Subdued by the Sword

James M. Greiner

Description

Drawing on previously unpublished letters written by John S. Kidder to his wife, Harriet, during the Civil War, James M. Greiner recounts the triumphs and tragedies endured by one New York family. Kidder, a carriage maker living in the rural village of Laurens, responded to President Lincoln's call in the summer of 1862 for more troops by personally recruiting over seventy men living nearby. Serving under Emory Upton, considered one of the most talented soldiers produced by the Union, Kidder was captain of Company I of the 121st New York Volunteers. The regiment saw action at Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Rappahannock Station, the Wilderness, and Spotsylvania. Kidder's letters home contain rich details of camp life, the difficulties of commanding men who had only recently been his neighbors, and the highs and lows associated with soldiering during the Civil War. They also reveal Harriet's struggle to maintain the family home and business due to the uncertainties of army pay.

Acknowledgments

1. The New Americans (1830–1862)

2. "You must not fret about me" (November 1862–April 1863)

3. ". . . a most terrible battle" (May 1863–July 1863)

4. "I do not wish to boast, but . . ." (August 1863–April 1864)

5. "I rec'd a severe wound in the face" (May 1864)

6. U.S. General Hospital, Annapolis, Maryland (May 1864–June 1864)

7. Elmira Prison (July 1864–December 1864)

8. "Victory is ours" (January 1865–April 1865)

9. Laurens, the Port Warden and Retirement (1865–1905)

Appendix A

Appendix B

Notes

Bibliography

Index

Sujets

• USA
• United States of America
• History of the Americas
• États-Unis

Informations

• Publié par: State University of New York Press
• Date de parution: 01 février 2012
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9780791486139
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 3 Mo

Extrait

Subdued by the Sword

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Subdued by the Sword

A Line Officer in the 121st New York Volunteers

J AMES M. G REINER

State University of New York Press

Published by State Universit y of New York Press, Albany

© 2003 State Universit y of New York

All rights reserved

Printed in the United States of America

No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission. No part of this book may be stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means including electronic, electrostatic, magnetic tape, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without the prior permission in writing of the publisher.

For information, address State Universit y of New York Press, 90 State Street, Suite 700, Albany, NY 12207

Production by Judith Block Marketing by Anne Valentine

Library of Congress Control Number Greiner, James M., 1954– Subdued by the sword : a line officer in the 121st New York Volunteers / James M. Greiner. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references (p. ) and index. ISBN 0791458679 (alk. paper) — ISBN 0791458687 (pbk. : alk. paper) 1. Kidder, John S., d. 1905. 2. Kidder, John S., d. 1905—Correspondence. 3. United States. Army. New York Infantr y Regiment, 121st (1861–1865) 4. New York (State)—Histor y—Civil War, 1861–1865—Regimental histories. 5. New York (State)—Histor y—Civil War, 1861–1865—Personal narratives. 6. United States—Histor y—Civil War, 1861–1865—Regimental histories. 7. United States—Histor y—Civil War, 1861–1865—Personal narratives. 8. Kidder, Harriet, d. 1922—Correspondence. 9. Soldiers—New York (State)—Laurens—Biography. 10. Laurens (N.Y.)—Biography. I. Title.

E523.512st .G74 2003 973.7'81—dc21

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

2002045251

For Jerry Reed and the entire Kidder family

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Acknowledgments

Contents

ONE The New Americans (1830–1862)

TWO “You must not fret about me” (November 1862–April 1863)

THREE “. . . a most terrible battle” (May 1863–July 1863)

FOUR “I do not wish to boast, but . . .” (August 1863–April 1864)

FIVE “I rec’d a severe wound in the face” (May 1864)

SIX U.S. General Hospital, Annapolis, Maryland (May 1864–June 1864)

SEVEN Elmira Prison (July 1864–December 1864)

EIGHT “Victory is ours” (January 1865–April 1865)

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1

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47

79

111

131

143

161

viii

Contents

NINE Laurens, the Port Warden and Retirement (1865–1905)

Appendix A

Appendix B

Notes

Bibliography

Index

189

197

205

215

249

255

“. . . it will be too bad to have those suffer with them [the Con federates] who are good Union People but I look for such a state of things. It will come as sure as the sun rises and sets unless this re bellion is subdued by the sword. People may laugh at my opinion but they will live to see my words proven true.” Captain John S. Kidder 121st New York Volunteers