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.
Thursday, April 7, 2011
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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