Harper’s Weekly – August 20, 1864

Harper's Weekly archives ^ | August 20, 1864

[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/4258155/posts

[Homer_J_Simpson]

General Grant’s Campaign – 1-2, 6, 11, 17
A Soldier’s Lament for M’Pherson – 2
The Wade and Davis Manifest – 2-3
A Peace Administration – 3
Should M’Clellan be Recalled? – 3
The Black Troops – 3-4
The New Loan – 4
From the Western Army – 4
Domestic Intelligence – 4
Foreign News – 4-5
Making One’s Friends Useful – 5
The Christian Commission – 7-8
Quite Alone, by George Augustus Sala, Ch. XLI – 8-10
Humors of the Day – 10
A Dirge – 12
Professor Halstead’s Girl – 12
The Death-Light – 12-13
From Darkness into Light – 13-14
Off Mobile – 15, 17
Burning of Chambersburg – 16-17
Blue-Belle – 17-19

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Continued from August 14 (reply #7).

https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/4258155/posts#7

Personal Memoirs of U.S. Grant, Volume Two

[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 Gideon Welles: Saturday, August 20, 1864 (“As I expected, the papers - particularly the Administration papers in New York - are very abusive of me because the Tallahassee is not captured.”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2021/02/diary-of-gideon-welles-saturday-august_15.html

Diary of Brigadier-General William F. Bartlett: Saturday, August 20, 1864 (“Three weeks to-night since my capture. It seems like three months at least. What a difference though between my condition now and one week ago! I did not then expect to be alive now.”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2016/11/diary-of-brigadier-general-william-f_28.html

Brigadier-General William F. Bartlett to Harriett Plummer Bartlett, August 20, 1864 (“I have been very ill with dysentery, consequent on the exposure after the over-exertion and exhaustion on the 30th of July. I am still very weak, but have turned the corner and am out of danger.”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2016/11/brigadier-general-william-f-bartlett-to.html

Colonel Theodore S. Bowers to Brigadier-General John Rawlins, August 20, 1864 (“The impression is becoming almost universal that for political considerations the President will suspend the draft. If he does, good-bye United States.”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2020/06/colonel-theodore-s-bowers-to-brigadier_86.html

Lieutenant-Colonel Theodore Lyman to Elizabeth Russell Lyman, August 20, 1864 (“General Williams has just been in. His great delight is to rub the fuzz on top of my head with his finger, and exclaim: ‘Wonder what color the baby’s hair is going to be!’”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2015/02/lieutenant-colonel-theodore-lyman-to_7.html

Captain Charles Wright Wills: August 20, 1864 (“During the last few days cavalry has been operating on the right against the enemy’s communications.”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2019/12/captain-charles-wright-wills-august-20.html

Diary of 1st Lieutenant Lemuel A. Abbott: Saturday, August 20, 1864 (“Arose early this morning and am feeling better; over-tired yesterday from hard marching and fatigue, I reckon, was all”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2017/03/diary-of-1st-lieutenant-lemuel-abbott_5.html

Diary of 1st Sergeant John L. Ransom: August 20, 1864 (“Some say three hundred now die each day No more new men coming. Reported that Wirtz is dead.”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2018/01/diary-of-1st-sergeant-john-l-ransom_10.html

Diary of Sergeant David L. Day: August 20, 1864 (Sgt. Day doesn’t think much of the Sanitary and Christian Commissions, at least from his perspective in the convalescent ward.)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2021/12/diary-of-sergeant-david-l-day-august-20.html

Diary of Corporal Charles H. Lynch: August 20, 1864 (“Late this afternoon, marching orders. Marching on towards Charlestown. The enemy must be near.”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2016/04/diary-of-corporal-charles-h-lynch_69.html

Diary of Corporal Alexander G. Downing: Saturday, August 20, 1864 (“Our ward is crowded to the limit, there being more sick and wounded here now than at any previous time.”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2015/06/diary-of-corporal-alexander-g-downing_13.html

Diary of John Beauchamp Jones: August 20, 1864 (“the week’s work is good—Grant losing from 10,000 to 15,000 men.
“A few more weeks, at that rate, will consume his army, and then—peace ?”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2022/05/diary-of-john-beauchamp-jones-august-20.html

Diary of Judith Brockenbrough McGuire: August 20, 1864 (“It is said that our new steamer, the “Tallahassee,” has been within sixty miles of the city of New York, very much to the terror of the citizens.”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2016/03/diary-of-judith-brockenbrough-mcguire_1.html

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Continued from August 19 (reply #35)

https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/4258155/posts#35

Nathan Bedford Forrest: A Biography, by Jack Hurst

[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]

With Lincoln in the White House: Letters, Memoranda, and Other Writings of John G. Nicolay, 1860-1865, edited by Michael Burlingame

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Lieutenant-General Ulysses S. Grant to Edwin M. Stanton, August 21, 1864—5 p.m. (“Please inform General Foster that under no circumstances will he be authorized to make exchange of prisoners of war.”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2020/06/lieutenant-general-ulysses-s-grant-to_22.html

Diary of Brigadier-General William F. Bartlett: Sunday, August 21, 1864 (“To-night smoked my first and only cigar, one that has been in my coat-pocket all the time.”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2016/12/diary-of-brigadier-general-william-f.html

Colonel Theodore S. Bowers to Brigadier-General John Rawlins, August 21, 1864 (“I never before saw Grant so intensely anxious to do something. He appears determined to try every possible expedient.”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2020/06/colonel-theodore-s-bowers-to-brigadier_24.html

Lieutenant-Colonel Theodore Lyman to Elizabeth Russell Lyman, August 21, 1864 (“The conduct of Hagood is denounced as treacherous, but this all depends on the details of the affair, which remain to be proved.”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2015/02/lieutenant-colonel-theodore-lyman-to_9.html

Captain Charles “Edward” Putnam to Mary “Ella” Fawcett Putnam, August 21, 1864 (“when night comes, I get lonesome and can find no enjoyment except in writing to my wife — even if I have not much to say.”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2017/07/captain-charles-edward-putnam-to-mary.html

Diary of 1st Lieutenant Lemuel A. Abbott: Sunday, August 21, 1864 (“have been hustling all day to throw up rifle pits and to-night finds us in line behind a formidable breastwork; skirmishing still continues briskly.”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2017/03/diary-of-1st-lieutenant-lemuel-abbott_6.html

Diary of 1st Sergeant John L. Ransom: August 21, 1864 (“Sleep nearly all the time except when too hot to do so.”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2018/01/diary-of-1st-sergeant-john-l-ransom_42.html

Diary of Corporal Charles H. Lynch: August 21, 1864 (“We put in a hard day, digging rifle pits under fire and battle, changing position at double-quick time. The brunt of the battle was fought by our cavalry.”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2016/04/diary-of-corporal-charles-h-lynch_16.html

Diary of Corporal Alexander G. Downing: Sunday, August 21, 1864 (“The first thing in the morning is to serve each man with food according to his condition and the doctor’s orders, and then deal out the medicine. There is a death every day.”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2015/06/diary-of-corporal-alexander-g-downing_46.html

Diary of Private Daniel L. Ambrose: Sunday Afternoon, August 21, 1864 (“Hogs, chickens, roasting-ears and fruit abound in abundance. We live high to-night.”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2023/10/diary-of-private-daniel-l-ambrose_27.html

Diary of John Beauchamp Jones: August 21, 1864 (“The next two months will be the most interesting period of the war; everything depends upon the result of the Presidential election in the United States.”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2022/07/diary-of-john-beauchamp-jones-august-21.html

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Today’s posts:

“Nathan Bedford Forrest: A Biography,” reply #6
Elisha Hunt Rhodes, #7
John G. Nicolay, #8
Links to 11 items at Civil War Notebook, #9

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Continued from August 18 (reply #25).

https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/4258155/posts#25

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David Herbert Donald, Lincoln

[Homer_J_Simpson]

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

[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]

Mary Chesnut’s Civil War, edited by C. Vann Woodward

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Diary of Gideon Welles: Monday, August 22, 1864 (“the Treasury Department in withholding money from the naval contractors for months after it is due is reprehensible and injurious in the highest degree to the public credit.”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2021/02/diary-of-gideon-welles-monday-august-22.html

Major-General George G. Meade to Margaretta Sergeant Mead, August 22, 1864 (“I have been very much occupied for several days past in the operations of my command on the Weldon Railroad, particularly Warren’s Corps”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2014/11/major-general-george-g-meade-to_26.html

Diary of Brigadier-General William F. Bartlett: Monday Evening, August 22, 1864 (“I dread the journey to Columbia, two days. What are they doing at home to-night? I wish I could look in, invisible.”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2016/12/diary-of-brigadier-general-william-f_2.html

Diary of 1st Lieutenant Lemuel A. Abbott: Monday, August 22, 1864 (“enemy followed us up and skirmished with our rear guard ‘right smart’ all day”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2017/03/diary-of-1st-lieutenant-lemuel-abbott_7.html

Diary of 1st Sergeant John L. Ransom: August 22, 1864 (“Exchange rumors.”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2018/01/diary-of-1st-sergeant-john-l-ransom_19.html

Diary of Corporal Charles H. Lynch: August 22, 1864 (“A line of battle was soon formed under a hot fire from the enemy. Go right at work building intrenchments made of logs and dirt. The strongest we were ever behind.”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2016/04/diary-of-corporal-charles-h-lynch_41.html

Diary of Private Daniel L. Ambrose: Monday Morning, August 22, 1864 (“The scouts return to camp reporting nothing threatening in the country, whereupon we return to camp, thus ending another ‘wild goose chase.’”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2023/10/diary-of-private-daniel-l-ambrose_29.html

Diary of Corporal Alexander G. Downing: Monday, August 22, 1864 (“It is quite cool and pleasant this morning and things appear quite lively in town. I wrote a letter to Mr. G. G. Evans, Philadelphia, ordering a gold pen, for which I enclosed $5.00.”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2015/06/diary-of-corporal-alexander-g-downing_94.html

Henry J. Raymond to Abraham Lincoln, August 22, 1864 (“Nothing but the most resolute and decided action, on the part of the Government and its friends, can save the country from falling into hostile hands.”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2020/05/henry-j-raymond-to-abraham-lincoln.html

Diary of John Beauchamp Jones: August 22, 1864 (“There was heavy fighting on the Weldon Road yesterday evening, still held by the enemy; but no official account of the result if it has yet reached a result—has been received.”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2022/07/diary-of-john-beauchamp-jones-august-22.html

Diary of Judith Brockenbrough McGuire: August 22, 1864 (“It would be utterly absurd, except that it is melancholy, to see our currency depreciating so rapidly.”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2016/03/diary-of-judith-brockenbrough-mcguire_6.html

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Today’s posts:

“Lincoln,” reply #11
Lincoln speech, #12
John G. Nicolay, #13
George Templeton Strong, #14
Mary B. Chesnut, #15
Links to 11 items at Civil War Notebook, #16

[Homer_J_Simpson]

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

[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]

Continued from August 21 (reply #6)

Nathan Bedford Forrest: A Biography, by Jack Hurst