Camp cripple creek
tennessee
18 january - 24 june 1863
Sgt. Busbey's Bookshelf
Sgt. William Busbey of the 1st KY was a voracious reader, in addition to being a talented writer. He did much of his reading while he was on Picket, but he read at other times, too. In his diary, he recorded his opinions of the books he read. Below, you will find these books listed by Author, Title, Publication information (if known), followed by Sgt. Busbey's comments on the book. At the end of each citation, you will find the date(s) the book was mentioned in his diary. Many of the books are still available for your reading pleasure either in hard copy or through electronic media.
"There is pleasure in possessing the works of good authors..."
-- Sgt. William H. Busbey, 12 June 1863
Alexander, Gabriel Lilias, The Milliner's Apprentice
London: Dicks, 1854
Rather a dismal picture of life 3 February
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[Anonymous] Mysteries and Miseries of San Francisco
New York: Garrett, 1853
A poor excuse for a tale. Without plot, style, or connection [--] it is ridiculous. 8 February
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[Anonymous] Madge Wylde, The Young Man's Ward or Lights and Shadows of Orphan Life "By the author of Clifton, Pride and Passion, etc." New York: Beadle & Co, 1861
...a pretty little story of some power [?] 9 March
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[Anonymous] Sybil Grey, or, The Triumph of Virtue: A Romance of the Opera
Philadelphia: Peterson and Bros., 1858
...a good tale. Author's name not given 23 March
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Arthur, Timothy Shay The Divorced Wife
Philadelphia: Peterson and Bros., 1850
...a tale in T.S. Arthur's best Style 28 March
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Barker, Benjamin Mary Moreland: Or, The Fortunes and Misfortunes of an Orphan
Boston: Gleason, 1845
...an excellent tale 16 April
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Bennett, Emerson A. The Bandits of the Osage: A Western Romance
Cincinnati: Robinson & Jones, 1847
Not as well told as Leni Leoti, but a good tale 15 January
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Bennett, Emerson A. The Forest Rose: A Tale of the Frontier
Lancaster, OH: Outcalt, 1850
A well told tale but I cannot like it as well as Leni Leoti 31 January
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Bennett, Emerson A. Leni Leoti or Adventures in the Far West
Cincinnati: James, 1849
[Read before arriving at Cripple Creek, providing the standard used to judge other books by Bennett] 15 January
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Bradshaw, Wesley (Charles Wesley Alexander) Pauline of the Potomac, or General McClellan's Spy Philadelphia: Barclay, 1862 ...pretending to be a true narration of the adventures of Pauline D'Estave daughter of a French Nobleman who officiated as Spy for McLellan [sic]
12 February
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Bulwer-Lytton, Baron Edward George Eugene Aram
London: Colburn and Bentley, 1832
Finish reading Bulwer's Eugene Aram. Rather a peculiar work with a strange philosophy. The principal character a criminal in high life. The style inclined toward the dramatic. The character "Madaline Lester" superbly drawn 10 June, 15 June
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Bulwer-Lytton, Baron Edward George Pelham: or, The Adventures of a Gentleman
[London: Colburn and Bentley?] 1828
...one of Bulwer's earliest novels. Like the author's way of talking 29 April
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Bulwer-Lytton, Baron Edward George Zanoni, A Romance of Italy
[London: Colburn and Bentley?] 1842
[Bought but apparently not read while at Cripple Creek] 10 June
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Buntline, Ned Saul Sabberday; or The Idiot Spy
New York: Brady, 1858
...a lively and exciting tale of the Revolution 19 March
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Clewline, Charley The Empress of the Isles; or, The Lake Bravo: A Romance of the
[ : ] 1856 Canadian Struggle in 1837
...a clever little tale
10 April
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Clinton, Parke Glen more
()
A very tame tale
31 January
[Could this be The Manor of Glenmore; or, The Irish Peasant by Anon. London: Bull, 1839?]
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Cobb, Sylvanus, Jr. The Countess of Errol or The Iron Cross: A Tale of High and Low Life
New York: French, 1850
...a good tale by Cobb 3 February
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Cockton, Henry Sylvester Sound, The Somnambulist
New York: Burgess, Stringer, & Co, 1844
...a rare book. The subject well handled. The path off from the common track. Ludicrous oddities, new characters, new objects present themselves because of this
22 March, 26 March
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Collins, Wilkie No Name
London: Sampson Low, Son & Co, 1862
Remarkable production--novel in style, novel plot, novel character--A work of genius--a more than novel. An argument--a lesson. The book written in scenes--between the scenes, letters explaining. Wilkie Collins one of the Douglas Jerrold Club.
7 March
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Denison, Mrs. Mary A. Florida, or, The Iron Will; A Story of To-day
New York: Beadle & Co, 1861
Rather a remarkable _______ poet ____heroine a clairvoyant 15 March
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Dickens, Charles Nicholas Nickleby
London: Chaman and Hall, 1838
...like it very well 26 April
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Dickens, Charles Pickwick Papers
London: Chapman and Hall, 1836
The work grows interesting and shouldn't wonder if we don't think Dickens a pretty good kind of fellow by the time we get through...Finish Pickwick Papers and like the termination. Dickens wrestles long but comes out best...Dickens in Pickwick after venting all his spleen comes out in real good humor and leaves the reader wishing the book was longer. 7 June, 9 June, 10 June
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Duganne, Augustine Joseph Hickey Massasoit's Daughter, Or, The French Captives: A Romance of Aboriginal New England (1861)
an Indian tale full of startling [?] scenes and quick combinations...has all of Duganne's energy but there is too much acquiescence in superstitious idea
15 March, 17 March
.
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Dumas, Alexandre The Man With Five Wives
<1860>
...a personal tale strange as the character of the author...Don't like the stories but like the book because tis so rich in personal reminiscence of contemporaries
12 February, 15 February
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Dumas, Alexandre The Horrors of Paris or The Flower of Faubourg
( )
...a strange ____ rely an introduction too a volume [?] of novels. Characters introduced but the drama not produced. The first [?] volume
28 March
[Note: This was the third installment in a series called The Mohicans of Paris. The next installment was also titled The Mohicans of Paris. After the War, Dumas rewrote the whole series as a play and published it.]
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Dumas, Alexandre The Mohicans of Paris
(1854)
22 March
[Note: This is the fourth part of a larger work, which was also titled The Mohicans of Paris.]
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Dumas, Alexandre Roadside Sketches in the South of France and Spanish Pyrenees
London: Bell and Daldy, 1859) by Three Wayfarers
...much interested in Dumas' reminiscences...Grow interested in the Sketches in France
13 April, 14 April, 21 April
Holmes, Oliver Wendell, Sr. Elsie Venner, A Romance of Destiny
London: Routledge, Warne, & Routledge, 1861
[No review, but he liked it enough to reproduce it for his tent mates]... Finished Les Miserables and feel that mingling of reverential joy and sorrow that came over me when I had read the last chapter of Elsie Venner... 10 February, 20 February
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Hugo, Victor Les Miserables
New York: Dodd, Mead, 1862
the book of the time...Finish "Fantine" and commence "Cosette". How quickly we bow to Genius. Read slow so not to lose a single word of the eloquent flow. The thoughts and theories of the Author almost God like. Spell bound by the descriptions or Waterson and the child Cosette. Her fancies, actions, & fears so natural that our own childhood comes before us...Read aloud for the boys Hugo's "Waterloo"...Finish "Cosette" yesterday. The author's religious views as connected with The Convent indeed sublime. Commence Marius. A new picture of misery but still the same master hand points...Finish the book Marius and commence St. Denis. The long arguments in Marius lead us at times to think that the Author has forgotten his story. But the quick joining of the parts, the flinging wide as it were, the doors of the drama, the concentration of sublimity and heroism in the last scene prove us wrong...Finish "Les Miserables" and feel that mingling of reverential joy and sorrow that came over me when I had read the last chapter of Elsie Venner. Excellent indeed is Hugo in "Les Miserables"...There happens to be no 29th this year so I appropriate the space for the benefit of February generally. I cannot leave Hugo's Les Miserables that has given me so much knowledge, and made pleasant the gloomy days of this month. I have at last learned to love a Frenchman, have at last found one that has talent without infidelity, that can talk without sneering, write without being flippant nor obscene. The characters Jean ValJean and Cosette are so well drawn, drink so deep of nature, great and true that we almost worship the hand that painted and in so doing bow to the hand that shows the road to religious duty--to Heaven. "The Battle of Waterloo"[,] "The Meditations on the Convent"[,] "The Sewers of Paris"[,] "The Barricades of Paris"[,] "The different revolutions" are each essays deep and powerful, embracing scientific research, great learning and important political views.
15 February, 16 February, 17 February, 18 February, 19 February, 20 February, (Addendum on page for 29 February)
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Ingraham, Joseph Holt Biddy Woodhull, or, The Beautiful Haymaker
London: Long & Bro., 1850
...a pleasant common place story 29 April
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Iron, N. C. The Maid of Esopus, The Trials and Triumphs of the Revolution
New York : Beadle & Co, 1861
...a pleasant little tale of the revolution adding [?] in good sense, sparkling with genial sentiments 11 March
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James, George Payne Rainsford The Gentleman of the Old School: A Tale
London: Longman, Orme, Brown, Green, & Longman, 1839
Extremely well pleased. Everything seems to assume a beautiful form when James pleases to touch.
29 March, 31 March
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James, George Payne Rainsford Philip Augustus: or, The Brothers in Arms
London: Smith, Elder, & Co., 1837
James...gives a brilliant picture of noted characters of that age--the whole strength of the romance laying in the second marriage of King hilip and his own view of the death of Prince Arthur, having King John of England murder him. The book does not end satisfactorially [sic]--too abrupt.
31 March ..............................................................................................................................................
James, George Payne Rainsford Richelieu: A Tale of France
London: Colburn, 1840
...an excellent Historical Tale. Hero Count Claude de Blenau, heroine Pauline Beaumont. 17 April
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Lever, Charles James The Diary and Notes of Horace Templeton, Esq: Late Secretary
of Legation... Philadelphia: Peterson, 1848
...an autobiograhical tale abounding in personal reminiscences. Similar to Dumas' "Five Wives".
3 March
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Lewis, Matthew Gregory The Monk
Waterford: Saunders, 1796
There is pleasure in possessing the works of good authors...
12 June
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Longfellow, Henry Wadsworth The Song of Hiawatha
London: Routledge, 1855
[Mentioned (recited?) while the men were on a foraging mission.] 2 March
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Marryatt, Capt. Frederick The Pacha of Many Tales
London: Bentley, 1838
A collection of rather peculiar but well told fancies 3 May
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Maxwell, Col. William H. The Bivouac or Stories of the Peninsular Campaign
London: Routledge and Son, 1837
"The Legend of Barbara Maxwell["] in "The Bivouac" worthy of its name...Read in part "The Bivouac" by Col. W. H. Maxwell. Scenes related to the Peninsular Campaign under Wel[l]ington. Soldier adventures. Legends. Camp scenes, description of battle &c make it particularly interesting to the Soldier...
16 June, 20 June
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Norton, Hon. Mrs. The Nobleman's Daughter
Philadelphia: Peterson, 1860
...a pleasant tale...Much power and intellect displayed 4 April
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Poore, Ben Perley The Insurgent or Rivalries of Art and Heart
New York[?]: Ballou1862 ...a good tale but a _____ with heroics 11 February
Reynolds, George William McArthur May Middleton, or, The History of a Fortune
London: John Dicks, 1858 ...a thoroughly English tale [--] easy, natural, and forcible in style...a creation that every one must love. A character with natural goodness and natural faults. Then the use of mystery, the fortune telling, is so well explained that it adds much to the interest of the story and conveys an important lesson.
22 March, 23 March, 31 March
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Ritchie, Leigh Robert Oaklands or The Outcast Orphan
New York: Peterson, 1863
Much strength of thought an elevated style, a gen_______ plot make it very attractive. 6 May
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Robinson, Dr. John Hovey Catholina, or, The Niche in the Wall: A Tale of Louisiana
New York: Brady, 1858
...a tolerable tale 21 April
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Robinson, Dr. John Hovey Scotto, the Scout or The Union Rangers
New York: Brady, 1863
...an excellent tale--Locale--Bulls [sic] Run. Scene ___________ring[.]
Characters well sustained 31 January
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Robinson, Dr. John Hovey Hirl, the Hunchback, or, The Sword Maker of the Santee
New York: Beadle & Co, [date]
Good in plot, easy and graceful in style. Noticeable features--Twin brothers as spies--The peculiar concealing of the spy by the young lady 4 February
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Robinson, William The Yankee Middy, or, The Two Frigates: A Romance of the Coast of Maine
New York: H. Long & Brother, 1853
...a rather dish watery tale 4 April
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Scott, Sir Walter The Lady of the Lake
Edinburgh: John Ballantyne & Co, 1810
[No review, but he liked it enough to reproduce it for his tent mates] 12 February
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Southworth, Mrs. Emma D. E. N. The Curse of Clifton or The Widowed Bride
London: Clarke Beeton & Co, 1854
Interesting, as all her works are. The character of Kate Kavanaugh admirably and powerfully drawn. 3 May
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Stephens, Mrs. Ann S. Sybil Chase or The Valley Ranche; A Tale of California Life
New York: Beadle & Co, 1861
...a tale of not much _______ 10 March
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Sue, Eugene The Female Bluebeard, or, The Woman With Many Husbands
London: W. Strange, 1845
...an excellent story having for its hero "James, Duke of Monmouth" 9 April
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Trollope, Anthony Orley Farm
London: Chaman & Hall, 1862
...[Trollope] seems to aim to be commonplace...Interested much in Orley Farm. The characters, Madeline Staveley and Graham beautifully endered--All with love...Finish Orley Farm before Guardmount. An interesting tale but cannot like the author's style. Too much of slang about his method of expression 17 April, 19 April, 20 April
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Victor, Mrs. Metta Victoria The Unionist's Daughter; A Tale of the Rebellion in
Tennessee New York: Beadle & Co, 1861
[No review, but he liked it enough to relate the story to his tent mates] 25 February
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Warner, John S. The Wreck of the Albion: A Tale of the Sea
New York: Beadle & Co, 1862
...a [penny] dreadful 19 March
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Webb, Jane, Pickpocket Jenny Diver, the French Highwayman -- A Tale of Yellowback Strife New York: Bradle & Co, [date]
...a good tale...Some good sense 8 February
Busbey mentions several of his own stories, many of which he shared with his tent mates:
________the uses to which I can put my day dreams, my ideal creation--Make them live to give others joy
5 March
"The Wiz[z]ard Minstrels: A Legend of Cripple Creek. Translated from the Ojibways"
[A book of 3 pages that WHB had self-published in March 1863--although the Ojibway tribe was nowhere near Tennessee!]
"Ideal Dreams"--tales written by WHB
"The Forest Queen or Three in One" 26 February
"Life Dream" 1 March
(Is this his story featuring Adelia Woodward and Professor Bingham?) 4 March, 13 March
"Fidelia Cordelia or Second Love: A Tale of Eastern Kentucky" (Connected in plot and character with "The Dream". An ideal adventure among real mountains. The heroine a farmer's daughter.) 20 March
(also "Prize Poem" or is this from Leslie's Magazine?)
OTHER PUBLICATIONS MENTIONED BY SGT. BUSBEY
The Springfield [OH] Republic
Letters from WHB printed/received 23 Jan, 28 Jan, 7 Apr, 27 Apr,
The Weekly Bulletin, edited by William's brother, Hamilton Busbey
The Commercial
The Springfield Daily News [Is this the one WHB refers to as simply The News?]
Letters from WHB printed/received 24 Jan, 11 Feb,
The Clark County [OH] Democrat
The Daily Telegraph, edited by George Augustus Sala
The New York Tribune
Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper (later known as Frank Leslies's Weekly or simply Leslie's Weekly)
"The Man Overboard" a prize tale by A.F. Banks Odd and attractive, it tears its way to the heart; we love and acknowledge the power of genius 13 February
The Prize Story: Victoria Well pleased with its lofty human nature 27 February
Lloyd's Penny Paper, edited by Douglas Jerrold
Peterson's Magazine
Temple Bar, edited by George Augustus Sala
"Better for Worse" by Edmond Hodgson Yates (first novel by the man who edited Temple Bar--not Sala?) in the magazine, liked the book very much mentioned on 7 March
Hamilton, Gail (Mary Abigail Dodge) Gala-days The Atlantic Monthly 3 May
