Terry: The officer was Ulrich Dahlgren, son of the famous Swedish designer. Sorry, but don't know the name of the book. Sounds like you got the basic gist of the story, though. Someone will know it. Ole
Check out the book "The Dahlgren Affair" by Duane Schultz
Calicoboy
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My dear mother:- I have come safely through two more terrible engagements with the enemy, that at South Mountain and the great battle of yesterday (Antietam). Our splendid regiment is almost destroyed. We have had nearly 400 men killed and wounded in the battles. Seven of our officers were shot and three killed in yesterday's battle and nearly 150 men killed and wounded. All from less than 300 engaged. The men have stood like iron....Maj. Rufus Dawes, 6th Wisconsin Volunteers
I am not as knowledgable as as many of you when it comes to the Politics of the nineteeth century, but I'm sure that there must have been a fair share of dirty dealings and coverups,etc. Not much has changed has it? Therefore my vote goes to the Eisenschiml theory.
Maybe there is some truth to the thought that Lincoln assasination was actually a plot by Stanton with help from Baker. In 1937, Otto published his book called "Why was Lincoln murdered?" In it he advanced the theory that Edwin Stanton, hiding behind a mask of loyalty, conspired to murder the president and then facilitate the escape of Booth and his coharts, at the same time laying the blame on Davis and the Confederacy.
At about the same time Lincoln was shot was not an attempt made on the life of Seward? Grant and his wife were apparently also on the hit list as they were supposed to accompany Lincoln to Fords that same evening, but had made a change of plans and were on a train to New Jersey.
Seems to me the loss of Lincoln, while considerable, was no greater than the loss of a few hundred thousand other individuals in this perhaps needless conflict. I'll bet any of the others killed would confirm my suspicion.
Seems to me the loss of Lincoln, while considerable, was no greater than the loss of a few hundred thousand other individuals in this perhaps needless conflict. I'll bet any of the others killed would confirm my suspicion.
The loss of so much manpower was inarguably tragic and would have its effect on subsequent generations. The loss of Lincoln, however, gave the former confederacy a virtually friendless atmosphere in which to rebuild -- affecting the area, as some would claim, even today. Ole
__________________ I never knew a man who wished to be himself a slave. Consider if you know any good thing that no man desires for himself. A. Lincoln
Larry and Ole, I agree with both of you in the evaluation of the tremendous human cost of the war, the 620,000, and Abe Lincoln. I have to agree with Ole that had Lincoln been alive during reconstruction things would have gone a bit easier for the South, and the dramatic polarization that exists even today, would be, I think, somewhat less strident.
In the end I think Booth did a tremendous disservice to the South, and though nobody really knows his motives for certain, I believe he shot Lincoln solely for the fame, or infamy, that would be attributed to him for generations to come. I think the "spotlight" was his driving motivation, and what better way to place himself in that spotlight, than to shoot the president?
For all you conspiracy fans, there is a new book coming out March 15, titled "Abraham Lincoln's Execution".
This book apparently does not strictly adhere to the 'Radical Republican' theory as it it posits that Andrew (I'm a Democrat) Johnson was in on the plot.
The author is one John Chandler Griffin, who's previous works mostly are about Southern college football teams.
A description from Amazon:
"The author argues that Lincoln’s very lenient Reconstruction policies for the South led to a conspiracy by Edwin Stanton, secretary of war, Andrew Johnson, vice-president, and high-ranking radical members of Congress to order his "execution."
They were motivated by a desire for power but they also opposed Lincoln’s recently announced program of amnesty for the South. The author presents compelling evidence that Booth was not shot down but in fact escaped, thanks to his collaboration with Johnson and Stanton."
Buyer beware!
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"It was a very peculiar time." - Franklin D. Cossitt
Ancestors in USA Army: 6th IA Inf, 11th IL Cav, 1st AL Cav; 122nd NY Inf; 6th MI Cav; 35th MA Inf; 100th IL Inf; 1st CO Inf/Cav; 22nd IN Inf
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