Memories of the Battlefield: Comparing Confederate and Union Victories
In the Depths of the War:
Below are six articles in the Confederate Veteran remembering a variety of smaller battles throughout the war. Three are Confederate victories, and three resulted in Union victories. The Confederate Veteran existed to further a Southern-based narrative that highlighted the Confederacy's successes, including instances when they lost an individual battle. In these instances, instead of detailing the power of the Confederacy, it focuses on smaller victories within the battles or personal connections that transcend divided lines.
Confederate Victories
"The Battle of Lexington"
Confederate Veteran v.20 (1912)
This article offers the perspective of a border state. It depicts Lexington, Missouri's population as Confederate-sympathizers and the Confederate army as the "bravest and most chivalrous army the world has ever known."
"The Battle of the Handkerchiefs"
Confederate Veteran v.31 (1923)
This article describes a skirmish in New Orleans in which Confederate soldiers were to be taken as prisoners of war in exchange for Union troops. The author describes herself and others as "loving and patriotic women" and their actions against the Union army as an expression of their "devotion to the Confederates."
"Tender Memories of V.M.I Cadets"
Confederate Veteran v.34 (1926)
This article follows a woman as she recalls the "brave boy soldiers" of the Virginia Military Institute in the Battle of New Market in May 1864. The battle ended with the military institute cadets defeating the Union Army of the Shenandoah.
Union Victories
"The Alabama-Kearsarge Fight"
Confederate Veteran v.2 (1894)
A reminder that the Civil War was also fought beyond our national borders, this article discusses the Alabama-Kearsarge conflict, a naval battle off France's coast. The author discusses their disappointment in most accounts of the battle for "an unworthy desire to find favor with the winning side" and showing that "very much of history is a fairy tale."
"Missouri After the War"
Confederate Veteran v.3 (1895)
This article discusses the Battle of Wilmington. After it was clear the Union Army controlled Wilmington's port, blockade runners rushed to secure stores of cotton before they arrived. It also describes the movement of cotton by Confederate troops to keep it out of the Union Army's reach.
"Missouri After the War"
Confederate Veteran v.37 (1929)
In this article, the author describes various cities in Missouri after the end of the war. Specifically, they discuss the impact of General Order No. 11 and its impact as just a "sample of the havoc wrought by four years of war between neighbors."
Questions to Consider:
How does the magazine differ in its writing of Confederate and Union victories?
What might be the underlying biases in each of the articles?
What do these articles reveal about border state tensions?
How might historians find these articles useful?