Unwritten Subjects

[Whitfield's Legion]

I am going on a road trip soon and want to write to pass the time. What are interesting parts of the war that are still largely unwritten?

 

[danny]

What's that? In history class, we learned Robert E. Lee bombed Fort Sumter and then surrendered to Grant at Apple Court House.

That's Florida State for you!

 

[Josh The Lighthouse Guy]

I had an idea to do a study on Maryland in 1861.

A book came out a year or so ago on the subject. Which I might have read if not for a long argument with the author suggested dubious conclusions about Lincoln, in 1861, being ready to indiscriminately bomb civilians.

 

[tony_gunter]

Nobody's ever written a biography on Secretary of the Army Lorenzo Thomas, the red-headed stepchild of High Command.

 

[Josh The Lighthouse Guy]

Nobody's ever written a biography on Secretary of the Army Lorenzo Thomas, the red-headed stepchild of High Command.

Adjutant General of the Army. Though he was briefly Secretary of War during Andrew Johnson's administration. He was also Winfield Scott's last chief of staff (1853-1861).

His predecessor as Adjutant General? Samuel Cooper, who took the same role with the Confederate Army, and seems to have been deliberately sidelined by Jeff Davis for most of the war.

A dual biography of Thomas and Cooper might be worthwhile. They were only six years apart in age. Cooper was born in Virginia; Thomas was born in Delaware. Both were West Pointers, but neither did very well - Thomas in the middle of his class and Cooper near the bottom.

 

[damYankee]

The parallel careers of Union Gen. George Sears Greene (May 6, 1801 – January 28, 1899)
and Confederate Col. Isaac Williams Smith (1826-1897) would make for a good read, both were engineers, both served in the war, on opposite sides, and both were railroad engineers, both designed advanced drinking water systems and civic utilities systems that are still in use today.
Smith is the lesser known of the two, here is a short biography of Col. Smith

Isaac W. Smith (surveyor) - Reference.org

reference.org

Here is Gen. Greene's

George Greene was a Civil War General and Civil Engineer

George Greene was a Civil Engineer and Civil War General notable for his successful defense of Culp's hill during the Battle of Gettysburg.

civilwarintheeast.com

 

[General Casey]

Nobody's ever written a biography on Secretary of the Army Lorenzo Thomas, the red-headed stepchild of High Command.

Actually Michael Eggleston wrote President Lincoln's Recruiter: General Lorenzo Thomas and the United States Colored Troops in the Civil War which was published by McFarland in 2013

 

[35th MA InfRegt]

Actually Michael Eggleston wrote President Lincoln's Recruiter: General Lorenzo Thomas and the United States Colored Troops in the Civil War which was published by McFarland in 2013

My local university has a copy. Maybe I ought to get around to reading it one of these days.

 

[General Casey]

My local university has a copy. Maybe I ought to get around to reading it one of these days.

Report back and let me know what you think. I haven't read it nor do I know much about the author.

 

[CdubeJr87]

I am going on a road trip soon and want to write to pass the time. What are interesting parts of the war that are still largely unwritten?

The March 18, 1864 Battle of Laredo, Texas

 

[7th Texas Mounted Rifles]

Port Hudson, for sure.

Galveston too.

I'd love to see more published on Texas frontier defense during the war, too.

 

[James Brenner]

Do the personal papers of Lorenzo Thomas exist? The reason I ask is because several years ago, a friend of mine explored the feasibility of doing his dissertation on him, but came up empty in terms of primary sources.

 

[gary]

Port Hudson, for sure.

Galveston too.

I'd love to see more published on Texas frontier defense during the war, too.

My book on Port Hudson is being released in October.

Over 60k words, much of it firsthand acccounts slashed by the editor.

My vote is for Gavleston. It was basically a Navy operations with at least three companies of 42nd Massachusetts Infantry along for the ride. They were captured and paroled. A victory for Prince John Magruder!

 

[delta rifles]

It is the Battle of Baton Rouge for me. Although a small engagement....it has everything: John C Breckinridge, a surprise Confederate morning attack after a long and arduous march--in the August heat of Louisiana, components of the Orphan Brigade, fighting in city limits/in a cemetery, major confederate success early on, the death of a reviled commander within the Union army- General Thomas Williams, a last stand by federal soldiers, a friendly-fire incident among Union soldiers that caused a deep and longstanding mistrust between the New Englanders and the Westerners within what would become the XIX Corps, a failed joint operation between the Confederate army and navy, the destruction of the CSS Arkansas, the death of Mary Todd Lincoln's brother who was fighting for the Confederacy, and the temporary federal evacuation of the city after a victory...to name a few.

It also set the tone for future operations in Southern Louisiana for the next few years.

There is only one book dedicated to the subject to my knowledge (Billy Spedale's Battle of Baton Rouge), but it is hardly a scholarly study of the battle. I do not the fix that one day...when I have the time.

 

[Josh The Lighthouse Guy]

My vote is for Gavleston. It was basically a Navy operations with at least three companies of 42nd Massachusetts Infantry along for the ride. They were captured and paroled. A victory for Prince John Magruder!

Galveston is also a larger story than just Magruder's clever retaking of it. What was life like for the residents under Union occupation? Were there collaborators who were punished after the recapture? Did the Union ever make plans to capture it a second time? Was there blockade running after the recapture?

 

[gary]

Suggested reading on Baton Rouge:

Modern books b/c these units were present and were relevant to my own research:
Eric Faust's

The 6th Michigan Volunteer Infantry in the Civil War: A History and Roster

Philip Faller's

The Indiana Jackass Regiment in the Civil War: A History of the 21st Infantry / 1st Heavy Artillery Regiment, with a Roster

Michael Martin's

A History of the 4th Wisconsin Infantry and Cavalry in the American Civil War

There were other Union units of course but you'll have to find their regimental histories if any.

 

[7th Texas Mounted Rifles]

My book on Port Hudson is being released in October.

Over 60k words, much of it firsthand acccounts slashed by the editor.

My vote is for Gavleston. It was basically a Navy operations with at least three companies of 42nd Massachusetts Infantry along for the ride. They were captured and paroled. A victory for Prince John Magruder!

I submitted Port Hudson photos for your book, yes sir - looking forward to reading it.

A study of Galveston would be phenomenal - I'd enjoy seeing what would come up personal account/source-wise regarding the 'landside operations' of those involved.

 

[gary]

We're root'n for you DeltaRifles.

 

[CdubeJr87]

There is only one book dedicated to the subject to my knowledge

Have you read Thomas Richey's book?

 

[delta rifles]

Have you read Thomas Richey's book?
View attachment 585646

I have not unfortunately. I've never been able to get my hands on a copy, but I will continue to try.