“stickler for that obsolete thing”

Posted on October 10, 2014 by SUMPTER
Washington Hunt, half-length portrait, slightly to right (between 1844 and 1860; LOC: LC-USZ62-109845)

President Lincoln has no intention of keeping his oath

Richmond citizens were probably happy to hear that an ” Old Line Whig” opposed Abraham Lincoln’s re-election in the 1864 campaign.

From the Richmond Daily Dispatch October 10, 1864:

M’Clellan meeting at Rochester.

A great meeting had been held at Rochester, New York, of the supporters of McClellan. Speeches were made by Washington Hunt, Francis Kernan, and others. Mr. Hunt is well known as an Old Line Whig–very orderly and conservative — as having opposed Know-Nothingism and being a considerable stickler for that obsolete thing known as the “Constitution of the United States.” Mr. Hunt charged that Lincoln had violated his own pledges, in which he promised not to interfere with the rights of the States, by issuing his emancipation proclamation, which took away from the States the most precious attribute of their sovereignty — the right to control their own concerns. The speaker, appearing to regard the people about him as of the sort he knew in other days, talked much of Lincoln’s usurpations and violated State sovereignties. We apprehend his is like the voice of one crying in the wilderness. We quote the following from his speech:

Now, one of the grounds on which I oppose Mr. Lincoln is, that he has usurped power and attempted to perform functions that are prohibited by the Constitution. I charge him here to- day with violating the Constitution which he had sworn to support. How, then, can any of you, if you believe this, ask him again to swear that oath when you know that he has deliberately violated it? Will you mock high heaven by enabling him once more to take the oath, when you know that he has no intention of keeping it? I might refer you to other parts of the Constitution. There were provisions placed in that Constitution for the protection of every American citizen in his rights of person and property. It provides that no man shall be deprived of liberty or property without due process of law — that every man shall have trial by jury; it secures the habeas corpus, which is the protection to guard the citizen against the exercise of arbitrary power, and to obtain which, cost our ancestors hundreds of years of struggle.–Those principles of our Constitution which secure to the people of the States the right to control their own concerns have been most wantonly infringed upon. Here, where people of all parties have been obeying the laws, you have seen one instance after another till they have become so numerous — the individuals seized by arbitrary process, without means of redress, have been taken to prison, confined in bastiles for month after month, and year after year, without even the formality of trial, and without even an accusation. And after being confined, in some instances, for a year they were, without any excuse, finally discharged. The tyranny of Austria is not worse. We can only be saved by the efforts which we make to regain what we have so nearly lost.

After the breakup of the Whig party Washington Hunt refused to join the Republicans and was a member of the Constitutional Union party during the 1860 presidential election. “In his last years, Hunt moved increasingly closer to the Democrats, endorsing his two-time opponent, Horatio Seymour for the New York gubernatorial race in 1862 and supporting George McClellan for the presidency at the 1864 Democratic National Convention. On June 13, 1864, Hunt was at Niagara Falls to confer with confederate Commissioner Jacob Thompson.”

Rochester Published by Charles Magnus, N.Y., [between 1850 and 1860]; LOC: LC-USZ62-89341)

Rochester, N.Y. between 1850 and 1860

Posted in 150 Years Ago This Week, Lincoln Administration, Northern Politics During War, The election of 1864 | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

lifesaving frost

Posted on October 9, 2014 by SUMPTER

From a Seneca County, New York newspaper in October 1864:

DEATH OF LIEUT. HILLIS. – Lieut. D.D. Hillis, of the 3d N.Y. Artillery, died at Newbern, N.C. a few days since, of Yellow Fever. Lieut. Hillis was very generally known in this vicinity, having been employed for several years here as a civil engineer on the Cayuga and Seneca Canal. He was a young man of much promise, and his many friends are deeply pained at his sudden death.

From a Seneca County, New York newspaper in October 1864:

Death of Lieut. Col. Stone.

We are pained to announce the death of LIEUT. COL. HENRY M. STONE, of the 3d. New York Artillery, which occurred a few days since at Newbern, N.C. Col. Stone was one of the first to volunteer on the breaking out of the rebellion, and went o[?] as Adjutant of the old 19th Regiment, raised in Cayuga, Seneca and Wayne counties.

Col. Stone was for many years connected with the press, and at the time he entered the service was publisher of the Auburn Daily Democrat. He was an active business man, a courteous and affable gentleman, and a brave and accomplished soldier. The news of his death will sadden many hearts and moisten many eyes.

Yellow Fever took a large toll on the regiment during the fall of 1864. From Cayuga in the Field[1]

The army in North Carolina, in the fall of 1864, was ravaged by an enemy more terrible by far to its gallant warriors, than any to be encountered on the field of battle. July 23d, Surgeon Wilson, of the 3d Artillery, announced to Col. Stewart the appearance in the regiment of a grave type of fever. In August the yellow fever stalked into Newbern. A commissary ship at the lower end of the city was first attacked by the grisly destroyer, and then the fever leaped ashore, followed up the line of the Neuse, then the line of the Trent, and soon extended into nearly every camp at the Post. Over 200 were attacked in the 3d Artillery alone. Col. Stewart, Maj. Kennedy, Lieut.-Col. Stone, and large numbers of the leading officers had it among the rest. Lieut. Hillis died of it September 24th. Lieut.-Col. Stone died of it October 2d. Also sixty men – thirty-seven of the number being in Battery D alone. They were buried in the regimental cemeteries. The regiment at one time alone had three hospitals. An immense panic prevailed in Newbern and hundreds of the residents left the city for safety. Stores were closed and business in every department of trade was abruptly brought to a stand. Drills were also arrested in the camps. The plague was most gallantly and faithfully fought by Surgeons of the Post and several of them lost their lives by exposing themselves to its attacks. During its prevalence great fires of tar and rosin were burnt in the camps and on the corners of the streets in the city, every night, to disinfect the air. The disease was at last got under control, and on October 9th, a heavy frost came to forbid its further spread. In order to secure the full benefit of this frost, Col. Stewart caused the stores of Newbern to be opened at night so that a draft of air might pass through them all. the owners of some obstinately refused to open them, when the thing was promptly done with an axe. A guard was set over each store to save it from depredation. Another frost two days after finished the plague. By October 29th, there was a general resumption of business.

The death of Lieut.-Col. Stone was deeply mourned in the regiment. He was a brave officer and a gentleman, and exceedingly popular with field, staff and line. He was uniformly kind and considerate of others and yet a disciplinarian . At the time of his death, he was in command of the forts and defenses north of the Neuse. …

David D. Hillis 3rd Artilleryjpg

Lieutenant Hillis died of Yellow Fever

Henry M. Stone 3rd Artillery

newspaperman was an early responder for the Union

Mosquito bites spread yellow fever; cold weather slows down mosquito activity.

  1. [1]Hall, Henry, and James Hall Cayuga in the Field. 1873. Aurora,New York: Talbothays Books. Print. page 201.↩
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returning 44th

Posted on October 8, 2014 by SUMPTER
44thInfMonument at Gettysburg (http://dmna.ny.gov/historic/reghist/civil/infantry/44thInf/44thInfMonument.htm)

44th’s monument on Little Round Top, Gettysburg (from NY Military Museum)

Having completed its three year term, the 44th New York Volunteer Infantry returned to the state 150 years ago this month.

From a Seneca County, New York newspaper in October 1864:

THE FORTY-FOURTH REGIMENT. – The term of service of the 44th (Ellsworth) regiment expired on Sunday last, and the regiment is daily expected at Albany to be mustered out of the service. Out of the one thousand who marched forth to battle three years ago, about one hundred return to their families. Quite a number from this county went into the regiment.

The number of casualties seems a bit misleading in this article as the New York State Military Museum clarifies:

May, 1864, was the month of the memorable Wilderness campaign, in which the regiment served faithfully, suffering most severely at the Wilderness and at Bethesda Church. By this time the regiment had become greatly reduced in numbers by hard service and the loss in this campaign, while not so large in numbers as in previous battles, was even greater in proportion to the number of men engaged. The regiment was active in the first assault on Petersburg in June, 1864, at the Weldon railroad, and at Poplar Spring Church. On Oct. 11 , 1864, the 44th was mustered out at Albany and the veterans and recruits were consolidated into a battalion, of which 266 men were transferred to the 140th and 183 to the 146th N. Y. The total strength of the regiment was 1,585, of whom 188 died during the term of service from wounds received in action, and 147 died from accident, imprisonment or disease. The total loss in killed, wounded and missing was 730. The men chosen for this command were of the flower of the state and displayed their heroism on many a desperately contested field, where they won laurels for themselves. and for their state. Col. Fox numbers the 44th among the “three hundred fighting regiments.”

Camp of 44th New York Infantry near Alexandria, Va. (photographed between 1861 and 1865, printed between 1880 and 1889; LOC: LC-DIG-ppmsca-32967)

Arch of Sacrifice (near Alexandria, Va.)

Officers 44th New York Infantry (photographed between 1861 and 1864, printed between 1880 and 1889; LOC: C-DIG-ppmsca-34195)

officers of 44th near Alexandria, Va.

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death sentence?

Posted on October 7, 2014 by SUMPTER
Gen'l Geo. B. McClellan (c.1861; LOC: LC-DIG-ppmsca-19389)

Grant’s adjunct?

Two years on a Democrat paper sure was not forgiving and forgetting President Lincoln’s sacking of George B. McClellan as commander of the Army of the Potomac. The paper also claimed that Mr. Lincoln would make decisions about General McClellan’s role based purely on politics.

From a Seneca County, New York newspaper in October 1864:

The Baseness of Assaults against McClellan.

It has been repeatedly charged that previous to the Chicago Convention, FRANCIS P. BLAIR, sen., father of Montgomery Blair, Mr. Lincoln’s Post Master General, had an interview with Gen. MCCLELLAN, on behalf of the President, during which he offered him an important command if he would refuse the Chicago nomination. This charge has never been denied by the Lincoln press, and even if it had, we now have the authority of Hon. MONTGOMERY BLAIR, Lincoln’s recent Post Master General, who admits the report. In his recent speech in New York, and published in the New York Tribune of Sept. 28th., Mr. Blair in referring to the action of the Chicago convention, says:

On his (Vallandigham’s) motion every voice that had been raised to fury against the nomination of McClellan was silenced, and the vote in his favor made unanimous. There was a potent spell in his voice that made “a cessation of hostilities,” “a Convention of the States,” of course as equals and independent – and a quoudam [quondam?] chief of the Federal army – (one whom to the last I believed to be true to the cause in which the country embarked, and I may add, whom the President held to be patriotic, and had concerted with General Grant to bring him again into the field as his adjunct, [pointing finger] if he turned his back on the proposals of the peace junto at Chicago, &c. [reverse pointing finger]

Abraham Lincoln portrait in the Lincoln room, Blair House, located across from the White House, Washington, D.C. (photo by Carol M. Highsmith, 2007; LOC: LC-DIG-highsm-03733)

“fit to live?”

What a confession! Here we have the authority of a late Cabinet Minister, that Mr. Lincoln had arranged to give MCCLELLAN a high command, as Grant’s “adjunct,” “IF he turned his back” on the Chicago Convention. The President believed MCCLELLAN to be patriotic, and yet for selfish and political purposes, he is deposed from the army; the President believed him true to the last, but through a desire to promote his own partisan interests, he would heap every indignity upon a brave and accomplished soldier, divide and distract the people of the North, and thus destroy all hope of Union. For the same selfish and ambitious reasons the President would place him in command, or even do anything in his power to to be rid of him for an opposition candidate for the Presidency. Is it such a President that we are called upon to continue in power? And is such a President fit to govern – or fit to live?

150 years ago this month part of the Lincoln press did refute the assertion that General McCLellan was offered a command if he rejected Chicago. From The New-York Times October 10, 1864:

The President and Gen. McClellan.

The Copperhead press has been making a great deal of capital out of an alleged offer made by F.P. BLAIR, Esq., to Gen. McCLELLAN. It has said that Mr. BLAIR had told the General that the President would give him a command in the field, provided he would decline being a candidate for the Presidency at the Chicago Convention. It was assumed and charged that in doing this Mr. BLAIR had acted for the President, and that the latter was therefore responsible for the offer.

In another column we publish a letter from Mr. BLAIR on this subject. He states, in the first place, that Mr. LINCOLN not only did not authorize him to make any such proposition to Gen. MCCLELLAN, but that he did not know of his intention to see him on that or any other subject, or of his purpose to visit New-York at all. He says, in the next place, that he never made any such offer to Gen. MCCLELLAN, or anything which could be construed into an offer of a command in the field on that or any other condition. And, in the third place, he states what he did say to Gen. MCCLELLAN on that and other subjects. He advised him not to be a candidate for the Presidency, because he was certain to be defeated, and under such circumstances that he could never hope to rise again. He also advised him to apply to the President for a command in the field, because his military knowledge enabled him to be of service to the country in that capacity, and it was due to his friends, who believed he had talent, to evince a willingness to use it.

Now, in all this, we must say Mr. BLAIR showed his usual good sense. …

The Intelligencer is also striving to make a great deal out of a public statement said to have been made by Mr. MONTGOMERY BLAIR to the effect that the President had “concerted with Gen. GRANT to give Gen. MCCLELLAN a command if the latter would turn his back on the Chicago nomination.” We have no evidence that Mr. BLAIR ever made any such statement. If he did, he made it without authority, for it certainly is not true. President LINCOLN did once ask Gen. GRANT whether Gen. MCCLELLAN would be acceptable to him and useful to the country as commander of a corps in the army of the Potomac; but he never said or intimated to Gen. GRANT or any body else, nor did he ever think of giving him such a command or of offering it to him on condition of his turning his back on a Presidential nomination. Whatever “conditions,” if any, were suggested or thought of in this connection were of a purely military character, and related solely and exclusively to the General’s probable usefulness in the field.

On September 28th the Times published a report on Montgomery Blair’s speech at Cooper Union. Mr. Blair criticized General McClellan throughout his talk, but he was reported by the Times as saying exactly what the Democrat paper reported.

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“callous ears”

Posted on October 6, 2014 by SUMPTER

So far I have not seen any evidence of a deputation from the Savannah prisoners to President Lincoln; a Democrat paper made political use of the undoubted suffering of prisoners of war.

From a Seneca County, New York newspaper in October 1864:

The Cry of the Prisoners.

The Federal prisoners held at Savannah Georgia, met on the 28th of September and passed a series of resolutions, which they directed to be sent to the President, in the hope he might take speedy steps for their parole or exchange.

They say TEN THOUSAND of their brave comrades have died, for want of sufficient food and medical care, and owing to the change of climate. They say “this is not caused intentionally by the Confederate Government, but by the force of circumstances.” They speak of insufficient clothing, and the dread of approaching winter. They conclude by saying that they “are not willing to suffer to further the ends of any party or clique, to the detriment of our families or country.”

This wail of the captive will fall dead on the callous ears of LINCOLN. He even refused to give audience to a deputation from them, imploring him to renew the system of exchanges recently arrested by him. – Show him a chance to get a Presidential vote and he will jump at it! But he cares for nothing else! – Argus,

You can read an overview of Georgia Civil War prisons at the New Georgia Encyclopedia. The New-York Times of December 17, 1864 lists Union prisoners who died at the Savannah prison hospitals between September 12th and November 14th 1864.

Robert Knox Sneden, who drew the map in today’s post spent about a month at Savannah between Andersonville and Camp Lawton in Millen, Georgia[1], as General Sherman’s Union army continued its campaign in the state.

Savannah prison pen (by Robert Knox Sneden, 1864; LOC: http://www.loc.gov/item/gvhs01.vhs00304/)

a temporary lockup in savannah

  1. [1]Sneden, Robert Knox. Eye of the Storm: A Civil War Odyssey. New York: The Free Press, 2000. Print. pages 258-260.↩
Posted in 150 Years Ago This Month, Civil War prisons, Lincoln Administration, The election of 1864 | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

what’s a conservative to do?

Posted on October 4, 2014 by SUMPTER

According to this editorial, if conservatives don’t like change, they should vote for President Lincoln because 1) a change in administrations would mean a huge change in the federal civil bureaucracy and military organization, which Davis and Lee would try to exploit. 2) Copperheads would still be pushing for an armistice and peace, which would result in an accepted Confederate nation 3) The war has changed society and culture – abolitionism is now the status quo.

From The New-York Times

A Few Words to Conservatives.

It has always been a matter of congratulation to this journal, that so considerable a number of its readers were — from the so-called “conservative” classes — from those who have property interests to conserve, and important stakes in the welfare of the country, as well as those whose habits of mind and of life lead them to oppose sudden changes and spasmodic reforms.

Great Copperhead Jubilee! On the banks of Salt River! (1864; LOC: LC-USZ62-43992)

Democrats the unsafe alternative

To these citizens this election is an immensely important event, and they do well to carefully consider how their vote is to be given. For, if a mistake be made on either side, the shock to property and all the best interests of the nation, will be beyond any experience of our history. No doubt a certain proportion of these men are inclined to give their votes to Gen. MCCLELLAN, from motives of personal sympathy or friendship with him, or from the habit of having often acted with his party. But the question must come up, “Will it be safe?”

Supposing Gen. MCCLELLAN to entirely break from his party — which we do not believe probable — his election will be the signal, according to the ancient and absurd custom of the country, for an entire change of the civil administration of the nation. Every postmaster and tax-collector, all the Government officials throughout the land, all the bureaux at Washington, the ministers and cabinet, must all abandon their posts, and at once admit a new and inexperienced host of executive officers throughout the nation. More than this, the whole military system may be at once overturned, and new men put in, in every position of responsibility. Quartermasters, assistants, commanders of posts, and even the Generals of our armies, may all be relieved, and the favorites or partisans of the new President be set in their places.

The true peace commissioners (N.Y. : Published by Currier & Ives, 1864; LOC: LC-USZ62-92033 )

fab four vs. rebels

In the face of such powerful and skillful adversaries as we have, a revolutionary change like this, dangerous even in time o[f] peace, would be perilous in the extreme. To make such a revolution as this, with men like DAVIS and LEE watching for a weak point, would be suicidal. A civil war and a domestic upturning like this, would be more than even the strength of our people could bear.

We know our present officials, civil and military. We certainly could not find better officers than GRANT and SHERMAN and FARRAGUT and SHERIDAN. It is doubtful if any portion of our civil affairs would be any better managed by new men, while a change would certainly be dangerous.

More than this, we submit to these gentlemen, that whatever confidence they may have in MCCLELLAN, personally, he must, to a certain degree, follow his party, and will without doubt, be influenced by the leaders of that party — such men as SEYMOUR, PENDLETON, VALLANDIGHAM and WOOD. The latter are certainly not safe or “Conservative” men. They have pledged themselves to peace and an armistice. We have abundantly proved that this can mean nothing but the independence of the rebel Confederacy. The whole world sees that, and the Tory journals of England rejoice at it, for they know that it includes the repudiation of our debt, the disorganization of our Union, the destruction of every competing material interest, and endless war and anarchy — as we have before shown. Their call for a “Convention of the States” can mean nothing but revolution, and there is every reason to think that those western Copperheads want a “Northwestern Confederacy,” Such men are political adventurers, dangerous in all their schemes to the peace and welfare of the country.

Union and liberty! And union and slavery! (by Martin W. Siebert, Published by M.W. Siebert, 1864; LOC: LC-USZ62-945)

“a great change has come over the country”

Still more, we call the attention of our conservative readers to the fact that a great change has come over the country, and that now Anti-Slavery is the conservative element, and Slavery the revolutionary. It is clear that there can be no permanent quiet or prosperity in this land, while Slavery exists as a power. Its destruction is the only possible condition of safety to property and of lasting good-will between the different sections. The war has changed all our relations to it. The dullest can see what a volcano of war and revolution is hidden beneath the crust of the “domestic institution.” There can be no peace till Freedom and respect for labor rule every community under our national banner. All the property of the country is now intervolved with the success of the Anti-Slavery principle. The success of the Chicago platform would, by securing the recognition of the Confederacy, give a new lease of life to Slavery, and extend our life-and-death struggle with it, for a century.

Every interest of property, then, every wise consideration against sudden change, every respect for a future of security and good older, are on the side of the Union party.

The Times certainly knew how overwhelming the patronage job could be for a new president (and here)

You can read about the second political cartoon at the Library of Congress. The first one is here

Posted in 150 Years Ago This Week, Northern Politics During War, Northern Society, The election of 1864 | Tagged , | Leave a comment

“courage, manliness and high-toned chivalry”

Posted on October 3, 2014 by SUMPTER

“It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we should thank God that such men lived.” – George S. Patton, Jr., American general in World War II

WWII General Patton’s grandfather died for his country on September 25th 1864 after being mortally at the Third Battle of Winchester. Citizens of Richmond read the news 150 years ago today.

From the Richmond Daily Dispatch October 3, 1864:

Death of Colonel George Patton.

Through late Northern papers we have the melancholy intelligence of the death of Colonel George Patton, of a wound received in the battle near Winchester on the 19th ultimo. Colonel Patton was a son of the late John M. Patton, of this city, and is the second of the family who has yielded his life in this war for Southern independence. He was a graduate of the Virginia Military Institute, but adopted the profession of the law, and settled in Kanawha county, where, as the partner of George W. Summers, and by the application of his own brilliant intellect, he soon attained a high position at the bar. When the war broke out, however, he was among the first to offer his services to his country. In an arduous campaign in Western Virginia he greatly distinguished himself, and was badly wounded at the battle of Scary [Creek]. As soon as he recovered he again took the field, and was in command of our forces at White Sulphur Springs which defeated Averill in the summer of 1863. In many battles in which he was subsequently engaged he proved his bravery and his fitness to command. The South could ill afford to lose such a man in a period like the present; but he has left behind him an honorable name, and his memory will be cherished by all who entertain respect for courage, manliness and high-toned chivalry. Colonel Patton was not probably more than thirty years of age, but he had achieved a reputation of which many older officers might be proud. Two of his brothers are still in the service, both holding the rank of colonel.

You can read a good article about Colonel Patton and especially his role at the Last Battle of Winchester at Shenandoah 1864.

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still in the navy

Posted on October 2, 2014 by SUMPTER

From a Seneca County, New York newspaper in October 1864:

AGAIN PROMOTED. – We are pleased to learn that Ensign John P. Arnett, son of Wm. Arnett, Esq., of this village, has been promoted to be Third Lieutenant in the U.S. Navy.

The John P. Arnett listed as an officer in The Union Navy by Arthur Wyllie (on page 504 at Google Books was discharged on October 20, 1865. He was not mentioned as a Third Lieutenant but as an Acting Ensign from March 22, 1864.

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spy drowned

Posted on October 1, 2014 by SUMPTER

From the Richmond Daily Dispatch October 4, 1864:

Drowned.

—Mrs. Rose Greenhow, well known in the Confederacy for her sufferings in its cause, –having been for months confined in the political prison at Washington,–was drowned on Saturday last near Wilmington, North Carolina, while landing from a sinking steamer. She was returning from England, where she had been to make arrangements for publishing a book, which has already appeared. She resided for some time in this city after her release from prison at Washington.

Greenhow, Mrs. & Daughter (imprisoned in old Capitol Prison in Wash. D.C.) Confederate spy (between 1865 and 1880; LOC: LC-DIG-cwpbh-04849)

suffering for the cause: Mrs Greenhow and daughter, D.C.’s Old Capitol Prison in 1862

From the Richmond Daily Dispatch October 18, 1864:

Destruction of a Blockader — repulse of an attack on the shipsteamer Condor.

–It is generally known that the large, three-funnelled steamer Condor, from Halifax, Nova Scotia, in going into Wilmington, North Carolina, a week ago, was deceived by the wreck of the Night Hawk, and ran aground. It was in attempting to come ashore from her in a boat that Mrs. Rose Greenhow was drowned. The Condor has been slowly unloading under the guns of Fort Fisher, and a guard, as usual, has been kept on her at night. On last Friday night, the Yankees made an attempt to board the Condor, to destroy her, but were gallantly repulsed by Lieutenant Sowles, of company A, Thirty-sixth North Carolina troops, and a detachment of men.

As soon as the attempt was made, Lieutenant Sowles communicated the fact to Fort Fisher, when her heavy guns burst forth to right and left of the Condor. The second shell fired to the left of the Condor struck a gunboat that had accompanied the boat party in, and so completely ruined her that she was run ashore on the south breaker of the bar and abandoned. The enemy set fire to her in several places, and before morning she was totally destroyed, her magazines having exploded and torn her to pieces. Since this occurrence, on Friday night last, there has been no sign of the enemy off the bar at night, and the fleet is hull down during the day.

Skipping ahead to Mrs. Greenhow’s funeral, as described inthe Richmond Daily Dispatch of October 12, 1864:

The funeral of Mrs. Rose Greenhow.

–The death, by drowning, of Mrs. Rose Greenhow, near Wilmington, North Carolina, last week, has been already noticed. She leaves one child, an interesting little daughter, who is in a convent school at Paris, where her mother left her upon her return to this country. Hundreds of ladies lined the wharf at Wilmington upon the approach of the steamer bearing Mrs. Greenhow’s remains. The Soldiers’ Aid Society took charge of the funeral, which took place from the chapel of Hospital No. 4. A letter to the Sentinel, describing it, says:

Mrs. Rose Greenhow (between 1855 and 1865; LOC: LC-DIG-cwpbh-01246)

her bier draped with a confederate flag under a tall ebony crucifix

“It was a solemn and imposing spectacle. The profusion of wax lights round the corpse; the quantity of choice flowers, in crosses, garlands and bouquets, scattered over it; the silent mourners, sable-robed, at the head and foot; the tide of visitors, women and children, with streaming eyes, and soldiers, with bent heads and hushed steps, standing by, paying the last tribute of respect to the departed heroine. On the bier, draped with a magnificent Confederate flag, lay the body, so unchanged as to look like a calm sleeper, while above all rose the tall ebony crucifix — emblem of the faith she embraced in happier hours, and which, we humbly trust, was her consolation in passing through the dark waters of the river of death. She lay there until two o’clock of Sundayafternoon, when the body was removed to the Catholic Church of St. Thomas. Here the funeral oration was delivered by the Rev. Dr. Corcoran, which was a touching tribute to the heroism and patriotic devotion of the deceased, as well as a solemn warning on the uncertainty of all human projects and ambition, even though of the most laudable character.

“The coffin, which was as richly decorated as the resources of the town admitted, and still covered with the Confederate flag, was borne to Oakdale Cemetery, followed by an immense funeral cortege. A beautiful spot on a grassy slope, overshadowed by wavering trees, and in sight of a tranquil lake, was chosen for her resting place. Rain fell in torrents during the day; but as the coffin was being lowered into the grave, the sun burst forth in the brightest majesty, and a rainbow of the most vivid color spanned the horizon. Let us accept the omen, not only for her, the quiet sleeper, who, after many storms and a tumultuous and checkered life, came to peace and rest at last, but also for our beloved country, over which we trust the rain bow of hope will ere long shine with brightest dyes. …

Wilmington, North Carolina was the last port to fall to the Union and Fort Fisher was still in Confederate hands 150 years ago this month, but even the Dispatch in another October 18th report admitted that the Yankee blockade was effective – only Old Man Winter would grant a reprieve:

From Wilmington.

From a gentleman just from Wilmington we learn that the blockade of that port is as effective as Yankee ingenuity and an unlimited force of gunboats can make it. They have now established two lines of picket boats in the offing to give the alarm of the attempted egress of blockade- runners, and as soon as the latter make their appearance, the boats throw up rockets and burn blue lights. The Yankee arrangements for blockading the port are good, and will hold so perhaps a month longer, when they will all be swept away by the rude blasts of winter. This North Carolina coast is, in winter, the most dangerous in the world; and when winter, sets in the blockaders must stand off to sea, or they will inevitably be blown ashore and wrecked.

The USS Niphon was the Union ship that ran the Condor aground:

Late on the night of 29 September, Niphon fired upon Night Hawk as she attempted to run into New Inlet, and observed her go aground. A boat crew led by Acting Ensign Semon boarded the steamer and, under fire from Fort Fisher, set her ablaze and brought off the crew as prisoners.

Niphon ran British blockade runner Condor aground off New Inlet, 1 October, but was prevented from destroying the steamer by intense fire from Fort Fisher. Among the passengers on board Condor was one of the most famous Confederate agents of the war, Mrs. Rose O’Neal Greenhow who, fearful of being captured with her important dispatches, set out in a boat for shore. Her craft overturned in the heavy surf. The crew managed to get ashore; but the lady weighted down by $2,000 in Confederate gold in a pouch around her neck, drowned.

I don’t think there is a consensus about the gold.

USS Niphon (1863-1865) Civil War era lithograph by J.B. Bufford, after a drawing by S.S. Tuckerman. Collection of Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

USS Niphon ran the Condor aground

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“though partially successful failed”

Posted on September 30, 2014 by SUMPTER
Attempt of the Rebels to recapture Fort Harrison (by William Waud, 1864 September 30; LOC: LC-DIG-ppmsca-21749)

“Attempt of the Rebels to recapture Fort Harrison” (September 30, 1864)

The September 29, 1864 Union attack at Chaffin’s Farm was audible in Richmond. The Richmond Daily Dispatch was not published on September 30th because Virginia Governor William “Extra Billy” Smith ordered the newspaper’s employees to militia duty on the 29th.

150 years ago today the Confederates tried to retake Fort Harrison General Robert Lee reported his army’s failure with what might be a little bit of spin.

From the Richmond Daily Dispatch October 1, 1864:

Saturday morning…October 1, 1864.
The War News.

The excitement throughout our city on Thursday was intense. On Thursday morning we announced that an attack had been made upon our lines in front of Petersburg; but this appears to have been only designed to cover the crossing of a heavy force of the enemy to the north side of James river at Deep Bottom. It seems that the alarm was spread from brigade to brigade on the south side, until it nearly reached the Appomattox river; and solid shot and shell were thrown in great profusion. The firing continued throughout the entire night, and in the morning the reports of heavy guns were heard distinctly from Richmond, showing that a severe conflict was taking place between the opposing forces below Richmond.

At about eleven o’clock the following communication was received at this office:
“State of Virginia,
“Executive Department,

“Richmond, September29, 1864.

“To the Proprietor of the Dispatch:
“Sir:

The Governor desires that you direct the employees of your office, liable to militia duty, to hold themselves in readiness to move at a moment’s warning.

Very respectfully.
“

P. Bell Smith,

“Lieutenant-Colonel and Aide-de-camp.”

An hour or two afterward, whilst we were quietly awaiting further orders, and had made no communication with the Executive, we received the following emphatic order:

“Governor’s Office, September28, 1864.

“Editor of the Dispatch:

“I order your men to report at once to Captain Crump. The enemy are approaching the city, and this is no time for delay or difficulties to be made when duty demands our presence in the field.
“By order of the Governor.

“A. R. Boteler,
Aide-de-camp.”

Pursuant to there orders, every man employed in the Dispatch officer promptly reported for duty They each received a musket and a cartridge-box, and, in company with some forty others of the craft, were marched and countermarch for about four or five hours, when orders came for them to be dismissed. The consequence of this movement we that we were compelled to suspend the publication of our paper yesterday, which, we hope, will not occur again. …

The latest.

About one o’clockyesterday heavy firing was heard below the city, and much anxiety was expressed to learn the cause. It was generally believed to have been an attack upon Fort Harrison, but nothing could be definitely ascertained until night, when the following official dispatch was received at the War Department:

“Headquarters Army Northern Virginia,

“September30, 1864.

“Hon. James A. Seddon, Secretary of War:

“An attempt was made this afternoon to retake Battery Harrison, which, though partially successful failed.

R. E. Lee.”

We understood last evening that our troops gained some advantages, which they did not after wards relinquish. …

NY Times 9-30-1864

NY Times 9-30-1864

In the same issue Dispatch editors admitted that the loss of Fort Harrison was a “sad affair”:

Saturday morning…October 1, 1864.
The situation.

The grand manæuvre which the Yankee papers according to their custom, have been hinting at for the last three weeks as about to be executed, and to result in something if it would astonish all the world and the rest of mankind, has at length been tried. It has not captured Richmond, but it has procured “hospitable graves” for many of Grant’s cut-threats, black and white. What will be try next to. Why, we suppose he will manufacture a bulletin, in which he will announce the most splendid success, and which will set the whole semi-barbarous generation represented by him and his army to screaming, dancing, throwing up their hats, and shouting for old Abe. That is all he has done since he has been in command of the grand army, and it is pretty much all that he can expect to do hereafter. But that will not take Richmond, although it may, and no doubt will, assist greatly in electing Lincoln.

The sudden abandonment of Fort Harrison by our troops was a sad affair. It proves that none but tried veterans ought to be entrusted with the defence of outposts, liable at all times to be suddenly attacked and to be overwhelmed before the arrival of assistance. The Yankees will represent the capture of this post as a great victory, of course. But time will show whether it is so or not. …

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