44 Results in the "Non-Fiction" category
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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
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
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
The Petrel’s Delight
**The Petrel’s Delight, The Demon of Unrest** In early April 1861, Charleston found itself enveloped in a mix of tension and oppressive weather as the workers at Sumter and enslaved individuals in Confederate batteries prepared for an imminent battle. The anticipated evacuation of Fort Sumter never occurred, raising the stakes for both sides. Cold temperatures and high winds plagued the region, and heavy rain throughout the weekend forced many indoors, creating an uneasy atmosphere. Keziah Brevard, a…-
261.4 K • Ongoing
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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
The Correspondent
On April 3, William Russell of the London Times met the Southern commissioners Martin Crawford and John Forsyth, which led him to question the viability of restoring the Union. He noted in his diary their sense of entitlement, believing they were representatives of a foreign nation negotiating with “Yankeedom,” expressing indignation over the government’s refusal to engage them in discussions about separation-related matters. Two days later, he met with all three commissioners, including André Roman…-
261.4 K • Ongoing
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Chapter
Conflict
In early April, Major Anderson, known for his composure, expressed growing frustration with Washington's inaction regarding Fort Sumter. The catalyst for his discontent was learning of a telegram from Confederate Commissioner Crawford to General Beauregard, warning that President Lincoln might not order an evacuation, instead leaving the decision to Anderson, effectively letting him be “starved out.” Upon receiving the news three days later, Anderson felt compelled to voice his concerns in a letter to…-
261.4 K • Ongoing
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