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Setting the 147th N.Y.’s Gettysburg Record Straight

10 heartless civil war profiteers LEE’s lucky retreat from gettysburg

SHERMAN EATS CROW

How he nearly botched the South’s surrender MARCH 2018 HISTORYNET.COM

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34 AMERICAN HISTORY

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MARCH 2018

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Departments 6 8 12 16 52 58 64

LETTERs More on Sullivan Ballou, the UDC and all those Confederate monuments NEW! THE BLOG ROLL Robert E. Lee, savior of, yes, St. Louis From the Crossroads The 147th N.Y. fought here—well, actually over there War on the Water The “secret” device that kept CSS Alabama DÁRDW trailside Knoxville, Tenn.: Burnside gets reborn, at James Longstreet’s expense Reviews A new take on Ulysses S. Grant by Ron Chernow conversation piece J.E.B. Stuart, beau sabreur and inventor extraordinaire

18

All or Nothin’ With peace secured between Grant and Lee at Appomattox Court House, William T. Sherman hoped to follow suit with Joe Johnston at Bennett Place. A wrenching nine days passed before he could succeed.

By Eric J. Wittenberg

42

Too Good to Be True At Manassas Gap, Va., during the Confederate retreat from Gettysburg, it looked like George Meade again had Robert E. Lee at his mercy. He couldn’t capitalize.

By Rick Barram

MARCH 2018

3

AMERICA’S CIVIL WAR ONLINE HISTORYNET.com/ AMERICAS-CIVIL-WAR

Michael A. Reinstein Chairman & Publisher David Steinhafel Publisher Doug Neiman Associate Publisher Alex Neill Editor in Chief

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ONE-SIDED FRIENDSHIP Robert E. Lee died convinced he and Joe Johnston were friends.

The feeling wasn’t mutual.

FROM ANOTHER’S PEN? A ghostwriter likely wrote Sullivan Ballou’s regal 1861 letter to his wife.

PEERLESS DUO Raphael Semmes and CSS Alabama were a match made in heaven.

ADVISORY BOARD Gordon Berg, Jim Burgess, Tom Clemens, Peter Cozzens, D. Scott Hartwig, Lawrence Lee Hewitt, John Hoptak, Robert K. Krick, Ethan S. Rafuse, Ron Soodalter, Craig Swain CORPORATE Rob Wilkins Director of Partnership Marketing Roxanna Sassanian Finance Tom Griffiths Corporate Development Graydon Sheinberg Corporate Development ADVERTISING Morton Greenberg SVP Advertising Sales mgreenberg@mco.com Courtney Fortune Advertising Services cfortune@historynet.com Rick Gower Regional Sales Manager rick@rickgower.com Terry Jenkins Regional Sales Manager TJenkins@historynet.com Richard E. Vincent Regional Sales Manager RVincent@historynet.com DIRECT RESPONSE ADVERTISING Russell Johns Associates 800-649-9800 • ACW@russelljohns.com

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AMERICA’S CIVIL WAR

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TA L L TA L E S .

TRUE STORIES.

Sometimes the best stories are right under your feet. In Mississippi, you can discover the relics of the Civil War, travel ancient paths like the Natchez Trace Parkway, explore antebellum homes and experience our rich and complex history from the Hills to the Gulf Coast.

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LETTERS

From our Facebook Page Our “Roots of a Bitter Legacy” article in the January issue, about the United Daughters of the Confederacy’s role in erecting Confederate monuments in the early 20th century, drew more than a few heated responses from our readers on Facebook.

apples to oranges

I must take issue with the analyses of the two English professors concerning the Sullivan Ballou letter (“O Sarah!,” November 2017). They make the fatal error of comparing apples to oranges. The writing style of the famous letter cannot be compared to Ballou’s missives written around the same time, because the famous letter and the others have different purposes and different efforts. The ordinary letters were just that, quotidian notes meant to communicate basic information, to reassure and to keep in touch.

However, the famous letter was written with a completely different objective.

It was an epitaph and an elegy. Ballou never intended for his wife to read it unless he had died. He put into this letter all his foreboding and all his more overarching reasons for being where he was and doing what he was about to do.

While the other letters basically were dashed off, this one was thoughtfully and artfully composed by a professional attempting to write something enduring.

We know that Ballou had the talent and training to write such a letter. He was an orator by profession, no doubt knew Shakespeare and knew how to write a soaring sentence. It is likely that he sat down and wrote it after having dashed off the other letter written on that day. It is possible that first letter got him to thinking and he decided to write the second letter, knowing he wanted to leave his deeper thoughts for his wife and children, just in case.

The evidence of the letters’ different intents and composition levels is exhibited by the fact that those less famous letters were sent (apparently, although the story does not say for sure, but that seems to be how Mrs. Ballou came into their possession). But the famous one was tucked away in his trunk, where it would only come to light if he died.

It is also questionable that Mrs. Ballou would have participated in the necessary conspiracy of pretending her husband had written the letter when he actually had not—that it was in the trunk, when it was not.

If a literary analysis with any validity is to be attempted, then the famous letter should be compared to Ballou’s oratorial efforts, not to the letters he dashed off in camp.

Garland Reeves Irondale, Ala.

6

AMERICA’S CIVIL WAR

Politically correct historical revisionism. It was the bloodiest war in American history.

Millions of Confederate soldiers were called to service and hundreds of thousands lost their lives fighting under the Confederate flag.

Expecting the Southern states not to honor their dead, like every other people around the world, is just ignorant. Do you really expect them to forget about their dead or portray them as villains rather than heroes? There’s nothing nefarious about war memorials and the Southern viewpoint of war is not a myth.

Contrary to what narrow minded Marxist college professors would have you believe, there is more than one side to every story.

Trevor Benson I’m confused. So many people travel to the South to take in the food, culture and architecture. They speak about our friendly and welcoming attitudes, yet they want to deny to us our history and culture that makes us distinct from the other areas. When was the last time you went to a restaurant and ordered “Northern fried chicken or barbecue”? If you don’t like us go away and just leave us alone.

George Fowler This is from a professor of history? Seriously?

You didn’t make this up? Unbelievable! Wow! Renee Langford Sullivan Author Karen L. Cox responds: For those questioning my background and credentials, I am indeed a Southerner and I hold a Ph.D. in American History from the University of Southern Mississippi. Readers who wish to review further documentation can read my book Dixie’s Daughters: The United Daughters of the Confederacy and the Preservation of Confederate Culture.

As an example of an unveiling speech during which the speaker makes claims about “Anglo-Saxon Supremacy” read Julian Carr’s speech at the dedication of the “Silent Sam” monument at the University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill: http://finding-aids.lib.unc. edu/00141/#folder_26#1. In that speech Carr also brags about whipping a black woman.

For an example of a UDC member who encouraged lynching black men, see Rebecca Latimer Felton: http://www.georgiaencyclopedia. org/articles/history-archaeology/ rebecca-latimer-felton-1835-1930.

Finally, it was not unusual for a white Southerner to have held white supremacist views in the Jim Crow era, and UDC members held such beliefs just as any other white person of the period.

Thanks I wanted to thank ACW for Edward Ayers’ “Valley of Despair” and Joe Johnston’s “Hell on the Home Front” in January’s issue. The South endured the ravages of war for four years whether by Union occupation, the needs of the Confederacy, or devastation of the war itself. That is rarely covered in my opinion.

Rick Breze Cabot, Ark.

Discover

A Missing Piece of Civil War History 135TH USCT LIVING HISTORY WEEKEND: THE LOST TROOP

APRIL 6–8, 2018 GOLDSBORO, NC

A lost piece of Civil War history has been found and highlights the existence of a forgotten U.S. Colored Troop based in NC—the 135th U.S. Colored Troop (USCT).

To learn more, plan to attend the 135th USCT Living History Weekend.

A pop up museum, exhibits, guest speakers, period music, and encampment will be free and open to the public. A special banquet will be held and tickets can be purchased ahead of time.

For details & special packages, visit visitgoldsboronc.com/shop or call 919.734.2213.

Cannonball Update In “Cannonballs Continue to Be Dug Up at War Sites” in the September issue (page 9), it says that the cannonballs “were found in the Lawrenceville neighborhood of Pittsburgh, not far from the site of the famed Allegheny Arsenal.” The projectiles were actually discovered on the grounds of the former arsenal, which has mostly been eradicated by the current construction of an apartment complex. In 1972 over 1,200 cannonballs were found in the same proximity. Unfortunately, the military took most to Fort Indiantown Gap and destroyed them.

The fate of the latest cache is still in limbo.

James Wudarczyk Pittsburgh, Pa. WRITE TO US Send letters to America’s Civil War, Letters Editor, HistoryNet, 1919 Gallows Rd., Suite 400, Vienna, VA 22182-4038, or e-mail acwletters@historynet.com.

Letters may be edited.

SHE WAS KNOWN AS THE GHOST IN THE WHITE HOUSE

- Mary Lincoln - Jane Pierce - Ida McKinley - Lucretia Taylor

For more, search DAILY QUIZ at HistoryNet.com.

HistoryNet.com FIRST LADY JANE PIERCE. THE PIERCES HAD THREE SONS. ONE DIED IN INFANCY. A SECOND, FRANK, DIED AS A YOUNG CHILD. AFTER THESE TWO DEATHS, PIERCE FOCUSED ALL OF HER ATTENTION ON THE REMAINING SON, BENNY. JUST WEEKS BEFORE HER HUSBAND’S INAUGURATION, PIERCE WATCHED AS HER ELEVEN YEAR OLD BENNY WAS CRUSHED AND KILLED IN A TRAIN DERAILMENT. SHE NEVER RECOVERED AND SPENT MUCH OF HER HUSBAND’S ADMINISTRATION OUT OF SIGHT.

THE BLOG ROLL

Future Star This memorial in St. Louis honors Robert E. Lee (shown in a preâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;Civil War image) for his antebellum success in rerouting the Mississippi River to preserve the Gateway Cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s thriving and strategic port.

Robert E. Lee

GOOD, BAD AND HUMAN

By Craig A. Swain

For your consideratioN: The photo above is from a Historical Marker Database entry prepared by my late friend Mike Stroud. I might make the case that this is more a â&#x20AC;&#x153;monument,â&#x20AC;? but the opening line of Mikeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s HMD entry says â&#x20AC;&#x153;in Memory ofâ&#x20AC;Śâ&#x20AC;? so maybe we put it in the memorial column.

Regardless of how we categorize the object, there is a story to tell here. And it is one of a positive contribution to WKH FRPPXQLW\ E\ D KLVWRULFDO Ă&#x20AC;JXUHÂłRQH 5REHUW ( /HH ,Q VKRUW D SUREOHP GHYHORSHG LQ IURQW RI 6W /RXLV

8

AMERICAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S CIVIL WAR

in the 1830s. A shift to the Mississippi River channel caused the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s port to silt up. Unchecked, that would isolate the city from commerce, the Gateway to the West would become just another bypassed river town, and steamboats would ply their trade somewhere else. &LW\ RIĂ&#x20AC;FLDOV XVHG WKHLU SROLWLFDO FORXW WR VHFXUH WKH VHUYLFHV RI WKH 8 6 $UP\ &RUSV RI (QJLQHHUV ZKLFK VHQW D Ă&#x20AC;UVW OLHXWHQDQW QDPHG 5REHUW ( /HH DORQJ ZLWK QG /W 0RQWJRPHU\ & 0HLJV EXW QRZ ,¡P QDPH GURSSLQJ at the expense of brevity).

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THE BLOG ROLL

The core problem was with Bloody Island, a sandbar in the middle of the river. The river was slipping to the east (the Illinois side) of that island, leaving more sediment on the Missouri side.

Leeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s solution was to let the river do the bulk of the work. He proposed a series of dikes and revetments that would entice the river to push to the west channel and thus clear out the sand bars deposited in front of St. Louis.

Leeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s plan was never completely adopted. Political LQĂ XHQFH SUHYHQWHG WKH GLNH FRQVWUXFWLRQ RQ WKH QRUWK (upstream) end of Bloody Island. But the dike on the south end was enough. The river soon gouged out a deep channel close to the Missouri shoreline. The city of St. Louis continued to prosper. And Lee was its hero.

Of course, one great irony hereâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;Lee had ensured St. Louis would be a thriving center of commerce and industry that 20-some years later would support the Federal war effort in the West.

A lesser sidebar, with all those trivial connections we enjoyâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;Leeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s efforts saved Bloody Island as one of those of those â&#x20AC;&#x153;in betweenâ&#x20AC;? locations where laws were loosely enforced. The island remained a favored spot for dueling. On September 22, 1842, James Shields and Abraham Lincoln nearly fought a cavalry sword duel there. It turned out to be a bloodless encounter that ended after Lincoln demonstrated his superior strength by cutting off a tree limb with his sword.

Lee did other work along the Mississippi to improve navigation, but the solution at St. Louis had the most impact and has not been forgotten. In 1977 the memorial shown on Page 8 was placed on the waterfront, aptly in front of the Gateway Arch. Moved a few feet in recent years, the memorial now sits between a bike trail and Leonor K. Sullivan Boulevard.

But here we stand today, with a lot of talk lately about Leeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s legacy and its prominence in our cultural landscape.

There can be no distancing of Lee from the Confederacy.

Lee the Artist Robert E. Lee drew this survey map of the Mississippi at St. Louis. It shows infamous Bloody Island.

10

AMERICAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S CIVIL WAR

And by that connection, we canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t quibble over Leeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s connection to slavery. We cannot pretend Leeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hands were not sullied in the matter. He was a direct participant in WKH V\VWHP EHQHĂ&#x20AC;WHG IURP LW DQG IRXJKW WR SUHVHUYH LW Yet does that become the only factor in assessment of Robert E. Lee? Do we only measure him with the letters R-A-C-I-S-T? Or, are there other factors to consider in our net assessment of him? We have a preponderance of evidence that says he was a capable military leader. He was a capable school administrator, at a time (1865â&#x20AC;&#x201C;70) when Washington University in Lexington, Va., needed one. And, with respect to the Mississippi River at St. Louis, we can say he was a good public engineer. (Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been known to debate his skill as a military engineer, but we shall table that for today.) And beyond that, at the personal level, we have many vignettes that indicate he had many admirable qualities. Again, at a personal level. None of which can, should, or would overshadow the connections Lee had to the system of slaveryâ&#x20AC;Ś.yet do tell us he was a human being, just like the rest of us.

Maybe even more human than some of us. (And certainly not the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Marble Man.â&#x20AC;?)

In his four-volume biography of Lee, historian Douglas Southall Freeman closed: â&#x20AC;&#x153;That is all. There is no P\VWHU\ LQ WKH FRIĂ&#x20AC;Q WKHUH LQ IURQW RI WKH ZLQGRZV WKDW look to the sunrise.â&#x20AC;?

Far be it for me to disagree with Freeman, who probably knew more about Lee than anyone save Lee himself.

But I must say that cannot be the closing when conVLGHULQJ /HH +H¡V D FRPSOH[ Ă&#x20AC;JXUH PL[LQJ JRRG ZLWK bad, distasteful with the honorable, and repulsive with attractive. And thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a lot of mystery left to explore.

7KHQ DJDLQ ZH FDQ ZHOO VD\ WKDW DERXW DQ\ Ă&#x20AC;JXUH ZH are apt to meet in historyâ&#x20AC;Śor out on the street today.

Craig Swainâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;an information technology consultant in the Washington, D.C., area and a specialist in artillery, engineering operations, and Civil War Charleston, S.C.â&#x20AC;&#x201D;is the author of the blog â&#x20AC;&#x153;To the Sound of the Guns.â&#x20AC;? This column appeared in August 2017.

FROM THE CROSSROADS

Fault Lines

By D. Scott Hartwig

&XWOHU·V EULJDGH VHQGLQJ WZR UHJLPHQWV VRXWK RI WKH If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re at Gettysburg National Military Park DQG GHFLGH WR WUDFH WKH EDWWOH·V Ã&#x20AC;UVW GD\ DFWLRQ \RX·OO &KDPEHUVEXUJ 3LNH WR RFFXS\ WKH ULGJH EHVLGH (GZDUG 0F3KHUVRQ·V IDUP EXLOGLQJV ZKLOH WKH RWKHU WKUHH UHJL more than likely come across a memorial to the 147th 1HZ <RUN ,QIDQWU\ RQ 5H\QROGV $YHQXH MXVW QRUWK RI PHQWV LQFOXGLQJ WKH WK ZHUH WR PRYH QRUWK RI WKH SLNH DQG RFFXS\ WKH ULGJH QHDU &DSWDLQ -DPHV +DOO·V WKH 5DLOURDG &XW %ULGJH ,W LV DGPLWWHGO\ D IDLUO\ VWDQ QG 0DLQH %DWWHU\ ZKLFK KDG XQOLPEHUHG RSSRVLWH GDUG PRQXPHQW D EURQ]H VFXOSWXUH RI D NQDSVDFN FDQ WHHQ DQG FDUWULGJH ER[ SHUFKHG EHORZ WKH UHJLPHQW·V 0F3KHUVRQ·V EDUQ :KHQ 5H\QROGV RUGHUHG WKRVH WKUHH UHJLPHQWV WR VXS RUJDQL]DWLRQDO OHJHQG 7KH LQVFULSWLRQ RQ WKH HDVW VLGH RI WKH PRQXPHQW UHDGV ´3RVLWLRQ $ 0 -XO\ µ SRUW +DOO·V EDWWHU\ WKH WK 1HZ <RUN DQG WK 3HQQ WKHQ OLVWV WKH UHJLPHQW·V VWUHQJWK DQG FDVXDOWLHV 7KH V\OYDQLD PRYHG DV GLUHFWHG )RU VRPH UHDVRQ WKH RUGHUV VWUHQJWK DQG FDVXDOW\ Ã&#x20AC;JXUHV DUH DFFXUDWH WKH SRVLWLRQ QHYHU UHDFKHG WKH WK VR LWV FRPPDQGHU /W &RO LV QRW 7KH WK DV D UHJLPHQWDO RUJDQL]DWLRQ QHYHU )UDQFLV & 0LOOHU OHG WKH UHJLPHQW DORQJ WKH ORZ JURXQG between the eastern and western branches IRUPHG ZKHUH LWV PRQXPHQW VWDQGV RI 0F3KHUVRQ·V 5LGJH DQG PDVVHG LW EHKLQG 7KH WK ZDV SDUW RI %ULJ *HQ Blood Fury WKH EDUQ IRU FRYHU EHIRUH ULGLQJ RII WR JHW /\VDQGHU &XWOHU·V QG %ULJDGH VW 'LYL 7KH Ã&#x20AC;UVW GD\ Ã&#x20AC;JKWLQJ VLRQ VW &RUSV³WKH Ã&#x20AC;UVW 8QLRQ LQIDQWU\ RQ 0F3KHUVRQ·V 5LGJH LQVWUXFWLRQV 7KH FRQIXVLRQ ZDV TXLFNO\ VRUWHG RXW DQG 0LOOHU UHWXUQHG WR OHDG KLV EULJDGH WR UHDFK WKH Ã&#x20AC;HOG WKH PRUQLQJ RI ZDV SDUWLFXODUO\ UHJLPHQW DFURVV WKH 5DLOURDG &XW DQG LQWR -XO\ %XW LW DUULYHG DERXW VR WKH EORRG\ $ERYH WKH WLPH LQVFULEHG RQ WKH PRQXPHQW LV WRR WK :LVFRQVLQ FODVKHV D ZKHDW Ã&#x20AC;HOG MXVW WR WKH QRUWK LQ WKH 5DLOURDG &XW 0HDQZKLOH WKH WK 1HZ <RUN DQG WK HDUO\ 0DMRU *HQHUDO -RKQ 5H\QROGV WKH ZLWK -RVHSK 'DYLV· 3HQQV\OYDQLD FRQWLQXHG QRUWK EHKLQG WKH VW &RUSV· FRPPDQGHU ZDV SUHSDULQJ WR %ULJDGH IUHVK RII LWV HDVWHUQ ULGJH XQWLO WKH\ FOHDUHG WKH 5DLO HQJDJH WKH DGYDQFLQJ &RQIHGHUDWHV ZHVW RI HQFRXQWHU ZLWK WKH URDG &XW WKHQ WXUQHG OHIW DQG DGYDQFHG WR *HWW\VEXUJ DQG QHHGHG WR RFFXS\ 0F3KHU 147th New York.

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12

AMERICAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S CIVIL WAR

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FROM THE CROSSROADS to the right and rear of the 147th. They immediMisplaced ately became engaged with the 2nd Mississippi For accuracyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sake, and 55th North Carolina of Brig. Gen. Joseph 147th N.Y. veterans Davisâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Brigade. tried in vain to have After the 147th advanced through the wheat, it their Gettysburg FDPH XQGHU Ă&#x20AC;UH IURP WKH QG 0LVVLVVLSSL DOVR memorial moved part of Davisâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Brigade. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I could see innumerable roughly 200 yards to the west. heads of rebels bobbing up and down on the north side of this wheat,â&#x20AC;? recalled Lieutenant J. Volney 3LHUFH ´0HQ EHJDQ WR IDOO RQ DOO VLGHV EHIRUH ZH Ă&#x20AC;UHG D shot.â&#x20AC;? The New Yorkers continued up the slope a short distance before being ordered by Miller to lie down and FRPPHQFH Ă&#x20AC;ULQJ ´7KH EDWWOH ZDV QRZ LQ DOO LWV Ă&#x20AC;HUFHness,â&#x20AC;? Pierce wrote. â&#x20AC;&#x153;[A] continuous roar of musketry drowned all orders.â&#x20AC;?

The 76th New York and 56th Pennsylvania were soon RXWĂ DQNHG DQG RUGHUHG E\ &XWOHU WR UHWUHDW WRZDUG *HWtysburg. Miller received similar orders, but he would be wounded before he could deliver them to his men. The regiment, now under the command of Major George +DUQH\ FRQWLQXHG Ă&#x20AC;JKWLQJ EXW LW KDG EHFRPH LVRODWHGÂł exposed on its right and rear as a Confederate contingent prepared to strike. To confront this new threat, Harney ordered his companies on the right to change front. The odds, though, were clearly not on his side.

Suddenly Captain T.E. Ellsworth, from the staff of division commander Brig. Gen. James Wadsworth, rode into the midst of the maelstrom and ordered Harney to IDOO EDFN 7KH 1HZ <RUNHUV Ă HG HLWKHU DFURVV WKH 5DLOWOHĂ&#x20AC;HOG 0HPRULDO $VVRFLDWLRQ ZRUNLQJ ZLWK YHWHUDQV RI road Cut toward the McPherson Farm or along the cut the unit, likely used Bachelderâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s maps. It is also possible itself. Nearly all of those who followed the cut, however, the GBMA wanted the monument to be on the same line were quickly corralled and taken prisoner. as the 56th Pennsylvania and 76th New York for ease of With 301 of the 380 men who engaged that morning access for park visitors. Although most 147th veterans killed, wounded, or captured, it had been a catastrophic grudgingly accepted the erroneous position, Lyman led 20 minutes of combat for the 147th, a concerted effort to set the record straight. Aware that That fall, when Gettysburg historian and artist John %DFKHOGHU ZDV ZULWLQJ DQ RIĂ&#x20AC;FLDO KLVWRU\ RI WKH EDWWOH Bachelder published an isometric map of the battle, he the 147th veterans did not want it also to be incorrect. mistakenly showed the 147th positioned on the same /\PDQ FRUUHVSRQGHG ZLWK PRUH WKDQ D GR]HQ RIĂ&#x20AC;FHUV line as the 56th Pennsylvania and 76th New York.

DQG PHQ LQFOXGLQJ RQH QG 0LVVLVVLSSL RIĂ&#x20AC;FHU WR GRFFourteen years later, when Bachelder published sepaument the regimentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s correct position, and forwarded rate maps for each day of the battle, he made the same what he learned to Bachelder. error. The mistake, however, was an honest one, as a His efforts paid off. On March 5, 1889, Bachelder VWDII RIĂ&#x20AC;FHU IURP :DGVZRUWK¡V VWDII KDG ZULWWHQ KLP wrote to Lyman that he had changed the narrative in 1865 that the three regiments had all been on one about the 147thâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s location in his still unpublished hisline when they became engaged. Then in 1868, Henry tory, thanking him â&#x20AC;&#x153;for establishing the truth.â&#x20AC;? UnforH. Lyman, the 147thâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s adjutant during the battle, sent tunately Bachelderâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ponderous history is today read by Bachelder a report of the regimentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s experiences at Getonly a handful of the most ardent Gettysburg students tysburg, noting they were â&#x20AC;&#x153;on left of 56th, 76th NY.â&#x20AC;? while hundreds of thousands of visitors drive by the regFrom these statements Bachelder assumed the 147th KDG EHJXQ Ă&#x20AC;JKWLQJ ZKLOH RQ WKH VDPH OLQH DV WKH RWKHU imentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s monument none the wiser that the men it represents actually fought and bled on the gentle rise about two regiments.

200 yards to the west.

On July 1, 1888, the monument to the 147th was dedicated in its present position. Bachelder did not select the Scott Hartwig writes from the crossroads of Gettysburg, Pa. location, although the members of the Gettysburg Bat-

14

AMERICAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S CIVIL WAR

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WAR ON THE WATER

â&#x20AC;&#x2122;Nor any drop to drinkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

By John V. Quarstein and Gerald S. Hanley

Access to safe drinking water has been a major concern for sailors throughout mankindâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s conquest of the oceans. Ships normally carried potable water in casks or tanks; however, there was a limit on how long it could be stored in that manner before it became virtually undrinkable. While ocean voyages were generally planned with several landfalls, there are countless accounts of vessels running out of water or having to ration their supplies for days until they reached land or it rained hard enough to catch water.

During the so-called Age of Sail, attempts to develop a means to produce drinking water on-board ship were

16

AMERICAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S CIVIL WAR

mostly unsuccessful. Usually only limited quantities could be produced in stills in the shipsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; galleys. It was not until the advent of steam propulsion in the early 19th century that a possible solution to this dilemma appeared. Volumes of steam from the shipsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; boilers could now power a distilling apparatus that was capable of producing large quantities of potable water.

The introduction of steamships presented additional problems, as fresh water was needed to operate the boilers to produce steam. The paddle-wheeler USS Missouri ZDV ODXQFKHG LQ DV RQH RI WKH 1DY\¡V Ă&#x20AC;UVW VWHDP powered ships. Missouri had two 40-ton water tanks

WAR ON THE WATER installed to provide water for both the boilers and crew. Missouriâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sister ship, USS Mississippi VHUYHG DV WKH Ă DJVKLS IRU 8 6 1DY\ RSHUDWLRQV DORQJ WKH *XOI &RDVW GXULQJ WKH 0H[LFDQ War and had to return to Port ,VDEHO 7H[DV WZLFH IRU DGGLtional water.

By the Civil War, condensers had been developed and installed on warships, DOWHULQJ WKHLU RSHUDWLRQDO FDSDFLW\ &66 Alabama and USS Kearsarge, which clashed memorably off the coast RI )UDQFH LQ -XQH DUH SULPH H[DPSOHV RI EHQHIDFWRUV RI WKLV QHZ WHFKQRORJ\ Captain Raphael Semmes wrote of Alabama: â&#x20AC;&#x153;The YHVVHO ZDV YHU\ OLJKW FRPSDUHG ZLWK YHVVHOV RI KHU class in the federal navy, but this was scarcely a disadYDQWDJH DV >LW@ ZDV SXUFKDVHG DV D VFRXUJH RI WKH HQHmyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s commerce rather than for battle....She had a 300 KRUVHSRZHU HQJLQH DQG D FRQGHQVHU WR SURYLGH IUHVK water for the crew.â&#x20AC;? Alabama remained at sea for 534 of 657 days of its time in commission. The ability to produce fresh water was critical, since its tanks could hold RQO\ DQ HLJKW GD\ VXSSO\ It is likely that the apparatus used on Alabama, known as a jet condenser, was one invented by French FKHPLVW $OSKRQVH 5HQp OH 0LUH GH 1RUPDQG\ 7KH DSSDUDWXV VKRZQ RQ WKH RSSRVLQJ SDJH KDG WKUHH principal parts: an evaporator, a condenser, and a ´UHIULJHUDWRUÂľ RU FRROHU 6WHDP IURP WKH ERLOHU ZKLFK ZDV XQGHU SUHVVXUH DQG DW D WHPSHUDWXUH H[FHHGLQJ WKH ERLOLQJ SRLQW RI DWPRVSKHULF VHDZDWHU Ă RZHG WKURXJK WXEHV VXUURXQGHG E\ VHDZDWHU LQ WKH HYDSRUDWRU 7KH VHDZDWHU ZDV KHDWHG WR ERLOLQJ DQG WKH UHVXOWDQW VDOW IUHH VWHDP YDSRU Ă RZHG WKURXJK WXEHV LQ WKH condenser that were surrounded by seawater. The outSXW ZDV GLVWLOOHG ZDWHU 1RUPDQG\ FOHYHUO\ GHVLJQHG his system so the output of the evaporator absorbed HQRXJK DLU WR LPSURYH LWV WDVWH 7KH IUHVK ZDWHU IURP WKH FRQGHQVHU Ă RZHG WKURXJK WKH ´UHIULJHUDWRU Âľ ZKHUH LW ZDV FRROHG E\ VHDZDWHU DQG WKHQ WKURXJK D FKDUFRDO Ă&#x20AC;OWHU WR WKH VKLS¡V WDQNV >7KH MHW FRQGHQVHU XVHG E\ the famed Union ironclad Monitor is conserved at The 0DULQHUV¡ 0XVHXP DQG 3DUN LQ 1HZSRUW 1HZV 9D @ Alabama¡V DELOLW\ WR VWD\ DW VHD IRU H[WHQGHG FUXLVHV is proof the apparatus worked. It did, however, require PDLQWHQDQFH 6HPPHV UHFRUGHG LQ $XJXVW ´>2@XU IUHVK ZDWHU FRQGHQVHU LV DERXW JLYLQJ RXW WKH ODVW VXSSO\ RI ZDWHU EHLQJ VR VDOW DV WR EH VFDUFHO\ GULQNDEOH Âľ +H OLNHO\ KDG LW UHSDLUHG GXULQJ D UHWURĂ&#x20AC;W²UHVXSSO\ stop in Cape Town, South Africa.

The introduction in the 1860s of surface condensers, ZKLFK NHSW FRROLQJ VHDZDWHU DQG H[KDXVW VWHDP VHSHigh-Tech A drawing of Alphonse RenĂŠ le Mire de Normandyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s condenser, used by Alabama, appeared in 7KH 0HFKDQLFV¡ 0DJD]LQH in January 1859.

arate, was another critical advance. In a surface conGHQVHU FRROLQJ VHDZDWHU Ă RZHG WKURXJK WXEHV LQ WKH FRQGHQVHU FDVLQJ ([KDXVW VWHDP IURP WKH HQJLQH Ă RZHG RYHU WKH WXEHV ZDV FRQGHQVHG DQG WKHQ SXPSHG back as relatively pure water to the boiler. The elimiQDWLRQ RI VDOW UHGXFHG IRXOLQJ RI WKH ERLOHUV DQG SHUPLWWHG XVH RI KLJKHU RSHUDWLQJ VWHDP SUHVVXUH 7KH XVH RI WKH VXUIDFH FRQGHQVHU EURXJKW ZLWK LW WKH QHHG IRU SXUH make-up feed water for the boiler (i.e., lost water could QRW EH UHSODFHG E\ VHDZDWHU DV LQ WKH SDVW 7KLV OHG to additional makers of suitable distillation equipment.

The mayhem Alabama caused on the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s RFHDQVÂłSULQFLSDOO\ WR 8QLRQ VKLSSLQJÂłRYHU months depended on its ability to access food, supplies, and potable water. It obtained much of the food and supplies from the ships it captured, but it was the

Union Scourge Raphael Semmes spent 34 years in the U.S. Navy before resigning to join the Confederacy. As Alabamaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s commander he claimed a record 65 prizes over 22 months.

VKLSERDUG SURGXFWLRQ RI GULQNLQJ ZDWHU WKDW JDYH LW WKH Ă H[LELOLW\ WR VWD\ DW VHD IRU H[WHQGHG VWUHWFKHV Alabamaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s storied career was possible only by the development of the salt-to-fresh-water conversion systems described here. By the end of the Civil War, potable ZDWHU SURGXFWLRQ XVLQJ VXFK FRQGHQVHUV KDG EHFRPH commonplace, found aboard ships of every type.

John V. Quarstein is the director emeritus at the USS Monitor Center in Newport News, Va. Gerry S. Hanley is a retired naval architect and nuclear engineer based in Williamsburg, Va. MARCH 2018

17

A Friendship Forged 7KRXJK ORQJWLPH IRHV RQ WKH EDWWOHÃ&#x20AC;HOG *HQHUDOV -RH -RKQVWRQ DQG : 7 6KHUPDQ PHW LQ SHUVRQ IRU WKH Ã&#x20AC;UVW WLPH DW -DPHV %HQQHWW·V IDUP RQ $SULO ,W ZRXOG EH WKH ELUWK RI D GHDU IULHQGVKLS ODVWLQJ \HDUV

18

AMERICAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S CIVIL WAR

All or Nothinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; The surrender Sherman and Johnston crafted at Bennett Place was monumental.

It very nearly never happened.

By Eric J. Wittenberg

MARCH 2018

19

Uncle Billy William Sherman “was tall, lithe, and active...” wrote one of his subordinates, Maj. Gen. Jacob D. Cox. “Every motion and expression indicated eagerness and energy.”

20

AMERICA’S CIVIL WAR

Last Resort During their third meeting on April 26, Johnston (left) and Sherman toiled for several hours putting WKH Ă&#x20AC;QLVKLQJ WRXFKHV on what they hoped would be irrefutable surrender terms.

News of Robert E. Leeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s April 9, 1865, surrender to Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Court House reached Maj. Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman at 5 a.m. April 12. Sherman and his army group, the Military Division of the Mississippi, had just completed one of the most remarkable campaigns in military history, having stormed through the Carolinas like â&#x20AC;&#x153;a plague of locustsâ&#x20AC;? in February and March, and were now perched outside the North Carolina capital of Raleigh, ready to close the deal on General Joseph E. Johnstonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Army of the South. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I hardly know how to express my feelings, but you can imagine them,â&#x20AC;?

Sherman told Grant in a telegram. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The terms you have given Lee are magnanimous and liberal. Should Johnston follow Lees example I shall of course grant the same. He is retreating before me on Raleigh, but I shall be there tomorrow. Roads are heavy [from the rain], but under the inspiration of the news IURP \RX ZH FDQ PDUFK WZHQW\ Ă&#x20AC;YH PLOHV D GD\ÂŤÂľ Naturally, Shermanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s troops celebrated wildly upon hearing the news later that day, but Sherman still could not be certain how Johnston or the Confederate government would respond. And when the Federals entered Raleigh on April 13, they discovered that Johnston and his men had already begun moving to the west, toward Greensboro, roughly 70 miles away. Any chance of peace would have to wait at least another few days.

-RKQVWRQ WKRXJK UHDOL]HG LW ZDV WLPH WR SXW ´D VWRS WR WKH QHHGOHVV VDFULĂ&#x20AC;FH of lifeâ&#x20AC;? and reached out to Sherman to discuss peace terms. On April 17 the two met at James Bennettâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 350-acre farmstead in Durhamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Station, a rail stop between Raleigh and Greensboro. What evolved over the next nine days would prove to be one of the most extraordinary periods in our nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s history and also cemented an improbable friendship between the two generals, who had never met before in person.

As the sun set on April 18, a surrender document Sherman and Johnston had signed promised the end of four years of civil war. The venerable generals would learn soon enough it wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be that easy.

MARCH 2018

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O

n April 20 Sherman sent his adjutant, Major Henry Hitchcock, to Washington, D.C., to deliver the surrender document personally to Grant. While waiting for instructions from the capital, Sherman used his time wisely. â&#x20AC;&#x153;[R]epairs on all the railroads and telegraph-lines were pushed with energy, and we also got possession of the railroad and telegraph from Raleigh to Weldon, in the direction of Norfolk,â&#x20AC;? he wrote his wife, Ellen. And, should their deal collapse, he also carefully positioned his forces at key points around Johnstonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s army so he could deliver a coup de grâce if necessary.

Union soldiers reacted with both joy and uncertainty at the news. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Angel of Peace has spread his wings over our country once more,â&#x20AC;? declared a 3rd Wisconsin soldier. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It was a glorious day for us who have seen the thing through from the beginning to the end.â&#x20AC;? But a 20th Illinois soldier expressed the prevailing anxiety in the army for new President Andrew Johnson: â&#x20AC;&#x153;He is deemed as too passionate dissipated and unstable for so responsible a position at so critical a period.â&#x20AC;?

On April 21 Sherman addressed an important issue in a letter to Johnston. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It may be the lawyers will want us to GHĂ&#x20AC;QH PRUH PLQXWHO\ ZKDW LV PHDQW E\ the guaranty of rights of person and property,â&#x20AC;? he wrote. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It may be construed into a compact for us to undo the past as to the rights of slaves and leases of plantations on the Mississippi, of vacant and abandoned plantations.

I wish you would talk to the best men you have on these points and if possiEOH OHW XV LQ WKH Ă&#x20AC;QDO FRQYHQWLRQ PDNH these points so clear as to leave no room for angry controversy. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I believe, if the South would simply and publicly declare what we all feel, that slavery is dead, that you would inaugurate an era of peace and prosperity that would soon efface the ravages of the past four years of war.â&#x20AC;?

Allowing that Confederate morale had collapsed, Johnston later noted that their meeting â&#x20AC;&#x153;and the armistice that followed, produced great uneasiness in the army. It was very commonly believed among the soldiers that there was to be a surrender, by which they would be prisoners of war, to which they were very averse. This apprehension caused a great number of deser-

tions between the 19th and 24th of Aprilâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;not less than four thousand in the infantry and artillery, and almost as many from the cavalry; many of them rode off artillery horses, and mules belonging to the baggage-trains.â&#x20AC;?

Lieutenant General William J. Hardee, Johnstonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s senior subordinate, who had remained with the armyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s main body at Greensboro, wrote to General P.G.T. Beauregard: â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are all agog respecting the object [of the truce], and surmises are that negotiations are afoot between Johnston and Sherman. If such be not the case, it would be well for me to know it as soon as practicable, that I may contradict it. The report, as you may well conceive, can do our troops no good.â&#x20AC;?

Johnstonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s men harbored no illusions. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Everything seems to indicate a speedy termination of the Confederacy & a restoration of the old state of affairs which though it is very KXPLOLDWLQJ WR XV VWLOO KDV LWV SOHDVDQW IHDWXUHV Âľ VWDII RIĂ&#x20AC;cer G.P. Collins admitted on April 22. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Everyone is so worn out with war & I am almost inclined to believe that our people scarcely deserve freedom or they would stand up better.â&#x20AC;?

Confederate President Jefferson Davis took the opportunity to poll his Cabinet on their views on the terms Sherman and Johnston had negotiated on April 18. All favored making peace on the best terms possible, including Confederate Secretary of State Judah P. Benjamin, who earlier had supported attempts to continue the war.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;I believe, if the South would simply and publicly declare that slavery is dead, you would inaugurate an era of peace and prosperity that would soon efface the ravages of the past four years of war.â&#x20AC;?

22

-gen. william t. sherman

AMERICAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S CIVIL WAR

Cabinet members in Washington were stunned, however, when Grant read Shermanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s communications, particularly Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton, whom Sherman had assured a few days earlier, â&#x20AC;&#x153;I will accept the same terms as General Grant gave General Lee, and be careful not to complicate any points of civil policy.â&#x20AC;?

Stanton told Grant: â&#x20AC;&#x153;You will give notice of the disapproval to General Sherman and direct him to resume hostilities at the earliest momentâ&#x20AC;Ś.

The President desires that you proceed immediately to the headquarters of General Sherman and direct operations against the enemy.â&#x20AC;?

The disapproval memorandum the Cabinet issued was soon published in several newspapers. Among concerns the members had stated were that res-

Few Equals While Confederate President Jefferson Davis was no fan, Joe Johnston was well-respected by his men and fellow commanders. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I do not think we had his equal for handling an army,â&#x20AC;? wrote Lt. Gen. James Longstreet.

MARCH 2018

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â&#x20AC;&#x153;I sent Sherman to do this himself. I did not wish the knowledge of my presence to be known to the army generally.â&#x20AC;?

toration of the â&#x20AC;&#x153;rebel authorityâ&#x20AC;? in the respective states would enable them to reestablish slavery, and that it â&#x20AC;&#x153;formed no poises of true and lasting peace, but relieved rebels from the pressure of our victories and left them in condition to renew their effort to overthrow the United States Governmentâ&#x20AC;Śâ&#x20AC;?

The displeased Cabinet, it seemed, was determined to publicly embarrass Sherman for trying to end the war.

Grant was soon on his way to meet Sherman, escorted by several of his RIĂ&#x20AC;FHUV DV ZHOO DV +LWFKFRFN 1RW VXUH what heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d learn, Sherman cabled Johnston that evening to be ready to resume negotiations. â&#x20AC;&#x153;There is great danger of WKH &RQIHGHUDWH DUPLHV EUHDNLQJ XS into guer[r]illas,â&#x20AC;? he conferred in a letter to Ellen, â&#x20AC;&#x153;and that LV ZKDW , PRVW IHDU 6XFK PHQ DV :DGH +DPSWRQ >1DWKDQ % @ )RUUHVW :LUW $GDPV HWF QHYHU ZLOO ZRUN DQG QRWKLQJ is left for them but death or highway robbery.â&#x20AC;?

Sherman wrote he was â&#x20AC;&#x153;both surprised and pleasedâ&#x20AC;? to VHH *UDQW LQ WKH Ă HVK RQO\ WR OHDUQ WKDW KLV WHUPV ZLWK

-RKQVWRQ KDG EHHQ GLVDSSURYHG +H was to give his opponent â&#x20AC;&#x153;48 hours QRWLFH DQG WKHQ DWWDFN RU IROORZ KLP Âľ Grant advised Sherman that he was authorized to offer the same terms to Johnston as he had given to Lee at Appomattox, noting, â&#x20AC;&#x153;I sent Sherman to do this himself. I did not wish the NQRZOHGJH RI P\ SUHVHQFH WR EH NQRZQ to the army generally; so I left it to Sherman to negotiate the terms of the surrender solely by himself, and withRXW WKH HQHP\ NQRZLQJ WKDW , ZDV DQ\ZKHUH QHDU WKH Ă&#x20AC;HOG Âľ 6KHUPDQ LPPHGLDWHO\ QRWLĂ&#x20AC;HG -RKQston of the 48-hour notice. A few minutes later, he sent a second dispatch: â&#x20AC;&#x153;I am instructed to limit my operations to your immediate command and not to attempt civil negotiations. I therefore demand the surrender of your army on the same terms as were given General Lee at Appomattox, of April 9, instant, purely and simply.â&#x20AC;? Sherman then LQVWUXFWHG 0DM *HQ -DPHV + :LOVRQ LQ *HRUJLD WR PDNH DUUDQJHPHQWV WR UHVXPH KRVWLOLWLHV RQ $SULO +H DOVR drafted orders for his army to prepare to move on Johnstonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s command as soon as the truce expired.

-gen. ulysses s. grant

Front Page News Headlines from the April 23, 1865, 1HZ <RUN +HUDOG The Northern press mercilessly scorned Sherman for his diplomatic efforts.

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AMERICAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S CIVIL WAR

Union public opinion clearly differed with Sherman.

(QUDJHG E\ /LQFROQ¡V DVVDVVLQDWLRQ 1RUWKHUQHUV ZDQWHG WR VKRZ WKH &RQIHGHUDWHV QR PHUF\ 6WDQWRQ WRRN WKH H[WUDRUGLQDU\ VWHS RI DOORZLQJ 0DM *HQ +HQU\ +DOOHFN WR SUHpare and issue an order advising Union commanders in Virginia, Georgia, and Alabama â&#x20AC;&#x153;to pay no regard to any truce or orders of General Sherman suspending hostilities, on the ground that Shermanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s agreements could bind his own command only, and no other. They are directed to push forward, regardless of orders from any one except General Grant, and cut off Johnstonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s retreat.â&#x20AC;? Sherman never forJDYH +DOOHFN IRU LVVXLQJ VXFK D FRPPDQG 1HZ <RUN QHZVSDSHUV LQ SDUWLFXODU UDLOHG DJDLQVW Sherman. â&#x20AC;&#x153;[T]he distinguished and admirable soldier, has fatally compromised himself, we fear, in entering into the IRUELGGHQ Ă&#x20AC;HOG RI GLSORPDF\ DV D SHDFHPDNHU Âľ WKH New York Herald declared. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The astounding dispatches from the War Departmentâ&#x20AC;Śplace the conqueror of Georgia and South Carolina in a truly unfortunate position.â&#x20AC;?

The paper also opined: â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have heard him as a soldier, DQG MXVWO\ WRR UDQNHG ZLWK WKDW JUHDW PLOLWDU\ JHQLXV WKH 'XNH RI 0DUOERURXJK 7KH SDUDOOHO PD\ QRZ EH H[WHQGHG WR WKH EOXQGHUV RI WKH JUHDW 'XNH DV D SROLWLFLDQ ZLWK WKLV difference: that he never committed such a great political blunder as this peace protocolâ&#x20AC;Ś.From the country at large he has cast his political fortunes into the peace democracyâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;a poor and contemptible faction.â&#x20AC;?

Grant understood Shermanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s anger at the media Ă&#x20AC;UHVWRUP ´6KHUPDQ IURP EHLQJ RQH RI WKH PRVW SRSXODU JHQHUDOV RI WKH ODQGÂŤZDV GHQRXQFHG E\ WKH 3UHVLGHQW DQG 6HFUHWDU\ RI :DU LQ YHU\ ELWWHU WHUPV Âľ KH ZURWH ´6RPH SHRSOH ZHQW VR IDU DV WR GHQRXQFH KLP DV D WUDLWRUÂłD PRVW SUHSRVWHURXV WHUP WR DSSO\ WR D PDQ ZKR KDG UHQGHUHG VR PXFK VHUYLFH DV KH KDGÂŤ Âľ 1RW DOO RI 6KHUPDQ¡V PHQ VXSSRUWHG KLV DFWLRQV $V 1HZ <RUNHU 3HWHU (OWLQJH ZURWH KLV IDWKHU ´:KDW GR \RX WKLQN RI WKH 6KHUPDQ²-RKQVWRQ DJUHHPHQW" , ZDV QHYHU PRUH VXUSULVHG LQ P\ OLIH ZKHQ , UHDG WKH $JUHHPHQWÂŤ +H KDV FHUWDLQO\ ORZHUHG KLPVHOI PXFK LQ WKH RSLQLRQ RI WKH ZKROH $UP\ DQG D PDMRULW\ RI /R\DO FLWL]HQV 7KH FUHGLW DQG UHQRZQ WKDW KH KDG ZRQ E\ KLV JUHDW FDPSDLJQ KDV QHDUO\ DOO EHHQ ORVW E\ KLV DWWHPSWLQJ WR PDNH KLPVHOI D JUHDW 3HDFHPDNHU Âľ ,Q D OHWWHU WR 6WDQWRQ RQ $SULO DQ DQJU\ 6KHUPDQ DGPLWWHG ´P\ IROO\ LQ HPEUDFLQJ LQ D PLOLWDU\ FRQYHQWLRQ DQ\ FLYLO PDWWHUV EXW XQIRUWXQDWHO\ VXFK LV WKH QDWXUH RI RXU VLWXDWLRQ WKDW WKH\ VHHP LQH[WULFDEO\ XQLWHG ÂŤ, VWLOO EHOLHYH WKH *RYHUQPHQW RI WKH 8QLWHG 6WDWHV KDV PDGH D PLVWDNH EXW WKDW LV QRQH RI P\ EXVLQHVV PLQH LV D GLIIHUHQW WDVN DQG , KDG Ă DWWHUHG P\VHOI WKDW E\ IRXU \HDUV SDWLHQW XQUHPLWWLQJ DQG VXFFHVVIXO ODERU , GHVHUYHG QR UHPLQGHU VXFK DV LV FRQWDLQHG LQ WKH ODVW SDUDJUDSK RI \RXU OHWWHU WR *HQHUDO *UDQW <RX PD\ DVVXUH WKH 3UHVLGHQW , KHHG KLV VXJJHVWLRQ Âľ 0DMRU *HQHUDO &DUO 6FKXU] VHUYLQJ DV $UP\ RI *HRUJLD FRPPDQGHU 0DM *HQ +HQU\ 6ORFXP¡V WHPSRUDU\ FKLHI RI VWDII DFFRPSDQLHG 6ORFXP WR D PHHWLQJ DW 6KHUPDQ¡V 5DOHLJK KHDGTXDUWHUV DQG ZDWFKHG DV 6KHUPDQ ´SDFHG XS DQG GRZQ WKH URRP OLNH D FDJHG OLRQ DQG ZLWKRXW DGGUHVVLQJ DQ\ERG\ LQ SDUWLFXODU XQEXVRPHG >sic@ KLPVHOI ZLWK DQ HORTXHQFH RI IXULRXV LQYHFWLYH ZKLFK IRU D ZKLOH PDGH XV DOO VWDUH Âľ As Sherman fumed WKH SLFWXUH IRU WKH &RQIHGHUDWHV ZDV FRPLQJ LQWR IRFXV 2Q WKH DIWHUQRRQ RI $SULO DIWHU UHDGLQJ WKH OHWWHUV IURP KLV UHPDLQLQJ &DELQHW RIĂ&#x20AC;FHUV HQFRXUDJLQJ KLP WR DFFHSW WKH WHUPV 'DYLV JDYH -RKQVWRQ KLV DSSURYDO WKRXJK KH UHPDLQHG FRQYLQFHG WKH 8QLRQ JRYHUQPHQW ZRXOG QRW DSSURYH WKH FRQYHQWLRQ VLQFH LW GHFODUHG DPQHVW\ IRU WKH &RQIHGHUDWH FLYLOLDQ DXWKRULWLHV :KHQ KH VDZ 6KHUPDQ¡V GLVSDWFKHV -RKQVWRQ LPPHGLDWHO\ UHSRUWHG WR &RQIHGHUDWH 6HFUHWDU\ RI :DU 0DM *HQ -RKQ & %UHFNLQULGJH DQG UHTXHVWHG LQVWUXFWLRQV -RKQVWRQ VXJJHVWHG GLVEDQGLQJ WKH DUP\ WR SUHYHQW 8QLRQ DUPLHV IURP IXUWKHU GHYDVWDWLQJ WKH FRXQWU\VLGH 5HSOLHG %UHFNLQULGJH ´'RHV QRW \RXU VXJJHVWLRQ DERXW GLVEDQGLQJ UHIHU WR WKH LQIDQWU\ DQG PRVW RI WKH DUWLOOHU\" ,I LW EH QHFHVVDU\ WR GLVEDQG WKHVH WKH\ PLJKW VWLOO VDYH WKHLU VPDOO DUPV DQG Ă&#x20AC;QG WKHLU ZD\ WR VRPH DSSRLQWHG UHQGH]YRXV &DQ \RX QRW EULQJ RII WKH FDYDOU\ DQG DOO RI WKH PHQ \RX FDQ PRXQW IURP WUDQVSRUWDWLRQ DQG RWKHU DQLPDOV ZLWK VRPH OLJKW Ă&#x20AC;HOG SLHFHV" 6XFK D IRUFH FRXOG PDUFK DZD\

April 18 Surrender Terms* Memorandum or basis of agreement made this 18th day of April, A.D. 1865, near Durhamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Station, in the state of North Carolina, by and between General Joseph E. Johnston...and Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman... â&#x2DC;&#x2026; First. The Contending armies now in the field to maintain the status quo until notice is given by the commanding general of any one to its opponent... â&#x2DC;&#x2026; Second. The Confederate armies now in existence to be disbanded and conducted to their several State capitals, there to deposit their arms and public property in the State Arsenal, and each officer and man to execute and file an agreement to cease from acts of war and to abide by the action of both State and Federal authority... â&#x2DC;&#x2026; Third. The recognition by the Executive of the United States, of the several State governments, of their officers and legislatures taking the oaths prescribed by the Constitution of the United States, and where conflicting state governments have resulted from the war the legitimacy of all shall be submitted to the [U.S.] Supreme Court. â&#x2DC;&#x2026; Fourth. The re-establishment of all the Federal courts in the several States, with powers as defined by the Constitution and laws of CongreSs. â&#x2DC;&#x2026; Fifth. The people and inhabitants of all the States to be guaranteed, so far as the Executive can, their political rights and franchises, as well as their rights of person and property, as defined by the [U.S.] Constitution and of the States respectively. â&#x2DC;&#x2026; Sixth. The Executive authority of the Government of the United States not to disturb any of the people by reason of the late war so long as they live in peace and quiet, abstain from acts of armed hostility, and obey the laws...at the place of their residence. â&#x2DC;&#x2026; Seven. In general terms, the war to cease, a general amnesty, so far as the Executive of the United States can command, on condition of the disbandment of the Confederate armiesâ&#x20AC;Ś and the resumption of peaceful pursuits by the officers and men hitherto composing said armies. *full versionS of April 18 and April 26 surrender documents available on historynet.com

IURP 6KHUPDQ DQG EH VWURQJ HQRXJK WR HQFRXQWHU DQ\WKLQJ EHWZHHQ XV DQG WKH 6RXWKZHVW ¾ -RKQVWRQ UHPDLQHG FRQYLQFHG KLV ZDV WKH FRUUHFW DSSURDFK ´:H KDYH WR VDYH WKH SHRSOH VSDUH WKH EORRG RI WKH DUP\ DQG VDYH WKH KLJK FLYLO IXQFWLRQDULHV ¾ KH UHSOLHG ´<RXU SODQ , WKLQN FDQ RQO\ GR WKH ODVW :H RXJKW WR SUHYHQW LQYDVLRQ PDNH WHUPV IRU RXU WURRSV DQG JLYH DQ MARCH 2018

25

Unforgiven Why exactly Secretary of War Edwin Stanton went out of his way to shame Sherman for his peace overtures to Johnston may never be known. Sherman would not forgive Stanton for it.

26

AMERICAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S CIVIL WAR

escort of cavalry to the President, who ought to move without loss of a moment.

Commanders believe the troops will not Ă&#x20AC;JKW DJDLQ Âľ After consulting with Beauregard, who agreed with his course, Johnston told Davis he would meet with Sherman to discuss surrendering his command.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;They seemed apprehensive that the terms of Grant and Lee, pure and simple, could not be executed, and that if modified at all...would meet with a second disapproval.â&#x20AC;?

â&#x20AC;&#x153;It is useless WR GHQ\ WKDW WKH RIĂ&#x20AC;FHUV and men of the army were chagrined and GLVDSSRLQWHG DW WKLV UHVXOW Âľ VDLG RQH of Shermanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s adjutants, Major George W. Nichols, at the possibility the truce would end. Noted Hitchcock: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Everyone anticipates, and I think everyone regrets, another march, for this time, if the Army does advance, it is necessarily in pursuit not of a single object, as KHUHWRIRUH RU WR UHDFK D GHĂ&#x20AC;QLWH ÂśREMHFWLYH SRLQW ¡ EXW WR SXUVXH D Ă \LQJ HQHP\ DQG PHDQZKLOH WR OLYH RQ WKH FRXQWU\ Âľ A 92nd Illinois Mounted Infantry soldier, of Brig. Gen. Thomas J. Jordanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s brigade of Kilpatrickâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s division, noted, â&#x20AC;&#x153;The men of the Regiment were very willing to resume hostilities, if it was necessary to do soâ&#x20AC;Ś.But there was not a soldier in the Regiment but that felt that it would be cruHOW\ WR Ă&#x20AC;JKW DQRWKHU EDWWOH (YHU\ PDQ ZDV FRQVFLRXV RI WKH fact that the war was really over; but orders were orders, DQG WKH\ ZHUH UHDG\ WR UHVXPH KRVWLOLWLHV Âľ About 6 p.m., however, Sherman received Johnstonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dispatch by courier. A third meeting between the two was scheduled for noon the next day at the Bennett House.

the terms of capitulation to their VDWLVIDFWLRQ Âľ 6FKRĂ&#x20AC;HOG 6KHUPDQ¡V second-in-command, later wrote. â&#x20AC;&#x153;They seemed discouraged at the failure of the arrangement to which they had attached so much importance, apprehensive that the terms of Grant and Lee, pure and simple, could not be H[HFXWHG DQG WKDW LI PRGLĂ&#x20AC;HG DW DOO they would meet with a second disapSURYDO Âľ 6FKRĂ&#x20AC;HOG VXJJHVWHG SUHSDULQJ WZR GRFXPHQWV 2QH ZRXOG HQFRPpass only the Appomattox terms, and the second would be supplemented by Johnstonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s concerns.

6FKRĂ&#x20AC;HOG VDLG 6KHUPDQ ´LQWLPDWHG to me to write, pen and paper being on the table where I was sitting, while the two great antagonists were nervously SDFLQJ WKH Ă RRUÂŤ , DW RQFH ZURWH WKH ÂśPLOLWDU\ FRQYHQWLRQ¡ RI $SULO handed it to General Sherman, and he, DIWHU UHDGLQJ LW WR *HQHUDO -RKQVWRQ Âľ As department commander, SchoĂ&#x20AC;HOG H[SODLQHG KH FRXOG GR DOO WKDW might be necessary to remove any obstacles that hindered consummation of the agreement once Sherman left for :DVKLQJWRQ 7KH WZR RIĂ&#x20AC;FHUV VLJQHG WKH Ă&#x20AC;UVW GRFXPHQW when he handed it to Sherman, Johnston declared, â&#x20AC;&#x153;I EHOLHYH WKDW LV WKH EHVW ZH FDQ GR Âľ That night Grant endorsed the terms so no questions ZRXOG DULVH DERXW WKHLU DFFHSWDELOLW\ 6FKRĂ&#x20AC;HOG ODWHU recalled he overheard Grant declare that â&#x20AC;&#x153;the only change he would have made would have been to write General Shermanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s name before General Johnstonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s. So would I if I had thought about it; but I presume an unconscious feeling of courtesy toward a fallen foe dictated the order in which WKHLU QDPHV ZHUH ZULWWHQ Âľ $IWHU GUDIWLQJ WKH LQLWLDO WHUPV 6FKRĂ&#x20AC;HOG SUHSDUHG VXSplemental terms based on his discussions with Johnston.

Those included provisions that Confederate troops would retain their transportation; that each brigade or separate body would â&#x20AC;&#x153;retain a number of arms equal to one-seventh of its effective total, which, when the troops reach their homes, will be received by the local authorities for public purposes; and that troops from Arkansas and Texas were WR EH WUDQVSRUWHG E\ ZDWHU IURP 0RELOH RU 1HZ 2UOHDQV WR their homes by the United States.

-Maj. Gen. John Schofield

Still incensed by the poor treatment heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d received from Stanton, Halleck, and the press, Sherman brusquely boarded a train to Durhamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Station the morning of April 26, accompanied by two of his army commandersâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;Maj. *HQV -RKQ 0 6FKRĂ&#x20AC;HOG DQG 2 2 +RZDUGÂłDQG 0DM *HQ John Logan. When Sherman and his entourage arrived at Bennett Place, however, Johnston was not there. His train was running late because of an accident.

-RKQVWRQ Ă&#x20AC;QDOO\ DUULYHG DERXW S P 7KH FRPPDQGing generals greeted each other warmly, then retired to the Bennett House. Sherman again stressed that he could offer only Appomattox-parallel terms, but Johnston felt that those alone were inadequate and requested additional guarantees for his menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s safety. Though he acknowledged additional terms were likely needed, Sherman feared his government would reject anything that deviated as such.

The commanders could not reach a resolution. â&#x20AC;&#x153;At length I was summoned to their presence, and informed in substance that they were unable to arrange

Neither Grant nor the civil authorities in Washington disputed any of the provisions. Thus, Joe Johnston, convinced that it would be â&#x20AC;&#x153;the greatest of human crimes to FRQWLQXH WKH ZDU Âľ VXUUHQGHUHG QHDUO\ &RQIHGHUDWH soldiers located in North Carolina, South Carolina, GeorMARCH 2018

27

Second Life Bennett Place had gradually fallen into such disrepair that if not for a remarkable restoration effort begun in 1959 it may well have been lost forever.

JLD DQG )ORULGD GLVREH\LQJ 3UHVLGHQW 'DYLV¡ VSHFLĂ&#x20AC;F RUGHUV by doing so. Although some Confederate soldiers remained LQ WKH Ă&#x20AC;HOG DIWHU WKH HYHQWV DW %HQQHWW 3ODFH -RKQVWRQ KDG arranged the largest surrender of Southern troops. :LWK WKHLU GLIĂ&#x20AC;FXOW ZRUN Ă&#x20AC;QDOO\ Ă&#x20AC;QLVKHG 6KHUPDQ DQG -RKQVWRQ LQYLWHG -DPHV %HQQHWW DQG WKHLU RIĂ&#x20AC;FHUV WR MRLQ WKHP IRU D WRDVW 7KH WZR FRPPDQGHUV LQWURGXFHG WKHLU VXERUGLQDWHV -RKQVWRQ KDG EURXJKW ZLWK KLP 0DM *HQ 0DWWKHZ & %XWOHU D SURWpJp RI +DPSWRQ DQG D KDQGVRPH \RXQJ ODZ\HU ZKR KDG ORVW his right foot to a Union artillery Center Stage VKRW DW WKH -XQH %DWWOH RI The Bennett Place %UDQG\ 6WDWLRQ LQ 9LUJLQLD %ULJparlor where the DGLHU *HQHUDO 7KRPDV 0 /RJDQ drama unfolded was carefully restored ZKR FRPPDQGHG %XWOHU¡V IRUPHU with the aid of brigade of South Carolinians, also old photographs DFFRPSDQLHG -RKQVWRQ and sketches.

6FKRĂ&#x20AC;HOG DUUDQJHG IRU WKH GHOLY-

28

AMERICAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S CIVIL WAR

HU\ RI UDWLRQVÂłUHSUHVHQWLQJ GD\V UDWLRQV IRU PHQÂłWR -RKQVWRQ¡V DUP\ DORQJ ZLWK ZDJRQV WR KDXO WKHP 6KHUPDQ KRSHG WR SUHYHQW WKH QHZO\ VXUUHQGHUHG &RQIHGHUDWH WURRSV IURP VWHDOLQJ IURP WKHLU RZQ SHRSOH 1RZ WKDW WKH &RQIHGHUDWHV ZHUH WKHLU FRXQWU\PHQ RQFH more, the Union high command did all it could to ensure WKDW WKH\ ZHUH ZHOO WUHDWHG ZKLOH WKH 6RXWKHUQHUV ZDLWHG WR JLYH WKHLU SDUROHV WKH 8QLRQ RIĂ&#x20AC;FHUV DOVR PDGH VXUH WKDW WKH VROGLHUV KDG VXIĂ&#x20AC;FLHQW ZHDSRQV WR NHHS WKH SHDFH DQG WR protect private property.

7KH HQOLVWHG PHQ RI ERWK VLGHV PLQJOHG IUHHO\ ZKLOH WKH JHQHUDOV ZRUNHG RXW WKH Ă&#x20AC;QDO GHWDLOV RI WKH VXUUHQGHU ´, WDONHG ZLWK PDQ\ RI WKH <DQNHH VROGLHUV ZKR WROG PH WKH\ ZHUH JODG WKH ZDU ZDV RYHU JODG ZH ZRXOG QRW KDYH WR NLOO HDFK RWKHU DQ\ PRUH Âľ D 5HEHO UHFDOOHG \HDUV DIWHU WKH ZDU ´, GR QRW WKLQN 6KHUPDQ ZDV DV PHDQ DV KH KDV EHHQ SLFtured, for he gave us our horses and side-arms and every fourth man ammunition and told us to go homeâ&#x20AC;Śand go WR ZRUN Âľ ,Q WKH PHDQWLPH ZKLOH WKH )HGHUDO DUPLHV remained in place pursuant to Shermanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s orders, the Confederate army continued its UHWUHDW XQWLO %HDXUHJDUG KDOWHG DW DERXW S P +RZHYHU -RKQVWRQ¡V VROGLHUV GHVHUWHG LQ droves, determined to go home before receivLQJ WKHLU SDUROHV ´0D\ , HYHU EH VSDUHG VXFK D VLJKW DV , ZLWQHVVHG ZKHQ WKH RUGHU WR PRYH ZDV JLYHQ Âľ D 1RUWK &DUROLQLDQ QRWHG ´:KROH regiments remained on [camp]ground, refusLQJ WR REH\ Âľ 6WUDJJOHUV WKUHZ DZD\ WKHLU ZHDSRQV SURPSWLQJ RUGHUV WR EH LVVXHG WKDW RQO\ WKRVH ZLWK ZHDSRQV ZRXOG EH SURYLGHG UDWLRQV ´:H ZHUH RYHUSRZHUHG EXW QRW VXEdued,â&#x20AC;? the proud Southern soldiers declared.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;sherman has fatally compromised himself, we fear, in entering into the forbidden field of diplomacy as a peacemakerâ&#x20AC;?

After he and Johnston parted, Sherman telegraphed Grant of the outcome.

Grant readily acknowledged that this was Shermanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s moment of triumph.

Knowing his dear friend deserved to savor the victory, he wisely chose to remain back in Raleigh. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Thus was surrendered to us the second great army of the so-called Confederacy, and though undue importance has been given to the so-called negotiations which preceded it, and a rebuke and public disfavor cast on me wholly XQZDUUDQWHG E\ WKH IDFWV Âľ D GHĂ&#x20AC;DQW Sherman wrote. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I rejoice in saying it was accomplished without further ruin and devastation to the country, without the loss of a single life to those gallant men who had followed me from the Mississippi to the Atlantic, and without subjecting brave PHQ WR WKH XQJUDFLRXV WDVN RI SXUVXLQJ D Ă HHLQJ IRH WKDW GLG QRW ZDQW WR Ă&#x20AC;JKW $V IRU P\VHOI , NQRZ P\ PRWLYHV DQG challenge the instance during the past four years where DQ DUPHG DQG GHĂ&#x20AC;DQW IRH VWRRG EHIRUH PH WKDW , GLG QRW JR LQ IRU D Ă&#x20AC;JKW DQG , ZRXOG EOXVK IRU VKDPH LI , KDG HYHU insulted or struck a fallen foe.â&#x20AC;?

Union soldiers waited impatiently to hear what had hapSHQHG DW WKH %HQQHWW +RXVH DV UXPRUV Ă HZ UDPSDQWO\ News of the surrender did not reach all of them at the same time. Soldiers at the station in Raleigh were left to wait XQWLO RIĂ&#x20AC;FLDOV RQ D WUDLQ KDG UHDFKHG *HQHUDO -RKQ /RJDQ¡V headquarters two miles farther down the track. â&#x20AC;&#x153;All was silent,â&#x20AC;? a Wisconsin soldier recalled. â&#x20AC;&#x153;And thenâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;a long and protracted cheer. A few seconds later, cheers broke out a little nearer to us. There were renewed cheers as the tidings Ă HZ WRZDUG XV IURP UHJLPHQW WR UHJLPHQW :H NQHZ ZHOO enough what the result of the conference had been, yet we were very anxious to hear it directly.â&#x20AC;? A few minutes later, a lieutenant declared, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Boys, the thing is all settled, and we are to march back to Raleigh in the morning.â&#x20AC;?

Hitchcock, who had played such an important role during the negotiations, waxed philosophically that night. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It will be a hundred times harder for me now to remain in the service [than] when we were deep in the mud and swamps of South Carolina or in front an enemy near [Averasboro] and Bentonville,â&#x20AC;? he told his wife. â&#x20AC;&#x153;There was something like a GHĂ&#x20AC;QLWH REMHFW WKHUH IRU WKH VRUW RI RFFXSDWLRQ RU ZDQW RI occupation I look forward to now I confess I have no relish, HVSHFLDOO\ WKH ORDĂ&#x20AC;QJ SDUW RI LW +RZHYHU WKH ZDU LV RYHU now, thank God, in its breadth and strength.â&#x20AC;? :KLOH DOO ZHUH H[FLWHG WKDW WKH ZDU ZDV LQGHHG Ă&#x20AC;QDOO\ over, not everyone agreed about the outcome. That night, in fact, Halleck sent a dispatch to Stanton indicating that the orders that had angered Sherman remained in place: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Gen-

erals Meade, Sheridan, and Wright are acting under orders to pay no regard to any truce or orders of General Sherman suspending hostilities, on the ground that Shermanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s agreements could bind his own command only, and no other. They are directed to push forward, regardless of orders from any one H[FHSW *HQHUDO *UDQW DQG FXW RII -RKQstonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s retreat.â&#x20AC;?

Grant, however, acted quickly to correct that. Sherman continued to stew over his treatment by the high command. He defended his actions in a report he drafted on May 9. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I still adhere to my then opinions, that by a few general concessions, glittering generalities, all of which in the end must and will be conceded to the organized States of the South, that this day there would not be an armed battalion opposed to us within the broad area of the dominions of the United States,â&#x20AC;? he wrote. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Robbers and assassins must in any event result from the disbandment of large armies, but even these should be and could be taken care of by the local civil authorities without being made a charge on the national treasury.â&#x20AC;?

As Major Nichols later wrote, â&#x20AC;&#x153;The evidence goes to show WKDW -RKQVWRQ KDV EHHQ LQGXFHG WR VXUUHQGHU TXLWH DV PXFK by the discontent and threats of his own soldiers as by the Federal force in his rear. The Rebel troops see the utter IROO\ RI IXUWKHU UHVLVWDQFH DQG UHIXVH WR Ă&#x20AC;JKW ORQJHU -RKQston has pursued the only wise course left open to him.â&#x20AC;? :KHQ -RKQVWRQ Ă&#x20AC;QDOO\ PDGH LW WR KLV *UHHQVERUR KHDGquarters, he sent telegrams to governors of the various states of the Confederacy explaining his actions. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The disaster in Virginia, the capture by the enemy of all our workshops for the preparation of ammunition and repairing of arms, the impossibility of recruiting our little army opposed to more than ten times its number, or of supplying it except by robbing our own citizens, destroyed all hope of successful war,â&#x20AC;? he wrote. +H ZRXOG JR WR KLV JUDYH \HDUV ODWHU VWLOO FRQĂ&#x20AC;GHQW KH had done the right thing for his men and for his country.

-new york herald

An attorney by day in Columbus, Ohio, Eric J. Wittenberg is an award-winning Civil War historian, speaker and tour guide, and the author of several Civil War titles, including Out Flew the Sabres: The Battle of Brandy Station.

A native of southeastern Pennsylvania, he has been hooked on the Civil War since a third-grade visit to Gettysburg.

Adapted with permission from We Ride a Whirlwind: 6KHUPDQ DQG -RKQVWRQ DW %HQQHWW 3ODFH, by Eric J. Wittenberg (Fox Run Publishing, 2017).

MARCH 2018

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Money Out Of Misery Profiteers on both sides of the war lined their own pockets at their countries’ expense

By Melinda Musil

30

AMERICA’S CIVIL WAR

Corrupt to the Core Wall Street saw its fair share of war SURÀWHHUV IURP 1861 to 1865. Many IRUWXQHV ZHUH PDGH as speculators drove up prices.

T

he Civil War typically evokes images of daring soldiers in blue and gray whose IRUWLWXGH DQG VHOI VDFULĂ&#x20AC;FH RQ WKH EDWWOHĂ&#x20AC;HOG GUHZ WKH UHVSHFW DQG ZRQGHU RI equally patriotic citizens, all willing to endure home front hardships in order to ZLQ WKH ZDU <HW IRU D VHOI VHUYLQJ JURXS RI RIĂ&#x20AC;FLDOV PDQXIDFWXUHUV DQG RWKHU SURĂ&#x20AC;WHHUV WKH ZDU ZDV D FKDQFH WR DGYDQFH WKHLU RZQ LQWHUHVWV DW WKH H[SHQVH RI WKHLU countrymenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s blood and treasure.

7KH HUD¡V LQGXVWULDOLVWV DQG Ă&#x20AC;QDQFLDO HOLWH WR EH VXUH LQFOXGHG PHQ ZKR LQYHVWHG KHDYLO\ LQ WKH 8QLRQ WR KHOS WKH QDWLRQ %XW GUDZLQJ WKH OLQH EHWZHHQ SURĂ&#x20AC;WHHULQJ DQG the normal business practices of the period is not so easy. Secretary of the Navy Gideon Wellesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; name is usually found in the pantheon of Union heroes. Nevertheless, Welles allowed his cousin, the purchasing agent George Morgan, to procure vessels for the Navy and receive what now might seem scandalously high commissions for them. Those commissions, however, were normal for the era.

Major General James Wolfe Ripley, the Union Armyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s chief of ordnance from 1861 WR LV DQRWKHU OHDGLQJ Ă&#x20AC;JXUH VRPHWLPHV FDOOHG D ZDU SURĂ&#x20AC;WHHU DOWKRXJK KH PRUH accurately should be considered a mere â&#x20AC;&#x153;obstructionist,â&#x20AC;? as he was opposed to the Army risking the adoption of any advanced weaponry, even when it might have helped the Union causeâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;particularly WKH 6SHQFHU UHSHDWLQJ ULĂ H â&#x20AC;&#x153;Worse than Many business magnates rose to traitors in arms the challenge to help the cause, but are the men, regrettably their patriotic response pretending loyalty was not universal. What should have been a time of national unity to the flag, who ZDV LQVWHDG H[SORLWHG E\ VRPH feast and fatten on individuals and companies for the misfortunes of personal gain. They shamelessly the nation, while billed the government for products patriot blood is and services that were abysmally crimsoning the substandard or were never delivered.

7KHLU SDWULRWLVP H[WHQGHG RQO\ DV plains of the south, IDU DV LW EHQHĂ&#x20AC;WHG WKHLU SRFNHWERRNV and bodies of their :DU SURĂ&#x20AC;WHHULQJ GLG QRW SLFN countrymen are VLGHV HLWKHUÂłLW Ă RXULVKHG DERYH mouldering in DQG EHORZ WKH 0DVRQ 'L[RQ /LQH the dust.â&#x20AC;?

Presented here is our Top 10 list of what Civil Warâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;era author Henry â&#x20AC;&#x201C;U.S. House Morford labeled the â&#x20AC;&#x153;shoddocracyâ&#x20AC;?

Committee on in his novel The Days of Shoddy.

Government contracts, march 1863

MARCH 2018

31

General of Graft Brigadier General Justus McKinstry was drummed out of the Union Army in January 1863 after being caught taking kickbacks for government supply contracts as quartermaster of the Department of the West.

Tin Tizzy Millions of mess kits of various designs, such as the one here, were marketed to Union soldiers. They were typically made of cheap tin and overpriced.

10. Brig. Gen. Justus McKinstry A New York native, Justus McKinstry graduated from the U.S. Military Academy in 1838, and served in the Second Seminole War and the Mexican War. As a major in the spring of 1861, he was appointed quartermaster for the Department of the West under Maj. Gen. John C. FrĂŠmont, who promoted him to brigadier general that September. ,Q $SULO DIWHU WKH &RQIHGHUDWH Ă&#x20AC;ULQJ RQ )RUW 6XPter in Charleston Harbor led to war, FrĂŠmont was tasked with creating a large army in a hurry, and he turned to McKinstry to purchase the necessary supplies. McKinstry in turn awarded government contracts to crooked suppli-

32

AMERICAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S CIVIL WAR

ers, who would give him kickbacks.

McKinstryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s corrupt practices provoked multiple investigations, and in the fall of 1862 he was court-martialed and convicted of fraud and neglect of duty. He was dismissed IURP WKH VHUYLFH RQ -DQXDU\ ÂłWKH RQO\ JHQHUDO RIĂ&#x20AC;cer on either side to be dismissed for fraud.

Publicly shamed, unemployed, and deprived of his Mexican War pension, McKinstry ran through his ill-gotten wealth quickly. His wife and sons left him, and when he GLHG LQ 6W /RXLV LQ D Ă&#x20AC;QDO DIĂ&#x20AC;GDYLW UHJDUGLQJ KLV estate stated simply: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Said soldier left no property.â&#x20AC;?

A Self-Made Man William Sprague IV, a Rhode Island businessman and politician, funded a scheme to smuggle Southern cotton for his New England textile mills.

Sun, Sea, and Swag Nassau, in the Bahamas, was a center for blockade running. Here stevedores unload â&#x20AC;&#x153;British grownâ&#x20AC;? (i.e., Confederate) cotton bales to be sold to unscrupulous Northern importers.

9. William Sprague IV For William Sprague IV, success in politics was secondary to success in business. His familyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s textile business, the A&W Sprague Manufacturing Company, established the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest calico-printing mill in Cranston, R.I., VXSSRUWHG E\ Ă&#x20AC;YH WH[WLOH PLOOV DFURVV 1HZ (QJODQG ,Q 6SUDJXH ZDV HOHFWHG JRYHUQRU RI 5KRGH ,VODQG DW DJH ,Q KH ZDV DSSRLQWHG WR Ă&#x20AC;OO D 8 6 6HQDWH VHDW from Rhode Island and held that position until 1875.

7KH RXWEUHDN RI ZDU SUHVHQWHG 6SUDJXH ZLWK D FRQĂ LFW $V JRYHUQRU KH SOHGJHG KLV VWDWH¡V VXSSRUW RI WKH 8QLRQ KRZHYHU WKH EDQ RQ WKH SXUFKDVH RI &RQIHGHUDWH FRWWRQ threatened his business. Desperate, Sprague implored IHGHUDO DQG PLOLWDU\ RIĂ&#x20AC;FLDOV IRU D SHUPLW WR EULQJ 6RXWKHUQ FRWWRQ SDVW WKH 8QLRQ EORFNDGH EXW ZDV GHQLHG In 1863 Sprague leaped at a scheme proposed by Texas EORFNDGH UXQQHU +DUULV +R\W 6SUDJXH JDYH +R\W PRQH\ WR EX\ WKUHH VKLSV RQH RI ZKLFK ZDV VHQW WR +DYDQD DQG sold to a British straw man, allowing it to sail under the %ULWLVK Ă DJ DQG WKHUHIRUH LPPXQH IURP 8 6 LQWHUYHQWLRQ The ship then sailed to Matamoros, Mexico, just across the Rio Grande from Texas. In Matamoros, Hoyt traded the cargo (which included oils, nails, soap, butter, twine, PHGLFLQH DQG ZHDSRQV WR &RQIHGHUDWH RIĂ&#x20AC;FLDOV IRU D ORDG RI FRWWRQ 7KH ´%ULWLVKÂľ VKLS WKHQ VDLOHG WR 1HZ <RUN Through this scheme, Sprague acquired hundreds of smuggled bales of cotton. ,Q 'HFHPEHU 8QLRQ RIĂ&#x20AC;FLDOV DUUHVWHG &KDUOHV Prescott, skipper of one of the Spragueâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;Hoyt ships.

3UHVFRWW FRQIHVVHG HYHU\WKLQJ 6SUDJXH UHVSRQGHG E\ writing a panicked denial to Maj. Gen. John Dix, who ZDV LQ FKDUJH RI WKH LQYHVWLJDWLRQ 1HYHUWKHOHVV 6SUDJXH was arraigned on six charges of treason. Fortunately for him, Dix was also suspected of smuggling goods when KH KDG FRPPDQGHG WURRSV RFFXS\LQJ 1RUIRON 9D 'XH WR Lincolnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s assassination on April 14, 1865, public attention rapidly shifted away from Spragueâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s crimesâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;this selfVHUYLQJ SURĂ&#x20AC;WHHU ZDV QHYHU FRQYLFWHG

MARCH 2018

33

8. Samuel Colt Samuel Coltâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;revolving pistol,â&#x20AC;? patented in 1836, represented a breakWKURXJK LQ Ă&#x20AC;UHDUPV WHFKQRORJ\ DQG GRPLQDWHG WKH PDUNHW IRU WZR GHFDGHV &ROW GHYLVHG D ZD\ WR PDQXIDFWXUH WKH UHYROYHU LQ VHYHUDO PRGHOV XVLQJ LQQRYDWLYH DVVHPEO\ OLQH WHFKQLTXHV DQG EHFDPH RQH RI $PHULFD¡V ZHDOWKLHVW PHQ &ROW DSSDUHQWO\ KDG QR FRPSODLQW ZLWK VODYHU\ DQG LQ WKH V VROG KLV UHYROYHUV WR ERWK 1RUWKHUQ DQG 6RXWKHUQ FXVWRPHUV %XW ZKHQ WKH ZDU EURNH RXW LQ SXEOLF DFFXVDWLRQV WKDW &ROW ZDV D 6RXWKHUQ V\PSDWKL]HU FRQYLQFHG KLP WR OLPLW KLV VDOHV WR WKH 1RUWK 3URGXFWLRQ RI D &ROW UHYROYHU FRVW EHWZHHQ DQG &ROW VROG UHYROYHUV WR WKH %ULWLVK JRYHUQPHQW IRU DQG WR $PHULFDQ FLYLOLDQV IRU ,QLWLDOO\ KRZHYHU KH FKDUJHG WKH 8 6 JRYHUQPHQW 7KH GLIIHUHQFH ZDV SXUH SURĂ&#x20AC;W 7R HQVXUH KLV PDUNHW &ROW PDGH JHQHURXV GRQDWLRQV WR VHQLRU 1RUWKHUQ SROLWLFLDQV DQG JDYH WKHP HODERUDWHO\ HQJUDYHG &ROW SLVWROV $ FRPSDUDEOH 5HPLQJWRQ UHYROYHU FRVW DV OLWWOH DV EXW &ROW FRQYLQFHG 8QLRQ SURFXUHPHQW RIĂ&#x20AC;FHUV WKDW KLV UHYROYHU ZDV VXSHULRU 'XULQJ WKH ZDU &ROW¡V 0DQXIDFWXULQJ &RPSDQ\ RI +DUWIRUG &RQQ VROG KXQGUHGV RI WKRXVDQGV RI UHYROYHUV WR WKH JRYHUQPHQW ZKLOH 5HPLQJWRQ VROG RQO\ D IHZ WKRXVDQG SULRU WR PLG &ROW GLHG LQ DW WKH DJH RI +H OHIW KLV ZLIH DQG VRQ DQ HVWDWH YDOXHG DW DURXQG PLOOLRQ HTXLYDOHQW WR DERXW PLOOLRQ WRGD\

Like a Diamond Daintily engraved revolvers were given to those who helped Colt corner the market. Even Rebel General Joe Johnston had one, from before the war.

No Straight Shooter Industrialist Samuel Colt didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t mind skinning the Union Army on gun prices as long as it was good for business.

Before the Fire Coltâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s factory in Hartford, Conn., manufactured thousands of guns to help the Union cause before it burned down in 1864.

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AMERICAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S CIVIL WAR

7. Bounty Jumpers Although many Civil War soldiers were volunteers, as the war dragged on both the Union and Confederate JRYHUQPHQWV UHVRUWHG WR FRQVFULSWLRQ WR Ă&#x20AC;OO WKHLU DUPLHV¡ ranks. Until 1864, draftees were permitted to hire VXEVWLWXWHV DV Ă&#x20AC;QDQFH PDJQDWH - 3 0RUJDQ QRWDEO\ GLG to avoid military service. Groups of draft-eligible men pooled funds as a sort of insurance to hire a substitute in case any member was drafted. Families could decide which family member would go to war and who would stay home.

Local, state, and national authorities also offered cash bonuses to lure men to enlist. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Bounty jumpersâ&#x20AC;? arose to take advantage of this system. They would enlist as a substitute, collect a bounty, then desert from their unit before reaching the front lines. After traveling to a new area, the bounty jumper simply repeated the OXFUDWLYH SURFHVV 2QH VFRXQGUHO -RKQ /DUQH\ FODLPHG WR KDYH FROOHFWHG ERXQWLHV IURP 2KLR 3HQQV\OYDQLD 0DVVDFKXVHWWV DQG 1HZ <RUN UHJLPHQWV 7KH SUDFWLFH ZDV PRUH SURĂ&#x20AC;WDEOH LQ WKH 1RUWK ZKHUH bounties started at $300, compared to payments of $50$100 in rapidly devaluing Confederate dollars. With 1RUWKHUQ VWDWH DQG ORFDO JRYHUQPHQWV DGGLQJ IXQGV WR D Union bounty, the amount could easily exceed $1,000.

By 1864 bounty jumping had become a capital crime, and perpetrators were more likely to be executed than military deserters.

Hard Cash Tops Patriotism This 1861 recruiting poster for Abram DuryeĂŠâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s soon-to-be-famous Zouaves offered enlistees a total of $235 in bounty money. Later in the war, after conscription began, bounties could top $1,000.

I Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t Wanna Fight Both sides resorted to conscription after volunteering slackened.

Drafteesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; names were plucked from a barrel, but $300 could buy an exemption.

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6. Simon Cameron Born into poverty in 1799, Pennsylvanian Simon Cameron relied on his charm to rise through a series of business positions. Before the Civil War, he made a fortune in railroads and canals and invested his fortune in the banking industry, then gave low-interest loans to politicians to buy his way into politics. Before the election of 1860, he had been a Whig, a Democrat, and a â&#x20AC;&#x153;KnowNothing,â&#x20AC;? leaving each party when he could no longer PDQLSXODWH LW WR KLV EHQHĂ&#x20AC;W He was elected to the U.S. Senate as a Democrat in 1845, but left the party in 1849 after failing to get reelected. He returned to the Senate in 1857 as a Republican. Unsuccessful in his quest for the Republican QRPLQDWLRQ IRU SUHVLGHQW LQ KH XVHG KLV LQĂ XHQFH WR support former Illinois congressman Abraham Lincoln.

To show his appreciation, Lincoln appointed Cameron to his Cabinet as secretary of war. Northern newspapers quickly began reporting evidence of underhanded dealings. Lucrative government contracts for goods and services went to Cameronâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s friends. He purchased defective muskets, threadbare uniforms, spoiled barrels of pork, and blankets that were never delivered.

Cameron used his contacts in the railroad industry to DYRLG WKH DSSHDUDQFH RI SURĂ&#x20AC;WLQJ IURP WKLV PHVV 5DWKHU than sending payments directly to Cameron, merchants and traders would overpay to ship their goods on railroads in which Cameron had invested.

By the end of 1861, Cameron had become a liability.

Lincoln pushed him to resign as secretary of war on January 14, 1862, but because of Cameronâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s political control of Pennsylvania, the president awarded him the ambassadorship to Russia. He stayed there for less than a year, and eventually returned to the Senate two years after the war.

The Criminal Kind A cartoonist pokes fun at Washington insiders Simon Cameron and, subtly, Gideon Welles as Cameron heads off to Russia to escape possible prosecution in 1862.

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AMERICAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S CIVIL WAR

Change of Heart Cameron spent time in the Whig, Democrat, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Know1RWKLQJ Âľ DQG Ă&#x20AC;QDOO\ Republican parties leading up to the historic election of 1860.

5. Southern Plantation Owners The South’s large plantation owners proved reluctant to VDFULÀFH IRU ´WKH &DXVH µ )RU H[DPSOH DIWHU WKH FDSWXUH RI 1HZ 2UOHDQV LQ $SULO²0D\ 8QLRQ )ODJ 2IÀFHU 'DYLG )DUUDJXW SXVKHG XSULYHU LQ D IDLOHG DWWHPSW WR FDSWXUH 9LFNVEXUJ 0LVV $OWKRXJK )DUUDJXW GLGQ·W VXFFHHG LQ FDSWXULQJ WKH FLW\ KLV 8QLRQ ÁHHW·V SUR[LPLW\ WR WKH ULYHUVLGH SODQWDWLRQV DQG KLV SURPLVHV WR FRQÀVFDWH VODYHV DORQJ WKH ZD\ IULJKWHQHG VR PDQ\ SURSULHWRUV WKDW WKH\ DEDQGRQHG WKHLU SODQWDWLRQV DOWRJHWKHU DQG PRYHG WKHLU VODYHV GHHSHU LQWR WKH &RQIHGHUDF\ ZKHUH LW ZRXOG EH KDUGHU IRU WKHP WR HVFDSH WR 8QLRQ OLQHV 7KH SODQWHUV· GHSDUWXUH VHFXUHG WKHLU ´SURSHUW\µ WKH $IULFDQ $PHULFDQV WKH\ KHOG LQ ERQGDJH EXW VHULRXVO\ ZHDNHQHG &RQIHGHUDWH IRUFHV E\ GHQ\LQJ DFFHVV WR VXSSOLHV DQG IRRGVWXIIV WKDW FRXOG KDYH EHHQ JURZQ RQ WKH ULYHUVLGH SODQWDWLRQV

0HDQZKLOH DV IRRG VKRUWDJHV VSUHDG WKURXJKRXW WKH 6RXWK WKH &RQIHGHUDWH JRYHUQPHQW HQFRXUDJHG³EXW FRXOG QRW OHJDOO\ FRPSHO³SODQWHUV WR JURZ FRUQ DQG RWKHU IRRG FURSV 0DQ\ SODQWHUV SUHIHUUHG JURZLQJ SURÀWDEOH FDVK FURSV³FRWWRQ DQG WREDFFR (YHQ ZKHQ FRQGHPQHG E\ WKHLU JRYHUQPHQW D ODUJH QXPEHU RI SODQWHUV FKRVH WR FRQWLQXH JURZLQJ FDVK FURSV ZKLFK FRXOG EH VPXJJOHG RXW RI WKH &RQIHGHUDF\ DQG VROG IRU H[RUELWDQW SULFHV &RWWRQ ZKLFK KDG JRQH IRU DV OLWWOH DV FHQWV D SRXQG LQ VRDUHG WR D SRXQG E\ 2ZQHUV RI ODUJH SODQWDWLRQV KDG WKH FRQQHFWLRQV DQG WKH UHVRXUFHV WR VPXJJOH FRWWRQ WR PLOOV LQ %ULWDLQ DQG HYHQ WKH 1RUWK UHDSLQJ WUHPHQGRXV SURÀWV :KDW FRXOGQ·W EH VROG LPPHGLDWHO\ PRUHRYHU FRXOG EH KHOG XQWLO WKH HQG RI WKH ZDU ZKHQ LW ZDV H[SHFWHG WR VHOO IRU DW OHDVW D SRXQG (YHQ 6RXWKHUQ IDUPHUV ZLWK VPDOOHU KROGLQJV ZKR ZHUH IDU IURP WKH IURQW OLQHV TXHVWLRQHG WKHLU JRYHUQPHQW·V H[SHFWDWLRQ WKDW WKH\ VKRXOG VXSSRUW WKH &RQIHGHUDWH ZDU HIIRUW E\ JURZLQJ ORZ SD\LQJ IRRG FURSV WR IHHG IDUDZD\ VROGLHUV 8OWLPDWHO\ WKH ODFN RI IRRG ZDV DV HIIHFWLYH DV DQ\ PLOLWDU\ WDFWLF LQ EUHDNLQJ WKH &RQIHGHUDF\ 6WDUYLQJ VROGLHUV DQG FLYLOLDQV HYHQWXDOO\ ORVW WKH ZLOO DQG PRVW LPSRUWDQW WKH VWUHQJWK WR ÀJKW

Time to Move On Plantation owners in vulnerable locales often moved their slaves farther inland to keep them away from the Union military—even at their country’s expense.

Any Means Necessary Leg chains (top) and wrist shackles were among the tools plantation owners used to punish or restrain their slaves.

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Extortion :LWK UHSHDWHG SULFH KLNHV 'X3RQW KDG WKH 8 6 JRYHUQPHQW RYHU D EDUUHO VXSSO\LQJ KDOI WKH JXQSRZGHU XVHG E\ WKH 8QLRQ $UP\

Explosive Growth 'X3RQW¡V Ă&#x20AC;UVW JXQSRZGHU PLOO ZDV EXLOW LQ RQ WKH %UDQG\ZLQH &UHHN QHDU :LOPLQJWRQ 'HO 7KH PLOO VLWH JUHZ UDSLGO\

4. DuPont Powder Company 'HIHQVH FRQWUDFWRUV DUH D SULQFLSDO EHQHĂ&#x20AC;ciary of warfare. E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, commonly known as DuPont, was established in 1802 as a gunpowder mill. Although the Civil War cut off profitable sales to Southern customers, Union military contracts more than made up for any lost business.

The federal governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s increased demand for gunpowder quickly depleted DuPontâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s available resources. Recognizing the need for potassium nitrate (saltpeter), a key ingredient in gunpowder, the Union paid to send DuPontâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leading chemist, Lammot Du Pont, to England in November 1861. With $3 million in hand, he purchased enough saltpeter to supply the Union Army for at least three years.

By the end of 1862, DuPont had increased its price per pound of gunpowder to 18 cents,

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AMERICAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S CIVIL WAR

up 2 cents (more than 10 percent). DuPont blamed the increase in price on the rise in cost RI PDWHULDOV DQG WKH GLIĂ&#x20AC;FXOWLHV DVVRFLDWHG LQ obtaining saltpeter, but neglected to mention that the government had already paid for it.

In March 1863, the Lincoln administration pushed back against DuPontâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s price LQFUHDVH E\ SDVVLQJ D WD[ RQ SURĂ&#x20AC;WV DPRXQWing to 1 cent per pound on gunpowder. DuPont accordingly raised the price of its gunpowder to an unprecedented 26 cents per pound.

In November 1863, the government added another half-cent tax; DuPont raised its price to 30 cents per pound. The U.S. Treasury by then was so depleted it was unable to make immediate payment, forcing DuPont to wait for more than the half a million GROODUV LQ WDLQWHG SURĂ&#x20AC;WV LW ZDV GXHÂłZRUWK $7 million today.

Token Luck A copper gunpowder à DVN FRPSOHWH ZLWK *HRUJH :DVKLQJWRQ¡V LPDJH 8QLRQ VROGLHUV VRPHWLPHV LQYRNHG :DVKLQJWRQ¡V QDPH IRU JRRG OXFN

Moving Uptown %URRNV %URWKHUV KDG EHFRPH VR SURĂ&#x20AC;WDEOH E\ WKDW LW RSHQHG WKLV VHFRQG VWRUH DW %URDGZD\ DQG *UDQG

3. Brooks Brothers The four Brooks brothersâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;Elisha, Daniel, Edward, and Johnâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;took over their familyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s New York clothier business in 1850. Prior to the Civil War, Brooks Brothers introduced a popular ready-to-wear suit and provided uniforms for several state militias.

Brooks Brothers provided suits for President Lincoln, as well as dress uniforms for many Northern generals, including Ulysses S. Grant, William T. Sherman, Philip Sheridan, and Joseph Hooker. On the night he was assassinated, Lincoln was wearing a Brooks Brothers frock coat.

At the beginning of the war, the state of New York placed an order for 12,000 Union-blue uniforms, including jackets, coats, and trousers. The contract was open to competitive bidding, but given the urgency of the war, potential suppliers were given only 24 hours to submit a bid. Most Ă&#x20AC;UPV SODFHG ELGV EDVHG RQ WKH FXUUHQW DYDLODELOity of the correct cloth, but Robert Freeman, representing Brooks Brothers, claimed that only his Ă&#x20AC;UP FRXOG VXSSO\ WKH QHFHVVDU\ PDWHULDO +H FRPmitted to delivering 2,000 uniforms each week.

Within days it became clear that not only did Brooks Brothers not have the necessary material, there wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t even enough material available in the local market to complete the order. Brooks Brothers received permission to substitute a gray cloth of equal quality but instead used substandard, recycled or remanufactured wool material known in the garment industry as â&#x20AC;&#x153;shoddy.â&#x20AC;? The cloth was shabby and irregular in color, with dark gray stripes, patches of green, and spots of brown. Its texture was gritty and uncomfortable. It began to fall apart within weeks, unable to withstand rain or even regular wear. Furthermore, the workmanship was dubious at best.

Some jackets were missing either buttons or buttonholes, while seams remained unsewn.

Fingers pointed in every direction. Under questioning from the New York legislature, Elisha Brooks refused to divulge how much money his company had saved by substituting â&#x20AC;&#x153;shoddyâ&#x20AC;? cloth, but he and his company were eventually forced to replace about 2,300 uniforms at a cost of more than $45,000 (approaching nearly $1 million today). So widespread was the problem of overpayment for inferior products, the word â&#x20AC;&#x153;shoddyâ&#x20AC;? itself evolved to describe anything, not merely clothing, of poor quality or substandard workmanship.

Soaked, Shamed ,Q %URRNV %URWKHUV Ă&#x20AC;OOHG D FRQWUDFW IRU VROGLHUV¡ XQLIRUPV ZLWK FORWKHV WKDW VRRQ IHOO DSDUW 7KH VXEVWDQGDUG PDWHULDO XVHG ZDV FDOOHG ´VKRGG\ Âľ MARCH 2018

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2. George Opdyke New Jersey native George Opdyke lived in Cleveland and New Orleans as a young man. He learned the textile business and made a small fortune selling poor-quality garments to Southern plantation owners to clothe their slaves.

By 1832 he moved to New York and operated a large clothing factory. Now a millionaire, he also entered politics. He served a term in the state OHJLVODWXUH DQG ORVW KLV Ă&#x20AC;UVW ELG IRU 1HZ <RUN City mayor in 1859.

Alongside his rivals, the Brooks brothers, Opdyke took huge orders from the military to produce uniforms, boots, belts, caps, and haversacks. Elected mayor in December 1861, Opdyke used his position to approve uniforms produced by his factory using the same â&#x20AC;&#x153;shoddyâ&#x20AC;? cloth making up the defective Brooks Brothers uniforms.

In addition to shoddy cloth uniforms that quickly fell apart, Opdykeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s factory produced other substandard military equipment: boots with soles made from glued-together wood chips that fell apart on the march and glued-together haversacks that likewise disintegrated. Opdykeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s supSRUW IRU WKH ZDU EDFNĂ&#x20AC;UHG LQ WKH VXPPHU RI when protests over the new conscription laws led to widespread rioting and violence in Manhattan, in what became known as the New York City Draft Riots. Opdykeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s support of these laws drew hostility, and many of his factories and warehouses were looted and burned to the ground. His political reputation suffered greatly, and he lost the mayoral election held later that year.

Opdykeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s woes didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t end there. After the Republican National Convention in 1864, Albany Evening Journal editor Thurlow Weed, the stateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s premier power broker, began using his newspaper to attack political opponents, including Opdyke. Weed alleged that Opdyke was a secret partner in a munitions company that received nearly $200,000 from the city of New York after one of their factories was destroyed during the 1863 Draft Riots, while Opdyke was mayor. Further, Weed alleged, Opdyke had received millions more from extorted payments, kickbacks, bribes, and a secret partnership with the Brooks brothers.

Opdyke responded by suing Weed for libel.

The trial lasted nearly a month. Finally, with Opdykeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s nefarious dealings clear to jurors, Weedâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s trial ended on January 11, 1865, in a hung jury. Apparently, the jurors could not agree upon whether Weed should be completely acquitted or be required to pay a nominal amount of 6 cents LQ ´GDPDJHV Âľ 2SG\NH GLG QRW KROG SXEOLF RIĂ&#x20AC;FH again, but he was never charged with treason or held responsible for sending substandard-quality materials to the military.

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AMERICAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S CIVIL WAR

City Slicker New York Mayor George Opdyke was another fast operator who landed huge Army supply contracts only to deliver worthless products. The wealth he made from the war antagonized his constituents, who burned his factories during the 1863 Draft Riots (above).

Golden Touch J.P. Morgan would Ă&#x20AC;W ULJKW LQ RQ :DOO Street today. Recently ranked by Forbes. com as the second PRVW LQĂ XHQWLDO industrialist of all time, he had a knack for taking over and reorganizing troubled businesses.

A Sinister Start J.P. Morgan made a killing buying FKHDS 0H[LFDQ :DU² era Hall carbines destined for scrap and selling them back to the Army.

1. J.P. Morgan Born in 1837, John Pierpont Morgan, founder RI - 3 0RUJDQ &R ZDV D Ă&#x20AC;QDQFLHU DQG EDQNHU +H VSHFLDOL]HG LQ FRUSRUDWH Ă&#x20AC;QDQFH EHFRPLQJ NQRZQ IRU WDNLQJ RYHU DQG UHRUJDQL]LQJ WURXEOHG EXVLQHVVHV 'XULQJ WKH SRVWZDU *LOGHG $JH KH DUUDQJHG WKH PHUJHU RI (GLVRQ *HQHUDO (OHFWULF DQG 7KRPVRQ +RXVWRQ (OHFWULF &RPSDQ\ WR IRUP *HQHUDO (OHFWULF +H ZDV DOVR LQYROYHG LQ WKH IRUPDWLRQ RI $7 7 &KDVH 0DQKDWWDQ %DQN ,QWHUQDWLRQDO +DUYHVWHU DQG 8 6 6WHHO +H ZDV UDQNHG E\ )RUEHV FRP DV WKH VHFRQG PRVW LQĂ XHQWLDO EXVLQHVVPDQ RI DOO WLPH $W WKH EHJLQQLQJ RI WKH &LYLO :DU WKRXJK KH ZDV MXVW \HDUV ROG DQG RSHUDWLQJ KLV Ă&#x20AC;UVW EXVLQHVV RXW RI D RQH URRP RIĂ&#x20AC;FH LQ 1HZ <RUN ZLWK WKH KHOS RI D ORDQ IURP KLV IDWKHU ,Q $XJXVW 0RUJDQ XVHG KLV SROLWLFDO FRQQHFWLRQV WR SXUFKDVH +DOO FDOLEHU EUHHFK ORDGLQJ FDUELQHV IURP WKH :DU 'HSDUWPHQW 7KHVH REVROHWH 0H[LFDQ :DU²HUD ULĂ HV KDG EHHQ FRQGHPQHG E\ WKH 2UGQDQFH 'HSDUWPHQW DQG WKHLU EUHHFK ORDGLQJ PHFKDQLVPV KDG D GDQJHURXV SURFOLYLW\ WR H[SORGH XSRQ Ă&#x20AC;ULQJ RIWHQ NLOOLQJ RU PDLPLQJ VROGLHUV 7KH JRYHUQPHQW ZDV OLTXLGDWLQJ WKHP DV VFUDS PHWDO DW WKH EDUJDLQ EDVHPHQW SULFH RI HDFK 0RUJDQ¡V RSHUDWLYHV DSSURDFKHG 'HSDUWPHQW RI WKH :HVW FRPPDQGHU -RKQ )UpPRQW DQG RIIHUHG WR VHOO KLP ULĂ HV DW HDFK )UpPRQW GHVSHUDWHO\ LQ QHHG RI VPDOO DUPV UHDGLO\ DJUHHG WR WKH RXWUDJHRXVO\ LQĂ DWHG SULFH 0RUJDQ FRPSOHWHG WKH VDOH RI WKH JXQV EHIRUH KH KDG DFWXDOO\ FRPSOHWHG WKH SXUFKDVH DOORZLQJ KLP WR SD\ IRU LW ZLWK WKH PRQH\ IURP WKH VDOH DQG SRFNHW WKH GLIIHUHQFH 0RUJDQ KDG WKH ULĂ HV UH ERUHG WR WKH VWDQGDUG FDOLEHU WKHUHE\ PDNLQJ WKH EDUUHOV ZHDNHU DQG LQFUHDVLQJ WKH ULVN RI WKH ZHDSRQV¡ H[SORGLQJ :KHQ IHGHUDO RIĂ&#x20AC;FLDOV EHODWHGO\ UHDOL]HG WKH\¡G EHHQ KDG WKH PRQH\ KDG DOUHDG\ FKDQJHG KDQGV DQG WKHUH ZDV QRWKLQJ WKH\ FRXOG GR 0RUJDQ LQFLGHQWDOO\ DYRLGHG DQ\ SHUVRQDO &LYLO :DU PLOLWDU\ VHUYLFH E\ KLULQJ D VXEVWLWXWH IRU ÂłDERXW WKH DPRXQW RI SURĂ&#x20AC;W KH SRFNHWHG IURP VHOOLQJ RI KLV GHIHFWLYH +DOO ULĂ HV

Melinda Musil, a regular contributor to $PHULFD¡V &LYLO :DU, writes from Independence, Mo.â&#x20AC;&#x201D;in the heart of the Trans-Mississippi Theater.

MARCH 2018

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too good to be true In a Virginia mountain pass after Gettysburg, Meade had Lee’s army in the crosshairs, only to let him get away

By Rick Barram

Uphill Battle Brigadier General Francis B. Spinola’s Union troops (foreground) attack Colonel Edward Walker’s Confederates near Wapping Heights.

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Timely Escape Robert E. Leeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Confederates cross the Potomac River back into Virginia only hours before a planned Union attack on July 14.

T

en days after the Battle of Gettysburg, General Robert E. Lee and the Army of Northern Virginia found themselves trapped at Williamsport, Md., pinned between the rain-swollen Potomac River and elements of Maj. Gen. George G. Meadeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Army of the Potomac. Lee actually had languished there for a week, saved perhaps only thanks to the tepid pursuit of Meadeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s drained Federals, exhausted by their hard-fought victory at Gettysburg on July 1-3.

2Q -XO\ 0HDGH ZDV Ă&#x20AC;QDOO\ UHDG\ WR PDNH D PHDQLQJful attack, after reconnoitering the Confederate positions for two days. But when the Federals moved on Lee at the appointed hour, they were dismayed to discover he and his army were gone. By fashioning bridges from barn material and fences, Confederate engineers provided the means for Lee to slip away, crossing the raging Potomac and into Virginia. A frustrated Meade wrote his wife Margaretta, â&#x20AC;&#x153;I start tomorrow to run another race with Lee.â&#x20AC;?

President Abraham Lincoln was beyond anguished at the news, declaring, â&#x20AC;&#x153;The fruit was so ripe, so ready for plucking that it was very hard to lose it.â&#x20AC;? Already pained at Meadeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s slow pursuit of Lee, the president went on to express himself in terms so sharp that Meade asked to be relieved from command, a request quickly denied.

After crossing the Potomac, the Army of Northern Virginia proceeded to Winchester, west of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Meade opted not to follow Lee directly but to move his army through the Loudoun Valley, east of the Blue Ridge. This, Meade reasoned, would allow for easier resupply by rail while keeping the pressure on the ConfedHUDWH à DQN IRUFLQJ /HH WR FRQWLQXH UHWUHDWLQJ VRXWK ,I WKH opportunity presented itself, he could strike the ConfederDWH à DQN WKURXJK DQ\ RI WKH ULGJH¡V PDQ\ SDVVHV DQG JDSV It took the Federals three days to get across the Potomac, forgivable perhaps considering the troops had been march-

Eye on You A Federal soldier spies on Leeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s trapped army in a home near Williamsport, Md.

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Anywhere Will Do Leeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s men crossed the Potomac at several points, including Williamsport, Md., the scene depicted in this Alfred Waud sketch.

fight facts Manassas Gap (Wapping Heights)* July 23, 1863 Campaign Gettysburg (Juneâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;August 1863)

As Meade approached Manassas Gap, he learned that Confederates were directly opposite his position. It was the opportunity to eviscerate Leeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s battered army that heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;D been waiting for.

COMMANDERS Confederate:

General Robert E. Lee (Army) Maj. Gen. Richard H. Anderson (Division) Colonel E.J. Walker (Wrightâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Brigade)

Union: Maj. Gen. George G. Meade (Army) Maj. Gen. William H. French (3rd Corps)

ESTIMATED CASUALtIES: Confederate: 170 Union: 130

FORCES ENGAGED

Confederate: Army of Northern Virginia/ Third Corps

Union: Army of the Potomac/3rd Corps

OUTCOME: Inconclusive *From staff reports/www.nps.gov/abpp/battles

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AMERICAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S CIVIL WAR

ing nearly continuously since mid-Juneâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;stopping only to Ă&#x20AC;JKWÂłDQG ZHUH WKLQ RQ VXSSOLHV IRRG DQG HQGXUDQFH 7R WKH PHQ¡V FUHGLW WKHLU SDFH LQFUHDVHG FRQVLGHUDEO\ RQFH DFURVV WKH ULYHU DQG E\ -XO\ 0HDGH KDG KLV PHQ HDVW RI WKH %OXH 5LGJH SDUDOOHO WR /HH¡V DUP\ DV KH LQWHQGHG %XW ERWK DUPLHV ZHUH GHDOLQJ ZLWK EUXWDO ZHDWKHU VWLĂ LQJ KHDW DOWHUQDWLQJ ZLWK GRZQSRXUV $KHDG RI WKH PDLQ ERG\ )HGHUDO FDYDOU\ VFRXWHG WKH NH\ SDVVHV DW 6QLFNHUV DQG $VKE\ JDSV ZKLOH /HH GHSOR\HG LQIDQWU\ DQG DUWLOOHU\ WR 0DQDVVDV DQG &KHVWHU JDSV DWWHPSWLQJ WR FKHFN )HGHUDO IRUFHV DQG SUHYHQW DQ DWWDFN RQ KLV UHWUHDWLQJ FROXPQV $V KH DSSURDFKHG 0DQDVVDV *DS QHDU )URQW 5R\DO 0HDGH OHDUQHG WKDW &RQIHGHUDWHV ZHUH GLUHFWO\ RSSRVLWH KLV SRVLWLRQ ,W ZDV WKH RSSRUWXQLW\ KH¡G EHHQ ZDLWLQJ IRU ,I KH WKUHZ D IRUFH WKURXJK WKH JDS DQG IHOO XSRQ WKH FHQWHU RI /HH¡V EDWWHUHG WURRSV KH FRXOG SRWHQWLDOO\ HYLVFHUDWH WKH $UP\ RI 1RUWKHUQ 9LUJLQLD 2Q -XO\ ² 8QLRQ FDYDOU\ XQLWV XQGHU &RORQHO :LOOLDP *DPEOH DQG %ULJ *HQ :HVOH\ 0HUULWW IRXJKW DJDLQVW D PL[WXUH RI 5HEHO XQLWV RYHU SRVVHVVLRQ RI &KHVWHU DQG

Untested A political general with limited experience, Francis B. Spinola had been wth Meadeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s army only a few days when he was ordered to attack Wapping Heights.

Well-Seasoned An 1835 West Point graduate, Henry Prince was one of the Union Armyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s oldest generals. Captured at Cedar Mountain in August 1862, he VSHQW Ă&#x20AC;YH PRQWKV at Libby Prison in Richmond.

Manassas gaps. Among the Confederates facing Merrittâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s troopers for control of the easternmost part of Manassas *DS ZHUH &RPSDQLHV % :DUUHQ 5LĂ HV DQG & RI WKH WK 9LUJLQLD ,QIDQWU\ RWKHU HOHPHQWV RI WKH WK 9LUJLQLD KHOG the road to Front Royal at the western end of the gap. This ZDV WKH Ă&#x20AC;UVW WLPH WURRSV UDLVHG LQ :DUUHQ &RXQW\ IRXJKW RQ WKHLU KRPH VRLO PXFK WR WKH GHOLJKW RI WKH ORFDO FLWL]HQU\ ´+X]]DK %OHVV RXU JORULRXV WK Âľ ZURWH )URQW 5R\DO UHVLGHQW /XF\ %XFN ´+RZ WKH\ KDYH ORQJHG HYHU VLQFH WKH ZDU >EHJDQ@ IRU D EUXVK ZLWK WKH IRH LQ WKH 9DOOH\ DQG QHDU WKHLU KRPHV DQG QRZ WKDW ZLVK KDV EHHQ JUDWLĂ&#x20AC;HG WKH\¡YH ZKLSSHG WKHP EUDYHO\ DQG ZHOO DQG QR GRXEW IHHO PRUH H[XOWDQW WKDQ WKH\¡YH HYHU IHOW DIWHU D PLQLDWXUH EDWWOH Âľ %XW WKH WK ZRXOG VRRQ PRYH ZHVW RXW RI WKH JDS DQG FRQWLQXH VRXWK ZLWK WKH UHVW RI WKHLU FRUSV PLVVLQJ WKH ODUJHU battle to come.

0HDGH LVVXHG RUGHUV WR QHZ UG &RUSV FRPPDQGHU 0DM Gen. William H. French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Ă&#x20AC;JKWLQJ QHDU WKH 7URVWOH )DUP DQG KH KDG EHHQ UHSODFHG E\ )UHQFK (DUOLHU LQ WKH ZDU )UHQFK KDG VHUYHG DV D EULJDGH FRPPDQGHU WKHQ KDG D GLYLVLRQ ZLWKLQ WKH QG &RUSV EXW KDG PLVVHG *HWW\VEXUJ ZKLOH JDUULVRQLQJ +DUSHUV Ferry. It was these Harpers Ferry men who replenished the EHDW XS UG &RUSV %ULJDGLHU *HQHUDO +HQU\ 3ULQFH ZDV WKH QHZ FRPPDQGHU RI WKH FRUSV¡ QG 'LYLVLRQ DQG ZDV DPRQJ WKH ROGHVW JHQHUDOV LQ WKH DUP\ 7KH QG 'LYLVLRQ QG %ULJDGH NQRZQ DV WKH ([FHOVLRUV RQ ZKRP PXFK RI WKH XSFRPLQJ Ă&#x20AC;JKWLQJ ZRXOG GHSHQG ZDV DOVR XQGHU QHZ FRPPDQG %ULJDGLHU *HQHUDO )UDQFLV % 6SLQROD D \HDU ROG 1HZ <RUN SROLWLFLDQ ZKR KDG SUHYLRXVO\ OHG RQO\ 3HQQV\OYDQLD PLOLWLD LQ PLQRU FRDVWDO RSHUDWLRQV ZDV QRZ KHDGLQJ perhaps the corpsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; most seasoned brigade.

0HDGH LQWHQGHG IRU KLV DUP\ WR FRQYHUJH RQ 0DQDVVDV *DS DQG SXVK WKURXJK WR )URQW 5R\DO ´FXW>WLQJ@ RII WKH WDLO RI /HH¡V UHWUHDWLQJ FROXPQV Âľ ZKLOH :ULJKW¡V %ULJDGH *HRUJLD WURRSV QRZ XQGHU WKH WHPSRUDU\ FRPPDQG RI &RORQHO ( - :DONHU KDG EHHQ DVVLJQHG WR JXDUG WKH Ă DQN RI $ 3 +LOO¡V &RUSV DV LW SDVVHG WKURXJK )URQW 5R\DO $W GD\EUHDN RQ -XO\ WKH EULJDGH¡V IRXU UHJLPHQWV PDUFKHG Ă&#x20AC;YH PLOHV east toward Manassas Gap. Alerted to the threat of three 8QLRQ FRUSV WKH *HRUJLDQV WRRN XS GHIHQVLYH SRVLWLRQV RQ WKH JDS¡V DGMDFHQW KLOOV DQG WKH UDLOURDG FXW $OWKRXJK WKH MARCH 2018

47

Holding On This contemporary painting by Edwin Forbes is titled â&#x20AC;&#x153;Last stand of the Army of [Northern] Virginia, commanded by General Lee, near Hagerstown, Md.â&#x20AC;?

Yankees occupied the eastern part of the gap, the Rebels controlled the commanding high ground to the west.

Early on the morning of the 23rd, French moved his 2nd and 3rd divisions forward, and by 9 a.m. they reached the entrance to the gap at Linden Station. A small battalion of skirmishers from the 1st Division was sent forward to â&#x20AC;&#x153;feel the enemy and to compel him to show his pickets on the heights as well as in the ravines.â&#x20AC;? They soon found the waiting Georgians on the KLJK JURXQG 7KLV )UHQFK FRQFOXGHG ZDV ´D ODUJH Ă DQN guard to delay our advance.â&#x20AC;? Beyond the gap could be seen â&#x20AC;&#x153;continuous columns of Leeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cavalry, infantry, artillery and the baggage wagons moving all day from the direction of Winchester toward Strasburg, Luray and Front Royal.â&#x20AC;? %XW H[DFWO\ KRZ ODUJH GLG D ´ODUJH Ă DQN JXDUGÂľ QHHG WR EH for a corps commander like French to modify his plans? Ear-

lier reports of enemy movements perhaps led French to anticipate many more than just the four Georgian regiments detailed to face him.

French obsessed all day about SURWHFWLRQ RI KLV Ă DQNV DQG transmitted orders accordingly. Perhaps French did not fully divine Meadeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s intenWLRQV DQG FKRVH WR Ă&#x20AC;JKW ZLWK the objective only of seizing Manassas Gap and leaving destruction of Leeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wagon train until the next day. â&#x20AC;&#x153;About 11 a.m. the enemy appeared in the valley in our front in forceâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;infantry, cavalry and artillery,â&#x20AC;? reported Captain C.H. Andrews of the 3rd Georgia. But for some reason Frenchâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x153;Old Blinky,â&#x20AC;? as he was known to his menâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; seemed in no great hurry this day. Another three hours passed before the 1st Division stepped off.

Andrews, meanwhile, sent urgent messages reporting his situation and requesting reinforcements. Second Corps

French perhaps did not fully divine Meadeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s intentions and fought with the objective only of seizing Manassas Gap, leaving destruction of Leeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wagon train until the next day.

48

AMERICAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S CIVIL WAR

commander Lt. Gen. Richard Ewell and one of his division commanders, Maj. Gen. Robert Rodes, appeared later on WKH Ă&#x20AC;HOG ZLWK SURPLVHV RI PRUH &RQIHGHUDWH WURRSV 1RQH of those arrived, however, before the Federals had swept WKH *HRUJLDQV RII WKH Ă&#x20AC;UVW DQG KLJKHVW ULGJH NQRZQ DV Wapping Heights. Wrote Andrews: â&#x20AC;&#x153;The enemyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s advance ZDV YHU\ GHWHUPLQHG IURP WKH Ă&#x20AC;UVW DQG DIWHU KDUG Ă&#x20AC;JKWing, forced the left and center of our line to retire.â&#x20AC;? The 3rd Georgia, eventually isolated and unprotected on its ULJKW UHSRUWHGO\ GLG QRW UHWLUH ´XQWLO Ă DQNHG Âľ By 4 p.m., Wapping Heights was in Union hands. Though Meade had been on the scene for some time, he apparently did little to spur French on when his troops stopped WR FRQVROLGDWH WKHLU SRVLWLRQ RYHUORRNing a second ridge upon which the retreating Rebels had re-formed. &RORQHO :DONHU KDG EHHQ ZRXQGHG GXULQJ WKH Ă&#x20AC;JKWLQJ RQ WKH KHLJKWV and command of his unit devolved to a VWDII RIĂ&#x20AC;FHU &DSWDLQ 9LFWRU *LUDUGH\ who conducted the movements on the brigadeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s left while Andrews commanded the right. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our line now extended about

PLOHV DQG ZDV YHU\ ZHDN DV RXU QXPEHUV ZHUH VPDOO Âľ ZURWH $QGUHZV ZKR KDG DERXW PXVNHWV Ă DQN WR Ă DQN Despite holding Wapping Heights, and with sunset expected around 7:30, French hesitated in pressing his DWWDFN DJDLQVW WKH VWLOO RXWPDQQHG *HRUJLDQV SUHIHUULQJ instead to bring up Princeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 2nd Division. After an hourâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s delay, the 2nd Division was in position, but many of their hungry and bored comrades in the 1st Division had begun WR EXV\ WKHPVHOYHV GXULQJ WKH GHOD\ E\ SLFNLQJ EHUULHV and chasing sheep.

Around 5 p.m., Spinola was ordered to push his EULJDGH IRUZDUG WKRXJK DEVHQW WKH WK 1HZ <RUN DQG ZLWK IHZHU WKDQ ULĂ HV 0RYing past the men of the 1st Division and down the hill, the Excelsiors positioned WKHPVHOYHV WR OHDG WKH QH[W DWWDFN Halting at the base of the heights, the 1HZ <RUNHUV IRUPHG D OLQH RI EDWWOH DV

Battle-Tested An ID tag worn by Excelsior Brigade soldier Charles Smith, with a list of battles in which his unit fought.

MARCH 2018

49

â&#x20AC;&#x153;We resisted them to the utmost of human capacity...To enable us to fight at all, ammunition was taken from the killed and wounded and distributed.â&#x20AC;?

Spinola rode among the regiments shouting encouragePHQW DV ZHOO DV RUGHUV WR Ă&#x20AC;[ bayonets, a directive that energized the brigade. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We were put into line of battle and there told what we had to do. There were [sic] no use in telling us that for, we could see what we could do,â&#x20AC;? wrote Private James Dean of the 72nd New York. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The word was given to advance.â&#x20AC;?

Moving at the double quick, the brigade picked its ZD\ WKURXJK D FRUQĂ&#x20AC;HOG DQG VRPH VZDPS\ JURXQG DOO WKH while under constant enemy musketry. Though slowed by a wide ditch and an enemy volley, the weight of the Federal numbers proved too much, and the Confederate line began to crumble. â&#x20AC;&#x153;With a yell that would have done credit to a band of demons, our boys sprang to their feet and rushed the foe,â&#x20AC;? read the 72nd New Yorkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s after-action report. With UHJLPHQWDO FRORUV Ă \LQJ LQ WKH EUHH]H 6SLQROD URGH DKHDG RI the men, his sword and pistol drawn, urging them forward ZLWK ´1RZ ER\V RI WKH ([FHOVLRU %ULJDGH JLYH WKHP +HOO Âľ The New Yorkers drove the Georgians before them, VZDUPLQJ RYHU ULĂ H SLWV DV WKH\ FROOHFWHG SULVRQHUV 7KH ([FHOVLRUV PDGH OLEHUDO XVH RI WKH ED\RQHW DV Ă HHLQJ 5HEHOV GLVFDUGHG ZHDSRQV EHOWV DQG FDUWULGJH ER[HV ´, NQRZ WKDW VRPH RI WKHP ZDV ZRXQGHG ZLWK WKH ED\RQHWV RI RXU PHQ , GR QRW ZDQW WR EUDJ EXW , JDYH RQH RI WKHP DQ LQFK RI VWHHO myself,â&#x20AC;? wrote one New Yorker to his parents. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We resisted them to the utmost of human capacLW\ Âľ $QGUHZV ZURWH Ă&#x20AC;JKWLQJ ´WLOO RXU DPPXQLWLRQ ZDV H[KDXVWHG DQG WR HQDEOH XV WR Ă&#x20AC;JKW DW DOO WKH DPPXQLWLRQ was taken from the killed and wounded and distributed.â&#x20AC;?

Outnumbered and in disarray, the Confederates retreated, VFDUFHO\ DEOH WR Ă&#x20AC;UH D VKRW LQ UHWXUQ DV WKH 1HZ <RUNHUV pursued, sometimes as close as 15 paces. :KLOH FKDVLQJ WKH Ă HHLQJ *HRUJLDQV WKH ([FHOVLRUV came to another small hill, roughly 200 yards to the rear of the enemyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s original position. This hill had been UHLQIRUFHG E\ WKH PHQ RI %ULJ *HQ (GZDUG $ 2¡1HDO¡V $ODEDPD %ULJDGH ZKR VXGGHQO\ URVH 3ULQFH ZRXOG ZULWH ´DV WKLFN DV PHQ FDQ VWDQG RSHQLQJ D IXULRXV Ă&#x20AC;UH RI PXVNHWU\ Âľ 7KLV Ă&#x20AC;UH DORQJ ZLWK VKRW DQG VKHOO IURP D VL[ gun battery that had been brought up in support, rocked the New Yorkers. Spinola received two wounds and was forced to relinquish command to Colonel J. Egbert Farnum of the 70th New York.

Watching Confederate reinforcements move into position, and uncertain of Leeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s intentions as his army proJUHVVHG WKURXJK )URQW 5R\DO 0HDGH EHJDQ WR HQWHUWDLQ WKH QRWLRQ WKH HQHP\ ZDV SUHSDULQJ WR VWDQG DQG Ă&#x20AC;JKW â&#x20AC;&#x153;[T]hough there are reasons for my considering it probable

that but a small portion of his army has passed on,â&#x20AC;? Meade wrote to General in Chief +HQU\ +DOOHFN WKDW HYHQLQJ ´, VKDOO DWWDFN KLV SRVLWLRQ covering Chester Gap tomorrow at daylight.â&#x20AC;? +DYLQJ FKDUJHG PRUH WKDQ three-quarters of a mile across rough ground and now facing a reinforced Confederate infantry line supported by artillery, with the sun setting, the bluecoats began to falter. Three attempts to FDUU\ WKH 5HEHO OLQHV KDG IDLOHG DQG ZLWK WKH EULJDGH PRUH and more disorganized a halt was ordered. According to the QG 1HZ <RUN DIWHU DFWLRQ UHSRUW ´7KH Ă&#x20AC;UVW DQG VHFRQG KHLJKWV ZHUH FDUULHG LQ WKH IDFH RI D VHYHUH Ă&#x20AC;UHÂŤWKH PHQ ZKR ZHUH QRZ FRPSOHWHO\ H[KDXVWHG ZHUH RUGHUHG WR KROG the position.â&#x20AC;?

Under orders to consolidate his position, Farnum threw RXW VWURQJ SLFNHWV RQ ERWK Ă DQNV ZKLOH WKH UHPDLQGHU RI the men built breastworks from stones and fence rails. The New Yorkers hunkered down behind the earthworks, occasionally trading shots with the enemy. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We were ordered to fall back to the top of a hill and laid there in line of battle while the rebels amused themselves by throwing shell at us for a time,â&#x20AC;? wrote Private Dean.

7KH IDPRXVO\ WDUW WRQJXHG 5RGHV KDG D VRPHZKDW GLIIHUHQW RSLQLRQ RI WKH 1HZ <RUNHUV¡ DWWDFN 8QLRQ RIĂ&#x20AC;FHUV KH wrote, â&#x20AC;&#x153;acted generally with great gallantry, but the men behaved in a most cowardly manner. A few shots from [Lt. &RO 7KRPDV + @ &DUWHU¡V $UWLOOHU\ DQG WKH VNLUPLVKHUV¡ Ă&#x20AC;UH halted them, broke them, and put a stop to the engagement.â&#x20AC;? :LWK WKH ([FHOVLRU %ULJDGH VHWWOHG LQ RQ WKH IRUZDUG OLQH Prince methodically brought up and positioned his 1st and 3rd brigades, all under the â&#x20AC;&#x153;leisurelyâ&#x20AC;? and somewhat inefIHFWLYH Ă&#x20AC;UH RI 5HEHO DUWLOOHU\ $V WKH GLYLVLRQ PDGH LWV Ă&#x20AC;QDO dispositions, preparing for a big push, darkness descended RQ WKH EDWWOHĂ&#x20AC;HOG )HGHUDO WURRSV VOHSW RQ WKHLU DUPV LQ OLQH VFURXQJHG IRU IRRG DV EHVW WKH\ FRXOG DQG SUHSDUHG IRU QH[W PRUQLQJ¡V Ă&#x20AC;JKW DJDLQVW ZKDW FRPPDQGHUV H[SHFWHG WR EH DQ entrenched enemy. %XW ZKLOH )HGHUDOV UHDGLHG WKHPVHOYHV WKH *HRUJLDQVÂł DQG LQGHHG WKH ZKROH RI 5RGHV¡ 'LYLVLRQÂłPDGH IRU WKH rear. â&#x20AC;&#x153;After dark, under orders from General Ewell, we FRPPHQFHG RXU PDUFK WKURXJK )URQW 5R\DO Âľ $QGUHZV reported. After making their way across the Shenandoah 5LYHU 5RGHV¡ PHQ SXOOHG XS WKH SRQWRRQ EULGJHV EHKLQG WKHP EHIRUH Ă&#x20AC;QDOO\ VWRSSLQJ WZR PLOHV EH\RQG )URQW 5R\DO 7KH <DQNHHV DZRNH WR Ă&#x20AC;QG WKH HQHP\ SRVLWLRQV YDFDQW with only the dead holding vigil. Men in Princeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s division KHDGHG DOO WKH ZD\ WR )URQW 5R\DO RQO\ WR Ă&#x20AC;QG WKH GLVFDUGHG LWHPV RI DQ DUP\ RQ WKH PRYH 7KH ([FHOVLRUV HYHQWXDOO\

-Captain C.H. Andrews, 3rd Georgia

50

AMERICAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S CIVIL WAR

Storm Trooping Poor weather played a part in George Meadeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s allegedly tepid pursuit of Leeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s army after Gettysburg. Here, a Union battery equipped with 30-pounder guns proceeds through a rain storm near Frederick, Md.

PDUFKHG EDFN WR WKH EDWWOHÃ&#x20AC;HOG DQG ELYRXDFNHG IRU WKH QLJKW 7KH PDUFK VRXWK FRQWLQXHG WKH QH[W GD\ :KDW )HGHUDO FRPPDQGHUV DSSDUHQWO\ EHOLHYHG ZDV D VWURQJ OLQH SURWHFWLQJ WKH PDLQ 5HEHO IRUFH DW )URQW 5R\DO SURYHG PHUHO\ D UHDU JXDUG WDVNHG ZLWK GHOD\LQJ WKH <DQNHHV IRU DV ORQJ DV SRVVLEOH VHOGRP VWURQJHU WKDQ DQ XQGHUVL]HG EULJDGH $OO WKH ZKLOH WKH EXON RI /HH·V DUP\ FRQWLQXHG PRYLQJ VZLIWO\ WR WKH ZHVW +DG ´0HDGH EHHQ RQH GD\ HDUOLHU RU (ZHOO D GD\ ODWHU µ /XF\ %XFN ZURWH ´RXU JDOODQW 6WRQHZDOO &RUSV ZRXOG KDYH EHHQ FRPSHOOHG WR Ã&#x20AC;JKW WHQ WR RQH DQG GHIHDWHG DQG FXW RII RXU EDJJDJH WUDLQV ORVW RXU SRQWRRQV FDSWXUHG«7KDQN KHDYHQ IRU VR PLUDFXORXV DQ HVFDSH µ 0HDGH·V RSSRUWXQLW\ WR ´FXW RII WKH WDLOµ RI /HH·V DUP\ DQG SHUKDSV GHOLYHU KLP D IDWDO EORZ ZDV JRQH +H KDG EHHQ KLQGHUHG RI FRXUVH E\ WKH WHQWDWLYH SHUIRUPDQFHV RI ERWK 3ULQFH DQG )UHQFK EXW KH KDG DOVR EHHQ JXLOW\ RI PLVUHDGLQJ WKH HQHP\·V LQWHQWLRQV DQG KDG EHHQ XQDEOH WR FRQYH\ D VWURQJ HQRXJK VHQVH RI XUJHQF\ RI WKH VLWXDWLRQ WR KLV VXERUGLQDWHV :KHWKHU RU QRW )UHQFK RU 3ULQFH UHDOL]HG LW WKH\ KDG RYHUZKHOPLQJ QXPEHUV LQ WKHLU IDYRU \HW )UHQFK FKRVH WR HQJDJH KLV GLYLVLRQV RQO\ RQH DW D WLPH $QG 3ULQFH HYHQ ZLWK WKH HQWLUH QG 'LYLVLRQ DW KLV GLVSRVDO DOORZHG RQO\ RQH RI KLV EULJDGHV WR EH HQJDJHG GXULQJ WKH Ã&#x20AC;JKWLQJ :KLOH PDQ\ RI WKH PHQ LQ WKH ([FHOVLRU %ULJDGH WRRN SULGH LQ WKHLU DFFRPSOLVKPHQWV WKDW GD\ QRW DOO ZKR ZLWQHVVHG WKH EDWWOH VKDUHG URV\ DVVHVVPHQWV RI WKHLU GHHGV DQG ZHQW VR IDU DV WR ODEHO WKH HQJDJHPHQW ´0RODVVHV *DS µ $ VROGLHU LQ WKH WK &RUSV ZKR ZDWFKHG HYHQWV IURP D KLJK NQROO QHDUE\ ZURWH WKDW KLV UHJLPHQW KDG ´WKH XQLTXH SOHDVXUH RI ZDWFKLQJ WKH EDWWOH ZLWKRXW EHLQJ LQ LW «$VLGH IURP SURYLGLQJ DQ HQWHUWDLQLQJ VSHFWDFOH WKH UG &RUSV

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)HGHUDO ORVVHV ZHUH URXJKO\ ZLWK WKH YDVW PDMRULW\ VXIIHUHG E\ WKH ([FHOVLRUV 2Q -XO\ 0HDGH ZLWKGUHZ KLV PHQ IURP 0DQDVVDV *DS DQG DV SRUWUD\HG LQ Harperâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Weekly ´PDUFKHG OHLVXUHO\ RQ WRZDUG WKH 5DSSDKDQQRFN µ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ick Barram, a history teacher in northern California, is the author of 7KH QG 1HZ <RUN ,QIDQWU\ LQ WKH &LYLO War. He thanks Matt Wendling of the Warren County (Va.) Planning Department for his help with this article.

MARCH 2018

51

TRAILSIDE Formidable Built on a steep ridge, Fort Dickerson was a crucial part of a line of Union forts protecting Knoxville. Rebel cavalry once called off an attack upon realizing the terrain was too daunting for their mounts.

Knoxville, Tennessee

burnside bounces back

Trailside is produced in partnership with Civil War Trails Inc., which connects visitors to lesser-known sites and allows them to follow in the footsteps of the great campaigns.

Civil War Trails has to date 1,552 sites DFURVV ÀYH VWDWHV and produces more than a dozen maps.

Visit civilwartrails. org and check in at your favorite sign #civilwartrails.

52

AMERICA’S CIVIL WAR

Eastern Tennessee was a Unionist enclave that President Abraham Lincoln desperately needed to control. Railroads critical to the Confederacy intersected there, and citizens loyal to the Union clamored for protection. In the summer and fall of 1863, it would be center stage for some critical Western Theater fighting.

In August the Army of the Ohio, under starcrossed Maj. Gen. Ambrose Burnside, was sent to Knoxville and occupied the city bloodlessly after Confederate Maj. Gen. Simon Bolivar Buckner departed to support Braxton Bragg’s threatened forces to the south at Chattanooga.

Bragg’s surprise victory at Chickamauga, Ga., on September 19-20—aided by Army of Northern Virginia troops under Lt. Gen. James Longstreet—marked the start of a two-month Confederate siege of the Army of the Cumberland in Chattanooga. Their supply lines cut off, Maj. Gen. William S. Rosecrans’ men suffered mightily from hunger until what was known as the “Cracker Line” opened in late October.

Throughout October, the two sides clashed repeatedly for control of the region, and Burnside struggled to solidify his defenses around

Knoxville. Bragg, meanwhile, was dealing with withering criticism of his tactics from his senior commanders, particularly Longstreet. Bragg’s animosity toward Longstreet, in fact, compelled him to unwisely send “Old Pete” and his two divisions—roughly 15,000 men—north in an attempt to retake Knoxville. The absence of those men, as well as 11,000 more under Buckner and Maj. Gen. Patrick Cleburne dispatched November 22, ultimately wrecked Bragg’s fortunes at Chattanooga.

Longstreet and Burnside battled for control of Knoxville until November 28, but the Federal success at Chattanooga, the result of victories at Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge on November 25-26, made the outcome of their struggle immaterial (though a nice feather in the cap of course for Burnside). Knoxville remained in Union hands for the rest of the war.

Today, Knoxville is a thriving city, home to the University of Tennessee and close to the Great Smoky Mountains. Though not quite Nashville, it has a good country music pedigree, a onetime home to the likes of Dolly Parton and Chet Atkins. –Nancy Tappan

TRAILSIDE

Fort Dickerson Park 3096 Fort Dickerson Road A moderately difficult 3.5-mile walking trail leads to the fort, one of the best preserved earthen bastions from the Civil War era. It sits on a knob just across the Tennessee River south of downtown Knoxville, giving a view of the skyline and the Great Smoky Mountains. An interpretive trail explains the fort’s role in the Battle of Knoxville. A shorter trail leads to an abandoned rock quarry that is open in the summer to swimmers. Be advised that a guard is on duty and jumping off the cliffs is prohibited. knoxvilletn.gov

Confederate Memorial Hall (The Historic Bleak House)

McClung Museum of Natural History and Culture 235 Circle Park Drive The University of Tennessee’s McClung Museum offers a variety of exhibitions of interest to every member of the family, including a permanent exhibit on dinosaurs and fossils. For the Civil War buff, it features a comprehensive overview of the political situation in Eastern Tennessee in 1863 and tells the story of the Battle of Knoxville through artifacts, heirlooms, archaeologically excavated items, paintings, photographs, video, and 3-D topographical maps that allow a visitor a bird’s-eye view of the Union defenses during the fighting. Although Fort Sanders no longer exists, the scene is re-created vividly in paintings that capture the brief but bloody assault on the fort on November 28, 1863. Admission and parking are free. Monday–Saturday 9 a.m.–5 p.m., Sunday, 1 p.m.–5 p.m. mcclungmuseum.utk

3148 Kingston Pike S.W. This mansion was built in 1858 for Robert H. Armstrong and his wife, Louisa F. Armstrong, scions of old Knoxville families. During the Battle of Knoxville, the house, which was within 300 yards of the site of a Union bastion (soon known as Fort Sanders), served as James Longstreet’s and Lafayette McLaws’ headquarters. It is possible a Confederate sharpshooter stationed in the tower mortally wounded Union Brig.

Gen. William P. Sanders on November 18. Owned and operated by the United Daughters of the Confederacy, tours are $10 per adult. Limited hours; call ahead. bleakhouseudc89.org

Fort Higley

Mabry-Hazen House

High Ground Park, 1000 Cherokee Trail

1711 Dandridge Avenue

Hastily constructed after a Confederate assault at nearby Armstrong Hill, Fort Higley itself commanded the approach to the city from south of the river. The 39-acre park includes a 1-mile nature trail and great topographical views, especially in the fall. visitknoxville.com

Union Maj. Gen. Ambrose Burnside’s assistant quartermaster, Samuel H. Lunt, made this stately building his headquarters—much to the dislike of its owner, Joseph Mabry. While Forts Dickerson and Higley anchored the west of the Union line around Knoxville, Mabry’s landscape would also be fortified and entrenched, anchoring the eastern end of the Union defenses. Bethel Cemetery, located a short walk from the house, is the resting place of both Union and Confederate soldiers who fell during the fighting. Grounds open daily, dawn to dusk. The tour cost is $10 for adults; children under 13 are free. Museum hours are Monday–Friday, 11 a.m.– 5 p.m., Saturdays, 10 a.m.–3 p.m. mabryhazen.com

MARCH 2018

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TRAILSIDE 5

knoxville, tn

2

1 4

Historic Ramsey House 2614 Thorngrove Pike

8

7 3

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1. Fort Dickerson 2. McClung Museum 3. Confederate Memorial Hall 4. Fort Higley 5. Mabry-Hazen House 6. Ramsey House 7. Sunsphere 8. Outdoor Knoxville Adventure Center

The home was built in 1797 for the Francis A. Ramsey family, early settlers of Knoxville, and was the first stone house built in Knox County.

The Tennessee pink marble and blue limestone exterior retains period architectural features and the interior has been restored and furnished to the era of the Francis Ramsey family’s occupation. The 100-acre grounds are open to the public Wednesday through Saturday 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Tours of the house are available (adult admission is $7), and private groups and events can be accommodated. ramseyhouse.org

world’s fair park Built for the 1982 World’s Fair, the Sunsphere and the Tennessee Amphitheater were neglected for many years but reopened in 2014. An observation deck offers a 360-degree view of the park, the Tennessee River, the University of Tennessee, and the Smoky Mountains. Open Nov. 1–March 31, 11 a.m.–6 p.m., April 1–Oct. 31, 9 a.m.–10 p.m.

963 World’s Fair Park Drive. worldsfairpark.org

Outdoor Knoxville Adventure Center Visit the Outdoor Knoxville website for information about the Urban Wilderness, a park preserve three miles from downtown that offers 50 miles of natural surface trails for hikers, mountain bikers, and trail runners. There are seven trailheads within the system that offer parking, as well as kiosks with trail information.

Restrooms and water are available at the Ijams Nature Center and Mead’s Quarry.

Urban Wilderness trails are marked with UW logos and tree blazes. In town, street stencils assist with walking tours. The website also links to kayaking and paddleboarding operations. 900 Volunteer Landing Lane. outdoorknoxville.com

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HERITAGE TRAVEL & LIFESTYLE SHOWCASE

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Visit Brice’s Crossroads National Battlefield, Natchez Trace Parkway, Tupelo National Battlefield, Mississippi Hills Exhibit Center and more.

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Six major battles took place in Winchester and Frederick County, and the town changed hands approximately 72 times— more than any other town in the country! www.visitwinchesterva.com

Home to more than 400 sites, the Civil War’s impact on Georgia was greater than any other event in the state’s history. Visit www.gacivilwar.org to learn more.

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H I S T O R I C

Roswell, Georgia

Tishomingo County, MS Fayetteville/Cumberland County, North Carolina is steeped in history and patriotic traditions. Take a tour highlighting our military ties, status as a transportation hub, and our Civil War story.

Whether you love history, culture, the peacefulness of the great outdoors, or the excitement of entertainment, Roswell offers a wide selection of attractions and tours. www.visitroswellga.com

With a variety of historic attractions and outdoor adventures, Tishomingo County is a perfect destination for lovers of history and nature alike.

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Tennesseeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Farragut Folklife Museum is a treasure chest of artifacts telling the history of the Farragut and Concord communities, including the Admiral David Glasgow Farragut collection.

Seven museums, an 1890 railroad, a British fort and an ancient trade path can be found on the Furs to Factories Trail in the Tennessee Overhill, located in the corner of Southeast Tennessee.

Through personal stories, interactive exhibits and a 360° movie, the Civil War Museum focuses on the war from the perspective of the Upper Middle West. www.thecivilwarmuseum.org

The National Civil War Naval Museum in Columbus, GA, tells the story of the sailors, soldiers, and civilians, both free and enslaved as affected by the navies of the American Civil War.

Williamson County, Tennessee, is rich in Civil War history. Here, you can visit the Lotz House, Carnton Plantation, Carter House, Fort Granger and Winstead Hill Park, among other historic locations.

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Treat yourself to Southern Kentucky hospitality in London and Laurel County! Attractions include the Levi Jackson Wilderness Road State Park and Camp Wildcat Civil War Battlefield.

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Southern hospitality at its finest, the Classic South, Georgia, offers visitors a combination of history and charm mixed with excursion options for everyone from outdoorsmen to museum-goers.

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Vicksburg, Mississippi is a great place to bring your family to learn American history, enjoy educational museums and check out the mighty Mississippi River.

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Hundreds of authentic artifacts.

Voted fourth finest in U.S. by North & South Magazine. Located in historic Bardstown, Kentucky. www.civil-war-museum.org

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Confederate Memorial Park in Marbury, Alabama, commemorates the Civil War with an array of historic sites and artifacts. Experience the lives of Civil War soldiers as never before.

STEP BACK IN TIME at Camp Nelson Civil War Heritage Park, a Union Army supply depot and African American refugee camp. Museum, Civil War Library, Interpretive Trails and more.

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REVIEWS

Restoring Grant to Greatness

Ron Chernow’s new biography, Grant (Penguin Press, 2017, $40) upsets a century and half of historiography, illuminating Ulysses S. Grant as a flawed but just man who, despite his drinking problem, won the Civil War and, though scandals marred his presidency, should be remembered as one of our major chief executives.

1

You presented conclusive evidence, far more than previous biographers, that Ulysses S. Grant was an alcoholic.

I didn’t expect to come to that conclusion. I expected to follow previous authors in saying that Grant’s political enemies and rivals were almost the sole source of malicious drinking charges. Letters contained in the 32 volumes of The Papers of Ulysses S. Grant, edited by John Y. Simon, are remarkably consistent in how Grant’s drinking is portrayed, even though the letters were written by different people in different places and at

58

AMERICA’S CIVIL WAR

different times. These people could not have coordinated their statements with one another. A fascinating pattern emerged: Grant was in fact not a daily drinker, he had a certain degree of control. But he went on drinking sprees every two to three months. It was almost as though he could plan them.

2

REVIEWS Did Grant’s drinking affect his ability to command?

The sprees never occurred during moments of responsibility—much less in the middle of a battle—so they did not impair his functioning as a general in any way. He would seem to schedule these binges for after battles or after moments of tremendous stress and responsibility. He would go someplace his men and his officers couldn’t see him. He had this remarkable ability to shake it off and snap back to this very serious general’s personality.

Descriptions of Grant’s drinking were so numerous and similar that I’d like to think I’ve settled this issue once and for all.

3

Grant’s trusting nature worked against him as president.

Grant was a naïve and credulous person who wanted to think well of people. During the war he was a shrewd judge of character, but as president many people abused his trust and were disloyal or two-faced toward him. I think it stems back to before the war when he struggled to make a living and felt that people had lost faith in him. It gave Grant sympathy toward the underdog. Absolute scoundrels often took advantage of that and he didn’t see it. He didn’t want to lose faith in people.

5

By Walter Stahr Simon & Schuster 2017, $35

Talk about the role of John Rawlins, Grant’s chief of staff.

Grant met Rawlins in Galena, Ill., before the war. He was a lawyer who did work for the Grant family business and the two men became close friends. When Grant was appointed brigadier general in August 1861, he added Rawlins to his staff as adjutant—he effectively acted as chief of staff for the rest of the war. Rawlins was a passionate temperance man and exacted a promise from Grant to stay on only if Grant promised not to touch a drop of liquor. If the general had a lapse, Rawlins warned he’d call Grant on it and quit.

Grant got drunk many times, but instead of quitting, Rawlins— an intensely patriotic man—decided the fate of the Union cause rested on the shoulders of Ulysses S. Grant. He ended up playing a strange double game in which he castigated Grant severely for drinking while defending him to the outside world—that is, Lincoln, Stanton, and others in Washington who wanted reassurance that Grant didn’t have a problem. Rawlins did a tremendous service to the Union by helping Grant continue to function. By the time Grant became general-in-chief, Rawlins’ special role was an open secret. Rawlins was rewarded with a brigadier generalship, and even though he had no military experience before the war he became an excellent strategist. Grant was better; I don’t agree with those who say Rawlins was the Union Army’s hidden genius.

4

Stanton: Lincoln’s War Secretary

How should history remember Grant?

Very favorably. His importance far transcends his success as a general. He didn’t start the war as an abolitionist and it’s amazing to watch as he commits to training and using black soldiers, and helping fugitive slaves start a new life. That carries beyond the war. He was the single most important president in terms of civil rights between Abraham Lincoln and Lyndon B. Johnson and that, unfortunately, is an overlooked story. The scandals that occurred during his administration obscured his infinitely more important effort to reintegrate the South into the Union while protecting black people.

Lincoln’s most controversial Cabinet member, Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton, is the subject of this justly deserved, excellent new biography. Walter Stahr provides a comprehensive portrait of the Ohio-born lawyer-turned-politician, crediting him the central role he played “in winning the central war in American history”—as well as in ending it (see “All or Nothin’,” P. 18). Stanton, who served as attorney general in the waning days of James Buchanan’s presidency, replaced Lincoln’s first secretary of war, Simon Cameron, in 1862. When Lincoln was assassinated, Stanton helped mobilize the government to find and prosecute the conspirators. After the conflict, he remained in President Andrew Johnson’s Cabinet but was eventually dismissed. Stanton’s disagreements with Johnson over Reconstruction led to the president’s impeachment.

Stahr’s profile really begins to take off when he examines Stanton’s role in Buchanan’s Cabinet during the Secession crisis. In turning to the Civil War, Stahr’s descriptions of Stanton’s relationship with Union Maj. Gen. George McClellan, his work forging partnerships with members of Congress, and Stanton’s understanding of the power of the press are also intriguing. Moreover, Stahr’s recognition of Stanton’s use of railroads and the telegraph is astute, as is his analysis of the draft, the influential Lieber Code regulating soldier conduct, the Habeas Corpus Suspension Act, and Stanton’s involvement with the enlistment of African-American soldiers.

Readers looking for insight into Stanton’s relationship with Lincoln or other Cabinet members won’t find it here. Stahr instead sacrifices analysis of Stanton’s personal relationships to cover the broad range of issues that he faced as secretary of war, While few of those subjects are covered in detail, Stahr reliably shows the enormity of those tasks.

Though this leaves some interesting ground unturned, Stanton is a solid, well-written biography. –Stuart Sanders

MARCH 2018

59

REVIEWS

The Army of the Potomac in the Overland and Petersburg Campaigns

By Steven E. Sodergren Louisiana State University Press 2017, $47.95

With so much comprehensive work available about virtually all of the war’s major battles and campaigns, new microhistories of critical moments and phases of battles are interesting and informative. Certainly, there shouldn’t be a problem with one on the fighting in the Miller Cornfield at Antietam. Most already know of the carnage there, but a tactical-level recounting is always welcome.

Phillip Thomas Tucker is published on the subject of the battle (specifically the Burnside Bridge phase), but this particular effort has come up short in a number of ways, perhaps too many to list here. The problems tend to be minor, but annoying just the same.

The text, which is sometimes repetitious and unnecessarily dramatic, unfortunately includes errors of fact, misspellings of names, incorrect military nomenclature, and an inaccurate landmark location.

For example, George Meade was not “Pennsylvania born” (he was born in Cadiz, Spain); there were no Virgin60

AMERICA’S CIVIL WAR

Steven Sodergren examines here the morale of Union soldiers besieging Petersburg in the last year of the war. His thesis is that the transition to trench warfare not only saved the Army of the Potomac from destruction due to low morale and high casualties, but it also enabled it to rejuvenate itself for ultimate victory. He is especially interested in the role of mail, a vital link between the army and the soldiers’ homes in the North, referred to by soldiers as “God’s Country.”

Sodergren believes honest sources for indication of Union soldiers’ morale are not papers of generals and politicians, but letters and diaries of regimental officers and enlisted men. He examined those of nearly 200, using their quotes heavily in the text and chapter titles. Supplementary sources include official correspondence, media reports, court-martial transcripts, and soldier service records.

He also notes that the respected scholarly works of Gordon Rhea, Noah Andre Trudeau, and Earl Hess do not provide systematic analysis of soldiers’ experience, especially morale. The only exception is J. Tracy Power in Lee’s Miserables: Life in the Army of Northern Virginia From the Wilderness to Appomattox (1998).

Sodergren observes that warfare in the Eastern Theater prior to Grant becoming general-in-chief consisted of epic battles followed by retreat or disengagement. Grant’s tenure saw his army constantly grappling with the enemy until the end of the war. Two months of high-intensity warfare of the Overland Campaign, followed by the nine-month low-intensity siege of Petersburg, finally broke Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia and brought down the Confederacy. The key point was the transition to static (trench) warfare, reducing casualties from more than 50,000 in the Overland Campaign to only about 40,000 at Petersburg.

A destructive environment with parallels to World War I, trench warfare nevertheless provided escape from bloody frontal assaults, with morale restored by a steady supply system, unit rotation, the aforementioned mail from home, and news of Union victories on other fronts. In April 1865, when the army emerged from its entrenchments and met the Confederates on the open battlefield, it did so with little trepidation and complete success. This is a well-argued, documented study, augmented by useful maps and photographs. –William John Shepherd

ians in Isaac Trimble’s Georgia-North Carolina-Alabama brigade at Sharpsburg; and the Dunker Church was located on the west, not the east, side of Hagerstown Pike. Although listed properly in the Order of Battle, Battery B, 4th U.S. Artillery, is constantly referred to as a company, yet other batteries are described correctly as such. Two misspellings of brigade commanders’ names are probably typos since they are correct elsewhere.

Incredibly, there are no maps of the battlefield nor a tactical-level one of the Cornfield. One also wonders why the Federal Order of Battle lists only the 1st, 2nd, and 12th Corps yet that of the Army of Northern Virginia is provided in its entirety. The index is short and likely incomplete. A review copy of the book did not include a formal bibliography although sources are provided in the notes.

On the plus side, photographs of generals, individual soldiers, and the battlefield from the author’s and other collections are a highlight, and over-

The Miller Cornfield at Antietam

By Phillip Thomas Tucker The History Press, 2017, $21.99

all Tucker does well in recounting the punishment and destruction the 1st Texas Infantry received in the Cornfield. –Stuart McClung

tile heroics at stones river Lee’s Shrinking Army

Why was it so small at Antietam?

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Colonel Joshua Chamberlain leads the 20th Maine down Little Round Top on July 2, 1863.

This Man Defeated .

Stonewall.. yet few know the story of how Nathan Kimball d. outfoxed a legen

REVIEWS If it sailed on the brown water of America’s Western rivers during the Civil War and flew the Stars and Stripes of the Union Navy, Myron Smith more than likely knows about it. He has staked out an underappreciated, albeit critical, aspect of the Union’s military strategy in the West—its efforts to gain control of the region’s rivers and use them as nautical highways into the heart of the Confederacy.

Smith’s latest monograph details the design, operations, and ultimate fates of three Union ironclads and brings to life their designer, Joseph Brown, a successful entrepreneur and steamboat captain who built the unconventional craft and whose eclectic life along the Mississippi River made him a unique American character.

Smith begins his voyage in Alton, Ill., where Joseph Brown’s fortunes grew with the bustling river town. A staunch Unionist, Brown had no professional training in boat building but had, over the years, dabbled with designing and modifying river craft. Following in the footsteps of another river man, James B. Eads, Brown traveled to Washington in hopes of procuring a government contract to build three warships. Brown signed his contract on April 30, 1862, to build three casemate ironclads for $450,000 plus another $70,000 for the engines and machinery.

The hulls of Chillicothe and Indianola would be laid in Cincinnati while the larger Tuscumbia would be constructed at New Albany, Ind. Smith describes in great detail the construction of the vessels and the seemingly innumerable hurdles Brown had to overcome before his craft could be made ready for action. Detailed diagrams of each warship show them to be formidable men-of-war.

First down the quays was the 395-ton Chillicothe, which arrived at Cairo, Ill., the fleet base of the Mississippi Squadron, on January 7, 1863, under the command of Lt. Comdr.

John C. Walker. Its first action was shelling the lower batteries at Vicksburg three weeks later. “Only about two feet of her is above water and five feet below,” related one of the crew, “and is covered with three inches iron over her decks and sides. Her boilers and machinery are below the waterline, leaving nothing but the turret and wheels for them to shoot at.” Nevertheless, Chillicothe was badly damaged by artillery shells from Fort Pemberton during the Yazoo Pass

CREDITS

Joseph Brown and His Civil War Ironclads: The USS Chillicothe, Indianola and Tuscumbia

By Myron J. Smith Jr. McFarland 2017, $39.95

campaign, revealing several design flaws and bringing the competency of Brown as a marine contractor into question.

After repairs, Chillicothe participated in the Red River Campaign. After the war, it was sold for scrap for $3,000.

Indianola was run aground and captured after only one month in combat, encountering a Rebel flotilla the night of February 24, 1863, near Palmyra Island below Vicksburg.

After colliding with Queen of the West, Lt. Cmdr. George T. Brown’s ship was rammed by CSS William H. Webb and scuttled on the Louisiana shore. Tuscumbia, known affectionately as the “Broad Giant,” participated in what Smith calls the “last, big, loud ship vs. shore engagement of the Western riverine war” on April 29, 1863. But the 915-ton vessel was knocked out of action by early afternoon.

Smith’s final chapter delves into the active postwar life of Joseph Brown. His description of the mercurial boat builder serves as a fitting epitaph. “He was a steamboat, milling, and railroad entrepreneur and a politician—mayor or lesser official from two cities in two states—who earned and lost fortunes but never stepped out of his abode at a loss for either ideas or commentary.” –Gordon Berg

Cover: National Archives/Photo Illustration: Brian Walker; P. 2: Private Collection/©Look and Learn/Bernard Platman Antiquarian Collection/Bridgeman Images; P. 3: From Top: “The First Meeting” by Artist Dan Nance and dannance.com; Private Collection/©Look and Learn/Elgar Collection/Bridgeman Images; Heritage Auctions, Dallas; P. 4: North Wind Picture Archives/Alamy Stock Photo; P. 6: Courtesy United States Army Heritage and Education Center, Carlisle, PA; P. 8: Left: Photo by Mike Stroud; Right: Library of Congress; P. 10: No. 3 Map of the Harbor of St. Louis, Mississippi River (1837), Courtesy Birmingham Public Library; P. 12: “Railroad Cut” by Dale Gallon, ©Gallon Historical Art, Inc; P. 14: Melissa A. Winn; P. 16: The Mechanics’ Magazine, January 28, 1859; P. 17: Heritage Auctions, Dallas; P. 18-19: “The First Meeting” by Artist Dan Nance and dannance.com; P. 20: Library of Congress; P. 21: Granger, NYC; P. 23: Old Paper Studios/Alamy Stock Photo; P. 24: New York Daily Herald, April 23, 1865; P. 26: Library of Congress; P. 28: Top: John Pitocco/Alamy Stock Photo; Bottom: Michael DeFreitas North America/Alamy Stock Photo; P. 30-31: Granger, NYC; P. 32: Library of Congress; Heritage Auctions, Dallas; P. 33: Top: ClassicStock/Alamy Stock Photo; Bottom: The Illustrated London News, Volume XLIV, April 30, 1864/De Agostini Picture Library/Biblioteca Ambrosiana/Bridgeman Images; P. 34: From Top: Chronicle/Alamy Stock Photo; Heritage Auctions, Dallas; Pictorial Press Ltd./Alamy Stock Photo; P. 35: From Top: Collection of the New-York Historical Society, USA/Bridgeman Images; Private Collection/ ©Look and Learn/Bernard Platman Antiquarian Collection/Bridgeman Images; P. 36: Right: National Archives; Left: Harper’s Weekly; P. 37: Clockwise From Top Left: Shawshots/Alamy Stock Photo; Courtesy Jennifer Vann Collection; National Geographic Creative/Alamy Stock Photo; P. 38: From Top: Jim West/Alamy Stock Photo; Granger, NYC; Heritage Auctions, Dallas; P. 39: From Top: Milstein Division of United States History, Local History & Genealogy, The New York Public Library, Astor, Lenox and Tilden Foundations; Library of Congress; P. 40: Pictorial Press Ltd./Alamy Stock Photo (2); P. 41: Top: Granger, NYC; Bottom: Heritage Auctions, Dallas; P. 42: Niday Picture Library/Alamy Stock Photo; P. 45: From Top: Private Collection/ ©Look and Learn/Elgar Collection/Bridgeman Images; Library of Congress; P. 46: Library of Congress; P. 47: Library of Congress (2); P. 48-49: Library of Congress; P. 49: Heritage Auctions, Dallas; P. 51: Library of Congress; P. 52: Age Fotostock/Alamy Stock Photo; P. 53: From Top: Courtesy McClung Museum of Natural History and Culture; Photo by Julia Roberts Photography; Images-USA/Alamy Stock Photo; P. 54: From Top: Google Maps; Joel Zatz/ Alamy Stock Photo; Ken Howard/Alamy Stock Photo; Randy Duchaine/Alamy Stock Photo; Courtesy Legacy Parks Foundation; P. 58: Library of Congress; Photograph ©Beowulf Sheehan; P. 64: Courtesy Michael Sorenson.

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Actual number of copies of single issue published nearest to filing date: 22,289. D. Percent Paid (Both Print & Electronic Copies) (16b divided by 16c x 100). Average number of copies each issue during preceding 12 months: 97.6%. Actual number of copies of single issue published nearest to filing date: 97.4%. I certify that 50% of all distributed copies (electronic and print) are paid above nominal price: Yes. Report circulation on PS Form 3526-X worksheet 18. Signature and title of editor, publisher, business manager, or owner: David Steinhafel, Associate Publisher. I certify that all information furnished on this form is true and complete. I understand that anyone who furnishes false or misleading information on this form or who omits material or information requested on the form may be subject to criminal sanction and civil actions.

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J.E.B. THE INVENTOR Major General J.E.B. Stuart, the Confederacy’s famed beau sabreur, justifiably is best known as the dashing commander of the Army of Northern Virginia’s cavalry units. But in October 1859, while serving as a U.S. Army lieutenant and stationed at Fort Riley in the Kansas Territory, Stuart hit “pay dirt” as an inventor. The 26-year-old Virginian filed for and eventually received U.S. Patent #25,684: “Improved Method of Attaching Sabers to Belts.” Stuart claimed that his new brass-and-leather saber hanger made it much easier for a cavalryman to quickly remove his saber, scabbard, and suspension straps from the standard army belt. The U.S. Army agreed, paid Stuart a “right to use” license fee of $5,000 ($143,000 today), and through 1864 produced thousands of the tools Stuart had invented. –Jerry Morelock

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