Family Connections of Ulysses S. Grant

Harry Smeltzer of Bull Runnings has a couple of fascinating posts (HERE & HERE) about the family connections of Hugh Judson Kilpatrick. They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, so here it goes...

2008 marks the twentieth year of my genealogical research. One of the funnest things about genealogy is seeing who you are related to, or in other instances finding the genealogical links between historical figures.

I am a multiple Mayflower descendant. I am able to enumerate 13 of the 102 passengers aboard the Mayflower as my ancestors. Among them is Richard Warren, who is also an ancestor of Ulysses. S. Grant:

1. Richard Warren & Elizabeth Walker
2. Nathaniel Warren & Sarah Walker
3. Mercy Warren & Jonathan Delano
4. Jonathan Delano Jr. & Amy Hatch
5. Susanna Delano & Noah Grant, Jr.
6. Noah Grant III & Rachel Kelly
7. Jesse Root Grant & Hannah Simpson
8. Ulysses S. Grant.


My line of descent from Richard Warren is as follows:

1. Richard Warren & Elizabeth Walker
2. Sarah Warren & John Cooke
3. Sarah Cooke & Arthur Hathaway
4. John Hathaway & Patience Hunnewell
5. Benjamin Hathaway & Elizabeth Richmond
6. Elizabeth Hathaway & Benjamin Daggett
7. Love Dagget & Elijah Luce
8. William S. Luce & Huldah Rogers
9. Alonzo Luce & Catherine Finley
10. Alonzo E. Luce & Mary Alice Byrd
11. Edna Luce & Percy Miller
12. Larry Miller & Janet DeLong
13. James D. Miller

Ullysses S. Grant married Julia Boggs Dent, a 4th cousin of James Lonstreet. (See chart HERE).

Ulysses S. & Julia (Dent) Grant had for children:

The oldest, Frederick Dent, graduated from West Point in 1871 & rose to the rank of Major General in the United States Army. He married Ida Marie Honoré whose sister Bertha was married to Chicago businessman, Potter Palmer. Frederick & Ida Grant had two children: Julia and Ulysses S. Grant III. In 1899 Julia married Prince Michael Cantacuzéne, a Major-General and Chief of Staff to His Imperial Highness Grand Duke Nicholas of Russia. They fled to the United States at the outbreak of the Bolshevik revolution. Ulysses Grant III also attained the rank of Major General in the United States Army & served as an aide to President Theodore Roosevelt where he met his wife, Edith Root, the daughter of Secretary of War, Elihu Root.

Ulysses S. Grant, Jr., “Buck” married Fannie Josephine Chaffee, daughter of the U. S. Senator from Colorado, Jerome Chaffee. They had five children. After his wife’s death he married America (Workman) Will.

Ellen “Nellie” Wrenshall Grant, was married in the East Room of the White House in 1874 to Algernon Charles Frederick Sartoris of England. He was the son of opera singer Adelaide Kemble. They had four children. Nellie married secondly to Frank Hatch Jones on July 4th 1912.

Jesse Root Grant, the youngest child of the President married Elizabeth Chapman, daughter of William Chapman, one of the founders of the California Academy of Sciences. They had two children: Chapman & Nellie Grant. Jesse began divorce proceedings in 1914 on the grounds of desertion by his wife, the four year battle was followed by the newspapers and Jesse finally obtained his divorce on August 21, 1918. Six days later at the age of 60, he married Lillian (Burns) Wilkins, a 41 year old widow. Chapman Grant, Jesse’s son by his first marriage, became a noted American herpetologist.

Follow Up Blog Post: Ancestors & Decendants of Ulysses S. & Julia (Dent) Grant

An Interview With John Jakes

John Jakes has been called the godfather of historical fiction. Among the many works he has authored are the eight volume “The Kent Family Chronicles,” the “North and South” trilogy, “Homeland,” a novel of the Crown family of Chicago who’s stories interweave with the history of the twentieth century and its sequel, “American Dreams.” Mr. Jakes is also the author of “On Secret Service,” “Charleston,” “Savannah or A Gift for Mr. Lincoln” and most recently “The Gods of Newport.” A few years ago I was privilaged enough to interview him for “Fiction Fix” the monthly newsletter of Coffeehouse For Writers. Here is the interview:

*~*~*~*~*

Q: Why and how did you get started writing?

JJ: I began writing short stories in earnest during high school, submitting them to science fiction magazines I was reading at the time. I was fortunate enough to sell my first story at age 18.

Q: What is your educational background – where did you go to college and what was your major?

JJ: Education: A.B. in creative writing from DePauw University (Greencastle IN), then M.A. in American Literature from Ohio State (Columbus). I intended to continue for a Ph.D. in English but ran out of money, and went to work in advertising for 17 years, doing my own writing at night and on weekends.

Q: You started out writing science fiction and then switched to historical fiction. Why?

JJ: During my 50-year career I’ve written in many genres, because I like so many different kinds of literature. I was reading history for enjoyment as early as high school, but didn’t begin writing historical novels until the 1960’s. My later specialization (1970’s and after) grew out of my longtime interest in American and world history.

Q: You have written several works as series, most notably “The Kent Family Chronicles” and the “North and South” trilogy. You have been called “the Godfather of the family saga.” What is it about writing in this fashion that most appeals to you?

JJ: I have never been successful with a genre series as such; I was able to sustain only four novels about my 5’1” private eye, Johnny Havoc. Books in a genre series simply repeat themselves; I always get bored. But a series of novels carrying a family or group of characters through several generations is different because each historical period is different, hence I’m not simply rewriting the last novel. I realized this only after writing several volumes of THE KENT FAMILY CHRONICLES, but I’m sure it’s the reason the concept works for me.

Q: How many books have you now written? What is your next book and when can we expect to see it in the bookstores?

JJ: I can’t tell you how many books I’ve written: I’ve lost count. I was a client of the Scott Meredith agency for 22 years. During that time, I ghost-wrote a considerable amount of work besides my own. For instance, I did a young adult biography under another author’s by-line when the author couldn’t fit it into his schedule. I wrote half a dozen paperback novels under the byline of a deceased mystery writer whose widow wanted to carry on with earnings from her husband’s series character. I would guess my total output would be somewhere between 60 and 70 books.

Q: Writing historical novels entails a lot of research. How do you do your research? Do you have an assistant to help you?

JJ: Research is one of the best parts of doing what I do: I learn something new with every novel. I always begin by reading general studies about the period involved. When I find events or specific subjects that interest me, and a plot begins to shape itself in my mind, I research those specific events or subjects --cultivation of rice in the Carolinas is a good example from NORTH AND SOUTH--and then weave many independent pieces of research into the final story. I don’t have assistants, though I have people in New York and Los Angeles that I can and do call on to work the libraries there to turn up specific hard-to-find diaries, letters, out-of-print books and the like.

Q: Can you describe any writing pitfalls that other writers should avoid?

JJ: The greatest pitfall, I think, is procrastination. A writer should write even when the “feeling” isn’t there; otherwise you’ll never finish a long project. I scrupulously avoid talking about a project until it’s finished; I believe that chattering far and wide about what you are going to do steals a lot of energy and creativity from the final work. I know this is something of a superstition among writers, but it’s one I’ve honored for more than four decades.

Q: How do you decide which point of view to use? Do you have a preference?

JJ: I have no formula for deciding on point of view, though generally I find that third person works better than first for the kind of novels I’ve written in the last 20 years. This is chiefly because I often cut away from a leading viewpoint character to do a short chapter from the VP of another character. This is simply a variation of the novelistic technique that goes back to Dickens and others; D. W. Griffith studied Dickens and developed much of his film editing technique from it.

Q: Do you have a problem crossing the gender line? Is it easier for you to write male or female characters?

JJ: I have no problem crossing gender lines to write female characters. In fact I love writing about strong women, and have done so several times, most successfully in my opinion in THE FURIES (Kent Family Chronicles Volume IV) and volumes one and two of the Crown Family Saga, HOMELAND and AMERICAN DREAMS. Readers have never objected or complained.

Q: Describe your revision process. How many times do you rewrite a story? When working from draft to draft do you have a plan or a focus as to what aspect of your story you want to work on?

JJ: My working method is fairly simple. I know before I start each day just how much I want to finish that day--let’s say a chapter. I draft it quickly, then revise several times until I’m satisfied with it. Using a computer has been enormously helpful because of ease of revision. Let’s say I work from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. In the old typewriter days, I might revise a chapter once in that time, manually re-typing it and filling it with all sorts of squiggles, arrows, letter-coded inserts, etc. Today, in the same amount of time, I may revise the same amount of copy five, six, seven times because the computer makes it so much simpler.

Q: In your books you have so many characters and subplots, how do you keep them all straight?

JJ: I always write a detailed outline for a long novel. Often I’ll veer away from it as the writing leads me in new directions, but at least the plan is there. The outline keeps my characters and subplots clear and in front of me at all times.

Q: Have you ever attended a writer’s conference and if so did you find it useful?

JJ: No, I don’t attend conferences, though I have taught at one, the Antioch Writers Workshop (1994). I know many people find such get-togethers helpful, but they just don’t fit my style of working.

Q: What is your personal writing goal? What motivates you to write?

JJ: Personal writing goal? Always to make the newest book better than the last. I write to communicate one on one with an individual reader. I write to create the kinds of books I would enjoy reading. I write to share information about history in an entertaining way. The immense amount of fan mail I receive tells me I succeed pretty well with all these goals.

Q: What authors do you admire most and why?

JJ: The list of authors I admire is long. At the head of it stands Charles Dickens, whom I consider the greatest novelist in the English language. He was both a master storyteller, peerless in creation of memorable characters and suspenseful narratives, and a master stylist. The combination of those two elements in a single writer identifies a genius, and they are rare. Among American writers I prize Poe, Faulkner, and especially F. Scott Fitzgerald. Readers who are interested can check out the bio page of my Web site for some additional favorites.

Q: Do you have any advice for the aspiring write that is working on his/her first novel?

JJ: My only advice for a first novelist is to finish the thing and get on to the next one, whether the first one sells or not. In writing, the race is often not to the most brilliant, but to the most persistent.

If you would like to learn more about John Jakes you may do so by visiting his website http://www.johnjakes.com/.

The Wedding of John Hunt Morgan

In a house which stood here, Brig. Gen. John H. Morgan, CSA, was married to Miss Martha Ready December 14, 1862 by Bishop (also Lt. Gen. CSA) Leonidas Polk. Col. Basil Duke was best man. Among the groomsmen were Gen. Braxton Bragg, Lt. Gen. W. J. Hardee, Maj. Gens. J. C. Breckinridge and B. F. Cheatham and Col. G. St. Leger Grenfell. Also present was President Jefferson Davis.

Near The Corner Of
South Church & East Main Streets
Murfreesboro, Tennessee

Our Courts

The Circuit Court of Bedford county was in session for several days the past week. His Honor Judge Cooper, presiding. No business of importance was transacted except upon the State docket. Judge Cooper appeared perfectly at home in his new position.

Our County Court was also in session on Monday last but in consequence of the death of the little daughter or [sic] Jo. H. Thompson, Esq., (the clerk) adjourned until Monday morning next. Very litter business was done, aside from the qualification of our new Sheriff, Robert B. Blackwell, and his deputies, all of whom took the oat[h] to support the Constitution and Government of the United States. In this connection we may mention that Sheriff Blackwell has appointed Robert N. Jones, T. D. Thompson and F. F. Fonvillie his deputies.

We see from the card of W. F. Bang, senior publisher of the Replica Banner, Nashville, Tenn., that the publication of that paper has been discontinued. The charge against the Banner was the publication of articles inimical to the United States Government.

We learn from a late number of the New York Herald that a Federal court will soon convene in Nashville.

We see from late files of Northern papers, that the City Council of Baltimore has passed a resolution inviting Wm. G. Brownlow, of this State, to visit the city.

*~*~*

The Senate of the United States passed a bill disqualifying negroes from carrying the mails.

*~*~*

President Lincoln has sent to the Senate a treaty with Great Britain, for the effectual suppression of the slave trade, negotiated by Secretary Seward, with Lord Lyons, on the 7th of April.


- Published in The Tri-Weekly News, Shelbyville, Tennessee, Volume 1 Number 1, April 19, 1862 and reprinted by The Blockade Runner.

More From The Tri-Weekly News

The Huntsville Advocate says: The bells of the Methodist, Presbyterian Episcopal, and Cumberland Presbyterian and Baptist Churches in Huntsville have been taken down and directed to the Confederate foundries to be cast into cannon. They will be amply sufficient to make two batteries of six pieces each. The weight of the bells furnished from here were Presbyterian, 2106; Methodist, 810; Cumberland Presbyterian, 689; Episcopal, 480; Baptist, 110; W. H. Wilson, 174 – total, 4,259 pounds.

*~*~*

The Second Baptist Church of Richmond, Va. Have presented their splendid bell weighing 16,000 pounds, to the Confederacy, to be molded into cannon.

*~*~*

When all around us is but drear and dark, the hidden glories of heaven may be caught in a tear trembling upon the eyelid and pictured vividly and beautifully upon the soul.

- Published in The Tri-Weekly News, Shelbyville, Tennessee, Volume 1 Number 1, April 19, 1862 and reprinted by The Blockade Runner.

6th Iowa Infantry Momenment: Shiloh National Military Park

IOWA
TO HER
6TH INFANTRY
MCDOWELL’S 1ST BRIGADE
SHERMAN’S (5TH) DIVISION
ARMY OF THE TENNESSEE

IOWA
6TH REGIMENT INFANTRY VOLUNTEERS
COMMANDED BY CAPT. JOHN WILLIAMS, (WOUNDED)
CAPT. MADISON M. WALDEN

THIS REGIMENT HELD A POSITION NEAR ITS CAMP ON THE PURDY ROAD, THE EXTREME RIGHT OF THE ARMY, UNTIL 10 A.M. APRIL 6, 1862. THEN IT MOVED TO THE LEFT AND REAR, AND WAS ENGAGED IN THIS VICINITY, AGAINST A STRONG FORCE OF THE ENEMY’S INFANTRY AND ARTILLERY FOR FOUR HOURS; - ITS LAST POSITION BEING IN JONES FIELD FROM WHICH IT WAS ORDERED TO RETIRE ABOUT 2:30 P.M. IT THEN FELL BACK TO THE SUPPORT OF WEBSTER’S LINE OF ARTILLERY, WHERE IT WAS ENGAGED WHEN THE BATTLE CLOSED AT SUNDOWN

IN DETACHMENTS COMMANDED BY COMPANY OFFICERS, THE REGIMENT PARTICIPATED IN THE MOVEMENTS OF THE ARMY THROUGHOUT THE 7TH.

PRESENT FOR DUTY, OFFICERS, 27; MEN, 605; TOTAL 632
ITS LOSS WAS, KILLED 52; WOUNDED 100; CAPTURED 37; TOTAL 189

BURIAL PLACE
6TH IOWA INFANTRY
37 BODIES REMOVED
TO
NATIONAL CEMETERY

See Also:

• Dedication Exercises at the Sixth Iowa Regimental Monument
• The Iowa Monuments at Shiloh National Military Park
• Official Report of Capt. John Williams

A Portrait of Love and War

Shades of Gray:

A Novel of the Civil War in Virginia
By Jessica James

“You think I think that an artist’s job is to tell the truth,” says U.S. Poet Laureate, Tabitha Fortis, in an episode of The West Wing. “An artist’s job,” she continues, “is to captivate you for however long we’ve asked for your attention. If we stumble into the truth we got lucky.”

One may think that’s a pretty bold quote to start of a book review, and it may be, but this reviewer was certainly captivated by Jessica James’ Shades of Gray: A Novel of the Civil War in Virginia.

With her use of two diametrically opposed perspective points, Ms. James has successfully drawn the historical fiction and romance genres together and created a multi-dimensional picture. She begins with broad strokes of her pencil and sketches the outlines of two characters. The first, Andrea Evans, clothed as a boy known as Andrew Sinclair, is a scout and spy for the Union Army. The second, Captain Alex Hunter, the dashing and noble Confederate Cavalry officer who would like nothing more than to capture and kill his nemesis, Sinclair.

A novelist must ask his or her readers to suspend their disbelief and accept the world as the author has presented it to them. In the first few chapters of “Shades of Gray” I found it hard to suspend my disbelief; the plot twists and machinations which draw Ms. James’ two characters together seem a bit contrived and forced. But, once Andrea finds herself confined to Captain Hunter’s home the artist’s rapid strokes of her pencil revealed to me all that came before was mere background to a much more intimate picture she was trying to draw.

Next Ms. James slowly begins the delicate job of drawing sharper lines and defining her characters through their conflict. Both believe strongly in the cause for which each is fighting, both have very strong opinions about the opposing sides and often the two characters seem to be at war with one another.

With an artist’s touch she begins to smudge and gently soften the harsher outlines of her subjects. As affection grows between the Union spy and her dashing Confederate cavalryman, Jessica James’ transforms her characters with small strokes of her pencil, intricately drawing in detail, shading darker here and or lighter there.

The reality of the outside world cannot be held back in a country torn apart by civil war, and the divided loyalties of Ms. James’ carefully crafted subjects threatens to tear them apart. With an artist’s gift she draws her audience into making assumptions about her subjects, and demands them to look closer at the picture. With a guiding hand, Ms. James allows her readers to discover that the picture they thought they were seeing isn’t really the picture she has drawn at all.

In Shades of Gray, Jessica James’ skills as an artist are unquestioned. She as drawn a picture filled with conflict and love, loyalty and betrayal, history and romance, and a passion of lives lived in the moment. And along the way I think she may have also stumbled into truth.

Editing Can't Win A War But It Might Improve This Movie

Gods And Generals
Directed by Ronald F. Maxwell

In the film "Gettysburg" Colonel Joshua Chamberlain (Jeff Daniels) utters "there's nothing so much like a god on earth as a general on a battlefield." Based on Jeff Shaara's novel of the same title "Gods and Generals" is the prequel to "Gettysburg," which itself was based on the Pulitzer Prize winning novel, "The Killer Angels," written by Shaara's father, Michael.

Directed and adapted for the screen by Ron Maxwell (as was its predecessor) "Gods and Generals" presents the first two years of the American Civil War as the Army of the Potomac and the Army of Northern Virginia struggle against each other in the battles of First Bull Run, Fredricksburg and Chancelorsville.

Much has been made of the film's historical accuracy but, little of the gore and carnage of war can been seen in its sanitized battle scenes filled with smoke, explosions, and men falling to the ground. Though the battle scenes themselves are expertly choreographed, hardly any thought seems to have gone into the cinematography of these scenes as they lack imagination in their framing and execution. Yet, I found the battle scenes alone worth the price of admission.

I cannot say the same for Maxwell's bloated screenplay which is filled with flowery dialogue, long-winded speeches, and droning soliloquies. Yes, citizens of the nineteenth century spoke differently than we do today, but the dialogue is so jarring to the modern ear that it is nearly impossible for an audience to maintain a willingness to suspend its disbelief.

The narrative in Mr. Shaara's novel is nearly equally split between four major characters: Colonel Joshua Chamberlain and General Winfield Scott Hancock on the side of the Union and Generals Robert E. Lee and Jonathan "Stonewall" Jackson on the Confederate side, while Mr. Maxwell's adaptation can nearly be considered as a Stonewall Jackson bio-pic with the other characters merely as supporting players. Shaara's book maintains a balance of viewpoints of both North and South but, Maxwell's film tilts the majority of screen time to the Confederate side.

Stephen Lang does an admirable job as the highly religious Stonewall Jackson. Indeed, the film's shining glory is that Maxwell's screenplay and Lang's performance come closest to capturing the man that Jonathan Jackson was in reality as anything yet set forth on film. Though it is hard to separate Lang from his earlier portrayal of General George Picket in "Gettysburg." Jeff Daniels competently reprises his role as Chamberlain, though he lacks screen time and is saddled with reciting Lucanus' "The Crossing of the Rubicon" as he watches elements the Union Army crossing the Rappahanock River into Fredericksburg, Virginia. The films greatest disappointment was Robert Duvall in his lackluster performance as General Robert E. Lee.

Randy Edelman's sentimental score is adequate to the task at hand, and though pleasurable to listen to it does not rise to meet the challenge of the material presented. Mary Fahl's contribution, "Going Home," played over the opening credits of windblown battle flags, in a movie which the director well knows is going to come in at 3 ½ hours, should have fallen to the cutting room floor, though I love every note of it. And Bob Dylan is as raspy as ever in his "Cross the Green Mountain" played over the end credits.

Is "Gods and Generals" the greatest movie ever made about the American Civil War? No. Is it the most accurate movie about the Civil War? Quite possibly. But accuracy could not save this movie. Editing could. Edit the screenplay. Edit the dialogue and speeches. Edit the opening credits. Edit. Edit. Edit.

Edwin R. Kennedy

Captain, Co. F, 6th Iowa Infantry

He was the son of J. R. Kennedy and was born about 1840 in Indiana, and resided in Osceola, Clarke County Iowa when he enlisted as a private in Company F of the 6th Iowa Infantry on July 1st, 1861 and 16 days later he was mustered in. He was promoved to 3rd Sergeant on January 13, 1862 and then to 1st Sergeant on July 1st of that same year. He was wounded by a shell fragment in his left leg during third charge made by the 6th Iowa Infantry during the battle on Missionary Ridge on November 25, 1863. His brother, Liberty H. Kennedy was killed during the same charge having been shot through the heart. He re-enlisted and was mustered in on March 15, 1864 and was promoted to Captain on June 29, 1864. He was mustered out on July 21, 1865 at Louisville, Kentucky and returned to Clarke County, Iowa where on May 17, 1866 he was married to Martha E. Webster.

SOURCES: Civil War Soldiers And Sailors System; Roster and Record of Iowa Soldiers In the War of the Rebellion, Vol. 1, p. 852; Clarke County Iowa Early Marriages 1852 – 1873, p. 12; Letter From E. H. Kennedy Of The 6th Regiment, The Union Sentinel, 12 DEC 1863; 6th Iowa Infantry: Intelligence from Chattanooga, The Union Sentinel, 12 DEC 1863

Gone With The Wind - The Musical

I guess it was destined to happen sometime…

It was Saturday evening. I was board stupid. I was surfing the internet, just goofing off. I realized, I hadn’t been on The New York Times’ website in months, and now seemed to be as good of a time as any to catch up on the goings on in worlds of the literary and the theatrical. Little did I know that both worlds would come crashing together when I clicked on the Books page and read a headline in the middle of the page that read: “A First-Timer Makes Rhett and Scarlett Sing.”

Yes that’s right. It’s finally happened. Margaret Mitchell’s run-away best seller has been adapted as a musical. It was truly one of those jaw-dropping moments where one wonders “Am I really reading what I think I’m reading?”

“Gone With The Wind,” the musical, written by first-time author and composer Margaret Martin and directed by Trevor Nunn, began previews in London’s West End (the equivalent of New York City’s Broadway) on April 4th and will open at the New London Theater on April 22nd.

Now, I’m not one of those people who go gaga over GWTW. I have sat through the entire movie once in my life, and have only just recently purchased it on DVD, as well as a hardback copies of Mitchell’s tome, and Donald McCaig’s latest incarnation of the story, “Rhet Butler’s People.” In face I think GWTW is one of the most over hyped movies of all time. Now don’t get me wrong. I’m not a GWTW hater. Actually, once I saw the making of GWTW documentary I realized there was much to admire about the movie. I haven’t yet purchase Alexandra Ripley’s “Scarlett,” nor have I purchased Alice Randall’s “The Wind Done Gone,” but I think it’s fair to say that they will be added onto my Amazon Wish List.

Many of the people associated with GWTW, the musical, are seasoned veterans of the musical theater. In fact, many have ties to the adaptation of Victor Hugo’s, Les Miserables to the musical theater. Let me say right now, and right here, that if they are as true to the heart and soul of GWTW as they were with Les Miserables, I’m absolutely positive that the musical version will be a major theatrical event all around the world.

You may visit GWTW – The Musical’s website HERE, but as of yet, no music has been uploaded to the site.

Time Warped To 1955 At Shiloh

Last April I visited Shiloh National Military Park for the first time. I'd spent the previous two weeks studying up on the battle by reading Larry J. Daniel's book, "Shiloh, The Battle that Changed the Civil War." Since it was my first visit I decided that the park's Visitor Center would be my first stop so I could watch their orientation film.

After a 2 hour & 40 minute drive I arrived at the Shiloh Visitor Center at 10 a.m. right as the film was about to start and was quickly ushered back to the auditorium. Well, auditorium is a bit of a stretch... it was a large room with several rows of folding chairs and a large projection type television sitting on a raised platform. Okay, Shiloh is one of the oldest battlefield parks, I thought, I can deal with this. However, when the film started I was stunned. The orientation film on the Battle of Shiloh, had been produced in 1955 and is the oldest running film in the National Park System. To the park rangers & staff of Shiloh: this shouldn't be something you are proud of.

The film is an abomination. The film quality is poor, every frame of it looks as though it were a 52 year old film... it was discolored, it was dark, it was grainy, and there was always a yellow tint in the lower right portion of the film. The acting (using the term very loosely) was poor, but the costuming and make-ip was ghastly. It litterally looked like the hair and make-up team (if there even was one) had taken swatches of carpet and glued them to the actor's faces. It reminded me of a badly colorized D. W. Griffith silent movie with 1950's narration and score. It was laughable. When the movie came on it was all I could do not to burst out loud with laughter.

Now, I know the National Park Service budget is tight, but I beg of you. Please, in the name of all that is holy.... Please... Please... Please... produce a new orientation film that doesn't make the audience feel as if they have just been sent back to their 1955 American History high school class room.

After the 25 minute film was over, I went back out to the main hall of the Visitor Center to see that a group of Boy Scouts were there and waiting their turn to watch the film. What a pity, I thought to myself, that they should be condemed to watch such a sad introduction to the first cataclysmic battle of the Civil War. The veterans and the men who died on the field do not deserve to be remembered in such a way. And then I thought to myself, this park must get a lot of foreign tourists as well. What must be running through their minds while watching the film? Would they understand what happened on the fields just outside the front door? Would they care? What a disgrace that the current park visitors can't see a short, accurate, and modern film that treats the events of April 6th & 7th, 1862 with the dignity they deserve.

I want those 25 minutes of my life back... they would have been better spent on the battlefield itself.

Saturday, I visited the park again. I stopped at the Visitor Center and the ranger took my $3, handed me the park brochure and advised me the next viewing of the orientation film would be at noon. “Been there done that,” I said. “It’s the same one,” he said smiling.

What This Blog Is About

Yesterday’s post of E. R. Kennedy’s heart breaking letter home to his parents marks the end of the articles I had copied from The Union Sentinel last December. I hope those of you who have taken the time to read the articles have enjoyed them. It will be another month or so before I make it back home to Iowa to visit with family and friends, and to copy more articles.

In the mean time, the temperature here in Murfreesboro is warming, the grass is at last green again and the leaves are out on the trees. There’s plenty of local history around Murfreesboro to blog about. As well as a few book and movie reviews. Additionally, I visited Shiloh yesterday (it was my 2nd visit), Franklin is just up the road, and Chattanooga and Chickamauga are but and hour and a half away. So there will be plenty to blog about over the summer.

I guess it’s time to say a little bit about what this blog is about. First, let me say, I am not a historian (but I can play one on TV if you’d like). I’m not even a Civil War expert, though Gregg, my partner, would disagree with me. Yes, I do know more about the Civil War than the average person you’d meet while walking down the street. I’m a Civil War enthusiast. And this blog, is nothing more than what its title states it to be. It’s my Civil War notebook. It is a place where I can jot down the hodge-podge of everything Civil War. Topics therefore are random, and as you can tell by The Union Sentinel articles, in no particular order.

I am flattered, that people have taken time to read what I have posted so far, and hope they will continue to read, and learn with me.

Letter from E. R. Kennedy of the 6th Regiment.

Hospital No 4, Div. 15th A. C.

Nov. 27 1863

Dear Parents:

I have sad news for you; the worst that can come from me.

We have been in another hard fight, and Rebel bullets are no respecter of persons. You have to morn the loss of a son. I a brother. Liberty! Poor fellow, was shot dead in the third charge. He fought bravely, and was shot with his gun cocked, and in the act of shooting. I am sorry to tell you, that I was unable to see him: I was wounded in the same charge, and from what I learn about the same time he was struck. My wound is in the left leg half way below the knee, done with a piece of shell. Liberty was shot through the heart, and died without a groan. Thomas Kirkpatrick helped to bury him. I knew nothing of it until he was buried. He lies at the foot of the hill where we fought. This news is sad, but it is a relief to know that he died at his post; he never faltered; was always ready, and was a soldier in every respect.

Several of the company were wounded.

Capt. Minton took command of the company of the 24th [ult. ?] and in the second charge was wounded in the right arm below the elbow: The Surgeons say it will have to come off. Thomas Barrows wounded in the left ankle, not dangerous. Frederick B. Johnson in left leg close to the body. He has not more than one chance of ten to get well. Elam Ford in the forehead with a piece of shell, slightly. Thomas Carson in the side of the head with a ball, slightly. We are all of the company that are in the hospital. Sever others are slightly wounded that are with the regiment. Charles Wright was hit with a shell. Edward Chambers hit on the little finger. Charles Miler on the knee. Isaac Gregg on the ear. There may be others; as I have not been to the regiment since I received my wound, I have not the full particulars –

They are in pursuit of the rebels. They have captured 15,000 to 20,000 prisoners according to report, and between 50 to 100 pieces of artillery.

I can hear the roar of artillery ten or fifteen miles away, still growing more distant.

The 25th day of Nov. is a day to be long remembered, especially by our regiment. We threw a pontoon across the Tennessee river on the 24th, and took a hill two miles from the river, and fortified it that might. The next morning between seven and eight o’clock we were called out, we formed behind some logs, the rebels had thrown up the night before, for their skirmishers at the food of Mission ridge. We formed 4 columns deep, and charged on their works. Gen. Corse was wounded near their works. We were compelled to fall back and rally again. We rallied behind the logs, again we charged and silenced their battery, and again fell back. For what reason I cannot say. Col. [ ]umis came up on our right, charged and took their works. The rebels then came down on us. We were again ordered to charge. We went at it with a cheer. I did not go more than five rods before I was hit, my gun was knocked from my hands, and I have not seen it since. It was in this charge that Liberty was killed.

We have had a very hard time; we have not had a whole night’s sleep since the 16th. We have been either marching or working. Some of the soldiers were robbed of their clothing and money as they lay corpses on the field of battle. Some were untouched.

Where we will be taken I cannot tell. I will write again in a few days.

E. R. Kennedy.

- Published in The Union Sentinel, Osceola, Iowa, December 12, 1863

6th Iowa Infantry: Intelligence from Chattanooga

The 6th Iowa Inft. – Intelligence from this regiment, looked for with so much anxiety since the battle of Chattanooga, has at length come, to sadden the hearts of many of our citizens, while it robes others in weeds of mourning for those who have fought their last fight. Mr. Liberty Kennedy, son of J. R. Kennedy of Franklin township was killed; a brother, E. R. Kennedy was wounded. Capt. Minton, we are told was severely wounded in the arm; and with feeling of pain we add another to the list whom we have know in days past as a scholar and friend. Frederick B. Johnson, son of F. W. Johnson of Oceola is dangerously wounded. A ball entering the thigh came out near the knee, shattering the bone very badly. It is thought that if he recovers at all, amputation will be necessary. Poor fellow! With many others he has learned that fortune does not always smile upon the good and brave. In July last, he was taken prisoner, and after suffering several weeks in rebel prisons, was paroled, and a few weeks since exchanged – in time for this, we fear, to him fatal battle.

May it please that Being in who he trusts, to order it otherwise.

Thomas Barrows was also wounded, but slightly.

F. W. Johnson left for Chattanooga Yesterday.

- Published in The Union Sentinel, Osceola, Iowa, December 12, 1863

The Oceola Union Guards

Below will be found the names of both Officers and privates of this company, as organized Saturday June the 27 at the Court House in this place. The offices not mentioned have not yet been filled or had not when I last saw the Captain.

The Company is a good one, and if necessity requires, will do much good.

Capt. S. P. Glenn
1st. Lt. F. W. Johnson
2nd [Lt.] M. L. Prine
1st Sergeant B. Woolman
2nd [Sergeant] James Hall
3rd [Sergeant] W. N. Barnard
4th [Sergeant] F. C. Roland
5th [Sergeant] Isaac Burt

privates.
Arnold, Benjamin
Alexander, W. H.
Adams, James F.
Brown, S. P.
Baily, Clark
Bare, David
Brown, Adolphus Z.
Bare, John
Brown, Benj. F.
Bennum, John W.
Chaney, J. F.
Cox, Isreal
Cummins, Wm. L.
Cline, J. B.
Campbell, J. J. M.
Crabree, James F.
Detrick, Joseph H.
Detrick, M. D.
Davidson, B. O.
Denny, David B.
Detrick, Balster
Dixon, Gilbert
Erwin, D. M.
Fowler, Philip L.
Farley, Andrew F.
Gardner, Wm. H.
Harper, John M.
Harper, Reuben J.
Harlan, J. [B.]
Harlan, Aaron
Henderson, James J.
Henderson, Wm. E.
Harlan, Silas
Hickman, John D.
Hutchinson, Isaac
Hickman, A. J.
Harlan, Noah
Hunt, F. H.
Hodges, Albert
Jenkins, James
Johnson, Wm. B.
Kerby, E.
Kerby, J. H.
Knotts, Jeddiah
Knotts, Elijah W.
Kirby, John
Kirby, Joshua
Kerby Henry
Ledgerwood, E. M.
Lane, J. B.
Morehead, Wm.
Miliner, Daniel
Overton, Hiram
Polly, John
Purvis, Moses
Polly, Isaac A.
Parish W. M.
Polly, James Jr.
Polly, J.
Polly, William
Roberts, George
Rich, Robert
Richards, James
Stacy, S. H.
Spray, John C.
Sayre, David
Sadoris, Henry
Spray, Aquilla H.
Smith, Mahlon
Terhune, James W.
Turner, James W.
Thompson, C. W.
Warthan, Wm. A.
Wescoat, Cyrus K.
Welch, Samuel [S.}
Williams, Thos.
Winkler, F. J.
Winkler, J. P.
Wily, James
Wilson, Oliver B.
Williams, John

- Published in The Union Sentinel, Osceola, Iowa, July 11, 1863

War News.

We are unable to give our readers any exciting war news this week.

Things wear a threatening aspect in Rosecran’s department, and it is thought a big battle will be fought there before many days. Rosecrans has been reinforced by 50,000 men.

In other quarters there are no particular movements being made.

Published in The Union Sentinel, Osceola, Iowa, October 10, 1863

A Private Letter from W. S. Brown, of the 6th Iowa Infantry, to the Rev. Ziba Brown of this County.

Grand Junction, Tennessee;
Jan. 19th 1863

Dear Father:

Yours, dated Jan. 4th, has been received and read, by me, to the boys of my company, who gave their opinion of it as being decidedly good.

Your anxiety about me, founded on the supposition that I was with Gen. Sherman at Vicksburg, was all for nothing, but I do wish we had been there instead of staying here with [a] one long cared Grant,” for I believe we could have taken the place. And Besides, I feel sorry that I was not in some battle, and wounded and sent home, not that I wish to shirk my duty, or anything of that sort; but if I was at home, I would send some disloyalists to their long homes – unprepared of course.

I almost think that George is not a true loyalist if he does not upset some of them at least. It makes my Brown blood boil within me when I think that such ts [sic: as?] they should be permit to remain at home and discourage enlistments and kick up broils.

Now I think it would be but fun to let daylight through them and stop them in their work of treason.

Just such men as they are, your own boys left home to battle with, and how long will you permit them to remain in your midst?

The wet season has, at last, commenced, and weeks have already past [sic], and more coming. Health generally good, and no hopes of a fight soon.

One half of our time has already expired and we have only had one fight, and seven skirmishes, I can hardly miss the time; but I presume if I could see the once little ones – now almost grown, it would make me know that time had something to do with it.

We are still passing over the country through which I traveled while a prisoner thereby affording me ample opportunity for c[o]aliation [sic]:

When I recount the suffering and sorrow that I have endured since my enlistment, and look forward to what I will probably have to endure before this work of rebellion is stopped, I have but little hope of again enjoying the blessings of the family circle.

There are some boys now in service who are well and fully able for duty, but have applied for discharges – a thing I will never be guilty of.

W. S. Brown

- Published in The Union Sentinel, Osceola, Iowa, February 14, 1863

A Tribute To The Irish Brigade

The southern correspondent of the London Times, in describing the battle of Fredericksburg, pays a glowing and graceful tribute to the gallantry and action of the Irish brigade under Gen. Meagher; saying that the forefathers of the men never displayed “more undaunted courage at Fontenoy, Albuera or Waterloo,” than they did, and that “the race which has gained glory on a thousand battlefileds never more richly deserved it than at the foot of Marye’s Hieghts on the 13th of Dec. 1682.”

- Published in The Union Sentinel, Osceola, Iowa, February 14, 1863

Edwin F. Alden

1st Lieutenant

Co. H, 6th Iowa Infantry

He was the Son of C. F. & Abigail Alden, born about 1838 or 1839 in Ohio. When he enlisted in as a 1st Sergeant in Company B, 6th Iowa Infantry on July 1, 1861 he resided with his widowed mother at Hopeville, Iowa. He was then 23 and was a wool carder. He was mustered into national sevice on July 17, 1861 and was promoted to Commissary Sergent on December 21st of that year.

On July 1st, 1862 he was a 6th Corporal. He transferred to Company H of the 16th Iowa Infantry on October 14, 1862 and two days later was promoted to 2nd Sergeant & on January 1, 1863 he was again promoted, this time to 1st Sergeant, and the very next day received another promotion, to 2nd Lieutenant. His last promtion came on June 22, 1863 to 1st Lieutenant. He was mustered Out November 7, 1864

Edwin F. Alden married Martha J. Johnson, August 15, 1863 in Clarke Co., IA. By 1870 the couple had 3 children: Harry J., Lucy C. & Emma K. Alden. Sometime between 1866 & 1870 he and his family moved to Fletchall Towonship, Worth Co., Missouri where he operated a hotel. In 1877 Edwin and Martha Alden’s family was increase by the bith of a son, William Alden. By 1880 the family had removed to Grant City, Missouri where Edwin became a dry goods merchant.

SOURCES: Civil War Soldiers & Sailors System; Roster and Record of Iowa Soldiers in the War of the Rebellion, Vol. 1 p. 796 & 799; 1856 Iowa State Census for Doyle Twp., Clarke Co., IA; 1860 Federal Census for Hopeville, Doyle Twp., Clarke Co., IA; 1870 Federal Census for Fletchall Twp., Worth Co., MO; 1880 Federal Census for Grant City, Worth Co., MO; Clarke County Iowa Early Marriages 1852-1873, p. 1;

Review: Army of the Potomac: Birth of Command

Army of the Potomac:

Birth of Command

November 1860 – September 1862

By Russel Beatie

July 2, 2002. – The Eastern Theater of The American Civil War – The curtain rose from the stage at the premier of Da Cappo Press’ newest production, to reveal “Army of the Potomac: Birth of Command November 1860 – September 1862.” Authored by Russel H. Beatie, it is the first of a series covering the history of the Army of the Potomac.

Mr. Beatie has been kind enough to present us with a Dramatis Personae, a playbill, if you will, providing us with the briefest of possible biographical sketches of the players about to grace the stage. Receiving top billing, of course, is Winfield Scott, the hero of the Mexican War. He is supported by a cast of subordinates: Charles P. Stone, Robert Patterson, Fitz-John Porter, Benjamin F. Butler, Elmer Ellsworth, J. K. F. Mansfield, Irvin McDowell, Samuel P. Heintzelman, David Hunter, George B. McClellan and Nathaniel Prentis Banks.

The stage has been carefully set. On November 6th, 1860 Abraham Lincoln was elected President of the United States without a single electoral vote from any of the Southern states. Shortly thereafter, on December 20th, South Carolina was the first state to secede from the union. It is January 1861 and Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia & Louisiana have now also left the Union. Texas will join her sister Southern states on February 1st.

Lincoln, having been confronted with the problem of resuplying or reinforcing Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor, immediately upon his inauguration, chose the less confrontational route: to resuply it, thus, maneuvering the South into firing the first shot of the war on April 12th, 1861 and providing the inciting incident of our national drama, and the beginning of the Civil War. Virginia, Arkansas, North Carolina and Tennessee soon after seceded and joined the Confederate States of America.

Mr. Beatie illuminates the central question in the first act of his drama, “How does one create an army?” by shining his spotlight on New York, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Ohio, where from nebular clouds regiments of soldiers begin to emerge.

Maryland provides our first plot point. Heavily secessionist in sentiment, Maryland surrounds Washington D.C. on three sides. With Virginia having already seceded, if Maryland were to cast its lot with her sister slave states, Washington would be cut off. Now that there is an army, fractured though it is, how does one move it through hostile territory to Washington where it is needed?

Here the author shifts his focus from upstage to stage center, narrating Abraham Lincoln’s steps to ensure that Maryland stayed in the Union by suspending the writ of habeas corpus and arresting the state legislators who sided with the South. All the while, Patterson, Porter, Butler, Keyes, Lefferts & Stone began to secure routes both through and around Baltimore, a city seemingly seething with anti-unionist sentiment, to Washington, D.C.

The first Battle of Bull Run is the center piece of Mr. Beatie’s second act, as the action moves down stage to Virginia. Mr. Beatie deftly weaves together the fate of Harper’s Ferry and Patterson’s attempts to keep Joseph E. Johnston’s southern soldiers bottled up in the Shenandoah Valley and preventing them from joining the rest of the Confederate Army under P.G.T. Beauregard at Manassas. Patterson’s ultimate failure allowed the two Southern armies to join in battle against the Federal Army, led by Irvin McDowell at Bull Run Creek.

The battle is the midpoint in Mr. Beatie's drama. As the two armies collide on the field of battle, the point of view is strictly from the vantage of the men and commanders of the Federal army. Mr. Beatie presents the facts and events throughout his narrative as they happen, this technique can some times be confusing to the audience, and the one critique this reviewer has is the wish for more maps in this section to allow the audiance to better follow the action as it proceeds. The fog of war envelopes the Union forces, facts are misinterpreted, mistakes are made, and ultimately the failure of the command structure results in a Confederate victory, and the curtain falls on a defeated demoralized Federal army as they gradually make their way back to Washington.

George B. McClellan enters from stage right at the beginning of the final act. Having been called from the West after several small but impressive victories to assume command of what will soon come to be known as the Army of the Potomac. Mr. Beatie concentrates on the bickering between Scott, the General-In-Chief and his subordinate officer, McClellan, and as the light shines brighter on McClellan, Scott’s time in the light begins to fade. Scott's letter of resignation sent to Lincoln serves as the last plot point and the final curtain falls to the stage floor with George B. McClellan soon to be commissioned as General-In-Chief.

Mr. Beatie’s “Army of the Potomac: Birth of Command November 1860 – September 1862,” has been well received and hailed as a critical success. Not since Douglas Shouthall Freeman’s, “Lee’s Lieutenants,” has a work of such magnitude and scope as Mr. Beatie's graced the literary stage of the American Civil War.

An appendix, “Officers and Battlefield Maneuvers,” as well as a fully annotated bibliography citing the strengths of weaknesses of the source materials used, serve as Mr. Beatie’s curtain calls. And on a production note, the book is fully noted with footnotes at the bottom of every page.

This, Mr. Beatie’s first production in the series, has already spawned two sequels, and if they are its equal, I’m sure they will be followed by others.

I give it a standing ovation!

Click HERE for my review of the second volume in this series.

The 6th Regiment. Letter from Lieut. Alden.

Owing to the disturbance of mail arrangements, this letter did not reach us until yesterday. Ed.


Jackson Mississippi
July 18th 1863

Dear Sentinel:

After a long silence, I will again write you a few lines, in regard to the where-a-bouts and doings of the 6th Iowa.

Immediately after the capitulation of the Rebel Garrison at Vicksburg, your division was ordered to Big Black River, where we arrived on the evening of the 4th of July, at the only point of crossing above the R. R. Bridge, where a strong force of Jacksons Rebel Cavalry was posted to prevent our crossing. Gen. Smith selected our regt. And ordered us to cross the river at Bridsing Ferry, and to hold the position till he could send us support. The only means of crossing was two canoes lashed together, but the scouts [now] coming in, pronounced the river fordable, and Col. Corse determined to cross the stream by wading. We arrived at the river at 9 P.M. and to our consternation found it had risen 3 feet, so that it would have been madness to attempt a crossing on foot. Half a doz. Men were selected, and ordered to cross the river in the canoe, and ascertain if the enemy was still there. When they had got into the middle of the stream a volley of musketry was fired upon them, and they were compelled to retreat to the west side again. Fortunately none in the boat was hurt. A brisk fight was then kept up all night across the stream, and at daylight it commenced in earnest, and at 9 A. M. we had driven them from the river. The most of our army crossed that day. Our loss was one killed, and 9 wounded. We buried 7 rebels and found several of their wounded, tho' they had taken the most of their wounded away.

We arrived at this place in front of the enemy’s works on the10th inst., and our Regiment was again put in the front. We skirmished with the rebels from 3 p.m. until dark, having driven their pickets a half a mile. At 4 o’clock on the morning of the 11th, our Regiment was deployed as skirmishers, and moved forward, fighting over the ground from which the enemy retreated, until we were within half a mile, and in sight of the enemy’s works. Our loss on the 11th was three killed and nine wounded. On the morning of the 16th our regiment was again placed in the front, and ordered to charge the enemy’s works (it was then thought they were evacuating, which was not the case) which we did with credit to ourselves, as the following letter from Gen. Smith, commanding the first Division will show:


H’d Quarters 1st Div. Army Corps
In front of Jackson, Miss.
July 16th 1863

John M. Corse, Col. Commanding the 6th Iowa Infantry

Sir:

The valor of your noble Regiment has been conspicuous, even amidst the universal good conduct that has marked the operation of all the troops of the 7th Division during our advance upon Jackson, and since our arrival here. I cannot too highly commend the gallantry you have displayed in the two successful charges you have made. The true heart swells with emotions of pride in contemplating the heroism of those who, in their country’s cause, can go forward under the iron hail of half a dozen rebel batteries and exposed to a murderous fire of musketry from behind strong entrenchments, and capture prisoners under their very guns. Such has been the glorious conduct of the Sixth Iowa this morning, and those who shared your dangers and emulate your value, will join with me in tendering to you and the brave men you command my warmest thanks and most hearty congratulations.

Most truly yours,

Wm. S. Smith
Brig. Gen. Commanding


The loss in our Regiment on the 16th was 29 wounded, 3 killed and 7 missing. Cap. Minton, of Company “F,” was severely wounded in the breast, arm, back and neck. The surgeons think he will recover. Lieut. A. C. Rarick, of Company “F,” wounded slightly in the neck. – Thomas Gray; Com. “F,” in leg, slightly. [Elam] Ford, Co. F, in ankle, slightly. – H. C. Stewart, in leg, severely. Joseph Wry, in hip severely.

Charles Griggs, Company “B,” Killed. William Brown, Company B, wounded in arm, severely. Corp. J. C. Lucas, in both legs severely.

The following men are missing since the engagement of the 16th, supposed to be prisoners

James. M. Laughlin, Com. B, F. B. Johnson, James Wilson and A. N. Sharp of Co. F.

The rebels evacuated this place on the night of the 16th, leaving large lots of ammunition and commissary stores behind them. We succeeded in capturing most of their rear guard – about two thousand men.

Our wounded are all doing well.

My facilities for writing are poor and having but little time I will cut this short.

Yours truly,

Ed. F. Alden

- Published in The Union Sentinel, Osceola, Iowa, August 15, 1863

Senatorial Convention.

Proceedings of the Republican Senatorial Convention composed of the counties of Wayne, Lucas and Clark held at Chariton August 7th 1863:

The Convention was organized by electing Judge James Rice of Clark County president and H. W. Jay of Lucas county secretary. On motion of the chair appointed J. D. Wright of Lucas, A. H. Burrows of Clark, and E. W. Fullerton of Wayne, a committee on credentials. The committee reported the counties represented as follows:

Wayne. – Joshua Prugh, Greenwood Wright, David Prachin, H. W. Fullerton, Hugh [Conklin?], J. J. Chapman, John Herbut.

Lucas. - S. B. Chapman, Milton Keys, Wm. Swank, S. [Savacorl?], G. W. Hopkins, J. D. Wright, H. W. Jay.

Clark. – Reuben Johnson, B. Burrows, J. D. Newton, James Rice, A. H. Burrows, J. R. Kennedy, S. P. Glenn.

On motion, the Convention proceeded to ballot for Senator, with the following result:

J. D. Wright & A. H. Burrows, Tellers.

Z. Brown, 12; E. E. Edwards, 9.

Whole number of votes cast, 21; necessary to a choice, 11. Mr. Brown, of Clark Couty having received a majority, was declared the unanimous choice of the Convention.

On motion, a committee of three, consisting of S. B. Chapman, E. W. Fullerton and Capt. Glenn, were appointed to wait on Mr. Brown and inform him of the nomination. – In the evening Mr. Brown appeared before a very large audience at the Court House, and in a very able speech, accepted the nomination.

On motion the proceedings of the Convetion were ordered to be published in the Daily Hawk-Eye, Chariton Patriot and Oceola Union Sentinel.

On motion the Convention adjourned.

James Rice, Pres.

H. W. Jay, Sec.

- Published in The Union Sentinel, Osceola, Iowa, August 15, 1863

War News.

Washington, August 10. – Brig. Gen. Custer commanding a brigade under Pleasanton with a small force of cavalry, on Saturday came up with Mosley’s [sic] guerrillas, commanded by that notorious partisan chief in person. They fled before our cavalry and left twelve prisoners in our hands, who were turned over to Pleasanton. Mosely [sic] escaped under cover of a dense wood, when our forces were upon his heels.

Memphis, August 9. – A company of citizen scouts about seventy five in number who were organized in the fore part of June last to resist the rebel conscription, in North Alabama have thus far evaded every effort of the rebel authorities to catch them. They report to the Commander at Corinth that their numbers are now increasing, and that they have captured or driven out nearly every officer who was trying to enforce the draft.

Large numbers of deserters who have their arms with them are in the mountains of Pikeville, Alabama, and are organizing with the citizens to resist the draft.

A correspondent of the Missouri Republican thus writes from Memphis.

As soon as the surrender of Vicksburg became generally known throughout the States spoken of, a peace feeling began to develop itself in all sections.

Within the last week, Union leagues have been formed in several counties in Mississippi. Where there is no rebel army – where the people can give free expression to their feelings, there the cause of the Union is comparatively strong, and its adherents are more numerous than in sections where the army has been encamped.

Forest of the Harris cavalry is under arrest, charged with having defrauded the Government of $5,000.

The draft is nearly completed in the western part of New York. Revisions of the enrollment lists have been ordered in the first nine districts of the State. The draft therein will take place in tow weeks.

Jeff Davis is ill at Richmond, and doubts are entertained of his recovery. It is said that Lee has addressed a letter to Jeff Davis, calling upon him not to hang the two Federal officers now confined in Richmond, as his son, Gen. W. T. Lee, would in consequence be hung. If this is resisted, he declares his intention to throw up his commission. It is not thought that the rebels will hang our officers.

- Published in The Union Sentinel, Osceola, Iowa, August 15, 1863

A Short Story Wrapped in Novel Wrapping Paper

Savannah, or a Gift for Mr. Lincoln
By John Jakes

When writing reviews I usually try to put them at a length of about 500 words, give or take a few. However, upon contemplating this review of John Jakes' latest work of historical fiction, "Savannah, or a Gift for Mr. Lincoln," I think I would find it difficult to find 250 words to say about it much less 500. I anxiously await the release of any new John Jakes novel. I was slightly disappointed by "Charleston" as not meeting previous John Jakes standards, such as "The Kent Family Chronicles" or his masterwork, the "North and South" trilogy. So imagine my surprise when my slight disappointment with "Charleston" turned into extreme disappointment with "Savannah."

I can really say nothing about the plot of "Savannah" as after having read it, I remember precious little of anything that happened between its covers. I dare any John Jakes reader to say that about any of his other books. But what I do remember of the story centers around 12 year-old Hattie Lester's attempts to save her family's plantation, "Silvergrass," from the soldiers of Union General William T. Sherman, who have arrived just outside of Savannah from their march through Georgia in December of 1864.

Only half of my disappointment in "Savannah" lies at the foot of John Jakes himself. It is too simplistically written. His characters are underdeveloped and there is next to no plot. At best "Savannah" should be called a short story. It does not by any means or stretch of the imagination live up to the John Jakes works of the past, in which the writing is good, the characters fully developed, and the plotlines, though somewhat resemble modern day soap operas, are often interconnected. Indeed, "Savannah" seems to have been written for the young reader of between 10 or 12 years old, and if that is the case then Mr. Jakes can and should be forgiven.

I reserve the other half of my disappointment in "Savannah" to the publisher, Dutton. As sited above, "Savannah" is in reality a short story, and the editors of Dutton have done their best to lengthen it into a full-fledged novel, or at least something that resembles a novel.

First I'll tackle the size of this book. All of my other hard cover John Jakes books measure 9.5" x 6.5" while "Savannah comes in at a wimpy 8.5" x 6" and when placed on a shelf next to her sister John Jakes novels, she appears to be slightly out of place.

Secondly, Dutton has succeeded in lengthening "Savannah" to a novel of 288 pages, not only by the reduced size of this book as already stated, but by using a substantial font size and line spacing to give the book lots of "white space," and they also threw in a couple of illustrations for good measure as well.

Thirdly, if my theory of John Jakes writing this novel for a much younger audience is correct, I then fault the marketing department at Dutton for not marketing it as such. Even if this was marketed as a children's book many John Jakes fans, such as myself, would have purchased the book because it was a John Jakes book with the full knowledge that it was written for children and would not have been disappointed at all by it.

And lastly, Dutton further aggravated my disappointment in this book by its inflated cover price of $23.95. I refused to buy it at that price, even though it was a John Jakes book, and waited until it was 50% off to buy it at my local book store, and even then I felt like I had been robbed.

But the question is can I recommend this book. Well that's a tricky question to answer and my recommendation would depend on who was asking me. If you are a die-hard John Jakes fan who froths at the mouth at the mere mention of a new John Jakes book hitting the shelf, then yes, I would recommend it, with the reservation that the book is geared to a younger audience, and as such the characters and plots are much simpler than regular John Jakes fare. If you are 10 to 12 years old with an interest in the Civil War, I would recommend this book for you, as it seems to have been written with younger readers in mind. But if your are an avid reader of historical fiction where fully developed characters struggle to over come adversities of their time, and revel in the detail of such, no I would not recommend this book. And to the casual reader, I offer, "read it. You might like it, but don't blame me if you don't."

Okay so I did have more than 250 words to say about "Savannah." This review came in at 805 words.

Note: This is a review of the hardcover edition of this book.