Daniel Sutherland's Seasons of War Reading Guide
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There will be some main themes we will be following....
1. Soldier and home front morale. In most cases, morale rose with a major military victory and sunk with defeat (the same goes for morale in the Union). Low morale often led to military desertions.
2. Citizens were often inclined to suspect each other of disloyalty. This led to accusations of treason, the most overused word in the Civil War North and South. Watch for incidents of suspicion.
3. Watch for incidents of Union and Confederate soldiers unethical treatment of southerners. Notice in the 2nd (1864) occupation some northern leaders who tried to prevent this. I will be talking on something known as rules of just warfare that addresses this.
4. Pay attention to the Culpeper women. They are very interesting. Think about their thoughts and actions, especially during the two Union occupations. Notice the variety of responses among them.
5. Pay some attention to the thoughts on strategy of the various military leaders North and South. You don't need to spend time on the details of the two local military engagements at Cedar Mountain and Brandy Station (but if you find that interesting, please do, and bring it up in a class discussion if you like).
6. Notice the numerous hardships soldiers and citizens endured.
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Look over the map of Culpeper County in Sutherland's book. Find the Rappahannock and Rapidan Rivers. Notice the fords (places to cross the rivers). Locate Cedar Mountain and Brandy Station (the sites of two major military battles). Look over the location of the railroad line.
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1861 - "Spring"
Chapter 1: A Place and a People
Read the section on slavery and free blacks (bottom
of p. 11 - p 20). Slavery will be the topic of the instructor talk on Week
2).
What is the population of Culpeper County in 1861?
Roughly how many slaves live there? How many
free blacks?
What is the profession of the majority of white
males?
What are Culpeper's main agricultural
products?
Where do most "plain folk" live in
Culpeper County?
Where do most Germans live? What are they like?
What is Culpeper Courthouse like? What
professions are practiced there?
Get the general idea of the Orange and Alexandria
(O&A) railroad. (p. 10-11)
How many Culpeper residents own or rent slaves?
What kind of work do slaves do in Culpeper?
Note what Sutherland says about "slave
rebellions" (p. 13)
What are the differing views on slavery among
Culpeper citizens?
Generally, how well do the various ethnic, economic
and religious get along with one another? What divides the county
most?
Pay some attention to John Kelly, John
("Old Jack") Pendleton, and John Barbour. They appear several times in the
book.
Also note free black Willis Madden (p. 19 - 21).
Chapter 2: A Promise of Glory and Greatness
Note that John Letcher was the governor of
Virginia.
What Culpeper citizens pushed for secession/disunion?
(p. 30-31)
Why did businessmen resist secession? (p.
32-33)
Who was William Seward?
What caused James Barbour to finally embrace
secession? (p. 34)
Who is Mary Payne and what are her
views? (p. 35)
What military units were formed? Who led the
Hazelwood Volunteers (was he rich or poor?) Why did young men join up?
(p. 37-38)
Southern refugees will be a growing
problem during the war. What does Sutherland say about the them in the
first couple months? What else do families fear? (p. 44)
What was the romance between Daniel Grimsley and
Bette Browning like? (p.45)
What are young teenage boys doing? (p.46)
What professions profit economically from the
Confederate Army's presence? (p 47-48).
How do some professional men try to avoid combat
duty? (50-51)
What are some of the medical problems in the camp?
(p. 52)
What did Hiram Amiss say about secession? What
has this have to do with Treason? (p.53)
What do free blacks say publicly about Virginia
seceding?
How are free blacks treated by white Culpeper
residents. (p. 54 - 55)
What is Catherine Crittenden's problem with
her son going to war? (p. 55)
Ambrose Powell (A.P.) Hill of Culpeper is a lieutenant
general and commanded the Third Corps of Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern
Virginia. (p. 56)
The Culpeper soldiers head to Manassas for
the first major battle of the war. (p. 57 - 60)
Chapter 3: Glorious Terrible War
How do the soldiers feel after the battle? (p.
63)
How does the town reacted to the wounded? (p.
64-69)
We met Mary L. Payne on p. 35. Here is
one of her daughters, Millie (p. 66). Look up the Paynes in the
book's index (P.483-4), notice how many there are.
What is the difference between Monimia Carey
and her 18 year old daughter Constance? (p. 68)
What are the other young women doing?
What types of thoughts are Daniel Grimsley having
about Manassas? (p. 70)
Read about what Culpeper Unionists. (p.
72 - 73)
What is going on with Culpeper churches? (p.
74 - 75)
What is "foraging" and who is doing
it to whom? (p. 77)
How many men are dying and from what? (p. 77 -
78)
More on youthful romance (p. 79 - 80).
Why are the northerners a "curious race and a
stubborn lot?" (p. 83)
1862 - "Summer"
Chapter 4: Invasion
Notice the word "enslaved" when Governor
Letcher compares Lincoln to a tyrannical and oppressive monarch of 80 years
earlier. Who is Letcher talking about? (p. 87 - 88)
I will explain what the "cotton embargo"
was (bottom p. 88)
What products does Culpeper need? (p. 89)
What does the Virginia legislature do on February
8? (p. 89)
I will explain the "catastrophic western
defeats." (p. 90)
The issue of what men should fight the war... (p.
91)
What Confederate generals arrive in Culpeper on
March 12? (p. 94)
What is the main problem of logistics in northern
Virginia? (p. 94 - 95)
How do people feel about "militia
mobilization" / conscription? (bottom p. 97 - 98)
What happens on March 28 and 29? (p. 100 -
101)
Notice the part about letter writing and
literacy (p. 103)
How are things going for the Confederacy along the
eastern seaboard and in the western theater (Tennessee)? (p. 105)
Read about "Jefferson Davis' universal
conscription act" (conscription, both North and the South,
is very divisive) (p. 106)
What does George Williams say to Gertrude about
their slaves? (p. 111)
What does Williams say about Unionists?
(p. 112)
Who is in charge of the (Union) Army of
Virginia? (p.114)
What happens on July 12? (p.115)
Chapter 5: Occupation
What had Pope done in Missouri? (p. 118)
Pay attention to all talk about Guerrillas
throughout 1863)
Who do the Culpeper residents hope is coming?
(p. 119)
What happens when the Union army occupies Culpeper
in 1862? What orders does General Pope issue? How do Culpeper
Unionists respond? What happens to free black Willis Madden? How do
Culpeper Unionists respond? (p. 119 - 129)
What does Pope do to Union deserters? (bottom
of p. 129)
Why is Pope "suddenly in trouble" on
August 8? ) (bot of p. 130-131).
What is "seeing the elephant?" Why
does this concern soldiers? (p. 133)
The rest of the chapter (p. 134 - 151) is about the
Confederate victory at Cedar Mountain. What are the Crittenden women
doing during the battle? How about the slaves? How does Stonewall
Jackson turn the battle? (p. 143)
Whose homes are used as hospitals and what wounded
are attended to? Who are the "scavengers" and who do
they victimize? (p. 149) Who are the "shirkers, skulkers, and
coffee boilers." (p. 151).
Chapter 6: Liberation
What is the day after the battle like? What
are the "hospitals" like? What Culpeper men died in the
battle? (p. 153 - 160)
On the 2nd day, what does Jackson give Pope
permission to do?
What woman (later famous) arrives in Culpeper on
August 13? (p. 167)
What are the Union soldiers doing to the Culpeper
citizens? What does one Union officer think about the poorer folk?
(p. 169)
What is the Confederate assessment of the Union
army's various ethic groups; the Dutch, the Germans, the Irish and the 'pious'
New Englanders? (p. 170)
Why does Lincoln and Pope lighten up on General
Order 5? (p. 173)
On August 19, who is at the river ready to cross
into Culpeper? (p 174 - 175) What two groups of people are leaving
Culpeper and where are they going?
While Lee is figuring out what to do about Pope's
army, how is Jackson "passing the time?" 177
When Lee enters Culpeper on 8/20 what reception does
he get?
Who was Charles Mason and what happened to
him? (p. 179)
Chapter 7: Lost in Admiration
What
does Lee's army eat and how do they sleep on August 21? (p. 181)
Do Lee's soldiers trust his knowledge and judgement (p. 182)
What is being a part of an artillery battle like? (p. 183)
How is Stonewall Jackson an "odd duck?" (p. 183 - 184)
Who leads a raid against Pope's army? (p. 185) What happens?
What four subjects dominate public debate? What are the issues with each? (p. bot. 189 - 191)
What gets issued Sept. 22? What are the concerns? (p. 191)
I will explain the Nov 1862 election in the North and what "Copperheads" have to do with this (p. 192)
What is going on at the Cedar Mountain battlefield? (bottom p. 193)
What is the food situation in Culpeper County now? (p. 193)
What kind of deprivations are the Confederate soldiers experiencing? (p. 194-197)
How do Culpeper farmers make money? (bottom p. 197)
Where is the Union army and what is it doing most of November? (p. 198 - 199)
In mid-November, where does Lee send Jackson and where does Lee go? (p. 199) Note that Culpeper is now unguarded.
What big battle closes out 1862 and which side wins? (p. 200 - 201)
Do Lee's soldiers trust his knowledge and judgement (p. 182)
What is being a part of an artillery battle like? (p. 183)
How is Stonewall Jackson an "odd duck?" (p. 183 - 184)
Who leads a raid against Pope's army? (p. 185) What happens?
What four subjects dominate public debate? What are the issues with each? (p. bot. 189 - 191)
What gets issued Sept. 22? What are the concerns? (p. 191)
I will explain the Nov 1862 election in the North and what "Copperheads" have to do with this (p. 192)
What is going on at the Cedar Mountain battlefield? (bottom p. 193)
What is the food situation in Culpeper County now? (p. 193)
What kind of deprivations are the Confederate soldiers experiencing? (p. 194-197)
How do Culpeper farmers make money? (bottom p. 197)
Where is the Union army and what is it doing most of November? (p. 198 - 199)
In mid-November, where does Lee send Jackson and where does Lee go? (p. 199) Note that Culpeper is now unguarded.
What big battle closes out 1862 and which side wins? (p. 200 - 201)
1863 - "Autumn"
Chapter 8: To Be a Confederate Soldier
Read all about Major John Pelham. What is he like? (p. 207 - 209)
How much did Robert Yancey pay for Fanny? (p. 210)
What is happening to northern confidence in Lincoln, particularly in the mid-west? I'll explain who Clement Vallandigham was (p. 211)
How do church members feel about the escaping slaves? (p. 212)
What is going on with Culpeper churches overall?
In what direction is 37 year old Richard Watkins' attitude moving? (top p. 214)
Who is Fitzhugh Lee, what is he like, and what is happening at Bel Pre? (p. 241-215)
Read about the skirmish on March 17. (p. 217 - 221). What happens to John Pelham?
What is the lull in action like after the battle (p. 222 - 224)
Who is Sally Armstrong? How old is she? Where does she live? What are her thoughts like? (bot. p. 224 - 226)
Why would Culpeper resident John Minor Botts be visited by Union General Averell on Averell's ride into Culpeper? (p. 227)
Chapter 9: Perplexed, but Not in Despair
Culpeper residents learn what two things about Chancellorsville May 7 & 10. What did they learn? (p. 232)
How is Jeb (J.E.B.) Stuart portrayed? (p. 233-4)
How does Lee reorganize his army after Jackson's death? What Culpeper man is a source of local pride? (p. 235)
What is Lee thinking about doing on June 8, and why? (p. 237)
What was Jeb Stuart's "review" intended to do? What was John Bott's complaint? (p. 239 - 241)
The June 9 battle of Brandy Station was the war's largest Calvary battle. The results were inconclusive but the Union learned that Lee was preparing to move his army. You can skip pages (bottom of) 242 - 254 is you are not interested in the details of the battle.
Why does the battle trouble Robert E. Lee? (p. 256). What angers Stuart? (p. 257-8)
What does Dorsey Pender have right that most Confederate leaders have wrong? (last sentence of p. 262)
How is Jeb (J.E.B.) Stuart portrayed? (p. 233-4)
How does Lee reorganize his army after Jackson's death? What Culpeper man is a source of local pride? (p. 235)
What is Lee thinking about doing on June 8, and why? (p. 237)
What was Jeb Stuart's "review" intended to do? What was John Bott's complaint? (p. 239 - 241)
The June 9 battle of Brandy Station was the war's largest Calvary battle. The results were inconclusive but the Union learned that Lee was preparing to move his army. You can skip pages (bottom of) 242 - 254 is you are not interested in the details of the battle.
Why does the battle trouble Robert E. Lee? (p. 256). What angers Stuart? (p. 257-8)
What does Dorsey Pender have right that most Confederate leaders have wrong? (last sentence of p. 262)
Chapter 10: Return of the Yankees
Why is John Minor Botts' acceptance of Confederate currency for his cows' milk unusual? (p. 265)
How does God fit into residents' morale at this point of the war? (p. 266)
What is going on with the morale of men not from Virginia? (p. 268)
Who plunders and robs the Culpeper residents? What does Union Lieutenant Rufus B. Dawes do? (p. 271)
What are the slaves doing? What are Union attitudes about the slaves? (p. 271) What did John Kelly do with his slaves? (p. 272)
More on religion (p. 274)
What does Captain Charles Francis Adams, Jr. do? (p.275 - 276)
What happens on September 13? Who is in charge of the Union Army (the Army of the Potomac)? (p. 277)
What is John Minor Botts doing in late September? He was selling milk to Confederates just a few weeks ago. (p. 286)
Who has Culpeper "in his grasp" by late September (last sentence, p. 287).
Why is John Minor Botts' acceptance of Confederate currency for his cows' milk unusual? (p. 265)
How does God fit into residents' morale at this point of the war? (p. 266)
What is going on with the morale of men not from Virginia? (p. 268)
Who plunders and robs the Culpeper residents? What does Union Lieutenant Rufus B. Dawes do? (p. 271)
What are the slaves doing? What are Union attitudes about the slaves? (p. 271) What did John Kelly do with his slaves? (p. 272)
More on religion (p. 274)
What does Captain Charles Francis Adams, Jr. do? (p.275 - 276)
What happens on September 13? Who is in charge of the Union Army (the Army of the Potomac)? (p. 277)
What is John Minor Botts doing in late September? He was selling milk to Confederates just a few weeks ago. (p. 286)
Who has Culpeper "in his grasp" by late September (last sentence, p. 287).
Chapter 11: Equinox
Why is Meade "hopping mad" on October 11? (p. 290 - 291). Where are the armies now?
What does Lee say when a Culpeper woman points out several younger women who were visiting Union general Sedgwick's quarters? (p. 293)
Lee takes responsibility for whose failure at Bristoe Station? What does tell James Seddon was the reason for the loss? (p. 294 - 295)
What were the Union soldiers eating? (p. 296, 308)
How do things go for the Confederates on Nov 7 -10? (p. 300 - 303)
Where are the Union generals staying this winter? (P. 305)
How did the Union make out when Meade went after Lee November 26 - December 3? (p. 307) What does the northern press say?
Overall, how is Lee making out against Meade?
The Union tried soldiers for cases of what? (p. 310) What penalty if often paid? (p. 311)
Who are Union soldiers perpetrating most of their crimes on? (p. 311)
What unethical actions do soldiers take against civilians and what does Meade do about it? (p. 312 -313)
How do the civilians react to the vandalism? (p. 314)
What does Lee say when a Culpeper woman points out several younger women who were visiting Union general Sedgwick's quarters? (p. 293)
Lee takes responsibility for whose failure at Bristoe Station? What does tell James Seddon was the reason for the loss? (p. 294 - 295)
What were the Union soldiers eating? (p. 296, 308)
How do things go for the Confederates on Nov 7 -10? (p. 300 - 303)
Where are the Union generals staying this winter? (P. 305)
How did the Union make out when Meade went after Lee November 26 - December 3? (p. 307) What does the northern press say?
Overall, how is Lee making out against Meade?
The Union tried soldiers for cases of what? (p. 310) What penalty if often paid? (p. 311)
Who are Union soldiers perpetrating most of their crimes on? (p. 311)
What unethical actions do soldiers take against civilians and what does Meade do about it? (p. 312 -313)
How do the civilians react to the vandalism? (p. 314)
1864 - 1865 "Winter"
Chapter 12: A Yankee Village
What estimated 2,500 people arrive in Culpeper?
What do they do while there? (p. 317-320)
What is the U.S. Sanitary Commission? What prominent male is with them?
What kind of person is Cornelia Hancock and what is her attitude about war? (p. 322)
How does she get along with Dr. Dudley? (p. 322)
What is the goal of the U.S. Christian Commission? (bot p. 323 - 324)
How do the newspaper photographers and illustrators depict the situation in Culpeper for the northern public? (p. 329)
What is private Edwin Wentworth angry about? (p. 331)
What are the common Union soldiers doing about the lack of women? (p. 332)
What "mercenaries" are causing some problems in camp? (p. 333 - 334) How is character of the army changing?
What did Kilpatrick try to do? How did Custer have a "hell of a good time?" (p. 335)
What is going on with Mrs. Payne and her daughters? (p. 340)
What is the relationship between most Culpeper residents and Union soldiers? (p. 339)
John Mosby, the Grey Ghost, was an very effective Confederate partisan ranger leader (p. 340)
March 25. Ulysses S. Grant arrives in Culpeper. Read p. 342 - 347 carefully for as much information as you can.
What do the Union soldiers think of their new commanding officer? (p. 343)
Grant reorganizes the Army of the Potomac, making it "leaner." (p. 344 - 345)
The plan:
Sherman, who routed Meridan, Ms in February, and is now Commander of the West, will attack Georgia (then probably Alabama).
Franz Sigel will take the Shenandoah Valley.
David Farragut will assault Mobile Bay, Alabama
Grant and Meade will go after Lee's Army of Northern Virginia.
Who arrives on April 5? (p. 347)
Chapter 13: An Unsettled State
Who is ordered to leave Culpeper by April 16? (p. 349)
What is going on with some of the Unionists (p. 352 - 354)?
What about Mary Paine and her daughter? (p. 354)
What worries the loyal Confederates of Culpeper? (bottom p. 355)
What are the Union soldiers' opinions of Grant? What else troubles them? What happened at Fort Pillow, Tennessee? (p. 356 - 358) South of Culpeper? (p. 360)
How many men are in the Army of the Potomac Meade is leading and Grant is riding with? When does the army leave Culpeper to go after Lee and the Army of Northern Virginia? (p. 358 - 359)
With the Union army out of Culpeper, what happens there? (p. 360 - 362)
What battlefield news is reaching Culpeper (p. 362)
What is going on with Culpeper's free blacks? (bottom p. 362 - 364).
What estimated 2,500 people arrive in Culpeper?
What do they do while there? (p. 317-320)
What is the U.S. Sanitary Commission? What prominent male is with them?
What kind of person is Cornelia Hancock and what is her attitude about war? (p. 322)
How does she get along with Dr. Dudley? (p. 322)
What is the goal of the U.S. Christian Commission? (bot p. 323 - 324)
How do the newspaper photographers and illustrators depict the situation in Culpeper for the northern public? (p. 329)
What is private Edwin Wentworth angry about? (p. 331)
What are the common Union soldiers doing about the lack of women? (p. 332)
What "mercenaries" are causing some problems in camp? (p. 333 - 334) How is character of the army changing?
What did Kilpatrick try to do? How did Custer have a "hell of a good time?" (p. 335)
What is going on with Mrs. Payne and her daughters? (p. 340)
What is the relationship between most Culpeper residents and Union soldiers? (p. 339)
John Mosby, the Grey Ghost, was an very effective Confederate partisan ranger leader (p. 340)
March 25. Ulysses S. Grant arrives in Culpeper. Read p. 342 - 347 carefully for as much information as you can.
What do the Union soldiers think of their new commanding officer? (p. 343)
Grant reorganizes the Army of the Potomac, making it "leaner." (p. 344 - 345)
The plan:
Sherman, who routed Meridan, Ms in February, and is now Commander of the West, will attack Georgia (then probably Alabama).
Franz Sigel will take the Shenandoah Valley.
David Farragut will assault Mobile Bay, Alabama
Grant and Meade will go after Lee's Army of Northern Virginia.
Who arrives on April 5? (p. 347)
Chapter 13: An Unsettled State
Who is ordered to leave Culpeper by April 16? (p. 349)
What is going on with some of the Unionists (p. 352 - 354)?
What about Mary Paine and her daughter? (p. 354)
What worries the loyal Confederates of Culpeper? (bottom p. 355)
What are the Union soldiers' opinions of Grant? What else troubles them? What happened at Fort Pillow, Tennessee? (p. 356 - 358) South of Culpeper? (p. 360)
How many men are in the Army of the Potomac Meade is leading and Grant is riding with? When does the army leave Culpeper to go after Lee and the Army of Northern Virginia? (p. 358 - 359)
With the Union army out of Culpeper, what happens there? (p. 360 - 362)
What battlefield news is reaching Culpeper (p. 362)
What is going on with Culpeper's free blacks? (bottom p. 362 - 364).
Chapter 14: To Every Thing a Season
This chapter briefly describes Culpeper in early 1865 as Confederate defeat becomes increasingly apparent. It also describes what ultimately happened to many Culpeper residents after the war; John Minor Botts, Mary L. Payne and her daughter, Willis Madden, and the young sweethearts Daniel Grimsley and Betty Browning.
Read what Sutherland says about "war
weariness" and post-war bitterness (p. 382-83)
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