Tag Archives: artillery

10 April 1865: “the conviction had become established in the minds of a large majority of our best officers, + men that the army in its extremely reduced state could not be extricated from its perilous condition”

Item description: Three items from the day after the surrender at Appomattox Court House. The first is a paroled prisoner’s pass. Upon surrender, Confederate soldiers received paroles allowing them to return home without fear of arrest as long as they did … Continue reading

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15 December 1864: “Would you not like to get a chance “to make the fight” on either line?”

Item Description: Letter dated 15 1864 from Lieutenant General Alexander P. Stewart serving for the Confederate army. He writes about the positioning of his lines. Item Citation: Folder 3, Stephen D. Lee Papers, #02440, Southern Historical Collection, Wilson Library, University … Continue reading

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29 May 1864: “One colored regiment at each place to hold against great odds these important positions, which the army is fortifying.”

Item description: Sent from Acting Rear-Admiral Samuel Phillips Lee to Gideon Welles, who was U. S. Secretary of Navy, this telegram discusses military movements in the Fort Powhatan and Wilson’s Wharf region of Virginia, especially that of African American Union … Continue reading

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12 March 1863: “The Yankees have erected a small earthwork immediately opposite New Berne at a place called Barrington’s Ferry.”

Item description: Entry, dated 12 March 1863, from the diary of Henry King Burgwyn, Jr. More about Henry King Burgwyn, Jr.: Henry King “Harry” Burgwyn, Jr. (1841-1863), known as “The Boy Colonel,” was the oldest son of Henry King Burgwyn … Continue reading

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1 April 1862: “The President does things pretty much in his own way, without consulting anyone and takes the responsibility upon himself and has give us a cabinet which is not satisfactory to the country.”

Item description: Letter, Burgess S. Gaither to Thomas Ruffin, 1 April 1862. Gaither, a Burke County, N.C., politician and member of the Confederate Congress wrote of the military disaster in which Roanoke Island was lost and the resulting investigation. He … Continue reading

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14 January 1862: “If active operations are under taken in the spring, an Ammunition train of three times the present size (55 wagons) will be necessary…”

Item description: Letter, 14 January 1862, from Edward Porter Alexander to Gen. P.G.T. Beauregard. Alexander reports on “deficiencies and defects in the Engineer and Ordnance Departments” of the Army of the Potomac (CSA). [Transcription available below images.] Item citation: From … Continue reading

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24 October 1861: “…I wish to buy twenty-two large, young and active Horses for the above service.”

Item description: An advertisement, published in The Daily Journal of Wilmington, North Carolina, on 24 October 1861, in which Captain Samuel R. Bunting seeks to purchase horses for the use of the Wilmington Horse Artillery. Item citation: “Having been appointed … Continue reading

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29 September 1861: “All battery & cavalry horses when not on expeditions will be grazed as much as practicable.”

Item description: General Orders No. 58, dated 29 September 1861, conferring command to Major James B. Walton (1813–1885). The second portion of the order gives instructions for grazing military horses. Item citation: From folder 18 of the Boykin Family Papers (#78), … Continue reading

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29 June 1861: “Delay is worth ten times as much to us as to them…for delay alone can conquer them by bankrupting them nationally & individually at a rapid rate…”

Item description: Letter, 29 June 1861, from Edward Porter Alexander to his wife Bettie. In the letter Alexander describes his new role leading five artillery batteries, and discusses the effect that delays in between battles have on each side (claiming … Continue reading

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