Oliver Willcox Norton and "Taps"-- Part 1: He Played It First

I wrote about him in yesterday's post.

From Find-A Grave.

OLIVER WILLCOX NORTON

Birth:  17 December 1839   Angelica, New York

Death:  1 October 1920 aged 80    Cremated and ashes spread by his family.

He was teaching in West Springfield, Pennsylvania, when the war began and resigned and joined Co. K of the 83rd Pennsylvania as a private on September 1, 1861.  He was wounded at Gaines Mill, Virginia, on June 27, 1862.

Mr. Norton  likely had no idea the impact he had on the military, both its nightly routine and in honoring those who gave their lives.

That moment came when, as a the company bugler, he played a variation of a Scottish tattoo that would become known as "Taps."

--Old SecTaps

Elmer Ellsworth-- Part 11: People Associated With Him

George Fergus--  Wrote 40 volumes on the early history of Chicago.

From Scots Great and Small, People and Places Blog.

George Fergus' father was Robert Fergus, born in Glasgow, Scotland, who arrived in Chicago July 1, 1839, and was a pioneer printer and publisher.

His oldest son was George Harris Fergus who became a partner with his father.

When Lincoln called for troops in 1861, he was appointed first lieutenant in Company K of the 11th New York Infantry, under the command of his old friend Col. Elmer Ellsworth.  The 11th was detailed to protect Abraham Lincoln and George was present at the death of Ellsworth May 24, 1861.

--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