Woodrow Wilson

How the Civil War was Instrumental in the Decision to Enter World War 1

In 1915, the passenger ship Lusitania was sunk by a German U-Boat sending shock waves through the world and the American nation. President Wilson warned the Germans to suspend such action on ships that were neutral, but the warning went unheeded and submarine warfare continued. Diplomatic relations were severed in 1917, and the President asked Congress to declare war on Germany.

Thomas Woodrow Wilson grew up in Augusta, Georgia, where he witnessed the Civil War and Reconstruction first hand. He saw the tragedies that came from war. The dying men, both Union and Confederate, seared a permanent vision of lose and destruction into his young mind.

It was only across the street from his residence that Wilson was able to view the yard in front of the First Presbyterian Church where his father preached. From this vantage point, the young boy was able to see the wounded soldiers being held in what was a hospital, as well as a prison yard of Union solders. During Reconstruction, he lived in Columbia, South Carolina.

He knew that when the United States entered the war it would be unlike any that had been seen before, even the Civil War on his home soil. He remembered how the Civil War affected a nation, and if possible, did not want it to relive another.

Woodrow Wilson rarely spoke in public about his time in Augusta as a child, the Civil War, or Reconstruction. He would, at times, speak to his wife Edith Bolling Galt Wilson about his innermost thoughts about the two wars and how they related to his ideas, but it was in very rare instances. He never liked to relive parts of those times.

General Thomas J. Jackson’s, operational level of vision has been the topic of debate among scholars for many years. Jackson was a genius in the tactics of warfare; his valley campaign during the Civil War is widely studied as the exemplum of his military career.

Jackson’s successes, even though to some might have seemed failures, were successes nevertheless, a process that only he was able to see at the time. There were tactical failures to be sure, but disregarding these, he perfected his ability to become a leader at the operational level. Jackson kept his plans to himself, which often meant that those under him did not know what his primary objective would be, but he did.

Jackson was successful in most of his campaigns. During his campaign against Romney, he changed from a primary assault there, to one at another position that consisted of a Union outpost. An attack of the outpost was unsuccessful, but Jackson was still able to level a bridge and tear up miles of railroad track in the area. Because of this destruction, Jackson was able to maneuver the Union military forces out of Romney and occupy it without bringing on a confrontation. Within this method it can be determined that Jackson could use a roundabout way of directing an open-ended decision to the problem.

These approaches to the operational level can also be seen in other situations such as his ability to confuse his opponents without a physical confrontation. This confusion, caused an inability of the enemy to decipher Jackson’s true intentions. His psychological methods frustrated everyone, most importantly the Union officials in Washington.

Jackson’s intentions were to use risk-taking measures to solidify the safety of the civilian population and maintain control of the economy. He was attempting to keep Western Virginia from being severed from the Confederacy, and was using what methods he could to cause confusion.

Another element of surprise that Jackson used in the Valley campaign was the deep attack maneuver, which he tried to implement against Union forces. In the end, his actions ended in tactical misery, but the spirits of his troops remained high and the effect on the enemy was phenomenal.

Jackson was able to use the operational level far beyond the scope of most military leaders. Instances abound where he was able to envision possibilities far enough ahead that he was able to go beyond the traditional tactical methods. There were times he lost in a physical confrontation, but more often than not he was able to achieve another goal. That goal was one in which the operational mind was at work for the preservation of his smaller forces and the utter discomfort for his foe.

Columbia County, Georgia boasts a history of 216 years. Along the way, as with every community, stories and legends become lost over time, as they were rarely compiled in written form, but rather passed down by word of mouth. Such has happened in this community as well, so let us take some time to visit the past, consisting of everything human in Columbia County.

Winfield, Georgia, was a small hub for the local plantations. It was built around several small stores for various purposes, a blacksmith shop, and a post office. An academy was built for the older children to continue their studies, but was unfortunately torn down in later years.

Almost one hundred yards from the Columbia County-McDuffie County boundary sits Cedar Vale, once called Vinemount, before its name was changed decades later. Cedar Vale was built in 1857 for Albert Dozier, but the land itself consisting of 700 acres was granted to Leonard Claiborne by King George III in 1766-67. The land grant was signed by Governor James Wright. It reads in part “ His majesty George III, by the grace of God of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, and so forth…To Leonard Claiborne--in the Parrish of St. Paul, in our Province of Georgia…Signed by James Wright, Esquire, Our Captain-General, Governor-in-Chief of our said Province in the year of our Lord 1767--in the seventh year of our reign.” The Lane family still has in its possession this original land grant.

Historical references state, “Green Dozier had extensive holdings in the area. His first home, a story and a half structure, was located on one of the numerous roads leading to Appling, immediately behind the residence built by his son Albert Dozier and now owned by the Lane family.”

At one time the stately home stood behind boxwoods that were one hundred and fifty years old. There were cedar trees that lined a path from the road, up through a walkway, and ending at the front of the house. It clearly supported signs of Colonial and Greek Revival architecture, being a simplification of period Classicism. The house is two stories high and has a wide veranda on the front. As of 1936, the residence had 20-foot ceilings throughout the house with a total of 11 rooms connected by a central hallway. Although over the years the façade, the inside, and the yard of the house has changed, it has held its prominent place in the landscape.

Behind the house, there once stood numerous cabins where workers lived who helped to keep up the property. A grist mill, cotton gin, farming implements and buildings, and animals were also on the property. During the years 1816 (prior to the current structure) through 1876, the property maintained sixty continuous years of healthy crops that provided sustenance for the plantation.

As with every old house, this one being of no exception, it is surrounded in folklore from days gone by. Throughout the life of the house, there have been sights and sounds, eerie lights, and unexplained visitors. Stories were once whispered of footsteps in the hallway, opening doors, haunting hands, items floating in the air, and water being poured on someone’s head.

One of the more intense legends of Cedar Dale derives from a seasonal candy pull. At the festive event, children ran rampant throughout the yard. One of the young girls was childishly dared to go and stand on the site of a fresh grave in an old cemetery behind the house. The others demanded that there be proof of her completing the dare thrust upon her, so she took a fork with her to push into the moist earth. As time went by the other children became concerned that she had not come back from her task. Sadly, after a quick walk, they found the little girl dead with the fork stuck through the bottom of her dress, pinning it to the ground. It is thought that because nightfall had approached, when she thrust the fork into the grave it caught her dress in an area she could not see. Thinking she was being grabbed by someone from beyond the grave as well as being unable to flee, she had a heart attack and died.

During the early beginnings of Cedar Vale, and the surrounding plantations, rumor stirred about war with the north. Even with hard times depressing the local economy Cedar Vale survived. Through it all, cotton and other crops were sold to maintain the land. Slaves accounted for a huge part of the population of the county, their number being in the 1860 census 8293. There were only 3567 white citizens in the county at that time. Throughout the county, twelve large plantations held over 1000 acres of land, with smaller farms numbering 500 holding 100 or less acres of land. In and around the community and on these farms, a strange phenomenon began to occur.

During the heat of the day, while some of the slaves toiled the dry earth, a figure began to walk toward the workers from a distance in the field. It was hard for the slaves to make out who the figure was, but whoever he was he was tall. As the man slowly walked closer through the field, he could be seen wearing a black suit with a top hat and was sporting a strange looking, but neatly cut beard. His face was thinning and his body lanky like that of a scarecrow. The slaves looked astonished, not knowing what to say, for they had never seen this man before. It was neither their master nor was it the overseer. Slowly, the figure raised his hand and said to them, “I am Abraham Lincoln. Soon you will be free to walk the streets of this country without being owned or having to fear the anger of an overseer again.”

Here in the stories lies a central part of history for Columbia County. Even in the unknown, the area has a story to tell for others to comprehend what and who we are.

It was not long before I found a nice old cannon that had been placed there for the public to look at.  Coming to the front of it, I saw what looked like a piece of paper in the barrel.  Joking around I said, "Maybe its an old letter."  So I stuck my hand in there.  A stinging pain, like being hit with a minne ball penetrated my finger.  Out flew a hornet!  I ran around using every curse word a sailor would scowl at thinking to myself  "here goes the first impression.  The same expression of my thought came across my wife's face.  Funny thing--the area we were in is called the Hornet's Nest--named after a Civil War battle there.  Well, all was forgiven when my wife's father just stood there and laughed. 

The Hornet’s Nest: A Pivotal Point at the Battle of Shiloh

During the Battle of Shiloh, one of the most pivotal moments in the fighting came from an incident that would eventually be called “The Hornet’s Nest. In one area of the battlefield, there stood a small forest of oak tress camouflaging a low ridge in the background near a sunken road. Behind the ridge, 2500 men from the scattered divisions of Prentiss, Hurlburt, and thirty-four year old W.H.L. Wallace readied themselves for action.

It was only a matter of time before the Confederates under the command of General Bragg brought forth a full scale attack. The division was tattered and tired with no support coming from the rear, but they were able to attack repeatedly. Volley after volley of musketry was fired into their ranks resulting in heavy casualties.

Finally, Union forces to the left and right of the Confederate position were pushed back due to chaos erupting within the ranks. Some Union regiments began to withdraw, while others became disorganized and fell apart.

After some time, the Confederate forces brought in heavy field batteries, along with, dozens of cannons. After seven hours of cannonading and furious fighting the Union soldiers surrendered.

When all of the fighting stopped, Confederate soldiers from the Arkansas and Louisiana brigades named the area “The Hornet’s Nest” 

The Battle of Shiloh was one of the bloodiest of the Civil War. There were 15, 047 Union casualties, and a slightly less number of 10,699 for the Confederate army. The total killed, missing, and wounded equaled 23, 746. Finally, both sides realized it would be a long and bloody war.

By Sean Joiner