Galena's Gen. John E. Smith-- Part 6: Postwar Service in U.S. Army

John Smith commanded at Fort Phil Kearny and was in command there during the Red Cloud War in the late 1860s.  He was an advocate for Indian rights and treatment.

Later, he was with the 14th U.S. Regiment at Fort Laramie.

After that, he administered several Indian reservations.

His retirement from the Army came in 1881 and he lived in Chicago for the remainder of his life.  He is buried in Galena, Illinois, at Greenwood Cemetery.

He also served as executor of John Rawlins' estate.

He remained friends with Grant and was one of Grant's earliest and truest friends.

His bust is at Vicksburg.

--Old Secesh

Earl Van Dorn-- Part 1

From the American Battlefield Trust.

Van Dorn led the Confederates on the successful raid on Holly Springs.

He graduated number 52 out of 56 from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point on 1842.  He served several posts in the southern United States before fighting in the Mexican War where he saw combat at  the battles of Monterrey and  Vera Cruz and received brevet  promotions to major for his participation in  in the battles of Cerro Gordo,  Mexico City, Contreras and  Churubusco.

After the war, he saw action against the Seminoles  from 1849-1850 and the Comanches from 1858 to 1859.

He was made a brigadier general in the regular Confederate Army on June 5, 1861, and major general  September 19, 1861.

His first major action of the war came when his force was defeated at the Battle of Pea Ridge.  After the defeat, he was transferred to the Army of the Mississippi and commanded troops at the Battle of Corinth where he did well in the initial phase, but misjudged the Union position and was forced to retreat.

--Old Secesh

Roadtripping with Samuel A. Gilbert-- Part 3: Politicians and Brigadier Generals

**  ELEAZER ARTHUR PAINE 1815-1882):    Graduated from West Point in 1839.  Colonel of 9th Illinois Infantry.  Commanded 4th Division of Army of Mississippi at battles of Corinth,  Island No. 10 and Fort Pillow.  Placed in command of District of West Kentucky and deployed his corps to protect railroads from Confederate  raiders from 1862 to 1864.

Formally reprimanded for  brutality toward citizens  and violating their civil rights, he resigned in  November 1864.  After the war was a lawyer.

**  SAMUEL D. PHILLIPS  (1845-1915):  Indian Campaigns Medal of Honor recipient as member of 2nd U.S. Cavalry.  Received it for action at Muddy Creek, Montana.

**  Quite a few Union brigadier generals and Minnesota politicians.

**  JOHN BENJAMIN SANBORN (1826-1904):  Brigadier General.  Led troops at Battles of Iuka Corinth and Vicksburg.  After war sent to western frontier to subdue hostile Indians and attempted mediation  of difficulties between Indians of Indian Territory and their former slaves who had been freed by the 13th Amendment.

--Old Secesh

Ten Civil War Generals Who Were Famous for Something Else-- Part 2

6.  James A. Garfield  (Union)--  20th President of United States.  Defeated fellow Union General  Winfield Scott Hancock in 1880 election.  Shot while in office.  Died at hands of his physicians.

5.  John C. Breckenridge  (Confederate)--  Vice President of U.S. before the war.

4.  George B. McClellan (Union)--  Lost to Abraham Lincoln for president in 1864.  Governor of New Jersey after the war.

3.  Stand Watie  (Confederate)--  Last Confederate general to surrender.  Was a Cherokee Indian.

2.  George Crook  (Union)--  Made quite a name for himself after the war fighting Indians out West.  Involved with Custer's Last Stand and fighting Geronimo.

1.  Leonidas Polk  (Confederate)--  Episcopal priest and bishop.  Killed in the Atlanta Campaign.

--Old Secesh

Capt. Harley Wayne a Descendant of Gen. 'Mad' Anthony Wayne of American Revolution

From the May 30, 1987, Northwest Herald "Descendant of 'Mad' A.W.."

Captain Harley Wayne was the descendant of an illustrious military forbear.

"Mad" Anthony Wayne, chief of staff for Gen. George Washington, was Captain Wayne's grandfather.

"Mad" Anthony Wayne fought Indians after helping defeat the British during the American Revolution.

Fort Wayne, Indiana, is named after him.

Connie Parenti gave this information.  After looking into Harley Wayne's life, she also became interested in the Wayne genealogy.

--Old Secesh

Civil War Generals-- Part 5: Better Know Your French at the Point

The first ten major generals appointed in the Union had six politicians among them.  Also John A. Dix, George McClellan and David Hunter.

Those not on the list included three who would rise to stature in the war:  Grant, Sherman and Sheridan.

As far as experience for general officers in commanding large groups, there wasn't much.  Before the war (and after the Mexican War) the U.S. Army was involved primarily in fighting Indians and commands were small groups and companies.  Much of the time was spent building forts.

Graduating classes from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point were placed according to what part of the class they graduated in.  The top third became army engineers, Middle third went to the infantry and bottom third to the cavalry.  A lot of your class standing at the Point came from your knowledge and speaking ability of French, which was THE language at the place.  If you couldn't speak it, your chances of rising was not likely.

Duty on the frontier was boring and many officers out there took up drinking to pass the time.

Robert Toombs, Georgia politician and Confederate officer once said:  "The Confederacy died of West Point."

--Old Secesh

Gen. Junius Daniel-- Part 3: Service on the Frontier, Louisiana and Back to North Carolina

Continued from October 11, 2020.

In 1852, he was assigned to Fort Albuquerque in New Mexico Territory and remained stationed on the frontier for five years.  Temporarily under the command of Richard S. Ewell of the 3rd Dragoons, Lieutenant Daniel saw action  in a series of skirmishes with Apache Indians in 1855.

In 1858, Daniel resigned his commission and became a planter in Louisiana, joining his father who had moved there in 1851 after his last term in Congress.  In October 1860, he married Ellen Long.

CIVIL WAR SERVICE

The state of Louisiana offered Daniel a commission after Lincoln's call for volunteers, but he returned to Halifax, North Carolina, where he offered his services to his native state.  he was chosen colonel of the  4th (later 14th N.C. Infantry).  When the period of enlistment ended, he was offered command of several regiments before accepting that of the 45th Infantry Regiment.

Junius Daniel led four regiments from Raleigh to Goldsboro where he organized them into a brigade.  Afterwards, he organized two other brigades.  In June 1862, his brigade was ordered to Petersburg, Virginia, where his brigade joined the Army of Northern Virginia just before the Seven Days Battles, though it took no part in them.

--Old Secesh

 

What They Said About Sheridan's Statue

The 10 Facts article had four comments, so I figured to take a look at them, thinking at least one would want the statue taken down because of what he did to the Indians.

#1.  Sheridan's desk that he used during the 1864 Shenandoah Campaign can be found at North bend, Virginia, which was his headquarters.  Today, it is a B&B

#2.  Take it down.  Participated in the genocide  of Southerners and Native Americans sits on public land."

#3.  Great commander. Too bad people of Albany don't know about their connection with him.

#4.  "The monument should be taken down because it is a symbol of racism, hate, genocide, and crimes against humanity against Native Americans.  It is an embarrassment to the state of New York."

Sounds Familiar.  --Old Secesh

10 Facts About Phil Sheridan-- Part 4: "The Only Good Indians I Ever Saw Were Dead"

**  6.   HE WASN'T A FAN OF TEXAS

After the war, Sheridan went to Texas and Louisiana to oversee Reconstruction there.    He's credited with being an opponent to corruption and  stirred things up when he dismissed the governor of Texas.  He ended up being removed by President Johnson who reportedly told U.S. Grant that Sheridan's term there had "been one of  absolute tyranny."

Sheridan, for his part, wasn't too impressed with Texas.  Reportedly he once said:  "If I owned Texas and Hell, I would rent Texas and live in Hell."

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

**  7.  HE OVERSAW BRUTAL CAMPAIGNS AGAINST NATIVE AMERICANS --  AND BISON

His postwar career also had him overseeing military campaign against the Indians of the West.  And, he employed the same "scorched earth" tactics he had used against the Confederates.  In addition, he gave little consideration to non-combatants who got in his way, meaning Indian women, children and the elderly received harsh treatment.

It was during this time, that Sheridan supposedly uttered the words:  "The only good Indians I ever saw were dead."

Another casualty of his Indian Wars were the bison.  Since they were such an important part of the Plains Indians life, he urged the widespread, over-hunting of the animals.  He brought in hunters to take out the herds, telling them:  "For a lasting peace,let them kill, skin and sell until the buffaloes are exterminated."

One Has to Wonder Why There Has Not Been a Movement to Take Down His Statues.  --Old Secesh

Robert Byington Mitchel-- Part 1: Born in Ohio, Fought in Mexican War, Wounded at Wilson's Creek

From Wikipedia.

Two posts ago, I mentioned that this general organized a group to pursue the Indians after the Battle of Julesburg.  I'd never heard of him, so Wiki me.

April 4, 1823- January 26, 1882.  Brigadier general in Union Army.  Born in Mansfield, Ohio.  Practiced law in Mansfield  Was a second lieutenant in the Mexican War with the 2nd Ohio Volunteers.

Moved to Kansas Territory where he was a legislator and treasurer.  Delegate to the Democratic National Convention in Charleston, S.C., in 1860.

After the Civil War started, he was adjutant general of Kansas from May 2, 1861 to June 20, 1861.   Later commanded the 2nd Kansas Infantry.  He was badly wounded at the Battle of Wilson's Creek on August 10, 186, when he was shot from his horse while leading his regiment.

--Old Secesh

Battle of Julesburg-- Part 3: Aftermath

After the battle, Union Brigadier General Robert Byington Mitchell gathered about 650 soldiers and set off after the Indians.  On January 19, he found their camp at Cherry Creek but they had already left it.  With bitterly cold weather and 50 of his soldiers incapacitated by frostbite, he called after the chase

The Indians, meanwhile, moved north to the Black Hills.  En route, they raided and looted ranches and even attacked Julesburg again.

--Old secesh

Battle of Julesburg (Colorado)-- Part 2: An Indian Ambush and Victory

Strength:  60 U.S. soldiers and 50 civilians versus about 1,000 Indians.

This battle is kind of strange in the fact that most of the information about it comes from the Indian side.  The Indian plan was to use a decoy group of braves to lure the fort's garrison out and into an ambush.  It worked, but some young Indian warriors fired at the soldiers prematurely, alerting them to the fact that they were riding onto an ambush and they turned and rode rapidly back to the fort.

Some of the soldiers were killed before reaching safety, but the rest got back and drove off the Indians.  Losses were some 14 soldiers and 3 civilians.  It is doubtful that any Indians were lost.  All the civilians of Julesburg were in the fort and then the Indians started looting the settlement.

--Old Secesh

Nebraska Troops in the War-- Part 1: Infantry, Cavalry and Scouts

From Wikipedia.

Some of these only saw action on the frontier battling the Indians.  Nebraska raised just one infantry  regiment, the 1st Nebraska which later became cavalry. Also raised were a regiment and battalion of cavalry, several militia companies and two scout companies.

1st Nebraska Infantry
1st Nebraska Militia

1st Nebraska Cavalry (created from 1st Nebraska Infantry in 1863)
1st Battalion Nebraska Veteran Volunteer Cavalry
2nd Nebraska Cavalry

Independent Company "A" Pawnee Scouts, Nebraska Cavalry
Independent Company Omaha Scouts, Nebraska Cavalry

Stuff'ts Independent Company of Indian Scouts

That's All of Them.  --Old Secesh

Nebraska in the Civil War-- Part 3: Service of the 1st Nebraska

Called to the fighting,the 1st Nebraska was with Gen. U.S. Grant in the attack and capture of Fort Donelson and earned honor.  Then they were at the Battle of Shiloh in April 1862.  Later, they participated in minor engagements in Missouri and Arkansas.

In October 1863, the regiment was changed from infantry to cavalry and transferred to the frontier to keep the Plains Indians in check.  It was mustered out of service in 1866.

A total of 1,370 men served in the regiment during the war.

Commanders were:

Colonel John Milton Thayer
Lt. Col.  William McCord (commanded at Shiloh)
Lt. Col. Robert Livingston (commanded at Siege of Corinth)

--Old Secesh

Nebraska in the Civil War-- Part 2: 1st Nebraska Raised for Territory Defense

No battles or skirmishes were fought in Nebraska Territory during the war nor was it invaded by Confederate soldiers.  But Nebraskans did serve as soldiers in the Union armies.

When the war started, U.S. regular soldiers were withdrawn from Fort Kearny and Fort Randall to fight the Confederates.  This left Nebraska territory open to Indian attack.  The federal government asked that the territory form a volunteer regiment, with some companies to stay behind as defense against the Indians.

The territorial legislature  met in a special session in Omaha and  and agreed to raise the force.

Thus, the 1st Nebraska Volunteer Infantry was formed in June and July 1861, with future governor of Nebraska and Wyoming Territory, John Milton Thayer, as its first colonel.

However, the government reneged on its promise to have part of the regiment used for territory defense, and all of them were sent east to fight in August 1861.

--Old Secesh

Jonathan Letterman-- Part 2: Organized the Medical Service

He was born in Pennsylvania. and graduated from medical college in 1849 and became am assistant surgeon in the Army.  Served in campaigns against the Seminoles in Florida, then in Minnesota and New Mexico and later California.  In these places he was involved in Indian conflict.

With the start of the Civil War, Letterman was assigned to the Army of the Potomac and  a month later, became a major and placed in overall charge as medical director for that Army.  In this position he immediately set about reorganizing the Medical Service.  Things were still a mess when it came to casualties in the Seven Days Battles in June 1862, but by the time of the Battle of Antietam, things were much better.

There were forward treatment stations at the regimental level where principals of triage were first instituted.  Mobile field hospitals were established at the divisional and corps levels.  They were all connected by an efficient ambulance corps.

--Old Secesh

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

Civil War in North Dakota? You Betcha

From the June 17, 1814, Bismarck (ND) Tribune "Civil War in North Dakota to be Commorated at June 28 event."

A free day-long conference "Place, Property and Power: Pre and Post North Dakota Civil War Story" was held June 28th at the North Dakota Heritage Center & State Museum in Bismarck.

There was no fighting against Confederates in North Dakota, obviously, but fighting did take place against Native Americans at five sites: Big Mound, Dead Buffalo Lake, Kildeer Mountain, Story Lake and Whitestone Hill.

Whites battled the Dakota and Sioux to drive them from the Dakota Territory

Focus of the conference will be the Northern Plains before 1850, the aftermath of the battles and how they affect the state today.  The event will set the context for the 150th anniversary commemoration of the Kildeer Mountain Battlefield, Battle of the Badlands and Fort Dills.

It is sponsored by the State Historical Society of North Dakota, the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate and Fort Peck tribe.

--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