mountain march

Posted on June 14, 2014 by SUMPTER

SENECA was pleased as Punch that he could write home about the Union success at Piedmont, but there was a problem even in victory – what to do with the all those captured rebels. Come to find out, the New York 1st Veteran Cavalry and the 28th Ohio Infantry were ordered to transport the prisoners over the mountains to the nearest railroad junction in West Virginia. It was a tough march.

Staunton to Beverly (1862; LOC: http://www.loc.gov/item/99448502/)

marching through the mountains from Staunton to Beverly

From a Seneca County, New York newspaper in 1864:

From the Veteran Cavalry.

BEVERLY COURT HOUSE,
W.VA., June 15, 1864.

FRIEND STOWELL: – If you will look upon a map of Western Virginia you will find snugly ensconced away up among the mountains of the Old Dominion, the quiet little town of Beverly, the County Seat of Randolph. There the Veterans are encamped, resting after one of the most fatiguing marches often [sic] made.

On Friday morning the 11th inst., we suddenly received orders to strike tents and proceed to the Baltimore and Ohio R.R. with the 28th Ohio Infantry in charge of the prisoners captured at Mt. Hope or Piedmont, as it is now called. There were nearly twelve hundred of the “greybacks” and as it was rather dangerous to endeavor to force our way down the Shenandoah with so large a charge upon our hands, we were ordered to march across the mountains one hundred and ten miles to Beverly, thence down to the railroad forty or fifty miles further.

igh Knob along en:Shenandoah Mountain, taken from along the en:U.S. Route 33 crossing of the mountain. Dark green tree in foreground is Pinus pungens.

“High Knob on Shenandoah Mountain”

The rising sun saw us “upon our winding way” over the mighty hills and thro’ the narrow passes of the great North Shenandoah mountain. Gen. Stahl, who was wounded at the last battle, accompanied us with his body guard. Part of a Battery, several small squads from different regiments, and all of our wounded who were able to ride or walk, were also with us, so that we made up quite a cavalcade. Besides all these, was an immense number of refugees and contrabands “going north,” which gave the rear of our columns rather a motley appearance.

By Saturday night we had passed through Buffalo Gap, over the great Shenandoah mountain, across Bull Pasture Mt., Cow Pasture Mt., Big and Little Calf Pasture Mt., Jack Mt. and the Devil’s Back Bone, and reached the queer little town of Monterey, the county town of Highland. Thus far nothing serious had occurred. A few guerrillas had paid us their respects as we marched along, but fortunately no damage was done.

View from the observation tower atop of Spruce Knob in Spruce Knob-Seneca Rocks National Recreation Area in West Virginia.

View from atop Spruce Knob, highest point in the Alleghenies, Pendleton County, West Virginia

On Sunday morning we commenced ascending the principal range of the Allegany mountains with the pleasing information that we must climb nine miles ere we reached the top and then march nine miles down again. However the ascent was at last accomplished, and the sight that burst upon our wondering eyes from the summit of these lofty hills, more than repaid us for all the toil of reaching there. Range after range of mighty hills arose in awful grandeur. Peak upon peak, “Ossa upon Pelion piled,” towered to the skies. We halted here a little while to enjoy the magnificent scene, and gathered a few flowers from the mountain top. Many a one turned his thoughts homeward as we stood here, and I heard one of the rebel officers singing to himself the Hymn commencing “A charge to keep I have.”

On Sunday night we encamped upon the old battle ground at Green River, where Gen. Reynolds, who fell at Gettysburg, defeated Gen. Lee the present commander-in-chief of the rebel army. On Monday Col. Platner with our Cavalry advanced, accompanied by Gen. Stahl, crossed the Green River and Cheat mountains and entered the town of Beverly, having marched thirty-five miles since morning, and made the entire march from Staunton in three days and a half. Here we are resting for a few days, and when our horses are sufficiently recruited, we move on north to the Baltimore and Ohio R.R.

Our command has been exceedingly fortunate during the march, although we have been compelled to abandon and shoot sixty of our horses, we have not had a man killed, and but one wounded, who I am sorry to say is Sergt. Vinton F. Story, of Co. K. He was shot through the left arm and right thumb on Sunday afternoon, by a couple of cowardly bushwackers, who escaped into the mountains, although our boys tried hard to hunt them out.

MARTINSBURG, June 24.

The above was written at Beverly, but before I had finished we received orders to march, so I have been my own mail carrier for a couple of hundred miles.

On Friday night we encamped near Phillippi, on the very hill where the first gun was fired in Virginia, when Gen. Kelly drove the rebels under Garnet back to Laurel Hill, where he defeated them and forced them back to Rich mountains, where McClellan gave them such a drubbing. – We passed all of these localities rendered famous at the very commencement of the war, and on Saturday reached the railroad at Webster. Here we left our prisoners in charge of the infantry and took the cars for Martinsburg, which place we reached this morning. We should probably remain here some time, as we need fresh horses before taking the field again. The regiment is in good health and very fine spirits. The boys from Seneca Falls and Waterloo are all well, and excepting those already noticed are ready for action.

Yours ever,         SENECA.

I think SENECA got the wrong General Reynolds. It was probably Joseph J. Reynolds

According to the Wikipedia link above, the 28th Ohio took the prisoners to Camp Morton in Indiana.

Brian M. Powell’s photo of Shenandoah Mountain is licensed by Creative Commons. Ditto for Aneta Kaluzna’s shot from Spruce Knob.

Posted in 150 Years Ago This Month, 150 Years Ago This Week, Military Matters | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

butter price

Posted on June 13, 2014 by SUMPTER

There’s been a lot of killing and maiming and suffering the last six weeks in the various seats of war … and the price of butter is still too high at the Richmond market.

From the Richmond Daily Dispatch June 13, 1864:

Butter.

–The markets on Saturday were well supplied with fresh country butter. Prices were a shade lower, but buyers seemed still inclined to hold off, and the consequence was that very little was sold. People are willing to pay eight and ten dollars for a good article, but no more; so let the producers place it at those figures at once or stop bringing it to market. At this season of the year milch cows subsist altogether on grazing, and therefore, it costing nothing to feed them, all that is obtained for butter is clear gain.

___________________________________________________

Little girl wearing white chemise, beaded necklace, and high-button shoes on porch with butter churn (ca1900; LOC: LC-USZC2-6076)

at the butter churn (ca.1900)

Woman churning milk to butter (by J.W. Dunn, c1891; LOC: LC-USZ62-23649)

“Woman churning milk to butter” c1897

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“the suppressic veri and the suggestio falsi”

Posted on June 12, 2014 by SUMPTER

going to hurt me more than you?

From the June 11, 1864 edition of Harper’s Weekly at Son of the South:

lee-cartoon (Harper's Weekly, June 11, 1864)

GRANT TURNING LEE’S FLANK.

Also 150 years ago this week, a Richmond paper noticed that Union Secretary of War Stanton’s telegrams to General Dix in New York seemed to leave out some important information. From the Richmond Daily Dispatch June 11, 1864:

Saturday morning…June 11 1864
Sta[n]ton’s dispatches.

Edwin M. Stanton (LOC: LC-USZ61-985)

“lying for the benefit of his master”?

We think it may be asserted without fear of contradiction, that Stanton is the first war minister on record to whom was assigned the duty of lying for the benefit of his master. In what estimation that master must hold his services when the duties he puts him upon are a disgrace to him, or would be were he other than he is, we care not to inquire. Suffice it to say that he suits the office, and the office suits him. If he takes a pleasure in inventing lies he does it with considerable ingenuity. He is master of all kinds of lying. He can suppress the truth with as much skill as he can invent a falsehood. The following paragraph in one of his dispatches is a remarkable specimen of the two styles — the suppressic veri and the suggestio falsi. We do not know that we ever saw the two so happily blended in a single paragraph:

Washington, June 5th–1 P. M.

Major General Di[x]:

A dispatch from Gen Grant’s headquarters, dated half-past 8 o’clock last night, has been received. It states that about seven P M yesterday (Friday, 3dJune,) the enemy suddenly attacked Smith’s brigade, of Gibbon’s division. The battle lasted with great fury for half an hour. The attack was unwaveringly repulsed.

General Grant, Lt. Col. Bowers, and General Rawlins at Grant's headquarters, Cold Harbor (1864 June 11 or 12; LOC: LC-DIG-cwpb-03540)

“General Grant, Lt. Col. Bowers, and General Rawlins at Grant’s headquarters, Cold Harbor” (June 11 or 12, 1864)

Not one word of the events of that bloody Friday morning. If the Yankee nation ever learns that at five o’clock on Friday, the 3d of June, 1864, Grant made a furious assault upon our lines, and after a murderous conflict of five hours duration was finally repulsed, with a loss of at least 15,000 men; that he left his dead and wounded in our front for days, not daring to attempt to remove them openly, and basely refusing to send a flag of truce lest it should be construed into an acknowledgment of defeat; and that those wounded men lay there until many of them died, and those dead until the stench from their bodies became intolerably offensive, it will be through no fault of Secretary Stanton or General Grant. If the truth can be suppressed by these worthies, suppressed it will be — this attempt to do it proves that — for the ignoring of a battle in which 15,000 men were slain or wounded, is the most astounding feat of that sort on record. The rest of the paragraph is quite in character, although not upon so large a scale. There the lie direct is conspicuous. Gen. Lee says that the attack there alluded to was repulsed with ease, and everybody who was in the fight says that the slaughter of the enemy considering the extent of the front, and the numbers engaged, was even more terrific than it was in the morning. With regard to the attack upon Heth’s division, the language of Gen. Lee is quite as emphatic, It was repulsed with the utmost ease, and the Yankees took no rifle-pits.

It is to be hoped that Stanton puts into Grant’s mouth such words as he thinks proper. We can hardly believe that Grant himself, who is a soldier, though a most butcherly and inhuman one, would descend quite so far. But what a commentary do these telegrams form upon that Government which requires them, and upon the necessities of that same Government, when it does require them? It is obvious that the truth cannot bear the light, and for this reason it is kept studiously concealed. What is such a Government worth?

Gen. U.S. Grant & staff in front of Hdq. Cold Harbor, Va. (June 11 or 12, 1864; LOC: LC-DIG-cwpb-03543)

Stanton putting words in his mouth? Grant with staff at Cold Harbor (June 11 or 12, 1864)

Napoleon was accused by the English newspapers of publishing lying bulletins.–The accusation we believe to have been false, except in so far as he was wont, in common with all other commanders, to exaggerate the strength of his battalions before a battle, in order to deceive the enemy. The result, in every instance, at least argued strongly in favor of his having told the truth. When he published that he had taken 60,000 prisoners at Ulm, he had already destroyed the Austrian army. When he claimed to have captured 30,000 at Austerlitz, his foot was upon the neck of Francis, and Alexander escaped capture only by his permission. When he announced the capture of 40,000 at Jena, he had just crushed the Prussian Monarchy to the earth. When he said that the battle of Wagram had “deprived Austria of 60,000 warriors, ” he was in pursuit of her shattered columns, and a few days after concluded a treaty which stripped her of immense territories and 5,000,000 of subjects. If he lied, he lied with strong circumstances to support him. If he overestimated the loss of his enemy on the field of battle, he did not do it so far as to make it incommensurate with the results. The Yankee Generals have been said to copy after him; but if they do, they only copy what his enemies called his exaggerations. It is easy enough to copy a lie, and not very difficult to lie without a copy. Napoleon had results to show in answer to all charges of lying.–What has Grant to show, or Stanton for him? Immense loss of men, and no progress in obtaining the objects of the campaign. Richmond is as inaccessible to Grant at this moment as it was when he was fifty miles off. He has not carried a single position, and he has been repulsed in all his attacks.

The telegram referenced by the Dispatch was published on the front page of the June 6, 1864 New-York Times in an article which did mention the heavy Union losses.

The following political cartoon from the Library of Congress mentions Stanton’s telegraphs to Dix:

Running the "machine" (Published by Currier & Ives, 152 Nassau St. N.Y., c1864; LOC: LC-USZ62-9407)

telegraphic exaggerations

At left a messenger hands an envelope to Stanton, announcing, “Mr. Secretary! here is a dispatch. We have captured one prisoner and one gun; a great Victory.” Elated over this minuscule achievement, Stanton exclaims “Ah well! Telegraph to General Dix [Union general John A. Dix] immediately.”

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

mute on reconstruction

Posted on June 11, 2014 by SUMPTER
NYT 6-9-1864

New-York Times June 9, 1864

On June 7 and 8, 1864 the National Union (Republican) convention in Baltimore nominated a Abe Lincoln and Andy Johnson ticket. Among other things, its platform was strongly in favor of a vigorous prosecution of the war and strongly opposed to African slavery. Democrat Copperheads wanted to know why the platform was silent on Reconstruction. The Republican-leaning Times of New York said the type of Reconstruction would depend on the Southern attitude after they had been vanquished.

From The New-York Times June 11, 1864:

The Baltimore Platform and the Question of Reconstruction.

The Copperheads, who are nothing if not querulous, complain of the Union platform for not touching upon the question of reconstruction. They say that the supporters of the Administration have different opinions on this cardinal point, and that it was pusillanimously avoided in order to escape discord. They try to make it appear that the seeming unanimity of the Convention was secured only by concealment and evasion.

Now we do not grudge the Copperheads any comfort they can find in this view of the case. They need comfort badly enough, considering their broken fortunes and ruined prospects. They are quite welcome to the fact that loyal men do hold very different opinions on this question of reconstruction, and also to the fancy that the Baltimore Convention was afraid to make an attempt to settle it. It is no discredit to be afraid to do a foolish thing.

The simple truth is that the time has not yet come for a fixed conclusion upon the best mode of reconstruction. Such a decision now by the Union party would be premature, unsafe, and unwise. The prime element in the problem is as yet indeterminable — we mean the disposition of the Southern people after the overthrow of their armies. This, in the very nature of the case, cannot be known except by practical experience after that overthrow takes place. We may speculate about what it will be, ever so confidently, and yet it is nothing but speculation — the stuff that dreams are made off. Too many of the strongest anticipations of even the wisest men have been falsified, in these unprecedented times, to justify any further calculation on the unseen. It may be that when the military power of the Confederacy is broken down, its leaders deprived of the power of further mischief by capital punishment, or imprisonment, or banishment, that the Southern people will realize the utter folly of further opposition, and will cordially avail themselves of an opportunity to come back under the old Government, as free and equal fellow-citizens, prepared to perform every constitutional duty in good faith, and, turning their backs upon the past, to adapt themselves to the new order of things, like sensible practical men. We have ourselves always inclined to the opinion that this would be their disposition. We remember that, though rebellious, their character is yet essentially American; and there is no more active trait in the American character than its readiness to accept and make the best of things as they are. We cannot easily suppose that a people so preeminently practical as all Americans are, should stand out in passive resistance to an unavoidable condition. Yet it may be that the majority of Southerners, high-spirited as they certainly are, may choose to gratify their spirit rather than regard their interests, and may utterly refuse, after the war to return to their obligations as American citizens. They may consider this an admission of past guilt and folly, and an insufferable humiliation; and thus prefer to nourish an undying hate, and to maintain an unbending contumacy.

Now, unless a Copperhead is blinder than an adder, he must see that the method of reconstruction must depend largely upon the fact whether the Southern people, after our military triumph, evince the one or the other of these dispositions. If the rebels, after they have been beaten in the field, will resume their old relations to the National Government, loyally accept its amnesties, take its prescribed oaths, and submit to its laws, the process of reconstruction will neither be difficult nor prolonged. It will, in fact, involve nothing but a reception of their elected Senators and Representatives in the National Capitol, provided these Senators and Representatives shall not be in the category of unpardoned traitors, and must take the oaths required by the laws. On the other hand, if the Southern people should show a determination not to return to their old position, still persisting in rebellion at heart, there would be no alternative but to continue to govern them with the strong arm. Loyal government in every State of the South we are bound to have; and if the Southern people do not choose to furnish it for themselves, it must be furnished for them. The National Government will abide the rule of enmity and treason nowhere. It would sooner grind to powder the State establishing such a rule. All the functions of such a State would have to be kept in abeyance; a military governorship alone would control it until the time came, as it surely would come, sooner or later, either in this generation or the next, when the people, sick of their infatuation, should gladly retake their constitutional rights and obligations.

The Baltimore Convention exhibited simply the plainest common sense in letting this question of reconstruction entirely alone. Without the gift of absolute prescience, there is no such thing as wisely and safely settling this question now. The present business of the party is the maintenance of the war. First subdue the rebels. When that is done, and not before, can it be known what the Southern temper toward the Government will be, and what course of action that temper will make practicable and expedient. We must trust the President and Congress, and, if need be, the loyal States, with their Constitution-amending powers, to settle that, when the time comes, in the light of actual facts. It would be sheer folly to seek to do the thing now.

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duckin’, dodgin’, and dirt

Posted on June 10, 2014 by SUMPTER

In the trenches at Cold Harbor.

The first part of this letter might be an example of gallows humor, especially since Chaplain Scott just missed getting shot in the head.

From a Seneca County, New York newspaper in 1864:

LETTERS from CHAPLAIN SCOTT OF THE 148th

We are permitted to publish the following extracts from private letters written by Rev. FERRIS SCOTT to friends in this Village [Seneca Falls]:

In my “Hole in the Ground,” in front of the Enemy, near Gaines’ Mills, Va., Friday, June 10, 1864.
Our boys in the trenches (may 25, 1864; LOC: LC-DIG-stereo-1s02548)

earlier trenches at North Anna (May 25, 1864)

MY DEAR FRIEND MONROE: *.* If you will excuse the past, I’ll go ahead and blot this already soiled sheet, just to let you know the beauties of my present situation. To realize my present position, you want to come and see. I will give you the directions. Say you are at Fort Monroe. Take the first boat up the York River to West Point, at the junction of the Mattapony and Pamunky, take up the latter to White House landing, thence westerly some fifteen or eighteen miles, and you will come upon the camping ground of the Army of the Potomac. Inquire for the 18th Army Corps, 2d Div., 2d Brig., 148th Regt. You will be shown to the front centre. You want to come into the front line of trenches, but there is some danger in getting in. The Rebs are strongly posted in front, within easy gun shot, and they are sending their leaden messengers of death all through the woods and fields in our rear. But you must not be frightened. – They may not hit you. The path to the right of our regiment is the shortest, but it is also the most dangerous. Five or six men have been hit every day, on that side for a week. I prefer the longer route to our left. You leave the main road, turn to the right, through a piece of woods, thence you come upon an open field; one of our batteries is just down to the right of you. Pass around to the left of it, where you will enter a partial clearing. Here you will find our Division Headquarters, and here you will hear the bullets whistle over you. You need not duck your head. Ha! Ha! I know you can’t help it. The first time I came through there I tried to stand up bravely, and I got a ball through my cap for it. Ever since, I dodge. But come on, the sooner we get through the better, [sic] Down through a small ravine; now turn a short corner to the right. Whist! Phiz! couz-zin! Lie down a moment. The Rebs see you. Here is the greatest point of danger. They have got a good range here; but it is only a little ways. Now is your time. Up, stoop low, run, double-quick. There, you are all right, – at the mouth of the first trench. (A trench is only a deep ditch, – the dirt thrown towards the enemy, forming a breastwork, which is a safe protection against bullets.)

Once in this trench, you are comparatively safe. But come on. The 148th are on the extreme right. You have entered on the left. You pass the 12th New Hampshire, the the 2d, then the 11th Conn., and you are in the camp of the 148th. Come on down the line to this side cut; turn to the right; ask for the Chaplain’s quarters; any of the boys will bring you to the mouth of my hole. It is four feet deep, three feet wide, seven feet long. Come in! I am glad to see you! Here you see is my hardtack box. I use it for a table, a writing desk and a cupboard. I sit on the ground. You will have to do the same. Still I am just as glad to see you. You will feel easy, here, I trust, for we are quite secure from harm, although we are just in a line between two opposing batteries that are engaged just now in sending shells at one another. We are just about half way between the two. Boom! goes a Yankee gun; the shell come straight over us and lands among the Rebs. It hardly reaches its spot before back comes another, and you can hear the limbs crack and break behind us as it ploughs through the woods to where our guns are. This heavy firing has been kept up since noon. There is no other way than to keep cool and not mind. Night and day since Friday last we have been under this sound; with the addition of musketry almost all the time. The loss in our Reg’t has been over one hundred in killed and wounded, in the last eight days. Boom! Boom! My head fairly aches from the jar and noise. Imagine, if you please, what it is to write, sitting in the path of a hundred-pound shell. Now the skirmishers are at it. Bang! crack! bang! go the rifles. Mercy what a din. but we get used to this, as we do anything else. You would have to laugh, I know you would, if you were here, just in front of my “hole” in the ditch. – Sitting square down on the ground, is a man cleaning his gun. A bullet just now passed along the ditch, close by the side of him. “Z-i-p!” Says he, “that was spiteful, wasn’t it?” – and goes right on with his work. The expressions of some of the men unde[r] similar circumstances, are most amusing.

The friends at home have but a slight idea of what soldiers have to endure. Life in the trenches is almost an entirely new phaze in a soldier’s existence. The principal feature of which is dirt. We sit in the dirt, we sleep in the dirt, (boom! another big gun,) we eat dirt; it sifts into our coffee, gets on our meat, fills our hair, clothes, gets begrimmed [sic] into our face and hands. Sometimes I have not washed for three days together. Our food is of the simplest kind, and not always plenty at that. We don’t live, we simply exist. We get no papers. We know less by far of what Grant is doing than you do at home. We move as we are commanded, for the rest we take little concern. My own duties have been greatly increased since the fighting began. I am, amid all, happy and contented. I want to see the war ended. I am tired of this slaughter and this sorrowful record of wounds and death. I feel for those at home as well as for the sufferers in the army.

I am as ever, yours very truly,

FERRIS SCOTT.

Walt Gable, the Seneca County Historian, referenced this letter in a good article he wrote for a modern newspaper about the 148th at Cold Harbor.

Mustered into the United States service in the fall of 1862, the 148th New York Infantry did garrison work around Norfolk and Yorktown until the spring of 1864. As part of Baldy Smith’s 18th corps

it took part in the short campaign of the Army of the James under Gen. Butler against Petersburg and Richmond by way of the James river, being engaged at Swift creek, Proctor’s creek, Drewry’s bluff and Bermuda Hundred. Its loss during this campaign was 78 in killed, wounded and missing. The 18th corps was then ordered to reinforce the Army of the Potomac and the 148th was heavily engaged at Cold Harbor, losing 124 killed, wounded and missing.

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“glorious victory”

Posted on June 9, 2014 by SUMPTER

Our SENECA correspondent from New York’s 1st Veteran Cavalry sure was happy to be able to report some Union success in the Shenandoah Valley after the defeat at New Market. According to SENECA, a diversionary action by the 1st Veterans on June 4th let General David Hunter slip the main part of his Army of the Shenandoah around the strong Confederate position at Mt. Crawford. The main battle was fought the next day.

From a Seneca County, New York newspaper in 1864:

From the First Veteran Cavalry.

STAUNTON, VA., June 9th, 1864.

Maj. Gen. Hunter ([between 1860 and 1863]; LOC: LC-DIG-ppmsca-32331)

“Black Dave” Hunter – new Union boss in the Valley

FRIEND STOWELL: – Again have we met the enemy and this time have won a glorious victory. Shortly after my last from Cedar Creek, Gen. Sigel was relieved by Gen. Hunter, who at once made preparations for another advance up the Valley. – All baggage, tents, &c. were sent to Martinsburg, all sutlers and citizens banished from the army, and on the 26th of May we moved up the Shenandoah and again occupied the town of Woodstock. On the 29th we camped on the battle field in front of New Market, from which we had been driven just two weeks previous, and next day the “Veterans” entered the town [,] which we held. Lieut. Col. Platner commanding the post. Here we seized large quantities of tobacco and cotton. The cotton was burned and the tobacco distributed among the troops.

While lying at New Market we received the melancholy intelligence of the death of Capt. ROBERT H. BRETT, of Co. K, who fell, bravely fighting for his country at New Town, Va., on Sunday evening may 29th. Capt. Brett was a brave man and a good officer, and his loss is severely felt and deeply regretted by the whole regiment, and especially by the officers and men of his own Company, who have not only lost a brave commander put [sic] a kind friend and brother. But he has met a soldier’s death. He has done his duty well – God give him his reward.

On the 2d of June we arrived at Harrisonburg, a place of some importance, and after a smart skirmish of two hours, drove Gen. Imboden through the town, which we held. The enemy fell back to a very strong position, which they fortified extensively, making it almost impregnable. On Saturday, the 4th inst., Col. Platner moved his regiment about seven miles to the right and attacked the enemy on the left flank, then drawing his entire attention, while the whole of our army, trains and all, passed by on his right flank taking the road to Port Republic, after which we withdrew from our position on his left and rejoined the army at Port Republic, much to the disgust of Mr. Imboden, who was completely fooled by this Yankee trick, and obliged to evacuate his stronghold.

Hunter's victory at Mount Crawford ( THE NEW YORK HERALD, New York, June 9, 1864; LOC: http://www.loc.gov/item/2005625347/)

Woodstock to Staunton

On Sunday, the 5th of June, we again advanced and had proceeded but a short distance when we were furiously attacked by Imboden’s cavalry, who were soon put to flight by our “Cavaliers.” Imboden fell back to Mt. Hope, where his men joined by Gen. Jones with a large force of Infantry and Artillery sent up from Richmond or vicinity. We steadily advanced, and about eight o’clock on that beautiful Sunday morning the artillery opened upon us and the

                BATTLE OF MT. HOPE OR PIEDMONT

commenced. Our Batteries were immediately brought up and soon the fireing [sic] was terrible. After a short cannonading of two hours, our Infantry moved forward in three splendid lines of battle against the enemy’s left, which was strongly posted in a long strip of woods, upon a gentle rise of ground. The contest here was terrible – again and again our picket line advanced, and as often it was forced back, until at last, with a shout that sounded far above the roar of Artillery, all the lines advanced and carried the position. For a while there was a lull in the storm of battle, but soon the enemy were seen massing all their forces for a grand charge upon our right, to regain the position they had lost. Our cavalry was immediately dismounted and thrown into the woods with the Infantry to hold the ground, and right well they held it. Line after line of the enemy came rushing in upon us with shout and cries, and dashed themselves upon our troops like waves against a rock. But the Stars and Stripes were defended by strong arms and brave hearts that day, and the rebels were driven back in disorder. No sooner did this occur than the order was given to charge along our whole line, and away we went, Cavalry, Infantry and all. With a loud cheer the Infantry charged down upon their front, and with flashing sabres and shouts of victory the Cavalry came crushing down upon the flank. The battle was finished. the victory was complete. – Thousands threw down their arms and sought for safety in the mountains. Hundreds of them were captured, while the ground far away, was strewn with dead and dying as we dashed on after the flying foe.

WilliamEJones (File from The Photographic History of The Civil War in Ten Volumes: Volume Four, The Cavalry . The Review of Reviews Co., New York. 1911. p. 78.)

William E. “Grumble” Jones as colonel in 1862

Col. Platner was ordered to pursue the enemy and pick up stragglers. Placing himself at the head of his regiment, and giving the order to charge, away we went as fast as our horses [could carry us through] the town of Mt. Hope and the forests beyond, dashing right upon the enemy’s rear guard and driving it in upon what was left of the rebel army. It was in this gallant charge that we lost most severely, for when we rushed upon the rear guards, they received us with a perfect storm of bullets, before they broke and ran.

This closed the battle, and we camped for the night upon the field which had been the scene of one of the hardest fought battles of Shenandoah, and the greatest victory ever won in the Valley. Our loss in killed and wounded is not over five hundred (500) whilst that of the enemy is nearly one thousand, besides twelve hundred prisoners, including sixty commissioned officers. Gen. Jones who commanded the rebel forces was left dead upon the field, together with many other General and Field officers.

On the 6th we marched upon Staunton, which we occupied without opposition and which we now hold.

Staunton, Va. (by Edward Beyer, Woldemar Rau, lithographer, c1857; LOC: LC-USZC4-1888)

the “beautiful town” c.1857

Staunton is a beautiful town containing many very fine public buildings. Some of them are State Institutions and really magnificent. This is the first time the Union troops have been in Staunton since the war commenced, and the citizens beheld us enter the town with no little anxiety, as they had been told horrible tales concerning the barbarity of the Northern hordes. But they are very happily disappointed in finding we are not quite savage, and everything passes off quite smoothly between us.

Yesterday Gens. Averill and Crooks with a large force of cavalry and Infantry joined us from the Kanawha Valley, and we now have quite a respectable army with us, sufficient to meet any force that Lee can conveniently spare to send against us.

We have been hard at work for the past two days, destroying the Richmond Railroad and have pretty thoroughly demolished it for several miles in either direction.

I enclose an official list of casualties in our regiment from the past two weeks from which you will perceive that we have had some pretty severe work, and although Co. K has not lost as many as some others, yet I assure you that none have done better than the boys from         SENECA.

Another clipping reported the list of casualties of the 1st NY Veterans at New Market and Mt. Hope. Individuals were listed by company, and then a RECAPITUALATION tallied up the losses by officers and men. One officer was killed and two wounded. There were 22 men killed. 42 wounded, and 27 missing.

The Battle of Piedmont would have been a more complete victory for the Union army if it wasn’t for a successful rear guard action that did indeed stymie the 1st Veterans:

On the Staunton (East) Road, the 1st New York Veteran Cavalry launched a vigorous pursuit of the beaten Confederates. However, another section of McClanahan’s battery and elements of Vaughn’s brigade not sent to the left hastily deployed along the road between the villages of Piedmont and New Hope. When the New Yorkers chased up the road after the fleeing Southerners, this Confederate rear guard opened fire devastating the Union cavalry and dampening their enthusiasm for any further pursuit. Although at least 1,500 Confederates had been lost, the rear guard action at New Hope allowed the remnants of the army to escape further damage.

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a persevering party

Posted on June 7, 2014 by SUMPTER
Hon. Edwin Denison Morgan of N.Y. (between 1860 and 1875; LOC: LC-DIG-cwpbh-00015)

“the bones of our soldiers are bleaching in every State of the Union”

The first chairman of the Republican party, Edwin D. Morgan, opened the “National Union” Convention in Baltimore 150 years ago today. He fired up the delegates by playing on General Grant’s “I propose to fight it out on this line if it takes all summer” dispatch and by saying that the Republican party wouldn’t be living up to its mission unless it stood for a constitutional amendment prohibiting African slavery throughout the United States.

From The New-York Times June 8, 1864:

NATIONAL UNION CONVENTION.; The Assembling at Baltimore yesterday. Six Hundred Delegates in Attendance. Dr. Breckinridge, of Kentucky, Temporary President. Governor Denison, of Ohio, Permanent President. ENTIRE HARMONY AND ENTHUSIASM. Speeches of Rev. Dr. Breckinridge, Senator Morgan, Governor Denison and Parson Brownlow. NATIONAL UNION CONVENTION EVENING SESSION

BALTIMORE, Tuesday, June 7.

The National Union Convention assembled this morning in the Front-street Theatre.

The building is tastefully decorated and fitted up for the occasion. The galleries are festooned with flags and the interior stage is thrown open. This was done by the City Council of Balitmore.

The President’s chair is on an elevated platform at the extreme end of the stage, under a canopy of flags.

There is a numerous staff of pages in attendance, who are decorated with tri-colored badges.

There is also a considerable number of telegraph messengers in attendance, whose duty it is to convey dispatches direct from the reporters’ tables to the telegraphic instruments in the lobbies.

The doors of the theatre opened at 11 o’clock, and the building soon commenced filling up with delegates and spectators — the latter being admitted only to the galleries.

The Dress Circle is reserved for the ladies.

There are nearly six hundred delegates present, including many from the remote Territories.

New-Mexico has sent a delegation consisting of Hons. JOHN S. WATTS, FRANCIS PEREA and JOSHUA JONES, Jr.

1 o’clock, P.M.

The band of the Second United States Regiment, from Fort McHenry, is stationed in the gallery, and at noon they opened with the performance of a grand overture.

The building is now densely packed, from the lower floor to the ceiling.

Hon. EDWIN D. MORGAN, of New-York, Chairman of the National Union Executive Committee, called the Convention to order; and spoke as follows;

Free territory for a free people (Engraved by J.D. Lovett N.Y. 1860; LOC: LC-USZ62-90709)

perseverance payoff

MEMBERS OF THE CONVENTION: It is a little more than eight years since it was resolved to form a national party, to be conducted upon the principles and policy which had been established and maintained by those illustrious statesmen, GEORGE WASHINGTON and THOMAS JEFFERSON. A convention was held in Philadelphia, under the shade of the trees that surround the Hall of Independence, and candidates (FREMONT and DAYTON) were there nominated who had espoused our cause and were to maintain it. But the State of Pennsylvania gave its electoral vote to JAMES BUCHANAN, and the election of 185[6] was lost. Nothing daunted by defeat, it was determined to fight on “on this line,” not only “all Summer,” but four Summers and four Winters, and in 1860 the party banner was again unfurled, with the names of ABRAHAM LINCOLN and HANNIBAL HAMLIN inscribed thereon. This time it was successful; but with success came the rebellion, and with the rebellion, of course, war, and war, terrible and cruel war, has continued up to the present time, when it is necessary, under our Constitution, to prepare for another Presidential election. It is for this highly responsible purpose that you are to-day assembled. It is not my duty nor my purpose to indicate any general plan of action by this convention; but I trust I may be permitted to say that, in view of the dread realities of the past and what is passing at this moment, the fact that the bones of our soldiers are bleaching in every State of the Union, and with the further knowledge of the further fact that this has all been caused by Slavery, the party of which you, gentlemen, are the delegated and only representatives, will fall short of accomplishing its great mission, unless among its other resolves it shall declare for such an amendment of the Constitution as will positively prohibit African Slavery in the United States. [Prolonged applause, followed by three cheers.] In behalf of the National Committee, I now propose for temporary President of this convention, ROBERT J. BRECKINRIDGE of Kentucky, [applause,] and appoint Gov. RANDALL of Wisconsin, and Gov. KING of New-York, as a committee to conduct the President pro tem to the chair.

Robert_J_Breckinridge (Scanned from: Klotter, James C. (1986) The Breckinridges of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky: The University Press of Kentucky)

“Old War Horse of Kentucky”

Three cheers were proposed for the “Old War Horse of Kentucky,” and they were given.

As soon as silence was restored, Mr. BRECKINRIDGE returned his thanks for the honor conferred upon him in a brief and eloquent speech as follows: …

… the only enduring, only imperishable cement of all free institutions has been the blood of traitors. No Government has ever been built upon imperishable foundations, which foundations were not laid in the blood of traitors. It is a fearful truth, but we had as well avow it at once, and every lick you strike, and every rebel you kill, every battle you win, dreadful as it is to do it, you are adding, it may be a year, it may be ten years, it may be a century, it may be ten centuries to the life of the Government and the freedom of your children. [Great applause.] …

In the month before the Baltimore convention Robert Breckinridge’s nephew, John C., had been busy helping to beat Yankees at New Market and Cold Harbor.

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war without end

Posted on June 6, 2014 by SUMPTER

“until all resistance to the national authority ceases”

the national authority embodied by the vote of the people

abrham-lincoln-cartoon (Harper's Weekly 6-18-1864


JUST SO!
FREMONT. “Well, Sir ! I am nominated, you see!”
COCHRANE. “Yes, Sir; WE are nominated.”
LINCOLN. “Well, Gentlemen; and what then?”
FREMONT and COCHRANE. ” Oh! nothing, Sir; nothing—that’s all!”

Campaign season was heating up. On May 31, 1864 the Radical Democracy nominated John C. Fremont as its presidential standard-bearer. The Republican (National Union) convention was scheduled for June 7th and 8th in Baltimore. Here’s an endorsement of President Lincoln.

From The New-York Times June 6, 1864:

A Voice from Rebeldom on the Presidential Question.

We publish this morning a brief letter, (which we know to be genuine,) from the interior of Texas, relative to the necessity of reelecting President LINCOLN. The writer declares that nothing would give the loyal men of the South so much satisfaction; and that nothing would more discourage rebels. This testimony from the very bosom of rebeldom, is but a corroboration of our argument, that the Union cause cannot have its complete vindication short of compelling the South to submit to the national authority, as exercised by the very man against whose constitutional election by the people they rebelled.

The uniform representation of the Southern leaders has been, as our correspondent states, that this war upon the South has been mainly the doing of “Old ABE,” and a little knot of desperadoes around him. The lower classes of the South have no conception that the majority of the North are really in favor of the war — far less, that they are enlisted in it heart and soul, and are determined to fight it through till the rebellion is crushed, whatever blood, or treasure, or time it may cost. Such an idea has not been entertained, for the simple reason that these classes have been precluded from every source of true information. Almost by a natural necessity, they believed what has been incessantly told them. Ignorant at best, unaccustomed to draw inferences or form independent judgments of any sort, habitually looking to their political leaders for information and direction, and as completely unacquainted as the South Sea Islanders with Northern newspapers, they do not consider the reelection of ABRAHAM LINCOLN among the possibilities.

It is a great fact we must never forget, that ABRAHAM LINCOLN stands before the South as the embodiment of the war. It is that for which the Southern leaders so intensely hate him. It is that which has made it easy to present him to the people as the author of all their woes, and the only obstacle to their independence and peace. Therefore there can possibly be no such effectual method of evincing to the South the Northern determination to cleave to the war, than to vote by an overwhelming majority to continue the executive power in the hands of Mr. LINCOLN. Let any other man be chosen, no matter on what platform or by what party, and it would be represented at the South to be a proof of the dissatisfaction of the Northern people with the war, and a sign that the war would be soon abandoned. No such interpretation could be put on their election of ABRAHAM LINCOLN that would not be on its face preposterous. The very contumely which the Southern leaders have been pouring upon him for the last four years without stint, would estop them from uttering a syllable after his reelection in pretext that it was his usurped authority, and not the will of the North, that sustained the war. They have advertised him to the “white trash” of the South a little too freely to make it possible to falsify the meaning of his being chosen to a second Presidential term.

The reelection of President LINCOLN will be a solemn proclamation by the people to the rebellious South and to the whole world, that this war can have no end until all resistance to the national authority ceases. It will dispel a thousand mischievous delusions. It will present to the Southern people, for the first time, in all its reality, the appalling vista of war down which they must go to inevitable ruin, unless they return to their old allegiance. As merely the means of imposing upon the South a sense of the Northern determination to subdue this rebellion, this reelection would be worth a new army of half a million. It is already known well enough that we have the strength. What is especially needed is, the conviction that this strength will be used to the uttermost limit, if necessary to maintain the Government. To establish that conviction, we must attest our purpose in the most unmistakeable of all ways — the reelection to power of him, who, more prominently than any other man, has been identified with the war.

As a war measure, then, as a matter of military expediency, nothing could be wiser than this reelection. But there is an intrinsic justice in it which still more commends it. It was the national authority as vested in ABRAHAM LINCOLN that was defied; and it is preeminently fit that the submission, when made, should be made to the same exponent of that authority. No chance should ever be given for the future apologists of this rebellion to pretend that it was provoked and sustained only by the odiousness of Mr. LINCOLN’s political doctrines, and by his unfitness to be at the head of the Government. This business should be so settled as to render forever impossible the slightest idea that the recognition of a President elect depends in the least upon his party connections or his personal character. This cardinal principle can be reaffirmed in no better way than by making the rebellion succumb in its death to the very President whom it repelled and defied in its birth. It is not in any spirit of petty revenge, any desire to inflict needless humiliation, that this is urged. The effectual pacification of the country, so soon as the war closes, is a matter of too great concern to allow the slightest play to any feeling of that sort. Indeed, no personal feeling to any kind would justify any act that would operate against the speediest and easiest return to the line of duty. But there is a principle involved here; and it touches the vital issue of this struggle. It is the principle of implicit submission to the legal authority of the elect of the people. Had Mr. BRECKINRIDGE, or Mr. DOUGLAS, or Mr. BELL been elected, there would have been no rebellion. The South rebelled because the plurality of the people chose to be served by Mr. LINCOLN. It is for the people to reassert their absolute and indefeasible right, under the Constitution, to elect to the Presidency of this Republic whosoever they may choose to elect, and their determination, through all time to come, to put down any resistance to that right, whenever and wherever it is attempted. This reassertion can be made in no way so distinctly and effectually as by the reelection of President LINCOLN.

The political cartoon of President Lincoln and the candidates of the Radical Democracy was published in the June 18, 1864 issue of Harper’s Weekly (at Son of the South).

_______________________________________________
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New York, New York. June 6, 1944. D-day sevices in a synagogue on West Twenty-third Street (1944 June 6; LOC: LC-USW3-054043-C)

“New York, New York. June 6, 1944. D-day sevices in a synagogue on West Twenty-third Street”

New York, New York. June 6, 1944. Times Square and vicinity on D-day (1944 June 6; LOC: LC-USW3-054024-C)

“New York, New York. June 6, 1944. Times Square and vicinity on D-day”

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relative Sabbath

Posted on June 5, 2014 by SUMPTER

According to the following editorial 150 years ago today was a remarkably quiet Sunday up at the Cold Harbor front. Also, if Grant can’t do to Lee what Lee did to McClellan, then the Confederates must be the best soldiers. The piece following disdains the war advice offered by The New-York Times’ Henry Raymond.

From the Richmond Daily Dispatch June 6, 1864:

Richmond Dispatch
Monday morning…June 6. 1864.
The front.

Yesterday was an uncommonly quiet day, undisturbed, as far as we could learn, by more than a single rumor, which, however, if there is any truth in it, is of more importance than the generality of rumors it bore that one of Grant’s couriers had been intercepted with a note from Grant himself to his Chief of Commissarial, instructing him to use his stores with the utmost economy, and saying that he could get no more until he reached James river. The impression has very generally prevailed that Grant is trying to force his way to that river, and that impression may have given rise to the rumor. If there be any truth in it, he must feel some doubt about the policy or possibility of establishing his base at the White House. Of this we know nothing; but, from appearances, he is evidently trying to reach the James, either to establish his base there or to cross over to the opposite side. This, we suppose, is the secret of his furious attacks upon the positions at Cold Harbor and Gaines’s Mill, and their neighborhood, and of his having assembled a large force at Bottom’s Bridge. If he can get over this side, he hopes to get possession of White Oak Swamp and Malvern Hill, as McClellan did, and thus to open the way to the river. These positions are both in our hands, and we hardly think they will be abandoned without a struggle. How capable they are of defence McClellan made it appear upon his retreat. Being now in our possession, we shall be in the position that McClellan was then, and Grant will be in the position that Gen. Lee then occupied.–Now, in 1862, our men carried the positions of Cold Harbor and Gaines’s Mill, which McClellan held then as we do now, while we occupied the position now held by Grant. Thus far Grant has been unable to make the slightest impression upon these positions. On the contrary, he has been repulsed in every attack he has made, most signally and most murderously. The affair of Friday was a mere massacre, and the attack of Fridaynight was repulsed with heavy loss on the part of the enemy and scarcely any loss on our part. If we could take the same positions when they held them, which they cannot take while we hold them, the inference is, that ours are the best troops. We have, therefore, no great fears for White Oak Swamp or Malvern Hill, even if Grant should cross the Chickahominy, which he has not done yet. Meanwhile we congratulate our brave soldiers, and their officers, upon being able to pass one Sabbath without losing or shedding blood. We scarcely heard the sound of a cannon yesterday — a circumstance which, just at this time, may be regarded as somewhat remarkable.

Raymond disappointed.

Raymond may be a “little villain””those who ought to know say he is — but he is a big soldier. He studied at Solferino, and took the degree of “Master” at the White House. If Richmond has not yet been taken it is no fault of Raymond’s. He gave the best possible advice, but those who had the ordering of the campaign would not follow it. …

Maybe the Richmond editors wrote their lead article late in the afternoon on the 5th, because according to Union General Meade the rebels launched a failed assault that very Sunday evening.

From The Life and Letters of George Gordon Meade … (page 201):

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, 9 P.M., June 5, 1864.

[It had been comparatively quiet since the 3rd, but the rebels had just been repulsed that evening.] Indeed, we are pretty much engaged all the time, from early in the morning till late at night. I don’t believe the military history of the world can afford a parallel to the protracted and severe fighting which this army has sustained for the last thirty days. You would suppose, with all this severe fighting, our severe losses, constant marches, many in the night, that the physical powers of the men would be exhausted. I have no doubt that in time it will tell on them, but as of yet they show no evidences of it.

I feel a satisfaction in knowing that my record is clear, and that the results of this campaign are the clearest indications I could wish of my sound judgment, both at Williamsport and Mine Run. In every instance that we have attacked the enemy in an entrenched position we have failed, except in the case of Hancock’s attack at Spottsylvania, which was a surprise discreditable to the enemy. So, likewise, whenever the enemy has attacked us in position, he has been repulsed. I think Grant has had his eyes opened, and is willing to admit now that Virginia and Lee’s army is not Tennessee and Bragg’s army. Whether the people will ever realize this fact remains to be seen.

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brothers’ war?

Posted on June 4, 2014 by SUMPTER
Booths_Caesar

John Wilkes, Edwin, and Junius (Jr) Booth in Julius Caesar

Some Southerners didn’t take kindly to famous native Marylanders who were unabashedly pro-Union. From the Richmond Daily Dispatch June 3, 1864:

Edwin Boot[h] at the North.

–This young actor, a native of the State of Maryland, and whose engagements in the South previous to the war were attended with so much success, has lately been performing at the North for the benefits of the Sanitary Committee, When [t]old in Washington by a Southern lady a short time since that the people of the South would surely remember him in this matter, he repeated: “He did not care what they remembered? He knew no country but the Union.–no flag but the stars and stripes.” So much for Edwin Booth!

According to Wikipedia sometime in 1864 Edwin Booth performed in Julius Caesar with his brothers John Wilkes and Junius, Jr. It was the only time they appeared together on stage.

Civil War envelope showing Columbia with American flag bearing message "For the Union" and state seal of Maryland (N.Y. : C. Magnus, 12 Frankfort St. ; [between 1861 and 1865]; LOC: LC-DIG-ppmsca-26468)

state seal of Maryland now appearing with the Stars and Stripes!

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