Question of the Week: Who would you want to interview from the Civil War?
If you could go back in time and interview someone from the Civil War, who would you want to interview? Why? When would you want to do it? (as in, Grant on July 5, 1863, for example)
William T. Sherman, far enough from the war but not so far that his experiences had turned into myth. I think among the Union generals Sherman was the most articulate and humble. Who else, with his subsequent degree of fame, would admit to having ‘been crazy’.
Abner Doubleday…I’d ask him if he ever had anything to do with Baseball.
Judah P. Benjamin, Confederate Secretary of State. In London, after the war (since Queen’s Counsel Benjamin never returned to America after escaping capture.) “What role did the Confederate Government play in the training and financing of John Wilkes Booth?”
I would have liked to interview General H. Judson Kilpatrick in March 1864 and ask about his recent ill-fated raid to free the prisoners in Richmond. I’d like to find out if he ordered Ulric Dahlgren to kill Jeff Davis and his cabinet. Of course, Kilpatrick would probably just say no to keep the fingers pointing at someone else.
Abraham Lincoln on the morning of April 14, 1865, to ask him to describe his vision and overall plan for Reconstruction.
My great grandfather Cyrus Loose, who was a private in the 202nd Pennsylvania right after he was mustered out in 1865
I would interview Nathanial Banks regarding his decision to attack Jackson’s forces at Cedar Mountain.
Banks probably would point the finger at his superior, John Pope, and claim either that Pope ordered him to attack, or essentially urged him to do so (as you point out in your book).
I think we would need to posit for the purpose of this Question that the deceased are now required to answer truthfully.
It would be an uncommonly long affair; however, I would interview Robert E. Lee in mid-summer 1870. I would tactfully bring up that his health was not good, and urge him to reveal now, and in all candor, what he planned to say in his forthcoming work on the Army of Northern Virginia and its principal actors. To help ensure candor, I would promise Lee that the interview would not be published until 154 years after his death. Then I would return to the here and now and place a call to Savas Beatie.
I would like to interview RE Lee about Gettysburg. A sweeping interview asking him to start with the Chancellorsville battle and then everything else through to the Confederates escaping back over tje Potomac.
I would want to interview easily the most controversial figure of the Civil War- Nathan Bedford Forrest. The time I would select for the sit down would be after he separated himself from the activities of the Ku Klux Klan. The questions I would ask are: was his support and active participation in the Klan worthwhile? After his stellar war record, what did he hope to accomplish through the Klan?
I would want to interview CS General Francis Marion Cockrell after his parole from the defense of Ft. Blakely, in Alabama. Here’s a guy who came up through the ranks, yet was never really in control of his troops destiny. He was thrown out to block Union troops at Champion Hill & the Big Black, then to help defend Vicksburg (where he and his men were surrendered and ultimately paroled), they’re thrown into a terrible defensive position (Latimar’s Farm), just before being given a great position on Kennesaw Mountain, then after the fall of Atlanta, Hood throws a contingent, including Cockrell and his men at Allatoona Pass where they beat themselves to death against a couple of well fortified positions, then follows that up with one of the most horrific attacks in the Civil War when they go into the battle of Franklin! He falls back to the defense of Blakely, after recovering from wounds at Franklin, here he ultimately surrenders again.
I would want to know his thoughts at this time, with us knowing that this gentleman would end up in the US Senate, serving for 30 years, and even garnering a few considerations for Democratic presidential nominee for 1904. Would he have thought that all he’d been through for those 5 horrible years been worth it?
U. S. Grant on his dislike for George Thomas
Patrick Cleburne, on his choice for the Confederacy, his battle experience, his push for black soldiers, and his candid opinion on the leadership at all levels of the Army of Tennessee.
Edwin Stanton after the surrender at Appomattox … i would like to know his summative view of Union generalship, his biggest leadership challenge as Secretary of War, and his evolving views on his duties and performance as secretary.
I would pick U. S. Grant after the conclusion of the war. Perhaps I could persuade him to share a cigar and glass of whiskey with me and discuss Vicksburg with him.
Who would not want to interview Robert Lee, Jeb Stuart, Stonewall Jackson and A. P. Hill, respectively the greatest army commander and strategist, greatest mobile warfare general, greatest corps commander, and greatest division commander America ever produced? On a personal level, I’d like to interview all 30 of the young men from my family, including the eight from my direct line who served in the war, in particular my two great-great-grandfathers on my mother’s side, one of whom is my exact double. In a sense, though, I feel like I’ve already interviewed many of these men, because my grandparents grew up with them and their friends in the house, and told me endless stories about their exploits, how they spoke, etc.
My request is rather niche. As someone who’s been focused on raising the awareness of Grant’s 8th Petersburg Offensive, for reasons of self-interest, I’d chose to interview General John B Gordon post war. As the most active Rebel commander during the whole 3 days, I’d want to hear his account of the action and to understand why he wrote nothing about it in his memoir. This would certainly shed light on why the Rebel attacks late on Feb 5th in his sector were so feeble and why Pegram bizarrely split his division on the morning of Feb 6.
Nigel Lambert
Your selection of General J.B. Gordon is also of interest due to the fact General Gordon was the first Commander -in- Chief of the United Confederate Veterans. In that role he was active in promoting the establishment of National Memorial Parks… one such being Shiloh National Military Park. General Gordon attempted to use prestigious events, such as the Chicago World’s Fair of 1893, to promote reconciliation between former Rebel and Union Veterans; and his efforts resulted in Confederate Veterans living out their lives “with pride in their service and sacrifice.”
All the best
Mike Maxwell
There are quite a number of well known military and political figures but my choice would be my great great grandfather Levi A. Bowen, private 7th PA Reserves. Wounded and captured on the Union retreat during the Seven Days. Returned and fought at Fredericksburg and the Wilderness. Wounded and captured at the Wilderness and survived Andersonville. He saw and endured a tremendous amount. A first hand view of the life of a common soldier.
Frederick Douglass on the day after the constitutional amendment prohibiting slavery was passed by Congress