Andrew Duppstadt, in his blog, had two pictures of the Fort Fisher re-enactment January 12th. http://civilwarnavy.blogspot.com
Michael Scercy attended the Fort Fisher re-enactment and said the highlight of the day was the firing of the 32-pdr. from Sherherd's Battery. He had pictures of the gun's firing, but they weren't very clear.
http://.firsttimewriters.gather.com
There was another blog entry about the Fort Fisher Hermit on January 15th. A picture as well.
http://blog.260.yahoo.com/blog-LOSe8uM3d7EYPn4FejNmgaFO
On January 16, 1865, the day after Fisher's fall, 40 Union soldiers died in a bunker explosion.
Better Late Than Never. --B-Runner
The Battle of Fort Fisher, N.C.
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
143rd Anniversary of Fall of Fort Fisher/Plein Air Demo
This is very old information from January 16th, but...
Bernie Rossage, Jr, attended the anniversary celebration at the fort, which "included artillery and infantry demonstration, period music, fort tours,and a living history/plein air demo by yours truly. I have migrated from a soldier to a civilian in my hobby of Civil War reenacting...actually I have taken on the role of a period artist. My impression is based on a combination of two artists...Alfred Waud (probably the most noted period sketch artist) and Winslow Homer who painted scenes from the war." Probably one of the most noted was "Sharpshooter on picket duty.
Rossage said that after the rain, he set up his French easel and painted Shepherd's Battery with the palisade fence in front of it. Pictures were included with him and a reenactor in the battery and several of him painting it.
WHAT IS PLEIN AIR PAINTING?
In case you're wondering, and I was. "The inventor of the metal tube in the mid 1800s made it possible for painters to go outside and pain 'en plein aire' for the first time. A French term meaning 'in plain air."
I don't know if it is sold are not, but he was offering his painting "Shepherd's Battery" a 9 X 12 inch oil on gallery-stretched canvas on e-Bay for a starting bid of $29.95 at the time. He did a great job on it.
http://southernpleinairpainters.blogspot.com
also http://artisticrelease.blogspot.com, Bernie Rossage's own site.
Go to January 16, 2008 of the last blog to see pictures and the full blog entry. I'd like to see that picture of the reenactors and Rossage made into a painting. That would be impressive.
Mighty Impressive Piece of Art Done On Site. If I Had Anywhere to Put It Up, I'd Have Bid on It Myself. --Old B-Runner
Bernie Rossage, Jr, attended the anniversary celebration at the fort, which "included artillery and infantry demonstration, period music, fort tours,and a living history/plein air demo by yours truly. I have migrated from a soldier to a civilian in my hobby of Civil War reenacting...actually I have taken on the role of a period artist. My impression is based on a combination of two artists...Alfred Waud (probably the most noted period sketch artist) and Winslow Homer who painted scenes from the war." Probably one of the most noted was "Sharpshooter on picket duty.
Rossage said that after the rain, he set up his French easel and painted Shepherd's Battery with the palisade fence in front of it. Pictures were included with him and a reenactor in the battery and several of him painting it.
WHAT IS PLEIN AIR PAINTING?
In case you're wondering, and I was. "The inventor of the metal tube in the mid 1800s made it possible for painters to go outside and pain 'en plein aire' for the first time. A French term meaning 'in plain air."
I don't know if it is sold are not, but he was offering his painting "Shepherd's Battery" a 9 X 12 inch oil on gallery-stretched canvas on e-Bay for a starting bid of $29.95 at the time. He did a great job on it.
http://southernpleinairpainters.blogspot.com
also http://artisticrelease.blogspot.com, Bernie Rossage's own site.
Go to January 16, 2008 of the last blog to see pictures and the full blog entry. I'd like to see that picture of the reenactors and Rossage made into a painting. That would be impressive.
Mighty Impressive Piece of Art Done On Site. If I Had Anywhere to Put It Up, I'd Have Bid on It Myself. --Old B-Runner
Fort Fisher Medal of Honor
The May 2nd Enid News & Eagle from Enid, Oklahoma, had an about Robert M. Blair who served aboard the USS Pontoosuc during the capture of Fort Fisher and the Wilmington Campaign. He received a Medal of Honor for 'Carrying out his duties faithfully throughout the period 24 December, 1864 to 22 January 1865." And for "Gallantry and skill and for his cool courage while under fire."
He died April 2, 1899 in Enid and is buried there.
He died April 2, 1899 in Enid and is buried there.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Running the Blockade: More Old News-- Graves Marked-- $30 Million for Monitor-- Ironworks Demolished
Some Really Old News About an Old War. We're talking about May here.
1. GRAVES MARKED-- Ed and Carla Briggs marked the graves of Confederates, Hamilton Barrow and G.W. Slack, in their hometown of Gibson City, Illinois.
2. $30 Million FOR MONITOR-- The Mariners Museum raised the last of the $30 million needed for the USS Monitor Center.
3. IRONWORKS DEMOLISHED-- And speaking of the USS Monitor, the Rennsselar Ironworks building on Madison Street in Troy, New York was demolished after an arson fire. It had sat vacant since the 1990s.
Mayor Tutunjian wants the turbine saved and hopes for a memorial to the building. During the Civil War, the ironworks produced millions of horseshoes for the Union Army and iron plates for the USS Monitor.
In the 1860s, it became the first factory in the US to use the Bessemer Process that enabled steel to be produced faster and more cheaply. May 27th Albany Times-Union.
So, Now You Know. --Old B'Runner
1. GRAVES MARKED-- Ed and Carla Briggs marked the graves of Confederates, Hamilton Barrow and G.W. Slack, in their hometown of Gibson City, Illinois.
2. $30 Million FOR MONITOR-- The Mariners Museum raised the last of the $30 million needed for the USS Monitor Center.
3. IRONWORKS DEMOLISHED-- And speaking of the USS Monitor, the Rennsselar Ironworks building on Madison Street in Troy, New York was demolished after an arson fire. It had sat vacant since the 1990s.
Mayor Tutunjian wants the turbine saved and hopes for a memorial to the building. During the Civil War, the ironworks produced millions of horseshoes for the Union Army and iron plates for the USS Monitor.
In the 1860s, it became the first factory in the US to use the Bessemer Process that enabled steel to be produced faster and more cheaply. May 27th Albany Times-Union.
So, Now You Know. --Old B'Runner
Man Arrested for Stealing Jefferson Davis Documents
Old news, but of interest. The May 21 Lexington (Ky) Herald-Leader reported that a seventy-year-old man was arrested for stealing Jefferson Davis documents valued at $15,000 from the Transylvania University Library back in 1994.
Eugene Zollman is described as a big-time Jefferson Davis collector. The school hadn't inventories its items for over 40 years. He was caught when he recently tried to auction them off on line. A Texas collector recognized the documents and contacted Transylvania.
A 1994 sign-in sheet showed he visited the library on April 11, 1994, and again a month later.
Curses, Foiled by the Internet. --B-Runner
Eugene Zollman is described as a big-time Jefferson Davis collector. The school hadn't inventories its items for over 40 years. He was caught when he recently tried to auction them off on line. A Texas collector recognized the documents and contacted Transylvania.
A 1994 sign-in sheet showed he visited the library on April 11, 1994, and again a month later.
Curses, Foiled by the Internet. --B-Runner
Sailor and Marine Re-enactment in North Carolina
WNCT Radio in Greenville, NC, reports that there will be a Civil War sailors and Marines re-enactment at the CSS Neuse State Historic Site on the Neuse River in Kinston November 15-16th.
Members of the several North Carolina and Virginia re-enactment groups will be demonstrating aspects of naval life including navigational techniques, daily shipboard living, and other nautical skills.
A highlight of the two days will be a rare night time artillery firing demonstration. Visitors are asked to bring flashlights to get to the demonstration area.
Sure Would Have Liked to See This Since My Major Civil War Interest is Naval. --Old B-R'er
Members of the several North Carolina and Virginia re-enactment groups will be demonstrating aspects of naval life including navigational techniques, daily shipboard living, and other nautical skills.
A highlight of the two days will be a rare night time artillery firing demonstration. Visitors are asked to bring flashlights to get to the demonstration area.
Sure Would Have Liked to See This Since My Major Civil War Interest is Naval. --Old B-R'er
A Real Big Surprise-- Forrest High School Retains Name
Last night, in a 5-2 vote, Duval County School Board members voted to retain the Nathan Bedford Forrest name at the Jacksonville High School. I was sure it would be changed in today's anti-Confederate climate that seems to be so pervasive. Especially since Forrest was in on the early formation of the KKK. Even I might have drawn the line here.
The two votes to change it came from the two black school board members and the five whites voted to keep it. So, it was definitely a racial vote.
One black member said that Forrest was a "terrorist and a racist."
Forrest High School was originally all-white, but today is half black. It has failed the state's assessment test the last two years.
Sure Had Mixed Feelings on This One. --Old B-Runner
The two votes to change it came from the two black school board members and the five whites voted to keep it. So, it was definitely a racial vote.
One black member said that Forrest was a "terrorist and a racist."
Forrest High School was originally all-white, but today is half black. It has failed the state's assessment test the last two years.
Sure Had Mixed Feelings on This One. --Old B-Runner
Monday, November 3, 2008
Sabotage in the Florida Keys?
The August 27th BBC News reports that Anne Corscadden Knox is leading a dive in the Florida Keys to the wreck of the steamer Menemon Sanford which was carrying Union soldiers when it hit a reef near Key Largo. To this day, there is belief that it was sabotage by the ship's pilot.
The crew and the 156th New York escaped, but lost all of their gear and supplies.
The pilot, Captain A. W. Richardson was a southern sympathizer.
Ms. Knox was also involved with finding what is believed to be Blackbeard's flagship, the Queen Anne's Revenge.
I Doubt that They Will Find Any Proof of Sabotage. Hey, Where'd That reef Come From? --Old B-Runner
The crew and the 156th New York escaped, but lost all of their gear and supplies.
The pilot, Captain A. W. Richardson was a southern sympathizer.
Ms. Knox was also involved with finding what is believed to be Blackbeard's flagship, the Queen Anne's Revenge.
I Doubt that They Will Find Any Proof of Sabotage. Hey, Where'd That reef Come From? --Old B-Runner
CSS Virginia-- Is the Wreck Still There?
Carl Fisher is a member of the Yahoo Group Civil War Naval and Marine Forum and lives in Norfolk, Virginia. He keeps up with all things Elizabeth River.
Since 2003, the Maerk Shipping Company has built a large container terminal on Carney island and dredged most of the offshore area where the Virginia was blown up.
Before doing that, they had to have extensive magnetometer surveys and found no metallic objects of any significance in the area.
Fisher's opinion is that there is little of the Virginia left.
Another posting in the same group from Tom Apple said that the CSS Virginia's remains were raised in May 1876 and floated to dry dock where the machinery was removed and wood broken up. A Norfolk company made 200 canes and other souvenir pieces out of the remains. This according to the Norfolk, Virginia May 30th and May 31st, 1876 papers.
So Much for That Ship. --Old Blockade-Runner
Since 2003, the Maerk Shipping Company has built a large container terminal on Carney island and dredged most of the offshore area where the Virginia was blown up.
Before doing that, they had to have extensive magnetometer surveys and found no metallic objects of any significance in the area.
Fisher's opinion is that there is little of the Virginia left.
Another posting in the same group from Tom Apple said that the CSS Virginia's remains were raised in May 1876 and floated to dry dock where the machinery was removed and wood broken up. A Norfolk company made 200 canes and other souvenir pieces out of the remains. This according to the Norfolk, Virginia May 30th and May 31st, 1876 papers.
So Much for That Ship. --Old Blockade-Runner
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Proposed Snow's Cut-Fort Fisher Ferry Bike Path
There has been a lot of arguing over the route this proposed trail is to take near Wilmington, NC.
Those who want it along Dow Road are attacked for it being too far out of the way.
The Pleasure Island Greenway Committee has mapped out a north-south route almost exclusively on public land. But some homeowners believe it would be too close to their homes.
Great idea though, and one that might increase attendance at Fort Fisher State Historic Site.
Riding on Mt Two-Wheeler. --Old B-R
Those who want it along Dow Road are attacked for it being too far out of the way.
The Pleasure Island Greenway Committee has mapped out a north-south route almost exclusively on public land. But some homeowners believe it would be too close to their homes.
Great idea though, and one that might increase attendance at Fort Fisher State Historic Site.
Riding on Mt Two-Wheeler. --Old B-R
Saturday, November 1, 2008
Strange Things to Be Together
I recently wrote about the home in Martinsville, Indiana, which has been drawing a lot of attention because a Confederate flag is flying from the flagpole and an Obama sign is in the yard. Definitely not what you'd expect to see.
The October 311st Martinsville (Ind) Reporter-Times reports that the homes owner, Howard Livingston, was wondering why so many people were coming by and taking pictures.
He put the Confederate flag up (under the Stars and Stripes) and is wife is an Obama supporter. He is aware that some believe the Confederate flag to be racist, but Howard believes that those who do are probably racist themselves.
By the way, he doesn't vote himself.
Well Said, Mr. Livingston. --Old B-Runner
The October 311st Martinsville (Ind) Reporter-Times reports that the homes owner, Howard Livingston, was wondering why so many people were coming by and taking pictures.
He put the Confederate flag up (under the Stars and Stripes) and is wife is an Obama supporter. He is aware that some believe the Confederate flag to be racist, but Howard believes that those who do are probably racist themselves.
By the way, he doesn't vote himself.
Well Said, Mr. Livingston. --Old B-Runner
Coat "Witnessed" History at Appomattox
The October 2008 Civil War News reports that the coat of Confederate Major Frederic Robert Scott, who was at Robert E. Lee's April 9, 1865, surrender at Appomattox Court House, is being returned to the scene.
Site Director Richard Rambo of the Confederate Memorial Park in Marbury, Alabama, came across a tag sewed in the collar of it saying "Coat worn by Maj. Frederic R. Scott at the surrender of General Robert E. Lee at Appomattox April 12, 1865." and it piqued his interest.
Less than a half dozen Confederate officer sack coats remain. Scott Stadium of the University of Virginia was dedicated to him October 18, 1931.
The Coat's A-Coming Home. --B-Runner
Site Director Richard Rambo of the Confederate Memorial Park in Marbury, Alabama, came across a tag sewed in the collar of it saying "Coat worn by Maj. Frederic R. Scott at the surrender of General Robert E. Lee at Appomattox April 12, 1865." and it piqued his interest.
Less than a half dozen Confederate officer sack coats remain. Scott Stadium of the University of Virginia was dedicated to him October 18, 1931.
The Coat's A-Coming Home. --B-Runner
Lincoln Museum Director Fired for Shoplifting
Quite a Story here.
Rick Beard, 61, the head of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, was fired this past week--for SHOPLIFTING $40 worth of DVDs.
Now, you'd think at 61, he'd know better, AND, this wasn't the first time he'd gotten in trouble for shoplifting. Earlier, he had lifted $300 worth of silk ties.
It gets even better. Mr. Beard was earning just shy of $250,000!!! Can you believe that, $250,000!!!! And he blew that for $340.
The Charlotte, NC newspaper summed it up very well, "Library Head Fired for Not Being Honest Like Abe."
Hey, I'd Take the Job for Half of That AND Promise Not to Shoplift. I'm Not Saying Anything About Horseshoes Though. --B-Runner
Rick Beard, 61, the head of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, was fired this past week--for SHOPLIFTING $40 worth of DVDs.
Now, you'd think at 61, he'd know better, AND, this wasn't the first time he'd gotten in trouble for shoplifting. Earlier, he had lifted $300 worth of silk ties.
It gets even better. Mr. Beard was earning just shy of $250,000!!! Can you believe that, $250,000!!!! And he blew that for $340.
The Charlotte, NC newspaper summed it up very well, "Library Head Fired for Not Being Honest Like Abe."
Hey, I'd Take the Job for Half of That AND Promise Not to Shoplift. I'm Not Saying Anything About Horseshoes Though. --B-Runner
Farragut Was Born Here or Here or Here
The September 17th Knox News.com reports that the search is on for the site of the cabin where noted Civil War Admiral David Glasgow "Damn the Torpedoes" Farragut was born.
A development is planned for the five acres at Stony Point on Fort Loudon Lake near Knoxville, Tennessee. It was delayed back in July for an archaeological survey with an aim of marking the exact spot where the cabin stood.
Farragut was born in 1801 and lived until 1806 when his father moved the family to New Orleans after receiving a naval commission. His father operated a ferry at the site. The young Farragut entered the US Navy as a midshipman at age 9, fought in the War of 1812 and commanded a ship at age 12.
The Bonny Kate Chapter of the DAR marked the cabin's approximate site with a stone monument in 1900.
David was born as James, but changed his first name to David in honor of family friend David Dixon Porter.
Let's Hope They Find It. Quite a Naval Officer. --Old B-R'er
A development is planned for the five acres at Stony Point on Fort Loudon Lake near Knoxville, Tennessee. It was delayed back in July for an archaeological survey with an aim of marking the exact spot where the cabin stood.
Farragut was born in 1801 and lived until 1806 when his father moved the family to New Orleans after receiving a naval commission. His father operated a ferry at the site. The young Farragut entered the US Navy as a midshipman at age 9, fought in the War of 1812 and commanded a ship at age 12.
The Bonny Kate Chapter of the DAR marked the cabin's approximate site with a stone monument in 1900.
David was born as James, but changed his first name to David in honor of family friend David Dixon Porter.
Let's Hope They Find It. Quite a Naval Officer. --Old B-R'er
Forrest's Name May Come Off Florida School
As I reported last month, Nathan Bedford Forrest High School in Jacksonville may have a new name as of November 3rd when the Duval County School Board will meet to make a determination. It would be changed to Firestone High School after the street it is on.
According to Ron Word of AP in "Southern general's name may come off Florida school" is is part of the south's never-ending soul-searching. Steven Stoll, a sociology professor at Florida Community College: "This guy was a brutish monster. Why would you want to keep honoring a person like this? It is an insult to black people."
Efforts to rename Robert E. Lee Elementary School and Jefferson Davis Middle School in Hampton, Virginia, have failed.
Forrest High School opened in the 1950s during the Civil Rights era and was all-white at the time. Now, blacks make up half the student body. Two seniors say that the general consensus at the high school, whose athletic teams are called Rebels, is to leave the name alone.
Jacksonville has three other schools named for Confederate generals.
I'm Thinking it Will be Firestone High. --Old B-Runner
According to Ron Word of AP in "Southern general's name may come off Florida school" is is part of the south's never-ending soul-searching. Steven Stoll, a sociology professor at Florida Community College: "This guy was a brutish monster. Why would you want to keep honoring a person like this? It is an insult to black people."
Efforts to rename Robert E. Lee Elementary School and Jefferson Davis Middle School in Hampton, Virginia, have failed.
Forrest High School opened in the 1950s during the Civil Rights era and was all-white at the time. Now, blacks make up half the student body. Two seniors say that the general consensus at the high school, whose athletic teams are called Rebels, is to leave the name alone.
Jacksonville has three other schools named for Confederate generals.
I'm Thinking it Will be Firestone High. --Old B-Runner
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)