Fayetteville, NC, At War-- Part 2: News from the Front

DECEMBER 22, 1862--  From the Cumberland Plough Boys near Fredericksburg, Virginia, Dec. 17, 1862.  "A list of Casualties in my company on the 13th: Private William Warwick and John Gardner.


Without any disparagement to the bravery of their comrades in arms, I may say that these men acted in a manner of the highest commendation.

My company was under a very hot fire of muskets from 11 o'clock, AM, till dark, but fortunately escaped without other loss than stated above.  We took part in the repulse of three distinct charges and at one time had the pleasure of seeing eleven flags of the stars and stripes flying before us."

J.S. Evans, Capt. Co. F, 24th Reg't N.C.T."

This would be the Battle of Fredericksburg.

Fayetteville, NC, At War-- Part 1

From the Dec. 30, 2012, Fayetteville (NC) Observer "Civil War 150th Anniversary: December 1862 Developments."

DECEMBER 1, 1862

"A couple of gentlemen turned out on Friday last to solicit subscriptions for purchasing a supply of wood to be distributed among the poor of the town.

They collected $572 and 100 cords of wood, equal to near $1,000."

Even in war time, people were helping the poor.

Old Secesh

Confederate Powder Mill Explosion in Texas, April 29, 1863

From the Feb. 23, 2013, Waxahachie (Tx) Daily Light by George Cole.

The Confederate gun powder mill operated by William Rowen and Tillman Patterson, located by McMillan and North Rogers streets in Waxahachie was totally destroyed after a series of explosions on April 29, 1863.

It had been established by the Confederate government in Austin in late 1862 or early 1863, but operated there for only a few months before moving.

Five men normally would be at work, but only three were there at the time of the explosion and all were burned severely.  William Rowen and first assistant Joshua G. Phillips later died of their injuries.

David C. Nance survived.  He was a soldier in Parsons' Rangers, Co. E and had been badly wounded at the Battle of Cache River in Arkansas.  Furloughed to return home and recover, he had recovered and been assigned to work in the mill.

The exact cause of the explosion has never been determined.  Some think it might have been Northern sympathizers, others that the inexperience Nance made a mistake.

In 1936, the Texas Historical Commission erected a marker at the approximate site at 306 N. Rogers Street. 

A Dangerous Business.  --Old Secesh

Maryland's Last Surviving Confederate Real Son Dies

From the Dec, 18, 2012 Cumberland (Md) Times-News "LaVale man, last surviving son of Civil War veteran dies at 91."

Albert L. Comer, Sr., Maryland's last son of a Confederate Veteran died Dec. 16, 2012.

At age 78, he was inducted into the Maryland Sons of Confederate Veterans (SCV) in a ceremony.

He was the son of James J. Comer, who enlisted at age 14, the youngest member of Stonewall Jackson's 53rd Brigade.

he married after the war, and after the death of his wife, married a girl 34 years younger.  Albert was born in 1921, when his father was 74.

What Were They feeding Those Boys in Gray?  --Old Secesh

Back to the U.S. Dakota 1862 War: The Lake Shetek Massacre

The Lake Shetek Massacre was August 20, 1862.  Fourteen white settlers were killed.  Several days ago, I metioned that Captain William Duley cut the rope that hanged the 39 Dakota Sioux at Mankato and that he had lost several family members to the Indians at Lake Shetek.

Three white families first settled along the shores of Minnesota's Lake Shetek in 1859.  By 1862, there were 12 families there.

On this date, they were attacked by about 100 Indians from the Lean Lodge and Bear Lodge.  The Indians first ordered two families to leave their cabins before killing hired man John Voight.  At the third place they killed Andrew Koch, but his wife escaped and spread the word of the attack on foot to the other whites.

Charley Hatch also heard and mounted his horse to get the word out as well.  The whites gathered together in a cabin for safety.

More to Come.  --Old Secesh

Kansas Civil War History on Route 66

From the Feb. 17, 2013 wibw.com "Kansas Town Rich With Civil War History" AP

Southeast Kansas is usually overlooked when it comes to the Civil War, and especially that little thirteen mile section of the Mother Road going through that part,  but there was a notable battle where about 100 Union soldiers were massacred in October 1863 by guerrillas under William Quantrill.

The union commander, James Blunt was not aware that Quantrill's men were in the area.  The story also has racial overtones.

The town it took place in is called Baxter Springs and there will be a three-day observation planned to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Baxter Springs. 

I'm Thinking About It.  Nothing Like Cruising 66 Past That Marsh Bridge and Getting Some Civil War At the Same Time.  --Old Secesh

A Big Welcome Back to CWI

I had just about written this blog  no posts for the last four months and no reason given.  But, I was quite happy last Friday to see Civil War Interactive was coming back.  I missed it and and had previously read it most days.  The reason for the lapse was a serious illness which I am glad to see is in the past.

I have my own alerts, but even so, CWI comes up with stories I'm interested in (the only ones I use here or on any of my blogs) that I didn't know about. The last story and the one coming up came as a result of CWI.

Just search Civil War Interactive and go to Today's News.  www.civilwarinteractive.com .

Welcome Back.  --Old Secesh

Protest Planned to Save the Old Gettysburg Cyclorama Building

From the Feb. 14, 2013 Hanover (Pa) Evening Sun by Amy Stansbury.

Richard Neutra designed the Gettysburg Cyclorama Building in the late 1950s to memorialize Pickett's Charge.  The modernistic building was created to unite the country.

Last month, the National Park Service made the decision to tear the building down in keeping with its efforts to return the terrain of the battlefield to the way it looked in July of 1863.

His son, Dion Neutra is leading a protest in an attempt to save it.  This Sunday, February 24th at 1 PM, a mass meeting is planned at the battlefield.  Neutra wants the building repurposed as a Lincoln museum dedicated to the Gettysburg Address. 

As his father built the structure, the Cyclorama was on the second floor and the first was dedicated to Lincoln.

Preliminary assessment of costs put repurposing the building at $21 million and $3.3 million to tear down.  There must be asbestos in it as the repurposing an existing building is quite high to my thinking.

Of Course, I Say "Save IT!!"  --Old Secesh

Officials Want Confederate POW Camp in Georgia Preserved

From the Feb. 4, 2013, Jacksonville (Fl) Times Union by Terry Dickson.

The camp, located near Blackshear, Georgia, was used for only two months after Andersonville was evacuated.

There is a historic marker about it on Georgia Highway 203, the only indication that 5,000 Union prisoners and 700 Confederate guards once occupied the 35 acre site.  The county owns 2.7 acres and the rest owned by private citizens.

Back in 1864, General William Sherman and his Army were cutting a wide swath of destruction across Georgia, but Confederate commanders were unable to figure out his objective or route.  the infamous Andersonville Prison Camp was closed and Union prisoners sent elsewhere.  Some 5,000 moved to Thomasville and 10,000 to Millen at what is now Magnolia Springs State Park

The Thomasville prison site is preserved and within the last two years, archaeologists, scientists and students have been scouring tbe Millen site.  But nothing has been done at Blackshear where records indicate that some of the Union soldiers are buried on the grounds.

Recovering the Past.  --Old Secesh

The U.S.--Dakota War of 1862-- Part 6

As the Dakota took their places on the scaffold, they sang a Dakota song as white muslim coverings were pulled over their faces.  They grasped each others' hands.  A single blow from an axe and the platform fell away.  Captain William Duley, who had lost several family members in the attack on the Lake Shetek settlement, cut the rope.

The Indians dangled for half an hour, were cut down and buried in a shallow mass grave on a sandbar between Mankato's main street and the Minnesota River.  However, before morning, the bodies were dug up and taken to physicians for use as medical cadavers.

Later, it was discovered that two had been mistakenly hanged.

A Sad Story.  --Old Secesh

The U.S.-Dakota War of 1862-- Part 5

On September 28, 1862, two days after the Indian surrender at Camp Release, a commission of military officers began trying Dakota men accused of participating in the war.  Several weeks later the trials were moved from the Lower Sioux Agency.  As weeks passed, trials weer handles with increasing speed. 

On November 5, 1862, 303 were sentenced to death and 16 given prison terms.

At this time, President Lincoln got involved and decreed that only those involved in rape and massacring whites should be put to death.  That lowered the number to 39.

At 10 AM December 26th, 38 Indians were led to the specially constructed scaffold.  One was given a reprieve at the last minute.  An estimated 4,000 spectators were on hand to witness and were not too well disposed to the Indians.  To keep the peace, the commander of the executions had banned the sale of all alcohol sales or consumption within a ten mile radius of Mankato.

The Hangings.  --Old Secesh

The U.S.-Dakota War of 1862-- Part 4

l Sibley and his soldiers moved 303 condemned Indians from the Lower Sioux Agency to a prison camp in Mankato, Minnesota.  On the outskirts of New Ulm, they were attacked by citizens and two of the Indians died of their injuries.

Those prisoners not executed at Mankato sere sent by steamboat to the military prison at Davenport, Iowa.  At least 120 died while there of the horrible conditions.

From November 7-13, about 1700 Dakota (mostly women and children)who had surrendered but not sentenced to death or prison, were taken from  the Lower Sioux Agency to an internment camp near Fort Snelling, Minnesota.  As they passed through Henderson, they were attacked by white settlers.

They spent the winter in the internment camp and between 100-300 died, mostly of disease.

Old Secesh

The U.S.-Dakota War of 1862-- Part 3: After the War

To give an idea of the feelings of whites toward the Dakota, after the war, a bounty was offered for Dakota scalps.  Volunteer Scouts would get paid $25 each and civilians $75.

Again, after the war/hangings, in February-March, all treaties with the Dakota were abrogated or revoked.  In May 1863, 1,300 Dakota were put on a steamboat and sent to the Crow Creek reservation.  Conditions on the boat were crowded and many died and conditions at the reservation were horrible.  In the first six months, 200 Dakota died, mostly children.

Old Secesh

The U.S.-Dakota War of 1862-- Part 2

Four Dakota hunters killed five white settlers in Acton Township, Meeker County, Minnesota, on August 17, 1862.  Some Dakota then seized the moment to declare war against the United States and reclaim their homelands.  After all, hopefully, the US Army would be too involved with the Confederacy to do much about what was happening in Minnesota.

However, the US government found the troops and set out to smash the uprising.  A letter from the Union commander, General John Pope to Henry Sibley on September 28, 1862, essentially summed up his ideas as to what to do.  "The horrible massacres of women and children and the outrageous abuse of female prisoners, still alive, call for punishment beyond human power to inflict....It is my purpose utterly to exterminate the Sioux if I have the power to do so....Destroy everything belonging to them and force them out to the plains....They are to be treated as maniacs and wild beasts...."

General Pope had been relieved of command of the Army in Virginia after he was soundly defeated by Robert E. Lee at the Second Battle of Manassas and now found himself in command in Minnesota.

I Don't Think he Liked Them.  --Old Secesh

The U.S.-Dakota War of 1862-- Part 1

From the U.S.-Dakota War of 1862 site www.usdakotawar.org

The year 2012 marks the 150th anniversary of the war, yet this tragedy is largely unobserved even though it "had a profound impact on shaping Minnesota as we know it today."  The problem is that it was overshadowed by the bigger Civil War.  "Mni Sota," according to oral histories, had been the Dakota homeland for thousands of years.

Beginning in 1805, Indians living in Minnesota began making concessions to whites.  In 1862, the US government made even more incentives to cause "newcomers," as whites were called, to move onto Indian land with the Homestead Act.

The war only lasted six weeks in southwestern Minnesota.  In the years leading up to it, there had been much hunger in the Minnesota-Dakota lands. A poor crop production in 1861 had led to the "Starving Winter 1861-1862.

Reservations had little or no food and Indians began moving off them and came into conflict with whites.

A Tragedy Preparing to Happen.  --Old Secesh

An Aspect of the Civil War I Did Not Know

I was aware of Indian involvement in the Confederacy and Union sides during the Civil War and under the impression that they tended to back the Confederacy, probably on the chance that they would be treated more fairly by them than they were by the U.S. government.  They knew how they would be treated by the latter.

I also knew of Indian-white conflict, but nothing about the U.S.-Dakota 1862 War as it is apparently called.

That is the thing about these blogs, I am always learning stuff I didn't know.

I will be delving more into this conflict in the days to come.

Stuff I Didn't Know.  --Old Secesh

Dakota Indians Remember War Executions-- Part 4

Almost 400 Indians faced military trials, which often lasted just a few minutes and 303 were sentenced to death.  President Abraham Lincoln, alarmed by the number of planned executions, got involved and demanded the death sentence only be carried out for those Dakota who had raped or killed settlers.

This reduced the number of those to be hanged to 38, but still, many of these cases had evidence that was sketchy at best.

St. Cloud State University historian Mary Wingerd said she understands why the Dakota fought, but couldn't condone the brutal killings of settlers.  "We have to understand it as a huge tragedy with victims on both sides."

War Is Always Unfortunate.  --Old Secesh

Dakota Indians Remember War Executions-- Part 3

During the next three years, Americans will be commemorating the 150th anniversary of the Civil War with a lot of attention given to battles between Confederate and Union soldiers.  Often overlooked are the conflicts between Union troops and Indians which continued right through the rest of the 19th century.

During the Civil War, as in the War of 1812, Indians had to take sides depending upon whom they considered the biggest threat to their lands in the west.

Thousands of Indians, soldiers and settlers were killed in the wars and in the end, the Indians lost and were forced into reservations (mostly in land that whites did not want).

In the 1862 incident that sparked fighting, five white settlers were killed by young Dakota men on a hunting expedition.  War broke out and hundreds of settlers were killed in Minnesota.  Federal troops were called to quell it.  The U.S. won and afterwards, more than 2,000 Dakota were rounded up, whether they had been involved or not.

I'm Glad This Is being Commemorated.  We Must Remember All of Our History, the Good With the Bad.  --Old Secesh

Dakota Indians Remember War Executions-- Part 2

Back in December, some Dakota are made a 300-mile trip on horseback in really cold temperatures to revive the memory of the incident.  This annual trek began back in 2005.

Said Sheldon Wolfchild: "It was just a terrible trauma that they had to endure, and we continue to endure this generational trauma to this very day."  The ride began Dec. 10 in Crow Creek, S.D., the reservation to which the Dakota were exiled (during the winter) after the hangings.  It ended Dec. 26th with a ceremony to remember the hangings.

Some ride the entire route and others join as different points.  Support vehicles follow them.  Gaby Strong lives in Morton, Minnesota, near the site of a key 1862 battle in the U.S.-Dakota war, said the ride helps develop bonds between the Dakota Sioux, especially the young.

One of the riders is 18-year-old Vanessa Goodthunder who is majoring in American Indian studies and history at the University of Minnesota.

A Sad, Almost-Forgotten Event.  --Old Secesh

Dakota Indians Remember War Executions-- Part 1

From the December 26,2012, Chicago Tribune by David Bailey

Even while the battles were being fought between the Confederacy and Union, the war to stop white movement west was still going on and with a fury.

"38 hangings part of Indians' 3-decade battle across Plains."

The day after Christmas is always a somber one for the Dakota Indians as it marks what they consider a travesty of justice in the biggest mass-hanging in U.S. history.

On December 26, 1862, in Mankato, Minnesota, following the six-week U.S.-Dakota War, earlier in the year, 38 Indians were hanged.  This marked the beginning of a three decade-long war between the Indians and U.S. government.

Originally, more than 38 Indians were to be hanged, but President Lincoln intervened.  However, two were hanged in error even while the president was preparing to give the Emancipation Proclamation.

More to Come.  --Old Secesh

Truths From Rock Island's Arsenal-- Part 2: Copperheads

There is also a book on Copperheads, who were pro-slavery, anti-Lincoln Northerners.  Rock Island, Illinois, even voted against Abraham Lincoln in the 1860 election.

A leading Copperhead was the editor of the Rock Island Argus newspaper.  Historians have found the secret insignia used by Copperheads to identify themselves (under Lincoln you could be arrested very quickly for support of the South).

A "Copperhead" penny was one where the Liberty head was cut in half and stuck under the lapel.

The documentary is on DVD and available at the museum.

Copperheads.  --Old Secesh

Truths From Rock Island's Arsenal Island-- Part 1

From the July 7, 2012, Quad City (Iowa) Times by David Burke.

It has been 75 years since the Rock Island Prison (Rock Island, Illinois) was "dissed" by the movie "Gone With the Wind,"  and now a new documentary sets the story straight.

Ezra Sidran of Heritage Documentaries has made the 30-minute presentation  "The Rock Island Civil War Prison, Andersonville of the North?"  It was to be shown on the hour this date at the Rock Island Arsenal Museum's theater.

In GWTW, Margaret Mitchell wrote that the Arsenal mortality rate was 75%.  This number was not true,  Inmates were actually safer there than in the Confederate Army.  They were housed in solid buildings and each barracks had two stoves.

What killed the Confederates was a small pox epidemic.

Prisons were horrific on both sides during the war.

More to Come.  --Old Secesh

Fayetteville's Cape Fear Guards

From the May 27, 2012, Fayetteville (NC) Observer "150th Civil War Anniversary: May 1862 developments" where they go back over old newspapers.

MAY 19, 1962  Another Cumberland County (Fayetteville's county) company sent to Camp of Instruction in Raleigh.  Seventy-three men and ten officers in the "Cape Fear Guards" under the leadership of Capt. F.N. Roberts.  This is the 13th company from the county--1,700 men altogether.  (Cumberland County was definitely committed to the cause.

MAY 26, 1862  Communication from the Cape Fear Guards March from Fayetteville to Raleigh.  They marched through mud and rain and arrived on the first night at the home of James McKethan who opened his home and invited them to supper and breakfast.

Just a Little Story in the Bigger Picture.  --Old Secesh

Civil War Manufacturing Plant to Be Preserved

From the Dec. 24, 2012, Myrtle Beach Online, AP.

Preservation is to start on the Endor Iron Furnace, near Sanford, North Carolina, which helped supply munitions to the Confederacy.  Free and slave laborers worked at the furnace turning iron ore, limestone and charcoal into pig iron that then was shipped by rail or barge to Fayetteville, NC, where it was refined into nails, rails, wheels, cannonballs and guns.

The owners were profiteers and it was shut down after the war.

It is on a 400 acre recreation area and $1 million is set aside for the preservation.

Old Secesh

Bits 'O War: Confederates Honored for First Time-- "Jeff Davis" the Pony

Bits of War--  New News About an Old War.


1.  CONFEDERATES HONORED FOR FIRST TIME--  CBS Atlanta Dec. 15, 2012.  The 20th Anniversary of "Wreaths Across America" and for the first time, Confederates at Marietta's Confederate Cemetery will be included.  The original goal was to pace wreaths at 100 graves, but enough wreaths were available to do so on 150.

Nationally, more than a million wreaths were laid.  This will be an ongoing affair.


2.  "JEFF DAVIS" THE PONY-- From the Dec. 15, 2012, Shorpy "Jeff Davis: 1865."  Only, it was no President Jeff Davis.  The photo was taken at City Point, Virginia, in March 1865 and is captioned  "Jeff Davis," General Grant's pony."  You can't say U.S. Grant didn't have a sense of humor.  Always interesting pictures at the Shorpy site.

Old Secesh

While On the Subject of Heritage Attacks

I have been keeping a list of what I consider to be heritage attacks starting back last February.  I'll just start listing until I get too angry to continue.

MARCH 9TH--  Someone stole the bust of Nathan Bedford Forrest from Live Oak Cemetery in Selma, Alabama.

MARCH  Lexington, Virginia, will no longer allow Confederate flags on light poles.

APRIL 3RD--  Delaware IDOT rescinded a written reprimand and one day suspension for an employee with a Confederate flag on his personal vehicle.  This shouldn't have happened in the first place.

APRIL 8TH--  Watching an episode of the Simpsons where the Confederate flag was said to be "on the wrong side of history."

APRIL 21ST--  A University of Nebraska at Lincoln fraternity got in trouble while marching to raise money for veterans and one member had a Confederate flag that offended one university worker.

So, now it has come to anything that offends one person or a group of people means it can't be done anymore.  If so, maybe I should be starting my own list of things that offend me.

Old Secesh

More Heritage Attacks

Seems like more and more often I come across these in my e-mail alerts.  All of these are determined attacks on Confederate heritage.

Dec. 6, 2012, USA Today--  Statue of two Confederate soldiers carrying a Confederate flag removed from Dixie State College in Utah because of "people with issues."

Dec. 19, 2012, Bu Da, Texas School Board Bans Confederate Flag.  Hays High School had a rebel mascot.  They decided to keep "Dixie" as the school song--for now.  Two boys wrote racial slurs and urinated on the door of a black teacher.  Punish the boys (and do so severely, even expulsion), but don't throw the history out.

December 19, 2012 Haywood County(NC) Board of Commissioners have postponed voting on controversial flag display policy which started out with a small Confederate flag at the base of a Confederate monument in August.

This Attack trend Is Getting Ridiculous.  --Old Secesh

Shame On Memphis!

From Feb. 5, 2013, Yahoo! News Memphis Renames 3 Parks That Honored Confederates.

I'd heard there was some consideration about it, but didn't think it would happen like this.  History was thrown out the window.

Three parks were renamed in what appears to be a rammed-through manner:  Confederate Park is now Memphis Park, Jefferson Davis Park is now Mississippi River Park and Nathan Bedford Forrest Park is now Health Sciences Park.

Evidently the voting group learned that there is a bill in the state house of representatives which would prevent renaming parks named after historical military figures.

This Is a Sad Day.  Throwing History Out the Window Like That.  --Old Secesh

The Civil War's Scots-- Part 2

Robert Livingstone, son of Scottish missionary Dr. David Livingstone (Of Dr. Livingstone, I presume)=fame), was living in America under the name Rupert  Vincent at the time of the war.  He was in his early 20s and was press-ganged into Union service.

Brothers James and Alexander Campbell fought on opposite sides.

Glasgow-born Marian McKenzie disguised herself as a man and served three years in various regiments like the 23rd Kentucky Infantry and 92nd Ohio Infantry.  Whenever she was discovered, she would be thrown out of the Army, only to enlist in another regiment.

Bennett Burley, also known as Burleigh, was born in Glasgow and served in the Confederate military.  He participated in the Philo Parsons Affair, a failed bid to free Confederate prisoners.  He returned to Britain after the war and later became friends with Winston Churchill.

William Wallace Would be So Proud.  --Old Secesh

The Civil War's Scots-- Part 1

From the Jan. 22, 2013, BBC News: Highlands & Islands "Scots who fought in American Civil War remembered" by Steven McKenzie.

In keeping with the sesquicentennial of the American Civil War, there are various projects going on in the British Isles.  One of them is compiling a list of Scots who fought in the war.

One of them was George Henry McKenzie (I have to wonder if he is any relation to the writer).  He was born in North Kessock near Inverness and rose to the rank of captain commanding a company of black soldiers.

Edinburgh-born Kate Cumming was a nurse who cared for wounded Confederate soldiers.

A Scot By Any Other Name.  --Old Secesh

Trove of General Hood Records Found

From the October 18, 2012, Nashville Tennesseean "General Hood descendant has trove of records."  I just wrote about a new book on General Hood back on Jan. 30th.

Sam Hood, a direct descendant of Confederate General John Bell Hood, has announced that he has a "significant discovery of materials."  He operates a website devoted to the much-maligned Southern officer who was greatly embarrassed on the night of November 29, 1864, a Union Army slipped by him at Spring Hill, Tennessee, (and lost a chance to destroy it).  Then there were the disasters at the subsequent battles of Franklin (which resulted in 6,261 Confederate casualties and Nashville.

These records are described as one of the "most significant  Civil War discoveries in history."

Among the items is a recommendation for promotion handwritten by General Longstreet and Jackson. There is also war-time correspondence between Hood and Lee, Bragg and Louis T. Wigfall.

Also there are 75 postwar letters mostly dealing with the controversy with General Johnston.

Hood, the Warhorse.  --Old Secesh

North Carolina Flags

From the June 13, 2012, Greenville (NC) Daily Reflector "NC History Museum holds talks on Civil War Flags."

The North Carolina Museum of History in Raleigh has 121 Civil War flags, the third largest collection in the world.  Not all of them are on display.

It costs $7,000 each to conserve each of the 112 Confederate and 9 Union flags.

They are working with other groups to conserve the flags.  Money has been raised to save 14 of the flags so far.  The 26th North Carolina reenactment group has worked with the museum to save six of the flags.

Actually, It's About Time to Return the Union Flags to Their States.  --Old Secesh

Civil War Encampment At Springfield, Ohio, in 1912

From the June 17, 2012, Springfield (Ohio) News-Sun "Civil War veterans encamped here in 1912: Town hosted veterans from the Grand Army of the Republic" by Tom Stafford.

Plans for this gathering were in the works for months in advance of the occasion.  It was the 46th Annual Encampment of the Grand Army of the Republic, June 17 to 21, 1912.  Also visiting town were the Women's Relief Corps, Sons of the Veterans and the Ladies Auxiliary.

Hundreds of local volunteers put in their time to make it a success.  Springfield hotels made arrangements to accommodate more than 4,000 visitors.

Springfield's Medal of Honor winner, James C. Walker, requested that an automobile owner to drive him and the "Medal of Honor Men" on a sightseeing tour of the city

There was a special section in the paper on him.

On Thursday, there was a parade of veterans through town.

Remembering the Heroes.  --Old Secesh