44 Results in the "Non-Fiction" category
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Chapter
Storm
On April 8, Captain Fox prepared to launch his fleet with pride, having transitioned from a Navy man to leading a significant military expedition to Charleston, confident that the presence of the **Powhatan** meant victory. The tug **Uncle Ben** departed New York that evening, followed by Fox aboard the **Baltic** the next morning, expecting a successful rendezvous with his fleet off Charleston two days later. However, as the **Baltic** navigated out of New York Harbor, it faced a fierce Atlantic gale…-
261.4 K • Ongoing
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Chapter
Russell, of the Times
On March 17, during his first day in New York City, William Russell of the London Times was struck by the city's peculiarities. He described the sight of forty or fifty Irishmen in green sashes, marching to mass, contrasted by the fashionable attire of domestics and free Blacks. Despite the vibrant public life, the city bore the scars of winter—dirty snow and slush marked Broadway as people crowded the streets. Russell noted particularly the prevalence of chewing tobacco residue, a habit he found…-
261.4 K • Ongoing
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Chapter
Some Good Thing in the Wind
In the chapter "Some Good Thing in the Wind," occurring between March 24-27, Lincoln sought to gauge the extent of pro-Union sentiment in South Carolina, particularly Charleston. He dispatched two emissaries, Stephen A. Hurlbut and Ward Lamon, to ascertain the local mood following Captain Fox’s assessment of Fort Sumter. Hurlbut, a former resident with a dubious past, traveled under the guise of visiting family but reported back to Lincoln about the heightened war preparations in the region, including…-
261.4 K • Ongoing
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Chapter
Firewood
**Summary of "Firewood, The Demon of Unrest"** In the cold days and nights at Fort Sumter, a storm loomed on the horizon. On March 26, Chief Engineer Foster reported the demolition of the last temporary building on the parade, as the fort resorted to burning lumber and one condemned gun carriage for fuel. Outsiders tended to romanticize the situation, focusing on the heroism surrounding Major Anderson and his vastly outnumbered garrison, which was often depicted as a classic David versus Goliath tale,…-
261.4 K • Ongoing
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Chapter
The Handsomest Man
**Chapter Summary: The Handsomest Man** In Charleston, life continued seamlessly despite the looming civil war. The Battery's vibrant atmosphere included carriages, elegantly dressed men and women, and the occasional cannon blast signaling military preparations. Mary Chesnut, a prominent figure among the local elite, became the center of attention with her flirtation involving former Governor Manning, a wealthy man known for his handsome looks, who was also married. This playful engagement, termed a…-
261.4 K • Ongoing
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Chapter
Change of Heart
In "Change of Heart," the events unfold on March 28, shortly before Lincoln's first state dinner. General Winfield Scott's memo deeply disturbs Lincoln as it presents a grim assessment of Fort Sumter's situation. Scott emphasizes that Anderson's position at Sumter is more untenable due to Beauregard’s artillery installations, predicting that a full-scale invasion to relieve the fort would require ten months to organize, during which time Union forces would likely suffer defeat. He advises that evacuation…-
261.4 K • Ongoing
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Chapter
Fatal Error
On April 5, Lincoln faced the ramifications of a critical error: assigning the same warship, the Powhatan, to two separate relief expeditions. Late at night, he welcomed Secretary of State Seward and Navy Secretary Gideon Welles, who had hurriedly come after receiving a distressing telegram from New York. Upon reading the telegram, Lincoln expressed disbelief and took full responsibility for what he deemed carelessness and heedlessness on his part. He insisted to Seward that the Powhatan must accompany the…-
261.4 K • Ongoing
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Chapter
Confession
The chapter titled "Confession" revolves around Major Anderson at Fort Sumter during a crucial period of communication and decision-making leading up to the outbreak of conflict. The mail delivery delays—lasting three to four days—heightened Anderson's sense of isolation, complicating his attempts to communicate effectively. Distrust in the telegraph due to potential intercepts left the mail, which both sides considered confidential, as the primary means of communication. On April 7, Anderson received…-
261.4 K • Ongoing
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Chapter
Dismay and Dishonor
In the chapter titled "Dismay and Dishonor" from "The Demon of Unrest," dated April 8, tensions between Southern commissioners and Secretary of State William Seward are palpable. Seward, writing in the third person, expresses his interpretation of recent revolutionary events, stressing that he does not see them as a legitimate revolution nor as a foundation for an independent nation. Instead, he views them as a transient partisan excitement. He declines the commissioners' request for a meeting with…-
261.4 K • Ongoing
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Chapter
Suspicion
On Tuesday, April 9, Edmund Ruffin checked out of his hotel and headed to the Charleston wharf. He carried a small carpet bag and a borrowed training musket from the Citadel Military Academy, boarding a steamer to Morris Island, where he aimed to join in its defense. Ruffin, a known secessionist, relished the attention he garnered upon his arrival. Compliments and praise from unfamiliar individuals made him feel both proud and a bit ashamed of the exaggerated recognition for what he considered a small…-
261.4 K • Ongoing
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