoirs, #13
Lincoln letter, #14
Links to 16 items at Civil War Notebook, #15

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Continued from June 22 (reply #12).

Douglas Southall Freeman, Lee, an abridgement by Richard Harwell

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Gideon Welles to William H. Seward, June 23, 1863 (The problem of the Matamoros trade.)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2017/07/gideon-welles-to-william-h-seward-june_14.html

Diary of Gideon Welles: Tuesday, June 23, 1863 (Cabinet rivalries, Adm. Dahlgren, gun size in the monitors.)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2017/06/diary-of-gideon-welles-tuesday-june-23.html

Major-General Francis J. Herron to Major-General Ulysses S. Grant, June 23, 1863—2 a.m. (“Have just taken another rifle-pit and 13 prisoners in moving up my right line of skirmishers.”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2022/01/major-general-francis-j-herron-to-major_19.html

Major General George G. Meade to Margaretta Sergeant Meade, June 23, 1863 (“When Hill joins Lee, he will have a large army, numerically much superior to ours, and he will then, I presume, develop his plans.”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2014/05/major-general-george-g-meade-to_31.html

Major-General John A. McClernand to Abraham Lincoln, June 23, 1863 (“I have been relieved for an omission of my adjutant. Hear me.”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2021/12/major-general-john-mcclernand-to.html

Major-General Ulysses S. Grant to Major-General Francis J. Herron, June 23, 1863 (“Heavy firing is reported on our left. Is it in your front? What are the indications?”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2022/01/major-general-ulysses-s-grant-to-major_81.html

Major-General Ulysses S. Grant to Major-General Edward O. C. Ord, June 23, 1863 (“1863 (“You need only fire when you see something to fire at. It is not necessary to keep up a constant fire”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2022/01/major-general-ulysses-s-grant-to-major_62.html

Major-General Edward O. C. Ord to Major-General Ulysses S. Grant, June 23, 1863 (“Pretty lively firing on my left, as if a sally.”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2022/01/major-general-edward-o-c-ord-to-major_19.html

Major-General Ulysses S. Grant to Major-General William T. Sherman, June 23, 1863 (“Should Johnston come, we want to whip him, if the siege has to be raised to do it.”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2022/01/major-general-ulysses-s-grant-to-major_19.html

Major-General William T. Sherman to Major-General Ulysses S. Grant, June 23, 1863—11 a.m. (“I will send you positive intelligence to-night if Johnston be coming or not this side of Big Black River. On the best evidence now procurable, he is not coming this way, or at this time.”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2022/01/major-general-william-t-sherman-to_19.html

Governor Samuel J. Kirkwood to Edwin M. Stanton, June 23, (Gov. Kirkwood wants Iowa wounded hospitalized in Iowa.)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2014/10/governor-samuel-j-kirkwood-to-edwin-m_30.html

Diary of Sir Arthur James Lyon Fremantle: Tuesday, June 23, 1863 (Fremantle spends hours finding food for his horses and visits two wounded officers who served under Jackson.)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2016/09/diary-of-sir-arthur-james-lyon_17.html

Diary of John Beauchamp Jones: June 23, 1863 (“Lee will soon electrify us with another movement of his grand army, — such is the general belief.”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2017/08/diary-of-john-beauchamp-jones-june-23.html

Diary of Private Louis Leon: June 23, 1863 (“Tom Tiotter and myself went out to buy something to eat, but when we came to a house, they would close their doors in our faces”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2022/12/diary-of-private-louis-leon-june-23-1863.html

[Homer_J_Simpson]

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

Shelby Foote, The Civil War Narrative, Volume Two, Fredericksburg to Meridian

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Bruce Catton, Never Call Retreat

[Homer_J_Simpson]

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