For those in the Midwest

The Kenosha Civil War Museum is a gem for sure. It's Fiery Trial tells the story of the Old Northwest before, during and after the war, its reserach center has a growing collection of primary sources and its special programming is amazing. In a previous post I mentioned the McPherson/ Rocco day I enjoyed. Well on November 17th "At 1:00 PM, join Mr. Stephen Osman as he presents Minnesota's Other Civil War: The Dakota Conflict of 1862. The Dakota War of 1862 was the single most important event in Minnesota’s 154 year history. In six tragic weeks more were killed than all of Minnesota’s Civil War deaths in combat and the western half of the state was depopulated. Minnesota’s Dakota people were evicted from the state, leaving scars that remain to this day. Learn about the causes, visit the battlefields, and consider the legacy of the Dakota War in a colorful PowerPoint presentation by Stephen Osman. Stephen Osman is a graduate of St. Olaf College who recently retired as senior historian with the Minnesota Historical Society. He managed Historic Fort Snelling for over three decades, and actively researches, speaks and writes about Minnesota’s role in the Civil War and the Dakota War. At 2:30, Civil War author and historian Lance Herdegen will talk about his new book, The Iron Brigade in Civil War and Memory. Lance Herdegen's latest book puts flesh and faces on the men of the Iron Brigade who sat around the campfires, marched through mud and snow and dust, fought to put down the rebellion, and recorded much of what they did and witnessed for posterity. This magnificent new work, sure to be looked upon as Herdegen's magnum opus, is based on decades of archival research and includes scores of previously unpublished letters, photos, journals, and other primary accounts. This well researched and written tour de force, which includes reunion and memorial coverage until the final expiration of the last surviving member, will be the last word on the Iron Brigade for the foreseeable future. Books will be available for purchase and signing before and after the programs." Hope to see you there.

WALTER OSGOOD HART of the 36th Wisconsin Infantry: On the March

Speaking of stragglers calls to mind a couple of incidents that Plodder often mentioned. On one of the forced marches he saw a soldier sitting on the ground evidently worn out. A brute on horseback, in the garb of an officer, came and ordered him to get up and go on. He replied that he couldn't, he was sick and completely given out. The brute drove his horse against the soldier's back, compelling him to get up, then repeatedly ran his horse against the man's back shouting, "Get along there". The poor man staggered along trying to run. The brute rode up beside him and drew his sword and kept pounding him on the back with the flat side of it, shouting and swearing at him. It made Plodder's blood boil, and he wondered why the soldier didn't run his bayonet thru the brute. On these marches a small force called the provost guard was detailed to follow the marching column and allow no stragglers to be left behind them. Sometimes Plodder would rest until he saw the guard coming and then start on. There was talk that guerillas followed the army and any that fell behind this guard were liable to be murdered. One time Plodder waited till the first of the guard came up and walked with them. They did not molest any one who started on when they came up. But they came upon a grey bearded man who did not get up when they spoke to him, but said he was completely done out and could go no further till he got a little rest. They told him he couldn't stay there; he must get up and go on. He replied firmly and positively, "I am not able". They began prodding him with their bayonets, and ordered him to go on. Without saying a word, but with a determined look on his face he began loading his gun. The guard left him sitting there.

PICKET DUTY: WALTER OSGOOD HART OF THE 36TH WI.

Having occasion at this point to refer to the few letters that were saved from the burning, the writer was reminded of conversation between the pickets that occurred during the period of inactivity. The picket lines were so close together that they were ordered to keep up firing in the night. One night the Rebs called over, REB: "Say Yanks, we want to change pickets. You won't shoot will you?' YANKEE: "No, go ahead". Then they get up and walk around. REB: “who will be the next President.” YANK: "Who do you want?" REB: "Old Abe", was the answer. YANK TWO: "D..n Old Abe, I want McClellan". REB: "Don't you wish the war was over and we were at home?" YANK: "Yes, we do". REB: "Well then, you go home and we won't follow you any farther than the Potomac" YANK: "You lay down your arms and we won't follow any farther than Richmond," REB: You'll find that a d..,d hard road to travel". So it went till officers came around and ordered them to go to firing, "Say, Yanks, the officers say we must go to firing. Get out of the way. We'll shoot high tho". "Hello, Yanks, the officers are gone now. If you won't fire, we won't". YANK: "All right". REB: "Have you any whiskey over there?" YANK: "Yes, lots of it". REB:"Come over, and let's go to Petersburg and have a good time; we'll let you go back". YANK: "We don't doubt your word, but your officers would keep us". REB: "D..n the officers, we wouldn't let them know anything about it."

A Perfect Civil War Weekend Defined

For a guy like me, who has a passion for the study of the Civil War, listening to famous authors can feed that passion. Looking into an artist rendition of a battle or soldier’s event can evoke an emotional response, creating an emotional reaction to the human drama of “Devil’s Den” or “The Outpost.” Going to a reenactment where the sound of a band wafts through the fall air mixing with the bellow of officer’s voices above the rip of musketry can resonate long after the truck has driven him home. This weekend I was privy to all three experiences thus making the title, A Perfect Civil War Weekend. I have to share with someone so here is my weekend: Saturday the Kenosha Civil War Museum hosted an extraordinary day for Civil War students. Dr. James McPherson, author of the Pulitzer prize winning piece, Battle Cry of Freedom offered a brunch then later a lecture on naval war covered in his latest piece War on the Waters, a book on the naval war during the Civil War. The beginning of this perfect day began when I was introduced to Mr. McPherson by Doug Dammann, the director of the museum. The hand shake and small talk was great and all I expected. Later, as I walked into the room where the brunch was held there sat Mr. McPherson with an empty chair next to him. Score. Between bites I asked him questions about Lee, Antietam, and his next work as well as listening as the other four folks at the table talked to our guest. The poor fella was barely about to eat. He was a gracious host to our questions. His talk offered me a tour of naval war with the focus on DuPont and Farragut’s efforts- a topic I have not read much on. Leaving the lecture hall, the second guest of the museum waited behind the book signing table, Kieth Rocco, nationally recognized historical artist was there to open a gallery of his work that the museum will host until April, including some original works done specifically for the museum’s Old Northwest theme- a 24th Michigan piece and one on the 11th Indiana. Bringing a copy of Gettysburg in Art and Artifacts for him to sign I reminded him that I had posed for him way back in the early 90’s; an event not worth remembering for an artist who has amassed a portfolio of over 400 Civil War pieces, by his calculations. Still he was warm and personable-a really nice guy. I later listened to his talk on how he composes his works-another world I don’t know much about. Sprinkled amongst those two events I had a nice conversation with Rob Girardi, the author of the Gettysburg piece in which Mr. Rocc’s art was showcased and many other Civil War related books, again a really cool guy who was a pleasure to talk to. And so ended my academic feast so I headed home to prepare to the chaperone our homecoming dance at the school I work at. Not much Civil War in supervising teenagers at a dance but it makes for a segway. At midnight, as the last of the well dressed teenagers left the school, I headed to Old Wade House for a Civil War Reenactment. The group I belong to, The Hogg Mess, has always prided itself on studying then sharing unique facets of Civil War soldier history. At Wade House we were going to revisit an old theme- winter quarters. 12 years ago the Wade House gave us permission to build a winter cabin then to interpret the life of the winter soldier to the public. This year they again gave us permission to build some new cabins. For three weeks, led by Eric, we cut the trees and began the process of building three cabins. On Friday and Saturday of the event the Mess finished two of the cabins so that when I arrived at around 2:00 am to a sleeping camp of my mates, I came upon two amazingly authentic structures of notched log, daubing, canvas roof and chimney. Those guys had worked their tails off and thanks to that, Sunday we presented the life of the winter soldier to curious spectators and amazed reenactors. Eric, Todd, Brandon and Kyle deserve all the credit-great friends and living historians. So what does a perfect Civil War weekend consist of? Spending time with nationally recognized experts in their fields, learning new stuff, doing something unique (cabin building) and educating folks on something they probably had never seen nor thought about before.