434 Results in the "Biography & Memoir" category


    • Chapter

      The Rubicon

      The Rubicon Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin The Rubicon marks a turning point in Edmund Ruffin's life, as he faced intense personal and political struggles in 1859. Frustrated by his failure to inspire secession in Virginia, Ruffin had been tirelessly promoting the cause of disunion and condemning what he saw as Northern "tyranny." Known for his fiery demeanor, Ruffin, with his shoulder-length white hair, appeared as intense as his convictions. At sixty-five, feeling alienated and dismissed as a fanatic, he contemplated the finality of suicide,…
    • Chapter

      The Real Danger

      The Real Danger Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin The Real Danger is vividly depicted in this chapter, as the United States faces an escalating crisis with Abraham Lincoln on the verge of taking office. The tension surrounding the nation intensifies, particularly with the presence of Anderson at Fort Sumter, signaling the growing unrest in the South. As Lincoln prepares to step into a divided and volatile nation, his frustrations mount due to the political vacuum left by the outgoing President Buchanan, who fails to take any decisive action in the face of…
    • The Premier’s Advice Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin The Premier’s Advice delves into the final stages of Abraham Lincoln’s preparations for his inaugural address, a pivotal moment in American history. As tensions between the Union and the Southern states intensify, Lincoln seeks the counsel of key figures, including Francis P. Blair, Sr., and William Seward, who offer differing perspectives on the nation’s crisis. Blair is wholeheartedly supportive of Lincoln’s draft, believing it holds the potential to heal the nation’s divisions. However, Seward…
    • The Petrel’s Delight Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin The Petrel’s Delight reflected the tension that gripped Charleston in early April 1861, as both military forces and enslaved individuals in Confederate batteries prepared for an imminent confrontation. The anticipated evacuation of Fort Sumter, which many had hoped for, never occurred, raising the stakes for both sides. Cold temperatures and relentless winds plagued the region, with heavy rain throughout the weekend forcing many indoors, adding to the already uneasy atmosphere. The weather mirrored the…
    • The Old Gentlemen Pay a Call Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin The Old Gentlemen Pay a Call begins with an important and symbolic moment on February 23, when President-elect Abraham Lincoln, newly arrived in Washington, hosted a reception at the Willard Hotel for delegates of the Washington Peace Convention. Among the distinguished guests was William Cabell Rives, a former congressman and senator from Virginia, known for his unionist beliefs despite being a slave owner with nearly a hundred slaves. Rives had long supported the preservation of the Union and believed…
    • The Man in the Felt Hat Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin The Man in the Felt Hat offers a compelling look at Abraham Lincoln's secretive journey to Washington, D.C., during a time of rising tension. As his inauguration approached, Lincoln was aware of the political unrest and increasing threats against him. To safeguard his arrival, he decided to travel in disguise, wearing a worn overcoat and a "kossuth" hat—a symbol of democratic ideals that had been popularized by Hungarian revolutionary Louis Kossuth. The combination of the hat and his slouched posture…
    • The Major Gets an Idea Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin The Major Gets an Idea centers on Capt. John G. Foster, a seasoned veteran of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, tasked with strengthening the defenses of Charleston Harbor during the tense period following South Carolina's secession in December 1860. At thirty-seven years old, Foster was already known for his experience and distinctive limp, a remnant of past combat. He had taken the initiative to reinforce Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie by employing civilian workers to dig a wet ditch around Fort Moultrie…
    • The Landscape of Fear Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin The Landscape of Fear presents a vivid portrayal of the growing tensions in 1860, especially in the mind of Edmund Ruffin, a staunch advocate for Southern secession. Ruffin, disheartened by Abraham Lincoln’s nomination as the Republican candidate, had hoped for someone more vehement and divisive, such as William H. Seward, to take the lead for the Republicans. He believed that Seward’s rhetoric would inflame Southern sentiment and propel the region toward secession. Instead, Ruffin was left with the…
    • The Handsomest Man Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin The Handsomest Man chapter opens in Charleston, where life carries on amid the looming Civil War. The Battery, with its lively atmosphere, is filled with carriages, well-dressed women and men, and the occasional cannon blast signaling military readiness. In this charged environment, Mary Chesnut, a well-known figure in the local elite, finds herself at the center of attention due to her flirtation with former Governor Manning. Known for his good looks and wealth, Manning is also married, which only adds to…
    • The Great Darkness Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin The Great Darkness takes place on the afternoon of April 12, as Private Thompson, stationed at Fort Sumter, observes the arrival of a third steamship joining the two that had been anchored off the coast since the early hours of the morning. This sight initially raises the spirits of the fort's garrison, as they are hopeful that the ships are part of a much-needed relief expedition. However, as time passes and the ships remain unmoving, their initial hopes begin to wane, leading Thompson to believe that the…
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