From the Feb. 22nd Aurora (Il) Beacon "Aurora plans GAR renovation" by Stephanie Lulay. And a big thanks to friend Lulu for bringing this to my attention.
A plan to spend $730,000 on the restoration of the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) Memorial Hall is underway to work onthe exterior and part of the interior. It is located at Downer Place just east of Stolp Avenue.
It is being restored so that special events can once again be held there (this hasn't happened since the 1990s because of the building's deterioration).
The Aurora Public Art Commission also plans to have a Civil War museum there along with a small, non-circulating library.
The GAR Memorial Hall of Aurora Post 20, was dedicated in 1878. That post once had 700 Civil War veterans from 70 different Union regiments. By 1938, with membership declining, the post disbanded and turned the building into a memorial.
Built in the Gothic Revival style and designed by Aurora architect Joseph P.Mulvey. It was rock faced, ashlar laid limestone from Aurora quarries. A two-story addition was added in 1885 that served as a library and meeting place, but was torn down in 1963.
The octagonal building and stair tower is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Aurora raised $250,000 of the project and the rest of the money will come from tax icrement financing. All needed exterior work will be done along with plumbing inside and the building will be brought up to code. It is expected to need about another $775,000 to do all the needed work inside.
I have seen this structure before and it is definitely worth saving.
Always Good Needs When Siomething is Saved Like This. --Old Secesh
The Battle of Fort Fisher, N.C.
Monday, February 27, 2012
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Nashville Fell 150 Years Ago Today-- Part 2
Making fears worse were the multitude of rumors of Union retribution. Union ironclads were on their way up the Cumberland with orders to level the city with gunfire.
Mayor Richard Cheatham went out to approaching Union forces and negotiated the surrender of Nashville, becoming the only mayor to formally hand over his city during the war. He did get the promise that Union troops and Naval forces would respect private property.
On February 25th, the Confederate flag was lowered from the Tennessee Capitol and a 34-star Union flag replaced it. It had been given by Unionist Captain William Driver of Nashville. He had had it sewn into quilt to hide it after Tennessee seceded. He remained at the Capitol that first night to make sure sure no Southern supporter did something to it.
For the most part, post panic life returned to a somewhat normalcy, only under occupation.
The fall of Nashville was a major strategic blow to the young Confederacy and paved the way to deeper penetration into the country west of the Appalachians.
A Major Blow. --Old Secesh
Mayor Richard Cheatham went out to approaching Union forces and negotiated the surrender of Nashville, becoming the only mayor to formally hand over his city during the war. He did get the promise that Union troops and Naval forces would respect private property.
On February 25th, the Confederate flag was lowered from the Tennessee Capitol and a 34-star Union flag replaced it. It had been given by Unionist Captain William Driver of Nashville. He had had it sewn into quilt to hide it after Tennessee seceded. He remained at the Capitol that first night to make sure sure no Southern supporter did something to it.
For the most part, post panic life returned to a somewhat normalcy, only under occupation.
The fall of Nashville was a major strategic blow to the young Confederacy and paved the way to deeper penetration into the country west of the Appalachians.
A Major Blow. --Old Secesh
Nashville Surrenders This Date 150 Years Ago-- Part 1
I have now seen that it fell also on the 23rd and 24th.
From the Feb. 25th Nashville (Tn) Tennesseean "Nashville fell to Union 150 years ago today" by Tony Gonzalez.
The fall of Fort Donelson, 60 miles down the Cumberland River came as a shock to the people of Nashville who considered the place impregnible. When the Union forces first attacked it appeared to be a great Confederate victory, but then came Black Sunday when word of the fort's fall reached the city of 30,000. According to Tennessee state historian Walter Durham, "Church services were abandoned--people just ran out."
This began the Great Panic while mobs rioted for nine days, civic leaders fled the town, and people moved out.
February 16th, the 15,000 Confederates at Fort Donelson surrendered. The next day, Confederate gunboats at Nashville were set on fire (I didn't know they had warships at Nashville).
Looting commenced, bank runs took place. many elected offivcials and secessionists left, fearing Union reprisal, including Tennessee's Governor Isham Harris. Newspaper editors took to their heels and religious leaders abandoned their flocks. Railroad man V.K. Stevenson was among those heading for other places.
Heading for the Hills. --Old Secesh
From the Feb. 25th Nashville (Tn) Tennesseean "Nashville fell to Union 150 years ago today" by Tony Gonzalez.
The fall of Fort Donelson, 60 miles down the Cumberland River came as a shock to the people of Nashville who considered the place impregnible. When the Union forces first attacked it appeared to be a great Confederate victory, but then came Black Sunday when word of the fort's fall reached the city of 30,000. According to Tennessee state historian Walter Durham, "Church services were abandoned--people just ran out."
This began the Great Panic while mobs rioted for nine days, civic leaders fled the town, and people moved out.
February 16th, the 15,000 Confederates at Fort Donelson surrendered. The next day, Confederate gunboats at Nashville were set on fire (I didn't know they had warships at Nashville).
Looting commenced, bank runs took place. many elected offivcials and secessionists left, fearing Union reprisal, including Tennessee's Governor Isham Harris. Newspaper editors took to their heels and religious leaders abandoned their flocks. Railroad man V.K. Stevenson was among those heading for other places.
Heading for the Hills. --Old Secesh
Friday, February 24, 2012
Fall of Nashville 150 Years Ago-- Part 2
Soon thereafter, city leaders, clergy and businessmen were told they had to sign an Oath of Allegiance to the US government. Many refused and spent time in the local penitentiary.
Later, soldiers from both sides were sent to Nashville with injuries that were treated in makeshift hospitals that sprang up all over the town. Supplies were constantly coming in and leaving Nashville on the Cumberland River, railroads and roads. It was definitely a center of activity.
Then came the big one. On April 16, 1863, Union officials informed the populace that every white person over the age of eighteen had to take the hated Oath of Allegiance in ten days are they would be exiled South. Many more signed it and from then on, the Union considered the city as loyal.
The Union forces occupied Nashville until the end of the war despite a late attempt by a Confederate Army under John Bell Hood to take it.
And that Was That. --Old Secesh
Later, soldiers from both sides were sent to Nashville with injuries that were treated in makeshift hospitals that sprang up all over the town. Supplies were constantly coming in and leaving Nashville on the Cumberland River, railroads and roads. It was definitely a center of activity.
Then came the big one. On April 16, 1863, Union officials informed the populace that every white person over the age of eighteen had to take the hated Oath of Allegiance in ten days are they would be exiled South. Many more signed it and from then on, the Union considered the city as loyal.
The Union forces occupied Nashville until the end of the war despite a late attempt by a Confederate Army under John Bell Hood to take it.
And that Was That. --Old Secesh
Fall of Nashville 150 Years Ago-- Part 1
From the Feb, 23rd Nashville (Tn) Public Radio "Civil War Sesquicentennial: Nashville Occupation."
Means something to me because my brother lived there many years and my nephew and family still live near there. Plus, huge country fan.
It was 150 years ago yesterday, Feb. 23, 1862, that the city of Nashville was handed over to Union forces without a fight from the Confederates. This a direct result of the capture of Fort Donelson earlier in the week. Union Naval and Army forces pushed their way up the Cumberland River. You'd have to wonder why Confederate forces gave up the city without a fight, just from its railroad connections.
Union troops arrived in what today is East Nashville and rumors abounded of the impending total destruction of the city.
Tennessee native Andrew Johnson was put in charge of the city. It was hoped he would keep fears in check since he had been Tennessee governor earlier and had lived in Nashville.
The was not going to be an easy occupation because of Southern sentiment. Rachel Carter Craighead, a newly wed, kept a diary during the war and wrote that she was not happy that Union troops attended services at her church, and, even worse, a few died and it was "outrageous to fill up our cemetery with such trash."
Johnson ordered the arrests of three high-profile people: a man who helped negotiate Tennessee's entry into the Confederacy, an outspoken secessionist judge and the man who helped arm Tennessee troops. They were sent 800 miles away to a fort in Northern Michigan.
And, Without a Fight? What Gives Here? --Old Secesh
Means something to me because my brother lived there many years and my nephew and family still live near there. Plus, huge country fan.
It was 150 years ago yesterday, Feb. 23, 1862, that the city of Nashville was handed over to Union forces without a fight from the Confederates. This a direct result of the capture of Fort Donelson earlier in the week. Union Naval and Army forces pushed their way up the Cumberland River. You'd have to wonder why Confederate forces gave up the city without a fight, just from its railroad connections.
Union troops arrived in what today is East Nashville and rumors abounded of the impending total destruction of the city.
Tennessee native Andrew Johnson was put in charge of the city. It was hoped he would keep fears in check since he had been Tennessee governor earlier and had lived in Nashville.
The was not going to be an easy occupation because of Southern sentiment. Rachel Carter Craighead, a newly wed, kept a diary during the war and wrote that she was not happy that Union troops attended services at her church, and, even worse, a few died and it was "outrageous to fill up our cemetery with such trash."
Johnson ordered the arrests of three high-profile people: a man who helped negotiate Tennessee's entry into the Confederacy, an outspoken secessionist judge and the man who helped arm Tennessee troops. They were sent 800 miles away to a fort in Northern Michigan.
And, Without a Fight? What Gives Here? --Old Secesh
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Lake County in the War
From the Lake County Discovery Museum High Tech Civil War exhibit.
Lake County, at the very northeast corner of Illinois, bordering Lake Michigan and with Wisconsin to its north, sent over 1,900 men to war out of an 1860 population of 18,000. They were in 75 different military units.
The first Lake Countian to become a general was Eugene B. Payne of Fremont Township who formed a company called the Fremont Rifles who later became a part of the 37th Illinois Infantry.
Another regiment with large numbers from Lake County was the 96th Illinois.
Quite an Exhibit. --Old Secesh
Lake County, at the very northeast corner of Illinois, bordering Lake Michigan and with Wisconsin to its north, sent over 1,900 men to war out of an 1860 population of 18,000. They were in 75 different military units.
The first Lake Countian to become a general was Eugene B. Payne of Fremont Township who formed a company called the Fremont Rifles who later became a part of the 37th Illinois Infantry.
Another regiment with large numbers from Lake County was the 96th Illinois.
Quite an Exhibit. --Old Secesh
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Some Civil War Technological Break-Throughs
Although most of these were not invented during the war, they had a huge impact on it.
1775 Submersible sub
1801 Steam locomotive
1826 Daguerretype invented (photos)
1834 Propeller-driven ships
1835 Revolving pistol
1840s Interchangeable parts for weapons invented at the Harpers Ferry and Springfield Armories
1844 Telegraph system invented by Samuel Morse
1845 Sewing machine
1861 First aeriel balloon observation
1862 Monitor and Merrimac (Virginia)
1864 First modern machine gun
1864 First successful sinking of an enemy ship by a submarine
Much of the technology of World War I was tried out some fifty years earlier.
Civil War High tech. --Old Secesh
1775 Submersible sub
1801 Steam locomotive
1826 Daguerretype invented (photos)
1834 Propeller-driven ships
1835 Revolving pistol
1840s Interchangeable parts for weapons invented at the Harpers Ferry and Springfield Armories
1844 Telegraph system invented by Samuel Morse
1845 Sewing machine
1861 First aeriel balloon observation
1862 Monitor and Merrimac (Virginia)
1864 First modern machine gun
1864 First successful sinking of an enemy ship by a submarine
Much of the technology of World War I was tried out some fifty years earlier.
Civil War High tech. --Old Secesh
One Really Good Civil War Exhibit
Now that it's gone, I figure it's a good time to write about it. This past year, to commemorate the beginning of the Civil War, 150 years ago, the Lake County Discovery Museum in Illinois had a special exhibit called "Civil War High Tech."
I was able to get out to it during its last week and wish I'd gone a couple times.
It concentrated on technological break throughs during the war, including: repeating firearms, ironclad ships, reconnaissance balloons, telegraph, submarines and railroads.
I wrote about the ironclads in my Running the Blockade blog. But, it did have a full-size mock-up of the Monitor's turret, right down to the bolts.
The whole thing was really interactive with plenty of things to do and hands-on-activities. A summer camp group came while I was there and those kids had a ball touching and doing. I would have thought they'd be bored in the gourd.
One of the first things I came across was the basket of an observation balloon, called a gondola. The bottom was on some sort of a fulcrum so when you stepped into it, it moved. Sure gave me a jump. Once I got back into it, I could peer over the side and see a battle going on under me.
More to Come. --Old Secesh
I was able to get out to it during its last week and wish I'd gone a couple times.
It concentrated on technological break throughs during the war, including: repeating firearms, ironclad ships, reconnaissance balloons, telegraph, submarines and railroads.
I wrote about the ironclads in my Running the Blockade blog. But, it did have a full-size mock-up of the Monitor's turret, right down to the bolts.
The whole thing was really interactive with plenty of things to do and hands-on-activities. A summer camp group came while I was there and those kids had a ball touching and doing. I would have thought they'd be bored in the gourd.
One of the first things I came across was the basket of an observation balloon, called a gondola. The bottom was on some sort of a fulcrum so when you stepped into it, it moved. Sure gave me a jump. Once I got back into it, I could peer over the side and see a battle going on under me.
More to Come. --Old Secesh
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Clarksville Fell 150 Years Ago--Part 2
A Union gunboat and armed steamer sailed up the Cumberland River Feb. 19th to probe Confederate defenses and found a white flag flying at Fort Defiance. The mayor of Clarksville surrendered the town. From March to April, 500 Union troops occupied the city.
Starting in May, much guerrilla warfare started in the area.
On August 19, 1862, Clarksville was captured by Confederates in the 2nd Kentucky Cavalry and other units under Thomas G. Woodward, on detached duty from Forrest's command. They had used false cannons to threaten Federal troops at the their headquarters on Stewart College campus. They bluffed four companies of the 71st Ohio and its colonel to surrender without a fight.
Many Clarksville citizens were ecstatic about the return of Confederates.
The victors then approached Fort Donelson, which was then held by the rest of the 71st Ohio, but reinforcements came, raising the Federal number to 1,200 and they began an approach on Clarksville on September 5th.
A major skirmish took place outside the city at Riggins Hill Sept. 7th, with the Union forces winning and Clarksville was surrendered again.
After that, Clarksville and surrounding area became sort of a no-man's land until Dec, 1862, when members of the 83rd Illinois and other units occupied it until Jine 1865.
Fort Defiance was renamed Fort Brice.
Back and Forth, Back and Forth. Whose Flag to Fly? --Old Secesh
Starting in May, much guerrilla warfare started in the area.
On August 19, 1862, Clarksville was captured by Confederates in the 2nd Kentucky Cavalry and other units under Thomas G. Woodward, on detached duty from Forrest's command. They had used false cannons to threaten Federal troops at the their headquarters on Stewart College campus. They bluffed four companies of the 71st Ohio and its colonel to surrender without a fight.
Many Clarksville citizens were ecstatic about the return of Confederates.
The victors then approached Fort Donelson, which was then held by the rest of the 71st Ohio, but reinforcements came, raising the Federal number to 1,200 and they began an approach on Clarksville on September 5th.
A major skirmish took place outside the city at Riggins Hill Sept. 7th, with the Union forces winning and Clarksville was surrendered again.
After that, Clarksville and surrounding area became sort of a no-man's land until Dec, 1862, when members of the 83rd Illinois and other units occupied it until Jine 1865.
Fort Defiance was renamed Fort Brice.
Back and Forth, Back and Forth. Whose Flag to Fly? --Old Secesh
Clarksville Fell 150 Years Ago-- Part 1
From the Feb. 19th Clarksville (Tn) Leaf-Chronicle "Fort Defiance keyed the fall of Clarksville" by Jimmy Settle.
Clarksville's role in the Civil War was primarily one of occupation and guerrilla warfare from 1862-1865. Today, the story is told at the Fort Defiance Civil War Park and Interpretive Center. They recently added an 1851 24-pdr. replica field cannon to the site, much like the ones that would have originally been at the fort.
Today, the fort's remains are nearly pristine owing to its post-war abandonment and being overtaken by bush and trees growth.
The city was surrendered Feb. 19, 1862, 150 years ago as a direct result of the fall of Fort Donelson, downriver a few days earlier.
The Leaf-Chronicle's forerunner, the Clarksville Chronicle, in its last edition printed Feb. 14, 1862, reported on the success of Confederate forces at Fort Donelson saying that the sounds of battle could be heard in town from that fort 30 miles away.
In 1860, Clarksville had a population of 5,000 and was big into tobacco. It's location as a port on the Cumberland River and the new Memphis and Louisville Railroad showed that there would be continued growth.
More to Come. --Old Secesh
Clarksville's role in the Civil War was primarily one of occupation and guerrilla warfare from 1862-1865. Today, the story is told at the Fort Defiance Civil War Park and Interpretive Center. They recently added an 1851 24-pdr. replica field cannon to the site, much like the ones that would have originally been at the fort.
Today, the fort's remains are nearly pristine owing to its post-war abandonment and being overtaken by bush and trees growth.
The city was surrendered Feb. 19, 1862, 150 years ago as a direct result of the fall of Fort Donelson, downriver a few days earlier.
The Leaf-Chronicle's forerunner, the Clarksville Chronicle, in its last edition printed Feb. 14, 1862, reported on the success of Confederate forces at Fort Donelson saying that the sounds of battle could be heard in town from that fort 30 miles away.
In 1860, Clarksville had a population of 5,000 and was big into tobacco. It's location as a port on the Cumberland River and the new Memphis and Louisville Railroad showed that there would be continued growth.
More to Come. --Old Secesh
Saturday, February 18, 2012
The Elephant Stepped On Me
No more entries for awhile until I find out what I did to make Blogger mad at me.
Thursday, February 16, 2012
So, Who Really Won?
From the April 22, 2011, North Jersey.com by Steve Janoski.
Back then, a youngster visited a Civil War battlefield in the south and asked the lady behind the desk who won the battle. "Oh, we did," was the answer. She didn't say "the South and she didn't say "The Confederacy."
Bill Maher on "Real Time" said that nobody in California thinks about the Civil War, likewise most people in New York or New Jersey.
But, oh do the folks in the former Confederate states. Just look at the two organizations made up of former soldiers of the two sides. The Sons of Confederate Veterans boasts some 30,000 members. Their counterpart, the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War just 6,000. When it comes to re-enactments, often those portraying Confederates have to don Union uniforms to equal out the sides.
Let's face it, the Civil War Sesquicentennial is definitely being observed more in the South than the North even with constant irritation from the NAACP who try to put the whole war as one to keep or free slaves.
And, the South is really the South of 1861. Texas has a huge Hispanic population and there are sure a lot of Cubans in Florida, not to mention retired Northerners. In Northern Virginia, many of the former battlefields are covered with subdivisions and shopping centers.
Hey, look at the 200 electoral map of the United States and it is almost identical to a map of the United States after secession.
And then, there are still racial tensions.
Some Things Don't Change, Or Do They? --Old Secesh
Back then, a youngster visited a Civil War battlefield in the south and asked the lady behind the desk who won the battle. "Oh, we did," was the answer. She didn't say "the South and she didn't say "The Confederacy."
Bill Maher on "Real Time" said that nobody in California thinks about the Civil War, likewise most people in New York or New Jersey.
But, oh do the folks in the former Confederate states. Just look at the two organizations made up of former soldiers of the two sides. The Sons of Confederate Veterans boasts some 30,000 members. Their counterpart, the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War just 6,000. When it comes to re-enactments, often those portraying Confederates have to don Union uniforms to equal out the sides.
Let's face it, the Civil War Sesquicentennial is definitely being observed more in the South than the North even with constant irritation from the NAACP who try to put the whole war as one to keep or free slaves.
And, the South is really the South of 1861. Texas has a huge Hispanic population and there are sure a lot of Cubans in Florida, not to mention retired Northerners. In Northern Virginia, many of the former battlefields are covered with subdivisions and shopping centers.
Hey, look at the 200 electoral map of the United States and it is almost identical to a map of the United States after secession.
And then, there are still racial tensions.
Some Things Don't Change, Or Do They? --Old Secesh
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
"Iron Valentines" Delivered 150 Years Ago
From the Feb. 13th Clarksville (Tn) Leaf Chronicle by Jimmy Settle.
If you were at Fort Donelson back on this date in 1862, you would not exactly see a lot of love being exchanged as Union warships in the Cumberland River exchanged fire with Confederate batteries on shore.
Fort Donelson National Battlefield is located in Dover, Tennessee, some thirty miles west of Clarksville.
With the fall of Fort Donelson two days from now, General U.S. Grant forced Confederates to give up southern Kentucky and most of middle and west Tennessee.
Not My Idea of a Valentine. --Old Secesh
If you were at Fort Donelson back on this date in 1862, you would not exactly see a lot of love being exchanged as Union warships in the Cumberland River exchanged fire with Confederate batteries on shore.
Fort Donelson National Battlefield is located in Dover, Tennessee, some thirty miles west of Clarksville.
With the fall of Fort Donelson two days from now, General U.S. Grant forced Confederates to give up southern Kentucky and most of middle and west Tennessee.
Not My Idea of a Valentine. --Old Secesh
Close to Official: 34,000 North Carolina Deaths
From the Civil War Picket blog.
Close to official back in 2010, so probably official, or as near as it will ever be, by now, but the number of North Carolinians dying while in Confederate service is now at 34,000 out of the 134,000 who served.
For years the number was put at 40,000.
Bit there have been two recent studies, one by Research Historian at the North Carolina Office of Archives and History and the other by Charles Purser of a Sons of Confederate Veterans camp in Garner. Both show the number to be lower.
Defending Their State. --Old Secesh
Close to official back in 2010, so probably official, or as near as it will ever be, by now, but the number of North Carolinians dying while in Confederate service is now at 34,000 out of the 134,000 who served.
For years the number was put at 40,000.
Bit there have been two recent studies, one by Research Historian at the North Carolina Office of Archives and History and the other by Charles Purser of a Sons of Confederate Veterans camp in Garner. Both show the number to be lower.
Defending Their State. --Old Secesh
Monday, February 13, 2012
The Civil War in Huntley, Illinois
From the April 19, 2011, Huntley (Il.) Patch "Marking the Civil War Sesquicentennial: by Nancy Bacheller.
Fifty-five soldiers from Huntley served in the war and some of their graves are now in the Huntley Cemetery, located on Dean Street in the village.
Three of those were the first village president was John Cummings who had a brother named Willard. Thomas S, Huntley, son of town founder Thomas S. Huntley.
On April 18th, Laurel Mellien, local cemetery art specialist made a presentation to the Kishwaukee Trail Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution called "The Art of Civil War Commemoration" explaining the significance and symbolism found on badges, monuments and headstones.
If you find crossed swords, that means the person was an officer who died in battle. Should you see a mourning cloth draped on a decorative cannon, that means the man was in the artillery. You would find a Confederate flag on the gravestone of one who fought for the South.
Many veterans have unadorned government-issued headstones and these can be found in great numbers in cemeteries throughout the US. (If these have a rounded top, it means Union service. Pointed ones indicate Confederate service.) Sometimes families used these as foot stones.
More to Come. --Old Secesh
Fifty-five soldiers from Huntley served in the war and some of their graves are now in the Huntley Cemetery, located on Dean Street in the village.
Three of those were the first village president was John Cummings who had a brother named Willard. Thomas S, Huntley, son of town founder Thomas S. Huntley.
On April 18th, Laurel Mellien, local cemetery art specialist made a presentation to the Kishwaukee Trail Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution called "The Art of Civil War Commemoration" explaining the significance and symbolism found on badges, monuments and headstones.
If you find crossed swords, that means the person was an officer who died in battle. Should you see a mourning cloth draped on a decorative cannon, that means the man was in the artillery. You would find a Confederate flag on the gravestone of one who fought for the South.
Many veterans have unadorned government-issued headstones and these can be found in great numbers in cemeteries throughout the US. (If these have a rounded top, it means Union service. Pointed ones indicate Confederate service.) Sometimes families used these as foot stones.
More to Come. --Old Secesh
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