Belated Introduction

[ecstaticsub]

Hi Chris--great to meet you. I am originally a Boston city girl but we were stationed in Virginia for a couple of years. It was interesting helping my son with his history homework (4th grade) when he learned about the Civil War from the southern point of view.

 

[Chris_Xavier]

Hi Chris--great to meet you. I am originally a Boston city girl but we were stationed in Virginia for a couple of years. It was interesting helping my son with his history homework (4th grade) when he learned about the Civil War from the southern point of view.

I use to live in Mississippi and they take their Civil War pretty seriously. Vicksburg, (where I lived) surrendered to General Grant on the 4th of July 1863 (the same day that Lee was withdrawing from the stalemate at Gettysburg, Pa) and did not celebrate Independence Day from that day until 1947 when General Eisenhower came to visit.

Here in Kentucky, where I live and grew up, the Civil War isn't all that celebrated and reviled - just some facts and dates to be remembered. My fascination with the Civil War is all the little stories that are a part of it. Like Wilmer McLean - he owned the land where the Battle of Bull Run (or Manassas for you dyed in the wool Rebels). After the battle, he sold the land and moved to where he thought he could live out the war in peace. He bought a house at Appomatix Courthouse and it was in his parlor that Lee surrendered to Grant.

 

[ecstaticsub]

I use to live in Mississippi and they take their Civil War pretty seriously. Vicksburg, (where I lived) surrendered to General Grant on the 4th of July 1863 (the same day that Lee was withdrawing from the stalemate at Gettysburg, Pa) and did not celebrate Independence Day from that day until 1947 when General Eisenhower came to visit.

Here in Kentucky, where I live and grew up, the Civil War isn't all that celebrated and reviled - just some facts and dates to be remembered. My fascination with the Civil War is all the little stories that are a part of it. Like Wilmer McLean - he owned the land where the Battle of Bull Run (or Manassas for you dyed in the wool Rebels). After the battle, he sold the land and moved to where he thought he could live out the war in peace. He bought a house at Appomatix Courthouse and it was in his parlor that Lee surrendered to Grant.

I went to elementary school outside of Philly. (back in the mid 1960's) We barely learned anything about the Civil War. I learned more from my son than I did in all my time in classrooms.

 

[Evil_Geoff]

Also known in some quarters as the War of Northern Aggression

Being a TSOTS*, while the Civil War here is commonly called the War of Northern Aggression, I know the truth of the matter.

After secession, there was a tense but peaceful period while there was a stand-off about US federal forts and troops in the Confederacy. Then, Confederate troops and SC militia under the command of General P.G.T. Beauregard put Fort Sumter under seige. The Federal troops were going to be starved out. President Lincoln ordered a relief convoy to bring supplies of food and water to the Fort, and notified Gov. Pickens of the relief attempt, promissing that no men, arms or ammunition would be brought in.

Confederate Secretary of State Robert Toombs did not want Confederate troops to fire the first shots of the war, unfortunately, President Jefferson Davis and the rest of his cabinet disagreed, and Beauregard was ordered to force the surrender of the fort before the relief convoy could resupply them. Beauregard offered Major Robert Anderson, commander of the Federal troops, the opportunity to surrender the fort without a shot being fired. Anderson refused to surrender. At 4:30am, April 12th, 1861, Confederate troops opened fire on the Federal forces garrisoning Fort Sumter, and the Civil War was on.

We can play what if games from this point, but there was no turning back for Lincoln. No one really wanted a shooting war but the hot-heads pushed the issue. Federal forces had been fired upon, and that was clearly an act of war. Beauregard could have waited the week or two necessary to finish starving the Feds out, and used the other forts and Confederate navy to keep the relief convoy out at sea. But once the shooting started, Lincoln could not back down without losing to much face.

Although Fort Sumter fell without a single casualty on either side, it would start the bloodiest conflict in US history. In a huge twist of irony, however, 2 Federal troops were killed AFTER the battle was over. Anderson was allowed to fire a 100 gun salute to honor the lowering of the US Flag from the fort, and there was an accident in one of the gun pits. 1 gunner was killed outright, and another was mortally wounded and died later. Several other crewmen were wounded also.

*grins and *
Bet y'all didn't know I was a Civil War geek too!

*True Son Of The South

 

[Ebonyfire]

Welcome to our little virtual home!

 

[subtleone]

Hi there Chris; been reading your posts with interest. Welcome from the British corner of Lit

 

[Kajira Callista]

Hello

 

[WriterDom]

Hi Chris--great to meet you. I am originally a Boston city girl but we were stationed in Virginia for a couple of years. It was interesting helping my son with his history homework (4th grade) when he learned about the Civil War from the southern point of view.

You mean the War of Northern Aggression?

 

[FurryFury]

Welcome! I've noticed your posts already. You seem to be a very knowledgeable person.

 

[Chris_Xavier]

Being a TSOTS*, while the Civil War here is commonly called the War of Northern Aggression, I know the truth of the matter.

After secession, there was a tense but peaceful period while there was a stand-off about US federal forts and troops in the Confederacy. Then, Confederate troops and SC militia under the command of General P.G.T. Beauregard put Fort Sumter under seige. The Federal troops were going to be starved out. President Lincoln ordered a relief convoy to bring supplies of food and water to the Fort, and notified Gov. Pickens of the relief attempt, promissing that no men, arms or ammunition would be brought in.

Confederate Secretary of State Robert Toombs did not want Confederate troops to fire the first shots of the war, unfortunately, President Jefferson Davis and the rest of his cabinet disagreed, and Beauregard was ordered to force the surrender of the fort before the relief convoy could resupply them. Beauregard offered Major Robert Anderson, commander of the Federal troops, the opportunity to surrender the fort without a shot being fired. Anderson refused to surrender. At 4:30am, April 12th, 1861, Confederate troops opened fire on the Federal forces garrisoning Fort Sumter, and the Civil War was on.

We can play what if games from this point, but there was no turning back for Lincoln. No one really wanted a shooting war but the hot-heads pushed the issue. Federal forces had been fired upon, and that was clearly an act of war. Beauregard could have waited the week or two necessary to finish starving the Feds out, and used the other forts and Confederate navy to keep the relief convoy out at sea. But once the shooting started, Lincoln could not back down without losing to much face.

Although Fort Sumter fell without a single casualty on either side, it would start the bloodiest conflict in US history. In a huge twist of irony, however, 2 Federal troops were killed AFTER the battle was over. Anderson was allowed to fire a 100 gun salute to honor the lowering of the US Flag from the fort, and there was an accident in one of the gun pits. 1 gunner was killed outright, and another was mortally wounded and died later. Several other crewmen were wounded also.

*grins and *
Bet y'all didn't know I was a Civil War geek too!

*True Son Of The South

The "fun" of studying the Civil War are finding out tidbits like:

Beauregard had been considered a prodigy in the study of artillery while at the United States Military Academy (aka West Point) to the point of staying on an extra year to help teach the subject. His mentor: The above mentioned Major Anderson.

 

[Chris_Xavier]

Welcome! I've noticed your posts already. You seem to be a very knowledgeable person.

Thank you, I consider your compliment high praise indeed.

 

[minx1]

Hi Chris, nice to meet you

 

[catalina_francisco]

Have you read 'Between Two Fires' by Laurence Hauptman?

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1315/541017759_204dfd8711_t.jpg Catalina

 

[Chris_Xavier]

No, I haven't but after looking it up on Amazon, I did put it on my "to buy" list.

Thank you for the recommendation!

 

[catalina_francisco]

'Tis an interesting read though I still have to finish it...everytime I start reading it, something major happens to take me away from it again before I get to the last page.

Catalina

 

[Chris_Xavier]

If you are into Civil War History

then read Stealing the General: The Great Locomotive Chase and the First Medal of Honor.

The Story of Andrew's Raiders is a pretty interesting one.. and for most of the people on this board, it could be said that the "good guys" win. Actually the Confederacy won the last "official" battle of the Civil War - somewhere out in New Mexico.

 

[neonflux]

Belated hello...

Hi Chris!

Belated introduction and welcome!

I was close to your neck of the woods for about a week (New Orleans - well, at least closer than San Francisco, LOL) and am just catching up on my posts! I've been enjoying yours - I am a real history buff, but don't know anything about the Civil War outside of what I learned in high school (I know - I bad - Texas born and bred so I should know more, LOL). In any case, found your short discussion with EG very interesting.

Looking forward to more!

Neon