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A stage coach is a great machine, and had it the gift of language, would undoubtedly tell some very strange stories.

We have heard of “love in a stage coach,” “birth in a stage coach,” of drivers getting intoxicated and falling off the box–of passengers becoming exceedingly happy over a bottle of old cognac -of break-downs, runaways–of sticking fast in the mud, of upsets and broken heads, and bruised limbs: but never, until yesterday, have we known of a “fight in a stage coach.”

And yesterday, sure enough, this interesting amusement was added to stage coach varieties. It seems that a large, portly, aristocratic looking old chap stopped at Mr. DOAK’S; and after enjoying, for a season, the best the house could afford, which, we are informed, is as good as the market produces, he attempted to leave without paying his bill; and when Mr. D. reminded him that he had forgotten the host, he (the large man,) invited Mr. D. to get in the stage and ride down street with him, when he would settle with him; but instead of complying with his promise, he attempted to bully Mr. D out of his dues, and when he found he could not do that he absolutely choked him.

This was rather poor pay for good eating, drinking and lodging, and so incensed Mr. D. that he turned in, and “the very fact of the business is,” gave the large man a good flogging.

Source

Collection: The Civil War
Publication: News of the Day
Date: April 25, 1855
Title: A Stage Coach is a Great Machine…
Location: Vincennes, Indiana

Last week it was whispered that the President contemplated visiting the Army of the Potomac, and, with the prospect of reviews, the troops set themselves hard at work burnishing arms, brightening up uniforms, and otherwise preparing for the grand inspection. Saturday we looked for him, and were disappointed. Saturday night, in the driving storm that swept down tents like cobwebs, we were glad that he had not come; but on Sunday morning, with the snow piled in huge drifts about the camps, and the wind whistling fiercely over the hills, a dispatch came saying that the President was on his way from Aquia to headquarters.

Of course there was great bustle. Carriages were dispatched to the station, escorted by the lancers; tents were hastily erected for the accommodation of the guests, and the quarters of Gen. Hooker put in order for the reception, while the staff ordered clean collars and an extra polish upon their boots. About eleven the cortège arrived, the President, Mrs. Lincoln and Master Lincoln riding with General Butterfield, and followed by the Attorney General and other gentlemen in another carriage. General Hooker came out upon the plank footwalk uncovered, welcomed the visitors warmly, and as suddenly disappeared with them in his tent, while the group of spectators gradually dispersed. There was no cheering or demonstrations of any kind. Curiosity seemed satisfied, and the officers retired to their quarters to talk over the event of the day and prepare for the expected reception.

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One of the volumes in our The Civil War — Part II: The Soldiers’ Perspective is History Of The Pennsylvania Reserve Corps: A Complete Record of the Organization; and of the Different Companies, Regiments and Brigades Containing Descriptions of Expeditions, Marches, Skirmishes And Battles; Together with Biographical Sketches of Officers and Personal Records of Each Man During his Term of Service. By J.R. Sypher, Esq. Lancaster, Pennsylvania and Compiled from official Reports and other Documents in the year 1864.

This book is over seven hundred pages long and is one of the most complete histories ever compiled by a Civil War Corp. The volume’s text is fully searchable.

Dedication

To His Excellency, Hon. Andrew G. Curtin, Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, The earnest Patriot and the Friend of the Soldier, this record of distinguished services, and roll of honor is inscribed.

Preface (excerpted)

The Great Rebellion of the Southern States was formally opened and war commenced by the attack of the conspirators on Fort Sumter, in Charleston Harbor, in South Carolina, on the 12th day of April, 1861. After resisting the terrific attack for two days, early on the morning of the 14th of April, the garrison of less than one hundred men, surrendered to an attacking army of over two thousand strong. On the 15th day of the same month, the day following the fall of Fort Sumter, Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States, issued a proclamation, calling out seventy-five thousand militia from the several States in the Union, to serve during a term of three months, in the war against the rebels. A requisition was made on the State of Pennsylvania for fourteen regiments. These were promptly furnished, and, such was the patriotic ardor of the people, that the number was increased to twenty-five regiments fully organized; and as many more regiments, offered by the people, were not accepted by the War Department.

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While Godey’s Lady’s Book avoided mentioning the Civil War while it was occurring,  the effects, including scarcities of some products, of the war on its readership is hinted at in some articles.

This February 1863 item provides instructions for making several women’s toiletries at home.

Our Civil War Collection: A Newspaper Perspective contains major articles gleaned from over 2,500 issues of The New York Herald, The Charleston Mercury and the Richmond Enquirer, published between November 1, 1860 and April 15, 1865.

Coverage begins with the events preceding the outbreak of war at Fort Sumter, continues through the surrender at Appomattox and concludes with the assassination and funeral of Abraham Lincoln.

This detailed summary of the Southern forts appeared in the January 14, 1861 edition of The Charleston Mercury,

Southern Forts

FORT MACON, BEAUFORT, N.C.

Fort Macon protects Beaufort, N.C., and is situated on a bluff on Bogiebank, one and three fourths mile from the city. It commands the entrance to Beaufort harbor, having full sweep of fire on the main channel. The opposite entrance to the harbor is Shackleford bank, one and a half miles across. The fortification is of hexagonal form, has two tiers of gins, one in casemated bombproofs and the other en barbette.

Its armament consists of twenty thirty two pounders, thirty two twenty four pounders, two eighteen pounders, two twelve pounders, three field pieces for flanking defense, twelve flank howitzers (heavy), eight eight-inch howitzers (light), one thirteen inch mortar, three ten inch mortars, two Coehorn mortars. Total, eighty-seven guns.

The war garrison of the fort is three hundred men. This fort, requires pointing in many places; nearly all the iron work, such as door and window fastenings, are rusted away. One of the wooden bridges across the ditch is decayed, as also the shingled entire slope of the covered way. The shot furnace is useless, the storerooms need renovation, and the roadway requires to have its embankment repaired, and a new bridge to be built across the canal. The wharf having its piers undermined by the sea current and its wooden superstructure much decayed, requires to be rebuilt.

The fortification cost the Federal Government half a million dollars.

Fort Macon from the Shoreward Side

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