On Friday my family and I will fly to Phoenix for our annual Spring Break in the sun: great food, desert hikes and relaxing by the pool. For a week I will not be posting on this site or thinking about the Civil War. I will drive by a Civil War battlefield on my way to Tombstone or Bisby so I offer links for that.
http://www.wtj.com/articles/picacho/
http://www.civilwaralbum.com/misc6/picacho_pass1.htm
Have a great Easter and I’ll post again in May.
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Easter
April 24th I will sit down to a huge ham slice decorated with pineapple and cloves, the ham shining in a brown sugar and pineapple juice glaze. To add to the feast my overstrained plate will struggle under the weight of cheesy potatoes, an Arizona fresh fruit salad, steamed broccoli and something my brother in law will surprise us with. My fork will shovel thousands of calories of pleasure into my 21st Century body. After dinner, I’ll attempt to take a walk-to make room for pie.
Compare that with Confederate Carlton McCarthy’s post war reminiscence. “To be one day without anything to eat was common. Two days fasting, marching and fighting was not uncommon, and there were times when no rations were issued for three or four days. On one march, from Petersburg to Appomattox, no rations were issued to Cutshaw's battalion of artillery for one entire week, and the men subsisted on the corn intended for the battery horses, raw bacon captured from the enemy, and the water of springs, creeks and rivers. No doubt there were other commands suffering the same privations”- Carlton McCarthy, Richmond Howitzers.
Did you ever wonder when Easter was during the Civil War.? I did:
March 31st 1861
April 20th 1862
April 5th 1863
March 27th 1864
April 16th 1865
Below are some accounts of the meals Confederates (CSA) and Federals (USA) had on their Easter Sunday.
April 20, 1862
USA “This is Easter and a pretty day. We had 2 eggs a piece this morning” Alexander Gwin (Campbell, 25).
April 5th, 1863
CSA “Warrenton, Mississippi
“Captain Carter and myself have just finished eating a hearty dinner of crawfish (the first I’ve ever tried)”-William Chunn (Mills, 224).
CSA “Camp Gregg Near Guiney Station, VA or Fredericksburg, Va.
We get plenty to eat. Each man gets 2 ounces of meat a day, but it’s thick that 2 ounces will do a man generally about two days. It is fully one half inch think and on half of that is pure skin and you know that we ought not grumble. They say the next meat we draw will be a mule. I told the commissary to be certain and get a hind quarter” -G.J. Huntley (Tayler, 100).
CSA “Camp of the 23rd N.C. Reg.
Near Guinea Station, Va.
“The snow is about seven or eight inches deep. I don’t think we will have a very gay Easter today, as game is skearce, and we can get no eggs.” -Jer Coggin (Taylor, 134).
March 27, 1864
CSA “Rations- bacon, meal, rice, sugar, coffee, candles, soap, and salt. Tom cooked so I had nothing to do.”- James Peyton (Swank,21).
CSA “Had a cup of genuine coffee this morning for breakfast-something unusual” -John Jackman (Davis, 112).
CSA “Bacon or pork & cornbread” JP ( Hubb, 232).
USA “The beautiful Easter Sunday finds us all O.K. for it is as pretty and warm day, but we have no eggs. We could have them at 40 cents per doz. but I guess we will do without this time- Daniel Chisholm (Menge, 7).
FINAL THOUGHTS
While I prefer my Easter supper, I have eaten what they describe. In our food rich world it’s hard to fathom being hungry, to feel the pain of being able to think of little else. At some reenactments I’ve taken a ration issue I read about. With a half pound of bacon, flour and nothing else I would have to manage the amount, cook it up in the most efficient manner and not make a quick run to the kettle corn vendor, all in the name of authenticity. Saturday morning breakfast would usually be large, for I have no ability to manage. Saturday lunch would be a biscuit and piece of cold bacon. For supper I would make up the last of the bacon and flour-not much. Sunday, my canteen of water would be my only sustenance.
Being hungry is a humbling experience for little else matters but filling that hole in your stomach. No matter how hard I would try to enjoy myself, the drill, camaraderie of chums, talking the public and whatever else, the event offered was often tempered by hunger. And that was only a day. Surely I am not as strong, at present, as those I study. I’m not sure if it was the actual lack of food or the idea that I’m starving myself a mile from a Taco Bell. My undisciplined mind could not shake the thought of food. I remember the scene in the Andersonville movie, where two federal prisoners are talking about the perfect meal. One offers the idea of butter and the other mentions pie. Behind them the starving sergeant yelps his surrender. I found myself thinking about what I was going to eat after the event then wanting to surrender to the kettle corn.
My Easter goal is to remember these accounts as I go for seconds.
A RECIPE
Fry up your bacon, saving the grease for the biscuits. While the bacon cooks, mix flour and water to make dough that is not sticky. Make small flat discs. When the bacon is done, pull it out then place the dough in. Cook through. To wash it all down, a good glass of water or, if you’re pampering yourself, a cup of coffee.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Campbell, Joseph, Judy Gowen. Marching Orders: The Civil War Diary of Alexander
Crawford Gwin. Altoona: Daisy Publishing, 1999.
Davis, William, ed. Diary of a Confederate Soldier: John S. Jackman of the Orphan
Brigade. Columbia:University of South Carolina Press, 1990.
Hubbs, Ward, ed. Voices from Company D: Diaries by the Greensboro Guards, Fifth
Alabama Infantry Regiment, Army of Northern Virginia. Athens: The University
of Georgia Press, 2003.
Lane, Mills edt. “Dear Mother: Don’t grieve about me. If I get killed, I’ll only be dead.”
Savannah: Library of Georgia, 1990.
Menge, W. Springer Menge, J. August Shimrak. The Civil War Notebook of Daniel
Chisholm: A Chronicle of Daily Life in the Union Army 1864-1865.New York:
Orions Books, 1989.
Swank, Waldbrook, Ed. Stonewall Jackson’s Foot Cavalry: Company A, 13rh Virginia
Infantry. Shippenburg: Burd Street Press, 2001.
Taylor, Michael. The Cry is War, War, War. Winston Salem: Morning side Press, 1994.
Compare that with Confederate Carlton McCarthy’s post war reminiscence. “To be one day without anything to eat was common. Two days fasting, marching and fighting was not uncommon, and there were times when no rations were issued for three or four days. On one march, from Petersburg to Appomattox, no rations were issued to Cutshaw's battalion of artillery for one entire week, and the men subsisted on the corn intended for the battery horses, raw bacon captured from the enemy, and the water of springs, creeks and rivers. No doubt there were other commands suffering the same privations”- Carlton McCarthy, Richmond Howitzers.
Did you ever wonder when Easter was during the Civil War.? I did:
March 31st 1861
April 20th 1862
April 5th 1863
March 27th 1864
April 16th 1865
Below are some accounts of the meals Confederates (CSA) and Federals (USA) had on their Easter Sunday.
April 20, 1862
USA “This is Easter and a pretty day. We had 2 eggs a piece this morning” Alexander Gwin (Campbell, 25).
April 5th, 1863
CSA “Warrenton, Mississippi
“Captain Carter and myself have just finished eating a hearty dinner of crawfish (the first I’ve ever tried)”-William Chunn (Mills, 224).
CSA “Camp Gregg Near Guiney Station, VA or Fredericksburg, Va.
We get plenty to eat. Each man gets 2 ounces of meat a day, but it’s thick that 2 ounces will do a man generally about two days. It is fully one half inch think and on half of that is pure skin and you know that we ought not grumble. They say the next meat we draw will be a mule. I told the commissary to be certain and get a hind quarter” -G.J. Huntley (Tayler, 100).
CSA “Camp of the 23rd N.C. Reg.
Near Guinea Station, Va.
“The snow is about seven or eight inches deep. I don’t think we will have a very gay Easter today, as game is skearce, and we can get no eggs.” -Jer Coggin (Taylor, 134).
March 27, 1864
CSA “Rations- bacon, meal, rice, sugar, coffee, candles, soap, and salt. Tom cooked so I had nothing to do.”- James Peyton (Swank,21).
CSA “Had a cup of genuine coffee this morning for breakfast-something unusual” -John Jackman (Davis, 112).
CSA “Bacon or pork & cornbread” JP ( Hubb, 232).
USA “The beautiful Easter Sunday finds us all O.K. for it is as pretty and warm day, but we have no eggs. We could have them at 40 cents per doz. but I guess we will do without this time- Daniel Chisholm (Menge, 7).
FINAL THOUGHTS
While I prefer my Easter supper, I have eaten what they describe. In our food rich world it’s hard to fathom being hungry, to feel the pain of being able to think of little else. At some reenactments I’ve taken a ration issue I read about. With a half pound of bacon, flour and nothing else I would have to manage the amount, cook it up in the most efficient manner and not make a quick run to the kettle corn vendor, all in the name of authenticity. Saturday morning breakfast would usually be large, for I have no ability to manage. Saturday lunch would be a biscuit and piece of cold bacon. For supper I would make up the last of the bacon and flour-not much. Sunday, my canteen of water would be my only sustenance.
Being hungry is a humbling experience for little else matters but filling that hole in your stomach. No matter how hard I would try to enjoy myself, the drill, camaraderie of chums, talking the public and whatever else, the event offered was often tempered by hunger. And that was only a day. Surely I am not as strong, at present, as those I study. I’m not sure if it was the actual lack of food or the idea that I’m starving myself a mile from a Taco Bell. My undisciplined mind could not shake the thought of food. I remember the scene in the Andersonville movie, where two federal prisoners are talking about the perfect meal. One offers the idea of butter and the other mentions pie. Behind them the starving sergeant yelps his surrender. I found myself thinking about what I was going to eat after the event then wanting to surrender to the kettle corn.
My Easter goal is to remember these accounts as I go for seconds.
A RECIPE
Fry up your bacon, saving the grease for the biscuits. While the bacon cooks, mix flour and water to make dough that is not sticky. Make small flat discs. When the bacon is done, pull it out then place the dough in. Cook through. To wash it all down, a good glass of water or, if you’re pampering yourself, a cup of coffee.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Campbell, Joseph, Judy Gowen. Marching Orders: The Civil War Diary of Alexander
Crawford Gwin. Altoona: Daisy Publishing, 1999.
Davis, William, ed. Diary of a Confederate Soldier: John S. Jackman of the Orphan
Brigade. Columbia:University of South Carolina Press, 1990.
Hubbs, Ward, ed. Voices from Company D: Diaries by the Greensboro Guards, Fifth
Alabama Infantry Regiment, Army of Northern Virginia. Athens: The University
of Georgia Press, 2003.
Lane, Mills edt. “Dear Mother: Don’t grieve about me. If I get killed, I’ll only be dead.”
Savannah: Library of Georgia, 1990.
Menge, W. Springer Menge, J. August Shimrak. The Civil War Notebook of Daniel
Chisholm: A Chronicle of Daily Life in the Union Army 1864-1865.New York:
Orions Books, 1989.
Swank, Waldbrook, Ed. Stonewall Jackson’s Foot Cavalry: Company A, 13rh Virginia
Infantry. Shippenburg: Burd Street Press, 2001.
Taylor, Michael. The Cry is War, War, War. Winston Salem: Morning side Press, 1994.
Monday, April 18, 2011
Confederate Prisoners at Camp Randall in Madison, Wisconsin
The following material came from James Hebering’s article on “The Boys of Forest Hill,” Carolyn J. Mattern’s article, “Soldiers When They Go: The Story of Camp Randall, 1861-1865,” Larry J. Daniels book Island #10 or the newspaper articles from the Wisconsin Patriot or the Wisconsin Daily State Journal found on the Wisconsin Veterans Museum Website. We can use the following information to flesh out our confederate presentations.
The prisoners of Island #10 campaign, in part were shipped to Madison, Wisconsin where they were housed where Camp Randall football stadium now stands. In the 1860s, Camp Randal, named after the governor of the time, trained Wisconsin men for service and held 1,300 Confederate prisoners, of which 139 still reside in the earth of their captive state. The camp lasted three months and is largely forgotten except by a few historians. Doubtful that the red clad thousands that go to Camp Randall to see Badger football ever think about the prisoners who suffered so horribly on the same spot on which they have a beer and a bratwurst, unless they read this blog…
ISLAND #10 CAMPAIGN
“The regiment was armed with inferior weapons…one company did not even possess arms at all.”
“We surrendered at Tiptonville on Tuesday morning April 8th including a large number of sick. On that night happened one of the severest storms I ever witnessed. The sick were without adequate protection from the peltings and utterly without medicine.”
“On the night of March 8th, the prisoners were forced to huddle along the bank shivering in the rain. Some were thinly clad in butternut cloth attire and others in gray cloth of a light texture… in a beggarly dress ill protected from the keen wind.”
ARRIVING IN MADISON
“Most prisoners were friendly to the citizens of Madison”
“Their uniforms shown the hardship of war and each man heavily laden with baggage. Ragged as they were each man held his head up high s they stepped of the train (from Praire Du Chein).”
“No one can look upon those poor raged unwashed deluded wretches without a shuddering…”
“A mother with a son in the army spoke to her husband, ‘I don’t think any of them have any warm clothes. George go home and pick up everything you things they can use. I will find out other thinks they need’.”
“The prisoners passed between the file of soldiers with the band playing lively airs, contrasting with the Southerners apparent dejection. However when they neared the camp the band broke into “Dixie” and the pale faces and tired steps brightened.”
LIFE IN PRISON
Camp Randall was more wholesome, better water and dryer ground than Camp Douglas (Chicago), where some were previously housed.
“The men of the Washington Artillery, sat over a fire chatting of old times. They were organized in Memphis, Tennessee as a home guard and were marched to Island #10 without having been sworn into service of the Confederate Government. Under the circumstances they are in hopes of being released before long. “
“One group had cards in their hands and the players were looking anxiously for ‘Jack’.” Jack may be a reference to the importance of the Jack in Euchre, a popular game of the period.
Private George Paddock of the 19 Wisconsin, “ They dye off like rotten sheep. There was 11 dye off yesterday and today, and there aint a day but what there is from 2 to 10 dyes.”
Sampling of the deaths in Camp Randall
April 26th WM HAM. Co. F 1st Alabama
27th WM. O. Mathews Co. E 1st Alabama
28th Geo. Carr Co. F 1st Alabama
29th James Williamson Co. C 55th Tennessee
30th J.S. Pickney Co. C 55th Tennessee
139 Lie buried in Forest Hill
For the sick in hospital, “ a group of young girls carried fresh milk to them each day, along with fresh fruits and other needed supplies.”
“The hospital is in terribly bad condition. There are as many as 200 sick. Bed sacks camp cots sheets, pillow cases etch have been sent to camp… yet prisoners helplessly sick lying on the bare floor and many are dying I believe for want of proper care and attention.” J.A. Potter Assistant Quarter Master US Army.
“Many attribute (deaths) to neglect on the part of the medical staff and how they were transported North.”
Two prisoners attempted an escape with the help of guard Private Ames Carr of Company H 19th Wisconsin whom they paid. He accepted “15 dollars in good money and twenty dollars in script” for helping the two escape and promised to help 200 out on his next shift. Carr had been imprisoned at Waupun Penitentiary prior to his enlistment. For his effort Carr was arrested and was imprisoned in irons in a tent by himself under a special guard.”
Prisoners at Camp Randall were in the need of postage stamps. The guards collected $10 to purchase stamps for the prisoners who had families.
“Philanthropic officers hearing of the prisoners want of tobacco presented them with a barrel of it.”
“A few prisoners took the oath of Allegiance.”
“The men of the 55th Tennessee played ball”.
“One or two were reading light literature and we saw two prisoners in different reading groups reading a small print testament.”
The guards were put under stricter orders including having all guns loaded, prisoner roll taken three times a day,
On May 21st, G.W. Speaks of the 1st Alabama, Tennessee, Mississippi Regiment was shot for verbally abusing a guard
From the court transcripts, guard’s testimony: A prisoner, “removed his pants and sat down apparently for the purpose of moving his bowels. I told him that place (restricted sink (latrine ditch)) was not to be used for that purpose and twice or three times ordered him away…I picked up a small stone and threw it at him hitting him on the side of the face. Six or seven rebels came running toward me… and one (his brother) said to me, ‘You Damn son of a bitchy I will report you.’ I had orders to shoot rebels insulting me and did shoot him” the guard was 17 years old.
As the days went the attitude of the prisoners seemed to change. They become from violent toward the guards and amongst themselves. “They fight like devils amongst themselves…(one) took a club and knocked him (another prisoner) down and killed him right on the spot.”
LEAVING MADISON
On September 7, 1862 the survivors were shipped downriver to Vicksburg for exchange. On September 21, they landed on the shore. “… the prisoners said goodbye to their guards and thanked them for the kind treatment, to which one guard responded, ‘ Now if you Johnnies ever capture us all, all we ask is that you treat us as well as we have you.”
Website with more information on the prison experience in Madison: http://www.censusdiggins.com/prison_camp_randall.html
The prisoners of Island #10 campaign, in part were shipped to Madison, Wisconsin where they were housed where Camp Randall football stadium now stands. In the 1860s, Camp Randal, named after the governor of the time, trained Wisconsin men for service and held 1,300 Confederate prisoners, of which 139 still reside in the earth of their captive state. The camp lasted three months and is largely forgotten except by a few historians. Doubtful that the red clad thousands that go to Camp Randall to see Badger football ever think about the prisoners who suffered so horribly on the same spot on which they have a beer and a bratwurst, unless they read this blog…
ISLAND #10 CAMPAIGN
“The regiment was armed with inferior weapons…one company did not even possess arms at all.”
“We surrendered at Tiptonville on Tuesday morning April 8th including a large number of sick. On that night happened one of the severest storms I ever witnessed. The sick were without adequate protection from the peltings and utterly without medicine.”
“On the night of March 8th, the prisoners were forced to huddle along the bank shivering in the rain. Some were thinly clad in butternut cloth attire and others in gray cloth of a light texture… in a beggarly dress ill protected from the keen wind.”
ARRIVING IN MADISON
“Most prisoners were friendly to the citizens of Madison”
“Their uniforms shown the hardship of war and each man heavily laden with baggage. Ragged as they were each man held his head up high s they stepped of the train (from Praire Du Chein).”
“No one can look upon those poor raged unwashed deluded wretches without a shuddering…”
“A mother with a son in the army spoke to her husband, ‘I don’t think any of them have any warm clothes. George go home and pick up everything you things they can use. I will find out other thinks they need’.”
“The prisoners passed between the file of soldiers with the band playing lively airs, contrasting with the Southerners apparent dejection. However when they neared the camp the band broke into “Dixie” and the pale faces and tired steps brightened.”
LIFE IN PRISON
Camp Randall was more wholesome, better water and dryer ground than Camp Douglas (Chicago), where some were previously housed.
“The men of the Washington Artillery, sat over a fire chatting of old times. They were organized in Memphis, Tennessee as a home guard and were marched to Island #10 without having been sworn into service of the Confederate Government. Under the circumstances they are in hopes of being released before long. “
“One group had cards in their hands and the players were looking anxiously for ‘Jack’.” Jack may be a reference to the importance of the Jack in Euchre, a popular game of the period.
Private George Paddock of the 19 Wisconsin, “ They dye off like rotten sheep. There was 11 dye off yesterday and today, and there aint a day but what there is from 2 to 10 dyes.”
Sampling of the deaths in Camp Randall
April 26th WM HAM. Co. F 1st Alabama
27th WM. O. Mathews Co. E 1st Alabama
28th Geo. Carr Co. F 1st Alabama
29th James Williamson Co. C 55th Tennessee
30th J.S. Pickney Co. C 55th Tennessee
139 Lie buried in Forest Hill
For the sick in hospital, “ a group of young girls carried fresh milk to them each day, along with fresh fruits and other needed supplies.”
“The hospital is in terribly bad condition. There are as many as 200 sick. Bed sacks camp cots sheets, pillow cases etch have been sent to camp… yet prisoners helplessly sick lying on the bare floor and many are dying I believe for want of proper care and attention.” J.A. Potter Assistant Quarter Master US Army.
“Many attribute (deaths) to neglect on the part of the medical staff and how they were transported North.”
Two prisoners attempted an escape with the help of guard Private Ames Carr of Company H 19th Wisconsin whom they paid. He accepted “15 dollars in good money and twenty dollars in script” for helping the two escape and promised to help 200 out on his next shift. Carr had been imprisoned at Waupun Penitentiary prior to his enlistment. For his effort Carr was arrested and was imprisoned in irons in a tent by himself under a special guard.”
Prisoners at Camp Randall were in the need of postage stamps. The guards collected $10 to purchase stamps for the prisoners who had families.
“Philanthropic officers hearing of the prisoners want of tobacco presented them with a barrel of it.”
“A few prisoners took the oath of Allegiance.”
“The men of the 55th Tennessee played ball”.
“One or two were reading light literature and we saw two prisoners in different reading groups reading a small print testament.”
The guards were put under stricter orders including having all guns loaded, prisoner roll taken three times a day,
On May 21st, G.W. Speaks of the 1st Alabama, Tennessee, Mississippi Regiment was shot for verbally abusing a guard
From the court transcripts, guard’s testimony: A prisoner, “removed his pants and sat down apparently for the purpose of moving his bowels. I told him that place (restricted sink (latrine ditch)) was not to be used for that purpose and twice or three times ordered him away…I picked up a small stone and threw it at him hitting him on the side of the face. Six or seven rebels came running toward me… and one (his brother) said to me, ‘You Damn son of a bitchy I will report you.’ I had orders to shoot rebels insulting me and did shoot him” the guard was 17 years old.
As the days went the attitude of the prisoners seemed to change. They become from violent toward the guards and amongst themselves. “They fight like devils amongst themselves…(one) took a club and knocked him (another prisoner) down and killed him right on the spot.”
LEAVING MADISON
On September 7, 1862 the survivors were shipped downriver to Vicksburg for exchange. On September 21, they landed on the shore. “… the prisoners said goodbye to their guards and thanked them for the kind treatment, to which one guard responded, ‘ Now if you Johnnies ever capture us all, all we ask is that you treat us as well as we have you.”
Website with more information on the prison experience in Madison: http://www.censusdiggins.com/prison_camp_randall.html
Friday, April 15, 2011
24th Wisconsin Infantry at Franklin
For fun, I like to write brief historical treatments. The one below deals with the 24th Wisconsin during the battle for Franklin in November of 1864. I wrote this so when I went to the Carter House, I could sit on the porch and read it. I did and it worked.
NOTE: The Carter House is a great Civil War tour stop. Sure its surrounded by modern life, but where else can you see the physical proof of a horrific battle as when you look on the scarred walls of the Carter property.
WEBSITE RELATED TO CARTER HOUSE http://www.carter-house.org/
THE 24th
In August 1862 over 1,000 men from Milwaukee boarded trains for the South, the war. Above their numbers flew a brand new flag bearing the number 24. History will forever know these men as the 24th Wisconsin Infantry, or the Milwaukee regiment.
November 30th 1864, at about 2:30, barely one hundred Wisconsin are the rear guard holding back Nathan Bedford Forrest’s cavalry as General Schofield’s federal army rushes to Franklin Tennessee. The 24th and their brigade led by Emerson Opdycke finally arrives at the outer defensive works encasing Franklin. Passing through the 3-5 foot breastworks, the brigade is ordered to halt and support the outer defensive position held by General Wagner. Wagner’s line sits over a half mile from the main works. Opdycke would have no part of it. He refused the order, stating that his brigade had been without sleep or food for two days. The 24th, and Opdycke, move past the brick house and farm buildings of Fountain Branch Carter, where a second line of breastworks lay, headlog just above the dirt.
Finally, the Milwaukee men…stack their Enfield rifled-muskets…pull their leathers off and drop to the ground. Dry mouths wait as men tear boards from the Carter buildings to build fires. Soon the sound of salt pork frying and men making their first meal in days fills the air near the Carter home. . Around 4:00, an artillery battery fires. Return fire from Confederate guns whistle past the Badger boys. John Bell Hood’s Army of Tennessee; 45,000 tired, beaten men are about to participate in an attack bigger than Pickett’s Charge and much more deadly.
Corporal Cooley, of the 24th rises up from his coffee as he and his mates hear the roar of rifle fire not fifty yards to their front. Cooley has turned 29 this day. He forgets about his birthday. He has much more pressing concerns. Two Confederate corps, almost 45,000 men are conducting a charge larger and more bloody than Pickett’s famous charge. In moments
Tom Ford States, “Our coffee was just beginning to boil and our sowbelly and crackers frying, when the rebels charged and drove our men out and upon us.” Stacks of rifles toppled and frying pans tipped as the retreating union men tried to escape the assault. “Everyone of us was as eh could be after losing his nearly cooked dinner, and we felt as if we would whip the entire rebel army”(Beaudot, 335). The shrill voice of the 24th Colonel ordered, “Fall in, Twenty-fourth. Take arms. Charge. Give um hell boys. Give um hell, give um hell twenty fourth”(Beaudot, 336).
“ I saw…Colonel McArthur sobering his way toward a Confederate flag. His horse was shot from under him, a bullet ripped open his right shoulder.” (Langsdorn, 34).
A Confederate major holds the flag as McArthur approaches. He shoots the Wisconsin officer in the breast. Staggered by the force of the shot, McArthur drives his sword through the rebel officer. Falling the major gets one more shot off, hitting McArthur in the knee. Laying on the ground another minie ball enters his shoulder. He survives his wounds. And later calls Douglas MacArthur, son.
The 100 men from Wisconsin rush in like furies, bayoneting and clubbing any man in a gray uniform. Driving the attackers to the opposite side of the breastworks, A.J. Jones tells,” we found ourselves in the rear of the Carter house. As we filled around the house, the captain seeing that the works were full, ordered us into the house, telling us to shoot out of the windows, of which there were two on the side next to the enemy. The house was nearly full before our company filed in, and for six hours we were in what might be called a hellhole. Every few moments some one would be hit and carried to the rear of the house. The room soon filled with powder smoke to such an extent that it was difficult to breathe” (Langsdorn, 39).
Having driven the survivors of Strahl’s and other brigades to the opposite side of the works, the Wisconsin men thrust bayonets through the aperture, fire muskets into the boy faces of Hood’s army with furious repetition. Color Sergeant Ed Blake plants the 24th colors on the breastworks where rebel fire shatters the staff. Blake strips the flag from its staff and opening his fatigue coat wraps the stained banner around his chest. Grabbing a musket he joins the shooters.
Christian Bessenger of Wauwatosa doubles over from a groin wound while on the porch, a lone federal used the doorframe of the house as personal barricade. Making himself as narrow as possible, he aims and fires his musket. In loading, his ramrod hits the top of the doorframe, leaving tulip marks in the wood. Finally having enough he pushes on the locked door imploring those on the inside to let him in. A still locked door proves his only response. Taking the butt of his musket the young federal bashes in the lower portion of the door finishing the fight inside the house. Later that week Fountain Branch would tack up a repair that still covers the hole made by one scared federal soldier.
In one of the many enemy surges Captain Philbrook sees an Irishman from Company D dodging the bullets as they came near. Angry the captain responds, “Mike, quit dodging your head there. Stand up and take it like a man.” Just then a bullet enters the captain’s mouth. The Irishman continues dodging and survives the day and the war.
Battle continues until around 11:00 that night when the Wisconsin men and the rest of Schofield’s army begin their retreat to Nashville, 19 miles away. Many in the regiment have fired near 300 rounds. Hand to hand fighting prevailed as clubbing and bayoneting reigned supreme. As the tired blue masses left Franklin, they also left the bodies of Bryon Covalt a sergeant in Company K, Company C Corporal Dietrich Leubben, Captain Alvah Philbrook of Company D and John Zahl, sergeant Company C. 17 wounded and 7 missing totaling 28 out of the 100 men that entered Franklin. 7,000 Confederate casualties, six dead rebel generals, and 2,300 federal casualties tallied the total butcher’s bill for November 30th 1864.
Years later, the veterans of the Battle of Franklin remembered that day as the hardest fighting of their war.
SOURCES
Beaudot, William. The 24th Wisconsin in the Civil War: The Biography of a
Regiment. Mechanicville: Stackpole Books, 2003.
Logsdon, David. Eyewitness at the Battle of Franklin. Nashville: Kettle Mills Press,
1988.
Original letters held in the Wisconsin Veteran’s Museum. 2004.
NOTE: The Carter House is a great Civil War tour stop. Sure its surrounded by modern life, but where else can you see the physical proof of a horrific battle as when you look on the scarred walls of the Carter property.
WEBSITE RELATED TO CARTER HOUSE http://www.carter-house.org/
THE 24th
In August 1862 over 1,000 men from Milwaukee boarded trains for the South, the war. Above their numbers flew a brand new flag bearing the number 24. History will forever know these men as the 24th Wisconsin Infantry, or the Milwaukee regiment.
November 30th 1864, at about 2:30, barely one hundred Wisconsin are the rear guard holding back Nathan Bedford Forrest’s cavalry as General Schofield’s federal army rushes to Franklin Tennessee. The 24th and their brigade led by Emerson Opdycke finally arrives at the outer defensive works encasing Franklin. Passing through the 3-5 foot breastworks, the brigade is ordered to halt and support the outer defensive position held by General Wagner. Wagner’s line sits over a half mile from the main works. Opdycke would have no part of it. He refused the order, stating that his brigade had been without sleep or food for two days. The 24th, and Opdycke, move past the brick house and farm buildings of Fountain Branch Carter, where a second line of breastworks lay, headlog just above the dirt.
Finally, the Milwaukee men…stack their Enfield rifled-muskets…pull their leathers off and drop to the ground. Dry mouths wait as men tear boards from the Carter buildings to build fires. Soon the sound of salt pork frying and men making their first meal in days fills the air near the Carter home. . Around 4:00, an artillery battery fires. Return fire from Confederate guns whistle past the Badger boys. John Bell Hood’s Army of Tennessee; 45,000 tired, beaten men are about to participate in an attack bigger than Pickett’s Charge and much more deadly.
Corporal Cooley, of the 24th rises up from his coffee as he and his mates hear the roar of rifle fire not fifty yards to their front. Cooley has turned 29 this day. He forgets about his birthday. He has much more pressing concerns. Two Confederate corps, almost 45,000 men are conducting a charge larger and more bloody than Pickett’s famous charge. In moments
Tom Ford States, “Our coffee was just beginning to boil and our sowbelly and crackers frying, when the rebels charged and drove our men out and upon us.” Stacks of rifles toppled and frying pans tipped as the retreating union men tried to escape the assault. “Everyone of us was as eh could be after losing his nearly cooked dinner, and we felt as if we would whip the entire rebel army”(Beaudot, 335). The shrill voice of the 24th Colonel ordered, “Fall in, Twenty-fourth. Take arms. Charge. Give um hell boys. Give um hell, give um hell twenty fourth”(Beaudot, 336).
“ I saw…Colonel McArthur sobering his way toward a Confederate flag. His horse was shot from under him, a bullet ripped open his right shoulder.” (Langsdorn, 34).
A Confederate major holds the flag as McArthur approaches. He shoots the Wisconsin officer in the breast. Staggered by the force of the shot, McArthur drives his sword through the rebel officer. Falling the major gets one more shot off, hitting McArthur in the knee. Laying on the ground another minie ball enters his shoulder. He survives his wounds. And later calls Douglas MacArthur, son.
The 100 men from Wisconsin rush in like furies, bayoneting and clubbing any man in a gray uniform. Driving the attackers to the opposite side of the breastworks, A.J. Jones tells,” we found ourselves in the rear of the Carter house. As we filled around the house, the captain seeing that the works were full, ordered us into the house, telling us to shoot out of the windows, of which there were two on the side next to the enemy. The house was nearly full before our company filed in, and for six hours we were in what might be called a hellhole. Every few moments some one would be hit and carried to the rear of the house. The room soon filled with powder smoke to such an extent that it was difficult to breathe” (Langsdorn, 39).
Having driven the survivors of Strahl’s and other brigades to the opposite side of the works, the Wisconsin men thrust bayonets through the aperture, fire muskets into the boy faces of Hood’s army with furious repetition. Color Sergeant Ed Blake plants the 24th colors on the breastworks where rebel fire shatters the staff. Blake strips the flag from its staff and opening his fatigue coat wraps the stained banner around his chest. Grabbing a musket he joins the shooters.
Christian Bessenger of Wauwatosa doubles over from a groin wound while on the porch, a lone federal used the doorframe of the house as personal barricade. Making himself as narrow as possible, he aims and fires his musket. In loading, his ramrod hits the top of the doorframe, leaving tulip marks in the wood. Finally having enough he pushes on the locked door imploring those on the inside to let him in. A still locked door proves his only response. Taking the butt of his musket the young federal bashes in the lower portion of the door finishing the fight inside the house. Later that week Fountain Branch would tack up a repair that still covers the hole made by one scared federal soldier.
In one of the many enemy surges Captain Philbrook sees an Irishman from Company D dodging the bullets as they came near. Angry the captain responds, “Mike, quit dodging your head there. Stand up and take it like a man.” Just then a bullet enters the captain’s mouth. The Irishman continues dodging and survives the day and the war.
Battle continues until around 11:00 that night when the Wisconsin men and the rest of Schofield’s army begin their retreat to Nashville, 19 miles away. Many in the regiment have fired near 300 rounds. Hand to hand fighting prevailed as clubbing and bayoneting reigned supreme. As the tired blue masses left Franklin, they also left the bodies of Bryon Covalt a sergeant in Company K, Company C Corporal Dietrich Leubben, Captain Alvah Philbrook of Company D and John Zahl, sergeant Company C. 17 wounded and 7 missing totaling 28 out of the 100 men that entered Franklin. 7,000 Confederate casualties, six dead rebel generals, and 2,300 federal casualties tallied the total butcher’s bill for November 30th 1864.
Years later, the veterans of the Battle of Franklin remembered that day as the hardest fighting of their war.
SOURCES
Beaudot, William. The 24th Wisconsin in the Civil War: The Biography of a
Regiment. Mechanicville: Stackpole Books, 2003.
Logsdon, David. Eyewitness at the Battle of Franklin. Nashville: Kettle Mills Press,
1988.
Original letters held in the Wisconsin Veteran’s Museum. 2004.
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Death of Uncle Frank
There is no agenda or rationale I’m pursuing with this topic. Simply, as a Northern born man, my study of slavery and the relationship between slave and owner has been gleaned through an admittedly Northern biased education of the late 1970’s-from the war is all about slavery to the Simon Legree stereotype of slave owners. Of course I figured all slave owners were not like the villainous plantation owner in Uncle Tom’s Cabin, but genuine caring for the slave was a slant to history not taught in my Michigan school experience. Studying Confederate 1st person accounts for the last 30 years has guaranteed I would run into accounts of soldier and manservant sharing the privations of war. Whenever I read a 1st person account that mentions a manservant cooking for the mess or doing the wash, the tone is sometimes benevolent and other times more like a horse owner talking about his horse. Some times, as in the account from a lieutenant in the 30th Virginia, the tone is mocking at times.
I’ve mentioned the Archie McLaurin letters in a previous post. In his 1862 letters he mentions Frank- Uncle Frank. At first I thought Uncle Frank was merely that, an uncle then I talked to Ron Skellie, a man whose personal passion is the study of all things 7th Mississippi Infantry. I sent him the transcribed letters and after reading them, he educated a confused Yankee. He told me the Frank in the letters was a slave that went along with Archie, to tend to the menial tasks like finding food, as described in the September 27th letter. With this new light, I reread the letters pertaining to Frank and a whole new relationship shown itself. As you read the letters you’ll see a mention of how Frank is getting along in the September 27th letter. In the October 30th letter, you’ll see Archie telling of a sick Frank and his leaving the uncle with Alic Currie- a bit of tenderness or concern maybe. Then comes the November 13th letter and a recap in the December 9th letter. The grief of losing his Uncle Frank permeates every word of those two letters. When he says, “You can’t imagine how it felt” I felt his pain. Hearing of him trying to tend to his “Uncle” and the return he got from others angered me to the world of Legree. So thanks to the letters of Archie McLaurin a new slant of soldier’s life is clear, at times there was a genuine affection by owner toward owned.
NOTE: There was no punctuation in the letters. My attempts to punctuate are poor at best. Also if you want to study the 7th Mississippi, check out one of the best regimental websites out there: http://www.7miss.org/
Camp Near Knoxville (a convalescent camp)
September 27th 1862
Dear Father,
I will now write to you a few lines to let you know where I am and how I am getting along. We are still near Knoxville. My face is rising again. My lip is as large as it was when old Wallace hurt it but it don’t pain me much. I think it will it will break in a day or two. The Doctor that is along with us has no medicine that is good for me. My health otherwise, is as good as it ever was. We have splendid water here but we have to go a good ways after it. We are camped on an oak ridge in a healthy place. We got officers appointed over us until we get to our regiment. They try to show their authority to much. I see now we will leave here tomorrow or next day after tomorrow. I don’t know get to our regiment. I can’t tell whether we will have to march or go by the way of the cars. Well, so I have seen right smart of the world. Since I have left home I have seen a paper factory and I have seen them making paper. It bangs all the things that I ever saw and I have seen a good many different kind of people too. I seen one man that if ever I see him after war is over, I will whip him or he will whip me sure. He is a doctor too but, you know we have right smart to bear here but maybe so, I will be free some of these days. We get plenty of corn meal and bacon to eat here. Some of the boys went out the other day and pressed a large haversack full of Irish potatoes and four pumpkins and some peas and bought a canteen full of molasses. U Frank got hold of some splendid pies so we fared fine while it all lasted it give out this morning so some of the boys on another scouting expedition as they call it I will tell you in our mess there four of the Franklin Rifles. Dave Calcote & myself and we have concluded not to starve while we’re in east Tennessee.
Frank is getting along fine. He studied about home right smart the first week after he left but he is over it now. He is enjoying himself finely. I think I will get off when I get to the regiment. My lip is larger I think than then it was when the horse hurt it but none good thing, it don’t pain me like it did then. The doctor here says that I winter well. I must close as I have no more news to write. Give my love to all of the rest of the family &reserve a portion for yourself.
From your affectionate son
Hugh A McLaurin
PS You had better not write until you hear from me again. I want to hear from home the worst you ever seen a boy.
Be certain and
Send me a letter
With the box
If not before October the 30th 1862
Dear Father
I write you a few lines to let you know how I am getting along. I am tolerably well at this time. My face is still swollen a little but not much. I left Frank at Knoxville sick. I left there the 26th. I haven’t heard from him since but he wasn’t sick much. It was snowing when I left and I thought that it wouldn’t do to make him travel in that kind of weather so I left him at a convalescent camp with Alic Currie. The Dr said he would have him attended to. I guess he will be up in a day or two.
Camp Near Tullahoma
November 13th 1862
Dear Father
I now write you a few lines but with deep regret. I am well at this time but I am sorry to say that Frank is dead. He died on Monday night. He had been sick with the flux and fever but had got pretty near well of that but he took to running off at the bowels. I tried everywhere to get a house for him to stay in but failed. I couldn’t even as much as get a tent for him to stay in. When I lay down Monday night he was as well as the night before and when I woke Tuesday morning he was dead. You can’t imagine how it felt. I had a coffin made and buried him as a decent as I could. I went out the other day to try to get something that he could eat but couldn’t get a thing. I offered $1.50 for a half grown chicken and they wouldn’t let me have it. I feel very bad about him dying for I am afraid that I am the cause of his death for if I had not brought him out here he might have been at home alive. Well I must come to a close as I have no more news to write. Give my love to all the family and receive a portion for yourself. From your affectionate son
H A McLaurin
PS Write to me as soon as you get this and direct it to Chattanooga and they will be send on. We are camped on the Nashville & Chattanooga RR about 60 miles South west of Chattanooga. I havn’t heard from home since I left there.
Camped Near Murfreesboro Tenn
December 9th 1862
Dear Sister
I received your letter this morning but no box. Ham Webb is at Chattanooga. He can’t get transportation for the things. He will be here in a day to two. You wrote about Frank being dead. He is dead. He took sick the day we got back from the gap to Knoxville. He had flux and fever. I got some medicine from the Dr. that was with us and give him but that didn’t do him much good. I left him at a hospital camp ands went out to hunt the regiment and came back then he was better. Then Dr. Buie advised me to carry him along with me. I brought him with me to Tullahoma and there he died. I tried every where to get a house for him but failed. I couldn’t get a chicken to make him soup but couldn’t get it. He died the 10th of Nov. I lay down that night and the next morning when I woke up he was dead. You cant imagine how I felt. I went then and got a coffin for him and got a couple of negroes to dig a grave and buried him as decent as possible. Well I will close as it is getting late and I am writing by fire light. I will write as soon as I get the box. Give me love to all and reserve a portion for yourself. From your brother,
Archie
I’ve mentioned the Archie McLaurin letters in a previous post. In his 1862 letters he mentions Frank- Uncle Frank. At first I thought Uncle Frank was merely that, an uncle then I talked to Ron Skellie, a man whose personal passion is the study of all things 7th Mississippi Infantry. I sent him the transcribed letters and after reading them, he educated a confused Yankee. He told me the Frank in the letters was a slave that went along with Archie, to tend to the menial tasks like finding food, as described in the September 27th letter. With this new light, I reread the letters pertaining to Frank and a whole new relationship shown itself. As you read the letters you’ll see a mention of how Frank is getting along in the September 27th letter. In the October 30th letter, you’ll see Archie telling of a sick Frank and his leaving the uncle with Alic Currie- a bit of tenderness or concern maybe. Then comes the November 13th letter and a recap in the December 9th letter. The grief of losing his Uncle Frank permeates every word of those two letters. When he says, “You can’t imagine how it felt” I felt his pain. Hearing of him trying to tend to his “Uncle” and the return he got from others angered me to the world of Legree. So thanks to the letters of Archie McLaurin a new slant of soldier’s life is clear, at times there was a genuine affection by owner toward owned.
NOTE: There was no punctuation in the letters. My attempts to punctuate are poor at best. Also if you want to study the 7th Mississippi, check out one of the best regimental websites out there: http://www.7miss.org/
Camp Near Knoxville (a convalescent camp)
September 27th 1862
Dear Father,
I will now write to you a few lines to let you know where I am and how I am getting along. We are still near Knoxville. My face is rising again. My lip is as large as it was when old Wallace hurt it but it don’t pain me much. I think it will it will break in a day or two. The Doctor that is along with us has no medicine that is good for me. My health otherwise, is as good as it ever was. We have splendid water here but we have to go a good ways after it. We are camped on an oak ridge in a healthy place. We got officers appointed over us until we get to our regiment. They try to show their authority to much. I see now we will leave here tomorrow or next day after tomorrow. I don’t know get to our regiment. I can’t tell whether we will have to march or go by the way of the cars. Well, so I have seen right smart of the world. Since I have left home I have seen a paper factory and I have seen them making paper. It bangs all the things that I ever saw and I have seen a good many different kind of people too. I seen one man that if ever I see him after war is over, I will whip him or he will whip me sure. He is a doctor too but, you know we have right smart to bear here but maybe so, I will be free some of these days. We get plenty of corn meal and bacon to eat here. Some of the boys went out the other day and pressed a large haversack full of Irish potatoes and four pumpkins and some peas and bought a canteen full of molasses. U Frank got hold of some splendid pies so we fared fine while it all lasted it give out this morning so some of the boys on another scouting expedition as they call it I will tell you in our mess there four of the Franklin Rifles. Dave Calcote & myself and we have concluded not to starve while we’re in east Tennessee.
Frank is getting along fine. He studied about home right smart the first week after he left but he is over it now. He is enjoying himself finely. I think I will get off when I get to the regiment. My lip is larger I think than then it was when the horse hurt it but none good thing, it don’t pain me like it did then. The doctor here says that I winter well. I must close as I have no more news to write. Give my love to all of the rest of the family &reserve a portion for yourself.
From your affectionate son
Hugh A McLaurin
PS You had better not write until you hear from me again. I want to hear from home the worst you ever seen a boy.
Be certain and
Send me a letter
With the box
If not before October the 30th 1862
Dear Father
I write you a few lines to let you know how I am getting along. I am tolerably well at this time. My face is still swollen a little but not much. I left Frank at Knoxville sick. I left there the 26th. I haven’t heard from him since but he wasn’t sick much. It was snowing when I left and I thought that it wouldn’t do to make him travel in that kind of weather so I left him at a convalescent camp with Alic Currie. The Dr said he would have him attended to. I guess he will be up in a day or two.
Camp Near Tullahoma
November 13th 1862
Dear Father
I now write you a few lines but with deep regret. I am well at this time but I am sorry to say that Frank is dead. He died on Monday night. He had been sick with the flux and fever but had got pretty near well of that but he took to running off at the bowels. I tried everywhere to get a house for him to stay in but failed. I couldn’t even as much as get a tent for him to stay in. When I lay down Monday night he was as well as the night before and when I woke Tuesday morning he was dead. You can’t imagine how it felt. I had a coffin made and buried him as a decent as I could. I went out the other day to try to get something that he could eat but couldn’t get a thing. I offered $1.50 for a half grown chicken and they wouldn’t let me have it. I feel very bad about him dying for I am afraid that I am the cause of his death for if I had not brought him out here he might have been at home alive. Well I must come to a close as I have no more news to write. Give my love to all the family and receive a portion for yourself. From your affectionate son
H A McLaurin
PS Write to me as soon as you get this and direct it to Chattanooga and they will be send on. We are camped on the Nashville & Chattanooga RR about 60 miles South west of Chattanooga. I havn’t heard from home since I left there.
Camped Near Murfreesboro Tenn
December 9th 1862
Dear Sister
I received your letter this morning but no box. Ham Webb is at Chattanooga. He can’t get transportation for the things. He will be here in a day to two. You wrote about Frank being dead. He is dead. He took sick the day we got back from the gap to Knoxville. He had flux and fever. I got some medicine from the Dr. that was with us and give him but that didn’t do him much good. I left him at a hospital camp ands went out to hunt the regiment and came back then he was better. Then Dr. Buie advised me to carry him along with me. I brought him with me to Tullahoma and there he died. I tried every where to get a house for him but failed. I couldn’t get a chicken to make him soup but couldn’t get it. He died the 10th of Nov. I lay down that night and the next morning when I woke up he was dead. You cant imagine how I felt. I went then and got a coffin for him and got a couple of negroes to dig a grave and buried him as decent as possible. Well I will close as it is getting late and I am writing by fire light. I will write as soon as I get the box. Give me love to all and reserve a portion for yourself. From your brother,
Archie
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
What the ________Soldier _________ Like: The Prologue
Busy day Wednesday so I'm posting now. Enjoy
If a guy has been reenacting since 1988, and say that reenactor has been very conscious of portraying an accurate visual and behavioral impression for himself and the public, one would assume that guy has a ton of research on uniform, equipage and behavior of the common soldier. Oh yea, I do. And now that I’m not reenacting much anymore, what am I to do with all this stuff? Yup, share it.
Whenever the mood strikes, or I find some cool primary source material on how the soldier lived, ate and looked like, I will share it. I think, for fun, I’ll break this new slant into various serials: what the soldier looked like, ate like, camped like, lived like, thought like, etc. This oughta be fun.
Here is my first entry into the world of What the Soldier Looked Like: Chapter One
I begin my Confederate description with one that, thematically, tells a lot about the Reb soldier’s physical and physiological make up, and comes from an objective observer. Arthur Freemantle, an English military observer, began his tour of the South in Texas in 1863, and after moving through the Army of Tennesee, eventually arrived in Virginia in time to follow Robert E. Lee and his army into Pennsylvania. Mr. Freemantle may be more popularly regconized as the red dressed tippy-bob in the movie Gettysburg, you know the one with the tea cup and the thoughtful face listening to General Armstead’s soliloquy. Mr. Freemantle’s experiences were put to paper by the gentlemen and is available on Amazon.com and recommended by me: Three Months in the Southern States, April-June 1863. The following accounts describes Liddel’s Brigade of Arkansas troops in the spring of 1863. Liddel’s men were members of The Army of Tennessee, at this time, engaged in keeping General Roscran’s out of southern Tennessee.
“The men were good sized, healthy, and well clothed, but without any attempt at uniformity in color or cut; nearly all were dressed in either gray or brown coats and felt hats. I was told that even if the regiment was clothed in proper uniform by the government, it would become parti-colored again in a week, as the soldier preferred wearing the course homespun jackets and trousers made by their mothers and sisters at home.
The Confederate has no ambition to imitate the regular soldier at all; he looks the genuine rebel; but in spite of his bare feet, his ragged clothes, his old rug, and toothbrush stuck like a rose in his button-hole*, he has a sort of devil-may-care, reckless, self-confident look which is decidedly taking. This toothbrush in the buttonhole is a very common custom, and has a most quaint effect.
For fun here is another description of the confederate soldier. This one comes from David Johnson of the 7th Virginia Infantry.
“A musket, cartridge box with forty rounds of cartridges, cloth haversack, blanket and canteen made up the Confederate soldier’s equipment. No man was allowed a change of clothing, nor could he have carried it. A grey cap, jacket, trousers, and a colored shirt-calico mostly- made up a private’s wardrobe. The method for carrying our few assets was to roll them in a blanket, tying each end of the roll, which was then swung over our shoulder. A night this blanket was unrolled and wrapped around its owner, who found a place on the ground with his cartridge box for a pillow.”
More to come...
If a guy has been reenacting since 1988, and say that reenactor has been very conscious of portraying an accurate visual and behavioral impression for himself and the public, one would assume that guy has a ton of research on uniform, equipage and behavior of the common soldier. Oh yea, I do. And now that I’m not reenacting much anymore, what am I to do with all this stuff? Yup, share it.
Whenever the mood strikes, or I find some cool primary source material on how the soldier lived, ate and looked like, I will share it. I think, for fun, I’ll break this new slant into various serials: what the soldier looked like, ate like, camped like, lived like, thought like, etc. This oughta be fun.
Here is my first entry into the world of What the Soldier Looked Like: Chapter One
I begin my Confederate description with one that, thematically, tells a lot about the Reb soldier’s physical and physiological make up, and comes from an objective observer. Arthur Freemantle, an English military observer, began his tour of the South in Texas in 1863, and after moving through the Army of Tennesee, eventually arrived in Virginia in time to follow Robert E. Lee and his army into Pennsylvania. Mr. Freemantle may be more popularly regconized as the red dressed tippy-bob in the movie Gettysburg, you know the one with the tea cup and the thoughtful face listening to General Armstead’s soliloquy. Mr. Freemantle’s experiences were put to paper by the gentlemen and is available on Amazon.com and recommended by me: Three Months in the Southern States, April-June 1863. The following accounts describes Liddel’s Brigade of Arkansas troops in the spring of 1863. Liddel’s men were members of The Army of Tennessee, at this time, engaged in keeping General Roscran’s out of southern Tennessee.
“The men were good sized, healthy, and well clothed, but without any attempt at uniformity in color or cut; nearly all were dressed in either gray or brown coats and felt hats. I was told that even if the regiment was clothed in proper uniform by the government, it would become parti-colored again in a week, as the soldier preferred wearing the course homespun jackets and trousers made by their mothers and sisters at home.
The Confederate has no ambition to imitate the regular soldier at all; he looks the genuine rebel; but in spite of his bare feet, his ragged clothes, his old rug, and toothbrush stuck like a rose in his button-hole*, he has a sort of devil-may-care, reckless, self-confident look which is decidedly taking. This toothbrush in the buttonhole is a very common custom, and has a most quaint effect.
For fun here is another description of the confederate soldier. This one comes from David Johnson of the 7th Virginia Infantry.
“A musket, cartridge box with forty rounds of cartridges, cloth haversack, blanket and canteen made up the Confederate soldier’s equipment. No man was allowed a change of clothing, nor could he have carried it. A grey cap, jacket, trousers, and a colored shirt-calico mostly- made up a private’s wardrobe. The method for carrying our few assets was to roll them in a blanket, tying each end of the roll, which was then swung over our shoulder. A night this blanket was unrolled and wrapped around its owner, who found a place on the ground with his cartridge box for a pillow.”
More to come...
Websites about Richmond and Petersburg
I am a guy who tends to study the Eastern campaigns. I am especially interested in the Overland Campaign, Petersburg battles and the final Eastern campaign. Maybe it’s the forlorn hope of it all,that last desperate measure of it all that brings me to Richmond just about every year. I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve flown into the Richmond airport, suffice it to say, I can tell you where the closest Waffle House (love that place) is and how to get to Pamplin Park like I’m a native. Here are two websites related to that area that I have enjoyed. If you have any others, please send the addresses to me. I am two months from heading out once again.
RICHMOND
I love Richmond. From walking past the monument to the famous confederates to the Edgar Allan Poe museum, the flavor is to my liking. Besides the Museum of the Confederacy and Virginia Historical Society, a trip to Hollywood Cemetery or Tredegar is a day’s adventure worth pursuing. There are even two diners that were featured on “Drive ins, Diners and Dives” cable show, as well as a good Irish place down town. Food and history-COOL.
“Civil War Richmond” is a nice place to read what the newspapers of the times were saying, thus what was happening in the city. I had never heard of the Shocktoe Hill Cats and the Butchertown Cats (rival gangs) and their rock battles until reading this website. A great website for if you want to vicariously live in Richmond during the war.
“Civil War Richmond”
http://www.mdgorman.com/index.html
PETERSBURG
Someone did all the work for me. The National Park Service websites titled, “Views of the National Parks”, has an amazing site dedicated to the Petersburg battles. Filled with 1st person accounts for Grant’s Headquarters, The Eastern Front, Western Front, Five Forks, Poplar Grove Cemetery, as well a test your knowledge section and finally, a multi-media program that is okay, you’ll finds hours of excellent reading. Enjoy.
“Views of the National Parks”
http://www.nature.nps.gov/views/Classic/Sites/PETE/HTML/ET_Intro.htm
RICHMOND
I love Richmond. From walking past the monument to the famous confederates to the Edgar Allan Poe museum, the flavor is to my liking. Besides the Museum of the Confederacy and Virginia Historical Society, a trip to Hollywood Cemetery or Tredegar is a day’s adventure worth pursuing. There are even two diners that were featured on “Drive ins, Diners and Dives” cable show, as well as a good Irish place down town. Food and history-COOL.
“Civil War Richmond” is a nice place to read what the newspapers of the times were saying, thus what was happening in the city. I had never heard of the Shocktoe Hill Cats and the Butchertown Cats (rival gangs) and their rock battles until reading this website. A great website for if you want to vicariously live in Richmond during the war.
“Civil War Richmond”
http://www.mdgorman.com/index.html
PETERSBURG
Someone did all the work for me. The National Park Service websites titled, “Views of the National Parks”, has an amazing site dedicated to the Petersburg battles. Filled with 1st person accounts for Grant’s Headquarters, The Eastern Front, Western Front, Five Forks, Poplar Grove Cemetery, as well a test your knowledge section and finally, a multi-media program that is okay, you’ll finds hours of excellent reading. Enjoy.
“Views of the National Parks”
http://www.nature.nps.gov/views/Classic/Sites/PETE/HTML/ET_Intro.htm
Monday, April 11, 2011
Chattanooga from both sides
Again I mention the Wisconsin Historical Society for its my play place. In the archives I came across the original letters of Hugh Archie McLaurin of the 7th Mississippi. Almost 30 letters all in his hand, written to his family and all giving great insight into the life of a soldier in Bragg’s army. Tangent-one of the coolest talks about him writing the letter by firside after having eaten. On the upper right corner are greasy fingerprints. Talk about a connection. The letters cover Fall 1862 and his return from a Shiloh face wound to the winter of 1864 and Joe Johnson reforging of the army after the devastation of Bragg and the Chattanooga campaign.
For this, rather lengthy entry, I share three accounts of the days leading up to and the actions on Missionary Ridge on that 25th day of November. The first came from the Museum of Confederacy, where if one is a member, one gets to read transcribed confederate accounts offered up in the Members Only section. In this letter from Sgt. Wood of the 20th Alabama, he describes the hardships those confederates had to deal with. From rations to conditions, you’ll read about a man tired and wanting a break by looking for a recruit so he can get the 40 day furlough. At this time any man who could bring in a new recruit into the army got a 40 day furlough. The second letter is from Archie McLaurin, describing the actions of November 25th. Lastly, and coming from a pard on the Authentic Campaigner website, but so long ago I forgot who offered it, a letter from one of the federals who assaulted the ridge. I tried to find the thread again so to give him credit, but it is gone. Sorry friend. Anyway I think you’ll find the three letters an interesting description to those final Chattanooga days. Enjoy.
Sgt. Woods of the 20th Alabama
Nov 22, 1863
Camp near Chattanooga on Lookout mountain
Dear Brother
We left the valley yesterday morning about 8 am up and come to the Top of the mountain It Rained all night and Half of the Day yesterdays I Hav no Newes wirth Riting to you
Things are quiett Here only a little Shelling Evry Day Between our Batterries and the Yankees We Have considerable the Advantage in Position But the yankees Doo a grate deal the Best Shooting Gen Bragg is having the mountain Well Trenched there is a Detail of Four men Bin made Evry Day for the Last 10 Days and This Morning they call on the companies for Fore More Which will make Eight from a company no doubt in a Short time We Will Be Well Entrench on the mountain on the Side of the mountain There is more or less men Deserts Every Day and goes over to the yanks there Has bin Several from our Brigade Went over in the Last Week I feel somewhat Dissatisfied on the Account of our Men Deserting the South in the time of so much need I look Kind Providence for His Protiction in our Strugle But it makes a man Have His Doupts is a cace like this I Had a Bully? Night her last Nite after [scratched out: &?] getting up on the mountain We Sit in and made a fire and Dried our Blankets and about Nin o.clock we made our Bid Down on the wet ground one Blanket on the Wet Ground with some Pine Straw scattered on it first laid Down and covered With 3 and me and my Bed fellow Slept fine until Sunup and Both of us was congratulating our Selves this morning about Having such a good night Rest and Sleeping so Warm the Way we Soldiers Sleepes so Warm is you can tell mar and Sister one Layes Down and the other Spoones to fit Him it is very cold up Hear now We look for Snow soon Brother if you Hav a good chance Pleas Send me the Shirt you gave me as I am verry much in need of one as I Hav non at all and get a Pretty cool Heare Without one. We get about enough to Eat But the Beefe is verry Poor and the corn Bread is very coarse I Rote to Sisters if there was any Body there that Wanted to come to the Army for you to get Him to come to the 20th Ala Regt
in my name if you can get one to come He can get 50 dollars Bounty and I Will give Him 25 Dollars Besides if you can get one to come He can Hav choice of companies in the Regt and I can get a furlough for Forty Days Gen Bragg Ishued an order that if any Soldier Wold get a Recruit to come and Hav Him mustered in the Servis He Wold then giv Him a furlough for 40 days for that Reason I am {very feint} to get one if you could Be looking anough to get one Hav Him muster in to the Servis and then He can get Transportation to this Place I Hav no Idea that you can get one But you Must get one for that Reason I Rite to you about it Ma I Must close for Want of something to Rite that Wold interrest you my love to Par Mar & Sisters your affectionate Brother
W S Woods
My love to Anee Mary & Sarah Beth and all my friends and connection
Private McLaurin of the 7th Mississippi
Camps near Dalton GA
December 2nd 1863
Dear Sister
I once more have an opportunity of writing you a few lines to let you know that I am still in the land of the living. We have had another fight and the yanks have given us a genteel thrashing. I was in the fight but did not get hurt. There was none of our company hurt but there was five captured. Neil Currie, Dan Cupit, John Smith, John Robinson (Robertson), and William Cobb were the ones captured. They were captured on the 24th of Nov. The Yanks began to advance on us on the 23rd and the left wing of our regt was guarding a railroad bridge to the right of where our brigade was stationed. We held them in check until Tuesday morning the 24th and we had to fall back from there and the boys were afraid to get out of the ditch for fear they would be killed. They tried to get me to stay with then and surrender but I told them I was going to risk my chance of getting out. The Yanks were in 150 yard of me when I left the ditch. Driving in full line and as I left they fixed a full volley at me but none of them touched me. We skirmished with them form Monday evening until Wednesday evening and then we were ordered to go back to our brigade and about the time we got back there and began to rest our selves. We looked down the hill and saw the Yanks coming with five lines of battle so we were ordered in our ditches and our regt stayed there until the Yanks whipped our men on the right and got into our ditches and began to fire down the ditches at us. They captured one piece of the battery that belonged to our brigade. I was in 50 yards of the battery when they planted their colors on it. The battery men and the Yanks fought with sticks and rocks and carried out one piece after the Yanks got hold of it and were trying to hold it. I would not have believed this if I had not seen it with my own eyes. But I tell you I am ashamed that I belong to the brigade that I do for it done some of the shakiest fight I ever saw, but I feel that I have done my duty. We left Missionary Ridge Wednesday night or rather we more run away from there before night. I think we had as well as quit and go home for I see no other chance but for us to be whipped. Alex Currie was not in the fight. He had just got back from the hospital and he had no gun so he was sent back to the rear with the wagons. He is the luckiest boy I ever saw. We are camped in about three miles of Dalton Ga and we have all got rested and our mess has killed a big fat hog and we are all doing fine. Well I will close for this time. Hoping to hear from you soon. Give my love to all the family and the same for yourself. From your affectionate brother. Archie
Ps when you write, direct to Dalton GA
Compamy (e) 7th Miss regt
Anderson’s Brigade
Crawfordsville Journal
Thursday, December 10, 1863
Letter from the 86th Regiment
__________________________
Camp 86th Regiment Indiana Vols.
Chattanooga, Tenn, Nov.27, 1863
Editor Journal: - Now that the noise and din of the bloody strife around Chattanooga is over, and I am again quietly resting in the comfortable quarters of our former camp, I will tell you of the part enacted in these engagements by the gallant boys of the 86th.
The 86th and 79th Indiana Regiments were temporarily consolidated into one regiment, under the command of Col. Heftner of the 79th and Col. Dick of the 86th Ind., the consolidation only to last during this battle. On Monday morning our regiment came in off of picket, where we had been on duty for 24 hours. Immediately after dinner we were formed in line and marched out near our picket lines. Our Division was formed in column by Brigades- the 79th and 86th constituting the front line of our brigade. The 19th Ohio, then on picket, advanced as skirmishers, the rest of the brigade coming up to it’s support. Gen. Willich’s brigade was on our right and Gen. Wagner’s on our left. A brisk skirmish fire was kept up by each party as we advanced, and they fell back until within shooting distance of their reserves when they opened quite lively on us. These were gallantly charged and driven about a mile, many of them being captured. Here we established our line, threw up breastworks, fell trees for abates, and held our ground until Wednesday about half past three in the afternoon, when Gen. Sherdian, who had advanced to the left of us, in undertaking to flank and turn the position of the enemy, was so hotly engaged that fears for his safety were entertained, and to relieve him, we were ordered to advance about a half mile farther to the front, and charge a line of rebel breastworks and divert the fire of rebel guns on Missionary Ridge. At the command we advanced in fine order, on the double quick, charged and took that line of enemy defenses, and still charged on and on until the foot of Missionary Ridge was gained, and on up the Ridge still we charged against eight pieces of heavy artillery directly in our front; thirty more pieces of artillery constantly pouring their fire upon us both from the right and left, and Gen. Hardee’s Corps of three entire Divisions in our front, right and left, from behind breastworks pouring their galling fire into us. On up the mountain still charged the noble 86th and 79th. The top of the mountain is at length reached. The enemy stand to their guns that are belching forth their missiles of death. Their infantry rally close behind their breastworks and fill the air with musket-balls. Inch by inch the ground is gained; their firing becomes weaker. Whenever a head is shown above the breastworks it is doomed by the unerring aim of the Indiana riflemen. To our right and left all stop in their charge to know the result of the gallant charge of our boys. Generals hold their breaths and tremble. Gen. Grant, anxiously watching our every movement, says, “they can’t make it.” The enemy rallies to the defense of this fort, and volley after volley of deadly effect is poured upon us. Our boys never falter, they take deadly aim and every trigger pulled is a death knell to some poor rebels soul. Inch by inch our gallant boys crowd upon the ramparts of the enemy! The flag of the 86th floats upon their breastworks and our men are in the fort. Some of the enemy lay flat behind their breastworks, praying for us not to kill them; some fight on until shot down at the muzzles of our rifles; thousands rush over the mountain and down through the woods; while many rush along the brow of the mountain and rally in the next fort still to defeat the possession of the ridge. This fort gained on a charge, our men to the left to assist others is carrying the long range of forts still between us and the river, and for a distance of two miles on still goes the 86th and 79th to contribute their share of the work in hurling from thence the enemy and these forts are only taken in regular succession after the arrival of our regiments. The flag of the 86th being the first flag planted by our troops upon both forts, and the last fort captured on the left in the great battle. Night closes the scene, the entire range of heights known as Missionary Ridge having fallen into our possession, together with 38 pieces of artillery, wagon loads of small arms, and prisoners of every grade in almost countless numbers.
No sooner had our flag been planted upon the first fort which was taken, than Gen. Grant left his seat at Fort Wood and at the top of the speed of his noble war- horse dashed over to the ridge, his first inquiry being to ask whose flag it was that first planted on the fort. He said our charge was the grandest thing of the whole war. The 86th and 79th are now on everybody’s tongue. All are enthusiastic and unbounded in our praise. These two regiments have not only won imperishable renown by their heroic conduct, but they have added new luster to American arms. The most brilliant charge recorded in the annals of history fails to furnish its equal. It must be bore in mind that it was a charge of only four hundred men, over two miles in distance, on the double quick, to a mountain height and then up that steep mountain side, eighteen hundred feet, capturing a fort considered impregnable and garrisoned by men well armed as men could be, and whose numbers exceeded ours as greatly as the position was advantageous for defense. Wednesday night we rested in the fort we had first taken, and remained there quietly until Thursday night about nine o’clock, when we returned to camp. The night after these grand achievements of our arms, the enemy was fleeing southward, applying the torch to every bridge; pontoon, station and store-house, illuminating the vast valley before us with the light of their burning property.
Where all done so well it might seem invidious to particularize individuals who have greatly distinguished themselves , but I cannot forebear mentioning a few whose noble bearing come directly under my notice. Col. Dick of the 86th, and Col. Heftner were all the time in their places, nobly and fearlessly discharging their duty commanding universal admiration by their coolness, decision and tact. Captain W. S. Sims, commanding the color company, was at the head of his men, bravely calling them forward. From the time we commenced the ascent of the mountain, it became evident to all that his conduct here would,, if possible surpass that at Chickamauga. Steadily he led his men forward until their flag was planted on the fort and it in our full possession; when calling them onward, he never ceased his efforts until the last fort, with our regimental flag proudly waving over it, was greeting Fort Wood, he having placed our flag there with his own hands. We returned to the ground selected for us to occupy, having in our possession the Major of the 32nd Arkansas, whom Capt. Sims captured himself, whilst the rebel officer was endeavoring to capture our flag. Never did men do better than the boys of our company. They all done their whole duty. Eli N. Tipton, a brave boy that feared no rebel noise, would have been the first to enter the fort, but fell mortally wounded by a musket shot in the head, while calling to the other boys to follow him into the fort. Private John Kent received a very severe wound in the neck about the same time and near the same place where Tipton fell. Oliver Wood, private, had his arm broken, previously, in ascending the mountain; and Sergeant Jas. F. Robertson fell, mortally wounded, when about half way up. These constitute all the casualties to our company in this unequalled charge. Capt. Carnahan placed himself at the head of his boys and led them most gallantly. Capt. Southard was shot in the breast and instantly expired, at the head of his men, when about half way up the mountain. His conduct is well spoken by all who witnessed him on the battlefield, and his death is severely felt, not only by his own company, but by all the officers and men of the regiment. Poor Billy! His is another good life given for our country. The other casualties sustained by his company are Sergeant B. F. Snyder, severely wounded in left hip; Corporal Tilman A. Howard, slightly wounded in left breast; privates Morris Welch, severely, through the right arm; James Herrington, slightly in left side; Wm. M. Saunders, slightly on left elbow. Lieutenant John Yount was pretty severely bruised by a fall, but it did not prevent him from bravely leading on the noble boys of Company K. “Long may he wave,” and enjoy the honors so nobly won. Captains Garner, Gregory, Stephens, Rodman and Ream, and Lieutenants McInerty, Goram, Turk, Brant, Hough and Olive, deserve great credit for their gallantry throughout the battle. Adjutant Darwin Thomas, here, as at Chickamauga, distinguished himself by his coolness and bravery. Major Jacob Dick was wounded in the leg, early after the ascent of the hill was commenced, whilst gallantly cheering the men forward. In fact all have crowned themselves heroes in these great achievements which have blest our arms with victory. There names will live as long as Indiana has a place in the memory of men, and brilliant deeds of arms remains a theme for praise. Napoleon and Wellington would have glorified, as Grant glories, to command such men.
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The rebel Major, captured by Capt. Sims, when asked what he thought of our charge, replied; “Sir, troops so few in numbers, that will charge and take such works as these when so well defended, would charge through hell. There is nothing on record to compare with what they have here done.” The men were pleased that they had Col’s Dick and Heftner to command them. They have very justly an exalted opinion of the judgment and military capacity of these gallant chieftains, and will go where these Colonel’s would order them, let what may obstruct their way. Whilst I am writing, a complimentary address from Brigadier General Wood, commanding our Division, says that “our achievements are unequaled in the annals of military warfare.”
Sergeant Henry Newton Ornbaun of the 79th, I saw fall, severely wounded in the thigh, whilst bravely charging the rebel breastworks. I hope he may soon be able for duty again , for he is one of the bravest and best soldiers. Sergeant Sater and private Saunders were near me most of the time after we entered the first fort, and I never saw braver men. Saunders says this fight has knocked the last drop of Butternut blood out of his veins. While charging the rebel works and when within about twenty feet of the fort, I noticed a rebel raise up and level his piece in a very uncomfortable position for me. At the same time I noticed that the brave young Robert G. Thornton sent a ball through his head. There are many incidents that occurred during this battle, that I have not time now but will relate in my next.
Bragg’s Army is badly cut up. The town is filled with prisoners. I have heard no estimate of losses, but in a few days it will be accurately known, as we hold all the ground fought over. If we can only manage to arrest their flight long enough to give them one more thrashing equal to the last one, there will be no Southern army left to prevent us all returning home to eat our Christmas dinners.
Most of our wounded are in critical condition, but our Surgeon, Joseph S. Jones, is a most accomplished physician and gentleman, untiring in the discharge of his duties, and all that medicinal science can do for the sick and wounded, will be done. They are all in our possession, which must be a great satisfaction to both them and their friends.
Most respectfully.
W. H. Laymon
For this, rather lengthy entry, I share three accounts of the days leading up to and the actions on Missionary Ridge on that 25th day of November. The first came from the Museum of Confederacy, where if one is a member, one gets to read transcribed confederate accounts offered up in the Members Only section. In this letter from Sgt. Wood of the 20th Alabama, he describes the hardships those confederates had to deal with. From rations to conditions, you’ll read about a man tired and wanting a break by looking for a recruit so he can get the 40 day furlough. At this time any man who could bring in a new recruit into the army got a 40 day furlough. The second letter is from Archie McLaurin, describing the actions of November 25th. Lastly, and coming from a pard on the Authentic Campaigner website, but so long ago I forgot who offered it, a letter from one of the federals who assaulted the ridge. I tried to find the thread again so to give him credit, but it is gone. Sorry friend. Anyway I think you’ll find the three letters an interesting description to those final Chattanooga days. Enjoy.
Sgt. Woods of the 20th Alabama
Nov 22, 1863
Camp near Chattanooga on Lookout mountain
Dear Brother
We left the valley yesterday morning about 8 am up and come to the Top of the mountain It Rained all night and Half of the Day yesterdays I Hav no Newes wirth Riting to you
Things are quiett Here only a little Shelling Evry Day Between our Batterries and the Yankees We Have considerable the Advantage in Position But the yankees Doo a grate deal the Best Shooting Gen Bragg is having the mountain Well Trenched there is a Detail of Four men Bin made Evry Day for the Last 10 Days and This Morning they call on the companies for Fore More Which will make Eight from a company no doubt in a Short time We Will Be Well Entrench on the mountain on the Side of the mountain There is more or less men Deserts Every Day and goes over to the yanks there Has bin Several from our Brigade Went over in the Last Week I feel somewhat Dissatisfied on the Account of our Men Deserting the South in the time of so much need I look Kind Providence for His Protiction in our Strugle But it makes a man Have His Doupts is a cace like this I Had a Bully? Night her last Nite after [scratched out: &?] getting up on the mountain We Sit in and made a fire and Dried our Blankets and about Nin o.clock we made our Bid Down on the wet ground one Blanket on the Wet Ground with some Pine Straw scattered on it first laid Down and covered With 3 and me and my Bed fellow Slept fine until Sunup and Both of us was congratulating our Selves this morning about Having such a good night Rest and Sleeping so Warm the Way we Soldiers Sleepes so Warm is you can tell mar and Sister one Layes Down and the other Spoones to fit Him it is very cold up Hear now We look for Snow soon Brother if you Hav a good chance Pleas Send me the Shirt you gave me as I am verry much in need of one as I Hav non at all and get a Pretty cool Heare Without one. We get about enough to Eat But the Beefe is verry Poor and the corn Bread is very coarse I Rote to Sisters if there was any Body there that Wanted to come to the Army for you to get Him to come to the 20th Ala Regt
in my name if you can get one to come He can get 50 dollars Bounty and I Will give Him 25 Dollars Besides if you can get one to come He can Hav choice of companies in the Regt and I can get a furlough for Forty Days Gen Bragg Ishued an order that if any Soldier Wold get a Recruit to come and Hav Him mustered in the Servis He Wold then giv Him a furlough for 40 days for that Reason I am {very feint} to get one if you could Be looking anough to get one Hav Him muster in to the Servis and then He can get Transportation to this Place I Hav no Idea that you can get one But you Must get one for that Reason I Rite to you about it Ma I Must close for Want of something to Rite that Wold interrest you my love to Par Mar & Sisters your affectionate Brother
W S Woods
My love to Anee Mary & Sarah Beth and all my friends and connection
Private McLaurin of the 7th Mississippi
Camps near Dalton GA
December 2nd 1863
Dear Sister
I once more have an opportunity of writing you a few lines to let you know that I am still in the land of the living. We have had another fight and the yanks have given us a genteel thrashing. I was in the fight but did not get hurt. There was none of our company hurt but there was five captured. Neil Currie, Dan Cupit, John Smith, John Robinson (Robertson), and William Cobb were the ones captured. They were captured on the 24th of Nov. The Yanks began to advance on us on the 23rd and the left wing of our regt was guarding a railroad bridge to the right of where our brigade was stationed. We held them in check until Tuesday morning the 24th and we had to fall back from there and the boys were afraid to get out of the ditch for fear they would be killed. They tried to get me to stay with then and surrender but I told them I was going to risk my chance of getting out. The Yanks were in 150 yard of me when I left the ditch. Driving in full line and as I left they fixed a full volley at me but none of them touched me. We skirmished with them form Monday evening until Wednesday evening and then we were ordered to go back to our brigade and about the time we got back there and began to rest our selves. We looked down the hill and saw the Yanks coming with five lines of battle so we were ordered in our ditches and our regt stayed there until the Yanks whipped our men on the right and got into our ditches and began to fire down the ditches at us. They captured one piece of the battery that belonged to our brigade. I was in 50 yards of the battery when they planted their colors on it. The battery men and the Yanks fought with sticks and rocks and carried out one piece after the Yanks got hold of it and were trying to hold it. I would not have believed this if I had not seen it with my own eyes. But I tell you I am ashamed that I belong to the brigade that I do for it done some of the shakiest fight I ever saw, but I feel that I have done my duty. We left Missionary Ridge Wednesday night or rather we more run away from there before night. I think we had as well as quit and go home for I see no other chance but for us to be whipped. Alex Currie was not in the fight. He had just got back from the hospital and he had no gun so he was sent back to the rear with the wagons. He is the luckiest boy I ever saw. We are camped in about three miles of Dalton Ga and we have all got rested and our mess has killed a big fat hog and we are all doing fine. Well I will close for this time. Hoping to hear from you soon. Give my love to all the family and the same for yourself. From your affectionate brother. Archie
Ps when you write, direct to Dalton GA
Compamy (e) 7th Miss regt
Anderson’s Brigade
Crawfordsville Journal
Thursday, December 10, 1863
Letter from the 86th Regiment
__________________________
Camp 86th Regiment Indiana Vols.
Chattanooga, Tenn, Nov.27, 1863
Editor Journal: - Now that the noise and din of the bloody strife around Chattanooga is over, and I am again quietly resting in the comfortable quarters of our former camp, I will tell you of the part enacted in these engagements by the gallant boys of the 86th.
The 86th and 79th Indiana Regiments were temporarily consolidated into one regiment, under the command of Col. Heftner of the 79th and Col. Dick of the 86th Ind., the consolidation only to last during this battle. On Monday morning our regiment came in off of picket, where we had been on duty for 24 hours. Immediately after dinner we were formed in line and marched out near our picket lines. Our Division was formed in column by Brigades- the 79th and 86th constituting the front line of our brigade. The 19th Ohio, then on picket, advanced as skirmishers, the rest of the brigade coming up to it’s support. Gen. Willich’s brigade was on our right and Gen. Wagner’s on our left. A brisk skirmish fire was kept up by each party as we advanced, and they fell back until within shooting distance of their reserves when they opened quite lively on us. These were gallantly charged and driven about a mile, many of them being captured. Here we established our line, threw up breastworks, fell trees for abates, and held our ground until Wednesday about half past three in the afternoon, when Gen. Sherdian, who had advanced to the left of us, in undertaking to flank and turn the position of the enemy, was so hotly engaged that fears for his safety were entertained, and to relieve him, we were ordered to advance about a half mile farther to the front, and charge a line of rebel breastworks and divert the fire of rebel guns on Missionary Ridge. At the command we advanced in fine order, on the double quick, charged and took that line of enemy defenses, and still charged on and on until the foot of Missionary Ridge was gained, and on up the Ridge still we charged against eight pieces of heavy artillery directly in our front; thirty more pieces of artillery constantly pouring their fire upon us both from the right and left, and Gen. Hardee’s Corps of three entire Divisions in our front, right and left, from behind breastworks pouring their galling fire into us. On up the mountain still charged the noble 86th and 79th. The top of the mountain is at length reached. The enemy stand to their guns that are belching forth their missiles of death. Their infantry rally close behind their breastworks and fill the air with musket-balls. Inch by inch the ground is gained; their firing becomes weaker. Whenever a head is shown above the breastworks it is doomed by the unerring aim of the Indiana riflemen. To our right and left all stop in their charge to know the result of the gallant charge of our boys. Generals hold their breaths and tremble. Gen. Grant, anxiously watching our every movement, says, “they can’t make it.” The enemy rallies to the defense of this fort, and volley after volley of deadly effect is poured upon us. Our boys never falter, they take deadly aim and every trigger pulled is a death knell to some poor rebels soul. Inch by inch our gallant boys crowd upon the ramparts of the enemy! The flag of the 86th floats upon their breastworks and our men are in the fort. Some of the enemy lay flat behind their breastworks, praying for us not to kill them; some fight on until shot down at the muzzles of our rifles; thousands rush over the mountain and down through the woods; while many rush along the brow of the mountain and rally in the next fort still to defeat the possession of the ridge. This fort gained on a charge, our men to the left to assist others is carrying the long range of forts still between us and the river, and for a distance of two miles on still goes the 86th and 79th to contribute their share of the work in hurling from thence the enemy and these forts are only taken in regular succession after the arrival of our regiments. The flag of the 86th being the first flag planted by our troops upon both forts, and the last fort captured on the left in the great battle. Night closes the scene, the entire range of heights known as Missionary Ridge having fallen into our possession, together with 38 pieces of artillery, wagon loads of small arms, and prisoners of every grade in almost countless numbers.
No sooner had our flag been planted upon the first fort which was taken, than Gen. Grant left his seat at Fort Wood and at the top of the speed of his noble war- horse dashed over to the ridge, his first inquiry being to ask whose flag it was that first planted on the fort. He said our charge was the grandest thing of the whole war. The 86th and 79th are now on everybody’s tongue. All are enthusiastic and unbounded in our praise. These two regiments have not only won imperishable renown by their heroic conduct, but they have added new luster to American arms. The most brilliant charge recorded in the annals of history fails to furnish its equal. It must be bore in mind that it was a charge of only four hundred men, over two miles in distance, on the double quick, to a mountain height and then up that steep mountain side, eighteen hundred feet, capturing a fort considered impregnable and garrisoned by men well armed as men could be, and whose numbers exceeded ours as greatly as the position was advantageous for defense. Wednesday night we rested in the fort we had first taken, and remained there quietly until Thursday night about nine o’clock, when we returned to camp. The night after these grand achievements of our arms, the enemy was fleeing southward, applying the torch to every bridge; pontoon, station and store-house, illuminating the vast valley before us with the light of their burning property.
Where all done so well it might seem invidious to particularize individuals who have greatly distinguished themselves , but I cannot forebear mentioning a few whose noble bearing come directly under my notice. Col. Dick of the 86th, and Col. Heftner were all the time in their places, nobly and fearlessly discharging their duty commanding universal admiration by their coolness, decision and tact. Captain W. S. Sims, commanding the color company, was at the head of his men, bravely calling them forward. From the time we commenced the ascent of the mountain, it became evident to all that his conduct here would,, if possible surpass that at Chickamauga. Steadily he led his men forward until their flag was planted on the fort and it in our full possession; when calling them onward, he never ceased his efforts until the last fort, with our regimental flag proudly waving over it, was greeting Fort Wood, he having placed our flag there with his own hands. We returned to the ground selected for us to occupy, having in our possession the Major of the 32nd Arkansas, whom Capt. Sims captured himself, whilst the rebel officer was endeavoring to capture our flag. Never did men do better than the boys of our company. They all done their whole duty. Eli N. Tipton, a brave boy that feared no rebel noise, would have been the first to enter the fort, but fell mortally wounded by a musket shot in the head, while calling to the other boys to follow him into the fort. Private John Kent received a very severe wound in the neck about the same time and near the same place where Tipton fell. Oliver Wood, private, had his arm broken, previously, in ascending the mountain; and Sergeant Jas. F. Robertson fell, mortally wounded, when about half way up. These constitute all the casualties to our company in this unequalled charge. Capt. Carnahan placed himself at the head of his boys and led them most gallantly. Capt. Southard was shot in the breast and instantly expired, at the head of his men, when about half way up the mountain. His conduct is well spoken by all who witnessed him on the battlefield, and his death is severely felt, not only by his own company, but by all the officers and men of the regiment. Poor Billy! His is another good life given for our country. The other casualties sustained by his company are Sergeant B. F. Snyder, severely wounded in left hip; Corporal Tilman A. Howard, slightly wounded in left breast; privates Morris Welch, severely, through the right arm; James Herrington, slightly in left side; Wm. M. Saunders, slightly on left elbow. Lieutenant John Yount was pretty severely bruised by a fall, but it did not prevent him from bravely leading on the noble boys of Company K. “Long may he wave,” and enjoy the honors so nobly won. Captains Garner, Gregory, Stephens, Rodman and Ream, and Lieutenants McInerty, Goram, Turk, Brant, Hough and Olive, deserve great credit for their gallantry throughout the battle. Adjutant Darwin Thomas, here, as at Chickamauga, distinguished himself by his coolness and bravery. Major Jacob Dick was wounded in the leg, early after the ascent of the hill was commenced, whilst gallantly cheering the men forward. In fact all have crowned themselves heroes in these great achievements which have blest our arms with victory. There names will live as long as Indiana has a place in the memory of men, and brilliant deeds of arms remains a theme for praise. Napoleon and Wellington would have glorified, as Grant glories, to command such men.
\
The rebel Major, captured by Capt. Sims, when asked what he thought of our charge, replied; “Sir, troops so few in numbers, that will charge and take such works as these when so well defended, would charge through hell. There is nothing on record to compare with what they have here done.” The men were pleased that they had Col’s Dick and Heftner to command them. They have very justly an exalted opinion of the judgment and military capacity of these gallant chieftains, and will go where these Colonel’s would order them, let what may obstruct their way. Whilst I am writing, a complimentary address from Brigadier General Wood, commanding our Division, says that “our achievements are unequaled in the annals of military warfare.”
Sergeant Henry Newton Ornbaun of the 79th, I saw fall, severely wounded in the thigh, whilst bravely charging the rebel breastworks. I hope he may soon be able for duty again , for he is one of the bravest and best soldiers. Sergeant Sater and private Saunders were near me most of the time after we entered the first fort, and I never saw braver men. Saunders says this fight has knocked the last drop of Butternut blood out of his veins. While charging the rebel works and when within about twenty feet of the fort, I noticed a rebel raise up and level his piece in a very uncomfortable position for me. At the same time I noticed that the brave young Robert G. Thornton sent a ball through his head. There are many incidents that occurred during this battle, that I have not time now but will relate in my next.
Bragg’s Army is badly cut up. The town is filled with prisoners. I have heard no estimate of losses, but in a few days it will be accurately known, as we hold all the ground fought over. If we can only manage to arrest their flight long enough to give them one more thrashing equal to the last one, there will be no Southern army left to prevent us all returning home to eat our Christmas dinners.
Most of our wounded are in critical condition, but our Surgeon, Joseph S. Jones, is a most accomplished physician and gentleman, untiring in the discharge of his duties, and all that medicinal science can do for the sick and wounded, will be done. They are all in our possession, which must be a great satisfaction to both them and their friends.
Most respectfully.
W. H. Laymon
Friday, April 8, 2011
Stone's River Federal tour materials
In 2005 I hosted a living history program on the Stone’s River battlefield. Thanks to the trust of ranger Jim Lewis, I was able to create a moving battle tour and program At various sites in the park, we, 50 of the most authentic reenactors you’d ever want to meet, stopped and shared 1st person accounts of the action on that site. Working hard to avoid the published accounts of Mr. Logsdon’s, Eyewtiness to Stone’s River book, I found the below in various books at home and, as usual, at the Wisconsin Historical Society. Any accounts shared, I will give Mr. Logsdon credit for his books on Tennessee and Kentucky battles are what got me hooked on 1st person accounts on the battlefield tours. The material below is not offered to give a complete history of the battle; it is merely to bring to life certain areas. The accounts are all federal. Here is the link for the Stone’s River battlefield park map, for your orientation. http://hfc.nps.gov/cfm/carto-detail.cfm?Alpha=STRI
COLLAPSE OF THE UNION RIGHT
*Sgt. Maj. Lyman S. Widney – 34th Illinois – Kirk’s Brigade – Johnson’s Division
My curiosity asserted itself, and, while my comrades were still sipping their coffee, I leisurely walked out into the field towards the Picket line. Before reaching them I saw one running towards me, and as he passed me he exclaimed ‘they’re coming’ and continued to the regiment to give the alarm. All was so quiet, not a shot being fired, I felt decidedly skeptical and walked still further out until the enemy’s breastworks were in view. … A succession of long lines of Gray were swarming over the Confederate breastworks and sweeping towards us but not yet within gun shot range. … I started back in a hurry to rejoin the Regiment.
*Robert Stewart – 15th Ohio – Willich’s Brigade – Johnson’s Division
We saw the pickets rushing in, followed by a line of gray, yelling and shooting like demons. … Dropping our pots and pans, leaving our haversacks and blankets, we snatched up our cartridge-boxes and rushed for our guns, only to find ourselves with our backs to the foe.
Before we could change front to rear they were upon us, not a skirmish line, but a line of battle; not one line, but two or three, it seemed to us. The woods were just full of them. They swarmed, they overflowed, they were a regular flood. We stood to deliver our fire … then took to our heels and ran. I saw by a backward glance, a gray mass covering all the ground where our camp had so lately been. I saw the fields on the right filling up with regiments and columns and armies of gray. I felt like running … with no other purpose in life but to run.
*Sgt. Sinclair – 89th Illinois – Willich’s Brigade – Johnson’s Division
It was impossible to keep a retreat in good order as all of the old regiments had left the field before us and was running in all directions. So we did the best we could to get to the first fence, where there was a second growth of timber and underbrush. Here a part of us rallied, about fifty with our colonel.
*Incident of Stone River – 23rd Kentucky Infantry – Grose’s Brigade
"INCIDENT OF STONE RIVER.-- In the rebel charge upon McCook's right, the rebel third Kentucky (cavalry) was advancing full upon one of the loyal Kentucky regiments. These two regiments were brought from the same county, and consequently were old friends and neighbors, and now about. to meet for the first time as enemies. As soon as they came near enough for recognition, they mutually ceased firing, and began abusing, and cursing, and swearing at each other, calling each other the most outlandish names; and all this time the battle was roaring around them without much attention from either side. it was hard to tell which regiment would come off the victor in this wordy battle. As far as I could see, both sides were terrible at swearing; but this could not always last; by mutual consent they finally ceased cursing, and, grasping their muskets, charged into each other with the most unearthly yell ever heard on any field of battle. Muskets were clubbed, bayonet met bayonet, and in many instances, when old feuds made the belligerents crazy with passion, the musket was thrown away, and at it they went, pummelling, pulling, and gouging in rough-and-tumble style, and in a manner, that any looker-on would consider a free fight. The rebels were getting rather the better of the fight, when the Twenty-third Kentucky succeeded in giving a flanking fire, when they retreated with quite a number of prisoners in their possession. The rebels n had got fairly under way, when the Ninth Ohio came up on the (' double-quick, and charging on their now disordered ranks, succeeded' in capturing all their prisoners, besides taking in return a great many of the rebels. As the late belligerents were conducted to the rear, they appeared to have forgotten their late animosity, and were on the best terms imaginable, laughing, and chatting, and joking, and, as the rebel s were well supplied with whiskey, the canteens were readily handed about from one to the other, until they all became as jolly as possible under the circumstances."
Seventy-fourth Ohio—Company C
“It was quite cool, and the ground considerably frozen. I had lost my knapsack, putting it in a wagon the day we arrived on the battle ground, and never saw it any more. Consequently I had neither coat nor blanket. I suffered very much during the night with cold. Could not lie down but a few minutes at a time, and dare not go back to the fire, rebels being but a few yards in. I was chilled through and exposed to the enemy, there being no breastworks. It was considered a mark of cowardice to get behind anything to fight.
(After being relieved by the 37th Indiana)- “We returned to where the regiment lay the day previous, and commenced breakfast, but did not have time to eat it before we were ordered into line. Not having time to drink my coffee, I poured it into my canteen, and swung it around my next. We marched out to fight, forming double column at half distance. We advanced a short distance, when we formed line and were ordered to lie down.”
(Rosecrans’ campaign with the 14th Army Corps)- “I was knelling in a fence corner, loading and firing when we received orders to move to the left to make room for a battery. When I was just in the act of rising, I felt something hi me on the leg, which did not produce much pain at the time, only a smarting sensation. I thought I would say nothing of it. However began to grow stiff, and I had not proceeded but a short distance before I had to call for help. I was the helped off the field.”
“One poor fellow who was near me was wounded in the head. He grew delirious during the night, and would very frequently call his mother. He would say: “Mother, O, Mother, come and help me!” The poor fellow died before morning with no mother near, to soothe him in his dying moments, or wipe the cold sweat from off his brow.”
“I came up to a squad of men guarding muskets which had been picked up on the battle-field. I had lost my gun during the battle, or rather I gave it to a soldier to carry for me when I was going to the rear, and he sat it down by a tree and left it. I approached the officer who was in command of the squad, and told him I had lost my gun. He told me to go to the stack and select one for myself. I selected a nice Enfield rifle, nearly new, and took it and on toward Murfreesboro.”
“I ate a hard tack and a small piece of meat, thanked them, and the set forward again. After the battle of Stone River the soldiers had a hard time to get something to eat; as much as twenty-five cents was often offered for a single hard tack. Money could not buy rations.”
THE SLAUGHTER PEN
*Lt. Howard Greene - 24th Wisconsin - Sill's Brigade - Sheridan's Division
I had one platoon out as skirmishers , and they had hardly got formed in position on the left of the company before the Rebels came up over the hill - five regiments deep, closed in mass, and yelling and firing like hell. Then the Battle commenced in earnest, and for some time the roar of musketry was incessant and almost deafening.
(My men) commenced to drop all around me - and no wonder for our regiment alone was fighting five. To add to our troubles the regiment fronted on our right was driven back - our flank thereby turned and a crossfire poured in on us. At this time also our Brigadier was killed.
The regiment retreated in confusion, but in less than ten minutes we had rallied, formed in line and were again marching forward to engage in the contest, rendered now a little more equal by the arrival of another brigade to our assistance.
*Arza Bartholomew - 21st Michigan - Sill's Brigade - Sheridan's Division
We have nothing to brag of in this battle. I think that they killed more of us than we did them. The rebels drove us in all the time until noon. . . and we were pretty whipped, but in the
afternoon we (held our own). The first fire was on our right, and before we knew it, they drove the (brigade) we were supporting (on our right). A regiment ran right through our ranks and broke us all to pieces. When we reformed. . .we were nearly surrounded. . .(so) we gave them one volley and fell back twenty rods to a fence. Every man fought on his own hook to the best advantage until they drove'us into a swamp. Our (unit) was nearly surrounded and cut to pieces. They fired into us from front and rear and piled up our men in heaps. … The balls were thick as. hail and shot and shells cut down trees like (scythes cutting) grain. It was awful to see trees falling and riderless horses running around. I hope never to see such a (desperate) time again.
*William Hynes - 22nd Illinois - Robert's Brigade - Sheridan's Division
We went into the fight on the 31st with 341 men (bearing guns) and stacked arms that night with only one hundred (100 guns, 33 came back in during the 3 or 4 following days). Part of these men were properly absent taking care of the wounded, but part I am ashamed to say were in a large crowd of skedadlers at one time numbering several thousands. Trying to make their way to Nashville as fast as weary limbs impelled by fear would carry them: under the impression that our army was defeated. And part of them actually did that night succeed in reaching the city a distance of 30 miles, but the majority were either turned back by our own men or captured by the rebel cavalry who were making a raid in our rear.
THE CEDARS
*D.F. Embree – 42nd Indiana Infantry – J. Beatty’s Brigade – Rousseau’s Division
When he sees the enemy ranks coming upon him undaunted, and pouring their deadly fire out toward him, making the air quiver and hiss with the rapid movement of all manner of projectiles from the keen sound of the little bullet that merrily sings on its errand of destruction like the buzzing of a fly, to the big bomb shell that goes by you like a thunder bolt, overcoming all obstacles.
I say there is no man who when the first wave of such battle as this, surges upon him, does not involuntarily, and mentally appeal to God for protection.
*Francis Carlisle – 42nd Indiana Infantry – J. Beatty’s Brigade – Rousseau ’s Division
… As we entered the thicket we ran into a large gang of wild turkeys, and Wm. T. Garrison, of my Company D caught one of these turkeys while the bullets from the the enemy’s guns were flying fast and thick about him; there were several turkeys caught thus while were forming our line of battle.
In the West side of the Cedar Thicket we engaged the enemy on their left and held them in check until about 3 p.m. when they were reinforced and we were compelled to rtreat back through thr Cedars to the Railroad where we first started in the morning.
*T.R. Miner – 84th Illinois Infantry – Grose’s Brigade
The regiment was all cut to pieces what was left I mean. John I expect is killed, is missing anyhow and we are compelled to think he is dead with 60 others of our regiment. The boys tell me the last they saw of the noble boy, he was trying to help one of the boys who fell by his side, and an officer of the 100 Illinois says while he was hunting for one of his boys that he saw a man wounded of the (84, CO B) who said had a brother in the same Co, also said his name was Miner.
I started out but had to come back for I could not walk. The rebels have the battle ground of that day in their possession and won’t let us look even for our dead.
DEFENSE OF THE NASHVILLE PIKE
*Jolb Barnard – 73rd Indiana Infantry – Harker’s Brigade – Wood’s Division
The Seventy-third stands firmly, advances promptly, loses some of her favorite men, and is compelled to fall back fro want of support, by the enemy’s superior numbers. Twenty-four of her number are killed including two captains. The glorious old flag had nine bullet holes shot through its silken folds, and all the color guards, save the color bearer himself, … were shot down.
*Jason Hurd – 19th Ohio – S. Beatty’s Brigade – Van Cleve’s Division
Confusion seemed to be the ruling element. From the woods back to the pike a quarter of a mile, and for more than a mile in length through the skirt of woods which joined the pike to the west was one living mass of men in endless disorder and gradually giving way.
… the enemy burst into view. Elated with success, they were irresistably advancing in heavy mass with a solid front, cheering and waving their flags, and puring upon us a deadly fire.
We now had them at short range. Instantaneously, we received the command to fire and one solid sheet of flame burst from our front… Instead of falling back as they expected, we brought our bayonets to a charge and with a solid front began to advance. They soon turned their backs and started on more than a double-quick.
*C.V. Lamberson – Pioneer Brigade
The Pioneer Brigade, to which I belong with Chicago Board of Trade Battery stood two days on the front without being relieved. They made three violent charges on the Battery and was terribly repulsed every time.
The last charge was made by a Texas Brigade about dusk on the 31st. Our men were lying in a thicket. We let them advance to within fifty paces. When we opened on them with musketry and canister, they left files of their dead laying in front of our lines and skedaddled.
*Montogomery McClain – 33rd Ohio Infantry – Scribner’s Brigade - Rousseau’s Division
On came the rebels. Flushed with victory, driving all before them. … Things began to look gloomy enough, rebels to the right of us, to the left of us, in front of us, and almost in the rear of us. It seemed impossible to escape.
All at once the center became a line of fire, the artillery forming a semi-circle, kept up an incessant fire, the noise of the musketry resembling a heavy windstorm. During this time we lay flat on the ground in front of our artillery while it was pouring grape and canister shot and shell just far enough above our heads to miss us and make a sad havoc of the rebels lines.
HELL’S HALF ACRE
*Chaplain A.M. Whitehead – 15th Indiana – Wagner’s Brigade
Our position was between Stone River on our left and the railroad and turnpike on our right, and directly in front of Breckenridge’s Corps. … Of my own regiment every alternate man was either killed or wounded. … Calvin Zenner of Company G received a fatal wound. I carried him back. A number of soldiers gathered around the dying comrade, and I offered a prayer for him. He talked to all of us and then said: ‘Now boys, let us all once more sing a song together.’ And he struck up the hymn, O Sing to Me of Heaven. Then he said: ‘Good-bye boys, I am going home. I am mustered out.” And he closed his eyes and ceased to breathe.
JANUARY 2, 1863
Butler, 44th Indiana - Fyffe's Brigade - Van Cleve's Division
We looked across the open plain to the ridge beyond. There was a sudden movement among the trees, the enemy was hurrying to and fro. ... Legions of rebels were forming in squads, companies and regiments, and soon came pouring down from the hill ... upon the plain, formed in column of division, ... a heavy line parallel with ours. Their batteries were wheeled in line and . .. their heavy column began the movement. ... Their muskets gleamed and shone in the clear evening sunlight, like burnished brass and polished silver. Their regimental flags. . . fluttered... in the breeze.
The enemy fired not a single gun till they got within ten or twelve rods, when they gave the 'Rebel Yell,' which was followed by volley after volley of musketry and artillery. ... The regiment to our right jumped to their feet as the rebels gave their yell, and I believe that one-half fell to the ground as if cut down by a scythe. Our boys kept their places snug to the earth and none were hit that I saw, but the storm that passed over us was like hail from a heavy black cloud or more like the rushing through the air of countless swarms of mad bees. Our boys fired only a few volleys and checked this tidal wave for a few minutes when an order was given to fall back.
JANUARY 2, 1863
*Gibson, 78th Pennsylvania – Miller’s Brigade – Negley’s Division
Shells, solid shot and grape shot were flying thick, but we were comparatively safe, being protected by the crest of the hill. … General Negley rode along our lines, and being cheered by his troops., said in reply, ‘Boys, you will now have an opportunity to pay them back for what they did on Wednesday.’
*Sgt. Welch, 51st Ohio - Price's Brigade - Van Cleve's Division
(The Rebels') massed column emerged from the woods and moved forward rapidly, across the valley and up the hill on which we were situated. ... Our pickets were soon driven in, and as they took their places in the line they would say: 'Boys, they are coming, the woods are full of them.' We were ordered to lie down flat on the ground, so that the enemy's volley would pass over our heads. Lieutenant Colonel McClain passed quietly along the line, telling us to hold our fire until we were sure that we could make every shot tell. 'Don't rise,' said he, 'until you can see their hats as they come over the hill and then rise and fire.' On came the enemy in steady massed column. When their first line was almost to the top of the hill they raised the rebel yell, which they always made in an attack. All at once their hats were seen. They were then within twenty yards of us. Suddenly we arose and fired a volley simultaneously with a volley from their front line. Twenty-one of the Fifty-First fell dead and twenty-one fell mortally wounded in this one volley. ... Thirty dead Confederates were found by the line of the regiment where we were attacked, when we returned an hour later. When the sudden shock of this double volley was over, it seemed to me that both lines. . . were annihilated, and before I had time to notice who had fallen their second line came over the ridge.
Running as fast as possible and arriving at our second line of battIe ... I fell in with our second line and fired several rounds, but the enemy came down through the woods line after line.
*Linton, 21st Ohio - Miller's Brigade - Negley's Division
Van Cleve’s division. . . came across the river in our left front, at a ford prepared for artillery, in great disorder. All mixed up, infantry and artillery all coming, led horses with riders and horses with harness but no riders. Wounded men being crushed by the artillery wheels. Men with a foot fastened in the harness and many with their heads dragging. A great mob, pushed to their utmost by the victorious foe, who were pouring a deadly fire into them. I noticed that the horses would never hurt a prostrated man. In getting over him, they would clear him at a bound, but the wheels crushed many a poor fellow beneath their great weight. As we laid here, the enemy had an enfilading fire the whole length of the 21st and all we could do was hug the ground and take it. Wait we must, for the defeated troops to pass, and they must pass the whole length of our line. Shells were striking all around us, bullets whistling every where and comrades hit on our right and on our left. ... Is it any wonder that some talked of running, even to saying, 'I'll run if you will.' A few did go. But there was one man, Sargt. Mike Rice, who did more to hold the boys in line at this time, than all the officers we had, and he did it with a very few words. 'We can check them and anyone who runs now is a d-m coward. Get this, all hug the ground the harder and keep quiet!
*Gibson, 78th Pennsylvania – Miller’s Brigade – Negley’s Division
We captured a battery of four guns, two of them being secured by our regiment. We captured, also the colors of the 26th Tennessee Infantry. The captured flag was seized, I believe, at the same time by Private Davis of Company 1 and Private Hughes of Company B. The picture. . . entitled' The Charge of the 78th Regiment' ... appeared just after the battle in Frank Leslie's Magazine. The boy who is represented astride one of the captured guns was James Thorne, a lad of about sixteen years old, a member of Company A and a native of Tennessee. As he sat on the captured cannon and patted it lovingly, he called out to the commander of his company, 'Here it is, Captain.'
COLLAPSE OF THE UNION RIGHT
*Sgt. Maj. Lyman S. Widney – 34th Illinois – Kirk’s Brigade – Johnson’s Division
My curiosity asserted itself, and, while my comrades were still sipping their coffee, I leisurely walked out into the field towards the Picket line. Before reaching them I saw one running towards me, and as he passed me he exclaimed ‘they’re coming’ and continued to the regiment to give the alarm. All was so quiet, not a shot being fired, I felt decidedly skeptical and walked still further out until the enemy’s breastworks were in view. … A succession of long lines of Gray were swarming over the Confederate breastworks and sweeping towards us but not yet within gun shot range. … I started back in a hurry to rejoin the Regiment.
*Robert Stewart – 15th Ohio – Willich’s Brigade – Johnson’s Division
We saw the pickets rushing in, followed by a line of gray, yelling and shooting like demons. … Dropping our pots and pans, leaving our haversacks and blankets, we snatched up our cartridge-boxes and rushed for our guns, only to find ourselves with our backs to the foe.
Before we could change front to rear they were upon us, not a skirmish line, but a line of battle; not one line, but two or three, it seemed to us. The woods were just full of them. They swarmed, they overflowed, they were a regular flood. We stood to deliver our fire … then took to our heels and ran. I saw by a backward glance, a gray mass covering all the ground where our camp had so lately been. I saw the fields on the right filling up with regiments and columns and armies of gray. I felt like running … with no other purpose in life but to run.
*Sgt. Sinclair – 89th Illinois – Willich’s Brigade – Johnson’s Division
It was impossible to keep a retreat in good order as all of the old regiments had left the field before us and was running in all directions. So we did the best we could to get to the first fence, where there was a second growth of timber and underbrush. Here a part of us rallied, about fifty with our colonel.
*Incident of Stone River – 23rd Kentucky Infantry – Grose’s Brigade
"INCIDENT OF STONE RIVER.-- In the rebel charge upon McCook's right, the rebel third Kentucky (cavalry) was advancing full upon one of the loyal Kentucky regiments. These two regiments were brought from the same county, and consequently were old friends and neighbors, and now about. to meet for the first time as enemies. As soon as they came near enough for recognition, they mutually ceased firing, and began abusing, and cursing, and swearing at each other, calling each other the most outlandish names; and all this time the battle was roaring around them without much attention from either side. it was hard to tell which regiment would come off the victor in this wordy battle. As far as I could see, both sides were terrible at swearing; but this could not always last; by mutual consent they finally ceased cursing, and, grasping their muskets, charged into each other with the most unearthly yell ever heard on any field of battle. Muskets were clubbed, bayonet met bayonet, and in many instances, when old feuds made the belligerents crazy with passion, the musket was thrown away, and at it they went, pummelling, pulling, and gouging in rough-and-tumble style, and in a manner, that any looker-on would consider a free fight. The rebels were getting rather the better of the fight, when the Twenty-third Kentucky succeeded in giving a flanking fire, when they retreated with quite a number of prisoners in their possession. The rebels n had got fairly under way, when the Ninth Ohio came up on the (' double-quick, and charging on their now disordered ranks, succeeded' in capturing all their prisoners, besides taking in return a great many of the rebels. As the late belligerents were conducted to the rear, they appeared to have forgotten their late animosity, and were on the best terms imaginable, laughing, and chatting, and joking, and, as the rebel s were well supplied with whiskey, the canteens were readily handed about from one to the other, until they all became as jolly as possible under the circumstances."
Seventy-fourth Ohio—Company C
“It was quite cool, and the ground considerably frozen. I had lost my knapsack, putting it in a wagon the day we arrived on the battle ground, and never saw it any more. Consequently I had neither coat nor blanket. I suffered very much during the night with cold. Could not lie down but a few minutes at a time, and dare not go back to the fire, rebels being but a few yards in. I was chilled through and exposed to the enemy, there being no breastworks. It was considered a mark of cowardice to get behind anything to fight.
(After being relieved by the 37th Indiana)- “We returned to where the regiment lay the day previous, and commenced breakfast, but did not have time to eat it before we were ordered into line. Not having time to drink my coffee, I poured it into my canteen, and swung it around my next. We marched out to fight, forming double column at half distance. We advanced a short distance, when we formed line and were ordered to lie down.”
(Rosecrans’ campaign with the 14th Army Corps)- “I was knelling in a fence corner, loading and firing when we received orders to move to the left to make room for a battery. When I was just in the act of rising, I felt something hi me on the leg, which did not produce much pain at the time, only a smarting sensation. I thought I would say nothing of it. However began to grow stiff, and I had not proceeded but a short distance before I had to call for help. I was the helped off the field.”
“One poor fellow who was near me was wounded in the head. He grew delirious during the night, and would very frequently call his mother. He would say: “Mother, O, Mother, come and help me!” The poor fellow died before morning with no mother near, to soothe him in his dying moments, or wipe the cold sweat from off his brow.”
“I came up to a squad of men guarding muskets which had been picked up on the battle-field. I had lost my gun during the battle, or rather I gave it to a soldier to carry for me when I was going to the rear, and he sat it down by a tree and left it. I approached the officer who was in command of the squad, and told him I had lost my gun. He told me to go to the stack and select one for myself. I selected a nice Enfield rifle, nearly new, and took it and on toward Murfreesboro.”
“I ate a hard tack and a small piece of meat, thanked them, and the set forward again. After the battle of Stone River the soldiers had a hard time to get something to eat; as much as twenty-five cents was often offered for a single hard tack. Money could not buy rations.”
THE SLAUGHTER PEN
*Lt. Howard Greene - 24th Wisconsin - Sill's Brigade - Sheridan's Division
I had one platoon out as skirmishers , and they had hardly got formed in position on the left of the company before the Rebels came up over the hill - five regiments deep, closed in mass, and yelling and firing like hell. Then the Battle commenced in earnest, and for some time the roar of musketry was incessant and almost deafening.
(My men) commenced to drop all around me - and no wonder for our regiment alone was fighting five. To add to our troubles the regiment fronted on our right was driven back - our flank thereby turned and a crossfire poured in on us. At this time also our Brigadier was killed.
The regiment retreated in confusion, but in less than ten minutes we had rallied, formed in line and were again marching forward to engage in the contest, rendered now a little more equal by the arrival of another brigade to our assistance.
*Arza Bartholomew - 21st Michigan - Sill's Brigade - Sheridan's Division
We have nothing to brag of in this battle. I think that they killed more of us than we did them. The rebels drove us in all the time until noon. . . and we were pretty whipped, but in the
afternoon we (held our own). The first fire was on our right, and before we knew it, they drove the (brigade) we were supporting (on our right). A regiment ran right through our ranks and broke us all to pieces. When we reformed. . .we were nearly surrounded. . .(so) we gave them one volley and fell back twenty rods to a fence. Every man fought on his own hook to the best advantage until they drove'us into a swamp. Our (unit) was nearly surrounded and cut to pieces. They fired into us from front and rear and piled up our men in heaps. … The balls were thick as. hail and shot and shells cut down trees like (scythes cutting) grain. It was awful to see trees falling and riderless horses running around. I hope never to see such a (desperate) time again.
*William Hynes - 22nd Illinois - Robert's Brigade - Sheridan's Division
We went into the fight on the 31st with 341 men (bearing guns) and stacked arms that night with only one hundred (100 guns, 33 came back in during the 3 or 4 following days). Part of these men were properly absent taking care of the wounded, but part I am ashamed to say were in a large crowd of skedadlers at one time numbering several thousands. Trying to make their way to Nashville as fast as weary limbs impelled by fear would carry them: under the impression that our army was defeated. And part of them actually did that night succeed in reaching the city a distance of 30 miles, but the majority were either turned back by our own men or captured by the rebel cavalry who were making a raid in our rear.
THE CEDARS
*D.F. Embree – 42nd Indiana Infantry – J. Beatty’s Brigade – Rousseau’s Division
When he sees the enemy ranks coming upon him undaunted, and pouring their deadly fire out toward him, making the air quiver and hiss with the rapid movement of all manner of projectiles from the keen sound of the little bullet that merrily sings on its errand of destruction like the buzzing of a fly, to the big bomb shell that goes by you like a thunder bolt, overcoming all obstacles.
I say there is no man who when the first wave of such battle as this, surges upon him, does not involuntarily, and mentally appeal to God for protection.
*Francis Carlisle – 42nd Indiana Infantry – J. Beatty’s Brigade – Rousseau ’s Division
… As we entered the thicket we ran into a large gang of wild turkeys, and Wm. T. Garrison, of my Company D caught one of these turkeys while the bullets from the the enemy’s guns were flying fast and thick about him; there were several turkeys caught thus while were forming our line of battle.
In the West side of the Cedar Thicket we engaged the enemy on their left and held them in check until about 3 p.m. when they were reinforced and we were compelled to rtreat back through thr Cedars to the Railroad where we first started in the morning.
*T.R. Miner – 84th Illinois Infantry – Grose’s Brigade
The regiment was all cut to pieces what was left I mean. John I expect is killed, is missing anyhow and we are compelled to think he is dead with 60 others of our regiment. The boys tell me the last they saw of the noble boy, he was trying to help one of the boys who fell by his side, and an officer of the 100 Illinois says while he was hunting for one of his boys that he saw a man wounded of the (84, CO B) who said had a brother in the same Co, also said his name was Miner.
I started out but had to come back for I could not walk. The rebels have the battle ground of that day in their possession and won’t let us look even for our dead.
DEFENSE OF THE NASHVILLE PIKE
*Jolb Barnard – 73rd Indiana Infantry – Harker’s Brigade – Wood’s Division
The Seventy-third stands firmly, advances promptly, loses some of her favorite men, and is compelled to fall back fro want of support, by the enemy’s superior numbers. Twenty-four of her number are killed including two captains. The glorious old flag had nine bullet holes shot through its silken folds, and all the color guards, save the color bearer himself, … were shot down.
*Jason Hurd – 19th Ohio – S. Beatty’s Brigade – Van Cleve’s Division
Confusion seemed to be the ruling element. From the woods back to the pike a quarter of a mile, and for more than a mile in length through the skirt of woods which joined the pike to the west was one living mass of men in endless disorder and gradually giving way.
… the enemy burst into view. Elated with success, they were irresistably advancing in heavy mass with a solid front, cheering and waving their flags, and puring upon us a deadly fire.
We now had them at short range. Instantaneously, we received the command to fire and one solid sheet of flame burst from our front… Instead of falling back as they expected, we brought our bayonets to a charge and with a solid front began to advance. They soon turned their backs and started on more than a double-quick.
*C.V. Lamberson – Pioneer Brigade
The Pioneer Brigade, to which I belong with Chicago Board of Trade Battery stood two days on the front without being relieved. They made three violent charges on the Battery and was terribly repulsed every time.
The last charge was made by a Texas Brigade about dusk on the 31st. Our men were lying in a thicket. We let them advance to within fifty paces. When we opened on them with musketry and canister, they left files of their dead laying in front of our lines and skedaddled.
*Montogomery McClain – 33rd Ohio Infantry – Scribner’s Brigade - Rousseau’s Division
On came the rebels. Flushed with victory, driving all before them. … Things began to look gloomy enough, rebels to the right of us, to the left of us, in front of us, and almost in the rear of us. It seemed impossible to escape.
All at once the center became a line of fire, the artillery forming a semi-circle, kept up an incessant fire, the noise of the musketry resembling a heavy windstorm. During this time we lay flat on the ground in front of our artillery while it was pouring grape and canister shot and shell just far enough above our heads to miss us and make a sad havoc of the rebels lines.
HELL’S HALF ACRE
*Chaplain A.M. Whitehead – 15th Indiana – Wagner’s Brigade
Our position was between Stone River on our left and the railroad and turnpike on our right, and directly in front of Breckenridge’s Corps. … Of my own regiment every alternate man was either killed or wounded. … Calvin Zenner of Company G received a fatal wound. I carried him back. A number of soldiers gathered around the dying comrade, and I offered a prayer for him. He talked to all of us and then said: ‘Now boys, let us all once more sing a song together.’ And he struck up the hymn, O Sing to Me of Heaven. Then he said: ‘Good-bye boys, I am going home. I am mustered out.” And he closed his eyes and ceased to breathe.
JANUARY 2, 1863
Butler, 44th Indiana - Fyffe's Brigade - Van Cleve's Division
We looked across the open plain to the ridge beyond. There was a sudden movement among the trees, the enemy was hurrying to and fro. ... Legions of rebels were forming in squads, companies and regiments, and soon came pouring down from the hill ... upon the plain, formed in column of division, ... a heavy line parallel with ours. Their batteries were wheeled in line and . .. their heavy column began the movement. ... Their muskets gleamed and shone in the clear evening sunlight, like burnished brass and polished silver. Their regimental flags. . . fluttered... in the breeze.
The enemy fired not a single gun till they got within ten or twelve rods, when they gave the 'Rebel Yell,' which was followed by volley after volley of musketry and artillery. ... The regiment to our right jumped to their feet as the rebels gave their yell, and I believe that one-half fell to the ground as if cut down by a scythe. Our boys kept their places snug to the earth and none were hit that I saw, but the storm that passed over us was like hail from a heavy black cloud or more like the rushing through the air of countless swarms of mad bees. Our boys fired only a few volleys and checked this tidal wave for a few minutes when an order was given to fall back.
JANUARY 2, 1863
*Gibson, 78th Pennsylvania – Miller’s Brigade – Negley’s Division
Shells, solid shot and grape shot were flying thick, but we were comparatively safe, being protected by the crest of the hill. … General Negley rode along our lines, and being cheered by his troops., said in reply, ‘Boys, you will now have an opportunity to pay them back for what they did on Wednesday.’
*Sgt. Welch, 51st Ohio - Price's Brigade - Van Cleve's Division
(The Rebels') massed column emerged from the woods and moved forward rapidly, across the valley and up the hill on which we were situated. ... Our pickets were soon driven in, and as they took their places in the line they would say: 'Boys, they are coming, the woods are full of them.' We were ordered to lie down flat on the ground, so that the enemy's volley would pass over our heads. Lieutenant Colonel McClain passed quietly along the line, telling us to hold our fire until we were sure that we could make every shot tell. 'Don't rise,' said he, 'until you can see their hats as they come over the hill and then rise and fire.' On came the enemy in steady massed column. When their first line was almost to the top of the hill they raised the rebel yell, which they always made in an attack. All at once their hats were seen. They were then within twenty yards of us. Suddenly we arose and fired a volley simultaneously with a volley from their front line. Twenty-one of the Fifty-First fell dead and twenty-one fell mortally wounded in this one volley. ... Thirty dead Confederates were found by the line of the regiment where we were attacked, when we returned an hour later. When the sudden shock of this double volley was over, it seemed to me that both lines. . . were annihilated, and before I had time to notice who had fallen their second line came over the ridge.
Running as fast as possible and arriving at our second line of battIe ... I fell in with our second line and fired several rounds, but the enemy came down through the woods line after line.
*Linton, 21st Ohio - Miller's Brigade - Negley's Division
Van Cleve’s division. . . came across the river in our left front, at a ford prepared for artillery, in great disorder. All mixed up, infantry and artillery all coming, led horses with riders and horses with harness but no riders. Wounded men being crushed by the artillery wheels. Men with a foot fastened in the harness and many with their heads dragging. A great mob, pushed to their utmost by the victorious foe, who were pouring a deadly fire into them. I noticed that the horses would never hurt a prostrated man. In getting over him, they would clear him at a bound, but the wheels crushed many a poor fellow beneath their great weight. As we laid here, the enemy had an enfilading fire the whole length of the 21st and all we could do was hug the ground and take it. Wait we must, for the defeated troops to pass, and they must pass the whole length of our line. Shells were striking all around us, bullets whistling every where and comrades hit on our right and on our left. ... Is it any wonder that some talked of running, even to saying, 'I'll run if you will.' A few did go. But there was one man, Sargt. Mike Rice, who did more to hold the boys in line at this time, than all the officers we had, and he did it with a very few words. 'We can check them and anyone who runs now is a d-m coward. Get this, all hug the ground the harder and keep quiet!
*Gibson, 78th Pennsylvania – Miller’s Brigade – Negley’s Division
We captured a battery of four guns, two of them being secured by our regiment. We captured, also the colors of the 26th Tennessee Infantry. The captured flag was seized, I believe, at the same time by Private Davis of Company 1 and Private Hughes of Company B. The picture. . . entitled' The Charge of the 78th Regiment' ... appeared just after the battle in Frank Leslie's Magazine. The boy who is represented astride one of the captured guns was James Thorne, a lad of about sixteen years old, a member of Company A and a native of Tennessee. As he sat on the captured cannon and patted it lovingly, he called out to the commander of his company, 'Here it is, Captain.'
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Petersburg Statistics
Last summer I attended a program at Pamplin Park, hosted by The George Tyler Moore Center for the Study of the Civil War. The topic-Petersburg. For four days we listened to experts on the campaign as well as toured the various sites with Will Greene, amazing historian and the Man at Pamplin Park. One place we spent time at was City Point where I became much more appreciative of the logistical efforts of the Army of the Potomac. I always wondered who supported the men with the bayonets, but never truly fathomed the amount of effort that was put into supporting the men in the trenches. Here are some statistics I gleaned from that presentation and subsequent talks.
8 Wharves
280 buildings
22 miles of rail lines that took supplies right up to the 35 mile front
24 locomotives
275 railcars
10,000 workers
3,653 wagons repaired
2,414 ambulances repaired
49,972 horses received
20,577 mules received
15,000 capacity hospital
100,000 loaves of bread made per day
60,000 mules and horses fed daily
For fun here are some numbers of troops at Petersburg.
Here is some more Petersburg statistics for you. If you ever wondered the number of troops each side had during the campaign, I found this somewhere in my studies, but do not remember where. Still I share it.
Date Federal Confederate Ratio
June 1864 96,076 55,350 1.74-1
August 1864 51,142 48,501 1.05-1
October 1864 77,302 54, 651 1.41-1
February 1865 100,429 45,829 2.19-1
Average 86,185 52,453 1.65-1
On April 2nd the federal army attacked all along the line. In front of Lane’s North Carolina brigade came the federal 6th corps. 2,500 ragged and starved Rebs tried to hold back over 10,000 federals soldiers. Thus ended the Petersburg Campaign.
8 Wharves
280 buildings
22 miles of rail lines that took supplies right up to the 35 mile front
24 locomotives
275 railcars
10,000 workers
3,653 wagons repaired
2,414 ambulances repaired
49,972 horses received
20,577 mules received
15,000 capacity hospital
100,000 loaves of bread made per day
60,000 mules and horses fed daily
For fun here are some numbers of troops at Petersburg.
Here is some more Petersburg statistics for you. If you ever wondered the number of troops each side had during the campaign, I found this somewhere in my studies, but do not remember where. Still I share it.
Date Federal Confederate Ratio
June 1864 96,076 55,350 1.74-1
August 1864 51,142 48,501 1.05-1
October 1864 77,302 54, 651 1.41-1
February 1865 100,429 45,829 2.19-1
Average 86,185 52,453 1.65-1
On April 2nd the federal army attacked all along the line. In front of Lane’s North Carolina brigade came the federal 6th corps. 2,500 ragged and starved Rebs tried to hold back over 10,000 federals soldiers. Thus ended the Petersburg Campaign.
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Finding a brother on a battlefield
In the Virginia Historical Society are the printed memories of Captain James E. Phillips of the 12th Virginia- a fascinating account from the ranks of a brigade that saw action throughout the war, but especially during the Overland campaign and into Petersburg. Packed with details for the student of the soldier’s experience, I offer one that made a personal connection for me. The story begins in December of 1864 and explains James returning to the Spotsylvania battlefield to find his brother’s body. His brigade fought by what is known as Heth's Salient against 9th corps federals.
“I had to obtain five days leave of absence from General Lee. We were then encamped about six miles south-west of Petersburg. I went to Guinea Station, on the Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac Road. The battlefield (Spotsylvania- May 12th) was twelve miles and a half distant. I walked over there. Strange as it may seem, the bodies of my brother were easily found and recognizable. His companions who fell with him were by his side. The whiskers had grown to considerable length, but I could easily identify each body. They had on all the clothing, equipment, etc. that which were on them when they lost their lives. On the road I found a wide barrel stern, on which I marked my brother’s name. I borrowed a shovel and pick and buried my brother. It was too late for me to bury the remains of the others, for it was by this time dark. I went back to the home of two old ladies who lent me the pick and shovel. They gave me six winesap apples. The tree from which these apples were in full bloom when the battle was fought. Just matured before the body of my brother was buried. Since then all the remains of the people killed in that battle have been buried in a cemetery near the scene of the struggle.”
Two summers ago, I went to the confederate cemetery at Spotsylvania. Armed with this account, I searched the Virginia section for his brother and there, near the road and the monument that dominates the site, lay his brother George under a marked grave. The fellows who lay next to George that December night of 1864 are no doubt in the unknown section. If not for the efforts of a brother another soldier of the Civil War would have died unknown. If you go to the cemetery, look in the Virginia section for George Phillips of the 12th Virginia then remember how you found him.
“I had to obtain five days leave of absence from General Lee. We were then encamped about six miles south-west of Petersburg. I went to Guinea Station, on the Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac Road. The battlefield (Spotsylvania- May 12th) was twelve miles and a half distant. I walked over there. Strange as it may seem, the bodies of my brother were easily found and recognizable. His companions who fell with him were by his side. The whiskers had grown to considerable length, but I could easily identify each body. They had on all the clothing, equipment, etc. that which were on them when they lost their lives. On the road I found a wide barrel stern, on which I marked my brother’s name. I borrowed a shovel and pick and buried my brother. It was too late for me to bury the remains of the others, for it was by this time dark. I went back to the home of two old ladies who lent me the pick and shovel. They gave me six winesap apples. The tree from which these apples were in full bloom when the battle was fought. Just matured before the body of my brother was buried. Since then all the remains of the people killed in that battle have been buried in a cemetery near the scene of the struggle.”
Two summers ago, I went to the confederate cemetery at Spotsylvania. Armed with this account, I searched the Virginia section for his brother and there, near the road and the monument that dominates the site, lay his brother George under a marked grave. The fellows who lay next to George that December night of 1864 are no doubt in the unknown section. If not for the efforts of a brother another soldier of the Civil War would have died unknown. If you go to the cemetery, look in the Virginia section for George Phillips of the 12th Virginia then remember how you found him.
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Wide Awakes
Last year myself and two chums put together a Wide Awake rally for the Kenosha Civil War Museum. I put together a pamphlet of basic Wide Awake information. The visitors seemed to like it and we had fun presenting the poems, history and results of the organization. I take little credit for the research, just for the summarizing. I gleaned a lot of the information for the packet from one source, “Young Men for War The Wide Awakes and Lincoln’s 1860 Presidential Campaign” by Jon Grinspan. (http://www.journalofamericanhistory.org/projects/lincoln/contents/grinspan.html)
And http://www.wlhn.org/topics/boothwar/waupun%20times.htm and Google searchs
Here are the highlights, or a teaser to learn more about a fascinating and influential organization. I highly suggest you read Mr. Grinspan's article.
“The ‘old men are for counsel,the ‘young men for war, and if you would like to see one hundred young ‘wide-awake’ soldiers, just call on us.”
“Wherever the fight is hottest, there is our post of duty, and there the Wide Awakes are found.”
- Wide Awake chants
ATTENTION, WIDE AWAKES!
THE Waupun Wide-Awakes are requested to meet on Wednesday as Thursday evenings next, at 7 o'clock, at the Wide-Awake Head quarters.
Hans C. Heg, Captain
Waupun, July 31st, 1860
AT A MEETING of the Republican Club, held at Dodge Hall last Wednesday evening a Wide-Awake Company was formed. Sixty-four names were enrolled, and considerable enthusiasm was manifested. The regulations of the Janesville Wide-Awakes were read, and, after being amended, were adopted.
6th--It is the object of this club--
1st. To act as a political police.
2d. To do escort duty to all prominent Republican speakers who visit our village to address our citizens.
3d. To attend all public meetings in a body and see that order is kept, and that the speaker and meeting is not disturbed.
4th. To attend the polls and see that justice is done every legal voter.
5th. To conduct ourselves in such a manner as to induce all Republicans to join us.
6th. To be a body joined together in large numbers to work for the good of the Republican ticket.
SOUTHERN REACTION
• Ausin Texas State Gazette warned, “The young and daring element of Abolitionism is for the first time enthused with something like a love for military prowess.”
• Virginians warned that the Wide Awakes “carry rails to break open our doors, torches to fire our dwellings and beneath their long, black capes, the knives to cut our throats.”
• In Congress Senator Louis Wigfall of Texas accused William Seward of ordering “his Wide Awake Praetorians” to “sweep the country I live in with fire and sword.”
• South Carolina fire-eaters began to organize “Minute Men” militias, not out of empty paranoia, but “as an offset to the Wide Awakes of the North.” The creation of the Minute Men is often mentioned as a major stepping-stone on the road to disunion
EVENTS
1. Stephan A. Douglas rides the rail in Wisconsin. Wide Awake band sees him off before he finishes his speech.
1. Under the supervision of Missouri Senator Francis Preston, armed Wide Awakes confronted the pro-secession state militia at Camp Jackson near St. Louis. After the killing and wounding 28 the secessionists were put down.
2. The honorable William Seward spoke in Detroit where 50 companies of Wide Awakes received him. That night Wide Awakes made up 10 percent of Detroit’s population. Mr. Seward declared, “The reason we didn’t get an honest President in 1856, was because the old men of the last generation were not Wide Awakes… .”
3. Oscar Lawrence Jackson, of Ohio, while offering an open air speech, drunken Democrats tried to shout down his speech. “It came near taking a serious turn, as the ‘Wide Awakes’ were prepared and would have shot and sliced them like dogs if any one of us had been struck.”
4. 10,ooo Wide Awakes marched three miles through the streets of Chicago.
5. Wide Awake marches during the Republican National Convention at the Wig Wam in Chicago ignited Wide Awake companies across the nation.
6. Rallies in New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, Cleveland, and Boston in early October drew over 70,000 Wide Awakes and 150,000 spectators.
7. February 25th 1860-state election campaign in Hartford Connecticut, Hon. Cassious Clay was the guest speaker and after the meeting was escorted to Mayor Allyn’s House by a torch lit parade. Two of the torch carriers were dry goods clerks D.G Francis and D. P. Blair who, in order to protect their clothing from the dirt and oil lamp spillage, prepared cloaks of black cambric, which they wore in connection with the glazed caps commonly worn at the time. Standing out from the other torch bearers, they were put in front of the parade. Their unique, utilitarian, look prompted a call to form a 50 man torch bearing company sporting similar dress. On March 5th, Abraham Lincoln gave a speech in Hartford those capped man and others similarly dressed escorted Mr. Lincoln to his hotel. Upon reaching the residence Mr. Lincoln said humorously, “The boys are wide awake. Suppose we call them the Wide Awakes.” The Wide Awakes was born.
And http://www.wlhn.org/topics/boothwar/waupun%20times.htm and Google searchs
Here are the highlights, or a teaser to learn more about a fascinating and influential organization. I highly suggest you read Mr. Grinspan's article.
“The ‘old men are for counsel,the ‘young men for war, and if you would like to see one hundred young ‘wide-awake’ soldiers, just call on us.”
“Wherever the fight is hottest, there is our post of duty, and there the Wide Awakes are found.”
- Wide Awake chants
ATTENTION, WIDE AWAKES!
THE Waupun Wide-Awakes are requested to meet on Wednesday as Thursday evenings next, at 7 o'clock, at the Wide-Awake Head quarters.
Hans C. Heg, Captain
Waupun, July 31st, 1860
AT A MEETING of the Republican Club, held at Dodge Hall last Wednesday evening a Wide-Awake Company was formed. Sixty-four names were enrolled, and considerable enthusiasm was manifested. The regulations of the Janesville Wide-Awakes were read, and, after being amended, were adopted.
6th--It is the object of this club--
1st. To act as a political police.
2d. To do escort duty to all prominent Republican speakers who visit our village to address our citizens.
3d. To attend all public meetings in a body and see that order is kept, and that the speaker and meeting is not disturbed.
4th. To attend the polls and see that justice is done every legal voter.
5th. To conduct ourselves in such a manner as to induce all Republicans to join us.
6th. To be a body joined together in large numbers to work for the good of the Republican ticket.
SOUTHERN REACTION
• Ausin Texas State Gazette warned, “The young and daring element of Abolitionism is for the first time enthused with something like a love for military prowess.”
• Virginians warned that the Wide Awakes “carry rails to break open our doors, torches to fire our dwellings and beneath their long, black capes, the knives to cut our throats.”
• In Congress Senator Louis Wigfall of Texas accused William Seward of ordering “his Wide Awake Praetorians” to “sweep the country I live in with fire and sword.”
• South Carolina fire-eaters began to organize “Minute Men” militias, not out of empty paranoia, but “as an offset to the Wide Awakes of the North.” The creation of the Minute Men is often mentioned as a major stepping-stone on the road to disunion
EVENTS
1. Stephan A. Douglas rides the rail in Wisconsin. Wide Awake band sees him off before he finishes his speech.
1. Under the supervision of Missouri Senator Francis Preston, armed Wide Awakes confronted the pro-secession state militia at Camp Jackson near St. Louis. After the killing and wounding 28 the secessionists were put down.
2. The honorable William Seward spoke in Detroit where 50 companies of Wide Awakes received him. That night Wide Awakes made up 10 percent of Detroit’s population. Mr. Seward declared, “The reason we didn’t get an honest President in 1856, was because the old men of the last generation were not Wide Awakes… .”
3. Oscar Lawrence Jackson, of Ohio, while offering an open air speech, drunken Democrats tried to shout down his speech. “It came near taking a serious turn, as the ‘Wide Awakes’ were prepared and would have shot and sliced them like dogs if any one of us had been struck.”
4. 10,ooo Wide Awakes marched three miles through the streets of Chicago.
5. Wide Awake marches during the Republican National Convention at the Wig Wam in Chicago ignited Wide Awake companies across the nation.
6. Rallies in New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, Cleveland, and Boston in early October drew over 70,000 Wide Awakes and 150,000 spectators.
7. February 25th 1860-state election campaign in Hartford Connecticut, Hon. Cassious Clay was the guest speaker and after the meeting was escorted to Mayor Allyn’s House by a torch lit parade. Two of the torch carriers were dry goods clerks D.G Francis and D. P. Blair who, in order to protect their clothing from the dirt and oil lamp spillage, prepared cloaks of black cambric, which they wore in connection with the glazed caps commonly worn at the time. Standing out from the other torch bearers, they were put in front of the parade. Their unique, utilitarian, look prompted a call to form a 50 man torch bearing company sporting similar dress. On March 5th, Abraham Lincoln gave a speech in Hartford those capped man and others similarly dressed escorted Mr. Lincoln to his hotel. Upon reaching the residence Mr. Lincoln said humorously, “The boys are wide awake. Suppose we call them the Wide Awakes.” The Wide Awakes was born.
Monday, April 4, 2011
Newfoundland dog at Chancellorsville
As a teacher summer is my touring time, a time to get away from giving to high schoolers so I can give to me. Usually that last Friday of the year sees an excited teacher waiting for the last bell of the day then sprinting to the Milwaukee airport for a flight East. A few years ago, I decided upon a battlefield tour of Chancellorsville. Beginning the previous fall, I collected scores of 1st person accounts of the battle. During the long Wisconsin winter, I then put those accounts into a usable format: significant statements from men on both sides organized by location of the event. The binder of material I’ve collected is impressive and growing for I’ve become fascinated by the whole campaign. That summer I trod hill and woodlot of the battlefield for three days. Each location came more alive thanks to my winter’s efforts-no the efforts of the soldiers to share their experiences.
I’ll be sharing some of the more fascinating soldier experience on this blog. Today, I share an odd two, thus the title.
“We ran through the enemy camps where they were cooking supper. Tents were standing and camp-kettles were on the fire full of meat. I saw a big Newfoundland dog lying in one tent as quietly as if nothing had happened. We had a nice chance to plunder their camps and search the dead; but the men were afraid to stop as they ha to keep with the artillery and were near a good man officers who might whack them over the had with their swords if they saw them plundering; but the temptation was too great and sometimes they would run their hands in some dead man’s pockets as they hurried along, but seldom procured anything of value.”
John O Casler, 33rd Virginia
“Noticed a large Newfoundland dog- in the agonies of death with a ball hole through him.”
Samuel Pickens Company D 5th Alabama
So there you have it, amongst the death and destruction of Jackson’s flank attack, two men, from different regiments, share the last moments of a dog. One of the sad byproducts of war is the destruction of that which has no interest or purpose in war, in this case a dog, a companion of a soldier, killed in battle.
I’ll be sharing some of the more fascinating soldier experience on this blog. Today, I share an odd two, thus the title.
“We ran through the enemy camps where they were cooking supper. Tents were standing and camp-kettles were on the fire full of meat. I saw a big Newfoundland dog lying in one tent as quietly as if nothing had happened. We had a nice chance to plunder their camps and search the dead; but the men were afraid to stop as they ha to keep with the artillery and were near a good man officers who might whack them over the had with their swords if they saw them plundering; but the temptation was too great and sometimes they would run their hands in some dead man’s pockets as they hurried along, but seldom procured anything of value.”
John O Casler, 33rd Virginia
“Noticed a large Newfoundland dog- in the agonies of death with a ball hole through him.”
Samuel Pickens Company D 5th Alabama
So there you have it, amongst the death and destruction of Jackson’s flank attack, two men, from different regiments, share the last moments of a dog. One of the sad byproducts of war is the destruction of that which has no interest or purpose in war, in this case a dog, a companion of a soldier, killed in battle.
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