Recess

Posted on May 15, 2013 by SUMPTER

This war sure has been hell, but 150 years ago today a Richmond editorial took a break from battle and advocated a kinder, gentler approach to educating young Confederate citizens.

From the Richmond Daily Dispatch May 15, 1863:

Don’t snub the child.

–Many a child has been wilted into silence and frightened out of success simply by being snubbed. It is very easy to snub a child; equally easy to encourage the child and lead him to the accomplishment of something useful. Children have strong sympathies, warm and tender hearts.–They soon form attachments to those who are placed in authority over them, or else they regard them with a feeling very nearly allied to hatred. What child ever loved a cross, snappish teacher? What child ever hated a teacher or parent who showed a loving interest in the child’s success?

Very easy, indeed, is it to discourage the little student. He has spent an hour or two at home over a lesson which seems dull to him. Father, mother, and the big brothers not being well versed on the subject, give him no assistance. He goes to school, hoping that he will make a very good recitation. He is not quite up to the mark. “Dunce,” “booby, ” “blockhead,” says the unwise teacher. The poor little fellow’s heart sinks all the way to his ankles. What use is there of his trying? He is a booby. Why should he learn anything? Has not his teacher, who certainly knows him, told him he is a dunce? Is not his head made of mahogany? He despairs of ever succeeding; sits down in a fit of despondency, and makes a positive failure in his lesson for the next day. Had the teacher encouraged him a little, kindly pointed out to him his faults right, he might have come the next day with a marry heart, a cheerful face, and a learned lesson.

An old fashioned boys' school, 1905 (c.1905; LOC: LC-USZ62-37935)

who are you calling a dunce?

Posted in 150 Years Ago This Week, Confederate States of America, Southern Society | Leave a comment

Looking for ‘Loyal’ Women

Posted on May 14, 2013 by SUMPTER
Elizabeth Cady Stanton and her daughter, Harriot--from a daguerreotype 1856 (between 1890 and 1910 of daguerreotype taken 1856; LOC: LC-USZ62-48965)

Elizabeth Cady Stanton in 1856

From a Seneca County, New York newspaper in 1863:

A Call for Loyal Women.

Mrs. ELIZABETH CADY STANTON, familiarly known to the citizens of our village, is out with a call for a meeting of the “loyal women of the nation,” to be held in New York, on Thursday, May 14th. The call is published in the Tribune, and appeals most impassionately to strong-minded women, whose husbands are Abolitionists, to come out and assist in reviving the slumbering patriotism of the home circle. This is the last call to the chivalrous Wide Awakes of the North, who do not volunteer to fight the rebels for the abolition of slavery. The Abolition women are determined to shame the Abolition men into acton, hence the stirring appeal of Sister STANTON. We indulge in the liveliest hopes that this movement will result in great good, and that Mrs. STANTON’s able-bodied husband, and sons, who are now drawing large salaries as attachees of the New York Custom House, may be induced to volunteer, and that, too, without delay.

Elizabeth Cady Stanton, halftone repr. of 1848 photo with her sons, Daniel and Henry (1848; LOC: LC-USZ62-50821)

Seneca Falls 48er

Elizabeth Cady Stanton was “familiarly known” to the people of Seneca Falls, New York because she lived there for a time and “Her Declaration of Sentiments, presented at the first women’s rights convention held in 1848 in Seneca Falls, New York, is often credited with initiating the first organized women’s rights and women’s suffrage movements in the United States.”

The Woman’s National Loyal League was indeed formed in New York City on May 14, 1863 “to organize support for an amendment to the U.S. Constitution that would abolish slavery.” Susan B. Anthony was Elizabeth Cady Stanton’s co-founder of the organizational meeting:

The League was the first national women’s political organization in the United States. Stanton and Anthony laid the groundwork for it by publishing an “Appeal to the Women of the Republic” in the New York Tribune, an influential newspaper that opposed slavery. They then circulated the Appeal as a tract that included the call for the convention.

On the following day The New-York Times published a long report on the meeting. Susan B. Anthony laid out a series of resolutions that expressed why women have a strong interest in supporting the war of freedom versus slavery. Elizabeth Cady Stanton spoke at the beginning of the meeting. She probably fired up the meeting by suggesting that after the war America should colonize Africa – with ex-slaveowners and Copperheads.

From The New-York Times May 15, 1863:

THE LADIES’ LEAGUE.; Meetings at Dr. Cheever’s Church and Cooper Institute Addresses by Miss Susan B. Anthony, Lucy Stone, Mrs. Anteinette BrownBlackwell, Ernestine L. Rose and Others. SPEECH OF ELIZABETH CADY STANTON. SPEECH OF MRS. WELD. THE RESOLUTIONS. …

The National Convention of the Women of America, met at the Church of the Puritans at 10 o’clock yesterday morning. A large audience was present composed mainly of ladies.

Mrs. SUSAN B. ANTHONY opened the proceedings by reading the “call,” …

Mrs. ELIZABETH CADY STANTON was then introduced, and spoke for about an hour in summarizing the events of the pending war. This rebellion, she said, had been long in contemplation; it would have taken place four years earlier if FREMONT had been elected President. The Republicans had contemplated no assault upon Slavery, but the election of Mr. LINCOLN would have prevented the further extension of Slavery. The South understood this and hence took up arms. She proposed that at the conclusion of the war, instead of removing any class of laborers from the country, the Government should colonize the Southern aristocrats, together with a few Northern Copperheads, in Africa, to civilize that country. She thought that they possessed a peculiar aptitude in that direction. …

Miss SUSAN B. ANTHONY offered the following series of resolutions:

1. Resolved, That the present war between Slavery and Freedom, is but one phase of the irrepressible conflict between the aristocratic doctrine that power, not humanity, is statute-maker, and the Democratic principle that self-government is the inalienable right of the people.

2. Resolved, That we heartily approve of that part of the President’s Proclamation which decrees freedom to the slaves of rebel masters, and we earnestly urge him to devise measures for emancipating all the slaves throughout the country.

3. Resolved, That the national faith to the freedman must be redeemed, and the integrity of the Government in making it vindicated, at whatever cost.

4. Resolved, That while we welcome to legal freedom the recent slaves, we solemnly remonstrate against all state or national legislation which may exclude them from any locality, or debar them from any rights or privileges as free and equal citizens of a common Republic.

Resolved, That it is in the same class favoring aristocrat interests, that the property, the liberty and the lives of all slaves, all citizens of African descent, and all women are placed at the mercy of a legislation in which they are not represented. There never can be a true peace in this Republic until the civil and political equality of every subject of the Government shall be practically established.

Susan B. Anthony (Sarony & Co., photographers, 680 Broadway, N.Y. [ca. 1870]; LOC: LC-USZ62-30742)

Susan B. Anthony about 1870

6. Resolved, That if Northern women lack enthusiasm in this war, it is because they have not seen its real nature and purport. If the wife or mother cheerfully lays her loved ones on the altar, she must be impelled to it by a living faith in the justice of her cause.

7. Resolved, That the women of the Revolution were not wanting in heroism and self-sacrifice, and we, their daughters, are ready in this war to pledge our time, our means, our talents, and our lives if need be, to secure the final and complete consecration to freedom.

These resolutions were adopted …

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“like a funeral pall”

Posted on May 13, 2013 by SUMPTER
"Fighting Joe Hooker" (between 1861 and 1865; LOC: LC-DIG-stereo-1s02857)

premature “congratulatory order”

From a Seneca County, New York in May 1863:

Another Fredericksburg Disaster.

The disastrous intelligence of the defeat of the Army of the Potomac under HOOKER, falls like a funeral pall upon the minds of the people. For six months past that brave army has been undergoing re-organization at the hands of “Fightong JOE HOOKER,” as his ardent admirers are pleased to call him, and the people led to believe that when he moved the rebel army would ingloriously retreat or suffer disaster and annihilation. The strength of his army was almost double that with which MCCLELLAN attempted the capture of Richmond, numbering according to the most authentic accounts, no less than 160,000 effective and well disciplined soldiers. With this immense army Gen. HOOKER crossed the Rappahannock on Monday and Tuesday of last week, without mush apparent resistence [sic] from the enemy. He immediately established his headquarters at Chancellorsville, partially in the rear of the Confederate forces, from which place a congratulatory order was issued, announcing in advance, like the braggart POPE, the defeat and destruction of the entire rebel army. the day after, the ball was opened, the Confederates under JACKSON commencing the attack, driving our forces, out of their entrenchments with great slaughter on both sides.

Chancellorsville (1899; LOC: LC-USZ62-118168)

Driving General Hooker

The battle raged with great fury on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, the enemy being largely reinforced and driving HOOKER before them at all points. Upon the temporary cessation of hostilities the commanding General seemed at a loss to know what to do, and being out-generaled and foiled at all points, ingloriously retreated, on Tuesday, across the Rappahannock. The loss is frightful on both sides, ours being estimated at fifteen to twenty thousand in killed and wounded.

We have no heart to comment upon this most appalling disaster. The slaughter was so horrible we shrink from even thinking of it. Upon the Administration at Washington must rest the awful responsibility of this most sweeping disaster. They are gambling with war, and unnecessarily sacrifising [sic] the lives of our countrymen, by placing incompetent and imbecile commanders at the head of our armies. Since the sacrifice and removal of MCCLELLAN, more than six months ago, we have not gained a single victory over the enemy, vide Pope, Burnside and “Fighting Joe Hooker.”

Here’s a couple more clippings in local papers about Chancellorsville from May 1863:

Capt. H.J. GIFFORD, of Co. D., 33d Regiment writes to the Rochester Union that the loss of the 33d in the recent battle is: 18 killed; 126 wounded, 67 missing. Also 6 officers wounded, and one missing.

I could not find a Rager in the 33d roster, but this is a sad story that would back up the pain in the editorial:

Among the killed in Capt. Cole’s company, 33d Regiment, at the late battle of Fredericksburg, was GEORGE RAGER, of Waterloo. The Observersays: One of the most painful scenes we have witnessed in a long time, was the grief displayed by Mrs. RAGER on learning the death of her son, who was a most excellent soldier, and only 17 years of age.

Removing wounded across Rappahannock River after battle of Chancellorsville - under flag of truce (photographed between 1861 and 1865, printed between 1880 and 1889; LOC: LC-DIG-ppmsca-32812 )

‘Removing wounded across Rappahannock River after battle of Chancellorsville – under flag of truce’

Posted in 150 Years Ago This Month, Chancellorsville Campaign, Military Matters, Northern Politics During War, Northern Society | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

“his spirit still lives”

Posted on May 11, 2013 by SUMPTER
Stonewall Jackson by N.C. Wyeth in THE LONG ROLL BY MARY JOHNSTON, 1911

Stonewall Jackson

From a Seneca County, New York newspaper in May 1863:

Death of Stonewall Jackson.

The reported death of this bold and impulsive Confederate General is confirmed, as will be seen by he following order issued by Gen. LEE. He died on the 10th inst. from wounds accidentally received from one of his own men, during the late battle of Fredericksburg:

HEADQ’RTS NORTHERN ARMY, Va.,
May 11.

GENERAL ORDER No. 66.

Lee-Jackson Meeting at Chancellorsville (NPS)

Stonewall’s demise – not in the plans, but in the cards

With deep grief the commanding General announces to the army the death of Lieut. Gen. T.J. Jackson, who expired on the 10th inst., at 3:15 p.m.

The daring skill and energy of this great and good soldier by the decree of an All Wise Providence, are now lost to us, but while we mourn his death we feel that his spirit still lives, and will inspire the whole army with his indomitable courage and unshaken confidence in God as our hope and strength.

Let his name be a watch word to his Corps who have followed him to victory on so many fields.

Let the officers and soldiers imitate his invincibly [?] determination to do everything in the defence of our beloved country.

[Signed,]

R.E. LEE,
General.

The last meeting of Gens. Lee & Jackson" (no date recorded on shelflist card; LOC: LC-DIG-pga-01453)

defending their beloved country

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“fate of war”

Posted on May 10, 2013 by SUMPTER

Last month Captain Patrick McGraw of Company K, 33rd New York Volunteers had a brother killed during fighting in Louisiana. This month the Thirty-third fought its most costly battle during Chancellorsville – a few weeks before it was scheduled to be mustered out of the army. Captain McGraw had to report the sorrowful news to (presumably) his parish priest.

The Rebel entrenched position at Fredericksburg, Va. : showing Hooker's flank march on Chancellorsville 3rd and 4th May 1863. Sneden, Robert Knox, 1832-1918. (LOC: gvhs01 vhs00288 http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.ndlpcoop/gvhs01.vhs00288)

where Company K “suffered more severely than ever before”


From a Seneca County, New York newspaper in 1863:

Letter from Captain McGraw.

We are permitted to publish the following letter from Capt. MCGRAW to Rev. E. MCGOWAN, of this village, giving a list of the killed, wounded and missing in his Company:

CAMP IN THE FIELD,
May 9, 2863 [sic],

MOST REVEREND AND DEAR SIR: – I beg leave to inform you that we have again been engaged with the enemy, during which our Regiment and Company suffered more severely than ever before. I will send you a list of the killed, wounded and missing of my company, (K) for the information of all concerned. We have not had much time to write our friends, and I trust you will acquaint our relatives and friends of the casualties in Co. K. the result is sorrowful enough, and I am sorely grieved at the loss of some of our best men. But we all know that it is the fate of war.

I have but two sergeants, two Corporals, and nineteen men left in the Company. Ours is not the only Company, however, that suffered so severely. The 33d, at last accounts had lost in killed, wounded and missing, 224.

The thought of soon coming home and seeing our relatives and friends, keeps up good cheer and courage among the men, and this is all the hope and cheer that is left us. The following are the casualties in Company K;

Killed – Michael Carroll, Bernerd [sic] Smith.

Wounded – Lieut. B. Byrne, Sergeant M. O’Brian, Corp. H. McParland, John McGuire.

Missing – Sergt, James Curran, Sergt. W. Robinson, – Cunninghom [sic], Wm. Hunt, P. McCredden, P. Markey, Daniel McGraw, Patrick welch.

Very respectfully yours,

PATRICK MCGRAW

The following was published in a Seneca County, New York newspaper sometime in 1863 and provides a bit more information about Father McGowan:

Baptism of a New Bell.

By reference to an advertisement in to-day’s paper, it will be seen that the new bell recently purchased by the Catholic Society of this village, will be baptized on Sunday next. This is a novel ceremony and will doubtless be witnessed by a great number of our citizens. the Catholic Society have enlarged their church during the past summer, adding to it a beautiful spire, in which has been placed a very fine new bell. the enlargement of the church is due to the efforts of the Rev. Father McGowan, who has officiated so acceptably to the church for the past two years.

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“if there are any of us left alive”

Posted on May 9, 2013 by SUMPTER
Plan of attack on Marie's Heights, Fredericksburg, Va. or 2nd Battle of Fredericksburg. By Maj. Genl. John Sedgwick with 6th Army Corps, Sunday, May 3rd, 1863. Sneden, Robert Knox, 1832-1918. (LOC: gvhs01 vhs00022 http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.ndlpcoop/gvhs01.vhs00022)

33d fought at Second Fredericksburg 5-3-1863

From a Seneca County, New York newspaper in 1863:

Letter from Capt. Edwin J. Tyler.

Casualties in Co. A, of the 33d.

CAMP 33D REG., N.Y.V., NEAR
FREDERICKSBURG, Va., May 8th 1863.

It becomes my painful duty to report for publication, for the information of those interested, an account, as near as possible, of the casualties in my Company, in the battle of the 4th inst., in rear of the heights of Fredericksburg:

1st sergeant A.B. Randolph, wounded in leg below the knee; brought off the field, but afterwards taken prisoner.

2d Sergeant William Proudfoot, besh [sic] wound in thigh; prisoner.

5th Sergeant David Lawrence, in left side, not dangerous; in hospital.

Corporal George H. Welles, shot through the body; left on the field; supposed to be dead.

Corporal Daniel A. O’Neill, in face; missing.

Corporal William F. Hecker, in ankle; not dangerous; is in hospital.

Corporal John McDonald, fell on the field, is missing.

PRIVATES.

John Proudfoot, flesh wound in thigh; in hospital.

M. Poquette, in arm below elbow, (broken) and in side slightly.

Washington Waite, through both thighs, (dangerous and prisoner.

Andrew J. Clarke, fell on the field, and missing.

Irwin P. Humphrey, in leg above the knee; in hospital.

J. Warren Hendricks, left arm amputated.

William Pow, in back, serious.

Patrick Ryan, in breast, not dangerous.

Harrison Lewis and Goorge Matzger [George Metzler], taken prisoners on the field.

Robert Jardine, Charles Whitcomb, and David P. Miller, missing, – killed or prisoners.

Union soldiers entrenched along the west bank of the Rappahannock River at Fredericksburg, Virginia (by Andrew J. Russell, photographed between April 29 and May 2, 1863, printed later; LOC: LC-USZC6-48 )

members of the sixth corps before “storming the heights”

This is the most correct statement possible to make at this time. It is with deep sorrow that I have to record such fearful fatality; for out of forty-three men that I took into the fight, until to-day I could only muster eighteen. The Company and Regiment have acted with heroic bravery, and did all that men could do. We were among the first in storming the heights on Sunday, and fought more than twice our number from sunrise until dark on Monday, and had possession of the field, and were engaged in picking up and taking care of the wounded, as well as possible in the dark, when we received the order to retreat to Banks’ Ford, being at the time almost entirely surrounded by an immensely superior force.

Stone wall below Marye's Heights, May 3, 1863 (by Andrew J. Russell, photographed 1863,; LOC: LC-DIG-ppmsca-32937)

‘Stone wall below Marye’s Heights, May 3, 1863’

You will bear in mind that all the fighting at and around Fredericksburg was done by the 6th Army Corps, entirely independent of the main army. The fighting began on the night of the 28th of April, and ended on the night of May 4th, and in the whole war I have not seen displayed more desperate valor, or sturdy bravery and perseverance, than was exhibited by the glorious old 33d, as our decimated ranks but too well testify. Our flag is torn into shreds, by shot and shell, and at one time nothing but the most determined valor saved it from falling into the hands of the enemy.

The regiment went into the fight 466 strong (rank and file,) and at roll-call, after we had got back on this side of the river, there were 191; but this number will be augmented to about 250, by men slightly wounded, stragglers, &c. There were but two or three men in Company A but were hit somewhere, and there were many instances of individual bravery. Some of my men were taken prisoners, and afterwards the captured became the captors, and brought their prisoners safely into our lines.

Map of a portion (May 4-6) of the battle of Chancellorsville of the American Civil War.

retreat over Banks’ Ford

The people of Seneca have no occasion to blush for their sons in this Regiment; they have done their whole duty from the first, and will continue to do it until the morning of the 22d of May, and then, if there are any of us left alive, we expect to be allowed to come home to visit our friends.

Respectfully yours,

E.J. TYLER,
Capt. Co. A, 33d Reg., N.Y.V.

The map of May 4-6 1863 by Hal Jespersen is licensed by Creative Commons

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“Like some hunted beast”

Posted on May 8, 2013 by SUMPTER
Map shewing [sic] movements of Union and Rebel armies and Battle of Chancellorsville, Virginia from April 27th to 4th May 1863. Sneden, Robert Knox, 1832-1918. (LOC: gvhs01 vhs00300 http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.ndlpcoop/gvhs01.vhs00300)

field of schemes – the rail splitter next to try his hand?

From the Richmond Daily Dispatch May 8, 1863:

The Situation on the Rappahannock

The information received from the Rappahannock to the present time is not detailed, and with respect to the present condition of the opposing forces not very definite. It is understood that the enemy being driven from Chancellorsville, fell back in the direction of the United States ford, where he collected his forces and commenced fortifying. Our own army has command of the fords above and below him. Thus matters stand; but it may be inferred will not remain thus long.

Soldiers engaged in the fight at Fredericksburg with Sedgwick’s corps, report that after he crossed on Monday night several very bright fires were seen on the Falmouth shore. They were of such magnitude as to justify the supposition that immense buildings or stores were consumed. Our men were at a loss to conjecture what was the cause; but some inferred that the enemy was alarmed, under the apprehension of an advance of our forces, and were burning stores. The same evening immense lines of wagons were seen winding along, up the river. These were no doubt conveying provisions for Hooker’s army in its new camps.

The enemy cannot feel very comfortable in his present position, to which he has been driven. Like some hunted beast he can but feel that he enjoys a temporary respite from his pursuers. Oh! for a gunboat! he no doubt ejaculates. A gunboat to a Yankee in such a strait is the blessedest thing on earth! To McClellan, at Wilcox’s wharf, the mailed vessels were like guardian angels. They gave rest and sound sleep to the wounded and wearied Yankees, such as they had not known for many nights.

Though our victory is important, and the results of great magnitude, it might possibly receive some additions. Everybody, however, feels entire confidence in our army and its able commander, and are convinced that whatever can be done will be done, and that in good time.

Maj. Genl. Joe Hooker (between 1860 and 1863; LOC: LC-DIG-ppmsca-32308)

gonna get by with a little help from his Pres?

Meanwhile, 150 years ago yesterday President Lincoln telegraphed General Hooker. The president succinctly faced the fact of defeat, encouraged more aggressive action, expressed confidence in his general’s judgment, but offered to help come with a new plan of action, if requested.

From The Papers And Writings Of Abraham Lincoln, Volume Six:

TO GENERAL J. HOOKER.
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, May 7, 1863.

MAJOR-GENERAL HOOKER.

MY DEAR SIR:—The recent movement of your army is ended without effecting its object, except, perhaps, some important breakings of the enemy’s communications. What next? If possible, I would be very glad of another movement early enough to give us some benefit from the fact of the enemy’s communication being broken; but neither for this reason nor any other do I wish anything done in desperation or rashness. An early movement would also help to supersede the bad moral effect of there certain, which is said to be considerably injurious. Have you already in your mind a plan wholly or partially formed? If you have, prosecute it without interference from me. If you have not, please inform me, so that I, incompetent as I may be, can try and assist in the formation of some plan for the army.

Yours as ever,

A. LINCOLN.

Posted in 150 Years Ago This Week, Chancellorsville Campaign, Confederate States of America, Lincoln Administration, Military Matters | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

“ingloriously sacrificed “

Posted on May 7, 2013 by SUMPTER
Battle of Chancellorsville, Virginia, May 2nd & 3rd 1863 by Robert Knox Sneden; LOC: gvhs01 vhs00299 http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.ndlpcoop/gvhs01.vhs00299 )

“ill-fated battle-field”

After the Union loss at Chancellorsville the press and public in Seneca Falls, New York received all sorts of feedback and formed opinions about the debacle. Here’s a start.

From a Seneca County, New York newspaper in May 1863:

The Killed and Wounded.

The slaughter at Fredericksburg under HOOKER is without a parallel since the commencement of the war. Almost the entire nation is in mourning over the loss of the brave ones who were so ingloriously sacrificed upon that ill-fated battle-field. As the smoke of battle clears away, we begin to realize more fully the horrors of this bloody drama. Our losses are very large, and it is believed that 30,000 is not too high an estimate for the number in killed, wounded and missing. The telegrams from Washington placing the losses at 10,000 are believe [sic] to be destitute of the truth, and circulated to relieve HOOKER of the curse of an inglorious defeat.

A correspondent of the New York Times, who professes to have excellent facilities for forming a just judgment in this matter, says competent judges put down the grim total at about Seventeen thousand, but this evidently is under the mark. Dr LETTERMAN, medical director of the army, this correspondent says, estimates the total number of wounded alone at ten thousand. – Add to this prisoners and wounded now in rebel hands, and we have some some seven thousand more, to say nothing of the number killed.

150 years ago today people in the Confederate capital could also read an opinion about its victory and General Hooker’s ignominy. The Richmond editors agree Hooker is cursed but don’t think the Lincoln Administration is going to shield him.

From the Richmond Daily Dispatch May 7, 1863:

The last victory

We have a few more details this morning of the resent victory on the Rappahannock.–The marÅavres [?] and achievements of our army during the powerful contest are of the most brilliant character. The enemy, in his own efforts to retrieve his fortunes, has added immensely to the splendor of the triumph. To Gen. Sedgwick, one of their ablest and most accomplished commanders, was assigned the task of assailing the rear of our army with a large force of fresh troops. They gained some advantages over our command at Fredericksburg; but were afterwards repulsed, and by a prompt and rapid movement by Gen. Lee were routed and forced to retreat rapidly across the Rappahannock, under cover of their guns on its north bank. Saturday and Sunday are amongst the most brilliant in the annals of the Southern Confederacy, already illumined with triumphs which, for number and magnitude, are not surpassed in history.

This terrible defeat is a sad finale for the thousands of men in the Yankee army whose terms of service were on the eve of expiring. Hooker could not afford to wait till they were at liberty to leave him. He felt the necessity of bringing all the men he could against the brave army of Gen. Lee, and they were led to slaughter.

Joe Hooker, Maj. Genl., U.S.A. (between 1862 and 1864; LOC: LC-USZ62-35089)

on the Highway to Hades?

So far as his reputation is concerned, Hooker might well envy the dead. He obtained command of the army he has led to defeat by defaming his brother officers and the assiduous obtrusion of his own conceits of strategy on the Government. He was gratified with the chance of winning renown by retrieving the fortunes of the oft-defeated Federal army of the Potomac. He has met a well merited fate, and must now go to the Yankee Hades of all defeated Generals.

What our enemies propose next, and how long they will extend the time for the capture of Richmond, we shall perhaps soon learn. They have displayed great perseverance in this object so dear to them, and may not be willing yet to abandon it. It is probable that Rosecrans will be the next star in the Yankee heavens. Let us hope, however, that there will be time to sink him below the horizon before the new ” On to Richmond” can be planned.

The blow on the Potomac will be salutary in its effects upon the enemy and upon our own men. It will cheer ours as much as it will depress his, and give tone to the summer campaign. If it does the situation of affairs will undergo a great improvement, both at home and abroad.

The glorious [Confederate] Army of the Potomac merits the lasting gratitude of the nation. It has won a renown equal to that of any army the world ever saw.

Dr. Jonathan Letterman (1824-72) (U.S. Army Medical Museum)

knows his wounded

Jonathan Letterman “is known today as the “Father of Battlefield Medicine.” His system enabled thousands of wounded men to be recovered and treated during the American Civil War.” His system of triage, field hospitals, and an ambulance corps was proving to be effective by the December 1862 battle in Fredericksburg.

The Times correspondent’s 17,000 figure of total losses was quite accurate, as was Dr. Letterman’s estimate of 10,000 Union wounded. The Confederate total losses were over 13,000, but I guess you could say their sacrifice was a lot more glorious because they pushed the Federals back across the Rappahannock – again.

Posted in 150 Years Ago This Week, Chancellorsville Campaign, Military Matters, Northern Politics During War, Northern Society | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

breathing and burning from prison

Posted on May 6, 2013 by SUMPTER
Arrest of Hon. C.L. Vallandigham, at Dayton, Ohio, May 5 [1863 (no date recorded on caption card; LOC: LC-USZ62-42029)

Vallandigham arrested in Dayton

On May 1, 1863 Ohio Peace Democrats held a meeting in Mount Vernon, Ohio to express opposition to General Ambrose Burnside’s General Order No. 38. As commander of the Department of the Ohio, Burnside outlawed “the habit of declaring sympathy for the enemy.” Two Union officers were at the May Day meeting and reported back to General Burnside that Clement Vallandigham had violated the order.

The general ordered his immediate arrest. On May 5, 1863, a company of soldiers arrested Vallandigham at his home in Dayton and brought him to Cincinnati to stand trial.

Burnside charged Vallandigham with the following crimes:

Publicly expressing, in violation of General Orders No. 38, from Head-quarters Department of Ohio, sympathy for those in arms against the Government of the United States, and declaring disloyal sentiments and opinions, with the object and purpose of weakening the power of the Government in its efforts to suppress an unlawful rebellion.

Mr. Vallandigham didn’t waste any time getting a letter off to his fellow Democrats. He seems to have claimed that Southern rebels and Northern abolitionists both wanted him locked up.

From a Seneca County, New York newspaper in May 1863:

Hon. Clement Laird Vallandigham [?] of Ohio (between 1855 and 1865; LOC: LC-DIG-cwpbh-01193)

letter from a military bastile

“Words that Breathe, and Thoughts that Burn.”

MILITARY PRISON, CINCINNATI, O.,
May 5, 1862. [sic]

To the Democracy of Ohio:

I am here in a military bastile for no other offense than my political opinions, and the defence of them, and of the rights of the people, and of your constitutional liberties. Speeches made in the hearing of thousands of you in denunciation of the usurpations of power, infraction of the Constitution and laws, and of military despotism, were the sole cause of my arrest and imprisonment. I am a Democrat – for Constitution, for law, for the Union, for liberty – this is my only “crime.” For no disobedience to the Constitution: for no violation of law; for no word, sigh, or gesture of sympathy with the men of the South who are for disunion and southern independence, but in obedience to their demand, as well as the demand of northern abolition disunionists and traitors, I am here in bonds to-day; but

“Time, at last, sets all things even!”

Meanwhile, Democrats of Ohio, of the North west, of the United States, be firm, be true to your principles, to the Constitution, to the Union, and all will yet be well. As for myself, I adhere to every principle, and will make good, through imprisonment and life itself, every pledge and declaration which I have ever made, uttered, or maintained from the beginning. To you, to the whole people, to TIME, I again appeal. Stand firm! Falter not an instant!

C.L. VALLANDIGHAM

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“we dread to hear”

Posted on May 4, 2013 by SUMPTER
Map of a portion (May 3, 10am-5pm) of the battle of Chancellorsville of the American Civil War

halted at Salem Church

The 33rd New York Infantry Regiment fought with John Sedgwick’s Sixth Corps during the Chancellorsville Campaign. On May 3, 1863 the 33rd helped drive the Confederates off Marye’s Heights. The VI Corps then started marching toward the main Federal force in the Chancellorsville vicinity. The corps halted at Salem Church, where it fought a battle on May 3rd and 4th. Sedgwick withdrew his corps across the Rappahannock overnight May 4-5.

From a Seneca County, New York newspaper in May 1863:

The Thirty-Third Regiment.

This gallant regiment bore a conspicuous part in the awful battle at Fredericksburg. Many of the brave ones have fallen, and we dread to hear the full particulars of the terrible carnage. Our brave boys were in the thickest of the fight, being in Sedwick’s [sic] Corps, which alone lost 5000 men. Among the published list of killed and wounded we notice a number from our own county, but we will mention no names until more authentic information is received from the field of slaughter. In the mean time let us hope for the best.

From a Seneca County, New York newspaper in May 1863:

Letter from Col. Taylor.

The following paragraph is extracted from a letter received on Saturday evening by Mrs. Taylor, of Rochester, wife of Colonel R.F. Taylor, of the 33d Regiment. It is dated 5th of M[a]y Col. T. says he will send further details in a day or two:

“My loss in two days was 155 killed, wounded and missing. They are as follows Three captains, three Lieutenants wounded and one missing. The officers are as follows: Capts, Cole, Root and Warford – the latter very slight – Lieuts, Byrne, Rossiter and P[ort]er wounded, and Caywood missing. I lost 74 men in one charge. Frank Miles is missing – think he is wounded. Lieut. Col. Corning had his horse killed. Mine was slightly wounded. Did not receive a scratch, nor either of my field officers.

Frank Miles

Franklin found

The map by Hal Jespersen is licensed by Creative Commons

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