44 Results in the "Non-Fiction" category
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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
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 Confidential Visit
In "A Confidential Visit," set during December 11-14, Major Anderson at Fort Moultrie grapples with the rising tensions in Charleston harbor amidst impending conflict. Capt. Truman Seymour, an artillery officer and seasoned veteran, delivers a memorandum to Anderson, outlining defensive strategies against anticipated attacks. He suggests that the Carolinians might employ deceptive tactics, such as setting fire to a nearby building to divert attention during an assault. Seymour emphasizes the need for…-
261.4 K • Ongoing
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Chapter
To Dare
In December 1860, South Carolina’s political elite convened in Columbia, shrouded in fog, for a significant convention amidst rising tensions surrounding secession. The assembly comprised 169 prominent figures, including former congressmen, governors, and senators, each with substantial wealth, most owning slaves. The convention's atmosphere was charged with both excitement for disunion and anxiety, particularly regarding the potential consequences of Abraham Lincoln's election. The choice of Columbia…-
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
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
The Landscape of Fear
In "The Landscape of Fear," set in 1860, Ruffin is disheartened by Lincoln's nomination as the Republican candidate, perceiving him as too moderate to incite the necessary outrage for Southern secession. Ruffin had anticipated a nomination for Seward, whom he believed would incite the South more effectively. Traveling through Virginia en route to meet his daughter Mildred, Ruffin is engulfed by a pervasive fear of slave insurrections, fueled by recent events like John Brown's raid and ominous rumors about…-
261.4 K • Ongoing
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