Civil War Technology-- Part 2

Continuing with the opening questions for the McHenry County (Illinois) Civil War Round Table discussion group's October meeting.

Answer the question and tell what technology it refers to.

6.  Who was the Union Secretary of the Treasury?   What did he do in regards to raising money for the war effort?

7.  Who was the Union man responsible for bringing observation to new heights?  And what did he push?

8.  Who's system was used  by the pass messages on the battlefield other than the telegraph??

9.  What were limelights?

10.  What were they also known as?

Answers below.

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6.  Salmon P. Chase.  Instituted the Federal Income Tax.  This continued until 1872, when it was rules unconstitutional.

7.  Professor ThaddeusS.C. Lowe.  Balloons.

8.  Albert James Myer.  These messages were passed by flags during the day and by turpentine torches at night.

9.  Bright incandescent lights which had been used in theaters before the war.

10.  Calcium or drummond lights.

--Old Secesh

RoadTrippin' with Gen. Charles Gilbert-- Part 5: Lincoln's Good Buddy and Brother and, the 'Gonzo'

Also buried at Louisville's Cave Hill Cemeery.

**  JAMES SPEED  (1812-1887)

In 1864, he was appointed Secretary of the Treasury by Abraham Lincoln.  Brother of Joshua Fry Speed.

**  JOSHUA FRY SPEED  (1814-1882)

Friend and confidant of future President Lincoln in Springfield, Illinois.  During the Civil War, served as Lincoln's Western Affairs advisor and was offered the position of Secretary several times but refused it.

**  HUNTER S. THOMPSON  (1937-2005)

Journalist and author.  Internationally recognized "Gonza"  journalist.  Had a big best-seller with "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas."

--Old Secesh

The Last Time 'Insurgents' Got This Close to US Capitol-- Part 2: This Close to a Win Back in '64

 Confederate general Jubal Early commanded the 2nd Corps of Lee's Army of Northern Virginia which fought under a square flag of the rectangular one so often flown today (the Confederate Naval Ensign).

At the time of the attack, the chances of the Confederacy were greatly in decline and it was hoped this sudden feint might convince Union to send troops from the Petersburg, Virginia, front to defend the capital.

As soon as the target of this Confederate attack was known to Grant, he sent some 17,000 troops to the capital's defense.  In the meantime, back in D.C., Union officers started scrounging up as many troops as they could from the wounded soldiers recovering and government clerks, essentially anyone who could carry a weapon.  They were sent out to man the defenses.

Early ordered his leading division of troops to immediately begin an attack on Fort Stevens.  At one point, Confederates did find a gap in the Union defenses that could have been a huge turnaround in the battle.  Had they been able to exploit it  they would have had a direct route to the Washington Navy Yard, the U.S. Treasury as well as a myriad of  warehouses with food, medicine and ordnance.

However, Early's troops had been on the march for quite awhile and were too exhausted to make good on the break.

--Old Secesh

Frederick L. Childs-- Part 5: After the War

After the war:

1866-1870--  Farmer

1870-1878--  Purser New York and Charleston Steamship Company

1878-1886--  Civil Engineer in the service of the United States

1886-1889--  Inspector of Customs, U.S. Treasury Department

--Old Secesh

A Monetary Innovation That Changed the Course of the War

From the August 29, 2012, Bloomberg by Franklin Noll.

In the summer of 1861, U.S. Secertary of the Treasury Salmon P. Chase negotiated a loan of gold from banks. Until the gold's arrival in Washington, D.C. he issued $50 million on on demand notes to fund the military effort.

The Treasury back then had no facility to produce paper money. Bills were made by the American Bank Note Company in New York which produced them in sheets of four bills which would be sent to the Treasury Department where workers cut and trimmed them with scissors, some 7 million notes.

This led to the formation of the U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing which today produces billions of dollars.

In early 1862, with the war dragging on and costs skyrocketing, the Treasury was going broke so Congress authorized $150 million in new currency which became known as Greenbacks. Workers still had to process 20 million notes by hand.

Treasury clerk Spencer M. Clark mechanized the process in separating the notes when he invented a hand-powered machine to separate and trim them. Later, the machine was modified to be powered by steam.

A Money-Making Process. Cut me Some.  --Old Secesh