Monthly Archive

 Coverage of action at Tullahoma, Tenn., in the March 30, 1863, Boston Evening Gazette.

Munfordville Ky
March 28, 1862

Dear wife,

I take my pen in hand to inform you that I am well at present and hope these few lines may find you and the children and all the folks well. We started from Bardstown last Sunday and got to this place on Wednesday evening, a distance of 45 miles. And yesterday we were paid off up to the first day of March and tomorrow we start for Gallatin a little town on the Nashville railroad 24 miles this side of Nashville and I don’t know how long we will stay at that place. Perhaps not more than a few days and I don’t know where we will go to from there. I hope that peace will be made by that time & we can all go home. I send you twenty dollars in this letter and I don’t want you to be too stingy with it when you need anything for yourself or the children. I expect we will be paid off again the first of May if we are in the service that long. I tried to get to come home before we started for here but the Col. would not let any of the men go. The Col. still says that I shall have an office of some kind in the reg. We are to get our arms today and then we will be ready for a fight if we can find anybody to fight. I want you to be contented and I will come home as soon as I can. Although it may be some time before I can get to come. I am not afraid of anything but sickness and the worst weather is over now. And there will not be apt to be much sickness now until July or August and I hope not then. Our neighbor boys are all well that are here with us and the health of the regiment is very good. You must write as soon as you get this and direct your letter to Gallatin, Sumner Co., Tenn. The balance of the directions as before and if we should leave there before the letter gets here the PM at that place will forward all the letters for our regiment on to wherever we go to. So nothing more at present but remaining your affectionate husband until death.
A. A. Harrison

*********

Absolom A. Harrison
Company D, 4th Regiment, Kentucky Calvary Volunteers (Union)

A. A. Harrison sent the following letters to his wife Susan Allstun Harrison. Susan’s grandmother was Nancy Lincoln Brumfield, Thomas Lincoln’s sister and President Abraham Lincoln’s aunt.

These letters were transcribed by A. A.’s great-grandson Ronald A. Harrison who introduces the letters with the following background:

“A. A. Harrison and his brother Jo (Joel) apparently got caught up in a recruiting drive and enlisted in the Fourth Kentucky Calvary, U.S.A., without even going home to tell their wives, Susan and Martha. The first letter appears to be letting Susan know what has become of her husband. The two brothers served honorably for roughly a year. At the end of that time A. A. was medically discharged. At roughly the same time Jo died in a military hospital in Nashville. Only recently has anyone in the family known Jo’s fate.”

Letters found on this web page January 2008.

Bardstown Ky
March 11th 1862

Dear wife,

I take my pen in hand to inform you that I am well at present and hope these few lines may find you all well. The boys from Hardin are all well. We are in Bardstown at present. Our company and —- are acting as provost guards. We moved in here last Thursday. I expect we will stay here for some time. We are camped in a vacant lot in town. We have to stand guard here every other night. We are all so glad to get out of the mud and to get here on the dry street even if we were to stand guard every night. The talk about disbanding has nearly died away. I don’t think there is any prospect of being disbanded. Yet I would be very glad if they would turn us loose and let us all go home. Jo rec’d Eliza’s letter last night and we were glad to hear that you all was well. We have not got any money yet. They keep telling us we will get our money in a day or two so I don’t know when we will get it. But I hope it wont be many days more before we will be paid off. I don’t know when any of us will be at home. The Captain has not let any of the men go home since I came back. Although he has promised Jo that he might go home as soon as we were paid off. We have one very unpleasant duty to perform here and that is burying the soldiers that die in the hospitals. There is about six hundred in the hospitals at this place and they die at the rate of about four per day. We also have to put out patrols of 5 or 6 men to walk around town and arrest every soldier without a pass or drunken men and put them in jail till they get sober. Tell father he may go on and sow them oats if he can get the seed for I will not be back in time enough to sow them no how. And if you can sell any of that corn for a good price you had better sell some of it and manage things the best you can until I can get back. You must write as often as you can. I looked hard for a letter yesterday but was disappointed when the mail came in and nearly all boys got letters but me. The war news from everywhere is cheering. The federal troops are gaining ground everywhere but it may be some time before peace is made. I must bring my letter to a close for it is nearly time to go on guard. So nothing more at present but remaining your affectionate husband until death.

A. A. Harrison

P.S. Kiss the children for me.

*********

Absolom A. Harrison
Company D, 4th Regiment, Kentucky Calvary Volunteers (Union)

A. A. Harrison sent the following letters to his wife Susan Allstun Harrison. Susan’s grandmother was Nancy Lincoln Brumfield, Thomas Lincoln’s sister and President Abraham Lincoln’s aunt.

These letters were transcribed by A. A.’s great-grandson Ronald A. Harrison who introduces the letters with the following background:

“A. A. Harrison and his brother Jo (Joel) apparently got caught up in a recruiting drive and enlisted in the Fourth Kentucky Calvary, U.S.A., without even going home to tell their wives, Susan and Martha. The first letter appears to be letting Susan know what has become of her husband. The two brothers served honorably for roughly a year. At the end of that time A. A. was medically discharged. At roughly the same time Jo died in a military hospital in Nashville. Only recently has anyone in the family known Jo’s fate.”

Letters found on this web page January 2008.

Artist: John McLenan

Caption

(Scene.–A Democratic Association.)

Great Copperhead Orator (foaming at the Mouth). “To Arms! to Arms! Let us resist the Laws, and crush the Lincoln Despotism!!”

First Citizen. “Bully for you! He’s ‘most as good as Forrest.”

Second Citizen. “But he can’t come up to Booth.”

Lt. David W. Poak of the 30th Illinois Volunteer Infantry was at Forts Henry and Donaldson, Corinth, Vicksburg, Atlanta Campaign , March to the Sea, and the Carolina Campaign . He was awarded a 17th Corps Medal of Honor for the Battle of Atlanta when he was conspicuous in Rallying his men, advancing to the front, encouraging his men,firing muskets rapidly at the enemy, and by his service and gallant example materially assisting in bringing his regiment again into action.

HeadQuarters 1st Brig. 3rd Div. 17th A.C.
Goldsboro N.C.

Mar 25th 1865

Sister Sadie,

Presuming that you are quite anxious to hear from me , I will write a letter now and have it ready to send by first mail.As you will perceive , by the heading of my letter we are now at Goldsboro where we expect to take a rest after our long and very severe campaign. How long a respite we will get  here is hard to tell . They will be compelled to remain long enough to refit our army as it is now in a  very destitute condition. A great many of the men are barefooted and without pants. Many of them have been forced to pick up and wear citizen or rebel clothes to cover up their nakedness. Our Campaign has been , in many respects one of the most severe we have ever made. The marches were long and most of the time through almost impassable swamps. Scarcely  a day passed but what the men would have to wade from one to half a dozen swamps frequently waist deep. The roads through these swamps would cut up before but a small portion of our train would pass over and part of the troops would have to remain out all night helping the wagons through. Our Brigade was out four nights all night and very often till two and three oclock in the morning . Whenever the enemy would make a stand it was certain to be at one of these swamps and then our men would have to wade out in the water and stand and fight them. Any one that was so unfortunate as to get wounded would fall in the water and perhaps nearly drown before they could get assistance. Sherman’s Army has I think seen as much campaigning as any other still we learned a few things this trip that we had not thought of before. The men were in excellent spirits all the time. You would never hear them grumble a bit no difference how hard a time they were having. I often wondered how they could stand it at all. We passed through some rich country where we would find an abundance of forage and through some of the most barren regions I ever saw. The principal places we passed through were Orangeburg,’Columbia, Winnsboro, Cherara, S.C. and Fayetteville, N.C.  At Orangeburg our Division had quite a sharp little fight. No one in my Regiment was hurt. Columbia was nearly all burned. Lieut. Col. Rhoads Commanding the 30th Ills. was kicked by a horse a few days since.His leg is badly smashed and it is feared he will not recover .A train of cars came up from Wilmington this morning . The Rail Road from New Berne will be completed in a few days. We are expecting a large mail this evening. This is the fifty fifth day since we left Pocolatigo . During that time we have marched nearly five hundred miles. Feby 25th 10 P.M. Have just learned that I can send a letter off in the morning. Will send this . Give my love to all friends.

Your brother,
D.W.Poak

March 24 - Sherman occupies Goldsboro, North Carolina, ending Carolinas Campaign.

New Hanover County, Wilmington, N.C. “Gen. Schofield’s army on the march for Goldsborough, March 6–rebel works in the rear of Wilmington.” 1865. Frank Leslie’s Illustrated Newspaper, April 1, 1865, p. 20. Neg. 83-198. FP1-10-S72-C582w.

Caption

Visitor. “But don’t you think you might have a little of your hair cut off without spoiling the general effect?”

Golden-haired Lass. “Oh no! I’m keeping it all for the Fair! I’ll have Scissors, you know, and let the Cavaliers cut off little locks of it at the current prices for gold.”

Patrick Ronayne Cleburne, a Confederate General killed in action at Franklin, TN (30 Nov 1864) was born in County Cork , Ireland, March 17, 1828. Patrick was the second son of a physician and his other died when he was just an infant. An orphan by age fifteen, he followed inhis father’s footsteps in the field of medicine. However, he failed to pass the medical exam so he enlisted in the British Army in 1846.

A few years later Cleburne migrated to America settling in Arkansas.  By 1860 he was a was solid citizen practicing law. When the war broke out Cleburne sided with his beloved Arkansas, for whom he was grateful for the opportunity he had been given as a new immigrant.

He would become the Colonel of the 15th Arkansas and promoted to Brigadier General in March 1862. The Irish soldier-leader would go on to serve valiantly in action at Shiloh, Richmond (KY), Perryville, Stones River, north Georgia and eventually at Franklin where he fell mortally wounded on 30 November 1864.

Download the CWPT
Most Endangered 2008 Report
( PDF - 1.52MB)

The new CWPT (Civil War Preservation Trust) report, History Under Seige, not only lists endangered Civil War battlefields in the United States, but it is also a plan for saving these few remaining links to our heritage before encroaching development takes it from us forever.
Did you know that:

• In 2007 CWPT saved more than 1,600 acres including land at Champion Hill, Miss., Shiloh, Tenn., and Petersburg, Va.
• Since 1987 the CWPT has protected more than 25,000 acres at 99 sites in 18 states.

Lt. David W. Poak of the 30th Illinois Volunteer Infantry was at Forts Henry and Donaldson, Corinth, Vicksburg, Atlanta Campaign ,March to the Sea, and the Carolina Campaign . He was awarded a 17th Corps Medal of Honor for the Battle of Atlanta when he was conspicuous in Rallying his men, advancing to the front, encouraging his men,firing muskets rapidly at the enemy, and by his service and gallant example materially assisting in bringing his regiment again into action.

Lt. D.W.Poak
30th Illinois Infantry

HdQrs 1st Brig 3rd Div 17th A.C.
Near Fayetteville,N.C.
Mar.14th,1865

Sister Sadie,

It has been so long since I have written to you that I presume you are getting quite anxious to know something about me. Such being the case I have concluded to pen you a short note and try and send it off with a Refugee train that leaves for Wilmington early tomorrow morning. This is the Forty Forth day that we have been marching and Gen. Sherman says that we have not reached our true base yet so I suppose we have more marching before us yet. We crossed the Cape Fear river last night at Fayetteville and are now encamped about three miles from the river. We expect to move tomorrow morning in the direction of Goldsboro. May have a fight there. We have had a pretty hard Campaign.A good of skirmishing . No hard fighting. The weather was as a general thing very fine. Several boats have been up from Wilmington. They brought up some papers,no letters. I have been well all the time and have enjoyed the trip very much. I was up all night last night crossing the river and feel a little sleepy tonight. I have not time to write more . Remember me  to any enquiring friend,

I remain Your brother,
D. W.Poak

One of the more interesting questions related to blacks serving in the American Civil War is this, did blacks (free or slave) serve in combat roles in the Confederate Army? Unquestionably the historical evidence is strong that some blacks - perhaps several thousand - did serve in the Confederate Army in unofficial, non-combat roles as servants, laborers, teamster, musician, cooks, etc. But the official record is very unsupportive that thousands of blacks served as official soldiers in the ranks of the Southern soldiers’ rosters.

When we use the word official we mean that a black soldier would have been documented through the same paperwork process as a white man would have in terms of enlisting, mustering in or out, and perhaps applying for pension benefits after the war. It is this logistical paperwork process that leaves a trail for historians to study and interpret.

But how strong is the primary historical evidence - letters, diaries, first-hand accounts, military records, etc., - that blacks served in combat roles for the South? It is an important question.

Besides the fact that it is important to preserve accurate history it is also important to “get it right” when it comes to knowing who fought in the Civil War so that these individuals can be properly honored and their place in history duly noted. Some who favor a Southern perspective on the war, particularly defending the proposition that the South did not fight to preserve or defend slavery, have argued that thousands of slaves fought on behalf of the South thereby proving that they were generally supportive of the Southern way of life.

Some people have suggested that as many as 30,000 blacks took on the uniform and actually fought for the South, but does the historical record support that amount? What exactly does the historical record provide us with any kind of confidence to be able to answer this question?

In short, if one sticks solely to the historical record for primary evidence of the black soldier picking up arms and fighting for the South, one can only conclude that the support for such a claim is scanty at best - merely anecdoctal - and entirely unsubstantiated at worst. Instead of the widely claimed and purported number of 30,000 fighting black soldiers for the Confederacy, an honest look at the historical record leads one to the conclusion that as little as under a hundred to as many as several hundred blacks may have actually engaged in combat for the South during the Civil War by actually carrying and discharging a weapon. How to interpret that evidence - or lack thereof - is left to the professional and armchair historians to debate.

It is widely accepted by historians that perhaps as many as 200,000 blacks served in the Union Army. That is a sizable number when one realizes that only 750,000 to 900,000 men even fought for the South during the entire Civil War. According to historian and Professor James I. Robertson, Jr., “Approximately 180,000 blacks served as Federal soldiers. This figure represents 9 percent of the North’s fighting force. One-third of the blacks (68,17 died in the service, with sickness causing thirty times more deaths than battle.” Soldiers Blue and Gray: p. 35.

For the Union side at least, the historical record is fairly definitive and clear: we know that about 9-12% of the Union Army was filled by black troops, depending on if one goes with the figure of 180,000 or 200,000 black Union troops serving. Black Union soldiers participated in at least 41 major battles and roughly 450 smaller actions. 37,000 black Union soldiers died in the Civil War. Though early black troops were not aggressively deployed as bearers of arms, it is the case that by the middle of the war, at least, more and more black Union troops were entrusted to carry arms and to perform in combat action.

CWG has discovered that historians and staff - notably Robert Krick - at Spotsylvania National Battlefield Park have sifted through about 100,000 soldiers’ records to see how many non-whites were represented. Non-whites could be blacks, Native Americans, and mulattoes. They found that only 20-30 non-whites were found out of 100,000 soldiers’ records. That is less than 1/300th of one percent. Taking into account that the following estimate involves more conjecture than a good historian would be comfortable with applying to acceptable methods of reliable historical inquiry, one can still get a fairly solid “finger in the air” estimate that if that same ratio of 1/300th was applied to the figure-range of 750,000 - 900,000 Confederates serving during the war from 1861-1865, then one could only reasonably conclude that, at best, between 250-300 black soldiers may have served in the Confederate Army, and of those an even much smaller percentage would have been entrusted to take up arms.

This might seem surprising but a leading Civil War historian, Professor James McPherson, who won a Pulitzer prize for a Civil War book he wrote, has gone on record to say that of the more than 25,000 soldiers’ letters he has personally read over the years, he has only found evidence that perhaps 6-12 black Confederate soldiers were even mentioned.

The reality is this, looking at the historical record itself when it comes to answering the question - did many black men, free or slave, take up arms for Confederacy - one can only confidently say that perhaps a few, maybe scores, did but anything beyond that is highly conjectural and suspect. The larger the number of fighting black Confederates grows by one who would purport that thousands, even tens of thousands of blacks actually carried arms and faced combat during the Civil War, the more any objective observer would have to wonder what his or her agenda really was.

The best evidence that blacks even served in the butternut uniform as official soldiers is suggested by records related to some blacks serving in a regiment from Louisiana and one perhaps from South Carolina.

Civil War Gazette (CWG) turned to a couple leading Civil War historians to address the question, how many blacks actually took up arms and fought for the South?

CWG asked Professor and Civil War historian-author Steven Woodworth about the number of blacks who fought for the Confederacy:

“It would be hard to prove that absolutely zero blacks fought in the Confederate army, but I think it must have approached that level. I wonder if “non-white” includes American Indians. I suspect it does and further suspect that American Indians would have been much more prevalent than blacks in Confederate ranks. I haven’t kept a count of how many Civil War soldiers’ diaries and letters I’ve read–I guess it has been quite a few–but I’ve never come across a single instance of a black serving in the Confederate army. Whatever may have been the number of blacks serving and actually fighting as soldiers in the Confederate army, it must have been a minuscule percentage–completely insignificant for anyone trying to make the argument that blacks saw the conflict as a war of Yankee aggression, felt it was their war too, and joined up to fight for the Confederacy. That’s just a fairy tale.”

CWG also asked Civil War author and historian Wiley Sword about blacks serving in the Confederate army as soldiers:

“The majority of black Confederates who actually fought were essentially with the army as servants or personal attendants for officers. This was especially true in the initial part of the war (1861-62), I have read occasionally about these slave/servants taking up a rifle and fighting in the ranks with their master. Otherwise, various mulattoes or persons with light complexions may have been directly enrolled in the army. Since it was against C.S.A. policy to enlist blacks in the fighting army (until the very last
in 1865), I doubt if formal records will show the extent of black combat participation. I’m convinced some did fight, but how many is a very subjective guess.”

For further reading on the role of blacks serving in the Confederacy check out:

• Black Southerners in Gray, Essays on Afro-Americans in the Confederate Armies, edited by Richard Rollins
• The Journal of Confederate History Series, Vol. XI, published in 1994 by Southern Heritage Press, Murfreesboro, Tenn.
• “Blacks in Gray”, by Jason H. Silverman. North & South Magazine, Vol 5, Number 3, April 2002: 35-45.
• “Black Confederates”, by Bruce Levine. North & South Magazine, Vol 10, Number 2, July 2007: 40-47.
• “United States Color Troops”, by Gregory J.W. Urwin in Encyclopedia of the American Civil War, edited by Heidler and Heidler: 2002-2003.
• “African-American Soldiers, C.S.A.”, by Frank E. Deserino in Encyclopedia of the American Civil War, edited by Heidler and Heidler: 16-18.
• “African Americans in the Confederacy”, by Edgar A. Toppin in Encyclopedia of the Confederacy, Volume One. Edited by Current: pages

Desperate now, Confederate Congress approves using black troops in combat.

The Civil War Gazette Civil War Timeline is a linear, chronological look at the important events related to the American Civil War, fought between April 1861 and April 1865. The timeline includes major battles and skirmishes, significant political events impacting the war, deaths of major military figures, as well as details of important battles including casualty numbers.

U.S. article of war forbids Union army officers from returning fugitive slaves to their masters, March 12, 1862.

The Civil War Gazette Civil War Timeline is a linear, chronological look at the important events related to the American Civil War, fought between April 1861 and April 1865. The timeline includes major battles and skirmishes, significant political events impacting the war, deaths of major military figures, as well as details of important battles including casualty numbers.

What if you could sit down and talk to a woman who was the daughter of a prominent plantation owner? Well, we did.

Her name is Nancy Bostick  De Sausssure  (1837-1915) and she was one of twelve children born to a prominent plantation owner in Hampton County, South Carolina. She was educated at home by private tutors and took music lessons in Charleston, where she met Henry William De Saussure. They married in 1859 and settled in Robertville, South Carolina, a central location from which Dr. De Saussure found it easier to visit patients.

We created a “fictional” interview with Mrs. De Saussure by excerpting actual statements she left in her journals and diaries. The lengthy, interesting and insightful interview can be found in full here.

This is a fascinating interview. In it, you will learn things like:

• What life was like for slaves on a real plantation during the Civil War?
• How were slaves cared for medically?
• Was there a master-slave attachment?
• Were de Saussure’s slaves treated well?
• What was it like to personally observe the firing upon Ft. Sumter?
• How did Charlestonians feel about the war?
• What kind of destruction and ruin did Charlestonians experience?
• And many more interesting questions answered by a personal witness who was just 24 years old in 1861.

To read the entire interview click here.

“What is to prevent a daily newspaper from being made the greatest organ of social life? Books have had their day - the theaters have had their day - the temple of religion has had its day. A newspaper can be made to take the lead of all these in the great movements of human thought and of human civilization. A newspaper can send more souls to Heaven, and save more souls from Hell, than all the churches or chapels in New York - besides making money at the same time.”

James Gordon Bennett, editor, The New York Herald
Written in 1835

Samuel Bowles, editor-publisher of the Springfield Republican, wrote these words in 1851

The brilliant mission of the newspaper is . . . . to be, the high priest of history, the vitalizer of society, the world’s great informer, the earth’s high censor, the medium of public thought and opinion, and the circulating life blood of the whole human mind. It is the great enemy of tyrants and the right arm of liberty, and is destined, more than any other agency, to melt and mold the jarring and contending nations of the world into . . . one great brotherhood . . . .

Source: quoted in Blue & Gray in Black & White, p. 3, 4

March 10 – Faced with an estimated 125,000 deserters, Lincoln issues a general amnesty for all who will report back to duty.

The execution of a Civil War Deserter, from Frank Leslie’s The Soldier in Our Civil War , 1893

 

The Civil War Gazette Civil War Timeline is a linear, chronological look at the important events related to the American Civil War, fought between April 1861 and April 1865. The timeline includes major battles and skirmishes, significant political events impacting the war, deaths of major military figures, as well as details of important battles including casualty numbers.

Lt. David W. Poak of the 30th Illinois Volunteer Infantry was at Forts Henry and Donaldson, Corinth, Vicksburg, Atlanta Campaign , March to the Sea, and the Carolina Campaign . He was awarded a 17th Corps Medal of Honor for the Battle of Atlanta when he was conspicuous in Rallying his men, advancing to the front, encouraging his men,firing muskets rapidly at the enemy, and by his service and gallant example materially assisting in bringing his regiment again into action.

HdQrs 30th Ill Infy
On Board Str Gladiater

Mar.10th, 1864

Dear Sister Sadie,

I take my pen this evening to drop you a few hasty lines. I can report to you my safe return from the expedition to Meridian under Gen. Sherman. We were gone just one month. Had some very hard marching and short rations. We returned to Vicksburg on the 3rd and are now on our way to Illinois . We expect to arrive at Cairo tonight or early tomorrow morning. I do not know whether I will be in Penn this time or not . It will depend a good deal on circumstances. The orderly of Co.”A” was severely wounded in a skirmish near Clinton Miss. He is recovering slowly. Nothing more. Write soon and address Aledo .

Your brother,

D W.P. /
P.S. I guess Robt. Tait will not want six cents in this. D.W.P.

March 9 - Ulysses S. Grant receives formal promotion to Lt. General, the highest rank, only previously held by President George Washington.

The Civil War Gazette Civil War Timeline is a linear, chronological look at the important events related to the American Civil War, fought between April 1861 and April 1865. The timeline includes major battles and skirmishes, significant political events impacting the war, deaths of major military figures, as well as details of important battles including casualty numbers.

March 8/9 - Confederate iron-clad C.S.S. Virginia (formerly U.S.S. Merrimack) sinks two wooden Federal ships and runs others aground near Hampton Roads, Virginia. March 9th the C.S.S. Virginia duels with the U.S.S. Monitor to a draw. Dueling iron-clads will change naval history forever.

The Civil War Gazette Civil War Timeline is a linear, chronological look at the important events related to the American Civil War, fought between April 1861 and April 1865. The timeline includes major battles and skirmishes, significant political events impacting the war, deaths of major military figures, as well as details of important battles including casualty numbers.

March 8 - Lincoln demotes McClellan to commander of just Army of the Potomac due to his cautiousness of prosecuting the Union war effort.

Antietam, Md. President Lincoln with Gen. George B. McClellan
and group of officers. [October 3, 1862]
Gardner, Alexander, 1821-1882, photographer.
Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs
Division, [reproduction number, e.g., LC-B8184-3287]

The Civil War Gazette Civil War Timeline is a linear, chronological look at the important events related to the American Civil War, fought between April 1861 and April 1865. The timeline includes major battles and skirmishes, significant political events impacting the war, deaths of major military figures, as well as details of important battles including casualty numbers.

March 7/8 - Battle of Pea Ridge (Arkansas), also known as Elkhorn Tavern, is a Union victory and helps keep Missouri a Union State.

 From the March 29, 1862 edition of Harper’s Weekly

THE BATTLE OF PEA RIDGE.

WE devote page 196 to an illustration of the great battle won by General Curtis at PEA RIDGE, ARKANSAS, on 6th, 7th, and 8th March. The official report of General Curtis is as follows:

HEAD-QUARTERS, ARMY OF THE SOUTHWEST,

PEA RIDGE, ARKANSAS, March 9, 1861.

GENERAL,—On Thursday, the 6th inst., the enemy commenced an attack on my right wing, assailing and following the rear-guard of a detachment under General Siegel to my main lines on Sugar Creek Hollow, but ceased firing when he met my reinforcements about four P. M.

During the night I became convinced that he had moved on so as to attack my right or rear, therefore early on the 7th I ordered a change of front to the right, my right, which thus became my left, still resting on Sugar Creek Hollow. This brought my line across Pea Ridge, with my new right resting on Head Cross Timber Hollow, which is the head of Big Sugar Creek. I also ordered an immediate advance of the cavalry and light artillery, under Colonel Osterhaus, with orders to attack and break what I supposed would be the reinforced line of the enemy. This movement was in progress when the enemy, at eleven A. M., commenced an attack on my right. The fight continued mainly at these points during the day, the enemy having gained the point held by the command of Colonel Carr, at Cross Timber Hollow, but was entirely repulsed, with the fall of the commander, McCulloch, in the centre,

Full article 

THE BATTLE OF PEA RIDGE, ARKANSAS-THE FINAL ADVANCE OF OUR TROOPS, MARCH 8, 1862.-[SEE PAGE 202.]

The Civil War Gazette Civil War Timeline is a linear, chronological look at the important events related to the American Civil War, fought between April 1861 and April 1865. The timeline includes major battles and skirmishes, significant political events impacting the war, deaths of major military figures, as well as details of important battles including casualty numbers.

March 6 - The new Confederate Congress authorizes the use of 100,000 volunteer soldiers for twelve months.

Confederate States Capitol (1865)

The Civil War Gazette Civil War Timeline is a linear, chronological look at the important events related to the American Civil War, fought between April 1861 and April 1865. The timeline includes major battles and skirmishes, significant political events impacting the war, deaths of major military figures, as well as details of important battles including casualty numbers.

“Defeat was the best thing that could have happened to us; for it humbled us and made us make better preparations which led in time to a final victory.”

Col. Oliver O. Howard, Union Brigade Commander

Lincoln gives his Second Inaugural Address.

Fellow-Countrymen:

AT this second appearing to take the oath of the Presidential office there is less occasion for an extended address than there was at the first. Then a statement somewhat in detail of a course to be pursued seemed fitting and proper. Now, at the expiration of four years, during which public declarations have been constantly called forth on every point and phase of the great contest which still absorbs the attention and engrosses the energies of the nation, little that is new could be presented. The progress of our arms, upon which all else chiefly depends, is as well known to the public as to myself, and it is, I trust, reasonably satisfactory and encouraging to all. With high hope for the future, no prediction in regard to it is ventured.       1

On the occasion corresponding to this four years ago all thoughts were anxiously directed to an impending civil war. All dreaded it, all sought to avert it. While the inaugural address was being delivered from this place, devoted altogether to saving the Union without war, urgent agents were in the city seeking to destroy it without war—seeking to dissolve the Union and divide effects by negotiation. Both parties deprecated war, but one of them would make war rather than let the nation survive, and the other would accept war rather than let it perish, and the war came.    2
One-eighth of the whole population were colored slaves, not distributed generally over the Union, but localized in the southern part of it. These slaves constituted a peculiar and powerful interest. All knew that this interest was somehow the cause of the war. To strengthen, perpetuate, and extend this interest was the object for which the insurgents would rend the Union even by war, while the Government claimed no right to do more than to restrict the territorial enlargement of it. Neither party expected for the war the magnitude or the duration which it has already attained. Neither anticipated that the cause of the conflict might cease with or even before the conflict itself should cease. Each looked for an easier triumph, and a result less fundamental and astounding. Both read the same Bible and pray to the same God, and each invokes His aid against the other. It may seem strange that any men should dare to ask a just God’s assistance in wringing their bread from the sweat of other men’s faces, but let us judge not, that we be not judged. The prayers of both could not be answered. That of neither has been answered fully. The Almighty has His own purposes. “Woe unto the world because of offenses; for it must needs be that offenses come, but woe to that man by whom the offense cometh.” If we shall suppose that American slavery is one of those offenses which, in the providence of God, must needs come, but which, having continued through His appointed time, He now wills to remove, and that He gives to both North and South this terrible war as the woe due to those by whom the offense came, shall we discern therein any departure from those divine attributes which the believers in a living God always ascribe to Him? Fondly do we hope, fervently do we pray, that this mighty scourge of war may speedily pass away. Yet, if God wills that it continue until all the wealth piled by the bondsman’s two hundred and fifty years of unrequited toil shall be sunk, and until every drop of blood drawn with the lash shall be paid by another drawn with the sword, as was said three thousand years ago, so still it must be said “the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.”    3
With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in, to bind up the nation’s wounds, to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan, to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations.

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The Civil War Gazette Civil War Timeline is a linear, chronological look at the important events related to the American Civil War, fought between April 1861 and April 1865. The timeline includes major battles and skirmishes, significant political events impacting the war, deaths of major military figures, as well as details of important battles including casualty numbers.

March 4 - Abraham Lincoln is inaugurated.

The Civil War Gazette Civil War Timeline is a linear, chronological look at the important events related to the American Civil War, fought between April 1861 and April 1865. The timeline includes major battles and skirmishes, significant political events impacting the war, deaths of major military figures, as well as details of important battles including casualty numbers.

Harper’s Weekly, April 27, 1861

March 3 - Congress passes the Conscription Act, calling for the enlistment in military service of all able-bodied males between 20 and 45 years of age for terms of three years.

March 6 - white mobs in Detroit riot in the black section of the city, killing several blacks.

March 10 – Faced with an estimated 125,000 deserters, Lincoln issues a general amnesty for all who will report back to duty.

The Civil War Gazette Civil War Timeline is a linear, chronological look at the important events related to the American Civil War, fought between April 1861 and April 1865. The timeline includes major battles and skirmishes, significant political events impacting the war, deaths of major military figures, as well as details of important battles including casualty numbers.

The execution of a Civil War Deserter, from Frank Leslie’s The Soldier in Our Civil War , 1893

Links to some online articles related to Mississippi Civil War action:

• Battle of Corinth
  The strategic railroad town of Corinth was a key target for Confederate armies hoping to march north in support of General Braxton Bragg’s invasion of Kentucky. By Robert Collins Suhr

 

March 3 – Union Congress creates the Freedmen’s Bureau.

    The involvement of the Freedmen’s Bureau in the establishment of African-American family structure is rarely discussed as one of the Bureau’s major activities. Although the Bureau is though of having been ineffective overall, many historians credit the Bureau for having succeeded in the provid ing freedmen with education and the power of negotiating fair labor contracts. These two services are often cited because the right to education and the right to cho ose one’s employment are commonly thought of as the two most important rights that were denied to slaves. However, the cruelest aspect of slavery may have been the denial of a slave’s right to a secure family structure.

Full article 

The Civil War Gazette Civil War Timeline is a linear, chronological look at the important events related to the American Civil War, fought between April 1861 and April 1865. The timeline includes major battles and skirmishes, significant political events impacting the war, deaths of major military figures, as well as details of important battles including casualty numbers.

Congress passes the Conscription Act March 3, 1863, calling for the enlistment in military service of all able-bodied males between 20 and 45 years of age for terms of three years.

HARPER’S WEEKLY.
SATURDAY, JULY 25, 1863.
THE DRAFT.

THE attempt to enforce the draft in the city of New York has led to rioting. Men have been killed and houses burned; worst of all, an orphan asylum—a noble monument of charity for the reception of colored orphans—has been ruthlessly destroyed, and children and nurses have lost every thing they had in the world.

The event should cause no surprise. It should have been anticipated. It was not reasonable to expect that the operatives of this large city—who have never been forced to realize the obligations of citizenship—should at once realize what is thoroughly understood by the people of almost every European town. It will take time to make them understand that every government must, for its own protection, enjoy the power of compelling its citizens to perform military service. And it will take still more time, reflection, and information to satisfy them that the Conscription Act passed at the last session of Congress is in reality fair, liberal, and humane; that it is far more generous to the operative class than the conscription laws of Europe, inasmuch as it tenderly guards orphans, widows, and aged parents from being deprived of their natural support, while it exempts very few indeed of the wealthier class.

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“Faith in God became the single greatest institution in the maintenance of morale in the armies. To the devout soldier, religion was the connecting link between camp life and home. As he prayed and sang hymns of praise, his thoughts could not help but wander to his home church wherein he felt a mother, a father, a wife, or a child might be united with him in asking for his speedy return.”

Cited in Soldiers Blue and Gray, Robertson: p. 172

March 2 – U.S. Grant named General-in-Chief of Union armies.

The Civil War Gazette Civil War Timeline is a linear, chronological look at the important events related to the American Civil War, fought between April 1861 and April 1865. The timeline includes major battles and skirmishes, significant political events impacting the war, deaths of major military figures, as well as details of important battles including casualty numbers.

U.S. Grant

March 1862

March 7/8 - Battle of Pea Ridge (Arkansas), also known as Elkhorn Tavern, is a Union victory and helps keep Missouri a Union State.

March 8 - Lincoln demotes McClellan to commander of just Army of the Potomac due to his cautiousness of prosecuting the Union war effort.

March 8/9 - Confederate iron-clad C.S.S. Virginia (formerly U.S.S. Merrimack) sinks two wooden Federal ships and runs others aground near Hampton Roads, Virginia. March 9th the C.S.S. Virginia duels with the U.S.S. Monitor to a draw. Dueling iron-clads will change naval history forever.

March 13 - U.S. article of war forbids Union army officers from returning fugitive slaves to their masters.

March 23 - Stonewall Jackson suffers a tactical defeat at the first battle of Kernstown in opening Shenandoah Valley Campaign.

The Civil War Gazette Civil War Timeline is a linear, chronological look at the important events related to the American Civil War, fought between April 1861 and April 1865. The timeline includes major battles and skirmishes, significant political events impacting the war, deaths of major military figures, as well as details of important battles including casualty numbers.

Image credit: Library of Congress

Parades and reviews offered units a formal opportunity to display their abilities, and they usually engendered patriotism and pride. A sergeant in the 105th Illinois wrote his sister of a recent parade.

“It was a fine sight to see them all dressed in clean uniforms and bright arms marching to the music of four splendid brass bands . . . Oh! who would not be a soldier. I would sell a small farm to become a soldier if I could not be one any other way.”

Cited in Soldiers Blue and Gray, Robertson: p. 52.

Details from authentic soldier’s letter:

Camp griffin Virginia Oct 26th 1861

Dear Parents tis sum cold hear now but it aint so cold as it has ben. Night before last there was the largest frost that I ever see in Brandon at this time of the year. It rains here every other day about and then it is cold .

Today is a division Review of 30 thousand men and yestaday was a Breagod ( Brigade) Drill and the day before was a General review but today I got out of it for I am on Picket Guard three miles from camp, and I can hear this very minute the Rebels Drums and guns too… they don’t say eney mor about the war hear than they do up there. If they say eney thing it is how long is it before I can fight the dam Rebbels and that is my mind to. But we will give them fights bfore long to and you will hear the guns roar up there to and they will be another Bulls run but the Bulls will run the other way… Tell mother not to fret about me for I am as safe as a mouse in the mill. Take all the comfort she can to… to have a dance this winter for Abe to and dance like the devil..

No more at present,

Yours John W Pitridge

Note: John W. Pitridge, U.S. Army Co. H. 5th Regiment Vermont Volunteer Infantry

March 1864

March 2 – U.S. Grant named General-in-Chief of Union armies.

March 9 - Ulysses S. Grant receives formal promotion to Lt. General, the highest rank, only previously held by President George Washington.

March 18 - William T. Sherman assumes command of Union forces in the West.

March 25 - Union General Banks begins Red River campaign.

The Civil War Gazette Civil War Timeline is a linear, chronological look at the important events related to the American Civil War, fought between April 1861 and April 1865. The timeline includes major battles and skirmishes, significant political events impacting the war, deaths of major military figures, as well as details of important battles including casualty numbers.

U.S. Grant

March 1861

March 4 - Abraham Lincoln is inaugurated.

March 6 - The new