Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Ugliest Man in the Company
Attention, Company K! I hold in my hand a brand new Barlow knife and the ugliest man in the company gets it. The man is to be picked by majority vote. Trot out your candidates for ugliest man in the company. Bill Ogden was the first man nominated; I was next, and Jim Walker was the last nomination. They trotted us up and down the company street and kept us so busy that we hardly had time to eat. We were accompanied by our respective supporters, who pointed out in minute detail our points of ugliness. I voted for myself and Bill voted for himself.
David Holt, 16th Mississippi Infantry.
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
A sadder element of Sherman's March to the Sea
In researching Sherman's March to the Sea for a program at the Kenosha Civil War Museum, I came across a number of primary source accounts dealing with Buckland Creek, a small body of water 14th and 20th corps came across on 3 December. The following accounts will explain the events of that day as well as some varied reactions to orders. Enjoy.
JAMES REEVE’S (21st Wisconsin surgeon)
"December 3rd- Buckhead Creek, a deep narrow stream on pontoons (2 boats being required) Here all the negroes not employed as servants were turned out by the guards and refused passing on the bridge, a very unwise and cruel policy it seems to me. After having allowed them to follow us this long and far away from their former houses to return which will probably be to receive cruel treatment."
JOHN RANDALL (14th Wisconsin)
"December 3rd We marched at 7am. Went to Lawton’s Station 10 miles and went into camp at dark. We crossed the Buckland Creek, a deep stream, on a pontoon bridge. The 21st Wisconsin was in rear of the 14th corps. Following us were probably 300 black refugees, men, woman and children. Some had followed our army fifty miles or more. All were joyous as they marched toward freedom. Bur for some reason Gen Jefferson C. Davis, our corps commander desired to get rid of these followers and he chose to do it at the crossing of the Buckland Creek. He ordered that as soon as the last soldier and those blacks who were employed by offices had crossed, the pontoon bridge should be immediately removed. These poor creatures were left in the swamp to their doom. I saw the bridge removed and heard the piteous pleading of these people to be allowed to cross. As they come to realize their helpless condition they presented a sad sight, I have always regarded this as an inhuman act ordered by Gen Jefferson C. Davis and without an excuse."
JOHN HENRY OTTO (21st Wisconsin)
"We passed several fields of sugarcane, the first we had ever seen. The darkies cut off a stalk, peel off the rind and chew on the marrow. The men soon followed the example and the stuff is of a pleasant taste indulged freely. In its raw state the juice acts as a physic. And the men being ignorant of that fact and besides being not used to it become more readily ifs victim. After a few hours it was amusing to observe how anxiously the men would dodge aside in the woods or swamps which was the cause of much joking and merriment.
During the afternoon we crossed Buckland Creek on pontoons. The creek might have properly been called a river for its size and depth. The darkeys had well nigh become an unbearable nuisance as there was a whole army of them. General Sherman concluded to check their crowding us and gave orders to stop the niggers at the bridge and after the troops and trains had passed to take up the pontoons and leave the darkies at the other side. It seems a cruel measure but under the circumstances can not be censured. But the darkies were not to be outwitted so easy. They were left on the wrong side of the creek…but when we broke camp the next morning they were there again."
The same recipe was applied later at Ebenezer Creek.
JAMES REEVE’S (21st Wisconsin surgeon)
"December 3rd- Buckhead Creek, a deep narrow stream on pontoons (2 boats being required) Here all the negroes not employed as servants were turned out by the guards and refused passing on the bridge, a very unwise and cruel policy it seems to me. After having allowed them to follow us this long and far away from their former houses to return which will probably be to receive cruel treatment."
JOHN RANDALL (14th Wisconsin)
"December 3rd We marched at 7am. Went to Lawton’s Station 10 miles and went into camp at dark. We crossed the Buckland Creek, a deep stream, on a pontoon bridge. The 21st Wisconsin was in rear of the 14th corps. Following us were probably 300 black refugees, men, woman and children. Some had followed our army fifty miles or more. All were joyous as they marched toward freedom. Bur for some reason Gen Jefferson C. Davis, our corps commander desired to get rid of these followers and he chose to do it at the crossing of the Buckland Creek. He ordered that as soon as the last soldier and those blacks who were employed by offices had crossed, the pontoon bridge should be immediately removed. These poor creatures were left in the swamp to their doom. I saw the bridge removed and heard the piteous pleading of these people to be allowed to cross. As they come to realize their helpless condition they presented a sad sight, I have always regarded this as an inhuman act ordered by Gen Jefferson C. Davis and without an excuse."
JOHN HENRY OTTO (21st Wisconsin)
"We passed several fields of sugarcane, the first we had ever seen. The darkies cut off a stalk, peel off the rind and chew on the marrow. The men soon followed the example and the stuff is of a pleasant taste indulged freely. In its raw state the juice acts as a physic. And the men being ignorant of that fact and besides being not used to it become more readily ifs victim. After a few hours it was amusing to observe how anxiously the men would dodge aside in the woods or swamps which was the cause of much joking and merriment.
During the afternoon we crossed Buckland Creek on pontoons. The creek might have properly been called a river for its size and depth. The darkeys had well nigh become an unbearable nuisance as there was a whole army of them. General Sherman concluded to check their crowding us and gave orders to stop the niggers at the bridge and after the troops and trains had passed to take up the pontoons and leave the darkies at the other side. It seems a cruel measure but under the circumstances can not be censured. But the darkies were not to be outwitted so easy. They were left on the wrong side of the creek…but when we broke camp the next morning they were there again."
The same recipe was applied later at Ebenezer Creek.
Thursday, August 4, 2011
The final orders of Lee to Longstreet
At the Wisconsin Historical Society again and I ran across something special. In a folder, in the archives, are scores of confederate orders with names like Johnson, Beauregard, Lee, Longstreet and the like. Among the copies and originals I came across five orders set between 4 April and 9 April, 1865. From an order culling the artillery and wagons to make better use of the healty horses and mules to the final surrender points signed by men like Mahone, Wilcox and the rest. AMAZING. I have one transcribed. When I read the below order from Lee to Longstreet, I could feel the tension behind the professional demeanor of Col. Marshall's hand (Lee's aide). All of them speak of a chaotic army trying to stave off disaster. Enjoy.
3 ¼ pm 8th April
General,
General Lee directs me to say that there is no water on which you can cncamp until you reach one of the headwaters of the Appomattox about half a mile south of Day's House, Gordon has gone two miles and a half beyond the stream mentioned. If you will let your troops know that they have but a short distance to march, they will move briskly and you will be able to get them a good rest and an opportunity to cook their suppers. The Gen. is now just south of the creek on which he wishes you to encamp and desires to see you if you can come.
Very resp yours ob serv
C. Marshall
Lt Col & aag
Lt. Gen. Longstreet
3 ¼ pm 8th April
General,
General Lee directs me to say that there is no water on which you can cncamp until you reach one of the headwaters of the Appomattox about half a mile south of Day's House, Gordon has gone two miles and a half beyond the stream mentioned. If you will let your troops know that they have but a short distance to march, they will move briskly and you will be able to get them a good rest and an opportunity to cook their suppers. The Gen. is now just south of the creek on which he wishes you to encamp and desires to see you if you can come.
Very resp yours ob serv
C. Marshall
Lt Col & aag
Lt. Gen. Longstreet
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Sherman's March to the Sea
I've been researching what Wisconsin soldiers did during Sherman's March to the Sea, and did I find some gems. As usual the three best places to research Civil War in this state are the Wisconsin State Historical Society, The Wisconsin Veteran's Museum and now the Kenosha Civil War Museum. I'll be sharing some of my findings in the future, but I had to share this one.
William F. Saylor was the band leader for the 1st brigade band of the third division of the 20th corps. As he and his mates prepared for a return march to Atlanta, from their Kingston location, he, in a letter to his father, describes how they tore down the Chattahootchie Bridge. Enjoy.
On Saturday November 12th our forces commenced destroying the Chattahoochee River Bridge (360 feet long and 100 feet above the water, built of trestle work) and RR north of it as far north as Kingston. On November 13th we pulled down the bridge. This was done by cutting all the braces and digging away about 20 feet of track from the ends, then fastening a long rope to it and five or six hundred men pulling on it endwise. After two or three pulls it commenced swaying to and fro and soon about half of this massive structure went crashing to the bottom of the stream. The work men now went to the other side and went through the same operation and in one day, from the time they commenced cutting the braces this whole structure that had cost a month to build was a pile of ruins.
William F. Saylor was the band leader for the 1st brigade band of the third division of the 20th corps. As he and his mates prepared for a return march to Atlanta, from their Kingston location, he, in a letter to his father, describes how they tore down the Chattahootchie Bridge. Enjoy.
On Saturday November 12th our forces commenced destroying the Chattahoochee River Bridge (360 feet long and 100 feet above the water, built of trestle work) and RR north of it as far north as Kingston. On November 13th we pulled down the bridge. This was done by cutting all the braces and digging away about 20 feet of track from the ends, then fastening a long rope to it and five or six hundred men pulling on it endwise. After two or three pulls it commenced swaying to and fro and soon about half of this massive structure went crashing to the bottom of the stream. The work men now went to the other side and went through the same operation and in one day, from the time they commenced cutting the braces this whole structure that had cost a month to build was a pile of ruins.
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