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    44 Results in the "Non-Fiction" category


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      Under Fire

      Under Fire Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin Under Fire, the Star of the West found itself in a dire situation as it approached Fort Sumter, coming under fire from a hidden battery positioned on the shoreline. Captain McGowan, stationed aboard the ship, meticulously documented the dangerous circumstances, noting the way cannonballs ricocheted off the vessel's hull. One shot narrowly missed the pilot-house, while another struck the side of the ship, intensifying the growing threat to the vessel. Given the ship's large size and lack of experienced…
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      The True Enemy

      The True Enemy Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin The True Enemy emerges in the early days of the Civil War, highlighted by Mississippi's decision to secede from the Union on January 9, 1861. Following in South Carolina's footsteps, Mississippi's secession convention unanimously voted to leave, driven by the belief that slavery was essential to their way of life. The delegates saw the institution of slavery as crucial for their economy, with its preservation seen as a moral and economic necessity. In their declaration of secession, they emphasized a sharp…
    • Dorothea’s Warning Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin Dorothea’s Warning began on a January Saturday in 1861 when Dorothea Dix arrived at the Philadelphia office of Samuel M. Felton, Sr., the president of the Philadelphia, Wilmington, and Baltimore Railroad. While Dix’s original mission was to advocate for humane treatment in asylums, she brought a far more alarming piece of information with her. Having traveled through the South, she shared her troubling discoveries, revealing the growing political unrest and the secessionist movement. Felton, who had…
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      Crisis

      Crisis Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin Crisis unfolded as Edmund Ruffin embarked on a critical journey from his plantation near Gainesville, Florida, to Tallahassee to attend the state secession convention in early January 1861. During his travels, Ruffin was made aware of Major Anderson’s actions at Fort Sumter, which hinted at the potential for imminent conflict. This news fueled Ruffin’s belief that the war could hasten the secession decisions within the convention. Despite Florida's hesitance, Ruffin strongly advocated for swift action,…
    • Crossing the Bar Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin Crossing the Bar, the Star of the West encountered surprisingly clear weather on January 8 as it made its way toward its destination. However, the officer in charge, Lieutenant Woods, was unaware that the mission had been canceled, and he distributed guns and ammunition to the troops, preparing them for action. As the ship approached Charleston around midnight, Captain John McGowan ordered all lights to be extinguished, aiming to prevent the ship from being detected. Despite the darkness, enhanced by the…
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      Turmoil

      Turmoil Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin Turmoil in Charleston began on December 27, 1860, when Major Anderson took control of Fort Sumter, prompting Governor Francis W. Pickens to act swiftly. Despite the largely ceremonial nature of the governorship, Pickens disregarded objections from the state legislature and ordered the South Carolina militia to seize all remaining federal properties in Charleston Harbor. The first target was Castle Pinckney, which was overtaken by around 150 militia members who scaled the fort’s walls to find it nearly…
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      Ominous Doings

      Ominous Doings Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin Ominous Doings began to unfold as South Carolina’s preparations for war became increasingly evident between December 28 and 31, 1860. Governor Pickens called upon local planters to construct gun batteries along vital locations such as the Santee River and Winyah Bay, urging them to defend their land with the same patriotic fervor as their Revolutionary War ancestors. On December 28, he took a significant step by prohibiting the shipment of arms to Fort Sumter, although mail delivery was still permitted,…
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      The Real Danger

      The Real Danger Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin The chapter titled "The Real Danger" details the tense situation in the United States as Abraham Lincoln prepares to assume the presidency amidst rising unrest. With Anderson at Sumter, the national crisis intensifies, and Lincoln’s frustration grows. This frustration stems from the political vacuum left by President Buchanan, a flood of petitions for patronage jobs, and ominous threats suggesting plots against Washington. The Springfield Republican reported a warning from radical senator Louis T.…
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      Strange News

      Strange News Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin Strange News reached Edmund Ruffin as his steamer neared Fernandina, Florida, in late December 1860. Ruffin, eager to influence Florida's legislature toward secession, planned to travel by train to Gainesville and then visit his friend William Owens’ plantation in Marion County before attending the secession convention in Tallahassee on January 3. While en route, Ruffin received several telegrams, one of which informed him that the garrison at Fort Moultrie had been moved to Fort Sumter. This startling…
    • Smoke and Cheers Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin Smoke and Cheers lingered in the atmosphere at Fort Sumter, where an air of tension and unease prevailed. Captain Doubleday vividly described the fort’s damp, dark, and unfinished state, with only fifteen of the planned one hundred and twenty guns mounted, signaling the incomplete nature of the fortress. Despite its impressive design, intended to safeguard the area from external threats, much of the fort remained under construction. The cluttered interiors, filled with debris, made daily life difficult…
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