Southern Bivouac
Encyclopedia
The Southern Bivouac was a magazine
published between 1882 and 1887. Written by several former Confederate States of America
army officers, it featured tales of many of exploits never before told by the men of the Southern army
. Along with the Southern Historical Society Papers, it helped to mold the beginnings of the "Lost Cause
" philosophical movement.
's Kentucky
chapter was created by forty-eight former Confederate officers, most prominently General Basil W. Duke
. So many individuals wanted to submit papers and speeches during their monthly meetings that by 1882 it was impossible to use them all. In order to make best use of the accumulated material, it was decided in August 1882 to found a magazine, the first issue of which was proposed for publication in September 1882.
Unlike previous Southern magazines, which routinely vilified the hated Yankee
s, the Southern Bivouac was more "conciliatory", although it still praised the valour of the Confederate soldier and the righteousness of the Southern cause. In its first year of publication, 80% of the material was based on the Western Theater
of the War, underlining its Kentucky heritage.
The Southern Bivouac also tried to discredit some Northern writers. This was best seen in the efforts to discredit biographers of John Brown
. Reflecting its time, the magazine also argued that blacks had no self-respect, but would eventually produce their own poets and artists.
By January 1885, the Southern Bivouac faced financial troubles. The publishers of Home and Farm, B. F. Avery and Sons, purchased it in May 1885 and gave operational control of the magazine to Basil W. Duke and Richard W. Knott. The magazine's next issue stressed that the publication would broaden its scope to include the Southern literary tradition rather than just Southern military history. Critics praised the new direction and subscribers rose to 7,500 by the end of 1885. It also became more political, reflecting Knott's input. However, while still being a proponent of the Lost Cause, it was sometimes accused of failing to support those Southern patriots who criticized Reconstruction.
By 1887, the magazine had gained 15,000 readers, but Knott calculated it would need another 10,000 to become profitable. Thus, he sold the magazine to the Century Company, with the last issue being that of May 1887. The Century Company used their new asset for the publication of Battles and Leaders of the Civil War
Magazine
Magazines, periodicals, glossies or serials are publications, generally published on a regular schedule, containing a variety of articles. They are generally financed by advertising, by a purchase price, by pre-paid magazine subscriptions, or all three...
published between 1882 and 1887. Written by several former Confederate States of America
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
army officers, it featured tales of many of exploits never before told by the men of the Southern army
Confederate States Army
The Confederate States Army was the army of the Confederate States of America while the Confederacy existed during the American Civil War. On February 8, 1861, delegates from the seven Deep South states which had already declared their secession from the United States of America adopted the...
. Along with the Southern Historical Society Papers, it helped to mold the beginnings of the "Lost Cause
Lost Cause of the Confederacy
The Lost Cause is the name commonly given to an American literary and intellectual movement that sought to reconcile the traditional white society of the U.S. South to the defeat of the Confederate States of America in the American Civil War of 1861–1865...
" philosophical movement.
History
Southern Bivouac traces its origins to February 7, 1879, the date on which the Southern Historical SocietySouthern Historical Society
The Southern Historical Society is a public organization founded by Confederate Major General Dabney H. Maury in 1868-1869 and documented Southern military and civilian viewpoints from the American Civil War until now...
's Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
chapter was created by forty-eight former Confederate officers, most prominently General Basil W. Duke
Basil W. Duke
Basil Wilson Duke was a Confederate general officer during the American Civil War. His most noted service in the war was as second-in-command for his brother-in-law John Hunt Morgan; Duke would later write a popular account of Morgan's most famous raid: 1863's Morgan's Raid...
. So many individuals wanted to submit papers and speeches during their monthly meetings that by 1882 it was impossible to use them all. In order to make best use of the accumulated material, it was decided in August 1882 to found a magazine, the first issue of which was proposed for publication in September 1882.
Unlike previous Southern magazines, which routinely vilified the hated Yankee
Yankee
The term Yankee has several interrelated and often pejorative meanings, usually referring to people originating in the northeastern United States, or still more narrowly New England, where application of the term is largely restricted to descendants of the English settlers of the region.The...
s, the Southern Bivouac was more "conciliatory", although it still praised the valour of the Confederate soldier and the righteousness of the Southern cause. In its first year of publication, 80% of the material was based on the Western Theater
Western Theater of the American Civil War
This article presents an overview of major military and naval operations in the Western Theater of the American Civil War.-Theater of operations:...
of the War, underlining its Kentucky heritage.
The Southern Bivouac also tried to discredit some Northern writers. This was best seen in the efforts to discredit biographers of John Brown
John Brown (abolitionist)
John Brown was an American revolutionary abolitionist, who in the 1850s advocated and practiced armed insurrection as a means to abolish slavery in the United States. He led the Pottawatomie Massacre during which five men were killed, in 1856 in Bleeding Kansas, and made his name in the...
. Reflecting its time, the magazine also argued that blacks had no self-respect, but would eventually produce their own poets and artists.
By January 1885, the Southern Bivouac faced financial troubles. The publishers of Home and Farm, B. F. Avery and Sons, purchased it in May 1885 and gave operational control of the magazine to Basil W. Duke and Richard W. Knott. The magazine's next issue stressed that the publication would broaden its scope to include the Southern literary tradition rather than just Southern military history. Critics praised the new direction and subscribers rose to 7,500 by the end of 1885. It also became more political, reflecting Knott's input. However, while still being a proponent of the Lost Cause, it was sometimes accused of failing to support those Southern patriots who criticized Reconstruction.
By 1887, the magazine had gained 15,000 readers, but Knott calculated it would need another 10,000 to become profitable. Thus, he sold the magazine to the Century Company, with the last issue being that of May 1887. The Century Company used their new asset for the publication of Battles and Leaders of the Civil War