A Civil War in the SCV?

From the September 10th Tampa (Fl) Tribune "Confederate group splits, says it is not a civil war" by Keith Morelli.

The Sons of Confederate Veterans (SCV) has split into two groups.  The General Jubal A. Early Camp No. 556, chartered nine years ago, once had over 100 members.  Earlier this year, a dozen broke from it and formed the Judah P. Benjamin Camp No. 2210.

The given story was that the two groups split because of a difference in philosophy.

The Early Camp is best-known for flying the huge Confederate flag over US-92, which can easily be seen from I-4 and I-75.

Always good to have more camps, but, splitting in the face of this constant attack on our heritage is not in the SCV's best interest.

Seceding From a Secession.  --Old Secesh

Confederate Officers Who Later Served as Generals in the Spanish-American War

From a thread in the Civil War Talk Forum.

There were four such men.  I was only aware of Joseph "Fighting Joe" Wheeler.

The three others:

Matthew Calbraith Butler

Fitzhugh Lee

Thomas L. Rosser

Trading gray for US Army Blue.  --Old Secesh

You Can Have the Gettysburg Electric Map for $5, But...

From the September 19th York (Pa) Daily News "Gettysburg Electric Map for sale" by Tim Stone Sifer.

That $5, however, is an opening bid for a 12-ton, 29 square-foot piece of Gettysburg history.  The catch, another $100,000 would have to be spent to "refurbish and display the beloved, but beleaguered, tourist display."  The General Service Administration has it up for auction.

The map was a centerpiece at the old visitor center and installed during the war's centennial in 1963.  One problem with it is that its plaster surface has a 3% friable asbestos mix in it.  It had almost been destroyed when the center moved to new quarters and didn't want it anymore, but a public movement saved it.

As of Monday, the 10th, no one had bid it on it.

I remember seeing it, and it was impressive for its time.  Let's hope somebody in some small museum somewhere, gets it.

Could Be Yours.  --Old Secesh

Those Mean-Old, Slave-Owning Confederate Statues

From the Sept. 12th Tri-State (Ky) website.  "Confederate Statue Sparks Slavery Debate in Owensboro" by Zakk Gammon.

Jim Wilkins of the Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer wrote an editorial saying the Confederate soldier statue in front of the Davies County Courthouse needs to be taken down because it promotes slavery.

Steve Moreland of Owensboro said, "What it stands for, we believe, is bigotry, prejudice, and is against everything our Founding Fathers ever stood for."

He continued, "I assure you if George Washington was alive today and he was a resident of Davies County, Ky, he would probably say the statue honoring confederate soldiers is awful."

Perhaps Someone Should Get their Facts Straight before They Speak.  --Old Secesh

The New York Times Reports the Battle of Washington, NC-- Part 2

Another Account of the Battle.

Fortress Monroe, Wednesday, Sept. 10, 1862

The attack came at daybreak.  "The First Regiment of North Carolina Union Volunteers, under Col. Potter. fought with the greatest bravery and most determined heroism.  Col. Potter had a horse shot under him.

Companies B and D, of the Twenty-fourth Massachusetts Regiment, were in the action.  None were killed.  Several, however, were wounded.

Our force engaged was only five hundred.  In addition to our killed and wounded, we have four men missing.

A large number of rebels were wounded.

I Imagine the 1st NC (Union) Would Definitely Not Want to Be Take Prisoner By NC Troops.  --Old Secesh

The New York Times Reports the Battle of Washington, NC-- Part 1

From the September 10, 1862 New York Times.

The steamer Gide had arrived in Hampton Roads from New Bern, NC, with news of the battle on the 6th.

It reported that 1,200 Confederates had attacked the town and after a two hour fight, were repulsed and pursued seven miles.

"The gunboat Louisiana rendered essential service in shelling the rebels out of the strong positions they had seized.

The gunboat Picket was blown up by an accidental explosion of her magazine, Capt. Nichols and nineteen men were killed and six wounded.

Our loss on shore was seven killed and forty-seven wounded.
Thirty rebels were killed and thirty-six taken prisoner."

Old Secesh

Another Heritage Attack: The Flag on Tee Shirts

From the Sept. 8th KSPR ABC 33 "Branson students sent home over Confederate memorial shirts" by Mary Moloway and Brandon Foster.

Preston Baughman was always wearing his Confederate flag, but died in a crash after graduating high school. His family made tee shirts with crosses and the flag to honor his memory.   His brother Austin Baughman wore one to school and got kicked out as the school forbids anything that can be perceived as offensive or distracting.

The student has to change it or be sent home or even suspended.

Friday, several girls were also made to change tee shirts for wearing it.

This is not a flag of hate and should be allowed to be worn at school.

An Order from Goldsboro

From the Civil War Day By Day blog, UNC-Chapel Hill Libraries.

"Head Quarters Dist. of Pamico & Cape Fear
Goldsboro August 13th 1862

Notice

In compliance with the instruction from Major Genl D.H. Hill commanding the district of North Carolina, all the counties in the eastern part of the state bordering on the lines of the enemy are required to furnish at once one fourth of the able bodied slave laborers within their limits, to be used in the vicinity of the cities of Richmond and Petersburg, Va.

The following counties are specially designated
New Hanover, Onslow, Duplin, Lenoir, Craven, Jones, Cartaret, Pitt, Martin, Bertie, Hertford, Gates, Green

As the loyal and patriotic citizens of these counties have suffered, and are suffering much from the depredations and outrage of the enemy, it is earnestly and confidently hoped that they will promptly respond to this call and by so doing contribute to the expulsion of the invader from our soil."

Old Secesh

Civil War Cannons Back at Confederate Park-- Part 2

These replicas have cast-iron carriages donated by the Shiloh National Military Park, which is in the process of replacing its own cannon carriages.  The Steen Cannon company made the gun tubes.

The cannon types at the park represent those used by two Memphis Confederate units.  Bankhead's Battery, formed in 1861 by attorney Smith P. Bankhead and the Appeal Battery, sponsored in 1862 by the Memphis Appeal newspaper, one of the forerunners of the Commercial-Appeal.

There were no Confederate cannons on the bluff June 6, 1862, when eight Confederate cotton-clads were defeated in just 90 minutes by eight Union ironclads.

Great to Have Them Back.  --Old Secesh

Civil War Cannons Back at Confederate Park-- Part 1

From the September 6th Memphis (Tn) Commercial Appeal "Civil War look returns  with cannons at Confederate Park" by Kevin McKenzie.

Four replica Civil War cannons have been placed in Confederate Park in downtown Memphis on a bluff overlooking Mud Island in the Mississippi River.

Two are 12-pound field howitzers, one a 3-inch ordnance rifle and the other a 6-pound field gun.

The park was dedicated in 1908 and originally there were six Civil War-era cannons there.  However, Memphis donated them in 1942 for a war scrap drive and they were melted down.  After the war, sic World War II cannons replaced the originals.

Efforts were made by the Sons of Confederate Veterans Nathan Bedford Forrest Camp, the Shelby County Historical Commission and the Riverfront Development Corporation to bring these guns to the park.

That's More Like It, World War II Cannons Do Not Belong in a Confederate Park.  --Old Secesh

The First Battle of Washington, NC

From the Pamlico.com.

You can see the remains of the US Army ship Picket jutting from the Tar River where it blew up September 6, 1862.

War came to Washington in March 1862 when US troops escorted by the Picket arrived, shortly after capturing New Bern.  According to Charles Warren, "Two companies and a band marched from the wharf to the courthouse playing the national aires."

On the morning of September 6, 1862, a Confederate force surprised the Union troops and captured their artillery.  Federal cavalry, en route for Plymouth were alerted by the gunfire and charged down Main Street, meeting Confederate cavalry at Market Street.

A back-and-forth battle ensued.

During it, the Picket mysteriously blew up, killing the captain and 19 of the crew.

The Confederates were eventually driven off.

Another battle took place at Washington in the spring of 1863.

I have been writing about the gunboat Picket(t) the last several days in my Running the Blockade blog.
So, That's About It.  --Old Secesh

An Interesting Grave at Wilmington's Oakdale Cemetery

I'm not sure if I saw it during my 1982 trip to the cemetery when I located Gem. Whiting's grave or some other time.

But, as I was walking around, I saw one grave with an interesting name for one Pierre Gustavant Touvant Walker.  Sounded kind of French or Cajun to me, but the last name Walker didn't fit with the first names.

Then, I saw the date of birth which was April 15, 1861.  This P.G.T. Walker was likely the son of pro-Confederate parents in Wilmington and he had been named after the Southern Hero of the Battle of Fort Sumter which had taken place a few days earlier, Pierre Gustavant Touvant Beauregard.

The proud parents had named their new-born son after the new hero.

Just one of those little things that make history so much fun.

Hey, P.G.T. Walker!!  --Old Secesh

Veterans Formed Groups-- Part 2

UNION VETERANS LEAGUE

Founded in Pittsburgh in 1884 for those who had served at least three years in Union forces, or two years if wounded.

General John H. Short of the Union Veterans League visited the Lemont Post of the GAR in 1889 to make arrangements for a national reunion in Newark, Ohio.

I had never heard of this veterans organization before, so will have to do more research.

UVL, OK.  --Old Secesh

Goodbye Cyclorama?

From August 27th WITF "Study calls for demolition of Gettysburg Cyclorama Building" by Megan Lello and Rachael Prensner.

A National Park Service environmental study recommends getting rid of this building which once housed a huge painting of Pickett's Charge which was moved to the new museum and visitors center in 2008.

The building has been vacant since then.  Its presence conflicts with the NPS's goal of preserving the landscape the way it looked in 1863.

I always hate to see a building torn down and hopefully they could use it for more displays.  If not, tear it down.

To Save or Not to Save.  --Old Secesh

The Sad Fate of UGA's Dixie Redcoat Marching Band

Still on the subject of the removal of the Confederate flag from the top of the General Lee car in "The Dukes of Hazzard."

Something like this happened with the University of Georgia's marching band, which was established in 1905 as part of the UGA Military Science Department.  Since then, it has grown from 20 cadets to over 400 and is nationally-known.  It was originally called The Dixie Redcoat Marching Band.

Only, today it is called The Redcoat Marching Band.  Back in the '70s, the word Dixie became a racially-charged epitaph and was dropped along with the playing of "Dixie."  A lot of people, including myself as I was a student there at the time were definitely not happy with the decisions.

I remember a political cartoon in the student newspaper in the time that particularly hit the point.  It went something like this:

First, some were offended by the word Dixie in the band's name, so that was dropped and it became just The Redcoat Marching Band.

Second, someone remembered that British troops wore red coats and we had to fight them for our independence so that was dropped and it became The Marching Band.

Oh, my, then someone else said that marching was militaristic so that had to be dropped and UGA's band became The Band.

Then, someone remembered their ancestors were killed by a band of Indians, so that had to be dropped. 

Not True, of course, but it could happen.

Now, "The" performs at half time.

Wait, yet another person hates short words so the The was also dropped.  Now       performs at half time.  Let's hope no one objects to empty space.

Now, Is Everybody Real Happy?  --Old Secsh