**Issue 5/2000**
-----------------HALT! WHO GOES THERE?-------------------------------------
On the morning of December 15, 1864, a relatively unknown Union colonel advanced his regiment of men against what appeared to be lightly held Confederate earthworks outside of Nashville, Tennessee. His orders were to take the enemy's rifle-pits and push forward to the rear of the Confederate main lines. Easily overrunning the fortifications, the Colonel and his men suddenly came to an abrupt halt. In their front lay a deeply cut railroad ravine in which the Nashville & Chattanooga ran. The sheer sides of the twenty-foot cut prevented the men from moving to the right or left. They were caught in a deadly trap, as General Granbury's Confederate brigade, less than thirty yards away, began raking their lines with canister and musket fire. Men in blue went down like tenpins, some jumping into the railroad cut to escape the devastating fire. But, Govan's Confederates swung across the mouth of the cut and began firing into the milling mass. Within ten minutes, the Union colonel's command had all but vanished. In less than that time, Colonel William R. Shafter had lost 110 men and 7 of his officers. Unlike many of his command, Shafter survived the Civil War to have an illustrious career in the regular U. S. Army, becoming a recipient of the Medal of Honor. But Colonel Shafter also became widely known by his nickname, as a colorful and legendary figure of the Wild West. Do you know his nickname? (The answer is found further down in the newsletter.)
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If you like challenging questions such as the one above, you'll want to play our weekly trivia contest. The more often you play the better your chances are to win a great prize, such as a recently released book, a Civil War CD-ROM from H-Bar Enterprises, or a Civil War game. Check out the trivia by following this link: http://www.ehistory.com/uscw/features/trivia/trivia.cfm.
-----------------------INTRODUCING eHistory.com----------------------------
Civil War enthusiasts hit the jackpot with the Internet's newest premier website at: www.ehistory.com. Five popular Civil War websites have joined forces to create the ultimate Civil War Community. Reenactors, researchers, students, historians, authors, preservationists or anyone with a casual interest in our nation's greatest conflict can now find it all in one place. eHistory.com offers firsthand accounts, reference sources, message boards, chat rooms, calendar of events, magazine articles, book reviews and much more. And the best part is there are no membership fees. A wealth of knowledge is just a mouse-click away at: http://www.eHistory.com.
----------------------A MESSAGE FROM THE EDITOR----------------------------
Greetings, and welcome to the first issue of "A Nation Divided," a monthly newsletter published by eHistory.com. As the editor, I plan to bring you exciting updates, late-breaking news and some very interesting reading on the American Civil War. Even though I'm as passionate about writing as I am about reading on this topic, I encourage my readers to participate as well. If you have a short personal story, a humorous quote, exciting news or something our readers might be interested in, feel free to email me at: alethea@ehistory.com and I'll try to include it in a future newsletter. I hope you'll enjoy this newsletter and pass it along to your friends. If you wish to unsubscribe, please see instructions at the end of the newsletter.
--Alethea Sayers
--------------------------QUOTE OF THE MONTH-------------------------------
"That I must have made mistakes, I cannot deny. I do not see any great blunders; but no one can judge of himself." -- General George B. McClellan
--------------------------CIVIL WAR BLUNDERS-------------------------------
*** The following is an excerpt taken from Clint Johnson's recently released book, entitled "Civil War Blunders," from the Chapter: "How Stovepipe Johnson Got His Name"
"...but the unsavory methods hardly came into play in the old-fashioned ruse Johnson pulled on July 18, 1862. He and twelve men crossed the Ohio River and moved on Newburgh, Indiana, a small town with a Union garrison. Johnson surprised the Federals by demanding their surrender. The Union commander asked Johnson what made him think they would surrender to a scraggly little ranger. Johnson turned and pointed to a nearby hill. There, looking down on the town, were two large cannons manned by the rest of Johnson's men. He told the Union officer that he was prepared to shell the town if the Federals did not surrender immediately. The Federals were only a small infantry detachment. They had no heavy guns to shell the Confederate position. The officer decided to comply. Johnson took all the Federals' arms and ammunition and departed Newburgh as quickly as he could. He left behind the two cannons that had intimidated the Federals into surrendering. They were really two lengths of stovepipe mounted on wagon wheels."
*Major Adam (Stovepipe) Rankin Johnson was credited, as a Scout for Nathan Bedford Forrest, in finding the escape route at Ft. Donelson in which Forrest's command would slip through. Promoted to brigadier general, Johnson was accidentally shot in the head by one of his own men in August of 1864. Blinded by the wound, Johnson still refused to resign from the Confederate army and lived to be eighty-eight years old. -- End
*** You'll find the review for "Civil War Blunders" and other books by following this link: http://www.ehistory.com/uscw/library/reviews/index.cfm.
------------------------CIVIL WAR GOES HI-TECH-----------------------------
Gettysburg College To Give High-tech eHistory Prize. Dubbed the "eLincoln Prize," the winner(s) of this annual award will be awarded $50,000.00, along with a sculpted bust of Abraham Lincoln. The award was established by the Lincoln and Soldiers Institute of Gettysburg, awarding the best web site, CD- ROM or other scholarly high-technology tool that explores the Civil War era. Deadline for submissions and other information can be found by following this link: http://www.ehistory.com/uscw/communities/colleges/newsletter/elincoln_prize cfm
----------------------------RESEARCH TIPS----------------------------------
The Official Records of the War of the Rebellion (OR's) is an invaluable research tool, which can be found in the Library section of eHistory.com, or by following this link: http://www.ehistory.com/uscw/library/or/index.cfm
For another research tool, see Regimental Histories, which can be found at: http://www.ehistory.com/uscw/features/regimental/index.cfm
----------------------- A SAD STATE OF AFFAIRS-----------------------------
RALEIGH, N. C., March 26, 1865. His Excellency the PRESIDENT, &c.:
"Mr. PRESIDENT: Since my note from near Smithfield a change has been made in my position. Finding myself with nothing but a small division in the field, and virtually ignored in regard to that and all other command, orders being constantly sent to my subordinates without notification to me, I asked and was allowed to turn over Hoke's division to him. I have retired to this point where I have nothing to do but mourn over the sad spectacle hourly presented of disorganization, demoralization, and destruction. The condition, Mr. President, cannot be exaggerated, and no language can paint it. All three corps of the Army of Tennessee are up, and our infantry now foots about as follows, effective: Hoke's command (Department of North Carolina) of Tennessee, 3,500, including reserves; Hardee, 5,000; Army of Tennessee, 3,500. About 5,000 stragglers from the latter are reported coming with S. D. Lee somewhere in the rear. The balance of the men are scattered over the States of North and South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi, living at free quarters on the people. It is a most sad and humiliating picture. Officers seem paralyzed, men indifferent to everything but plunder, and the people, as they well may, appear disgusted and dismayed. This state of things cannot last, and no one is so blind as not to see the inevitable result. A few days since, on the field, I passed poor Walthall -- noble soldier -- and inquired for his command. He pointed me to a small squad and said, "My division now numbers two brigadiers and sixty-three men for duty." His is a sample of the whole, and nothing better may be expected..."
*** The above is an excerpt of a letter written to Jefferson Davis from Braxton Bragg, which was taken from the Official Records of the War of the Rebellion. There are thousands of such correspondence and firsthand battle reports in the 28 volume set, which is now available online and can be found by following this link: It's not only the best place to begin your research but makes for some great reading.
*** The answer to the trivia question at the top of the page is none other than "Pecos Bill."
----------------------------AN IRONIC FACT---------------------------------
In Confederate eyes General Ben Butler, "the Beast of New Orleans," was perhaps the most despicable enemy figure, yet Butler had been a pro- slavery Democrat, and it was he who had once tried to nominate Jefferson Davis for the Presidency of the United States, a move which, if successful, might have averted war.
-----------------"A NATION DIVIDED" - The Online Magazine------------------
A monthly Civil War magazine, published only on the Internet at ehistory.com, with lively and well researched articles, can be found at: http://www.ehistory.com/uscw/features/articles/index.cfm
For a humorous look at the war, you'll want to read "Grant Chases the Paper Trail." Written by contributing author and a descendant of a Sultana victim, Pam Newhouse, you'll find Pam's article, "The Sultana Disaster" riveting. Find these and many more articles, and watch for a new issue coming up soon!
