Harper’s Weekly – August 20, 1864

Harper's Weekly archives ^ | August 20, 1864

[Homer_J_Simpson]

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

[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: Tuesday, August 23, 1864 (“Why should the Secretary of War try to deprive an officer like Farragut and the naval force of what is honestly their due?”)

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

Brigadier-General William F. Bartlett to Harriett Plummer Bartlett, August 23, 1864 (“Still improving and gaining strength.”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2016/11/brigadier-general-william-f-bartlett-to_30.html

Diary of Brigadier-General William F. Bartlett: Tuesday, August 23, 1864 (“If I had paper I would write down things that I hear and see from day to day. It would make a very interesting book.”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2016/12/diary-of-brigadier-general-william-f_8.html

Colonel Rutherford B. Hayes to Sophia Birchard Hayes, August 23, 1864 (“We have a pretty large Rebel army just in front of us. We drove it before us several days until it was reinforced when it slowly drove us back to this point.”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2020/12/colonel-rutherford-b-hayes-to-sophia.html

Lieutenant-Colonel Theodore Lyman to Elizabeth Russell Lyman, August 23, 1864 (“Major Duane told me a story of Captain Cullum (now General Cullum) that I thought eminently Cullumish . . .”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2015/02/lieutenant-colonel-theodore-lyman-to_10.html

Diary of 1st Lieutenant Lemuel A. Abbott: Tuesday, August 23, 1864 (“Skirmishing still continues on the pike and on the left of the line. It’s rumored the Nineteenth Corps charged the enemy this morning driving it back in confusion”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2017/03/diary-of-1st-lieutenant-lemuel-abbott_28.html

Diary of 1st Sergeant John L. Ransom: August 23, 1864 (“Terribly hot.”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2018/01/diary-of-1st-sergeant-john-l-ransom_40.html

Diary of Corporal Charles H. Lynch: August 23, 1864 (“A number of the enemy’s sharpshooters are up in high trees. They annoy us very much.”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2016/04/diary-of-corporal-charles-h-lynch_70.html

Diary of Corporal Alexander G. Downing: Tuesday, August 23, 1864 (“David Huff of our company died here today in the field hospital east of town, of the wound he received on the 12th of the month.”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2015/06/diary-of-corporal-alexander-g-downing_16.html

Diary of John Beauchamp Jones: August 23, 1864 (“Gen. Kemper told me this morning that he had 3000 of the reserves defending the Danville Road, the number Gen. Lee asked for.”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2022/07/diary-of-john-beauchamp-jones-august-23.html

General Robert E. Lee to James A. Seddon, August 23, 1864 (“Unless some measures can be devised to replace our losses, the consequences may be disastrous.”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2020/07/general-robert-e-lee-to-james-seddon.html

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Today’s posts:

Lincoln memo, reply #18
John G. Nicolay, #19
“Nathan Bedford Forrest: A Biography,” #20
George Templeton Strong, #21
Mary B. Chesnut, #22
Links to 11 items at Civil War Notebook, #23

[Homer_J_Simpson]

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

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Continued from Continued from August 18 (reply #27).

https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/4258155/posts#27

Douglas Southall Freeman, Lee, an abridgement by Richard Harwell

[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: Wednesday, August 24, 1864 (“The consul at Halifax is telegraphing me that Rebel armed vessels are soon to be off the coast.”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2021/02/diary-of-gideon-welles-wednesday-august_11.html

Major-General George G. Meade to Margaretta Sergeant Meade, August 24, 1864 (“We have had some pretty hard fighting to secure our lodgment on the Weldon Railroad. Grant and Warren are the heroes of the affair.”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2014/11/major-general-george-g-meade-to_27.html

Diary of Brigadier-General William F. Bartlett: Wednesday, August 24, 1864 (“Major Morfit up here this eve; looked in to see me; thinks my chance for exchange just as good here as at Columbia.”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2016/12/diary-of-brigadier-general-william-f_9.html

Colonel Charles Russell Lowell to Josephine Shaw Lowell, August 24, 1864 – 5 A. M. (“I have had my usual bad luck with horses — Ruksh was wounded on Friday in the nigh fore leg, pastern joint”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2015/06/colonel-charles-russell-lowell-to_13.html

Colonel Rutherford B. Hayes to William H. Smith, August 24, 1864 (“An officer fit for duty who at this crisis would abandon his post to electioneer for a seat in Congress ought to be scalped. You may feel perfectly sure I shall do no such thing.”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2020/12/colonel-rutherford-b-hayes-to-william-h.html

Lieutenant-Colonel Theodore Lyman to Elizabeth Russell Lyman, August 24, 1864 (“what I don’t understand is, that the successes are Grant’s but the failures Meade’s.”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2015/02/lieutenant-colonel-theodore-lyman-to_11.html

Captain Charles Wright Wills: August 24, 1864 (“The Johnnies in our front are either tired out or short of ammunition or inclination, or else, like the quiet swine, ‘studying devilment.’”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2019/12/captain-charles-wright-wills-august-24.html

Diary of 1st Lieutenant Lemuel A. Abbott: Wednesday, August 24, 1864 (“This is my twenty-second birthday; enemy still in front; skirmishing still on the left”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2017/03/diary-of-1st-lieutenant-lemuel-abbott_9.html

Diary of 1st Sergeant John L. Ransom: August 24, 1864 (“Had some soup. Not particularly worse, but Rowe is, and Sanders also.”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2018/01/diary-of-1st-sergeant-john-l-ransom_34.html

Diary of Corporal Charles H. Lynch: August 24, 1864 (“Our brigade ordered outside the intrenchments to charge and drive the enemy out of the woods, also to burn a number of haystacks behind which the enemy kept reserves.”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2016/04/diary-of-corporal-charles-h-lynch_43.html

Diary of Corporal Alexander G. Downing: Wednesday, August 24, 1864 (“William Snow died in our ward last night. This is a dreadfully hot day, and since our ward is so crowded, we make this a special scrub-day, to cool the atmosphere”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2015/06/diary-of-corporal-alexander-g-downing_25.html

Diary of John Beauchamp Jones: August 24, 1864 (“I wrote a letter to the President to-day, urging the necessity of preventing the transportation of any supplies on the railroads except for distribution at cost, and thus exterminating the speculators.”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2022/07/diary-of-john-beauchamp-jones-august-24.html

General Robert E. Lee to James A. Seddon, August 24, 1864 (“General A. P. Hill attacked the enemy in his intrenchments at Reams’ Station yesterday evening, and at the second assault carried his entire line.”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2022/07/general-robert-e-lee-to-james-seddon.html

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Today’s posts:

Lincoln instructions for Henry Raymond, reply #25
“Lee,” #26
John G. Nicolay, #27
Links to 13 items at Civil War Notebook, #28

[M Kehoe]

Colonel Rutherford B. Hayes to William H. Smith, August 24, 1864 (“An officer fit for duty who at this crisis would abandon his post to electioneer for a seat in Congress ought to be scalped. You may feel perfectly sure I shall do no such thing.”)

Sound familiar?

The more things change, the more things stay the same.

5.56mm

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Yes, indeed. It struck me as timely all these years later. I posted that letter to a couple of my X follows with large followings who might exploit it for political advantage. Both are qualified to opine on Sergeant-Major Walz’s exit from his position in the USA reserves.

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Shelby Foote, The Civil War Narrative, Volume Three, Red River to Appomattox

Continued from August 7 (reply #12).

https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/4256614/posts#12

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

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Continued from August 19 (reply #32)

https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/4258155/posts#32

Doris Kearns Goodwin, Team of Rivals

[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]

John Hay to John G. Nicolay, August 25, 1864 (“If the dumb cattle are not worthy of another term of Lincoln, then let the will of God be done, and the murrain of McClellan fall on them.”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2017/06/john-hay-to-john-g-nicolay-august-25.html

Diary of Brigadier-General William F. Bartlett: Thursday, August 25, 1864 (“They have stopped our wheat bread; nothing but this coarse corn bread for these sick men. It will kill them at a fearful rate”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2016/12/diary-of-brigadier-general-william-f_10.html

Colonel Charles Russell Lowell to John M. Forbes, August 25, 1864 (“Foster seems to be the man now through whom to work exchanges: if Will’s can be obtained, I would certainly manage it”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2015/06/colonel-charles-russell-lowell-to-john_16.html

Colonel Charles Russell Lowell to Josephine Shaw Lowell, August 25, 1864 (“After the war is over (ten years from now) we shall be so old that some other life will be theoretically better”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2015/06/colonel-charles-russell-lowell-to_17.html

Colonel Theodore S. Bowers to Brigadier-General John Rawlins, August 25, 1864 (“I regret to say that Grant has been quite unwell for the past ten days. He feels languid and feeble and is hardly able to keep about”)

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

Lieutenant-Colonel Theodore Lyman to Elizabeth Russell Lyman, August 25, 1864 (“Hancock, at Reams’ station, was destroying the railroad . . . The Rebels sent down a large force to drive him off.”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2015/02/lieutenant-colonel-theodore-lyman-to_12.html

Diary of 1st Lieutenant Lemuel A. Abbott: Thursday, August 25, 1864 (“General Wilson’s division of cavalry started this morning on a reconnoissance towards Martinsburg”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2017/03/diary-of-1st-lieutenant-lemuel-abbott_10.html

Diary of 1st Sergeant John L. Ransom: August 25, 1864 (“In my exuberance of joy must write a few lines. Received a letter from my brother, George W. Ransom, from Hilton Head. Contained only a few words.”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2018/01/diary-of-1st-sergeant-john-l-ransom_98.html

Diary of Corporal Charles H. Lynch: August 25, 1864 (“The rebs often called to us ‘How are you Horace Greeley? Does your mother know you are out?’”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2016/04/diary-of-corporal-charles-h-lynch_30.html

Diary of Corporal Alexander G. Downing: Thursday, August 25, 1864 (“There are now from five thousand to six thousand sick and wounded here, and still more are coming.”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2015/06/diary-of-corporal-alexander-g-downing_18.html

Diary of John Beauchamp Jones: August 25, 1864 (“No war news, except reports that Gen. Wheeler has destroyed much of the railroad in Sherman’s rear, and that Early has forced Sheridan back across the Potomac.”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2022/07/diary-of-john-beauchamp-jones-august-25.html

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Today’s posts:

Map from Shelby Foote Civil War Narrative, “William Tecumseh Sherman: In the Service of My Country, A Life,” reply #32
“Team of Rivals, #33
John G. Nicolay, #34
George Templeton Strong, #35
Links to 11 items at Civil War Narrative, #36

[Homer_J_Simpson]

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

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Johnny Green of the Orphan Brigade: The Journal of a Confederate Soldier, Edited by A.D. Kirwan

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Lieutenant-General Ulysses S. Grant to Major-General Philip H. Sheridan, August 26, 1864—2:30 p.m. (“If the war is to last another year, we want the Shenandoah Valley to remain a barren waste.”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2020/05/lieutenant-general-ulysses-s-grant-to.html

Major-General George G. Meade to Margaretta Sergeant Mead, August 26, 1864 (“I have been for several days very much occupied, in the saddle all day, superintending the movements culminating in our securing a permanent lodgment on the Weldon Road.”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2014/11/major-general-george-g-meade-to_28.html

Diary of Brigadier-General William F. Bartlett: Friday, August 26, 1864 (“Waters came to my tent and told me he had an order from Major Morfit, to send me to his office to go to Richmond! Can it be exchange?”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2016/12/diary-of-brigadier-general-william-f_11.html

Lieutenant-Colonel Theodore Lyman to Elizabeth Russell Lyman, August 26, 1864 (“Thus, all the strategic results lie with us, and we hold the Weldon road.”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2015/02/lieutenant-colonel-theodore-lyman-to_13.html

Diary of 1st Lieutenant Lemuel A. Abbott: Friday, August 26, 1864 (“As usual we were ordered to be under arms at 4 o’clock a. m. but the enemy has not yet appeared on our right, nor do I think they will”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2017/03/diary-of-1st-lieutenant-lemuel-abbott_11.html

Diary of 1st Sergeant John L. Ransom: August 26, 1864 (“The letter from my brother has done good and cheered me up. Eye sight very poor and writing tires me.”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2018/01/diary-of-1st-sergeant-john-l-ransom_45.html

Diary of Corporal Charles H. Lynch: August 26, 1864 (“The enemy in strong force, well posted. The skirmish was hot while it lasted. A number of our boys were wounded”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2016/04/diary-of-corporal-charles-h-lynch_36.html

Diary of Corporal Alexander G. Downing: Friday, August 26, 1864 (“A large number of the boys are going home on furloughs. Their papers came in from the front today, signed up, and the boys are to start home tomorrow.”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2015/06/diary-of-corporal-alexander-g-downing_19.html

Diary of John Beauchamp Jones: August 26, 1864 (“The rich men and slave-owners are but too successful in getting out, and in keeping out of the service.”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2022/07/diary-of-john-beauchamp-jones-august-26.html

General Robert E. Lee to Lieutenant General Jubal A. Early, August 26, 1864 (“If Sheridan’s force is as large as you suppose, I do not know that you could operate to advantage north of the Potomac.”)

https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2014/03/general-robert-e-lee-to-lieutenant_17.html