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Complete Online Index of Civil War Times (Illustrated)

Brett Schulte — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 21:00:29 +0000

I learned this morning via a tweet from Andrew Ferguson that a complete index of Civil War Times, something I had slowly been working on with little progress, is now online! I’m a little busy today, but I plan to spend some time with this over the next few weeks. It appears to be an incredible resource for researchers and should save me some serious time when looking for Petersburg Campaign articles for Beyond the Crater: The Petersburg Campaign Online.

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Complete Online Index of Civil War Times (Illustrated)

Civil War Times Illustrated, January 2007

Brett Schulte — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 17:39:19 +0000

Why Are These Summaries Showing Up Late?

Civil War Times Illustrated

Volume 45, Number 10 (January 2007)

Civil War Times Illustrated Web Site

Mail Call…..4

Turning Points: Arming the Confederacy…..9

Josiah Gorgas

by Jeffry D. Wert

This month Turning Points looks at Brigadier General Josiah Gorgas, chief of the Confederate Ornance Bureau.

Gallery: South Carolina Volunteer…..13

Wiliam N. Gaston

submitted by John Porter Gaston III

William Gaston served with the 6^th South Carolina in Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia during the war, serving from Fort Sumter to Appomattox and suffering four different wounds.

Irregulars: The Operators…..17

by Eric Ethier

Telegraph operators faced a hazardous path during the Civil War, with one in ten becoming a fatality. Despite the dangers, these men were not paid like soldiers or given the same recognition. Despite the dangers, writes Eric Ethier, these men went wherever the armies did, always trying to keep their side better informed than the enemy.

Civil War Today: Rough Waters for the Museum of the Confederacy…..19

by Michael J. Varhola

The Museum of the Confederacy faces a budget reduction of $650,000, money that had been counted on. As a result, the Museum has been forced to institute drastic measures such as limiting visiting times and days, limiting new exhibits, and even briefly discontinuing tours of the Confederate White House in downtown Richmond.

Behind the Lines Editorial…..21

by Chris W. Lewis

Editor Chris Lewis discusses the many tasks of a Civil War General, and notes that fighting was just the tip of the iceberg.

A Legend is Born…..22

by Richard F. Selcer

Grant’s ability to learn on the job is explored in the first of a three part series looking at the three campaigns in which an enemy army surrendered to Grant, a record unsurpassed in American history. The first instance of surrender came at Fort Donelson, Tennessee, where Grant’s pre-war friend Simon Bolivar Buckner was the opposing commander. Grant’s subordinate and mentor Brigadier General Charles F. Smith mentioned “unconditional surrender”, but Selcer points out Grant never credited Smith as the inspiration for this famous phrase. Despite scheming subordinates and the Navy looking to gain credit for the surrender, Grant came out of this ordeal as the victor of Fort Donelson. He did not do so without making some mistakes, according to Selcer, including allowing too many Rebels to be assigned to burial parties, many of whom escaped; not appointing a provost marshal to handle the large number of prisoners; allowing too many other men to write out paroles, even Buckner!; and allowing his own men too much leeway in their behavior. In the end, it took two full days of talks before the surrender was finalized. It did not happen without Buckner trying to use his friendship to gain concessions, but Grant held firm on all important points. Selcer writes that Grant was a man of great compassion and generosity during the surrender, ignoring protocol when it made no sense. He concludes that the media sensation of the surrender and the term “unconditional surrender” served Grant well and propelled him on to even greater victories.

New York City’s Secession Crisis…..32

by Chuck Leddy

New York City, led by Mayor Fernando Wood and men with financial interests in the South, proposed secession of their own from the United States and the forming of a new independent city-state called “Tri-Insula.” Wood’s efforts caused him to be viewed with suspicion and dislike in the North. New York City was highly democratic and pro-South, partially as a result of the enormous profits New York City merchants made off of the institution of slavery. Once the Civil War started, New York’s threats to secede became unrealistic and faded into the background as patriotic fervor gripped the North. However, this undercurrent of dissatisfaction with the Republicans and abolitionists never truly went away entirely. Leddy mentions Wood’s efforts as a Copperhead congressman and the New York City draft riots of 1863 as just two examples of this.

Gettysburg After the Storm…..38

by Gabor S. Boritt

In an excerpt from his book The Gettysburg Gospel: The Lincoln Speech That Nobody Knows, Gabor Boritt looks at the devastation wrought by the two opposing armies during the Gettysburg Campaign. Seven thousand dead and 21,000 wounded were left behind at Gettysburg with hardly any surgeons to care for them. The stench of rotting carcasses was present for months. In all of this destruction, George Meade took four out of every five surgeons with the Army of the Potomac in their pursuit of Lee. In the vacuum left behind, the National and Pennsylvania governments did not recognize the extent of the disaster and hardly any official help was forthcoming. The number of dead grew daily as the ground became ever more hallowed.

‘To the Last Crust and Cartridge’…..46

by George Skoch

Prolific Civil War cartographer George Skoch turns to writing, this time about the action at Greenland Gap on April 25, 1863 during the Jones-Imboden Raid. Captain Martin Wallace of the 23^rd Illinois commanded the 50 or so men of his company along with 30-odd men from a company of the 14^th West Virginia defending Greenland Gap. Brig. General “Grumble” Jones’ force of 2000 men descended on the gap, and after bloody afternoon and evening attacks finally forced the Union defenders to surrender. The raid was a success, but the stand of these Union soldiers prevented the Confederates from achieving even more, according to Grumble Jones.

My War: ‘This Worrisome Mode of Existence’: The Letters of Josiah H. Gordon…..55

edited by Christopher Benedetto

Member of the Maryland Legislature Josiah H. Gordon was suspected of treason by the Federal government in the early years of the Civil War. As a result, he was held at Fort Warren in Boston Harbor for eight months. This edition of My War consists of selected diary entries Gordon wrote while imprisoned there.

In Their Footsteps: The Road to Atlanta, Part 2…..60

by Jay Wertz

Jay Wertz continues his driving tour of the Atlanta Campaign, this time from Calhoun to the “Shoupades” of the Chattahoochee River Line.

Civil War Times Album of the Late War…..64

by Chris Howland

This collection of anecdotes includes the fate of Simon Bolivar Buckner, a hygiene kit, a portable checkerboard, and a letter from a man who had been reported killed to his wife!

Book Reviews…..66

Contested Borderland: The Civil War in Appalachian Kentucky and Virginia by Brian D. McKnight
Military Necessity: Civil-Military Relations in the Confederacy by Paul D. Escott
Campaigns of the Army of the Potomac by William Swinson

Frozen Moment: Fort Fisher’s Hot Shot Furnace…..74

The image in this Frozen Moment is the solid shot furnace from Fort Fisher, North Carolina, which was used against a combined arms Union force which attacked the fort in January 1865.

From TOCWOC – A Civil War Blog, post Civil War Times Illustrated, January 2007

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Civil War Times Illustrated, January 2007

Civil War Times Illustrated, September 2006

Brett Schulte — Mon, 25 Sep 2006 15:56:08 +0000

Civil War Times
Volume 45, Number 7 (September 2006)
Civil War Times Web Site

Page 7
Turning Points: Dr. Letterman’s War by Jeffry D. Wert
Army surgeon Jonathan K. Letterman instituted a system to expedite removal of wounded from the field of battle to hospitals and medical stations. Appointed medical director of the Army of the Potomac in June 1862, Dr. Letterman soon improved the health of the army and increased the number of supplies available to surgeons and doctors. In August 1862, he created an ambulance corps for the AotP. As mentioned earlier, Letterman created a three tiered system to remove the wounded from the field of battle, first to field stations, then to nearby homes and hospitals, and eventually to large general hospitals in cities. This system was first tested at Antietam, and worked fairly well. It was later copied by other Union armies and made standard late in the war.
Page 11
Irregulars: Engineers by Eric Ethier
Eric Ethier covers the engineers of both armies in the latest edition of Irregulars. Engineers were used to build pontoon and other bridges, create lines of defense, oversee siege operations, and act as sappers and miners during such sieges. The U.S. Army had less than 1,000 engineers during the war, and these men were supplemented by several volunteer regiments of engineers. The Confederacy created several engineer regiments of their own. Engineers also employed units of “pioneers”, regular units trained to use axes and other equipment, when larger jobs required more manpower.
Page 13
Gallery: A Soldier to Make General Lee Proud submitted by Dr. Elizabeth Hoole McArthur
Axalla John “Zell” Hoole joined the Confederate 8th South Carolina at nearly the age of 40, much older than most of the men who participated in the war. He had received an excellent education in South Carolina despite the early death of his father, and he and his bride moved to Kansas in the 1850s to try to legally influence its admission as a slave state. After this failed, the Hoole’s moved back to South Carolina. Zell Hoole participated in many of the 8th’s fights, including First Bull Run, in the Peninsula Campaign, the Seven Days, Harpers Ferry, Sharpsburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, and Chickamauga. In the spring of 1862, he was elected the Lt. Colonel of the 8th. Hoole was killed at Chickamauga on September 20, 1863, leaving behind his wife and four children. Sadly, the last child was born five days after the Lt. Colonel died.
Page 15
My War: ‘What I Thought At Antietam’ by James J. and Patience P. Barnes
John Rankin, a private in the 27th Indiana, here writes an extraordinary memoir entitled “What I Thought At Antietam.” In it, Rankin attempts to give a 100% truthful account of what was going through his mind as his division of the Federal XII Corps advanced on Hood’s Division. He relates many things which other men would have never thought of uncovering in that day and age. Rankin concludes that many men struggled with staying to fight and possibly die, or running and attempting to live for another day.
Page 21
Behind the Lines: Letter From Civil War Times
The Underdog Days of Summer
In what appears to be a new version of the editor’s column, the Army of Northern Virginia’s performance at Antietam despite long odds is discussed. However, the reader is cautioned not to dismiss the Army of the Potomac or its leaders at the same time. The AotP had lost quite a few experienced men in the earlier battles in Virginia in 1862, and much of their numerical superiority came in the form of green, newly recruited regiments. In addition, talented men such as Isaac Stevens, Phil Kearny, and Jesse Reno, had been recently killed. These were men who might have been appointed to corps command, an area filled with new and inexperienced men.

Page 22
Two Great American Armies: The Opposing Forces At Antietam by Ted Alexander
Ted Alexander discusses the strengths and weakness of the Army of the Potomac and the Army of Northern Virginia on September 17, 1862. Both armies were facing significant structural challenges on the day of battle. The author first compares McClellan and Lee, moves on to the ethnic makeup of the armies, and then discusses each army in detail. The Army of the Potomac was an amalgam of no less than four separate forces, far different than it had been on the Virginia Peninsula during the Seven Days. McClellan had the II, V, and VI Corps from the original AotP with him at Antietam. Joining them were II and III Corps from the Army of Virginia, which became the XII and I Corps, Army of the Potomac, respectively. The IX Corps was a combination of Burnside’s expeditionary force that had attacked the North Carolina coast earlier in 1862 and Jacob Cox’s Kanawha Division from the mountains of West Virginia. To make matters worse, many of the regiments (and in two cases even divisions) had just been assembled only days or even hours before the fight. The fighting quality of this army was very uneven from unit to unit. Lastly, there were quite a few new corps commanders (Hooker, Cox, Mansfield) going into their first action in that capacity. Clearly the Army of the Potomac was not in its best shape on September 17, 1862. In stark contrast to this polyglot force was the Army of Northern Virginia. Every one of Lee’s regiments had seen at least one major battle, and many had been in multiple fights. The average Confederate regiment was much smaller than its Union counterpart, due in part to the heavy fighting it had seen. Confederate leaders, from wing command on down, were also experienced. Lee could count on superb leaders such as Jackson, Longstreet, Hood, and the Hills to fight his battles. As usual, the Yankees were better clothed than the Confederates, though in some cases the reverse was true, especially considering the Confederates had just captured the Union supply depot at Harpers Ferry. Again as was usually the case, the Federals were better armed than their Rebel counterparts. Most carried the 1861 Springfield rifled musket. At least one estimate says the number of smoothbores in the Army of Northern Virginia was as high as 30%. The Army of the Potomac had an artillery advantage as well, both in the number and hitting power of its guns. The Yankee army was undergoing a reorganization on the fly as the four separate forces which composed the army came together. However, the Confederates were also facing a reorganization, with the added negatives of having fewer and weaker guns, and bad fuses for their shells. The Confederate cavalry was used and organized better than their Union counterparts at this stage of the war, but they were more poorly armed. In terms of supplies, the Union was in much better shape at Antietam. The Union was faced with the burden of burying the dead and caring for the wounded, an enormous task. As these “two great American armies” came together on September 17, 1862, they were clearly not facing their own image in the mirror.
Page 33
Philadelphia: The Economy of War by Richard A. Sauers
Philadelphia, the second largest U.S. city at the time of the Civil War behind only New York, was a major business center tied as much to the South as it was to the North. All of that changed after the start of the war. Many Philadelphia firms contributed to the Union cause, supplying uniforms, supplies, weapons, and other equipment to Northern soldiers. Philadelphia’s banks proved to be an unexpected financial base for the North during this time as well, also shipping coal to other Northern cities from the coal mines of eastern Pennsylvania.
Page 38
Friends to the Death by Jerry W. Holsworth
Confederate Brigadier General David R. Jones and Union Colonel Henry W. Kingsbury were good friends and brothers-in-law…fighting on opposite sides during the Civil War. Early in the war, both men were present at First Bull Run and during the Peninsula Campaign and the Seven Days. Shortly after the campaign ended, Kingsbury was appointed to command the 11th Connecticut Infantry, and he would soon find himself facing his friend’s small Confederate Division across Antietam Creek, with Burnside’s Bridge in between. Kingsbury’s regiment was ordered forward as skirmishers to the bridge, and Kingsbury was hit four times, including what proved to be a fatal wound in the abdomen. The Union forces eventually crossed the Antietam and were pushing Jones’ men into Sharpsburg, but a flank attack by the newly arrived division of A.P. Hill saved the day. D.R. Jones, however, wasn’t smiling. He had learned of the death of his friend through prisoners of the 11th Connecticut. Jones was never the same after that day, says Holsworth, asking to be relieved of command of his division and dying of a heart attack in January 1863 at the age of 39.
Page 46
An Officer and an Indian by Patrick T. Seccia
George Washington Grayson, a Confederate officer and Creek chieftain, is the subject of this article by Patrick Seccia. Grayson, of mixed Creek and white Southern blood, had a much better education than many of his tribe. When the war started, Grayson initially resisted the call to arms. His father had died, and he as the oldest son was able to earn money to support his family. Eventually, though, taunts from those questioning his courage led Grayson to join the Confederate cause. He fought in many battles in Indian Territory, including Honey Springs and Cabin Creek. By the end of the war, no one was questioning his bravery any more. In the postbellum years, Grayson served the public as a politician, eventually becoming Chief of the Creek tribe in 1917. Grayson started writing his autobiography in 1908, twelve years before he died. Eventually this was published in 1988 as A Creek Warrior for the Confederacy: The Autobiography of Chief G. W. Grayson.
Page 56
In Their Footsteps: Harpers Ferry by Jay Wertz
Jay Wertz’ latest “In Their Footsteps” takes a look at the numerous Civil War site in and around Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. Major sites and centers include the NPS Visitors Center for the Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, the Kennedy Farm, Charles Town, the John Brown Museum, the armory engine house, the remains of the Shenandoah Canal, the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park, Bolivar Heights, Maryland Heights, among others.
Page 66
Civil War Times Album of the Late War
This edition of the “Civil War Times Album of the Late War” covers the hypothetical situation of having a living Isaac Stevens and Jesse Reno actin as Union corps commanders at Antietam, a coded message from Maj. Gen. Fitz John Porter to Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan, a letter from a Confederate surgeon to his wife after Second Bull Run, and the Kearny Patch and Medal.
Page 68
Reviews: Books and Other Media
Books reviewed in this issue: 1. Patriotic Treason: John Brown and the Soul of America by Evan Carton 2. The Battle of Hampton Roads: New Perspectives on the USS Monitor and CSS Virginia edited by Harold Holzer and Tim MulliganThe Classics: 1. Diary of a Southern Refugee During The War, by A Lady of Virginia by Judith W. McGuire
Page 74
Frozen Moment: Freedom’s Calling Card
Two young children attending one of the Free Schools of Louisiana are depicted in this issue’s frozen moment on a carte-de-visite from 1863. The picture is an example of “materials distributed and sold throughout the North to raise money for, and awareness of, that effort.”

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Civil War Times Illustrated, September 2006

Civil War Times Illustrated, August 2006

Brett Schulte — Tue, 05 Sep 2006 14:35:50 +0000

Civil War Times
Volume 45, Number 6 (August 2006)
Civil War Times Web Site

Page 7
Turning Points: Civil War Photography by Jeffry D. Wert
Photography was only thirty years old at the time of the Civil War. The first recorded instance of men slain in battle was taken by Alexander Gardner and James F. Gibson, employees of Mathew Brady. These men arrived on the battlefield of Antietam on September 17 or 18, 1862 and took the after-combat photos before the burial details had finished their grisly work. The resulting exhibition in Brady’s New York Gallery was a huge success, as many people were curious to see this new form of photography. The combat photographer had been born.
Page 11
Irregulars: Recruiters by Eric Ethier
Eric Ethier explores the often unscrupulous and frustrating world of army recruiters. These men found much resistance to their work, especially after large casualties lists began to dissuade prospective recruits from volunteering. Many recruiters, when faced with this reality, resorted to any means necessary, legal and ethical or otherwise, to induce men to enlist. As a result, many recruiters had their lives threatened by those who resented their tactics and their goals. Ironically, the best source of recruits lay in veterans whose enlistments were set to soon expire.

Page 13
Civil War Today: Saving the Slaughter Pen by Chris W. Lewis
The Slaughter Pen, a key unblemished spot on the southern portion of the Fredericksburg battlefield, faced a serious threat by developers wishing to devastatingly transform the landscape. The Civil War Preservation Trust and others have rallied to attempt to raise the huge sum of $12.3 million needed to save the land from development.
Page 15
Gallery: ‘A Hole You Could Put Your Fist In’
submitted by Great-Great-Grandson John A. Thompson
Marshall McKusick, a pre-war schoolteacher, joined the 6th Maine Battery Light Artillery in December 1861. McKusick and his battery participated in many of the Army of the Potomac’s toughest fights, including Second Bull Run, Gettysburg, and the Wilderness. McKusick was wounded by a shell fragment at Cold Harbor on June 3, 1862. His family said it created “a hole you could put your fist in.” After the war, McKusick resumed teaching, attended law school, and became a state legislator in Maine. He died on May 28, 1908.
Page 16
In Their Footsteps: North Carolina Coastal Operations of 1861-62 by Jay Wertz
General Ambrose Burnside’s North Carolina coastal operations are the subject of this issue’s “In Their Footsteps”. This particular tour is somewhat unusual in terms of the large distances covered. Sites include the towns of Plymouth, Washington, Winton, Elizabeth City, Hatteras, Ocracoke, Beaufort, and New Bern. Sites include the Dismal Swamp, Roanoke Island, Fort Macon, and the CSS Neuse State Historic Site, among others.
Page 21
Behind the Lines: Brothers In Arms?
In this “Letter from Civil War TImes”, the discussion involves the difficulties Ulysses S. Grant and James Longstreet had in dealing with members and fellow generals of their respective causes. Grant had to endure attacks from above and below in the persons of Henry Halleck and John A. McClernand, while Longstreet faced the organized assault of Jubal Early and his “Lost Cause” allies.
Page 22
The Best Subordinate: James Longstreet by Jeffry D. Wert
Jeffry Wert, author of this article and also a Longstreet biographer, argues quite persuasively that James Longstreet, and not Stonewall Jackson, was Robert E. Lee’s best subordinate. Longstreet was a happy go lucky man until January 1862, when scarlet fever took three of his four children. From that day on, the historical view of a taciturn, serious man was evident. Longstreet rose quickly in the opening year of the war from command of a brigade to a division, and he would rise to become Lee’s second in command, ranking Jackson by a day. One of Wert’s main arguments is that fact. Lee himself made it quite clear who he wanted as his second highest ranking officer in Longstreet. Wert also covers Longstreet’s impressive attacks and counterattacks at Second Manassas, Gettysburg, Chickamauga, and the Wilderness. Although Longstreet performed well in these and other battles, Wert is not afraid to point out his flaws, including at Seven Pines and elsewhere. The author spends quite a bit of time going over the reasons why Longstreet does not have a better reputation to this day, including his performance at Gettysburg, his friendship with Ulysses S. Grant, and his willingness to associate with the Republican Party, resulting in the “Lost Cause” efforts of Early and others to discredit him.
Page 30
Wrath Awaits the Invader by William J. Stier
On August 17, 1864, Captain John Dickinson surprised and routed portions of two Federal cavalry regiments and an artillery piece from Gainesville, Florida. Dickinson’s lopsided victory preserved southern and eastern Florida for the Southern cause. A sidebar article talks about Dickinson’s pre-war and early war activity.
Page 36
‘The Most Extraordinary Feat of the War’ by A. W. R. Hawkins III
Forty-four Confederates stationed in Fort Griffin protecting Sabine Pass proceeded to drive away an invading Yankee army and fleet of 5,000 men and numerous ships on September 8, 1863 in what General John Magruder called “the most extraordinary feat of the war.” The Yankees could have used the area as a base for future incursions into Texas if they had been successful at the pass.
Page 44
The Secret War Between Grant & Halleck by Brian J. Murphy
Brian Murphy covers the feud between Generals Henry Halleck and Ulysses S. Grant in the early days of the war. Halleck, Grant’s superior, became extremely jealous when Grant received the credit and publicity for the captures of Forts Henry and Donelson. From that point until he was appointed General-in-Chief, Halleck did his best to have Grant removed from any meaningful command. It was ironic then, that these two men became de facto allies when John McClernand tried to secure for himself an army command out of the army’s chain of command. Halleck was furious, as was Grant, and they worked together to ensure that McClernand’s troops would eventually come under Grant’s control.
Page 51
My War: The Boys from Brenham by Tom Terrell
Tom Terrell, a direct descendant of Virginius Pettey, here provides readers with several letters Pettey sent from the camps of his 5th Texas Infantry regiment. Pettey was involved in the fighting during the Seven Days, describing here the charge of Hood’s Division which saved the day for the Confederates at Gaines’ Mill. Pettey also fought at Second Manassas, but he was wounded in the bowels and died several days later. The last letter is from Pettey’s messmate to his brother-in-law, describing Pettey’s death and relaying the deceased’s last wishes.
Page 60
Civil War Times Album of the Late War
This issue’s Civil War Times Album of the Late War takes a look at John Pope’s career after Second Manassas, patriotic stationary, a miniature version of the Stars and Bars, and a new recruit’s experience at the Battle of Cedar Mountain, among other things.
Page 62
Reviews: Books and Other Media
Books reviewed in this issue: 1. The Last Shot: The Incredible True Story of the C.S.S. Shenandoah and the True Conclusion of the American Civil War by Lynn Schooler 2. Sea of Gray: The Around-the-World Odyssey of the Confederate Raider Shenandoah by Tom Chaffin 3. The Voyage of the CSS Shenandoah: A Memorable Cruise by William C. Whittle, Jr. 4. General Ulysses S. Grant: The Soldier and the Man by Edward LongacreThe Classics: 1. The Autobiography of Samuel S. Hildebrand: The Renowned Missouri Bushwacker edited by Kirby Ross
Page 74
Frozen Moment: A Defender to the End
General James Longstreet and his second wife Helen are the subject of this issue’s Frozen Moment.

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Civil War Times Illustrated, August 2006

American Civil War Magazine & Journal Index Updated

Brett Schulte — Mon, 04 Sep 2006 14:30:10 +0000

The American Civil War Magazine & Journal Index has been updated today:

Added Civil War Times Illustrated, Volume 45, No. 6 (w/summary) to the CWTI Section.
Added cover images for most of Zouave Magazine Volumes 1-8 to the Zouave Section.

From TOCWOC – A Civil War Blog, post American Civil War Magazine & Journal Index Updated

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American Civil War Magazine & Journal Index Updated

Civil War Times Illustrated, June 2006

Brett Schulte — Fri, 23 Jun 2006 16:32:59 +0000

Civil War Times, June 2006
Vol. 45, Number 4
Civil War Times Web Site
Page 6
Behind The Lines: A Note From The Editor by Chris W. Lewis

Page 8
Turning Points: The 1862 Sioux Uprising by Jeffry D. Wert
By mid-1862, the Dakota Sioux were fed up with the United States government. They had signed many treaties which seemed to increasingly take their land. Two years of failed crops made things desperate, and they took advantage of the fact the United States was at war with itself to try to drive the white settlers away. The first bloodshed occurred on August 17, 1862. By the time the fighting and massacres were over late in 1862, 71 Sioux, 77 soldiers, and over 800 civilians were killed. Part of the 7 Sioux who died were 38 men who were hanged for rape and/or murder of white civilians.

Page 12

Gallery: Johnadab Bowles submitted by Mary Bowles McBride

John Bowles was born in England on April 30, 1842, and later moved with his family to Clyde, New York. He joined the 67th New York in April 1861, but appears to have been listed as a deserter for a period of time. He later reappeared on the rolls of the regiment in March 1862. In November of that year, he enlisted in a horse artillery battery, Battery G, 2nd U.S. Artillery. The unit was a part of John Sedgwick’s VI Corps. Bowles went on to see service at Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettyaburg, Culpeper Court House, Bristoe Station, Mine Run campaign, Wilderness, Spotsylvania, and Cold Harbor. He received an honorable discharge on November 9, 1965, and was married to Catherine McGowan on December 29, 1869, in Swain, New York. The couple died together on October 24, 1909 of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Page 14

Irregulars: Sharpshooters by Eric Ethier

Sharpshooters were used on both sides, although the Confederates were much more successful in the practice. Sharpshooters served as both light infantry, performing skirmish line duty, and as snipers in the modern sense, picking off officers and men in the opposing lines. By far the most famous sharpshooter units were Hiram Berdan’s 1st and 2nd United States Sharpshooters. Berdan wasn’t a great leader, but he was skilled in obtaining money and backing in high places for his project. In 1863, the Army of Northern Virginia created sharpshooter battalions in every brigade of the army. This idea was the brainchild of Robert Rodes. These picked men were recruited for accurate shooting, initiative, and tough constitutions. They were trained in skirmishing using bugle calls, and were generally called upon to screen the main body when in the presence of the enemy. The sharpshooters typically used Enfield Rifles, target rifles, English Match Rifles, Whitworth Rifles, and several other weapons in their duties.

Page 16

My War: Dueling Diarists In Winchester by Jerry W. Holsworth

Kate Sperry and Julia Chase lived within 3 blocks of each other in Winchester, Virginia during the war. Both women kept detailed diaries of their experiences during the war. Holsworth moves back and forth between the two diaries, specifically near the time of the Second Battle of Winchester. This creates an interesting effect where the reader can see how different the views of these two ladies were, even though they lived in close proximity to one another.

Page 26

The Killing of Uncle John by Fred L. Ray

Fred Ray, author of Shock Troops of the Confederacy, here describes in detail the killing of “Uncle John” Sedgwick, commander of the Union VI Corps, on May 9, 1864 near Spotsylvania Court House. Sedgwick’s Chief of Staff, Lieutenant Colonel Martin McMahon, had earlier warned him not to enter a certain angle due to the amount of fire being laid down. Sedgwick later ignored the advice, and as men around him ducked, he admonished them, saying several times “they couldn’t hit an elephant at this distance.” After the second utterance, a Confederate sharpshooter proved he could hit something much smaller than an elephant at that distance. But the question of who that man was continues to evade us today. Ray looks over the claims of various Confederates who later affirmed that they were the one to do the deed, but in each case questions of distance, line of sight, unit positions, and time raise issues. Ray concludes that the soldier cannot be determined based on the evidence available today.

Page 35

Chance and the Civil War by Keith Miller

Gambling was a prevalent evil during the Civil War, even though many states had passed anti-gambling laws in the antebellum period due to corrupt state lotteries. In an effort to pass time, soldiers resorted to playing cards; betting on horse races, cock fights, boxing and wrestling matches, and almost any other kind of competition; and throwing dice. Card games were by far the most popular method of gambling, from faro to poker to euchre to many other types of cards. Confederate soldiers, who found pay coming less and less frequently as the war continued, resorted to gambling on items such as pocket knives and watches. Some soldiers became excellent card players…or they simply cheated. In the Victorian Era, most soldiers believed that gambling was not only wrong but also sinful. When a battle was near, soldiers would routinely drop any forms of gambling instruments such as playing cards, coming back later to pick up what they could if they survived the day. The authorities tried to ban gambling in the camps, but it was mostly a fruitless exercise, as many of the officers were involved as well. Another problem that arose in the occupied South was the presence of organized gambling establishments. Many times Southern spies would gain quite a bit of information from intoxicated Union soldiers who were at these gambling dens. Miller closes by mentioning the current issue of a Gettysburg Casino, saying “the uneasy relationship between the Civil War and gambling lives on.”

Page 42

Hoodwinked, Part 2: Confederate Military Deception by Maurice G. D’Aoust

In the second part of a two-part series on Union and Confederate military deception, D’Aoust takes a look at various instances of Confederate deception throughout the war. John B. Magruder plays a prominent role in the article, as expected. Magruder was known for his theatrical flair, and he succeeded beyond belief on the Virginia Peninsula, convincing the approaching Union Army of 55,000 that he had many more men than his true number of 13,600. Magruder marched men across open spaces and had them do it over and over again. In addition, he ordered troops to cheer each time a “new” unit arrived. By the time McClellan brought his siege guns up and had them ready to fire, Magruder had withdrawn under cover of night. P.G.T. Beauregard used a similar strategy at Corinth, not long after the Battle of Shiloh. His army of barely 50,000 men faced a Union host of over 100,000. His solution was to run trains into and out of Corinth at night, his men cheering loudly at each “arrival” of reinforcements. John Pope on the Union left expected an attack at any time from the Rebel horde. Beauregard too fled under cover of night, keeping his campfires burning brightly to complete the ruse. Nathan Bedford Forrest used ruses more than once during the war. On July 13, 1862, he and his 1,400 troopers rode into Murfreesboro, Tennessee, garrisoned by two infantry regiments of 1,040 men in camps on the opposite sides of the town. He moved against the 9th Michigan and convinced the commander of that unit that the other regiment had already surrendered. After securing these men, Forrest moved on the 3rd Minnesota and repeated the trick. The commander did not believe Forrest in this instance, but since the General already had the Michiganders in his custody, he gladly showed the Minnesota Colonel the situation. Forrest hadn’t even outnumbered the enemy 1.5:1 and had still managed to capture the whole lot and a battery of artillery as well! Later, Forrest pulled an even more audacious trick. In May 1863 he was tailing Colonel Abel D. Streight’s 1,400 cavalrymen with less than a third of that number of men. D’Aoust writes, “in a smoke-and-mirrors display that included the transformation of two artillery pieces into a 15-gun array, Forrest eventually fooled Streight into believing he was severely outnumbered.” Imagine Streight’s surprise when he found out the truth! In a humorous addendum, the author relates that Streight demanded his men be released with their weapons and the battle continued. Forrest responded with “all is fair in love and war.” The final case of deception concerns Robert E. Lee and Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson during May and June 1862. The generals conceived (Lee) and executed (Jackson) a plan that managed to keep fully 60,000 men away from the Army of the Potomac then getting ready to besiege Richmond. Lincoln and Stanton were fooled into believing Washington was at risk during the Valley Campaign, and Jackson then slipped away in mid-June to help Lee defeat McClellan around the Confederate capital.

Page 50

A Table Full of Civilians by James A. Morgan III

James A. Morgan III, the author of A Little Short of Boats: The Fight at Ball’s Bluff and Edwards Ferry, October 21-22, 1861, here recounts some of the fallout of that Union disaster. Brigadier General Charles Pomeroy Stone had been the overall commander of the troops which fought at Ball’s Bluff, though he ws not present on the battlefield. The leader in charge of the tactical situation was Senator (and Colonel) Edward Baker, but he was killed in the fighting. The battle resulted in a rout of the Union forces, and many became casualties. General McClellan did not blame Stone and relieved him of any responsibility for the disaster. The death of the Senator “became a political club to be wielded against Stone.” the Radical Republicans suspected Stone of sympathizing with the South due to his Democratic leanings. There were also several incidents where Stone returned slaves to their owners, though to be fair in one instance the slaves actually wanted to return to be with their families. To make matters worse, Stone called Senator Charles Sumner a “well known coward” after Sumner chastised him over the slave issue. In any event, after the heavily Republican Joint Committee on the Conduct of the War was formed, Stone became the scapegoat for Ball’s Bluff. He was imprisoned for over 6 months without ever being told what the charges were against him. Although he later was released and served in 1864 in Louisiana and briefly in Virginia, Stone had had enough. He resigned from the Army in September 1864. After the war, Stone moved to Egypt and became the chief of staff to Khedive Ismail of Egypt for 13 years. As if this were not enough, Stone later became chief engineer overseeing the construction of the Statue of Liberty. The work must have weakened him. He died on January 24, 1887, only a few months after the dedication of the New York landmark. Stone had been given an unfair shake during the war, but Morgan points out that many of his contemporaries knew him to be a good general and a loyal man. He uses Phil Kearny’s glowing praise of Stone as “the ablest man in the army” to prove the point. Kearny was extremely stingy in his praise of others, so that comment is particularly revealing.

Page 66

In Their Footsteps: The Sioux Wars of 1862-1864 by Jay Wertz

Jay Wertz discusses some interesting sites to visit in the Dakotas and Minnesota involving the Sioux Wars of 1862-1864, including Ft. Snelling, the Sibley House Historic Site, Mankato, Minnesota, Upper Sioux Agency State Park, and others.

Page 70

Civil War Times Album of the Late War

This version of “Album of the Late War” includes topics such as the fate of Benjamin Wade, the slouch hat of Major General John Sedgwick, and the origin of the song “The Vacant Chair”, penned after Lieutenant John William Grout lost his life at the Battle of Ball’s Bluff.

Page 74

Reviews: Books and Other Media

Books reviewed in this issue:

1. Basil Wilson Duke, CSA: The Right Man in the Right Place by Gary Robert Matthews
2. Shock Troops of the Confederacy: The Sharpshooters of the Army of Northern Virginia by Fred L. Ray
3. Soldiering: The Civil War Diary of Rice C. Bull edited by K. Jack Bauer

Page 82

Frozen Moment: A Friendly Game of Cards

This issue’s frozen moment depicts two veterans, one Confederate and one Union, playing cards at a reunion long after the war was over.

From TOCWOC – A Civil War Blog, post Civil War Times Illustrated, June 2006

Post from: TOCWOC - A Civil War Blog

Civil War Times Illustrated, June 2006

Civil War Times Illustrated, January 2006

Brett Schulte — Sat, 10 Dec 2005 21:36:54 +0000

The January 2006 issue is the second issue of Civil War Times Illustrated that I’ll be reviewing for this blog. CWTI usually focuses as much on the social and political history of the war as any ACW magazine, but the January 2006 issue is different. It is the 140th Anniversary special issue covering 1865. In the past, these “anniversary year” issues were sold separately from a subscription, but CWTI decided to include it as part of the subscription this year. As such, this issue covers mainly military events, including articles on the burning of Columbia, South Carolina, Five Forks, the Final Assault at Petersburg, Sailor’s Creek, Bentonville, Johnston’s surrender at Bennitt Farm, and Palmetto Ranch. Also, CWTI is moving to a ten issue a year format starting immediately, and I’m happy to hear it. I hope quality doesn’t suffer, and I doubt it will. After having read this issue, I have to say it is one of the better CWTI issuues I’ve seen in quite some time. That might have to do with the “1865 Anniversary” format, but we’ll see in the next issue.

Page 8
Columbia: God’s Will or Yankee Vengeance? by Steven E. Woodworth
Steven Woodworth covers the controversial burning of Columbia, South Carolina. The opposing sides claimed that the other side started the fires that burned a part of the city to the ground. Many northerners considered South Carolina the instigator of the war, and they believed the state should pay for its crimes. Other factors contributed to the destruction. Cotton had been set on fire along several streets to prevent its capture by the Yankees. Alcohol was available and some Union units had large numbers of men intoxicated. Some prisoners who had been held in a Columbia prison were released as well, and some were overheard swearing they wanted revenge on the city. To make matters worse, a high wind picked up the night the cotton had been set on fire. Woodworth concludes that all of these things contributed to the destruction, and he points out that the fires could have destroyed more of the city if not for some Yankee units acting as firefighters.

Page 16
Bentonville–Last Chance to Stop Sherman by Jay Luvaas
Luvaas gives us a nice introduction to the Battle of Bentonville. Located in North Carolina, Bentonville was the site of a battle between a hodgepodge Confederate army under Joseph Johnston and Henry Slocum’s Army of Georgia on March 19, 1864. Johnston failed in his effort to destroy one wing of Sherman’s army, and Sherman soon arrived with Oliver Howard’s Army of the Tennessee as help for Slocum. Johnston’s failed effort led to his surrender in May at Bennitt Farm.

Page 24

‘Reconsider, Hell!’ by Curtis S. King

Author King tells the story of the beginning of the end of the Petersburg Campaign. Phil Sheridan took his newly reunited Cavalry Corps of the Army of the Potomac, in conjunction with the II and V Corps of that same army, and struck westward in an attempt to get at Lee’s last supply line, the South Side Railroad. In the end, Sheridan launched his cavalry and the V Corps, under General Warren, at a Confederate force attempting to block his way at Five Forks under George Pickett. Pickett and Fitzhugh Lee weren’t present when the attack hit, and the result was a resounding success for the Federals. At the end of the day, however, Sheridan sacked Warren (with earlier permission from Grant) on four trumped up charges. Warren was cleared years later, but he had died a few months before. I personally take Warren’s side in this controversy, and many others do as well. What should have been his greatest triumph turned into his blackest day do to Sheridan’s dislike for him.

Page 34

Last-Ditch Rebel Stand At Petersburg by Ronald E. Bullock

After Five Forks, Grant ordered an assault along the lines at Petersburg for April 2, 1865. The Union VI Corps under Wright broke through southwest of Petersburg, killing Confederate III Corps commander A.P. Hill in the process. As the Union troops moved northeast to try to take Petersburg, Lee ordered the defenders of Fort Gregg and Fort Baldwin to buy time for Field’s I Corps division to arrive and form a solid line of defense. These men did buy the required time, at the cost of their lives and their freedom. Bullock says the defense of these men “ranks alongside any armed resistance in modern or ancient times.”

Page 42

Hurtling Toward the End by Chris M. Calkins

Petersburg National Battlefield Park Historian Chris Calkins covers “Black Thursday” for the Army of Northern Virginia. On April 6, 1865, a portion of the army was partially captured and routed from the field at the Battle of Sailor’s Creek. The need to protect a wagon train put the Confederates in harm’s way, and the Union Cavalry managed to set up a roadblock in front of Anderson’s Fourth Corps. Ewell’s Department of Richmond was also cut off, and Gordon’s Second Corps as rear guard decided to protect the wagons along a more northerly route. In three separate actions, Humphreys’ Union II Corps defeated their Southern counterparts protecting the wagon train, Wright’s VI Corps surrounded most of Ewell’s men, and the Union Cavalry under Wesley Merritt dealt with Anderson. Robert E. Lee, watching men streaming to the rear from a rise west of the fighting exclaimed, “My God! Has the army been dissolved?”

Page 50

‘A Silent Gloom Fell Upon Us’ by Jeffry D. Wert

Wert tells the interesting tale of the feelings of Union soldiers after hearing of the assassination of President Lincoln. Many of the men were not only saddened. They also wanted revenge on the South. General Sherman went so far as to order everyone into camp before reading of the terrible news. He was afraid what some of his hardened veterans might do in retaliation. Some Northern soldiers were glad Lincoln had been killed, but Wert says these were in the vast minority and most had the good sense to keep their mouths shut. For a time, if soldiers heard someone expressing satisfaction over Lincoln’s murder the person doing the talking could expect a severe beating or even death.

Page 58

The Second Surrender by John M. Taylor

Even the most casual of Civil War buffs has heard of Lee’s surrender to Grant at Appomattox Court House. Far fewer can name Bennitt Farm, spelled differently here than Mark Bradley does in his wonderful book This Astounding Close: The Road to Bennett Place, as the surrender site of Joseph Johnston to William T. Sherman. John Taylor covers this important event in good detail, and even delves a little into the controversy concerning Sherman’s initial terms, in which he delved into social and political questions.

Page 66

Last Hurrah at Palmetto Ranch by William Marvel

I had heard of Palmetto Ranch as the last Confederate victory of the war, but I didn’t know any details until now. Marvel presents the story of Colonel Theodore H. Barrett, a man who desired to get in on a battle even though the end of the war was near. He got his wish when Confederates under Colonel John “Old Rip” Ford came calling near the Mexican border. Even though he outnumbered Ford almost 2 to 1, Barrett led a shameful retreat and lost over 100 men as prisoners. He’s a great example of the old axiom: “be careful what you wish for…you might just get it.”

Page 74

Page Images of Peace At Appomattox by Harold Holzer, Gabor S. Boritt, and Mark E. Neely, Jr.

Although not one of the battle pieces I usually enjoy over all others, this was still a very enjoyable read. The authors discuss the various
“imaginings” of the surrender at Appomattox, with an emphasis on the myth of the surrender happening on horseback in an apple orchard. In the many images that came out, Lee was allowed to become a hero for the American people as a whole, argue the authors. I strongly recommend taking a look at this one.

Page 82

Eyewitnesses to War

In this edition of Eyewitnesses to War, we get firsthand accounts of the Sultana disaster and the fall of Richmond.

Page 90

Parting Shot

This issue’s Parting Shot gives us a photograph of an 1881 Gettysburg reunion for members of Winfield Scott Hancock’s staff. Confederate General James Longstreet also appears in the picture. The point is made that oftentimes former generals would fight more with members of their own cause than with members of the side they were fighting against. In addition to appearing at this reunion, Longstreet also resumed his pre-war friendship with Ulysses S. Grant.

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Check out Beyond the Crater: The Petersburg Campaign Online for the latest on the Siege of Petersburg!

From TOCWOC – A Civil War Blog, post Civil War Times Illustrated, January 2006

Post from: TOCWOC - A Civil War Blog

Civil War Times Illustrated, January 2006