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Disclaimer - please keep in mind these facts are not listed in chronological order. Just as the page states - it is a hodgepodge of American History Facts
Think of this as a treasure hunt. You never know what delightful fact you might learn that day. Let's fill the month of May with facts about the Civil War. Feel free to add facts you know about the American Civil War as well.
Enjoy
Mrs. Hoffman
May 1, 2012 - The first slaves were brought to the colonies in 1619 on a Dutch frigate to Jamestown. At that time, 20 slaves were brought to the new world. At first many arrived as indentured servants. In1660, Virginia passed a law making slavery permanent.
May 2, 2012 - One of the most important naval battles occurred on March 9, 1862 between the Merrimac and the Monitor. The Merrimac was actually a frigate that was lined with iron, making it an ironclad ship. Both ships were ironclads and met in this momentous battle. When all was said and done, the two ships withdrew and it was a draw. For the Union, it became a victory because its fleet had been saved.
May 3, 2012 - What is the Trent Affair? On November 8, 1861, two Confederate commissioners who were on board the mail steamer Trent were seized. Mason and Slidell were the two commissioners. Lieutenant Fairfax stopped the frigate and demanded the men be released into their custody. The captain of the ship refused to let the man board his ship and take the men. Slidell andMason's family continued on to London, but the two men disembarked knowing if they remained, harm might come to their families. The two men were placed in Fort Lafayette under confinement.
May 4, 2012 - General Hooker, who was the commander of the Army of the Potomac, abandoned a hill during the Battle of Chancellorsville in Virginia. Once he evacuated the hill, it left things open for J.E.B. Stuart to attack.
May 5, 2012 - According to General George B McClellan, observed the enemy had a strong position on the west side of Antietam Creek. "I found that it was too late to attack that day, and at once directed the placing of batteries of position of the center, and indicated the bivouacs for the different corps, massing them near and on both sides of the Sharpsburg turnpike." He sent General Hooker to cross at the ford. An exchange occurred and the ground was won.
May 6, 2012 - The Battle of Gettysburg was fought in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania between the Army of the Potomac under Major-General George Meade who had around 95,000 men against General Robert E Lee's Confederate Army of Northern Virginia who had around 75,000. Lee could not defeat the Union. The battle was indecisive and both sides suffered enormous casualties.
May 7, 2012 - John Brown was an abolitionist who longed to incite a slave rebellion. He attacked Harpers Ferry, an arsenal, and seized control. He was captured and hung. "Now if it is deemed necessary that I should forfeit my life for the furtherance of the ends of justice, and mingle my blood further with the blood of my children and with blood of millions in this slave country whose rights are disregarded by the wicked, cruel and unjust enactments, I say let it be done."
May 8, 2012 - What does the cotton gin have to do with the Civil War? In 1793, Eli Whitney invented the cotton gin. This made cotton production more economical. Plantations grew more prosperous. Instead of needing less slaves, the plantations needed more slaves. They had to import more slaves, which changed the entire landscape of the South.
May 9, 2012 - What is the Nat Turner revolt? Nat Turner led a slave revolt in Virginia. When the revolt was over, 57 whites were killed. In 1831, William Lloyd Garrison began publishing an anti-slavery newspaper called the Liberator. Many believe it was Garrison's newspaper that caused the Turner Revolt.
May 10, 2012 - What was the Free Soil Party? This political party promised to end slavery. Martin Van Buren was their presidential candidate. The Democrats nominated Lewis Cass. The Whigs nominated Zachary Taylor. The biggest issue - whether or not to allow new territories to become slave or free states. Zachary Taylor won with 139,000 votes. He won many Northern and Southern states.
May 11 2012 - What is the Fugitive Slave Act? The Fugitive Slave Act called for a special commissioners to determine whether a slave was a fugitive or not. The person could not appeal the court. Federal marshals had to recapture the slaves. Many slaves living in the North were arrested. More than 300 were returned to the South.
May 12, 2012 - What do we know about Jefferson Davis? He was born in Kentucky on June 3, 1808. His family was not a part of the planter aristocracy but he acted like them. He was accepted at the US military academy. When the South separated from the Union, he felt responsible for the Confederates and supported them.
May 13, 2012 - On this very date, Arlington National Cemetery was started when the first Civil War soldier was buried here. As a matter of fact, he was a Confederate prisoner of war who was buried here first.
May 14, 2012 - Who is Horace Greeley? Horace Greeley was born in Amherst, New Hampshire on February 3, 1811. He was a huge supporter of the abolition of slavery. He started "The Tribune" one of the largest newspapers in the country. He even ran for the Presidency in 1872 but was defeated.
May 15, 2012 - What do you know about Robert E. Lee? Robert E. Lee was born in 1807. His father was a famous Revolutionary War cavalry hero - Henry Lee. His father died when he was young and he was raised by his mother. He attended the United States Military Academy and graduated 2nd in his class. He married Martha Custis, who was the great granddaughter of Martha Washington. He served in the Mexican War before the American Civil War broke out in 1860.
May 16, 2012 - Who is General Benjamin Franklin Butler? He was born in Deerfield, New Hampshire, but was not related to the Benjamin Franklin we know from the American Revolution. A week after the attack on Fort Sumter, he helped move the Union troops to and from Washington by calming the Baltimore Riots.
May 17, 2012 - Why was Fort Sumter such a big event? President Lincoln sent a message to Governor Pickens in South Carolina he would be sending supplies to the fort. He wanted the governor to be sure he was only sending supplies - no guns. This did not matter to the governor or the people of South Carolina who had seceded from the Union already by April 15.
May 18, 2012 - Ever hear of General Nathan Bedford Forrest? He was born in Bedford County, Tennessee to a poor blacksmith, but he managed to make a name for himself during the Civil War. In 1862 he became a brigadier general, and in 1863 he became a major general. He was the most feared Confederate cavalry leader because of his raiding strategies. He died on October 29, 1877.
May 19, 2012 - On this day in 1863, General Ulysses S Grant attack Vicksburg. At first, they are unsuccessful, but they move further down river and prevent Confederate General Johnston from helping General Pemberton. The siege lasted 6 weeks while the people at Vicksburg were cut off from food and supplies. Pemberton finally surrendered on July 4.
May 20, 2012 - Many do not know the Baltimore Riots of 1861 were a direct result of the attack on Fort Sumter. The riots occur on April 18th and 19th. In Maryland, many were just as opposed to secession as they were to being coerced to do anything. People who lived there did not want to be put in the middle - they were friendly with both the North and the South.
May 21, 2012 - After the defeat at Bull Run, the Crittenden Resolution II was passed by the House of Representatives which stated the war was being fought to defend the supremacy of the Constitution and to preserve the Union, NOT to interfere with slavery. What do you think?
May 22, 2012 - Richmond, Virginia was the capital of the Confederacy. Once Virginia seceded from the Union, it was not long before President Jefferson Davis throws all foreigners from the city who do not support the Confederacy. He names Judah Benjamin as the Secretary of War.
May 23, 2012 - Most of us know General George Custer from the Battle of Little Big Horn. He was a general in the Civil War before that. He graduated from West Point in 1861, and then three days later, he took part in the battle of Bull Run.
May 24, 2012 - The Battle of Gettysburg was a turning point in the Civil War. Fought near the small town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, Confederate forces came upon a unit of Union cavalry. On the first day, Confederate troops forced Union troops back. On the second day, the Confederate troops were repulsed. On the third day, Lee tried to attack the center - Pickett's Charge - but less than 1/2 the men returned. More men were lost at the Battle of Gettysburg than any other battle.
May 25, 2012 - What was medical care like during the Civil War? More men were killed by disease than by anything else. About 274,000 in the Union died from disease. More than 160,000 Confederates died from disease. Many of them got childhood diseases such as measles, mumps, pertussis, or varicella. Typhoid killed 25% of the troops.
May 26, 2012 - a popular song during the Civil War was "When Johnny Comes Marching Home" written by Louis Lambert (Patrick Sarsfield Gilmore). It was first published in 1863. Gilmore apparently wrote the song for his sister, who was anxiously awaiting her fiance's return. His name was Captain John O'Rourke and he was a Union officer.
"When Johnny comes marching home again, Hurrah, Hurrah,
We'll give him a hearty welcome then, Hurrah, Hurrah,
The men will cheer, the boys will shout,
The ladies, they will all turn out,
And we'll all feel gay
When Johnny comes marching home."
May 27, 2012 - There were many different types of weapons being used during the Civil War. The Union started the war with far more weapons than the South. They had the advantage of factories in the North. The only factory in the South was the Virginia Manufactory in Richmond. The Confederates started the war with approximately 150,000 arms, and managed to secure more when they captured them during battle. At other times, they smuggled arms from Europe. Unfortunately, the North had access to more than 2,000,000 guns and imported another million during the war.
May 28, 2012 - Most people do not know that Memorial Day started with the Civil War. In cities and towns across our splintered nation, families were remembering their sons, fathers, and husbands who had perished during the war. It was because of General John Logan, who was the National Commander of the Grand Army of the Republic who proclaimed May 30th to be a day of remembrance.
May 29, 2012 - Did the Hatfield-McCoy feud start during the Civil War? Devil Anse fought for the Confederacy. Asa Harmon McCoy fought for the Union. In 1865, Asa was wounded and came home. He was murdered and many thought Devil Anse and his group the Logan Wildcats were responsible. This is sometimes thought to be the start of the feud, although there were other incidents that escalated the feud over the years. Check out the Hatfield-McCoy County site.
May 30, 2012 - The 13 inch mortar cannon was also known at the Dictror. It would be mounted on a railroad car and could send a 200 pound shell up to 2 1/2 miles away. It was used during the siege of Petersburg. It weighed about 17, 000 pounds.
May 31, 2012 - our last fact from the Civil War. The North outfitted 7 sailing ships into steam ships at a cost of over $3 million dollars. The North was able to blockade the southern ports keeping them from getting needed supplies. While the South did successfully slip through the blockade in many areas, the blockade for the most part was hugely successful.
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