Category Archives: Cotton

April 7, 1863: Great grain crop in Mississippi

Posted on April 7, 2013 by Allen Gathman

The Richmond Daily Dispatch reprinted an article from Jackson, exulting in the good grain crops in Mississippi. Apparently some reprobates were still planting cotton and forsaking the war effort, though. Still, Mississippi would produce enough flour to supply the confederacy, … Continue reading →

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February 17, 1863: The North is doomed

Posted on February 17, 2013 by Allen Gathman

The Richmond Daily Dispatch explains how the North is fighting for its survival, because it can’t make it without the South. The South, says the Dispatch, produces everything the North depends on, and they can buy stuff from other manufacturers. … Continue reading →

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December 17, 1862: Grant expels the Jews

Posted on December 17, 2012 by Allen Gathman

Grant was exasperated by the machinations of cotton speculators who followed the Union army south. According to Bruce Catton, he had recently been especially offended by a scheme hatched by his father with some Northern businessmen. They came down to … Continue reading →

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December 13, 1862: Maybe they won’t destroy the cotton after all

Posted on December 13, 2012 by Allen Gathman

Official Records 7:40 AM WATER VALLEY, December 13, 1862. General GRANT: A scout sent to Oakland captured a messenger with orders to Major Blythe to destroy all cotton between the Tallahatchie and Coldwater, and all other points accessible. He expected … Continue reading →

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December 10, 1862: Burn the cotton

Posted on December 10, 2012 by Allen Gathman

Official Records JACKSON, December 10, 1862. Major-General VAN DORN, Grenada: Send a courier to Major Blythe and tell him to destroy all the cotton between the Tallahatchie and Coldwater and all other points accessible. J. R. WADDY, Assistant Adjutant-General.

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November 20, 1862: Memphis Unionism

Posted on November 20, 2012 by Allen Gathman

The New York Times reports that after a few months of occupation, the citizens of Memphis have found an unexpected well of Union sentiment. Considering that trade with the North had resumed for them, unlike places still under Confederate control, … Continue reading →

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November 16, 1862: What to do with all these contrabands?

Posted on November 16, 2012 by Allen Gathman

As Grant moves south from Memphis, he finds that he’s got more freed slaves than he knows what to do with. Halleck tells him to put them to work for the Union, and take food for them from the rebels. … Continue reading →

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October 4, 1862: Emancipation’s foreign impact

Posted on October 4, 2012 by Allen Gathman

The Richmond Daily Dispatch reports with relish that Europe isn’t taken in by Lincoln’s emancipation proclamation. As the editor argues somewhat incoherently, the move a) is going to cause an insurrection bloodbath and b) should have been done earlier. And … Continue reading →

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July 2, 1862: Three hundred thousand more.

Posted on July 2, 2012 by Allen Gathman

The New York Times ran an collection of short items — the lead being that Lincoln had issued a call for 300,000 more volunteers to put down the rebellion. This event inspired a song by A.B. Irving, as well as … Continue reading →

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June 29, 1862: Where will the cotton come from?

Posted on June 29, 2012 by Allen Gathman

The New York Times editorial ponders the question: slavery is ending, but England’s factories still need cotton. Where will it be produced and how? 4:49 PM No Solution of the Cotton Question. The present war has settled many questions that … Continue reading →

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