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NYC Civil War Diary, with Exceptional Abraham Lincoln Assassination and High Points in the War Content
NYC Civil War Diary, with Exceptional Abraham Lincoln Assassination and High Points in the War Content
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Description:

Civil War

NYC 400 Civilian Civil War Diary, with Exceptional War, Copperhead, and Abraham Lincoln Assassination Content

 

Outstanding war-dated diary kept by George Beach De Forest (born 1848) between August 1864 and November 1865 in Burlington, Vermont, Glenmore, New York and New York City. The 257pp diary also features calligraphy, homemade cover decoration, and a few illustrations. The full title page reads: "Diary. 1864, 5. George Beach D.F." The author's initials "G.B.D.F." appear under numerous entries. Bound between marbled boards, with morocco leather binding and corners. In near fine condition. Covers with expected minor wear, and uniform toning within, the book measuring 7.5" x 9.75" x 1."

 

Major recurring themes that can be found throughout De Forest's diary are: 1) General war news, pertaining to specific battles, army generals, troop movements, campaigns, and drafts; 2) Political commentary, especially De Forest's praise of the Republican Party and his condemnation of Copperheads, Confederates, and Europeans; and 3) A detailed account April 1865 including the surrender, the assassination, and Booth's apprehension.

 

Our diarist George Beach De Forest was a well-read and opinionated teenager (15-17 years old) when he wrote this 13-month-long account of pivotal events towards the end of the Civil War. Born in New York City in 1848 to George Beach De Forest (1806-1865) and Margaret Eliza De Forest (m. 1836), the younger George was privileged. His family were members of New York's elite social class the "400", and they had ties to Connecticut shoreline gentry. George eventually attended "Columbia College", where he was a member of the Class of 1871 and the Psi Upsilon Fraternity. He married Anita Hargous in 1882.

 

When the diary begins, George is summering in Burlington, Vermont where he occasionally teaches day school. He traveled to New York City that autumn, where he haphazardly studied Latin, Greek, French, Algebra, and higher arithmetic when not attending concerts, circuses, minstrel and comedy shows, and operas. The lackadaisical student nevertheless had a lively interest in reading: Dickens, Longfellow, Irving-- even the histories of Napoleon. George strolled in Central Park, ice skated with friends, and drank hot chocolate. Most importantly, he wrote down what he had seen, heard, and read. And much was going on in the national arena.

 

De Forest's observations of the daily weather and street sightings makes for fun and interesting reading. Yet it is his highly detailed entries describing current events and war happenings that truly capture the moment. From a historical perspective, Beach writes in the same style and spirit that propelled South Carolinian diarist Mary Chestnut to national prominence in documentary filmmaker Ken Burns's epic series The Civil War (1990).

 

See below for representative excerpts, reflecting only a very small part of this densely inscribed and lengthy diary.

 

GENERAL WAR NEWS

 

De Forest stayed informed by scouring the newspapers. He also gathered news at the Union League Club, from friends, relatives, or visitors, and from telegrams. He wrote obsessively about the latest war news, and often offered his analysis of the events.

 

September 3, 1864: "We received news this morning of the fall of Atlanta at which we rejoice greatly, may out generals follow up their victory…" (14)

 

March 14, 1865: "Sheridan is doing all sorts of things down South, burning bridges breaking canals and playing the devil generally." (83)

 

March 17, 1865: "The end of the Rebellion is near I think. The hour of revenge comes swiftly on / When the South shall be no more / And the shame which she on the North has brought / Shall depart for evermore." (84)

 

March 23, 1865: "No news as yet, except fresh accounts of the Barbarity of the Rebels." (85)

 

March 26, 1865: "The News is that the Rebels made an attack on one of Gen. Grant's forts in the night surprised and captured it with all the garrison but pushing on to another fort, our men repelled them three times and finally pursued them capturing 1800 prisoners our own fort and prisoners again as well, the Rebels left a larger number dead on the field…" (89).

 

April 2, 1865: "We have received some news to this effect, that Sheridan had captured the Southside R.R. and with three brigades of Rebels several batteries of artillery and a wagon train quite a success and furthermore that our men have broken through the Rebel line of ranks from Hatcher's run to the Appomattox." (92)

 

April 3, 1865: "Uncle Tom Gale came in to see her [George's mother in, and while he was there, in the course of this conversation, he told her very quietly that he need not be at all troubled about the fate of our armies, as we had captured Richmond, with this my father began to shakes, and hurting in his legs he fell such on the couch, and declared himself ready to do, not that Richmond was taken…Flags are all over the city, and great excitement prevails." (92).

 

April 4-5, 1865: "The news is that the Rebels are in full retreat, Grant and Sheridan after them…the Rebels were…running to their home leaving the road covered with arms, Lee has lost a great many men by straggling in this retreat." (93)

 

April 7, 1865: "We have received telegrams from Sheridan, reporting fighting since Monday he has beaten Lee severely, taken many prisoners among whom are several generals; The Rebels seem to be near the last ditch now." (94)

 

April 10, 1865: "Gen Lee has surrendered the army to Grant on Sunday afternoon, all the men are allowed to go to their homes, there to await the order of the Government." (95)

 

April 11, 1865: "After school I took a walk with Hary [sic as far as Central Park. The number of flags in the streets is great, they present a very beautiful appearance." (96)

 

POLITICAL COMMENTARY

 

De Forest was a zealous Unionist and Republican. He despised Copperheads, the Northern Peace Democrats who advocated negotiating a settlement with the Confederacy, with all the fervor of a teenaged boy. He viewed them as dangerous and nefarious conspirators; they agitated crowds, stockpiled and transported arms, poisoned the community's water supply, and set hotel fires around the city! According to De Forest, these "rank traitors" destabilized the Union, and by doing so, aided and abetted the South.

 

August 27, 1864: "Every Copperhead should be put in Fort La Fayette [fort in Brooklyn, New York because if this is not done, the streets of New-York will present a spectacle like the French Revolution…" (7)

 

August 31, 1864: "And the Copperheads will soon find that the stillness of the Union man is but the lull before the storm…While Mr. Lincoln is in the presidential chair we shall have revenge while he governs we shall have no peace till every Rebels [sic in arms be sent to Hell…" (11-12)

 

September 8, 1864: "England would like nothing better than to form a monarchy here with the help of the Rebels and Copperheads; France is already trying to form one in Mexico, and this we are surrounded with enemies…" (18)

 

October 8, 1864: "The Conspiracy of the Knights of the Golden Circle is being ferreted out, and it seems to be quite a formidable affair." (32)

 

November 10, 1864: "We are safe, since Lincoln and the republican party are in, for four years." (46)

 

March 15, 1864: "I hear today that they are drafting in this ward but very quietly…The Copperheads in school are very numerous, poor miserable whipped dogs they are like, willing to kiss the hands of those who struck them." (83)

 

Like many members of New York's upper classes, De Forest held some of the more pedestrian cultural and socio-economic prejudices. On anti-Irish sentiment:

 

August 30, 1864: "the low ignorant class of Irish who throng the streets" (10)

 

March 15, 1865: "I am glad that they are going to enforce the draft because it will show those boasting Irish, what power our government has." (83)

 

April 24, 1865: "I am ashamed of New York; the trick is that the city is governed by ? and nothing else ignorant Irish hold the reins of government here…" (104)

 

LINCOLN'S ASSASSINATION and after

 

Exceptional coverage is given to the assassination of President Lincoln and its aftermath, with De Forest providing first-had accounts of all the aspects of a major American city in mourning. Of particular interest is how news--sometimes inaccurate--trickled in immediately after April 14, 1865.

 

April 15, 1865: "Our rejoicing is changed into mourning, President Lincoln was shot in the Theatre last night in Washington…Mr. Lincoln and his wife went together with Col. Park of Gen Grant's staff between one of the acts, a man sent in his card to be introduced to the president, when he was admitted he fired a pistol…the American flag did all she could, she tripped him as he jumped on the stage but what could she do more…" (97-98)

 

"We have since received news that both the Sec [Secretary of State William Seward and son are dead, and the nurse not expected to live. Mr Lincoln of course can not live…it is great National calamity, a president murdered, and such a president, may hell fire and damnation eternal be the lot of his murdered and all implicated in the fiendish plot. Behold an instance of Southern chivalry, murdering [such a man, brave noble Southerners!" (98)

 

April 16, 1865: "Almost every house has some mark of respect…crape [sic is handing from balconies and windows, and instead of the gay scene which the place presented a few days ago, is one of sorrow and lamentation." (99)

 

April 17, 1865: "The President's funeral is to take place Wednesday, there will be services in all the churches, on that day. The Copperheads in school did not say much, I guess that they were as much shocked as we were." (101)

 

April 18, 1865: "I suppose [Mr. Lincoln's funeral will be a sight with much scenery, all are to go on foot, the only carriage is for the president's family. We had our house draped from the balcony to the ground…The President's remains are to taken to Illinois at the request of his wife although it was proposed to place him in the vault formerly prepared for Washington." (101)

 

April 22, 1865: "The president's remains are to be brought here Monday and exposed to public view in the City Hall, on the procession will be formed and will pass up Broadway to 14st, thence to 50st, up that to 34st then till the Hudson River RR. N business is doing now, everybody seems to be waiting, my school attendance is very irregular and is likely to be a week or two..." (103)

 

April 25, 1865: "…much to the surprise of us all he insisted upon going up to Grandmother's to see the procession, and he did go; the carriage was to come at 1 1/2 o clock but when they got to 34thst it was so crowded they had to go round to 6Ave corner…The procession began very punctually, it was very long indeed, the first part consisted of different regiments, of infantry cavalry and artillery, the funeral car was very beautiful and the 7Reg look very well, after these came the Union League Club, and then these miserable Irish ?, a great crowd of them, with temperance banners, (they were all drunk that night I dare say). But last of all and what I thought were the best part came the darkies, not many, because the body of them had refused to mark if they could not do so within their guard. The dress was all white handkerchiefs when they came past, which taken shows what the feeling was in New York." (105)

 

April 27, 1865: "The assassin Booth is shot, he was traced to a farm by a party of Cavalry, he was found in a barn with another man, they were called upon to surrender, his friend was willing to surrender but upon Booth calling him a coward he refused…It seems that they have also caught a Dr. Mud [Dr. Samuel Mudd (1833-1883) who set Booth's leg for him, I hope they will hang him. Booth's last message to his mother was that he died for his country, he was a most desperate man." (106)

 

May 4, 1865: "The President has come out with a Proclamation, offering rewards for the capture of Davis, Beverly Tucker and three leading rebels, on account of participation in the plot for the murder of Pres - Lincoln and the attempted murder of Sec Seward, the proofs of this guilt are numerous, they themselves are in Canada…" (110)

 

A stupendous Civil War dated archive, promising HOURS of enjoyment!

 

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