Edward Anderson, CSA-- Part 1:Refused to Take Oath of Allegiance at Beginning of the War

From the Arlington National Cemetery Site.

Born January 1849 in Florida (I kind of doubt this date as that would have made him a West Point cadet in 1861 at the age of 12.  Kind of too young, I believe).  He was the son of Captain James W. Anderson who served in the Seminole and  Mexican War and was killed in action at the Battle of Cherubusco (August 20, 1847, again, would have Edward born too long after his father's death).

His paternal grandfather, Col. William Anderson served under Decatur and his maternal grandfather, Elihu Brown, commanded a privateer in the War of 1812.

He was appointed to West Point by General Winfield Scott in recognition of his father's service.  Although ranked #2 in his class at the time, he became the first cadet to refuse to take the oath of allegiance to the United States and left the USMA.

--Old Secesh

The Sad Story of General John Decatur Barry of North Carolina-- Part 1

I came across the name of John Decatur Barry, a native of North Carolina, was born June 21, 1839, in Wilmington, NC. He had just graduated from the University of North Carolina when the war broke out and he enlisted in the 8th NC Infantry as a private in Co. I, April 15, 1861, 3 days after Sumter was fired upon.

On November 14, 1861, the regiment was redesignated as the 18th NC. When it was reorganized in April 1862, Barry was elected captain. The regiment participated in the Seven Days Battles, 2nd Manassas, and Sharpsburg. Barry was promoted to Major in November.

At the Battle of Chancellorsville, it was the 18th NC that fired upon General Thomas Jackson. The regiment's commander, Col. Thomas J. Purdie was killed and the Lt. Col., Forney George was wounded and Barry took command.

More to Come. --Old B-Runner

Bald Head Island's Fort Holmes-- Part 2

The fifth battery was the largest and called Battery Holmes which also had a bombproof magazine and was at the southernmost point of the island.

Construction began in September 1863 and continued into 1864. It guarded the east side of Old Inlet (Fort Caswell was on the west). The flagstaff was located on the Bald Head Promontory.

It was mostly destroyed when the Confederates evacuated after the fall of Fort Fisher.


GENERAL THEOPHILUS H. HOLMES

It was named for Confederate General T. H. Holmes who graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1829 and was a career soldier. Before the war, he commanded Fort Columbus on Governor's Island in New York Harbor.

He resigned his commission after secession and became a colonel in the Confederate Army and commanded coastal defenses in the Department of North Carolina, later becoming a brigadier and major general.

I was unable to find any mention as to how much of Fort Holmes is still standing.

The Fort on the Island. --Old B-Runner

William Cantrell, CSA

William Cantrell's widow just died at age 93. This made the news all over the place.

A short history of his service follows.

He served in Co. A, French's Battalion of the Virginia infantry ( didn't say what regiment). He enlisted at age 16 in Pikeville, Ky, and was captured the same year and sent to prison in Ohio where he was later exchanged. After the war, he moved to Arkansas.

In a 2004 interview, Maudie White Hopkins said he recalled how lice infested his sock supports and "ate a trail around his legs."

And, then, at age 86, he married a 19 year-old girl.

Mystery of Who is in Grave No. 4824 Solved: It Is Sgt. Ivy Ritchie of the 14th N.C.

Let's just say the South finally won one. 

The Feb. 14th Petersburg Progress-Index reported on the outcome of a mock-trial held at the historic Dinwiddie Court House. 

For the last several years there has been controversy as to whether the occupant of Grave # 4824 was Union Sgt. J. Richie of Co. H, 14th NY, US, or Sgt. Ivy Ritchie of Co. H, 14th NC, CS.

The Ivy Ritchie Sons of Confederate Veterans Camp in North Carolina, claimed that he was incorrectly buried among the 4,110 boys in blue at the Poplar Grove National Cemetery because of a clerical error. They wanted his body moved out of there but that was refused. Instead, a marker will be placed at the grave indication who he actually was.

The SCV camp, the largest in NC, produced records showing Ivy Ritchie actually existed and that he fought at Appomattox Courthouse where the body was found, and that he was the last soldier in the Army of Northern Virginia to lose his life. 

His brother Marvel Ritchie identified his older brother's body. However, in Marvel's writing, the "I"s and "J"s look alike. Also, there wasn't even a Co. H in the 14th NY. Both sides pleaded their cases before a panel of three judges who ruled with the SCV. 

But Now, He Still Has to Be With the Yankees. You'd Figure 143 years Was Enough. --The Old Blockade-Runner