44 Results in the "Non-Fiction" category
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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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Chapter
Perfidy
In the chapter titled "Perfidy," set on April 9, Governor Pickens, General Beauregard, and former federal judge Andrew G. Magrath gather in Pickens's office at the Charleston Hotel, anxiously discussing the delivery of mail addressed to Fort Sumter, halted by Beauregard’s order. The men recognize the extraordinary state of affairs due to the looming conflict with the Union and face a moral dilemma concerning the unopened mail. While ordinarily, the integrity of mail is paramount, Pickens rationalizes…-
261.4 K • Ongoing
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Chapter
Rumor and Cannon Fire
On April 9, Mary Chesnut, despite suffering from a bad cold, was getting ready to head back to Mulberry plantation. Initially reluctant to leave her home, a visit from her friend Robert Gourdin prompted her to change her mind. During their conversation, John Manning entered dramatically, proclaiming, “Madam your country is invaded.” He claimed that six warships were lurking outside the bar, while messengers Talbot and Chew brought news of imminent war. However, this alarming announcement regarding the…-
261.4 K • Ongoing
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Chapter
Preparations
On Wednesday, April 10, the primary concern for Major Anderson at Fort Sumter was food supply. He instituted half rations for the garrison, predicting they would last only two more days, until dinnertime on April 12. The men made do with rice scavenged from broken window glass left over from earlier. Assistant Surgeon Crawford documented this dire situation in his journal, noting Anderson's strict management of the limited resources. The officers became adept at salvaging crumbs from their meals, and…-
261.4 K • Ongoing
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Chapter
The Correspondent
On Thursday, April 11, William Russell of the London Times dined at the modest residence of General Winfield Scott, the commander of military forces in Washington. Upon arrival, he was greeted by soldiers on horseback patrolling the street. Inside, he joined a gathering that included notable figures like William Seward and Attorney General Bates, as well as Major George W. Cullum, a stern Army engineer known for his past construction of fortifications, including Fort Sumter. The dinner was remarkable,…-
261.4 K • Ongoing
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Chapter
The Angel of Death
**Summary of "The Angel of Death, The Demon of Unrest" Chapter** On April 12, 1861, Captain Gustavus Fox aboard the *Baltic* arrived at his fleet’s rendezvous point off Charleston in treacherous weather. He was expecting to see lights from the other ships, especially the *Powhatan*, but it was still too dark, and there was no sign of them. During his search, the *Baltic* was nearly grounded on Rattlesnake Shoal but managed to break free. Only one ship, the *Harriet Lane*, was present, and it faced crew…-
261.4 K • Ongoing
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Chapter
Sunrise
**Sunrise, The Demon of Unrest - Chapter Summary** On the morning of April 12, Captain Doubleday commenced his day at Fort Sumter with breakfast alongside other officers. Following a meager meal of salt pork, farina, and rice salvaged from the fort, they readied themselves for the day’s imminent conflict. The officers organized the garrison into gunnery squads to ensure a sustained firing effort once fatigue set in. Doubleday led the first group to the guns facing the Iron Battery on Morris Island. He…-
261.4 K • Ongoing
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