Posted on 04/15/2025 7:16:35 AM PDT by 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/4308140/posts
Continued from April 14 (reply #66).
https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/4309654/posts?q=1&;page=51#66
David Herbert Donald, Lincoln
Continued from April 14 (reply #65).
https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/4309654/posts?q=1&;page=51#65
Doris Kearns Goodwin, Team of Rivals
Continued from April 14 (reply #67).
https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/4309654/posts?q=1&;page=51#67
David W. Blight, Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom
All for the Union: The Civil War Diary and Letters of Elisha Hunt Rhodes, edited by Robert Hunt Rhodes
No sterling contributions this morning from the Empire’s favorite house organ, The New York Times?
Continued from April 14 (reply #70).
https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/4309654/posts?q=1&;page=51#70
Douglas Southall Freeman, Lee, an abridgement by Richard Harwell
Diary of Gideon Welles: [April 15,] 1865 (“The respiration of the President became suspended at intervals, and at last entirely ceased at twenty-two minutes past seven.”)
https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2022/01/diary-of-gideon-welles-april-15-1865.html
Brevet Major-General Montgomery C. Meigs to Major-General Christopher C. Augur, 12:00 a.m., April 15, 1865 (“The Secretary directs that the troops turn out; the guards be doubled; the forts be alert; guns manned; special vigilance and guard about the Capitol Prison.”)
https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2017/08/brevet-major-general-montgomery-c-meigs.html
Edwin M. Stanton to Lieutenant-General Ulysses S. Grant, April 15, 1865 (“I beg to call your attention to the security of this city, and especially to the large number of rebel officers and privates, prisoners of war, and rebel refugees, and deserters that are among us”)
https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2020/03/edwin-m-stanton-to-lieutenant-general_13.html
Major Thomas T. Eckert to Lieutenant-General Ulysses S. Grant, 12:20 a.m., April 15, 1865 (“Secretary Seward and his son Frederick were also assassinated at their residence and are in a dangerous condition.”)
https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2017/08/major-thomas-t-eckert-to-lieutenant.html
Charles A. Dana to Lieutenant-General Ulysses S. Grant, April 15, 1865 — 12:50 a.m. (“Permit me to suggest to you to keep a close watch on all persons who come near you in the cars or otherwise”)
https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2020/03/charles-dana-to-lieutenant-general.html
Edwin M. Stanton to John Kennedy, April 15, 1865 – 1 a.m. (“Send here immediately three or four of your best detectives to investigate the facts as to the assassination of the President and Secretary Seward.”)
https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2018/01/edwin-m-stanton-to-john-kennedy-april.html
Edwin M. Stanton to Major-General John A. Dix, April 15, 1865 – 1:30 a.m. (“All the members of the Cabinet except Mr. Seward are now in attendance upon the President. I have seen Mr. Seward, but he and Frederick were both unconscious.”)
https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2018/01/edwin-m-stanton-to-major-general-john_78.html
Edwin M. Stanton to Major-General John A. Dix, April 15, 1865 – 4:10 a.m. (“The President continues insensible and is sinking. Secretary Seward remains without change. Frederick Seward’s skull is fractured in two places, besides a severe cut upon the head.”)
https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2018/01/edwin-m-stanton-to-major-general-john_9.html
Death Of President Lincoln: Announcement To The Vice-President, April 15, 1865 (“Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States, was shot by an assassin last evening at Ford’s Theater, in this city, and died at the hour of twenty-two minutes after 7 o’clock.”)
https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2018/01/death-of-president-lincoln-announcement.html
Diary of Brigadier-General Rutherford B. Hayes: Saturday, April 15, 1865—8 a.m. (“Startled by report that Lincoln, Seward and were assassinated. Somehow felt it was true.”)
https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2022/05/diary-of-brigadier-general-rutherford-b.html
Edwin M. Stanton to Major-General William T. Sherman, April 15, 1865 – 12:10 p.m. (“President Lincoln was murdered about 10 o’clock last night in his private box at Ford’s Theater in this city, by an assassin who shot him through the head with a pistol ball.”)
https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2018/01/edwin-m-stanton-to-major-general.html
Edwin M. Stanton to Major-General John A. Dix, April 15, 1865 – 3 p.m. (“Official notice of the death of the late President Abraham Lincoln was given by the heads of Department this morning to Andrew Johnson”)
https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2018/01/edwin-m-stanton-to-major-general-john_30.html
Edwin M. Stanton to Lafayette C. Baker, April 15, 1865 – 3:20 p.m. (“Come here immediately and see if you can find the murderers of the President.”)
https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2018/01/edwin-m-stanton-to-lafayette-c-baker.html
Lieutenant-General Ulysses S. Grant to Major-General Edward O. C. Ord, April 15, 4 p.m. (“Arrest J. A. Campbell, Mayor Mayo, and the members of the old council of Richmond, who have not yet taken the oath of allegiance, and put them in Libby Prison.”)
https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2018/01/lieutenant-general-ulysses-s-grant-to_29.html
Major-General Edward O. C. Ord to Lieutenant-General Ulysses S. Grant, April 15, 1865 (“Lee and staff are in town among the paroled prisoners. Should I arrest them under the circumstances I think the rebellion here would be reopened.”)
https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2020/03/major-general-edward-o-c-ord-to.html
Lieutenant-General Ulysses S. Grant to Major-General Philip H. Sheridan, April 15, 1865 – 7 p.m. (“I want you to get your cavalry in readiness to push south”)
https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2018/01/lieutenant-general-ulysses-s-grant-to_84.html
Lieutenant-General Ulysses S. Grant to Major-General Edward O. C. Ord, April 15, 1865 — 8 p.m. (“On reflection I will withdraw my dispatch of this date directing the arrest of Campbell, Mayo, and others so far as it may be regarded as an order”)
https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2020/03/lieutenant-general-ulysses-s-grant-to_77.html
Major-General William T. Sherman to Lieutenant-General Ulysses S. Grant & Edwin M. Stanton, April 15, 1865 (“I send copies of a correspondence begun with General Johnston, which, I think, will be followed by terms of capitulation.”)
https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2018/01/major-general-william-t-sherman-to_45.html
Major Charles Wright Wills: April 15, 1865 (“To-day makes four years soldiering for me. It is a terrible waste of time for me who have to make a start in life yet, and I expect unfits me for civil life.”)
https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2021/07/captain-charles-wright-wills-april-15.html
Diary of 1st Lieutenant Daniel L. Ambrose: April 15, 1865 (“During the morning we hear heavy cannonading, said to be along the front of Jeff. C. Davis’ Fourteenth Corps.”)
https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2024/08/diary-of-1st-lieutenant-daniel-l_98.html
Diary of 1st Lieutenant John S. Morgan: Saturday, April 15, 1865 (“while we waited for the train saw a squad of 10 negro soldiers with arms come in who had deserted the Rebs & report none closer than 20 miles”)
https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2017/02/diary-of-2nd-lieutenant-john-s-morgan_12.html
Diary of 5th Sergeant Alexander G. Downing: Saturday, April 15, 1865 (“News came from the front that Johnston had stopped fighting for the purpose of surrendering his army to General Sherman.”)
https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2016/02/diary-of-5th-sergeant-alexander-g_52.html
Diary of Julia Ward Howe: Saturday April 15, 1865 (“This atrocious act, which was consummated in a very theatrical manner, is enough to ruin not the Booth family alone, but the theatrical profession.”)
https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2018/04/diary-of-julia-ward-howe-saturday-april.html
Noah L. Jeffries to David K. Cartter, April 15, 1865 (“Please give me by bearer a pertinent description of the assassins of the President and Secretary, that I may telegraph it to the Provost Marshals on the frontier.”)
https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2014/08/noah-l-jeffries-to-david-k-cartter.html
Pass of Corydon E. Fuller, April 15, 1865
https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2014/08/pass-of-corydon-e-fuller-april-15-1865.html
Pass of Corydon E. Fuller, April 15, 1865
https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2014/08/pass-of-corydon-e-fuller-april-15-1865_25.html
Diary of Malvina S. Waring, April 15, 1865 (“Then the man in gray lifted his bowed head slowly, and replied: ‘Lee has surrendered!’”)
https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2024/10/diary-of-malvina-s-waring-april-15-1865.html
Today’s posts:
“Lincoln,” reply #3
“Team of Rivals,” #4
“Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom,” #5
George Templeton Strong, #6
Elisha Hunt Rhodes, #7
Johnny Green, #9
Mary B. Chesnut, #10
“Lee,” #11
Links to 27 items at Civil War Notebook, #12
Doris Kearns Goodwin also penned many glowing tributes to FDR, LBJ, and Barack Hussein Obama.
A great revisionist lady.
The illustrations are so very interesting. It took a lot of talented people to put together a publication back then.
Doris Kearns Goodwin is a MORON. Cabinet of rivals indeed. More like a Cabinet who actually tried to kill of the rest of the cabinet, and did kill Lincoln. To satisfy their Radical goons looking to cash in on post war property. The same ones who later almost convicted VP Johnson in impeachment for carrying out Lincoln’s Reconstruction plans. This is not a subject for discussion. Stanton was in the middle of all of it, and his Pinkertons.
And dumber than a sack of rocks. Pals with other sacks of rocks in “her” academia. An embarrassment, and incompetent, and pal of the LEFT and establishment head bobbers.
Other books cited, some of them are good. Looking to see Swanson’s excellent follow up book on the absolutely ghoulish “memorial train” of Lincolns (rotting improperly embalmed, and heavily made up body) through to Illinois) body, intertwined in the timelines of the retreat of the CSA government from Richmond and the various outcomes of his cabinet going with him as far as Washington, GA. As well as the thieving actions of Union cavalry of captured specie. It’s all there and Swanson is well documented in his footnotes.
OK, now do the Dahlgren raid to murder Jeff Davis. Stanton’s plan with Judson Kilpatrick leading which mightily failed and the plans captured on Dahlgren’s body. This preceded the operation arranged to kidnap Lincoln which Stanton through Pinkertons in Canada arranged and later altered, to murder.
How do you download this? Is there a PDF file you can download?
” Establishment head bobber “ indeed, John S. Mosby.
Doris was a sycophant on LBJ’s white house staff, and a reliable socialist contributor for years on NBC’s Meet The Depressed.
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