Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, Volume 1

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Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, Volume 1

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By Abil Kile Posted on Nov 15, 2025

In Category - History

Authors: Astronomical Society of the Pacific Published By : Astronomical Society of the Pacific

Book Language: English

Hey, I just read something that feels like finding a time capsule from the dawn of modern astronomy. It's not a novel—it's the very first volume of the Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific from 1889. Think of it as the opening chapter of a scientific revolution, where astronomers on the West Coast began sharing discoveries in their own journal. The real hook? You're reading the raw, first-draft thoughts that helped shape how we see the universe, from discussions about the canals on Mars to the earliest studies of nebulae. It's history, science, and pure human curiosity bound together.

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Central Portion of MacMonnies Fountain--Effect of Electric Light. HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES FROM THE EARLIEST DISCOVERY OF AMERICA TO THE PRESENT TIME BY E. BENJAMIN ANDREWS CHANCELLOR OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA FORMERLY PRESIDENT OF BROWN UNIVERSITY With 650 Illustrations and Maps VOLUME IV. NEW YORK CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS 1912 COPYRIGHT, 1894 AND 1903, BY CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS [Illustration: Scribner's logo.] CONTENTS PERIOD IV CIVIL WAR AND RECONSTRUCTION (Continued) 1860--1868 CHAPTER V. THE STRUGGLE FOR THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY Three Great Lines of Campaign.—Confederate Posts in Kentucky.—Surrender of Fort Henry.—Siege of Fort Donelson.—Capture.—Kentucky Cleared of Armed Confederates.—Pope Captures Island No. 10.—Gunboat Fight.—Memphis Ours.—Battle of Pittsburg—Landing.—Defeat and Victory.—Farragut and Butler to New Orleans.—Battle.—Victory.—The Crescent City Won.—On to Vicksburg.—Iuka.—Corinth.—Grant's Masterly Strategy.—Sherman's Movements.—McClernand's.—Gunboats pass Vicksburg.—Capture of Jackson, Miss.—Battle of Champion's Hill.—Siege of Vicksburg.—Famine within.—The Surrender. CHAPTER VI. THE WAR IN THE CENTRE Bragg Invades Kentucky.—Buell Saves Louisville.—Battle of Perryville.—Of Stone River.—Losses.—Chickamauga.—Thomas the "Rock of Chickamauga."—Grant to the Front.—Bragg's Movements.—Chattanooga.—The "Battle above the Clouds."—Capture of Missionary Ridge.—Bragg's Army Broken Up.—Grant Lieutenant-General.—Plan of Campaign for 1864-65.—Sherman's Army.—Skirmishes.—Kenesaw Mountain.—Johnston at Bay.—Hood in Command.—Assumes the Offensive.—Sherman in Atlanta.—Losses.—Hood to Alabama and Tennessee.—The March to the Sea.—Living on the Country.—Sherman at Savannah.—Hardee Evacuates.—A Christmas Gift.—The Blow to the Confederacy.—Thomas Crushes Hood.—Sherman Marches North.—Charleston Falls.—Columbia.—Johnston Routed at Bentonville.—Sherman Master of the Carolinas.—Johnston Surrenders. CHAPTER VII. THE VIRGINIA CAMPAIGNS OF 1862--63 McClellan to Fortress Monroe.—Yorktown.—Williamsburg.—Fair Oaks.—Lee in Command.—McDowell Retained at Fredericksburg.—Lee Assumes the Offensive.—Gaines's Mill.—The Seven Days' Retreat.—Malvern Hill.—Union Army at Harrison's Landing.—Discouragement.—McClellan Leaves the Peninsula.—Pope's Advance on Richmond.—Retreat.—Jackson in his Rear.—Second Battle of Bull Run.—Pope Defeated.—Chantilly.—McClellan again Commander.—Lee in Maryland.—South Mountain.—Antietam.—Lee Escapes.—McClellan Removed and Burnside in Command.—Fredericksburg.—The Battle.—Hooker General-in-Chief.—Chancellorsville.—Flank Movement by Jackson.—Battle of May 3d.—Lee in Pennsylvania.—Convergence to Gettysburg.—First Day's Battle.—Second Day.—Third.—Pickett's Charge.—Failure.—Lee Escapes.—Significance of this Battle. CHAPTER VIII. COLLAPSE OF THE CONFEDERACY Grant Comes East.—Battle of the Wilderness.—Flanking.—Spottsylvania.—The "Bloody Angle."—Butler "Bottled Up" at Bermuda.—Grant at the North Anna.—At Cold Harbor.—Change of Base to the James.—Siege of Petersburg.—The Mine.—Washington in Peril.—Operations in Shenandoah Valley.—"Sheridan's Ride."—Further Work at Petersburg.—Distress at the South.—Lee's Problem.—Battle at Five Forks.—Blue-coats in Petersburg.—Davis and his Government Leave Richmond.—Union Army Enters.—Grant Pursues Lee.—The Surrender.—Assassination of President Lincoln.—Johnston Grounds Arms.—Capture of Jefferson Davis. CHAPTER IX. THE WAR ON THE SEA Classification of Naval Deeds.—Our Navy when the War Began.—Enlargement.—Blockading.—Difficulty and Success.—Alternate Tediousness and Excitement.—Blockade-running Tactics.—Expeditions to Aid the Blockade.—To Port Royal.—To Roanoke Island.—Confederate Navy.—The Merrimac.—Sinks the Cumberland, Burns the Congress.—Monitor and Merrimac.—An Era in Naval Architecture and Warfare.—Operations before Charleston.—The Atlanta.—The Albemarle.—Blown Up by Cushing.—Farragut in Mobile Harbor.—Fort Fisher Taken.—Southern Cruisers upon the High Seas.—Destructive.—The Sumter.—The Alabama.—Her Career.—Fights the Kearsarge.—Sinks. CHAPTER X. FOREIGN RELATIONS. FINANCE. EMANCIPATION. Views of the War Abroad.—England's Hostility.—Causes.—The Trent Affair.—Seward's Reasoning.—Great Britain's Breach of Neutrality.—Louis Napoleon's Hypocrisy.—Invasion of Mexico.—Maximilian.—War Expenditure.—How Met.—Duties.—Internal Revenue.—Loans.—Bonds.—Treasury Notes.—Treasurer's Report, July 1, 1865.—Errors of War Financiering.—Confederate Finances.—High Prices at South.—Problem of the Slave in Union Lines.—"Contraband of War."—Rendition by United States Officers.—Arguments for Emancipation.—Congressional Legislation.—Abolition in District of Columbia.—Negro Soldiers.—Preliminary Proclamation.—Final Effects.—Mr. Lincoln's Difficulties.—Republican Opposition.—Abolitionist.—Democratic.—Copperhead.—Yet he is Re-elected. CHAPTER XI. RECONSTRUCTION Delicacy of the Task.—Reasons.—The Main Constitutional Question.—Different Views.—The Other Questions.—Answer.—Periods of Reconstruction.—During War.—President Lincoln.—Johnson.—His Policy.—Carried Out.—Congress Rips up his Work.—Why.—South's Attitude just after War.—Toward Negroes.—XIVth Amendment.—Rejected by Southern States.—Iron Law of 1867.—Carried through.—Antagonism between President Johnson and Congress.—Attempt to Impeach Johnson.—Fails. PERIOD V THE CEMENTED UNION 1868-1888 CHAPTER I. POLITICAL HISTORY OF THE LAST TWO DECADES Grant's First Election.—His Work During Reconstruction.—Its Difficulty.—Bayonet Rule in the South.—The Force Act.—Danger to State Independence.—"Liberal Republican" Movement.—The Greeley Campaign, 1872.—Grant again Elected.—Fresh Turmoil at the South.—Culminates in Louisiana.—Blood Shed.—The Kellogg Government Sustained in that State.—A Solid South.—The Election of 1876.—In Doubt.—The Returns.—The Electoral Commission of 1877.—Hayes Seated.—The Electoral Count Act, 1886.—Hayes's...

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Let's be clear: this isn't a book with a plot in the traditional sense. Instead, Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, Volume 1 is the founding document of a scientific community. Published in 1889, it collects the first research papers, meeting minutes, and discussions from astronomers primarily based on the U.S. West Coast. The 'story' is the birth of a dedicated conversation about the Pacific skies. You'll find early observations of planets, debates about the nature of distant star clusters, and technical notes on improving telescopes. It's the record of a group of passionate people deciding to formally share their work with the world.

Why You Should Read It

Reading this feels like getting a backstage pass to history. You're not reading a polished summary written later; you're in the room where it happened. The language is surprisingly direct and accessible. You can sense the excitement and occasional frustration in these pages. It’s a powerful reminder that science is a human endeavor, built paper by paper, observation by observation. It connects you directly to the moment when our understanding of the cosmos began to accelerate dramatically.

Final Verdict

This is a niche but fascinating read. It's perfect for astronomy enthusiasts with a historical bent, or anyone who loves primary source material. If you've ever wondered how scientific knowledge is built from the ground up, this volume shows you the first bricks. It's not light bedtime reading, but for the right person, it's an incredibly rewarding and unique glimpse into the past.

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The copyright for this book has expired, making it public property. You can copy, modify, and distribute it freely.