Monday Nov. 23 Flashcards
Baptism by fire: The Combat Experiences and Motivation of the 2nd C.V.H.A
. This lecture was not A1
Soldiers of the civil war
Volunteer Armies
- values rooted in homes, communities
- volunteers rarely shirk duty
The 2nd CVHA (Connecticut Volunteer Heavy Artillery)
- formed Summer 1862, after 7 days battles
- every man a volunteer from Litchfield
Motivation for Enlistment
No “Defense of Homeland”
-motivation=theoretical
The Cause
-Notions of Patriotism, Duty, Honor, and Revenge
Revolutionary Legacy
Both Sides to claim this as a cause
Chandra Manning, What this Cruel Was Was Over
-Union troops honored the revolution by fighting to preserve the American government it created.
Secession undermines self government, Constitution
- Cuts electoral process
- Lincoln’s election free and fair
2nd CVHA and revolution
Fate of free government rest on shoulders of Union Army
Notions of Revenge
Rage Militarie
- Patriotic furor after Sumter, Bull Run, 7 Days Battle
- sweeps north
Hartford Daily Courant, Oct 5, 1861
-erase song of defeat and enlist and fight confederates.
Notion of Honor
Litchfield Enquirer, Sept 11, 1862
-what they were reading before they went off to war
Notion of Duty
McPherson, For Cause and Comrades
- Duty in Victorian America; understood to be a binding moral obligation involving reciprocity: one had a duty to defend the flag under whose protection one had lived.
- Charles Adams Jr. Letter to Mother; if we come home safe and sound or are wounded in battle we will never be sorry that we came out to protect the government and put done the wicked rebellion.
- to shirk duty was considered a violation of conscience.
- dont enlist feel shame, guilt.
performance of state and local area.
-8th Connecticut from Litchfield County
Combat Motivation
Slavery/Abolition
-factor or non factor?
some enlisted not specifically for end of slavery
-Pragmatic view of emancipation; helped abolitionist Union armies
if it empowers to the south we need to destroy it. Free slave= hurt South; Union large majority Union soldiers is the best thing to do
-war to save union becomes war to reform it
The 2nd CVHA and slavery
Bissell- proclamation take effect if the war lasts for awhile
Adams-slavery becomes a reason to fight, “war won’t last for long and so will slavery”
ending slavery- Reason to fight
Continued Belief in Cause
Adams-
Lucas-
Bissell-
Desire for the Front
Grinker and Spiegel: Army psychiatrists
-
1 a.m. on May 17, 1864
2nd CVHA finally called to the front
- Grant needs them
- to fight Lee
Cold Harbor
June 1, 1864
-ordered to attack Rebel entrenchments at Cold Harbor
- Rebel Entrenchments very formidable
- Lieutenant Morse:
So what motivates men to attack?
Quality of Officers
McPherson, For Cause and Comrades
-two most important criteria
concern for welfare and leadership, willingness to do what you ask your men to do
-Combat the ultimate test
