Galvanized Yankees at Rock Island Prison-- Part 1

From the April 6, 2021, WVIK MPR Quad Cities  "Galvanized Yankees" by Roald Tweet.

We were just talking about the Rock Island Confederate prison camp at Rock Island at the McHenry County (Illinois) Civil War Round Table discussion group at the end of March.

In August 1863, Union troops arrived at Rock Island to build a prison camp for Confederates.  Beginning with 468 Confederates captured at the Battle of Lookout Mountain, who arrived in December 1863 the camp eventually housed  more than 12,000.  Author of "Gone With the Wind," Margaret Mitchell,  called it the "Andersonville of the North."

It was set up like other Union prisons, only this one also had  a Union Recruiting Office that was set up in the prison in 1864.  A Union naval officer  arrived in January and within a week had 660 former Confederates enlisted in the Navy.

One unrepentant Confederate wrote in his diary that they were "664 traitors to our country."  But, serving on a Union ship was seen by some Confederates as being better than living under the horrible prison conditions.  Plus, the Union Navy always faced manpower shortages.

In September 1864, the recruiting officers began getting prisoners enlisted to fight out West.  A large part of the prison was set up for these brand new Yankees.  Prisoners remaining loyal to the Confederacy derisively dubbed these men "Galvanized Yankees."

--Old Secesh

MCCWRT Prisons Discussion-- Part 3: A 'Gone With the Wind' Connection and Rock Island

The character Ashley Wilkes in "Gone With the Wind" was supposedly held at Rock Island Prison. He said that three quarters of the men who were sent there never came out alive. 

One of our members had just finished reading a book on the Rock Island Prison called "Rebels at Rock Island:  The Story of a Civil War Prison" by Benton McAdams.  He separated truth from fiction in regards to this prison that held tens of thousands of Confederate prisoners.

Rock Island was not without its problems-- mean punishments,  inadequate facilities,  malnutrition and a lack of basic  supplies.  But officers sought to maintain humane conditions as much as they could.

We have two Sons of Confederate Veteran Camps in Illinois which are named after two of the prison camps.

One is in the Chicago area and is called the Camp Douglas Camp, SCV.

The other is in Rockford and called the Rock Island Memorial Prisoner of War Camp.

--Old Secesh

Death of Last Living Star of "Gone With the Wind" Olivia de Havilland

OLIVIA de HAVILLAND, 104      (1916-2020)

Died July 25, 2020

Appeared in 49 feature films and was a leading actress of her time.    Also one of the last  surviving stars from what is called the Golden Age of Hollywood Cinema.

She came to prominence  with Errol Flynn in adventure films such as "Captain Blood" (1935) and "The Adventures of Robin Hood" (1938), but achieved her  her best-known role as Melanie Hamilton in "Gone With the Wind" (1939).

Johnston's River Line Defense, Atlanta-- Part 4: A Unique Design

Construction on what initially was called the  Chattahoochee River Line started on June 19 and took about two weeks using a labor force of soldiers well enough to work from local hospitals and over 1,000 impressed slaves.  I like to think this was when Scarlett O'Hara saw slaves from Tara going through the streets of Atlanta with picks and shovels in the movie "Gone With the Wind."

Some trenches already existed near the state railroad bridge but the vast amount of defenses had to be built from scratch.

THE SHOUPETTES

Francis A. Shoup's defensive design consisted of arrowhead-shaped infantry forts -- 36 were built -- spaced 175 yards apart and connected by trenches broken every  30 to 75 yards by artillery redans that each would house two cannons.

Each of the arrowhead forts, which came to be called Shoupades after the designer, consisted of an earthen foundation with log walls or parapets extending 14 to 20 feet high depending upon the terrain.  Interior earthen walls would stop short of the log exterior walls, forming a platform on which infantrymen could fire over the top of the fort.

And, There's More.  --Old Secesh

Major John Johnson, Fort Sumter Defender of Charleston-- Part 1

In the last post, I mentioned four young ladies who dedicated the Confederate defenders of Charleston statue in 1932.  One of them was Alicia Rhett, who was in the movie "Gone With the Wind" and whose name inspired that of the Rhett Butler character in that movie.

Unfortunately, the site I went to for the statue did not list the names of the four young ladies but I will do some research on their ancestors who were among the defenders.

The granddaughter of this man was one of the four young ladies.  He was listed as a Confederate engineer and author of a book on the defense of Charleston.

From the Find-A-Grave site.

REV. JOHN JOHNSON

BIRTH:  December 25, 1829  Charleston, S.C.

DEATH:  April 7, 1907  Charleston, S.C.

BURIAL:  St. Philip's Episcopal  Church Cemetery,  Charleston, S.C.

Alicia Rhett and her father Edmund Moore Rhett and mother Isobell Murdoch Rhett are buried there as well.  Also, John C. Calhoun is buried there.

--Old Secesh

Edmund Moore Rhett (Alicia Rhett's Father)-- Part 1: Died of Spanish Flu in 1918

I did find out some more about Edmund Moore Rhett.

From WikiTree.

Born 7 April 1877 in Charleston, SC.   Died 10 October 1918 in Wilmington, Delaware.  His father was a colonel in the Confederate Army during the Civil War, who had commanded Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor until 1863.

Edmund was admitted to the United States Military Academy June 15, 1896.  Graduated in 1900 as a lieutenant in the Army Corps of Engineers.

He was working for the railroad when he met his future wife, Isabel Beatrice Murdoch, who worked as a stenographer for the company.  The couple married in 1913-1914,  and had one child, Alicia (who was in the cast of "Gone With the Wind"), born in Savannah in 1915.

The family moved to Wilmington, Delaware, sometime around 1917.  He was employed as a chemical engineer at Du Pont  Company and the family resided at 1623 Rodney Street in Wilmington.  This was also his address given for his World War draft registration.

This is also where he was living when he died of the influenza.

When I saw he died that date, I was wondering whether he had died of the Spanish flu.  He had.

He was buried in Charleston, S,C, at St. Philips Episcopal Church Cemetery.

--Old Secesh

80th Anniversary of "Gone With the Wind"-- Part 3: Alicia Rhett, Her One and Only Movie Role

Alicia Rhett, who played India Wilkes, was the granddaughter of a Confederate Army soldier who served during the Civil War.

**  She died in 2014, one of the last of the actors and actresses from the movie.  This was her one and only movie role.   Reportedly, she did not much care for the whole Hollywood scene.

**  From IMdb:  Quote on the making of the movie:  "Clark Gable was great, always on time, always  knew his lines.  Leslie Howard had charm to burn.    Vivien Leigh  was delightful, an indefatigable worker, and just as pretty offstage as on.    So was Olivia de Havilland."

**  Originally tested for the role of Melanie.

**  Was an accomplished sketch and portrait artist before her role as India Wilkes.

**  During the filming of the movie, she did thumbnail sketches of everyone.

**  Her father was Lt. Edmund Moore Rhett (1877-1918)  Died at age 41.  He graduated from West Point in 1900 and was in the Army Corps of Engineers.  Died in Wilmington, Delaware.

I am unable to find any more information of him.

**  Reportedly, the Lady Baltimore cake was invented by one of her father's sisters, Alicia Middleton Rhett Mayberry.

**  And, her actual family name would appear to have had something to do with a famous name from the movie.

Rhett?  Rhett?  Where Have I Heard That Name?  --Old Secesh

80th Anniversary of "Gone With the Wind"-- Part 2" "I Am Not In It"

**  While visiting Atlanta's Cyclorama, the famed panoramic depiction o the Battle of  Atlanta, Clark Gable joked that there was one thing wrong with it:  "I am not in it."

Soon afterwards, one of the mannequins in the exhibit was altered to look like Rhett, with a handlebar mustache, fallen on the battlefield.

From the December 15, 2009 Civil War Picket on the 70th anniversary of "Gone With the Wind."

"I saw Rhett Butler today.   He didn't look so good.

"He was lying on the ground.  His eyes had no focus.  Blood covered part of his abdomen."

On the morning of December 15, Atlanta Mayor William B. Hartsfied (for whom Atlanta's airport is named), took Clark Kent and his new wife Carole Lombard o the Cyclorama at Grant Park.  Although impressed, Clark said it didn't have him, Rhett, in it.

Hartsfield later had artist Weis Snell  make a Rhett Butler of a dying Union soldier.

And, evidently, he is still there.

"Take a good look my dear.  It's a historic moment you can tell your grandchildren about -- how you watched the Old South fall one night."    Answer below.

Who Said That?  --Old Secesh


Rhett Butler

80th Anniversary of "Gone With the Wind"-- Part 1: Ohh, That "Dixie"

Last year was the 80th anniversary of the epic movie "Gone With the Wind," whether you like it or not, I am going to take through some information from one of those 100-page coffee table magazine books that I find so interesting.

From the Hollywood Legends Collector's Edition "Gone With the Wind."

Three bona fide Civil War-related facts about the movie:

1.  During the motorcade from the airport at the Grand Opening of the movie in Atlanta, at one point, star Vivien Leigh (Scarlet O'Hara)  noticed the band was playing "Dixie" and was overheard gushing,  "They're playing the song from the picture!" -- not realizing it was the "song" of  the Confederacy during the war.

Some Southern Belle.  --Old Secesh

"Gone With the Wind" Quotable Quotes

The movie "Gone With the Wind" was released in December 1939, and was at the theaters for months after that.  So, we are in the 80th anniversary of it.

From Wikipedia.

AMERICAN FILM INSTITUTE

100 Years Series

Top 100 Movies:   #4

Top 100 Passions:  #2

************************************

SEE IF YOU REMEMBER THESE "GONE WITH THE WIND" QUOTATIONS:

From the AFI's 100 Years...100 Quotes

What do you think is the #1 quote?

These two were nominated, but didn't make the list:

"I don't know nothin'  'bout birthin' babies!"

"Fiddle-Dee-Dee."

#59.  "As God as my witness, I'll never be hungry again."

#31.  "After all, tomorrow's another day."

#1.  "Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn."

But You Knew That.  --Old SeceGone

Civil War II-- 565: How Far Is Too Far in Removing Confederate Monuments?

From the September 11, 2017, Google Alerts for Confederate.

**  How far is too far in removing Confederate monuments?  Columbus, Ohio, Dispatch, Jack Torry, Sep. 10, 2017.  He mentioned the Confederate statues on Capitol Hill in D.C. and the stained glass windows at the National Cathedral.

Last month about 100 people gathered at Columbus City Hall demanding the removal of the city's three Christopher Columbus monuments.

In Durham, New Hampshire, the post office has a mural of an Indian in a menacing pose and there are some who want it removed.

In Memphis, an iconic theater has ended its annual showing of "Gone With the Wind."

He describes this as "the increasingly divisive debate."

And for those of you who still believe these people will stop when all the Confederate monuments are gone from, public spaces, think again.

No Kidding.  They're Just Starting.  --Old Secesh

Columbia (S.C.) Looks Back at Horrific End to Civil War-- Part 2

Columbia is in the midst of a look back at those days and is engaging both residents and visitors about the Civil War, slavery, reconstruction and where the city is now.

Special events include lectures and performances, including exhibits of war artifacts at the South Carolina State Museum and the Confederate State Relic Room & Military Museum.

The movies "Selma," "Gone With the Wind" and "Gone With the Wind REDUX" will be shown.

Both Columbia, the capital of the state and Charleston, where the Civil War began, fell on the same day.  I have been writing about Charleston in my Running the Blockade: Civil War Naval Blog.

A photo of the 1818 Hampton-Preston Mansion accompanies the article.  It escaped burning.

--Old Secesh

"Went With the Wind"

From Wikipedia.

Here is some more information on Carol Burnett's "Went With the Wind" skit.

It was shown on the 8th episode of the 10th season on November 13, 1976.  Carol Burnett played Starlet O'Hara, Harvey Korman was Capt. Ratt Butler, Dinah Shore was Melody Hamilton (I was trying to figure out who she was), Vicki Lawrence was Sissy and Tim Conway was Brashley Wilkes. The action took place at Terra Plantation.

There are segments all over You Tube as well.

Lots of cultural references:
Bobbie Gentry's "Ode to Billy Joe"
Tony Orlando & Dawn's "Tie a Yellow Ribbon Around the Old Oak Tree"
"Dixie" with Harvey's hilarious version of it
"Camptown Races"
Chicken of the Sea and tuna casserole

The curtain dress scene was named #2 on TV Guide's Jan-23-29, 1999 list of Funniest Moments on TV.  The entire outfit, including curtain rod, is on display at the Smithsonian.  Mattel has released a doll of Burnett dressed like that in its Barbie Celebrity Doll in 2004.

--Old Secesh

Carol Burnett's "Went With the Wind" on TV Monday Night

A couple nights ago, Liz called downstairs to have me tune to one of those old TV stations.  I did and found that famous skit Carol Burnett and cast did called "Went With the Wind."  Of course, a takeoff on the famous movie "Gone With the Wind."

This has to be one of the funniest skits she ever did (out of many, many, many).  It was amazing how she followed the general script of the original but did it in such a funny way.  Tim Conway played Brashly and Harvey Korman Captain Ratt Butler.

Conway cracked up Korman when he did his walk down the stairs and I don't know how Korman kept a straight face when Burnett walked down the stairs in that curtain dress.

This is definitely one of the best of the best comedy bits ever done.  I'm glad Liz alerted me to it.

You can see it on You Tube.

Still Laughing About It.  --Old Laughing 'Cesh.

Georgia's "Gone With the Wind" Trail-- Part 4

JONESBORO

Thirty minutes south of Atlanta.  Home to Margaret Mitchell's maternal parents, the Fitzgeralds, who owned a plantation outside of town.  In 1969, Clayton County and Jonesboro designated it as "The Official Home of "Gone With the Wind."

Sherman did not destroy the plantation, but the main house caught fire after the war, leaving only the fireplaces standing.  It was moved to the Margaret Mitchell Memorial Park on the 1839 Stately Oaks Plantation, considered to be the inspiration for her Tara.

In downtown Jonesboro, there is the Road to Tara Museum located in the 1867 train depot.  It has a large collection of "Gone With the Wind" artifacts, even a "Sherman Necktie," a piece of railroad track twisted into a loop that Sherman's men were so good at making.

More info at the Gone With the Wind Trail at www.gwtwtrail.com.

--Old Secesh

Georgia's "Gone With the Wind" Trail-- Part 3: More Atlanta Area Sites

LIVINGSTON'S RESTAURANT IN THE GEORGIAN TERRACE HOTEL--  Where the post premier party was held.  Also where Margaret Mitchell gave her manuscript to her editor.

SOCIAL CIRCLE, GEORGIA--  45 minutes east of downtown Atlanta and a favorite destination of the young Margaret Mitchell who visited the estate during her courtship to her first husband, Redd Upshaw, her inspiration for Rhett Butler.  In 1991, it became the Blue Willow Inn.

--Old Secesh

Georgia's "Gone With the Wind" Trail-- Part 2

ATLANTA

Just 20 miles away from Marietta is Atlanta, the city that was burned in November 1864 and less than 75 years later, Margaret Mitchell wrote her Pulitzer Prize-winning book in a small downtown apartment she shared with her husband John Marsh.  Mitchell called the two-bedroom basement apartment "The Dungeon."  It is still there and now called the Margaret Mitchell House.  Tours are offered and it has two exhibition galleries pertaining to the book and movie.

HISTORY CENTER

On 33 acres and consists of a historical village and museum on Gone With the Wind and the Wilbur G. Kurtz "History of Gone With the Wind" until April. 2015.

ATLANTA CYCLORAMA

A huge circular canvas of the Battle of Atlanta.

More to See in Atlanta.  --Old Secesh

Who Are the Windies?

By the way, in case you're wondering,  big-time "Gone With the Wind" movie fanatics are called "Windies."

I am somewhat of a "Windie" as it never fails to bring tears to my eyes when I see that scene with all the dead and wounded Confederates in the street as the camera fans back past that Confederate flag.  Gets me every time.

A good question, however, what is the singular of Windies?  Would that make me a "Windy?"  Didn't the Association have a song about that back in the '60s?

--Old Secesh

Georgia's "Gone With the Wind" Trail-- Part 1

From the August 31, 2014, St. Louis Post-Dispatch "Marching down Georgia's 'Gone With the Wind' Trail" by Suzanne Corbett.

Last year, 2014, marked the 75th anniversary of what is still considered one of the greatest movies ever made, "Gone With the Wind."  That movie now serves as Georgia's newest tourism trail.

Here are some highlights of it:

MARIETTA--  Kennesaw House Hotel.  Converted into a hospital and, on July 3, 1864, became Union General Sherman's headquarters.  Today it serves as the Marietta Museum of History.

One block away is the Marietta "Gone With the Wind" Museum:Scarlet on the Square which opened in 2003 with all sorts of items related to the movie including her Bengaline honeymoon dress.

--Old Secesh

"Gone With the Wind" Premier Actually December 15, 1939

I looked this up in Wikipedia and found that the movie actually premiered about three weeks later at the Loewe's Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia.

Ticket prices were about $1 at the time, which was double what most movies cost back then.

--Old Secesh