150 Years Ago Firing on Ft Sumter

[bruno]

Today marks the beginning of the Civil War 150 years ago with the firing on Ft Sumter. It took more than 4 years and 600,000 soldiers and the death of America's greatest President before the war finally came to an end and ushered in a fundamentally new United States.
There are some really interesting web sites out there that bring to life the times:
The Washington Post has a section devoted for the next 4 years:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/civil-war
UNC publishes this blog:
http://www.lib.unc.edu/blogs/civilwar/

And finally- one of the great Love letters of all time - it brings tears to your eyes 150 years later- Maj Sullivan Ballou's letter to his wife (Maj Ballou was killed at the first Battle of Bull Run). If you ever want to know what all of those soldiers are giving up when the march off to this or any other war- read this. And if you ever want to feel inadequate in your own powers of communication with those you love- Read this:

http://history-world.org/american_civil_war_letter.htm

..."And oh Sarah, how hard it is for me to give them up and burn to ashes the hopes of future years when God willing we may still have lived and loved together and seen our boys grown to honorable manhood around us. Sarah, if I do not return, never forget how much I loved you. Nor, that when my last breath escapes me on the battlefield, it will whisper your name. Forgive my many faults and the many pains I have caused you. How thoughtless, how foolish I have sometimes been. But Sarah, my dear, dear Sarah, if the dead can come back to this earth and flit unseen around those they love, I shall always be with you in the brightest day and darkest night. Always. Always. And when the soft breeze fans your cheek it shall be my breath or the cool air upon your throbbing temple, it shall be my spirit passing by.

Sarah, do not mourn me dead. Think only that I am gone and wait for me. For we shall meet again. My dearest Sarah. We shall meet again."

The civil war touched virtually everyone in the country- the dinky little towns of Worcester County Massachusetts - just tiny farm towns in 1861 saw almost 14,000 soldiers killed in the War. Having fought in the Battle of New Market in (May 15 1864) in which 10 Cadets were killed and 57 wounded VMI was subsequently shelled and burned to the ground (see picture). The real impact of the Civil War- the country was never again a plural:the united States"- rather it was "The United States"; and the elimination of slavery which was the greatest blot on the nation. We wouldn't be the country we are today without this cataclysmic event. So check out the links and pull out the Shelby Foote and James McPherson and Carl Sandburg and do some reading about the Civil War.

 

[luckymacy]

The Poem

O Captain! my Captain! our fearful trip is done;
The ship has weathered every rack, the prize we sought is won;
The port is near, the bells I hear, the people all exulting,
While follow eyes the steady keel, the vessel grim and daring:

But O heart! heart! heart!
O the bleeding drops of red,
Where on the deck my Captain lies,
Fallen cold and dead.

O Captain! my Captain! rise up and hear the bells;
Rise up—for you the flag is flung—for you the bugle trills;
For you bouquets and ribboned wreaths—for you the shores a-crowding;
For you they call, the swaying mass, their eager faces turning;
Here Captain! dear father!
This arm beneath your head;
It is some dream that on the deck,
You’ve fallen cold and dead.

My Captain does not answer, his lips are pale and still;
My father does not feel my arm, he has no pulse nor will;
The ship is anchored safe and sound, its voyage closed and done;
From fearful trip, the victor ship, comes in with object won;
Exult, O shores, and ring, O bells!
But I, with mournful tread,
Walk the deck my Captain lies,
Fallen cold and dead.


Walt Whitman

 

[bruno]

The Civil War sequisentenial- First Bull Run

On Tuesday it will be 150 years since the First Battle of Bull Run- which was the first real indicator that the Civil War was not going to be a short run affair that the Government could quell with 90 day enlistments. Neither was it going to be a cake walk for all of those "brave southern boys who could each whip 10 cowardly yankees".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Battle_of_Bull_Run

One of the great Love letters in History was written on the eve of this battle by Major Sullivan Ballou to his wife in Rhode Island. He was killed at Bull Run- one of what would eventually be about 600,000 dead before the war ended in 1865. (I don't know what kind of soldier he was, but he had a heck of a talent with letters!)
http://history-world.org/american_civil_war_letter.htm

...But Sarah, my dear, dear Sarah, if the dead can come back to this earth and flit unseen around those they love, I shall always be with you in the brightest day and darkest night. Always. Always. And when the soft breeze fans your cheek it shall be my breath or the cool air upon your throbbing temple, it shall be my spirit passing by.
Sarah, do not mourn me dead. Think only that I am gone and wait for me. For we shall meet again. My dearest Sarah. We shall meet again.

So if you are in Virginia- take a drive over to Manassas!

 

[Bullet]

Three minor points of correction:

- Actually, the Anniversary is the 21st, this Thursday.
- Down here, it's called "First Manassas"
- HUUUUGE reenactment going on. Lots of celebrations and things to see. Estimates of over 100K people here this week and through the weekend (to include a second reenactment). Yep, I said "here" because the battlefield is 15 minutes from my house. I took the days off, so I wouldn't have to deal with the traffic on my way to work...

Info here:

http://www.manassascivilwar.org/home.aspx

 

[bruno]

Three minor points of correction:

- Actually, the Anniversary is the 21st, this Thursday.
- Down here, it's called "First Manassas"
- HUUUUGE reenactment going on. Lots of celebrations and things to see. Estimates of over 100K people here this week and through the weekend (to include a second reenactment). Yep, I said "here" because the battlefield is 15 minutes from my house. I took the days off, so I wouldn't have to deal with the traffic on my way to work...

Info here:

http://www.manassascivilwar.org/home.aspx

Sorry I am getting old- I thought the little number on my watch said that today was the 18th- I see with my bifocals on that today is only the 16th! Thursday is the anniversary as Bullet just pointed out - that eyesight thing get's you every time

 

[flieger83]

Three minor points of correction:

- Actually, the Anniversary is the 21st, this Thursday.
- Down here, it's called "First Manassas"
- HUUUUGE reenactment going on. Lots of celebrations and things to see. Estimates of over 100K people here this week and through the weekend (to include a second reenactment). Yep, I said "here" because the battlefield is 15 minutes from my house. I took the days off, so I wouldn't have to deal with the traffic on my way to work...

Info here:

http://www.manassascivilwar.org/home.aspx

"...LOOK....there he stands like a STONE WALL!"

Walking those grounds...and really understanding what was going on...is sobering. I took my wife and her parents to Manassas last summer, as well as Gettysburg. This summer we went to Sharpsburg and walked the Antietam battleground...

I've studied that war all my life as I have MANY ancestors that were very involved in it...but to walk the fields...

Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83

 

[MorganC]

Here in Pensacola we claim the first shots of the Civil War were fired at Fort Barrancas

 

[blackhawkmom]

Chilmark did a series of civil war pewter figures years ago (i think they are now out of business) the piece is beautiful and came with a copy of the letter. She is sitting under a tree reading the letter and on the other side he is writing it at a desk. I have always thought it a beautiful letter and had almost forgotten this week was the anniversary. Thanks for reminding us!

 

[LineInTheSand]

First naval shot of the Civil War was fired by a U.S. Revenue cutter (aka U.S. Coast Guard cutter).