Battle of Tuliffiny-- Part 2: The Battalion of State Cadets From the Citadel and Arsenal Took Part

From the Battle of Tuliffiny blog.

This battle is of particular interest because it involved the use of  entire Battalion of State Cadets from the Citadel and Arsenal Academies as an independent military unit.  They were commanded by Major General Samuel Jones, Commanding General of the South Carolina and Georgia Departments.

In December 1864, the governor of South Carolina ordered them to deploy at Tuliffiny Creek, south of Charleston, to reinforce Confederate troops guarding a key railroad bridge against larger advancing Union forces.

On December 7, 1864, the Battalion, along with Georgia, North and South Carolina militia engaged the Union forces and forced the enemy back.  On December 9, the Battalion successfully repulsed a Union counter attack.

The Battalion suffered eight casualties, including one dead.  They were commended for their action at the battle by General Jones.

A depiction of the Dec. 9 engagement at the Tuliffiny Creek railroad bridge  is on display at the Daniel Library at the Citadel.

--Old Secesh

Capt. Bachman Receives Accoutrements in Good Order-- Part 1

From the August 17, 2015, Cowan's Auctions site.

The note of receipt from Captain William K. Bachman for accoutrements received in 1861 from Charleston Arsenal's Captain Frederick L. Childs.

Avery short note on a scrap of paper that the auction house expected to go for between $500 and $800 but went unsold.

William K. Bachman (1830-1901), Captain and commander of the German Light Artillery dated Charleston, S.C., August 31, 1861.

"Received in good order from Captain Lee A.Q.M. at Hamstead
Captain W.K. Bachman / German Volunteer
One box  Accoutrements
Wm. K. Bachman"

--Old Secesh

Frederick L. Childs-- Part 6: A Letter from the Captain

From the Bid Square site.

It was in Lot 82 of the auction with an estimate of $500-$700.  Highest bid was $250 and it was unsold.

The letter was written by Captain Childs on September 3, 1861, while in command of the Charleston Armory and went to Captain W.K. Bachman of the Charleston Artillery Battery and the German Light Artillery.

"Charleston Arsenal SC
September 3, 1861

Captain,

I have the honor  to hand you herewith invoice of one box of containing one hundred sets of Infantry Accoutrements, turned over to Captain Hudson Lee A.Q.M.  On  the 30th alto for transmittal to your address.  Upon the delivery of the articles be good enough to send me duplicate receipts.

I am sir
Your Obdt. Servt.
F.L. Childs  Capt. Con Arty.

Capt. W.K. Bachman German Volunteers"

The Fayetteville Arsenal-- Part 6: Not Much Remains

From Wikipedia.

Besides the leveling of the Fayetteville Arsenal near the end of the Civil War, even more of the site was destroyed by the construction of a road that went in in 1988.

One  partial frame outbuilding remains and a historical marker..  Remnants of the U.S. Arsenal can be seen at the Museum of the Cape Fear Complex.

The foundations of buildings located along the back wall of the arsenal as well as two towers can be seen in a park located behind the museum.

The Fayetteville Arsenal was listed on the NRHP in 1983.

The site  is going to be turned into the North Carolina Civil War and Reconstruction Museum.

--Old Secesh

The Fayetteville Arsenal-- Part 5: Rifle Production

From th Civil War North Carolina site by Wade Sokolosky.

FAYETTEVILLE ARSENAL

Aftr seizure of the Fayetteville Arsenal in 1861, North Carolina used it for the manufacture of infantry ammunition and accoutrements.  When the captured machinery from the Harpers Ferry Arsenal was moved to Fayetteville, it began the manufacture of rifles.

Throughout the war, the capacity of the Fayetteville Arsenal increased and by 1865 it consisted of several foundries, machine shops and other facilities for the Confederate war effort.

By January 1865, the arsenal was at full capacity, but war time shortages of raw materials and  isolation from the state's main rail lines limited its production.

When Sherman's army arrived in March 1865, Union troops totally destroyed it and today, only portions of the foundations of its walls remain.

--Old Secesh

The Fayetteville Arsenal-- Part 1: Built in 1838

From Wikipedia.

The Fayetteville Arsenal, in North Carolina, was built in 1838 because during the War of 1812, the U.S. government realized that the existing system of distributing of weapons and ammunition was not adequate for the defense of the entire country.

A program was developed so that no part of the country would be too far away from weapons and supplies of war in case there was a threat.

Bladen County U.S. Representative James McKay introduced House Bill #374 to have an arsenal built at Fayetteville, North Carolina.

The cornerstone was laid on April 9, 1838,  It was constructed of brick and stone and at each corner of its massive walls was an octagonal tower.  Entry to the arsenal was through massive iron gates.  Workshops, quarters and other buildings in the arsenal were constructed of brick and wood.

The Wikipedia article has a nice drawing of the Fayetteville Arsenal at the time Sherman arrived in 1865,

--Old Secesh

World War II's Battery Farley Named for Union General Joseph Pearson Farley

As I said, I was writing about the 1900s Fort MacArthur protecting Los Angeles Harbor in California in my World War II blog's previous post.  One of its Coastal Defense batteries mounted two 14-inch guns called Battery Osgood-Farley.  I have already written about Henry Brown Osgood, who eventually rose to the rank of brigadier general in the post Civil War Army.

Battery Farley was named for Brigadier General Joseph Pearson Farley (1839-1912).  He was USMA Class of 1861 and served as ordnance officer at the Watertown Arsenal from 1861-1863 and proved more than 600 guns.

He distinguished himself afterwards in operations at Charleston, S.C., Morris Island and the bombardment of Fort Wagner.

After the war, he served in the ordnance department at various arsenals, including Rock island, Springfield, Kennebec and Frankford.

He is buried at West Point.

--Old Secesh

More On the Washington Arsenal Explosion-- Part 4: A Heroes' Burial

The girls and young ladies were given a heroes' burial.  The next day the men of the arsenal adopted a resolution for their burial to be at the Congressional Cemetery.  They marched from the arsenal to the cemetery where Catholic and Protestant clergy conducted the service.  They also had a "new and noble monument" erected.

Secretary or War Edwin M. Stanton ordered the government to pay for all funeral expenses.  Stanton and  President Lincoln served as "chief mourners" for the thousands who marched to the cemetery where  they joined other thousands.

The next year, a 25-foot monument with a female figuring symbolizing grief and inscribed with the names of the 21 known victims was erected in the western border of the cemetery.  seventeen are buried there and two others are buried at Mount Olive, Washington, D.C.'s Catholic cemetery.

A Sad Event.  --Old Secesh

New York Times Reports the Washington Arsenal Explosion-- Part 2

The initial reason for the explosion were red stars which were set out in black pans to dry.  Temperatures over 200 degrees would cause them to explode and the hot sun soon climbed over that mark.  It caused one to go off and that set off the others.

The occupants of the building were all female and in addition, in the yard were another 1200 men and 300 women at work.  Some of them were also burned and bruised from the explosion and ensuing fire.

After the fire was put out, 18 bodies were found "burned to a crisp.  It was impossible to recognize them.

--Old Secesh

The NY Times Reports the Washington Arsenal Explosion-- Part 1

From the June 18, 1864 New York Times "TERRIBLE EXPLOSION.; The Laboratory of the Washington Arsenal Destroyed Eighteen Persons Killed and Many Injured,  Further Particulars."

A Special Dispatch to the New-York Times--  Washington, Friday, June 17.

At 12, 17 working girls lost their lives and several others badly injured.  They were working in a one-story, four room building.  The girls in the east rooms managed to escaped by jumping out windows and running out the doors.  But, the ones in the western rooms were nearly all killed in the explosion.

Just before the blast, the girls had been read a letter thanking them for the $170 they'd raised to erect a memorial for victims of the arsenal explosion in Pittsburgh who had died in a similar event the year before.

--Old Secesh

Arsenal Explosion in Washington, D.C.

From the June 23, 2014, The Hill is Home D.C. "Lost Capitol Hill: Arsenal Memorial Rededication" by Robert Pohl.

This is an incident that is new to me.

On June 17, 1864, there was a huge explosion at the D.C. Arsenal which killed 21 young women putting together rifle cartridges.

Within a year a memorial to them over their tomb was erected in Congressional Cemetery, but a planned dedication never came about because of the death of Lincoln.

Last Saturday, June 22nd, that dedication finally took place and a more permanent stone added.

Despite blustery weather, the Ancient Order of Hibernius and Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War chipped in for a new stone listing the names of the victims.  A descendant of Kate Brosnaham was there.

--Old Secesh

Pittsburgh Goes to War-- Part 2

Only Philadelphia County supplied more Pennsylvania troops to the Union war effort than Pittsburgh.

The Battle of Gettysburg in 1863, brought quite a "war scare" to Pittsburgh.  The city could get no reliable information on the location of Lee's Confederate Army.  Construction on a series of forts began immediately.  Rumors spread rapidly by telegraph.

However, Pittsburgh did suffer some war-related casualties when, on September 17, 1862, the same day as the Battle of Antietam, an explosion at the Allegheny Arsenal (formerly located in Lawrenceville, killed 78 women and wounded 25.  Females replaced men who had gone off to war.

This was the largest-ever loss of women during wartime and some of them were as young as 14.

Today, it is the site of Arsenal Park in the Lawrenceville neighborhood.

Never Heard of This Explosion.  --Old Secesh