Category Archives: Military Matters

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lotta hate going around

“I hate victims who respect their executioners.” – Jean-Paul Sartre 150 years ago a Southern newspaper tried to reconcile rebel guerrilla attacks against civilians with notions of Southern chivalry. How to do it? Blame the Yankees- William Quantrill and his … Continue reading

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handoff in Dalton

“In an emotional ceremony, General Braxton Bragg surrenders command of the Army of Tennessee to General William J. Hardee at Dalton, Georgia” From the Richmond Daily Dispatch December 8, 1863: Farewell order of Gen. Bragg. The following is Gen. Bragg’s … Continue reading

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138 miles

After their victory at Chattanooga Federal troops pursued the retreating rebels into Georgia. 150 years ago today the “Sallust” correspondent of the Richmond Daily Dispatch telegraphed home a description of the situation. It was published last in a series of … Continue reading

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“glorious victory”

The only extant cutting in the Seneca Falls, New York library’s big notebook of Civil War local newspaper clippings regarding the late November battles around Chattanooga is a reproduction of General Montgomery C. Meigs’ official report to Secretary of War … Continue reading

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pasteboard nation

From Harper’s Weekly November 21, 1863: A QUESTION OF ENDURANCE. THE war has now reached a point at which the continued resistance of the rebels is a mere question of endurance. They are suffering privations as severe as were ever … Continue reading

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“axes and shovels are in demand”

Tools of War From a Seneca County, New York newspaper in 1863: From the 1st Veteran Cavalry. CAMP STONEMAN, D.C., Nov. 21st, 1863. FRIEND STOWELL: – Although nothing extraordinary has transpired to disturb the even tenor of our camp-life during … Continue reading

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fulcrum point?

Ever more Yankees, including General Grant, were concentrating at Chattanooga. This Richmond editorial knew the North was going to attack and hoped that if the South won it would break “the backbone of the war.” Otherwise, “the South will be … Continue reading

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brief

150 years ago this month Joseph E. Johnston was in charge of the Confederate Departments of Alabama and Mississippi. Apparently he had enough time on his hands to make (tiny) speeches. From the Richmond Daily Dispatch November 14, 1863: Gen. … Continue reading

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and yet so far

Going on three years now Charleston and especially Fort Sumter have been hugely symbolic (New York City Republicans fired a “miniature Fort Sumter” at a Washington’s birthday celebration back in 1861). The Union has been banging away all year, but … Continue reading

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