44 Results in the "Non-Fiction" category
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Chapter
Frustration
In this chapter titled "Frustration," set between December 20 and 24, Navy Lieutenant David Dixon Porter navigates the political tensions in Washington amidst the secession crisis. While en route downtown, he encounters the residence of Senator Jefferson Davis, where a vibrant party is underway. Although Porter is a loyal Unionist, he maintains friendships across political lines to gauge prospects for peace. His connection to the Davis family leads him to attend the gathering, where excitement over South…-
261.4 K • Ongoing
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Chapter
The Major Gets an Idea
In the chapter titled "The Major Gets an Idea," the narrative unfolds around Capt. John G. Foster of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, responsible for bolstering defenses in Charleston Harbor during the tense days following South Carolina's secession in December 1860. Foster, a thirty-seven-year-old veteran with a distinctive appearance and a limp from past combat, had been independently working to reinforce Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie. His efforts included hiring civilian workers to dig a wet ditch…-
261.4 K • Ongoing
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Chapter
A Signal at Christmas
In "A Signal at Christmas," the atmosphere in South Carolina surrounding Christmas Eve is highlighted by the state's secession convention, which issued a "Declaration" stating its rationale for leaving the Union, primarily around the issues of slavery and states' rights. Delegate Christopher G. Memminger emphasizes grievances against the Union for not honoring slaveholding rights, citing broken contracts and violations of the Constitution. This declaration notably quotes Thomas Jefferson, advocating the…-
261.4 K • Ongoing
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Chapter
Subterfuge
In "Subterfuge," Major Anderson embarks on a strategic plan to occupy Fort Sumter amid escalating tensions with South Carolina forces. Anderson, recognizing the imminent threat of an attack on Fort Sumter, instructs his officers to evacuate the families of twenty women and twenty-five children from Fort Moultrie to Fort Johnson, portraying the move as a precautionary measure. He charters three schooners under the pretext of ensuring their safety, but his intention is to mislead observers while secretly…-
261.4 K • Ongoing
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Chapter
Strange News
In the chapter titled "Strange News," dated December 27, Edmund Ruffin's steamer approaches Fernandina, Florida, as he seeks to sway the state's legislature toward secession. His plans involve taking a train to Gainesville and then visiting the Marion County plantation of his friend, William Owens, before attending Florida's secession convention in Tallahassee on January 3. While on the train, Ruffin receives telegrams, one of which reports that the garrison at Fort Moultrie has moved to Fort Sumter. This…-
261.4 K • Ongoing
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Chapter
Smoke and Cheers
The chapter titled "Smoke and Cheers" from "The Demon of Unrest" begins at Fort Sumter, where the atmosphere is one of gloom and tension. Captain Doubleday describes the fort—its dark, damp, and unfinished structure—with only fifteen guns mounted out of a planned one hundred and twenty. Despite its formidable design as a coastal fortress meant to protect against invasions, it remains incomplete, with debris cluttering the interior, making communication within the fort challenging. The officers,…-
261.4 K • Ongoing
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Chapter
Blood and Dishonor
**Chapter Summary: Blood and Dishonor** On December 27, in Washington, former Assistant Secretary of State William Henry Trescot met with Senators Jefferson Davis of Mississippi and R.M.T. Hunter of Virginia to discuss urgent news. They rushed to the White House to speak with President Buchanan, who was visibly anxious. Trescot noted Buchanan’s nervousness as he made a casual reference to the consul in Liverpool, prompting Davis to shift the conversation to the real concern at hand. Davis inquired if…-
261.4 K • Ongoing
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Chapter
Turmoil
In Charleston on December 27, 1860, following Major Anderson's occupation of Fort Sumter, newly elected Governor Francis W. Pickens ordered the South Carolina militia to seize remaining federal properties in Charleston Harbor. Although the governorship was mainly ceremonial, Pickens acted against the state legislature's objections. The first target was Castle Pinckney, taken by around 150 militia members who, after scaling the fort's walls, found it nearly empty, occupied only by a lieutenant and some…-
261.4 K • Ongoing
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Chapter
The True Enemy
The chapter titled "The True Enemy" discusses the pivotal events surrounding Mississippi's secession from the Union during the early days of the Civil War. On January 9, 1861, Mississippi’s secession convention unanimously favored leaving the Union, following South Carolina's lead. This decision was driven by a fervent belief in the necessity of protecting the institution of slavery, which the delegates viewed as vital to their economic interests. In their official declaration, the distinction between…-
261.4 K • Ongoing
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Chapter
Departure
On February 11, 1861, the day of departure had finally arrived for Abraham Lincoln. He woke early and left his hotel at seven-thirty on a gloomy morning, characterized by a wet chill that enveloped Springfield. After boarding a carriage, he was taken to the Great Western Railroad depot - a modest one-story structure. A crowd had gathered, estimates varying wildly from a few hundred to over a thousand onlookers. Notable figures, including sculptor Thomas D. Jones, described Lincoln’s calm demeanor as he…-
261.4 K • Ongoing
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