Monday Nov. 23 Flashcards
(25 cards)
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
Colonel Elisha Kellogg
Kellogg has effect on men of 2nd CVHA
- led us
- killed on enemy works
Reputation of Regiment
Insults: Band-Box regiment
-have not done any fighting
Kellogg, volunteer regiment for front line.
Terror of Battle
.
Seeing the elephant
800 casualties
Lucas- familiar romance of war, reality of war is carnage.
-One who has never been under fire has no idea of war
Sustained Combat Motivation
Cold Harbor Syndrome
- see rebellion crushed
- wants to see Republican liberty establish
Honoring those already killed
Even if they knew they were going to lose, keep going fighting for the ones who have fallen.
Brotherhood as Motivation
-same community
-same family
-same uniform
-
Primary groups
=Company,messmates, friends
Regimental Pride
first battle at Cold Harbor
- strong attack even if they failed.
- reputation
