Q & A July 19, 2019
Q & A July 19, 2019
The following are few of the questions I received from readers, and my responses, over the last year from my blogs, articles and books. I answer every question, and respond to all comments and suggestions.
(Q) I recently traveled through Arizona and we stopped at Picacho Peak, north of Tucson. There was a plaque commemorating the Battle of Picacho Peak as the farthest west military engagement between Confederate and Union troops. I thought Glorieta Pass in New Mexico held that honor. Can you enlighten me? (A) In a way both are correct. The battle of Glorieta Pass took place in March 1862 in northern New Mexico Territory (which at that time also included present day Arizona). The Confederates had already taken effective control of both Albuquerque and Santa Fe, and decided to march northward, with over a thousand soldiers to take control the mining areas in, what is now, Colorado. The area’s Union commander had assembled a force of about one thousand three hundred men, including volunteers from Northern New Mexico and Colorado, to try to halt the Confederate advance. The two forces met at the pass and a battle began which lasted most of three days. Both sides had over fifty men killed and nearly one hundred wounded. On the last day, a detachment of Union forces happened upon the large contingent of Confederate supply wagons (necessary for the long trip to Colorado) and destroyed the essential materials. The Confederates had no choice but to abandon the mission and return to Santa Fe and Albuquerque. After assessing the situation, most of the Southern forces moved back into Texas at San Antonio. On the other hand, the Picacho Pass engagement was a much smaller battle. Earlier, in February, a Confederate unit of about 120 men had entered Tucson and were generally welcomed by the citizens. In April, 1862, a few weeks after the battle at Glorieta Pass, a small Confederate scouting party of ten, which was part of the larger force stationed at Tucson, had a chance encounter with thirteen Union soldiers. Those Union troops were advance scouts who were part of the “California Column”, a force of two thousand formed to prevent Confederates from moving farther westward and into that state. The two small scouting parties clashed at Picacho Peak (sometimes referred to as Picacho Pass), north of Tucson in present day Arizona. Within an hour, three of the Californians were killed and three wounded; however, the survivors managed to capture three of the Confederates. The other seven Confederates returned to Tucson and alerted their commander, who then decided to abandon their position in Tucson. So, some claim that Glorieta Pass was the farthest westerly battle because large forces, with senior commanders directing battle plans, fought there. Although the two units which engaged at Picacho Peak were only scouting patrols, most historians agree that the fire-fight constituted the farthest battle in the west. And, I believe that the families of the three Union soldiers killed at Picacho Peak would agree that their sons died in a Civil War battle; which happened to be farther west than Glorieta Pass.
(Q) I recently visited the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum. I did not think the Library was user friendly, but the Museum was better than I expected. Have you used the Library and visited the Museum, and what are your impressions of both? (A) I agree that the Library is difficult to navigate, at least in comparison to some other libraries of historical significance. Not all of the works, articles, and documents in the Library are fully cross-referenced; generally, a result of the meager funding provided by the state of Illinois (which has enormous fiscal problems). Also, part of the problem is that the Library, when it was first formed was a bit too eager to be a primary depository, and accepted almost any materials donated regardless of the historical significance. As a result, librarians and curators were simply overwhelmed. On the other hand, the Museum was selective from the start. The organizing committees came up with a visually impressive design and integrated many different perspectives into the narratives and displays. I often say that this Presidential Museum is unlike others in that it attempts to show Lincoln and many of his contemporaries as human, with all of the flaws which we humans bear. It is definitely not just a “crowning of Saint Abe”. I think it is a remarkable museum and I go anytime I can. The Library is still useful to academics, and people like me, who are willing to trudge through the labyrinth.
(Q) Abraham Lincoln sent a lot of young men to fight and die in the Civil War. Did he have any close relatives who fought in the Civil War and/or died or were wounded. I know his son evaded service until the very end. (A) Lincoln had no brothers, only one step brother, and only a few male cousins, all who were near his age and were too old during the Civil War to join the military. His wife, Mary Todd, had seven brothers and half-brothers from Kentucky, five of whom fought for the Confederacy, although that state did not secede. Two, Alexander and Samuel, died in combat. Also, Lincoln was especially close to his brother-in-law, Benjamin Helm, the husband of Mary’s sister, Emilie. Helm, who became a Confederate General, was killed at Chickamauga, in 1863. Lincoln invited Emilie to stay for a while at the White House for which he was roundly criticized by the political opposition; but he told one critic simply, “Mrs. Lincoln and I are in the habit of choosing our own house guests.” Finally, I think your assessment of Robert Lincoln’s service record is too harsh. He was a first-year student at Harvard at the start of the war and tried several times to persuade his father to release him from a commitment to finish his degree so that he could join the Union Army. Mary Lincoln would become distraught at the thought and the President stalled Robert. In early 1865, although Robert had not yet formally graduated, Lincoln acquiesced to Robert and asked General Ulysses Grant to accept Robert on his staff. General Grant agreed and was always complimentary of Robert’s service. Grant, and other Generals, were concerned that if Robert was in an infantry or cavalry unit, he would be targeted by Confederates, which would have put other soldier’s lives at greater risk. Further, if he had been captured, the President would have been in an untenable position.
Q&A about Confederate Memorials. I had planned to include a new article consolidating the many questions and comments (and my responses) about the Confederate Memorial controversy; however, I changed my mind. I have over 4,000 followers of these articles and, for many, any discussion of that specific topic is as divisive, and even confrontational, as the monuments themselves. So, rather than just widely publish a summary of the letters I have received on the subject, I will offer the article only to those who request it. If you have an interest, simply “reply” to this e-mail or to the other e-mail address below and request the “Confederate Memorial Q&A” and I will email you the compilation article.
Contact the author at gadorris2@gmail.com or see prior articles under “Blogs” as the web-site www.alincolnbygadorris.com