44 Results in the "Non-Fiction" category
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Chapter
Party Malice
In Springfield, Illinois, the mood following the Election Day celebration swiftly transitioned to an unexpected tranquility. John Nicolay noted that the city had returned to its usual calm, nearly forgetting the tumultuous election, as it prepared for Lincoln's formal celebration—a “Jollification”—which was reluctantly anticipated due to Lincoln’s narrow victory. Similarly, young Anna Ridgely expressed her disillusionment with Lincoln’s election in her diary. Despite her father's Democratic…-
261.4 K • Ongoing
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Chapter
Placing the Knife
In *Placing the Knife*, the chapter details Mary Chesnut's reflections in the wake of Abraham Lincoln's election, which she interpreted as a catalyst for impending war. Traveling back to South Carolina from Florida, she learned the news on a train, where it was broadly discussed that “Lincoln was elected and our fate sealed.” Convinced that significant changes were on the horizon, she began documenting her thoughts in a diary, emphasizing the necessity for calm determination as the Confederacy faced…-
261.4 K • Ongoing
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Chapter
Aunt Fancy Speaks
In December 1860, President Buchanan concentrated on his annual message amid escalating tensions over South Carolina's potential secession. His assistant, William Henry Trescot, a member of South Carolina’s aristocracy, played a crucial role in providing insights into the region’s grievances. Buchanan believed that South Carolina would indeed secede, fearing violent conflict regarding federal forts in Charleston Harbor. However, Trescot expressed that the state's secession would be executed peacefully,…-
261.4 K • Ongoing
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Chapter
Pledge
In Washington, the nation faced significant turmoil as President Buchanan's cabinet experienced turmoil. On December 8, Howell Cobb, the treasury secretary, resigned, aligning with his home state of Georgia. Shortly after, Secretary of State Lewis Cass also resigned due to frustration with Buchanan's inaction regarding South Carolina's secession efforts. Cass urged the president to take decisive action against the uprising, reminiscent of Andrew Jackson's approach during the 1832 nullification crisis.…-
261.4 K • Ongoing
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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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