September 1, 1863---The Army of The Cumberland crosses the Cumberland; the Army of Tennessee leaves Tennessee

SEPTEMBER 1, 1863:        

General William Rosecrans U.S.A.’s Army of The Cumberland crosses the Cumberland River, driving the Confederate Army of Tennessee out of Tennessee entirely, and into northern Georgia.

August 31, 1863---Picket fire in Chattanooga

AUGUST 31, 1863:    

The forces of General William Rosecrans U.S.A. and General Braxton Bragg C.S.A. exchange picket fire outside of Chattanooga, Tennessee. The slow buildup to the Battle of Chickamauga continues.

August 30, 1863---The Fog of War

AUGUST 30, 1863:    

The beleaguered defenders of Fort Sumter open fire on a ship approaching too closely, and sink it with all hands. Tragically for all involved, the vessel carried infantry reinforcements, armaments, and supplies for the fort. 

August 29, 1863---“A Young Lady's Soliloquy”

AUGUST 29, 1863:  

            

“A Young Lady's Soliloquy” appears in Harper's Weekly. This anonymous, unpolished little poem summarizes the changing view women had of themselves in the Civil War years: 

        Useless, aimlessly drifting through life,

        What was I born for? "For Somebody's wife,"

        I am told by my mother. Well, that being true,

        "Somebody" keeps himself strangely from view,

        And if naught but marriage will settle my fate,

        I believe I shall die in an unsettled state.

        For, though I'm not ugly, -- pray, what woman is? --

        You might easily find a more beautiful phiz;

        And then, as for temper and manners, 'tis plain

        He who seeks for perfection will seek here in vain.

        Nay, in spite of these drawbacks, my heart is perverse,

        And I should not feel grateful, "for better or worse,"

        To take the first Booby that graciously came

        And offered those treasures, his home and his name.

        But why should I think of such chances at all?

        My brothers are, all of them, younger than I,

        Yet they thrive in the world, and why not let me try?

        I know that in business I'm not an adept,

        Because from such matters most strictly I'm kept.

        But--this is the question that puzzles my mind--

        Why am I not trained up to work of some kind?

        Uselessly, aimlessly drifting through life,

        Why should I wait to be "Somebody's wife?"

August 28, 1863---"I do reckon I've as little sympathy for a deserter as anybody in the world! ..."

AUGUST 28, 1863:               

Eli Pinson Landers, a Georgia soldier, writes in a letter to his mother:   

“There is one of the 10th Ga Regiment to be shot to death with musketry tomorrow for deserting his colors in time of battle. It is bad enough to be shot without the name of deserting. Bud Nash has deserted. He has been gone about 1 month. He run out of fights just as long as he could without being courtmartialed so I reckon he thought he would leave for good. But he might a been gone long since for all the good he has ever done. I do reckon I've as little sympathy for a deserter as anybody in the world! ..."