Monthly Archives: May 2012

May 31, 1862: No quarter for “Beast” Butler!

Posted on May 31, 2012 by Allen Gathman

The Richmond Daily Dispatch ran a brief but fervent editorial comment on Benjamin Butler — his infamous Order No. 28 was continuing to bear propaganda fruit for the Confederacy. No Quarter to Picayune Butler! –Let this be the sworn resolve … Continue reading →

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May 30, 1862: Halleck takes Corinth.

Posted on May 30, 2012 by Allen Gathman

Halleck took Corinth, MS, on May 30 — almost two months after Grant drove Beauregard from the field at Shiloh, 20 miles north. Reportedly, Beauregard left a small guard in the town to cheer each arriving train as if it … Continue reading →

Posted in Henry Halleck, John Pope, Mississippi, Pierre G.T. Beauregard, Shiloh, Ulysses S. Grant | Leave a comment

May 29, 1862: Guerrilla warfare in Missouri

Posted on May 29, 2012 by Allen Gathman

The guerrilla war in Missouri continues. Rebels take a union supply train; confederate officers are captured crossing the Missouri. Outside of St. Louis, the rest of Missouri was in a constant state of flux, controlled by whichever partisans happened to … Continue reading →

Posted in Missouri | 2 Comments

May 28, 1862: Halleck still advancing on Corinth

Posted on May 28, 2012 by Allen Gathman

Halleck continued to probe toward Corinth, almost two months after Shiloh. Did he have unlimited time? From the Official Record: Honorable E. M. STANTON, Secretary of War. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF MISSISSIPPI, Camp on Corinth Road, May 28, 1862. Three strong … Continue reading →

Posted in Henry Halleck, Mississippi | 1 Comment

May 27, 1862: Yellow fever not as bad as expected

Posted on May 27, 2012 by Allen Gathman

As we’ve seen, the threat of yellow fever was touted repeatedly by Southerners as the likely nemesis of the Yankee invaders to New Orleans. It was even suggested that bringing in large numbers of “unacclimated” Yankees would prompt an epidemic … Continue reading →

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May 26, 1862: Black men don’t kill for money

Posted on May 26, 2012 by Allen Gathman

According to the Richmond Daily Dispatch, one aspect of the black man’s less than full humanity is an immunity from some motives for murder. The Dispatch found it incredible that a black man would have killed men for money, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Slavery | 1 Comment

May 25, 1862: What to do with the “Negroes”?

Posted on May 25, 2012 by Allen Gathman

Ben Butler was the originator of the term “contrabands” as applied to escaped slaves, and of the legal theory that, as property of insurrectionists that would be otherwise put to use against the Union, they should be confiscated. Once he … Continue reading →

Posted in Abolitionism, Contrabands, Louisiana, Slavery | Leave a comment

May 24, 1862: “a panderer to lust and a desecrator of virtue”

Posted on May 24, 2012 by Allen Gathman

Thomas O. Moore **************************************** Ben Butler’s infamous orders no. 28 was decried throughout the south. The confederate governor of Louisiana, Thomas Overton Moore, made good use of Butler’s orders for propaganda purposes. PROCLAMATION. EXECUTIVE OFFICE, Opelousas, La., May 24, 1862. … Continue reading →

Posted in Benjamin Butler, Louisiana, Thomas Overton Moore | Leave a comment

May 23, 1862: Ladies of the South

Posted on May 23, 2012 by Allen Gathman

The Richmond Daily Dispatch seems now to have come around to the view that southern ladies may occasionally forget themselves to the extent of berating the Yankee invaders. Still, they can hardly be blamed, as the Yankee officers are no … Continue reading →

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May 22, 1862: Halleck at Corinth. Still.

Posted on May 22, 2012 by Allen Gathman

Halleck is ready to attack Corinth, not expecting any more reinforcements. We’ll see. From the Official Record: Honorable E. M. STANTON. CAMP, CORINTH ROAD, May 22, 1862. Daily skirmishing between our reconnoitering parties and the enemy. General Buell lost 25 … Continue reading →

Posted in Don Carlos Buell, Henry Halleck, Mississippi | Leave a comment