#americancivilwar

[whencyclopedia]

Webster-Hayne Debate

The Webster-Hayne debate was a series of back-and-forth speeches between Senator Daniel Webster of Massachusetts and Senator Robert Y. Hayne of South Carolina in January 1830. What started as a debate over the sale of western lands blossomed into an argument over the nature of the American Union itself, anticipating the Nullification Crisis and, indeed, the American Civil War.

Background: Sectional Rivalries

By the close of the 1820s, the United States had become increasingly divided along sectional lines. The American South, a largely agrarian society driven by slave labor, often found itself at odds with the industrializing North; gone were the days of political calmness and stability that had marked the 'Era of Good Feelings' (c. 1815-1825), with debates like the one surrounding the Missouri Compromise drawing the line between the 'free' states of the North and the 'slave' states of the South. In late 1828, the main point of contention was the implementation of the Tarriff of 1828 – better known as the 'Tarriff of Abominations' – that had been signed by John Quincy Adams in the waning months of his presidency. This was a protective tariff designed to help bolster Northern industries by placing fresh duties on European competitors. These European nations placed retaliatory tariffs on several American goods, including cotton, the staple crop of the South. Many Southerners, therefore, saw this tariff as helping Northern industrialists while suffocating their own economy. Because of the tariff, Adams quickly became the most hated man in the South, contributing to his 1828 election loss to Andrew Jackson.

One of the leading opponents of the tariff was John C. Calhoun, who had served as Adams' vice president and was now set to hold that same office under Jackson. Although he had been a staunch nationalist earlier in his career, Calhoun had since made a sharp heel turn to become a fierce advocate for states' rights. One of these rights, he argued, was that of nullification, which referred to the ability of a state to 'nullify' a federal law it believed to be unjust, until such a time as that law became enshrined in the Constitution. In his 35,000-word, anonymously written pamphlet on the topic of the 'Tarriff of Abominations', Calhoun stated that the tariff was "unconstitutional, unequal, and oppressive; calculated to corrupt the public morals and to destroy the liberty of the country" (quoted in nps.org). His answer, of course, was nullification; states, like his native South Carolina, should be able to hold conventions, in which they could vote to nullify federal acts such as this tariff. The idea was foreboding to many Unionists (like Jackson himself) who feared nullification to be the first step toward secession and, ultimately, the collapse of the Union. In December 1829, as Congress convened for the first time since Jackson's inauguration, the question laid heavy on their minds and would soon lead to one of the most dramatic and eloquent series of debates the Senate had yet witnessed.

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The Bone Pile Series, a trilogy book about Civil War, explores the mindsets of Yankee and Confederate participants through the eyes of James Hanger and Halbert Paine, highlighting the horrors of slavery, battlefield injuries, and the nation's resilience.

Grab a copy now at https://www.sharontranerbooks.com/ to learn more about the American Civil War.

[colorizedpast]

Rear Admiral David Dixon Porter (USN)

David Dixon Porter was born in Chester, Pennsylvania on 8 June 1813.  His family had strong naval traditions; his grandfather David and great-uncle Samuel had been captains of Massachusetts vessels during the American Revolutionary War; his father David and his uncle John served with distinction in the U.S. Navy during the War of 1812.  His father achieved the rank of commodore.

Porter had nine siblings, five brothers.  His youngest brother died aged ten, but the surviving five boys all became U.S. military officers, four in the Navy: William, David, Hambleton, and Henry in the Navy and Theodoric in the Army where he was was killed at Matamoros during the Mexican-American War.  David’s cousin Fitz John Porter became a major general during the Civil War.  Another cousin, Bolton Porter, was lost with his ship USS Levant in 1861.  Another cousin, David Henry Porter, became a captain in the Mexican Navy during its fight for independence.

Before David Dixon was born, his parents adopted James Glasgow Farragut, whose mother had died in 1808 and whose father George, fellow naval officer and friend of David Sr., was unable to care for all his children.  In 1811, James, aged 10, started serving as a midshipman under Porter and changed his name to David as well.  David G. Farragut would serve with distinction during the Civil War and become the first man to attain the new rank of admiral in the U.S. Navy.

In 1824, Porter’s father resigned from the U.S. Navy and became the commander of Mexico’s navy.  He took with him into Mexican service his nephew David Henry and his sons David Dixon and Thomas.  On 10 February 1828, David Dixon and his cousin Captain David Henry Porter were involved in a fight against a Spanish frigate Lealtad.  Captain Porter was killed with many of his crew and midshipman David Dixon was wounded and imprisoned in Havana.  Once exchanged, his father sent Dixon back to the United States.

In 1829, Porter officially joined the U.S. Navy as a midshipman and slowly climbed the ranks serving in the Coast Survey and the Hydrographic Office.  In 1846, he was dispatched by Secretary of State James Buchanan to investigate the suitability of the Republic of Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic) for U.S. naval operations.  When he reestablished communications and delivered the information the State Department wanted, he found that the U.S. had gone to war with Mexico.

Mexico having very little naval power, the war presented few opportunities for distinction for a naval officer.  On 13 June 1847, Commodore Matthew C. Perry mounted an expedition to capture the interior town of Tabasco.  Porter led a charge to capture the fort defending the city and was rewarded with the captaincy of the Spitfire.

At the break of the Civil War, he was part of a plan to hold Fort Pickens, Pensacola, Florida.  This plan’s execution disrupted efforts to relieve the garrison at Fort Sumter, however.  In April 1862, Porter commanded a semi-autonomous part of the West Gulf Blockading Squadron, commanded by his adoptive brother Captain David G. Farragut, bombarding with twenty mortar boats Fort Jackson and Fort St. Philip south of New Orleans.  The bombardment was ineffective, and Farragut chose to run past the forts.  Successfully bypassing the forts, Farragut demanded the surrender of New Orleans on 29 April.  When Porter began to bombard Fort Jackson again, its garrison mutinied and forced its surrender and Fort St. Philip followed suit on 28 April.

Farragut and Porter continued up the Mississippi River to Vicksburg.  Porter’s mortars suppressed Rebel artillery while Farragut’s ships linked up with a flotilla coming down from the north.  However, without army support, the Vicksburg could not be taken.  In July, Porter and Farragut were ordered east to assist in Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan’s Peninsula Campaign.

In October, Porter returned to Cairo, Illinois to take command, as an “acting” rear admiral having skipped the captain and commodore ranks, the Mississippi River Squadron.  Porter met the Army generals he would work closely with to open the Mississippi and capture Vicksburg.  He became fast friends with Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman, disliked Maj. Gen. John A. McClernand, and developed a professional friendship with Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant.

On 16 April 1863, Porter moved the bulk of his fleet south past the batteries at Vicksburg.  On 22 April, another run provided Grant with the transport he needed to cross his army from the west bank of the Mississippi to the east south of Vicksburg.  Grant initially attempted to attack through Grand Gulf, but Porter could only silence one of the two forts guarding it.  His fleet played a secondary role throughout the rest of the campaign, blockading Vicksburg and controlling the Mississippi and Yazoo Rivers.  On 4 July, Vicksburg fell, and Porter was made a permanent rear admiral.

In March 1864, Porter participated in Maj. Gen. Nathaniel P. Banks’ Red River Expedition.  Cooperation between Banks and Porter was lacking and Confederate Maj. Gen. Richard Taylor was able to keep them separated.  Banks gave up on the expedition and Porter had the difficult task of extricating his fleet.

In late 1864 into early 1865, Porter took command of the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron to assist in the attack on Fort Fisher protecting Wilmington, North Carolina, the only Confederate port still open.  Maj. Gen. Benjamin F. Butler proposed flattening the fort by exploding a ship filled with gunpowder near it.  Porter agreed and the USS Louisiana was packed with powder and blown up on 24 December 1864 with little effect on the fort.  Butler gave up on the planned assault.

Porter went to Grant and demanded Butler be removed.  Grant agreed and placed Maj. Gen. Alfred H. Terry in charge of a second assault on the fort.  The second assault began on 13 January and by the 15th the fort was vanquished.

Porter accompanied President Lincoln on a tour of the capture Confederate capital of Richmond in April 1865.  Only days later, Lincoln was assassinated, and Porter was greatly upset by the news even feeling some responsibility for his death by not being with him that night.

Following the war, the U.S. Navy was downsized, and Porter was left with little to command.  Secretary of the Navy Gideon Welles appointed him Superintendent of the Naval Academy.  Porter set about making the underfunded academy the rival of the Military Academy at West Point.

Porter gained a high level of influence under Grant’s Secretary of the Navy Adolph E. Borie, a businessman with no knowledge of the navy, and began to shape the navy as he wanted it.  He made several enemies and after three months, Borie resigned, and the new navy secretary, George Robeson, curtailed Porter’s powers.

Porter was the second ever U.S. Navy admiral, elevated to that rank after his adopted brother David G. Farragut’s death in 1870.  He was allowed to remain on active duty after reaching the mandatory retirement age of 62 in 1875.  He died at the age of 77 on 13 February 1891, having served on active duty in the U.S. Navy for 62 years.

[handembroideryuk]

American Civil War ACW Infantry Officers Gold Braided Horn Kepi Badge

 A Symbol of Honor and History

The American Civil War Infantry Officers Gold Braided Horn Kepi Badge represents more than military insignia; it stands as an iconic symbol of courage, leadership and history. Worn by infantry officers during the American Civil War, its wear represents their bravery and dedication while serving our country. At Hand Embroidered UK we specialize in creating historically accurate badges which honor this legacy; in this blog post we'll look into its significance today and its continued inspiration of all.

What is the ACW Infantry Officers Gold Braided Horn Kepi Badge?

The ACW Infantry Officers Gold Braided Horn Kepi Badge was worn to symbolize an officer's rank and role within an infantry unit during the American Civil War. This badge featured an ornamental gold braided horn as its centerpiece - its symbol being that it signified infantry units themselves. Officers often donned it for signifying rank within infantry units.

This badge represents more than mere metal: It represents leadership, honor and the sacrifices made by soldiers during one of America's defining periods in its history.

The History of the Kepi Badge

The American Civil War (1861-1865) was an eventful time in American history. A French-inspired military cap known as a Kepi became part of both Union and Confederate uniforms during this era; infantry officers' Kepi badges with gold braided horns helped identify their officers as units within larger armies.

The Horn symbol dates back to ancient times and symbolized both strength and communication. During the American Civil War, however, its use became emblematic of infantry divisions, symbolizing  foot soldiers during battle. Furthermore, gold braiding added an elegant flourish, reflecting officers' status.

Why is the ACW Infantry Officers Kepi Badge Important?

The ACW Infantry Officers Gold Braided Horn Kepi Badge holds great significance for several reasons:

Leader Symbolism: Officer badges were an easy way of identifying officers as leaders during wartime and their unique contributions in leading troops forward.

Historical Significance: It commemorates the courage and sacrifices made by American Civil War soldiers.

Cultural Heritage: This badge commemorates a key point in American history while honoring those who served.

Collector Item: These badges have become sought-after possessions among historians, collectors and reenactment actors who wish to remember this period in history.

Features of the ACW Infantry Officers Kepi Badge

The ACW Infantry Officers Gold Braided Horn Kepi Badge is designed to be both functional and symbolic. Here are some of its key features:

Gold Braiding: Gold braiding adds an elegant touch and signifies the officer's rank.

Horn Symbolism: The Horn symbolizes infantry troops and their role in battle.

Durability: Crafted of high-grade materials, the badge has been constructed to last through years of wear.

Historical Accuracy: This design is inspired by original Civil War badges to ensure their authenticity and ensures its historical accuracy.

Why Choose Hand Embroidered UK for Your ACW Kepi Badge?

At Hand Embroidered UK, we are passionate about creating historically accurate and beautifully crafted military badges. Here’s why we are the trusted choice for historians, collectors, and reenactors:

Craftsmanship of Unsurpassed Quality: Each badge in our inventory has been lovingly hand-made to replicate original Civil War badge designs.

Premium Materials: At our facility, we use only high-grade materials to guarantee durability and authenticity of each project.

Customization: No matter the design or size specifications that meet your unique requirements, our services can be customized to suit them.

Commitment to Excellence: Every badge we produce embodies our dedication to preserving history and honoring those who served, as evidenced in each badge we create.

How We Create the Perfect ACW Kepi Badge

Creating an ACW Infantry Officers Gold Braided Horn Kepi Badge requires skill, precision, and attention to detail. Here’s how we do it at Hand Embroidered UK:

Research: At our facility, we examine historical records and badges to guarantee their authenticity and ensure accuracy in every project we complete.

Design: Our designers create badge designs to mirror those found on original Civil War-era badges.

Crafting: Our badges are meticulously handmade from only high-grade materials with precision and care.

Quality Check: Each badge undergoes rigorous quality assurance testing to meet our stringent quality control standards.

Delivery: Our dedicated delivery service ensures your badge arrives on time, ready for display or wear.

Explore Our ACW Kepi Badge Collection

At Hand Embroidered UK, we take great pleasure in crafting badges to commemorate the history and legacy of America's Civil War. Discover our exclusive selection by visiting our website: Hand Embroidered UK

Why the ACW Kepi Badge Matters

The ACW Infantry Officers Gold Braided Horn Kepi Badge stands as more than just history--it symbolizes courage, leadership, and sacrifice as it serves to remember those who served during the American Civil War and their lasting legacies.

Celebrate History with Hand Embroidered UK

No matter if you are an historian, collector, reenactor or simply curious to honor the American Civil War legacy, our ACW Infantry Officers Kepi Badges are designed with you in mind. Please visit Hand Embroidered UK to view all our historical military badges!

For inquiries and assistance, feel free to get in touch. You can email us at hello@handembroideryuk.co.uk, or give us a call on +44(0)20350002466 for a quick response time.

Final Thoughts

Hand Embroidered UK has made our mission to preserve this history and inspire future generations a priority, creating ACW Infantry Officers Gold Braided Horn Kepi Badges that symbolize honor and history through time.

Visit Hand Embroidered UK now, and let us help you commemorate the history of the American Civil War with our unique Kepi Badges.

[inspire-by-art]

ABRAHAM LINCOLN 🗽 Eccentric LIFE | FUN & Unusual FACTS 🔥

[beckwith98]

Precious (“In His Sight”)

The novel, “Precious” (In His Sight), tells of the myriad, life-altering U.S. Government-sanctioned and implemented, changes…, societal (1864 – 1887), events, that followed, the conclusion of the American Civil War, that shaped the “Re-United States of America”…

ReadMore: https://www.booksbymarvinblake2.com/precious/

[n5701-inc]

Abraham Lincoln's Election: The Prelude to America's Civil War

The year was 1860, and the United States was a nation on the brink of change. In the midst of political turmoil and mounting tensions, Abraham Lincoln’s election as the 16th President of the United States became the catalyst for one of the most significant events in American history – the American Civil War. In this article, we’ll delve into the circumstances surrounding Lincoln’s election, the…

[actiontourguide]

Embark on a self-guided driving tour through the hallowed grounds of Antietam National Battlefield, a pivotal site in the American Civil War. This immersive tour offers a profound glimpse into a critical chapter of American history amidst the serene landscape of Sharpsburg, Maryland.

[whencyclopedia]

George Armstrong Custer

George Armstrong Custer (l. 1839-1876) was an officer in the US Army, serving in the cavalry from 1861 to 1865 during the American Civil War and the wars against the Plains Indians 1866-1876. Although he became a widely recognized hero during the Civil War, he is best remembered for his death at the Battle of the Little Bighorn.

Custer established a reputation for recklessness, courage, and self-promotion early in the Civil War and, by 1863, after the Battle of Gettysburg, was a national hero. He blocked the retreat of General Robert E. Lee (l. 1807-1870) in April 1865 and was present at Appomattox Court House when Lee surrendered to General Ulysses S. Grant (l. 1822-1885). After the war, he oversaw Reconstruction in Texas before taking command of the newly formed 7th Cavalry in campaigns against the Native Americans of the West.

He led his troops against the Cheyenne people at the Washita Massacre/Battle of the Washita River in November 1868 and, ignoring the terms of the Treaty of Fort Laramie of 1868, marched his troops into the Black Hills in 1874 where he discovered gold. News of this discovery soon brought more settlers and miners into Sioux and Cheyenne territory, igniting the Great Sioux War of 1876-1877. At the Battle of the Little Bighorn (25-26 June 1876) Custer and his men were slaughtered by Arapaho, Cheyenne, and Sioux warriors under chief Sitting Bull (l. c. 1837-1890). Afterwards, thanks in large part to the efforts of his wife, Elizabeth Bacon "Libbie" Custer (l. 1842-1933), George Armstrong Custer came to be regarded as a great American hero.

His legacy and reputation held until shortly before the Second World War (1939-45) when scholars began challenging the traditional narrative. Today, Custer is a controversial figure, often condemned for his brutality and ruthlessness. Although Custer should certainly be held accountable for his actions, it must also be recognized that he was primarily advancing the genocidal policies of his government which saw the American Indian as an obstacle to progress, civilization, and Manifest Destiny.

Early Years & West Point

George Armstrong Custer was born on 5 December 1839 in New Rumley, Ohio, to Emanuel Henry Custer, a blacksmith, and his second wife, Marie Ward Kirkpatrick. He was named after a minister as his mother hoped this would encourage him to follow that path. He had three older half-siblings from his mother's first marriage and four full siblings, including Thomas and Boston, who would also join the military and die with him in battle.

He was sent to live with his older half-sister and her family in Monroe, Michigan, to attend school and met the girl who would one day become his wife, Elizabeth Clift Bacon. After graduating, he moved to Hopedale, Ohio, and enrolled at the Hopedale Normal College, pursuing a teaching degree. He began his teaching career in Cadiz, Ohio, in 1856 and boarded at the home of the Holland family, where he fell in love with the daughter, Mary Jane Holland. He hoped to marry her but found little opportunity for advancement in Ohio, so he decided to change careers and apply to West Point Military Academy. Scholar Nathaniel Philbrick comments:

He'd been a seventeen-year-old schoolteacher back in Ohio when he applied to his local congressman for an appointment to West Point. Since Custer was a Democrat and the congressman was a Republican, his chances seemed slim at best. However, Custer had fallen in love with a local girl, whose father, hoping to get Custer as far away from his daughter as possible, appears to have done everything he could to persuade the congressman to send the schoolteacher with a roving eye to West Point.

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Custer entered West Point in July 1857 and, before the end of his first session, had earned 27 demerits. By graduation, he had been given more demerits than any of the other cadets in his class. After graduation in June 1861, he faced court martial for failing to break up a fight between cadets but was only reprimanded as the American Civil War was already underway. Many of Custer's classmates had left to fight for the Confederacy and the Union forces were in dire need of trained officers. Custer was commissioned a second lieutenant and sent to drill volunteers in Washington, D.C.

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The Bone Pile Series, a trilogy that is found on Sharon Traner's "Novelist" website and examines the American Civil War, explores the mindsets of Yankee and Confederate participants through the eyes of James Hanger and Halbert Paine. It highlights the human toll of slavery, battlefield injuries, and the deplorable condition of the citizenry, as well as the nation's tenacity to survive despite its self-induced alienation and destructiveness.

Uncover the untold stories of the Civil War and explore the resilience of a nation through powerful storytelling. Visit https://www.sharontranerbooks.com/ and join the journey today.

[colorizedpast]

Colonel William Root Brewster (USV) – 73rd New York Infantry Regiment

William Root Brewster was born on 27 July 1828 in Goshen, Connecticut.

When the Civil War broke out, Brewster was commissioned major of the 28th New York State Militia.  His unit did not see action at the First Battle of Bull Run.

Returning to New York, he helped recruit elements of the Excelsior Brigade under Daniel Sickles, becoming the colonel of the 73rd New York Infantry on 13 September 1861.  The recruits were mostly from the fire departments of New York and Brooklyn (on Brewster’s chest is a N.Y.F.D. 29th Company badge).

Brewster and his regiment participated in McClellan’s Peninsula Campaign of 1862.  At some point during the campaign, Brewster was captured by the South.  However, he was exchanged in August and led his regiment at the Battle of Fredericksburg.  He missed the Battle of Chancellorsville due to illness and upon returning to the Army of the Potomac, Brewster found himself in commander of the Excelsior Brigade in Brig. Gen. Andrew A. Humphrey’s division of Maj. Gen. Daniel Sickles’ III Corps.

On the second day of fighting at Gettysburg, Sickles advanced his corps out of line with the rest of the Army of the Potomac along Cemetery Ridge to the Peach Orchard.  Brewster’s brigade was out flanked by Confederate Maj. Gen. Lafayette McLaws’ division; Brewster had a horse shot from under him and his brigade lost 778 of the 1,837 men engaged in the day’s fight.

Falling ill again, Brewster made his way back to the front during the Mine Run Campaign in the autumn, reportedly inspiring his men by rising from his “sick bed” to the lead the Excelsiors during the campaign.  He retained command of the Excelsiors during Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant’s Overland Campaign of 1864.  The brigade was part of Brig. Gen. Gershom Mott’s Fourth Division, II Corps during the Battle of the Wilderness.  Remnants of the division were folded into Maj. Gen. David B. Birney’s third division before the Battle of Spotsylvania becoming the Fourth Brigade.  Brewster led these men at the Battle of Cold Harbor and in the initial operations of the Siege of Petersburg until 13 May 1864.

The Excelsior Brigade was abolished and the remnants moved to the First Brigade, Third Division, II Corps.  Brewster became senior colonel when Brig. Gen. Régis de Trobriand took command of the brigade.  On 24 October 1864, Brewster and the 73rd New York mustered out of service near Petersburg, Virginia, and returned to New York.  He was given the brevet rank of brigadier general on 2 December.

Brewster returned to civilian life in Brooklyn and was active in early reunions of the 73rd New York.  He died only five years later at the age of 41 on 13 December 1869.

[safecallnow]

What Military Action Started the American Civil War?

The Confederate forces fired Fort Sumter in South Carolina’s Charleston Harbor. After 34 hours of artillery fire exchange, Union forces surrendered without casualties.

Read more: https://www.safecallnow.org/what-military-action-started-the-american-civil-war/

[mrglitterati]

Juneteenth is a milestone toward racial equality and acknowledges the brutal history of slavery while celebrating African American resilience.

[bogdanmateias]

The Winner Takes It All

collage

43 x 30 cm

2023

[kobiamu58]

The American Civil War A Brief History I Tales and Treks