History 304 Readings Wiki

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Louisa May Alcott and Walt Whitman's service in hospitals during the American Civil War was motivated by different events. Alcott wanted to serve the country and did so in the way she could and Whitman was motivated by the search for his brother, George. Both of them suffered similar fates of this service, becoming ill as a result of their labor. -Sarah M.

Various Union blunders were part of the loss at Fredericksburg. The material needed for the pontoon bridges took too long to arrive, giving Confederate forces time to occupy the stone wall and Marye's Heights past the town and an incorrectly identified Confederate withdrawal by Gen. Winfield Scott Hancock caused Union troops, including the 133rd PA, to attack against fresh artillerists under Col. E.P. Alexander. -Sarah M.

Shortly after the Battle of Fredericksburg, Senate Republicans cast a vote of no-confidence for William Seward, Lincoln's Secretary of State. Lincoln met with the 9 senators who intended to overhaul his cabinet after the vote and defended Seward, intending to keep his same cabinet throughout the war. Lincoln also called all cabinet members but Seward to a meeting and imparted that they must all present a united front in defending Seward. After William Seward and Salmon P. Chase both tried to resign, Lincoln rejected that proposal and his cabinet continued with the same members, ending that conflict.

Fredrick Douglass gave a lecture in Syracuse in which he spoke some harsh remarks, specifically targeting Northern clergymen. He believed that the minister was strong and capable of influencing change in the country because churches served as a "breeding ground" for slaveowners. Douglass criticized them because the clergymen had moral hypocrisy: they preached the Bible but they didn't really resist slavery. (Hannah E.)
 
It was interesting to me that there were firsthand accounts from men painting a romanticized version of J.E.B Stuart's attack. They apparently wrote about it in a romantic and sentimental tone. Obviously, any attack was anything but romantic, but in their points of view, they were attempting to console themselves after the tragedy. Additionally, they were delusional, they wanted to see what they wanted to see. I appreciate how the author of this book wrote about it and presented that viewpoint. (Hannah E.)

In 1860, Fredericksburg voters nominated a pro-Union delegate to the state convention that decided whether Virginia might secede. However, what I thought was interesting was that their opinions did a 180 when President Lincoln called for volunteers to subdue the Southern insurrection and stated that loyal states should turn their backs on secessionists. Because of that, the town of Fredericksburg opinion changed and Virginia seceded. (Hannah E.)

Army chaplains had a mixed reputation. Most of them were moral and did the best they could under the circumstances, "mak[ing] business out of kindliness", though others were basically uneducated imposters who brought down the morals of the units they served with. There was also a dissonance between the preachings of chaplains and the reality of war. (Ezra C.)

In the aftermath of McClellan being replaced, his successor, Burnside, had a complicated line to walk. He had to convince the soldiers that he cared as much about them as McClellan did, while showing the government that he was very different from McClellan. McClellan's care for his soldiers led him to not take risks and not push, so Burnside had to treat the soldiers as more expendable. (Ezra C.)

Walt Whitman used what he saw in the war as writing material, but he also took up a merciful role. He dressed well in order to encourage the wounded troops in the hospitals he visited, and gave them little gifts. He saw his most important gift as being his presence and cheer, as he spent a lot of time sitting with, talking and reading to wounded soldiers. (Ezra C.)

General Burnside's orders to fire on the city of Fredericksburg were the first time in the war that a general ordered his soldiers to fire on civilian structures. The reactions on either side were the most interesting to me. While the Union felt guilt, they were also happy that the battle was more in their favor than before. However, the South, particularly Lee, felt more guilt that the city had become the focal point of the battle. (Emily Booth)

One of the interesting stories was that of Army Chaplain Arthur Fuller, who came to Captain Dunn and told him he wanted to help defend his men. Army chaplains were meant to help boost morale during the war, and I feel like Fuller fully embodied his work. His job was to help his men stay confident in what they were fighting for, so he went and fought with them. (Emily Booth)

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