Letters from Camp Griffin

While undertaking some research on the Union Army camps around Langley and Lewinsville, I came across an interesting website published by Saint Mary's College Library in Moraga, California.   "The Civil War Letters of Forrest Little" contains links to transcriptions of 23 letters written by Private Forrest Little of the 5th Vermont Volunteer Infantry between October 1861 to July 1862.  Although Little's letters are not as well written as other soldiers' writings that I have encountered, they nonetheless offer us a view of life in Camp Griffin during the winter of 1861-62.  Little continued writing home during the Peninsula Campaign and later died of typhoid fever at Harrison's Landing, Virgina in July 1862.  An article by Professor Carl Guarneri of St. Mary's College does a good job of placing Little's letters in context.

The Army of the Potomac-Scene In Camp After Evening Parade, Harper's Weekly, November 2, 1861

The Army of the Potomac-The Picket-Guard, Harper's Weekly, November 2, 1861

Camp Griffin was as far as a young man could get from the comforts of home.  Little complains about the weather, which was cold, rainy, and sometimes snowy.  He writes often of the excessive mud that the soldiers had to contend with.  Not surprisingly, many soldiers fell ill, and Little notes that at one point, 34 of his company of about 100 were on the sick list.  Daily life in camp was relatively dull.  Little served as the company cook, drilled and paraded with the men of his regiment, and was detailed to picket duty.  Despite any boredom, he resisted the temptations of "rot gut," or so he told his parents.  In one of his letters, Little describes a foraging expedition during which soldiers bayoneted the pigs of a local farmer, who could do nothing but "stand by and grate his teeth."  However, not all relations with  the civilian population were so acrimonious.  In fact, Little was invited to supper with a local female, whose company  he undoubtedly enjoyed.  Little, like other soldiers that winter, was itching for a fight and frequently worried that the war would end before he could have the chance to take on the Rebels.  That opportunity would soon come on the Virginia Peninsula.

These letters are just a start for understanding the experiences of soldiers encamped at Langley and Lewinsville in the winter of 1861-62.  I hope to locate and read many others as I continue my research on the life of common soldiers posted to Camps Griffin and Pierpont, and I'll be sure to write about other finds.

You Call That a Documentary?

Recently I began to record old episodes of Civil War Combat and Civil War Journal on my DVR.   These shows are now broadcast very early in the morning on the Military History Channel.  While watching a relatively detailed episode on the Battle of Chancellorsville, I reflected on just how far History Channel (the original broadcaster) has fallen since the 1990s and early 2000s.  Today, the History Channel offers hours of reality TV that have nothing to do with history (think Ice Road Truckers), and when it does dare to venture into history, the offerings are weak, including shows on ancient aliens and Nostradamus.  Even the much-anticipated America The Story of Us was far from satisfying.  What have we come to when celebrities like Michael Douglas are substituted for historians and offer vague generalities about the life and meaning of Lincoln?  Or when computer-generated graphics and character actors who bear little resemblance to the actual persons are substituted for the timeless and haunting images of Matthew Brady?

Attending the opening night of the new National Archives exhibit Discovering the Civil War I managed to chat briefly with director and producer Ken Burns.  I expressed my disappointment with America the Story of Us and complimented Burns on how he had set the gold standard with his 1990 documentary The Civil War.  Burns offered a confident assessment of the popular appeal of his own style of film making.  Viewers don't need to be reeled in with computer graphics and a "dumbed down" view of events.  According to Burns, his own documentary on the Civil War drew more viewers than the first night of the History Channel's recent foray into American history.

Ken Burns, documentary film producer and director (Wikipedia)

So why do the History Channel and its brethren continue to produce such poor history programming, when they produce it at all?  I suppose TV executives think that they know their audiences.  This is an age of instant gratification and short attention spans.  Give viewers what they seek: flashy and fast.  The ad dollars will pour in.  There is no room for any degree of depth, never mind that at one time, the History Channel thought that it could air shows about Civil War battles at the divisional and brigade level.  I, for one, am glad that PBS is still around to put faith in America's TV viewers and offer quality historical programming, such as American Experience documentaries. Otherwise, we'd raise a generation more knowledgeable about imagined alien invasions than Gettysburg.

Today's Book Purchase

Today I purchased Series 1, Volume 5 of The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, one of the 128 volumes in what is known in Civil War circles as the OR.  (I couldn't resist the good price on Alibris!)  This volume covers operations in Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia from August 1, 1861 to March 17, 1862.  I look forward to digging deeper into operations in Northern Virginia during the period prior to the Peninsula Campaign.  From a quick look at the table of contents to the volume, I noticed that it includes reports on the skirmishes at Lewinsville and Dranesville, as well as the Battle of Ball's Bluff.  Stay tuned for more detailed information on Civil War history in Fairfax County and other Northern Virginia counties during the early war years.  This is an often overlooked period, but of considerable interest for those who wonder, "What the hell did the Army of the Potomac do before the Peninsula Campaign?"

Chain Bridge: The Rebels are Coming! The Rebels are Coming!

Chain Bridge seems to be the location that keeps on giving.  Who knew that a bridge could hold so many stories about the Civil War?  As mentioned in my first post on the subject, Chain Bridge saw no real action during the Civil War.  However, at various times throughout the conflict, concerns about a possible Confederate threat to the nation's capital loomed large, and the garrison at Chain Bridge got caught up in events.  One of the most notable episodes occurred in August 1862 during the Second Manassas Campaign.

After General McClellan's failed Peninsula Campaign in the spring and summer of 1862, the Army of the Potomac was ordered to move off the Virginia Peninsula and closer to Washington.  McClellan objected, but to no avail.  The Federal general certainly did not relish the prospect of helping the newly-formed Army of Virginia under Major General John Pope, a pompous general brought East from the Western theater.  By the time McClellan got his army moving towards Washington in mid-August,  General Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia was moving to destroy the Army of Virginia before McClellan could provide reinforcements. When McClellan arrived in Alexandria on August 26, two of his army corps (the Third and Fifth) were on their way to Pope.  The Sixth Corps under Major General William B. Franklin had just arrived, and the Second Corps under Major General Edwin V. Sumner would disembark in Alexandria a couple of days later. McClellan, who stepped into an ill-defined command situation, began to bicker with General-in-Chief Henry W. Halleck over control of his two remaining corps.

Major General Edwin V. Sumner, head of the Second Corps, Army of the Potomac (Library of Congress)

Major General Henry W. Halleck, General-in-Chief of the Union Army (Library of Congress)

Chain Bridge soon became the focus of attention.  On August 28, McClellan informed Halleck that various sources reported that "the enemy with 120,000 men intend advancing on the forts near Arlington and Chain Bridge, with a view of attacking Washington & Baltimore."  As McClellan confirmed in a subsequent letter to his wife, "there was a terrible scare in Washington" that night when "[a] rumor got out that Lee was advancing rapidly on the Chain Bridge with 150,000 men....I did not get 5 minutes consecutive sleep all night--so thick were the telegrams!"  McClellan, always cautious and inclined to imagine worst case scenarios, believed that Lee might be trying to get his army between Pope and Washington.  He made the defense of the capital his top priority.  Pope would have to wait for the Second and Sixth Corps.

General McClellan and his wife, Mary Ellen (Library of Congress)

Early on the morning of August 29, McClellan reacted to the alleged Confederate advance.  He ordered two regiments and an artillery battery from the Second Corps to march to the vicinity of Chain Bridge on the Virginia side.  By the morning of August 30, three of Sumner's brigades were on both sides of Chain Bridge, and the rest of his corps was in Arlington, including the area around Fort Corcoran.  Lee and Pope, however, were engaged in a ferocious fight around the old battlefield of Bull Run.  Around 2 pm, Halleck ordered Sumner's entire corps, along with the Sixth Corps, to be "pushed forward with all possible dispatch" to the front.  The threat to Washington by way of Chain Bridge had just been as McClellan described it -- a mere "rumor."  Unfortunately for the Union Army, the remainder of McClellan's army was too late to make any difference.  Lee's army soundly defeated Pope's forces and would soon launch an invasion of Maryland.

Building a Civil War Library

My wife keeps a watchful eye on me because she is convinced that I am trying to amass a library in our own home.  Of course, she is not far off the mark.  I've always loved books and have collected hundreds of them over the years, some of which still reside in my parents' basement.  A good third or more of the collection consists of books on the Civil War era.  More recently, I have started purchasing antique books on the Civil War and World War I, another of my interests.  After many years of collecting, I'd like to share some insights and tips for the bibliophiles out there who are building their own Civil War libraries.

My Ground Rules

At this point in my collection, I have become a more selective purchaser of Civil War books.  I try to get well-reviewed books by reputable authors and experts.  Not all books are reviewed, and not all authors are known, so if the book covers a more obscure topic that interests me, I may waive this rule.  Case in point: a Civil War history of Fairfax County that I bought in Vienna, Virginia.

I also promise myself that the book is one that I will read cover-to-cover or one that will serve as a valuable tool for historical research.  Too many times in the past I would buy a book, just to let it collect dust on the bookshelf.  I want to make sure I also learn something from my books in the process of collecting them.  

Bargains are worth looking for and are out there.  I often comparison shop to get the best price.  The proliferation of on-line sources makes this a lot easier. 

Finding the Right Books

There are some Civil War books that just won't lead you astray.  Anything by Foote, Catton, Wert, or McPherson, for example, is likely to be worth the time.  But not every author has such instant name recognition and fame, so I need to turn elsewhere in my search for a new purchase.  I learn about some Civil War books by reading blog postings on the topic.  Bloggers often review recently published works and bring their expertise and insights to their assessment of a book. One of the best out there is Civil War Books and Authors, a blog dedicated almost exclusively to reviewing recent Civil War publications.  Another good source is the on-line version of Louisiana State University's Civil War Book Review.  I also do searches on Amazon.com for books on particular topics and go through the reader reviews for those books that appear interesting.  The literacy of some Amazon.com reviewers may raise eyebrows.  That being said, some reviews are articulate and insightful, and if a large percentage of reviewers award a book three, four, or five stars, I am likely to give it a chance.  Sometimes I simply gamble with a book that I find while browsing at a store or on-line.  If I am way off the mark, I can possibly trade it in for credit at a used book store. 

Where to Buy Books?

Big chain booksellers (brick-and-mortar):
The big retailers like Borders and Barnes & Noble generally have a limited and less diverse selection compared to Internet retailers.  I sometimes find a book on Amazon.com and then check out the physical copy at a big retailer if I can find it there.  Given that the big retailers tend to be more expensive than on-line sellers, I don't usually buy books at chain stores, unless I absolutely can't wait for the mail.

On-line retailers:
On-line retailers offer a wide array of Civil War books at competitive prices.  I have found Amazon.com to have a relatively diverse selection of books on many different topics, including local Civil War history, uniforms, and weapons. Many books are sold by individual sellers who market through Amazon.  eBay has a similar marketplace feature, although the selection can be spotty.  On both sites, new books or used books in like-new condition can be purchased at a steep discount to the big brick-and-mortar chains, even after paying shipping and handling.  Both sites include seller ratings based on purchaser reviews.  These ratings help to ensure quality control and, based on my experience, are an accurate indicator of a seller's honesty and reliability.

Antique book sellers on the Internet:
I have found many interesting antique books on eBay.  Some I bought without bidding, while others I won through auction.  Some of my purchases include memoirs by Grant (1885-86) and McClellan (1887). One has to accept a certain amount of risk in buying an antique book on the Internet.  I rely on the pictures and the description, as well as the seller rating.  If there are no pictures, or if the description is weak or the seller unreliable, I won't consider buying it.  I still would rather handle the book and examine it, but it would take innumerable trips across the country to find what I have been able to find on eBay.  Overall, I feel that I have gotten antique books, in good or near fine condition, for a fair price.  Only once do I consider to have been sold a dud. For more information on collecting antique books, check here and here.

Other sites offering old and rare books include Alibris and Biblio.com.

Used book stores and book sales:
Despite the ease of on-line shopping, nothing beats browsing the wooden shelves at an independent used bookstore, the smell of ancient paper filling the air.  One of my favorites is The Old Book Company of McLean, which has an excellent selection of Civil War classics, as well as lesser known works, from the last several decades.  I have purchased many a book here, at very reasonable prices, including a copy of Catton's Army of the Potomac trilogy from the early 1960s.  They also offer some interesting rare and antique books, including a copy of The United States Secret Service in the Late War from the 1880s.

Some non-profit organizations sponsor used book sales for fundraising purposes.  These can be hit-or-miss, but I have sometimes discovered hidden treasures at such sales.  One of my best finds occurred last year at the book sale of the American Association of University Women in McLean, where I bought an 1864 copy of General Orders Affecting the Union Volunteer Force for only fifty dollars.  (Attention D.C. area readers, the association will be sponsoring the used book sale again this year.)

E-books:
It is hard for an old-school bibliophile like me to pay money for e-books.  I don't have a Kindle, and don't plan on getting one.  I like to hold a book in my hand, measure progress by turning the pages, and store it on the book shelf when finished.  A book collection is as much about the beauty of the physical published work as it is about the content.   E-books are sometimes invaluable for doing research.  The availability of hard-to-find primary and secondary sources on Google Books has saved me numerous trips to libraries or archives.   For purposes of collecting, however, I'll stick to hard copies!

Gettysburg and the Sound of Slots

Today marks the 147th anniversary of the last day of the Battle of Gettysburg.  I am sure that many readers have already heard about the proposed plan to build a casino next to Gettysburg National Military Park.  Preservation groups, including the Civil War Preservation Trust, have been fighting the developers of the casino.  Recently, 275 historians wrote to the Chairman of the Pennsylvanian Gaming Control Board and urged a vote against this unwarranted threat to the sacred ground around the Gettysburg.  I urge readers to get involved in the fight to halt the construction of the casino at Gettysburg, which represents yet another attempt to elevate profits above heritage.  As the historians so eloquently put it in their letter,  "there are many places in Pennsylvania to build a casino, but there’s only one Gettysburg."  Donate to the cause or write to state leaders and members of the Gaming Control Board.  It only takes a few minutes using the Civil War Preservation Trust site.  Hopefully this casino plan will go the way of the previous one.