This Week in Georgia Civil War History

 

Nov. 17, 1861

Nov. 18, 1861

Nov. 19, 1861

Nov. 20, 1861

Nov. 21, 1861

Nov. 22, 1861

Nov. 23, 1861

Nov. 17, 1861: The Daily Federal Union of Milledgeville reprinted an article from a Charleston, SC newspaper on the defenses being prepared against the Northern forces who had occupied Port Royal. Savannah, Georgia and Robert E. Lee were mentioned in the report.

The same newspaper also announced the representatives to the Confederate Congress chosen in the recent elections.

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Nov. 18, 1861: The Richmond Times Dispatch printed a report on the death of a Georgia soldier - and former U.S. District Attorney - not from battle, but from disease.

Captain Hamilton Cooper, of the Savannah Outlet hope Light Infantry, and for many years United States District Attorney for Georgia, died at Centreville, Virginia, on the 9th instant, of typhoid fever.

The same newspaper also printed a list of Confederate prisoners being held in Washington; eleven of them were Georgians.

There were several enlistments in the 3rd Battalion State Troops Regiment from Henry, Pike, and Carroll Counties on this day.

Staying at a hotel in Washington, Julia Ward Howe awoke with verses of a song running through her head - she quickly wrote them down - beginning with "Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory..." Of course this song would become the Battle Hymn of the Republic.

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Nov. 19, 1861: Georgia Governor Joseph E. Brown wrote a detailed letter to the Georgia Senate - in this letter can be seen the beginnings of the many disagreements he would have with the Confederate government as the war progressed. See November 22 for text of letter.

The Southern Recorder of Milledgeville editorialized on the sermon delivered by Henry H. Tucker on November 15 - a day of fasting and prayer.

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Nov. 20, 1861: The Daily Federal Union, in an editorial entitled "The Calm Before the Storm," warned of the fighting that would be necessary to defend Georgia from invaders then off the coast.

Ironically, on another page of the same newspaper, there was a report on General Leonidas Polk, who had been injured in the fighting in Kentucky. When the real invasion of Georgia began, from the north instead of the coast, General Polk would be one of the casualties.

Most observers - both in the North and South - thought the Civil War would be short; each side was confident of a quick victory. It soon became apparent that was not the case, and on this day the Southern Watchman of Athens acknowledged that fact - and implored its readers to all do their part in helping the "cause."

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Nov. 21, 1861: The Daily Federal Union printed a report from Savannah on the movement of the Union forces at Port Royal, and the preparations Southern forces were making for them. Again, Robert E. Lee was mentioned; had been in Savannah and was traveling to Brunswick.

Most people, on both sides of the war, had confidently expected it be short, naturally with their side winning. On this day the Daily Federal Union, while still confident of victory, correctly predicted that the war was likely to be long and bloody.

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Nov. 22, 1861: In a letter to the Georgia Senate published in the Daily Federal Union, Governor Joseph E. Brown detailed what he had done personally to try and assure sufficient defenses for Georgia's coast. This letter shows the beginnings of the conflicts Governor Brown would increasingly have with the Confederate government.

Meanwhile a Columbus father recorded in his journal that he wished his sons could be helping to defend the coast, instead of being stationed in Virginia.

"The war is still progressing with increased vigor. Since I last made a note many battles have been fought and most of them terminating in favor of the Confederacy. The Yankees have taken Port Royal, South Carolina, and Beaufort. Have a formidable armada on our coast and preparing for descending the Mississippi river from Cairo. A fatal battle just occurred at Columbus, Ky. Our side victorious. Great excitement there and at Memphis a renewal anticipated. If the Federals should prove successful, it is thought Memphis will be their next point of attack. "Watkins and Eugene [two of his seven sons that would fight for the Confederacy] still near Manassas and some talk of their being ordered, with Toombs brigade, to the Southern coast, which I desire. At this time the prospects are gloomy and no green spot ahead. "General Toombs and Ben Hill just elected senators to the Confederate Congress, which shows a healthy state in our Legislature. Ganey is elected senator from Alabama, though not returned from England, where he is our Minister. "Just heard the fighting is now going on at Pensacola." Source: John Banks, Autobiography of John Banks, 1797 - 1870 (Austell, Ga.: privately printed by Elberta Leonard, 1936), pp. 24-25.

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Nov. 23, 1861: The Daily Federal Union printed the opening address of Confederate President Jefferson Davis to the Confederate Congress.

This week's edition of Harper's Weekly had a War Songs page, including "Dixie."

Images Courtesy of Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library / University of Georgia Libraries

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This Week in Georgia Civil War History Table of Contents

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