Are there any US Civil War buffs here on the board?

[Phillydog1958]

Another interesting point about the Civil War is that many of the general officers who fought for the Confederacy and the Union were West Point grads. Many of them knew one another and were classmates. They had an allegiance to the prestigious school, but had to choose sides. Another point was that the Union was losing the war. Lincoln eventually had to relieve his Commanding General -- George McClellan, who was deemed incompetent. He struggled to find the right leader who could give, "The Old Man" Robert E. Lee a true fight. Eventually, he found Grant. There were quite a few generals who were relieved of duty.

 

[Rick M]

Another interesting point about the Civil War is that many of the general officers who fought for the Confederacy and the Union were West Point grads. Many of them new one another and were classmates. They had an allegiance to the prestigious school, but had to choose sides. Another point was that the Union was losing the war. Lincoln eventually had to relieve his Commanding General -- George McClellan, who was deemed incompetent. He struggled to find the right leader who could give, "The Old Man" Robert E. Lee a true fight. Eventually, he found Grant. There were quite a few generals who were relieved of duty.

Lee is what made me a fan of the South, what he did with so little! Could you imagine if he had the material of the North at his disposal? We would have a different flag today!

 

[Phillydog1958]

Philly - have you read much on the antebellum South and so-called "barnburners" secessionists of that time? I can't help but notice the similarity between the barnburners dialogue with that of the current day Tea party. Don't get me wrong, I'm not comparing their cause to that of slavery but their hyperbola and polemics do have some similar qualities that's hard not to miss.

And yes, this time period in US history still remains fascinating for a lot of us history buffs. I don't think there's any other war in which there are so many people willing to dress up and reenact specific battles. A quick measure of the number of books written about this war clearly outnumbers any other event in US history. It's interesting to note that history's retelling of this war has changed several times over the last 150 yrs and it seems the Southern revisionists story has run its ground and the pendulum has swung back again to slavery as the root cause again. With that in mind, I'm curious to read Shelby Foote's "Civil War narrative". But before I do, I'd like to have a very firm grip on the facts first. Have you read Foote's books yet, by chance?

I think there could be a correlation between Tea Party dialogue and the philosophy of some of the old southerners of the Confederacy. As with all politics, there is always the need to try to appeal to the various voting factions, through emotion. We know that most people vote through emotion. Some politicians appeal to religious groups. Some appeal to emotional hot topics such as abortion, immigration, etc . . .. I don't know much about the Tea Party, except for what I see and read in the media, but I don't doubt that there might be a segment of Tea Party members who wish they were in Dixie. I saw a photo op of a man holding a Confederate flag at a recent Tea Party rally. I don't want to offend any Tea Party members who might frequent this forum. It's purely opinion. I won't say anymore about that.

 

[Phillydog1958]

Lee is what made me a fan of the South, what he did with so little! Could you imagine if he had the material of the North at his disposal? We would have a different flag today!

They say that Lee was a top-notch student, while at West Point. His classmates spoke highly of him. He had a tactical mind. (Teacher's pet )

 

[Phillydog1958]

Philly - have you read much on the antebellum South and so-called "barnburners" secessionists of that time? I can't help but notice the similarity between the barnburners dialogue with that of the current day Tea party. Don't get me wrong, I'm not comparing their cause to that of slavery but their hyperbola and polemics do have some similar qualities that's hard not to miss.

And yes, this time period in US history still remains fascinating for a lot of us history buffs. I don't think there's any other war in which there are so many people willing to dress up and reenact specific battles. A quick measure of the number of books written about this war clearly outnumbers any other event in US history. It's interesting to note that history's retelling of this war has changed several times over the last 150 yrs and it seems the Southern revisionists story has run its ground and the pendulum has swung back again to slavery as the root cause again. With that in mind, I'm curious to read Shelby Foote's "Civil War narrative". But before I do, I'd like to have a very firm grip on the facts first. Have you read Foote's books yet, by chance?

I haven't read any of Shelby Foote's books, but I've seen him discuss the War on several Civil War documentaries. He's always on the History Channel. He's blunt, articulate and I love his southern accent. He's a great storyteller. I have much respect for him and I will seek out his book. Thanks for the recommendation. UPDATE: I just searched out Shelby Foote. He died in 2005. I didn't know that. None the less, he WAS impressive.

 

[Alan]

OK History Buffs today in 1864 Sherman began his march to the sea. He had split his army in two and sent half back from Atlanta to Nashville to deal with what was left of Gen Hoods army, whom he had defeated to take Atlanta. He told Grant that he would not send any dispatches but that Grant should trust the Richmond paper to keep him well advised. On Dec 22nd he sent this dispatch to Lincoln “I beg to present you as a Christmas gift, the city of Savannah, with one hundred and fifty heavy guns and plenty of ammunition, and also about twenty-five thousand bales of cotton.”

 

[Phillydog1958]

OK History Buffs today in 1864 Sherman began his march to the sea. He had split his army in two and sent half back from Atlanta to Nashville to deal with what was left of Gen Hoods army, whom he had defeated to take Atlanta. He told Grant that he would not send any dispatches but that Grant should trust the Richmond paper to keep him well advised. On Dec 22nd he sent this dispatch to Lincoln “I beg to present you as a Christmas gift, the city of Savannah, with one hundred and fifty heavy guns and plenty of ammunition, and also about twenty-five thousand bales of cotton.”

I'll be in the fair city of Savannah next week. They say that Sherman's march destroyed the south and it took them a long time to recover from it. He wrapped railroad tracks around telegraph poles, took out bridges and some. He devastated Georgia. Good stuff, Alan. Thanks.

 

[Alan]

Had to dig out one of my back up drives to find this shot. It is a solid shot shell in the wall at Ft Sumter SC.

 

[Browncoat]

Don, I understand how they got here, that's not really the question. I want to know why blacks and not Chinese or Arabs or better yet Indians? With Indians you wouldn't have nearly as many issues with getting them to the new world and all the numbers who died along the way.

Some European nations (Spain in particular) DID enslave Indians who were captured. Some Indian tribes also practiced slavery themselves, or captured slaves to be sold to European traders. None of this was on a very wide scale, though. Social classes is a very European ideal.

Part of the reason was that even though the Indians were "savages", they were still largely perceived as nomadic warrior-types versus being potential slaves. The African tribal slaves arrived here on a boat. They too were nomadic warrior-types, but the Europeans who lived here never saw them that way. They were just goods shipped from overseas like coffee, tea, or beans, just like any other commodity. But the Indians were well known to be a fiercely proud people, and some tribes were downright dangerous.

 

[Whiskeyman]

On another note years ago when I was researching Lee's surrender I found a series of books on The War Of Rebellion. In there were copies of the letters between Grant and Lee. They are interesting to read and a look at the thoughts of these two men. I always find reading peoples own words much better than reading the history someone else wrote about them.

Another example is that Meade felt he was going to be defeated at Gettysburg. On the third day he pretty much fled Gettysburg when the bombardment began and when he returned was surprised to find the army had repulsed the attack. You don't find that much in the history books.

I digress...The Lee letters are now online here
Grant & Lee:

The books you reference are likely the official history of the US Archives: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies. It contains "all" of the official records of the Union and Confederate armies.

My dad, a longtime & serious US Civil War history student, has a set that fills one-half of the wall in his home library. He uses it as the definitive reference for matters on battles of the US Civil War. Many collegiate libraries have several copies in their reference sections if you wish to read some of the contents. I suppose parts it might be available online.

WM

 

[john*thomas]

This is far from a great photograph. Despite what it looks like it was very dark and the only available light is from the moon on the backside of the hill. I couldn't really see what I was doing but this is a photo of Fort Boreman hill. During the Civil War there was a fort built there to protect the railroad. It's not a well known civil war site as there was no large battle but for me it's at least easily accessible.

Technically it's closed after dark so I really wasn't even actually there.

 

[Phillydog1958]

This is far from a great photograph. Despite what it looks like it was very dark and the only available light is from the moon on the backside of the hill. I couldn't really see what I was doing but this is a photo of Fort Boreman hill. During the Civil War there was a fort built there to protect the railroad. It's not a well known civil war site as there was no large battle but for me it's at least easily accessible.

Technically it's closed after dark so I really wasn't even actually there.

View attachment 59565

Thanks and nice photo. I just searched Boreman Hill. I'd not heard of it prior to your posting. You're correct. There were many small-scale battles during the Civil War. Now we know of Fort Boreman Hill.

 

[Alan]

The books you reference are likely the official history of the US Archives: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies. It contains "all" of the official records of the Union and Confederate armies.

My dad, a longtime & serious US Civil War history student, has a set that fills one-half of the wall in his home library. He uses it as the definitive reference for matters on battles of the US Civil War. Many collegiate libraries have several copies in their reference sections if you wish to read some of the contents. I suppose parts it might be available online.
WM

That would be the set. I found them in a State University Library that I lived near at the time.

 

[Alan]

A couple items that have been passed on to my son. These belonged to my Great Grandfather who served in the 141st Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry in John Sickles Corp.

 

[Alan]

Seven score and ten years ago today President Lincoln delivered his Gettysburg Address at the new National Cemetery.