Interesting image

I found this image in a 1947 book called An Album of American Battle Art 1755-1918 by the Library of Congress It is a picture from World War I and its caption is: Plate No. 144 Capturing St. Mihiel Salient; A Stuck Ammunition Wagon Holds Up a Whole Column, September 13, 1918. Photograph by Sgt. J.A. Marshall

I post this because when reading about the Civil War, I often see descriptions of horses, wagons, cannon, etc. being stuck in the mud, and holding up a column of soldiers and equipment trying to move forward. When I saw this picture, it struck me as a great example of a picture being "worth a thousand words."

Of course, this photo shows details that would not have existed in the 1860s, but the situation is one that did occur and I thought this was a beautiful illustration of how one stuck team  could block an entire column of troops and equipment.

This link should take you to a larger version of this picture.

Local Contributions to Army Supplies

Here are a couple of brief mentions of Army supplies from the Covington Journal of July 27, 1861.

Army Supplies
Four thousand five hundred horses and one thousand nine hundred wagons have been shipped from Cincinnati for the U.S. Army

On Tuesday last, at Cincinnati, U.S. Quarter-Master Dickinson contracted for the manufacture of 25,000 suits of clothing, 25,000 pairs of shoes, 12,000 hats and 2,000 caps and covers.

Mules for the Government
On Monday last, two hundred and forty mules were shipped from this place destined for the Government at Washington. We learn that the price for them was one hundred and forty dollars each.  [Nicholasville (KY) Dem.]

(Nicholasville is near Lexington, Ky.)

A fateful day of news briefs

These three items appeared in order in the July 27, 1861 edition of the Covington Journal.

Gen. McClellan has been summoned to Washington to take command of the army on the Potomac.

Gen. Rosecrans takes charge of the Federal forces in  Western Virginia.

Gen. Fremont passed through Cincinnati Wednesday evening to take command of the Western Division of the Federal army.


--
Perhaps not quite a day that "will live in infamy," but one that had major implications for the future

Rebel Barbarity in Southern Prisons, an article from the Youth's Companion

"Rebel Barbarity" was the caption in the newspaper

Here is an article from the Youth's Companion of December 10, 1863. It is, perhaps, mostly a propaganda piece, but, even if so, it serves as an example of how reports of southern treatment of northern prisoners spread throughout the north, even among papers like this one, which included children among its audience. Note also that this was written in December 1863, and the most notorious of all Rebel prisons, Andersonville, did not open until a couple months later, in early 1864.

    Probably all the readers of the Companion have heard of the cruel treatment received by United States' soldiers in the Libby and other prisons in and about Richmond. There is no doubt that the most harrowing accounts fall short of the reality. Stories come in to us, authenticated by the bloodless lips of famished men, portraying the horrors of rebel dungeons, and the cruel malice, born and nurtured of barbaric customs, wreaked upon defenseless prisoners, sufficient to make even the boldest rebel sympathizer blush with shame and loathing. Our noble soldiers have endured in vile Southern dens the extent of human woe. They are the real heroes of our nation.

   Our engraving this week pictures the appearance of United States' prisoners, in hospital, who have recently been released from Belle Island. With some of them life was nearly extinct; many were too far gone to understand they were at last among friends, and died unconscious of the comforts surrounding them, exclaiming, "I am too tired, - something to eat - what torment!" Others, writhing and moaning in agony, lingered on a few days, accepting gladly the longed-for food, offered too late. Their weakened systems rejected even the slightest nourishment. The death-seal was upon their brows ere they left the prison where for months they had lingered in slow torture. The sand had been their bed in sun and rain, through cold and heat. It had been their only protection, almost their only covering. Of one hundred and eighty prisoners landed at Annapolis from Richmond about a month ago, fifty-three died in less than one week, victims to ill-treatment and actual starvation endured during their imprisonment.

   Our readers may thus learn how their brothers and friends are slaughtered in Southern slave pens. No false delicacy should prevent the presentation of the whole truth. All the world should know that boasted rebel civilization is the cruelest barbarism, and that the grosest (sic) brutality must be expected of a people educated under the debasing influences of slavery


Here is a link to more information about Libby Prison and a photograph of that prison from the Library of Congress.

The Kentuckians in Tennessee

Here is another article from the Covington Journal of July 20, 1861, discussing Kentucky troops at Camp Boone, Tennessee, as discussed in a previous post. I will separate this into smaller paragraphs than the original, to make it easier to read.

Here is a brief article with a bit more information about this camp. 

The Kentuckians in Tennessee
Accounts from "Camp Boone" (the rendezvous of Kentuckians in Tennessee) are as discrepant as anything furnished by the Northern telegraph.

The Frankfort Commonwealth had conversed with two young men direct from Camp Boone. - "They give a deplorable account of the hardships and suffering at Camp Boone. They were induced to enlist for one year with a promise of $11, when they arrived there per month; good clothes, good rations, blankets &c. They were there fifteen days, and did not receive a cent of money, no clothes, had to sleep seven in a little tent, and did not have half enough to eat." 

On the other side, a correspondent of the Louisville Courier furnishes the following account of Camp Boone: 

"The camp is located eight or nine miles from Clarksville, a short distance from the turnpike leading from Clarksville to Russellville, and about a mile from the Memphis branch railroad. The tents are pitched in a beautiful oak woods. - The boys had some hard work to do, grubbing and cleaning up their camping spots, but by energy and persevering labor, they have a camp which would do credit to veterans. Near the camp flows a beautiful stream, affording ample bathing facilities, while beautiful springs give the very best water for drinking purposes. In regard to the eating department, I am surprised to find it so well furnished. You will be glad to know that the boys have met a cordial reception from the neighborhood, as proven not only by kind words, but by generous deeds. The camp is only a few miles from the Kentucky line.

Just beyond the line in Todd County - in which Jefferson Davis was born, by-the-by - lives a sturdy farmer of wealth named Merriweather. This morning he sent as a gift to the regiments a wagon load of provisions, among which were five barbecued mutton, any number of cooked hams, together with other substantial edibles, all of which were received with appreciative thanks by all. He also informed the General that he had a large herd of beef cattle which were not for sale but which were at his service for the use of the camp and further said that he and a neighbor had three hundred and fifty acres of very fine wheat which they designed cleaning and presenting to the regiments.

But, to show you that this spirit is not confined to one person neighborhood, I will state that on Saturday, after a short canvas by Colonel Quarles, of Tennessee, the Kentuckians near the line subscribed ten thousand bushels of wheat and guaranteed seventy thousand bushels if necessary. From what I can see there is ample here to feed fifty thousand men.

"But I have written enough and will only add a remark in reference to the return of some recruits, which seems to be misunderstood. A number came here with no definite idea of what was expected of them. Thinking they were going on a frolic, they came and found hard work before them. An enlistment for the war is the only terms offered and this, with hard drilling and camp duty, has scared off a few." 

A Trip to "Dixie"

From the Covington Journal of July 20, 1861. This paper made no secret that its sympathies lie with the South, and this article, listed as "correspondence of the Journal" is no different, but in the second paragraph it does mention Union supporters favoring staying in the Union while their property was protected. In Anne Marshall's Creating a Confederate Kentucky, the author pointed out that many Kentuckians had similar feelings and when Abraham Lincoln released the Emancipation Proclamation (referring to a specific kind of property, though it did not take affect in Kentucky), some Kentuckians felt betrayed and that's when the transformation of Kentucky's image into a Southern state began. In that regard, the author of this article does make an important observation.

We took the cars at Covington, thinking to pass through the interior of the State, and see how things were politically, agriculturally, &c. At almost every station our numbers were increased by way passengers, including many young men whose sympathies and feelings are with the Southern people and their cause, and hence were leaving home and friends to war for what they consider a just cause.

On our trip through the State we met with many Union men, and many more who were for Southern rights.  The Union men expressed themselves for the Union as long as their property can be protected, and as long as Kentucky maintains the position she now occupies; but when these are gone and they are compelled to decide either for the North or the South, they are almost unanimously in favor of our State taking part with her sister States of the South.

At Louisville we were met by hundreds of men who received us with open arms, and extended to us the hospitality of their houses. At 12 A.M. we took the cars, and the train moved off amid loud and prolonged cheering, with as manly and clever a set of Kentuckians as one could wish to see. Not much sleeping was done that night, but instead long yarns were spun and sweet songs sung.


The next morning when the smiling orb of day had dissolved the darkness, we looked out upon green fields and flourishing crops of corn, while shocks of smaller grain were standing thick upon the ground. In all that country, crops are said to be as fine as they have ever been known.


At Russellville we were greeted with a warm welcome, the ladies participating and presenting the "boys" with Confederate flags or bouquets.


At Haydensville we changed cars, it being the nearest place to the State line, and the rolling stock of the road not being permitted to go beyond the line for fear it might be held by the Tennesseans as contraband. Here the depot is filled with contraband goods - whisky (sic), pork, boxes, bales, &c., seized by a U.S. officer placed at this point for that purpose. 


A ride of five miles beyond the State line brought us to "Camp Boone." As we made our way from the cars we were greeted by the smiling faces and cordial welcomes of quite a number of our friends. The camp is situated about one mile from the railroad, in a beautiful grove, having a gradual slope, and extending to a cool and nicely shaded creek. 


After exchanging greetings, we were conducted to our quarters and requested to make our toilet for dinner (a toilet in camp without soap, water, comb or looking-glass was easily made.) The dinner was prepared by Messrs. Campbell and Herbst and to your humble servant it was quite palatable. Bill of Fare - Boiled beans, boiled pork, fried pork, potatoes, onions &c. We congratulated our friends for the proficiency they had attained in the culinary art, in so short a time.


After dinner we took a stroll around the camp. The grounds are of sufficient capacity to accommodate from five to seven thousand men. The camp seemed like a village, with its many tents and wide streets crossing each other at right angles. In front of the quarters of each company there is sufficient space for the forming of the company or for squad drill. The tents are all new and white, the straw sweet and fresh, the blankets clean and large, and provisions bountifully supplied. The boys all have the impress of health upon them, and say they would not exchange their present mode of life for any they have ever indulged in.

The Neutraility of Kentucky, further discussion

The Covington Journal continues to discuss Kentucky's attempt to remain neutral in the early days of the Civil War, this time on July 20, 1861. See my previous posts here,  here,  here  and most recently  from this past week

Kentucky's Neutrality
There are extremists in Kentucky. On one hand there are men who would precipitate the State into the support of Lincoln's policy and into the war against the South. On the other hand there are extremists (not many, we trust) who would precipitate the State into the Southern Confederacy, and thus invite the invasion of the State by the North.

With whatever the hesitancy or distrust the proposition to place Kentucky in a neutral position was received at first, the arguments urged in its behalf by Mr. Crittended and other distinguished leaders, served to convince the people of the justice and propriety of the measure, and it has fully been indorsed by the Legislature and Governor of the State, as well as by the leading men of both political parties. 

This position has thus far kept Kentucky out of the war, and if adhered to may to the end keep the belligerents from bringing the war within our borders. Besides this, a maintenance of the principle will leave the State in a position to act as mediator between the warring parties

We do not forget that Kentuckians have gone South to fight in the armies of the Confederates, nor that Kentuckians have gone North to unite with the Federal forces; but it must be remembered that these were movements of individuals, and that the State has had nothing to do with them.


No considerations outweighing those in favor of the neutrality of Kentucky have been presented, and it is clearly the duty of the State, and of the People, acting in their individual capacity, to abide by and maintain that position.

Kentucky and Kentuckians - Neutrality, Yeah or Nay?

Here are some articles from the Covington Journal of July 13, 1861 discussing Kentucky and its potential role in the Civil War.

The Neutrality of Kentucky
Mr. Mallory, the Representative of the Louisville District, speaking, it would seem for the Union Representatives of Kentucky on the floor of the House, has pledged the State to stand by Lincoln's government in the prosecution of the war.

And so falls to the ground the neutrality of Kentucky.

The neutrality of Kentucky was urged and defended by Mr. Crittenden. It was endorsed by the Legislature and sanctioned by the people. It has kept our beloved State out of the war, and secured for her comparative quiet.

Is this principle to be given up at the bidding of a few politicians at Washington city? Let the people speak

Is it Disinterested Patriotism
The telegraph informs the public that at a meeting of Kentuckians (not members of Congress) at Washington city, it was resolved that the government must be sustained in its war policy.

Now who are these Kentuckians at Washington who propose to give tone to public sentiment? - In all probability they are men seeking appointments from the Federal administration in the civil service or in the army, or sharpers on the lookout for fat contracts. Of course they are all for sustaining the government in " a vigorous prosecution of the war." 

400,000,000 Dollars and 400,000 Men
President Lincoln asks for four hundred millions of dollars and four hundred thousand men with which to prosecute the war against the South. The share of Kentucky will be twenty millions of dollars and twenty thousand men. Will Kentucky furnish her share of the men and money? 

---

The same edition published this untitled article as well.



 Within a few days past, some twenty gentlemen have left this city and vicinity for the Confederate States. Maj.S.K. Hays, Capt. A.Madeira, Lieuts. W.T. Estep and W.B. Phelps are, we believe of the number. - It is understood they rendezvous at Clarksville, Tenn., where two or three regiments of Kentuckians will formed (sic) for the Confederate army.

An interesting (but false) early-war rumor about Robert E Lee

The Covington Journal of July 13, 1861 reported:

A Northern telegraphic dispatch of Thursday reports that Gen. Lee has deserted  the rebel cause. Per contra, a gentleman of high standing assures the Baltimore Republican that Gen. Lee is actively engaged in pushing forward the defenses of Richmond.

It follows up one week later:

Position of Gen. Lee in the C.S.A.
A Washington correspondent of the Baltimore Exchange says:
"Gen Robert Lee has not resigned, but is the chief aid-de-camp to President Davis. - His position is not unlike that of General Scott on this side. He is principally at Richmond, planning defences and attacks. Gen. Beauregard is the active or practical engineer of the forces. These facts are from a reliable source

Stand up for the James A Ramage Civil War Museum

Please pardon this plug for the Ramage Museum that I enjoy so much. If anybody is interested in helping, as we approach Battery Hooper Days, our biggest annual event, please let me know or see the contact information at the bottom of this press release.

Thanks

Stand Up For History! 
 
The James A. Ramage Civil War Museum is launching its "Stand Up For History" 
initiative as part of the Battery Hooper Days celebration on August 20th and 
21st. "Stand Up For History" is an opportunity for local companies and 
individuals to make an impact at the museum as it begins its first year of being 
self-sustaining. 
 
"Most people don't realize that the James A. Ramage Civil War Museum started 
paying its own way on July 1st" said board President Bob Clements. "While we 
were able to raise almost $10,000 in the last year to cover basic operations, we 
still need to secure funding for every special event held at the museum." 
 
"Stand Up For History" allows both local companies and individuals to sponsor 
events or activities at the museum. "We have been fortunate in the past to have 
some local companies sponsor our ongoing archaeology and the park benches at 
Battery Hooper Park. What we need now are more people to "Stand Up for History" 
and sponsor the activities at Battery Hooper Days in August." 
 
The sponsorships, ranging from $75.00 - $500.00, will enable the museum to bring 
in living history actors portraying Abraham Lincoln, Union Generals Lew Wallace 
& Horatio Wright, Harriet Beecher Stowe (Uncle Tom's Cabin author) and Harriet 
Tubman (Underground Railroad).  "Stand Up For History" will also help cover 
expenses including the popular Honey Hill Farm & Petting Zoo and the expected 
operating costs of the two-day event. 
 
"San Juan Romero of Fort Wright, Kentucky has become our first sponsor for 
Battery Hooper Days. He is sponsoring the Harriet Beecher Stowe presentation. 
San Juan's generous donation will allow us to bring in one of the best living 
history interrupters in the area. Mr. Romero's name will be listed on our web 
site, on the Battery Hooper's Day sponsor's banner, and mentioned during the 
event for "Standing Up For History." 
 
Battery Hooper Days will be held on August 20th and 21st. For additional 
information and directions: Visit the City of Fort Wright's website at 
www.fortwright.com and click on the Civil War Museum tab. 
 
To learn more about the "Stand Up For History" sponsorship program contact Bob 
Clements / clem60@fuse.net / 513-901-5539. 
 

Book Review: The Siege of Washington

The Siege of Washington: The Untold Story of the Twelve Days that Shook the Union

by John Lockwood and Charles Lockwood

copyright 2011

Oxford University Press

In many overviews of the Civil War, the days immediately after the firing on Fort Sumter and President Lincoln's call for 75,000 volunteers are frequently described as being chaotic and full of uncertainty. The lack of defensive preparations around Washington is a frequent topic and these descriptions will almost certainly mention the attack on the 6th Massachusetts troops in Baltimore and how the North had to find an alternate route for troops to get to Washington. After maybe a few more brief words, these books or articles then quickly move on to other topics without much detail about that time period around the seat of American government.

The Siege of Washington shows that to be a mistake, as it describes the situation in the nation's capital during the twelve days following Lincoln's proclamation, giving details of the mood of people in the city, including government officials, and showing just how ill-prepared the city was to defend against a possible attack.

The book is well-written and well-organized, with chapters for each of the 12 days the authors describe. They mention what happens on each day as well as what people expect or fear may happen. After several days of expecting reinforcements to arrive or secessionists to attack (or both), the tension builds within the people left in the city and this book does a fantastic job of showing this through the use of newspapers, diaries and letters from the time.

They do not just discuss Washington, though. They show the tension experienced by troops trying to get to the capital; they discuss southern plans and hopes for a possible capture of Washington; and they show how concern about Washington was growing throughout the North. The authors do a fine job of going back and forth among these localities and people, showing each side of the story. For the southern perspective, they show both official correspondence and thoughts of government officials in Maryland, Virginia and the Confederacy, as well as comments and hopes from those without official position but who express their thoughts, hopes and plans for the "siege of Washington." Henry Wise is a frequent example of this group. (Similar sources are used for the Union perspective as well.)

This book is a pleasant read, thanks to the writing style of the authors and provides some good details on a frequently overlooked side of the early days of the Civil War. 



PLEASE NOTE THAT OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS PROVIDED ME WITH A REVIEW COPY OF THIS BOOK

History has a Hold on Young Re-enactor

Here is a fantastic story  about a young man who is just starting his re-enacting days. This is really cool, and I'm proud to be a part of the museum that helped him find his inspiration. I am anxious to meet him at Battery Hooper Days next month when members of his unit will be part of a Civil War encampment.

James A Ramage Civil War Museum

A Brave Tennessee Union Boy and a Young Hero: two articles from the Youth's Companion

From the Youth's Companion of April 7, 1864, here are two stories with different versions of an anti-swearing message. 

A Brave Tennessee Union Boy
  The following story is told concerning some prisoners held by the rebels. There were ninety-six, mostly East Tennesseans, imprisoned for Unionism. The following incident will best describe the quality of their Unionism: 


   "Among a batch that had lately arrived, was a man whom the rebels were endeavoring to force to take the oath of allegiance to the Southern Confederacy. But his wife, who had been confined just after his arrest, fearing that his regard for her condition might induce him to submit to what was demanded, sent her son, who was only eight years old, to tell his father not to take the oath."

   "This brave little fellow came nearly one hundred miles on his mission, and when he arrived, the guards refused to admit him. Undaunted, however, by the rebuff, the young hero got close to the picket fence, and shouted with all his might: "Pa! pa! don't you swear. O, pa, don't you swear! We can get along; I got the lot plowed to put in wheat."

From the same issue:

A YOUNG HERO
   Many of the officers stationed at Point Lookout, Md., have their families with them to spend the winter, and among the children are a number of little boys who have imbibed much of the military spirit, and they have organized a company, and drill from time to time. On one occasion one of these young officers used profane language, and no sooner had he uttered that oath than he threw his sword upon the ground, saying "If I can't be an officer without swearing I will not be an officer any longer"  - Congregationalist

Book Review: Sickles at Gettysburg

Sickles at Gettysburg: The Controversial Civil War General Who Committed Murder, Abandoned Little Round Top, and Declared Himself the Hero of Gettysburg

by James A. Hessler

copyright 2009, 2010

Savas Beatie

One way to produce a fascinating book is to start with a fascinating story and Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guide James Hessler certainly chose such a story for what turned into a wonderful book.

Sickles at Gettysburg is a biography of lawyer, Congressman and Union Major General Daniel E. Sickles. It focuses mainly on the second day of the Battle of Gettysburg and the controversy afterward of course, but also describes his life before the war as well, giving insight into how he lived and how the controversies during and war and after the war really should not have been too surprising. He simply was a man who could not avoid such issues in his private or public life.

The controversy around Sickles, as explained in this book, starts with when he was born. Was it 1819? Or 1823? Or some other date? No one seems to know for sure, but for such questions to arise over his very beginning seems to foreshadow how the rest of Sickles' life would unfold.

Hessler's writing is very clear and easy to read, and the book is very well organized. The photographs and maps included throughout the text are very helpful. I often turned back to a previous map to help me understand where certain actions were taking place.

This work does not come off either as a Sickles apology or "hater" - Hessler does a very good job of showing both sides of the controversies and offering evidence for every side of the story, which, in come cases, are much more than just two sides (even when coming from the same source). He points out how Sickles consistently overcame adversity (even when of his own making) but also demonstrates how the general could change his story to suit his needs.

That is one way in which this book does an outstanding job of showing the human side of Sickles. This is not simply a biography of a soldier or a politician - it is the story of man who held various positions of influence and power, but who had his share of very public flaws. The last page of the book quotes a commander of a Sons of Union Veterans Camp, including the phrase "he was a real person with real problems and real struggles that we can all identify with." (page 406) That is an excellent description of the story of Sickles and is applicable to how the author covers Sickles throughout the entire book.

One enjoyable and enlightening section featured the author reviewing the evidence to determine if the legend of Sickles smoking a cigar as he was carried off the field - supposedly to help lift the spirits of his troops - was true. He examines several descriptions of Sickles' wounding, from the time it happened and from many years later in order to reach his conclusion, which I will not mention here. 

I also must admit that while reading about Sickles in this book, I also learned quite a bit about the fighting on July 2 at Gettysburg. I have never been totally absorbed in the military details of battles (whose regiment went where against whose division, etc.)  and recognize that as something I need to study more, but the way Hessler describes the fighting - and the maps included throughout the book - really helped me understand what happened on that part of the battlefield on that day and why Sickles' decision was so controversial. 

Hessler also describes Sickles' important role in the establishment of Gettysburg as a national military park, which was something new to me, as I had not realized that he took so much interest in preserving the battlefield and memorializing the men who had fought there. This book discusses this part of Sickles' life very well, providing a lot of interesting information and details about Sickles' action,s in and out of Congress, to support the preservation of this land.

That last point is part of the conundrum of the life of Dan Sickles. He was an unfaithful husband, who murdered his wife's lover, a poor father, a general who made a very controversial decision, then attacked publicly others who did not agree with his choice (even after they had passed away). He was very self-absorbed and egotistical, and never mastered the skills of handling money well (either his own or money he was entrusted with for the benefit of others), yet he also inspired confidence and admiration in his men, and then was a key figure in helping preserve that hallowed ground in Pennsylvania.

(I must pick one minor nit, though. In the book, the author occasionally refers to the book's subject as "Dan" instead of "Sickles." There's nothing wrong with that, but it is different and did stick out to me several times.) 

Sickles at Gettysburg  is simply a very good book that is both very informative and readable and is one that will be added to my list of favorites. It comes across as a well-researched and studied account of the many complicated aspects of the life of a controversial figure and is one I happily and strongly recommend to others interested in the Civil War or American history.

(P.S. For a visual record of Sickle's actions at Gettysburg, visit the  Gettysburg Daily site and in the search box in the right column - page down a bit - type in "sickles." It will bring up a series of posts featuring Jim Hessler at different Sickles-related locations on the battlefield. These entries do include photographs as well as text,  but I found the videos embedded in each entry to be especially helpful in understanding the lay of the land. These videos served as a wonderful supplement to the book.)

Dan Sickles

Dan Sickles, courtesy Library of Congress

I am currently reading Sickles at Gettysburg and will have it finished in a couple of days and a review of it hopefully published soon, but since today is July 2, I thought I'd take a moment to post some thoughts and questions about the fascinating man.

Before reading this book I of course knew a couple basic facts about this character: 1. He had shot his wife's lover, but avoided conviction due to "temporary insanity" and 2. He had moved his line forward at Gettysburg on his own volition, with no orders to do so, causing all sorts of controversy over day 2 of this battle.

I now understand more about him and these two incidents, and I must say this book has enlightened me quite a bit on Sickles and his entire life, not just those two controversies.

Even as I have read much of the book, I still do not know just how to describe him or what adjectives are most accurate. Yes, his wife cheated on him and he killed her lover, but he was not a faithful husband either. In his murder trial, he did all he could to save his own skin, even when it meant publicly injuring his wife's reputation. After being acquitted, he then kept Theresa as his wife, despite public expectations to the contrary.

He was an unfaithful husband, apparently a less-than-top-notch father, a lawyer, a politician, an amateur general and a man who always seemed to manage to escape trouble whenever he got himself into it. He was a survivor and a fighter, battling through all his troubles and living until 1914, when he was about 95 years old (his exact birth year being uncertain.)

As a Union general, he used his status as a "War Democrat" to curry favor with President Lincoln, which certainly helped him rise to the level of Major General, the highest ranking non-West Point officer in the Army of the Potomac. He also got along well with Joe Hooker, so when Hooker was removed from command of the Army of the Potomac, new challenges awaited Sickles.

Sickles' relations with George Meade were not so good, which was probably among the primary causes of the controversy at (and after) Gettysburg. That was not the entire reason, however, nor was the possible lack of clarity in Meade's orders.

Dan Sickles was his own man and lacked no self-confidence. He did what he believed was right, and that is what happened at Gettysburg; he saw what he believed needed to be done, and he did it, despite a lack of orders telling him to move his line. .This is also what happened when he killed Barton Key and in the post Civil-War years when he consistently defended his actions and disparaged George Meade and Meade's generalship. He believed in himself and took actions to back up that belief.

Part of this self-belief was evidenced by his willingness to change his story as needed in order to protect his reputation and he could twist the facts of a story to his advantage as well, particularly in the post-Gettysburg years when the controversy over his decisions flared and interest in the events of the battle were subject of discussion (both in Congress and in public forums such as speeches and newspaper articles)

Of course, he also was rather poor at handling money, whether his own, or that of groups he served on, especially the New York Monuments Commission.

Despite this, he was not all bad. As a general, he did show an aggressiveness that many other Union leaders lacked. He lost a leg trying to defend his country. He also inspired his men, earning their respect and admiration.  (Of course, so did George McClellan, whose reputation as a general is not much, if any, better than Sickles.) Sickles also played an important role in the efforts to preserve the Gettysburg battlefield and turn it into a national park. That was something I had no idea about before reading this book.

Sickles overcame obstacles throughout his life, which is admirable, but, then again, the obstacles usually were there because of his own behavior and actions so how much credit does he get for fighting through them?

With all this biographical background in mind, it is difficult for me to develop a definite opinion of him. My amateur military mind thinks his actions at Gettysburg were wrong, and his non-military life  produced many actions of his that I find indefensible. My instinct is to judge him harshly as an immoral, self-important person who displayed little respect for authority, but something about his life story also fascinates me. How did he create such loyalty in his subordinates and followers? What made him keep fighting through his problems instead of giving in to them? What was it about him that kept attracting people to him and making them trust him? His personality and what we now call "people skills" must have been quite good and enjoyable.

Whatever opinion, if any, I ever decide upon for Dan Sickles is, I know that words like "boring" and "dull" certainly need not apply. He lived a long life as quite a fascinating man through the good and bad. I cannot imagine there being many characters more fascinating or intriguing than Dan Sickles in the American Civil War, or, even American (if not world) history.

A Bit of Foraging

Covington Journal  June 29, 1861

A Massachusetts writes to the Taunton Gazette from Newport News Point, May 28th: "There was some foraging yesterday; my squad of six brought in thirteen chickens, five hens, one rooster, seven eggs, and three fugitive slaves."