1890: What the Richmond Planet Said About the Lee Monument

"The Negro was in the Northern processions on Decoration Day and in the Southern ones, if only to carry buckets of ice-water. He put up the Lee Monument, and should the time come, will be there to take it down." - Richmond Planet, June 7, 1890

Lee Monument (LOC)

When the Robert E. Lee monument went up on the outskirts of Richmond in the spring of 1890, several editors from African-American newspapers made their views crystal clear. Here are a few more excerpts:

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John Mitchell, Jr. Ed.- Richmond Planet

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Richmond Planet, May 10, 1890

"The boxes were decorated with bunting and Confederate flags. On every hand could be seen the “stars and bars.” Nowhere in this procession was there a United States flag. The rebel yell, reinforced by a glorification of the lost cause was everywhere manifest."

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The New York Age, New York, NY 

(quoted in Richmond Planet, June 7, 1890)

"Robert E. Lee was one of the greatest generals of modern times. We grant that. But he was a traitor, and gave his magnificent abilities to the infamous task of disrupting the union and to perpetuating the system of slavery. Where then is the wisdom or the propriety of wasting any sentiment on Robert E. Lee? Let the unconstructed Democracy of the South glorify him and his memory as they will, but let the patriots of the nation indulge in none of it." 

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The National Home Protector, Baltimore, Md.  
(quoted in Richmond Planet, June 14, 1890)

"The [dedication] of the Lee monument adds another chapter to the history of the American nation that the next generation both North and South will no doubt read with regret. Though the general was guilty of treason against the United States government he bound himself under oath to support and fought bravely to forever establish and extend the accursed institution of human slavery; yet he possessed virtues which are fair minded people appreciated. That he would have a monument erected to his memory by the people who followed him to defeat, seems to be in the natural order of things. But when the unveiling of the monument is used as an opportunity to justify the southern people and rebelling against the U. S. Government and to flaunt the Confederate flag in the faces of the loyal people of the nation occasion calls for serious reflection. When General Lee furled his flag and presented his sword to his conquerors, he said secession is dead, and now, any attempt to resurrect the corpse of rebellion is not only an insult to the loyal people of the nation, but also casting a stigma on Gen. Lee’s record as commander of the Confederate Army."

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 The State Capital, Springfield, Illinois 

(quoted in Richmond Planet, June 14, 1890)

"This is shameful disregard for the flag of the Union and of higher respect for the flag of treason, was disgracefully he demonstrated at the unveiling of the monument to the lead Gen. R. E. Lee at Richmond, Va., May 29. We appreciate the spirit which prompted his followers to rear a monument to his honor. He had many virtues which are worthy of emulation, but when they put up that ensign of treason – the stars and bars – and make it a god to display, and to worship. We, as an American citizen, offer or silent protest and demand in the name of our fathers, in the name of the constitution and in the name of every patriotic impulse that such thing shall not be tolerated."

Grant's Sixth Offensive at Petersburg: Brief Observations

With the anniversary of the Grant's pre-election offensive at Richmond and Petersburg approaching, I thought I'd revisit some of the key takeaways. The short quotes below come from Richmond Must Fall: The Richmond-Petersburg Campaign, October 1864 (Kent State Univ. Press), my study of Grant's Sixth Offensive at Richmond and Petersburg in October 1864. Those operations (the battles at Burgess Mill, the Williamsburg Road, etc.) are often overlooked but instructive in examining his command style.

Previous Efforts During the Petersburg Campaign

"In each offensive, Grant demonstrated patience in waiting for the right conditions as well as flexibility in trying new approaches. The extraordinary length of the Confederate front allowed him to vary the location, strength, and intensity of his advances ... [He] tried different combinations of movements and strengths, multipronged and single attacks, diversions, lunges at different locations along the rebel line, and different force sizes. However, he had yet to conjure a successful plan."

Pre-Election Decisions 

"Grant appreciated that the arithmetic of beans, bullets, and manpower favored him.  However, he also understood that lack of progress & military failures could degrade Union will and destabilize Lincoln’s support. Excessive delay, or worse yet, disaster...in Virginia, could damage Lincoln at the polls."

Inspiration For the Sixth Offensive 

"Even as the pressing need for military success waned, the Cedar Creek victory may have inspired Grant to consider a strike against Lee despite ample reasons for caution. Election or no, he would not hold back."

Day of Battle - October 27, 1864

"Grant had exercised his direct, hands-on command style...he rode directly to the key locations and consulted with the commanders... [he] took personal risks to examine conditions on the front firsthand. This ... helped him make reasonable choices."

Albert Mackey Reviews The Fight For The Old North State

Over on his Student of the American Civil War blog, Al Mackey has posted a nice review of The Fight For The Old North State.  It starts with a line I really love (and what author wouldn't): 

This book by Hampton Newsome was a lot of fun to read.

Here are some more excerpts:

It’s deeply researched, well written with a compelling narrative, and delves deeply into a part of the war most accounts simply gloss over .... Newsome masterfully places these actions within their historical context and doesn’t shy away from controversial and difficult issues, such as the confederate murder of surrendered and wounded black soldiers at Plymouth. His clear descriptions and the fantastic maps in the book facilitate easy understanding of what happened. This is an excellent book all students of the war will find useful. I can highly recommend it.

Mackey is a veracious reader and regularly posts reviews of books, talks, and other Civil War-related items on his blog. I was happy to provide him with a review copy of my book.

How Did the Confederates Capture Plymouth, North Carolina in April 1864?

Some final thoughts on the Battle of Plymouth in North Carolina to mark the anniversary of the fight. This is all detailed in The Fight For the Old North State: The Civil War in North Carolina, January-May 1864. Here is Thread 4:

Battle of Plymouth Anniversary: THREAD FOUR 

How Did the Confederates Capture Plymouth, North Carolina in April 1864?

Robert Hoke arrived outside the Plymouth fortifications on April 17. He captured an outer work, Fort Wessells, in a nighttime attack on the 18th. However, the primary Union positions- a continuous line on the right & detached redoubts on the left – remained secure.

But everything changed when the ironclad Albemarle arrived early on April 19th and attacked the USS Southfield and Miami, ramming & sinking the former immediately and driving the Miami away downstream.

The Albemarle’s victory made all the difference. The Union positions at Plymouth were not designed to protect from a naval threat. With the rebel gunboat firmly in control of the Roanoke River, it shelled the rear of Union positions. And Hoke prepared to land a decisive blow.

On April 20, Matt Ransom’s brigade, supported by the Albemarle, attacked the Union left to the east of Plymouth, overran the detached positions there, and flooded into town behind the Federal lines. After intense fighting, Union commander Henry Wessells surrendered to Hoke.

 

Who Were the Union Defenders at Plymouth, North Carolina in April 1864?

Still yet more thoughts on the Battle of Plymouth in North Carolina to mark the anniversary of the fight. This is all detailed in The Fight For the Old North State: The Civil War in North Carolina, January-May 1864. Here is Thread 3:

THREAD THREE:  Yankees, Buffaloes, & USCT Recruits.  Who Were the Union Defenders of Plymouth, North Carolina?

The Plymouth garrison, led by Henry Wessells, totaled about 2,800, including the 16th CT, 85th NY, and 101st and 103rd PA - along w/ detachments from the 2nd MA & 3rd PA Heavy Arty, 12th NY Cav., 24th NY Lt. Indep. Batt., 2 co's. of white NC volunteers (2nd NCUV), and 200+ African-American recruits.

The white NC Union volunteers were known as “Buffaloes.” At New Bern in Feb, Pickett captured and executed nearly two dozen of these men after finding they had previously served in rebel units. The controversy from the “Kinston Hangings” would follow Pickett well beyond the war.

Plymouth was an important recruiting station for USCT units. At the time of the battle, recruiting officers from the 10th, 37th, and 38th USCT, & the 2nd USCC were in the town. The new recruits, about 245, filled the fortifications to help fend off the Confederate attack.

Behind Plymouth's fortifications, the USS Southfield and Miami patroled the Roanoke River. The naval commander at Plymouth was Charles Flusser, a young, aggressive officer who had become obsessed with defeating the Confederate ironclad Albemarle incubating upriver.