Spectators?

[Pollaco]

Fort Sumter was watched from rooftops. Thousands of civilians came out to watch the battle at 1st Manassas. Some town sites like Sharpsburg, Fredricksburg, Gettysburg, Atlanta,even Washington DC.to name a few couldn't help but view the sights and sounds (and smells) of a Civil War battle. It was literally at their doorsteps. Even some Naval Battles had their audience.Alot of battles had spectators but were large crowds ever present at battles other than Bull Run? I'm not referring to nearby towns, they were a "captive audience".I'm talking about people who voluntarily rode out to view a battle.

 

[TerryB]

Not a lot of info, but I do remember that French citizens were said to have turned out to watch the Alabama vs the Kearsarge.

 

[Fairfield]

Fort Sumter was watched from rooftops. Thousands of civilians came out to watch the battle at 1st Manassas. Some town sites like Sharpsburg, Fredricksburg, Gettysburg, Atlanta,even Washington DC.to name a few couldn't help but view the sights and sounds (and smells) of a Civil War battle. It was literally at their doorsteps. Even some Naval Battles had their audience.Alot of battles had spectators but were large crowds ever present at battles other than Bull Run? I'm not referring to nearby towns, they were a "captive audience".I'm talking about people who voluntarily rode out to view a battle.

There must have been spectators at the Battle of Portland because many of Portland's citizens hopped in a ship and chased the Confederates.

 

[Pollaco]

There must have been spectators at the Battle of Portland because many of Portland's citizens hopped in a ship and chased the Confederates.

I'm not familiar with that battle, where is this particular Portland located? I know numerous states have a "Portland".

 

[Fairfield]

I'm not familiar with that battle, where is this particular Portland located? I know numerous states have a "Portland".

THE Portland: Portland, Maine. In June of 1863, Charles Read (CSN) & crew captured a Maine fishing boat and, under that disguise, slipped into Portland Harbor where the Confederates seized the Caleb Cushing. Alerted by the public, the military (accompanied by some 100 civilians) gave chase. The Forest City (whose civilian "crew" included the Mayor of Portland) actually caught up with--and torched--the Caleb Cushing; the Confederates were made prisoners of war.

 

[Pollaco]

That is a good example. The 100+ at Portland is what I'm talking about. There probably weren't too many battles that didn't have a handful of viewers. A crowd is more of what I was referring to.

 

[major bill]

Were there crowds watching Trans Mississippi battles?

 

[Pollaco]

I'm sure alot of battles, regardless of the theater, had a small audience. But did they travel out to the battlefield?