The Holly Springs Raid Delayed Grant's General Order No. 11 That Expelled Jews from His Department

From Wikipedia.

Van Dorn's raid nearly coincided with U.S. Grant's General Orders No. 11 issued on December 17, 1862.  Thus expelled the Jews as a class from his military district within 24 houirs.  (Van Dorn's raid occurred on December 20.)

Grant believed that Jewish traders violated U.S. Treasury Department cotton trade regulations  which was the reason for the General Order.

Van Dorn's raid disrupted Union communications for weeks.  Additionally, Nathan Bedford Forrest's West Tennessee Raids, starting December 10, destroyed communications along 50 miles of the Mobile & Ohio Railroad behind Grant's front line.

The raid delayed implementation of Grant's orders, saving many Jews from possible expulsion.  It took 11 days for the orders to reach Paducah, Kentucky.  After which, many Jewish leaders appealed to President Lincoln.

At Lincoln's insistence, General-in-Chief of Union armies Henry Halleck ordered Grant to revoke General Order 11.  When Grant ran for president in 1868, this order  proved such an embarrassment that he disavowed it.

--Old Secesh

Pvt. Joseph M. Beavers, 56th Illinois, Victim of SS General Lyon Disaster-- Part 2

Enlisted as a private in Co. C., 56th Illinois.

The 56th Illinois was an all Egyptian unit (Little Egypt comprised of the very Southern Illinois counties).  Almost all of its members were from the counties of Massac, Pope, Gallatin, Saline, White, Hamilton, Franklin and Wayne, with a few from Hardin County.

They were sent to Camp Mather in Shawneetown and then had their first military duty guarding Paducah, Kentucky.  Even though they weren't directly involved in the fighting, they were at the Siege of Corinth in April 1862 and "Saw the Elephant" at the Battle of Corinth October 3-4, 1862.

After that, their history was the history of the major fighting in the west and then with Sherman.

--Old Secesh

Gen. Tilgham's Home Saved

Good news out of Paducah, Kentucky. The SCV and Tilgham Heritage Foundation have each gone in half on the $150,000 mortgage on CSA General Lloyd Tilgham's home at 631 Kentucky Avenue to save it and let it continue as a Civil War Museum specializing in events that took place.

It was built in 1852 for Tilgham who lived there until 1861. He led Confederate forces at Fort Henry and later at Vicksburg where he died at the Battle of Champion Hill. It was a private residence until 1906 and then served as a variety of commercial activities. It was slated for destruction in 1986, but saved. On August 13, 1998, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

The museum is open March to November.

Save That Old House. Now Save the Maisenbacher House. --Old B-Runner