Proposed Civil War History Center Would Need $15 Million From Local Taxpayers

From the February 12, 2016, Fayetteville (NC) Observer by Andrew Barksdale.

There is a proposed Civil War Center for Fayetteville which will cost $65 million.  The organization is asking Fayetteville and Cumberland County $7.5 million apiece.

This is the first of four fundraisers.  They have raised $6 million so far.

the second phase is on now with a goal of $5 million.  The third phase will involve the money from Fayetteville and Cumberland County.

The North Carolina General Assembly will pay the rest.

Perhaps They Could Just Have South Carolina War Relics Room Move There.  --Old Secesh

Civil War-Themed Events in Springfield, Illinois for April-- Part 2

LINCOLN DEATH DAY ASSOCIATION--

April 15, Lincoln Tomb

Honors President Lincoln of the anniversary of his death.  Guest speakers and wreath laying.  Free.

ANNUAL SCOUT PILGRIMAGE--

April 24, Lincoln Tomb.

The annual pilgrimage of Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts to honor President Lincoln.  Involves a walk from Lincoln's New Salem Village to the Tomb.

The Ghostwalk/Legends continues throughout the summer and fall.

Also, starting June 7 to August 30, every Tuesday night, the 114th Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment of the Civil War performs Civil War drills, firing of muskets and flag-lowering ceremony in front of Lincoln's Tomb.  Plus there will be re-enactors portraying people from the Civil War.

June 11-12 at the Old State Capitol there will be a Civil War Medical Encampment, Springfield's largest outdoor, living history education event.

--Old Secesh

Civil War-Themed Events in Springfield This April-- Part 1: Ghosts and Death

With such a tie to Abraham Lincoln, it is not surprising that Springfield, Illinois, would have a lot of related events during the year.

Here are the ones listed in the Springfield 2016 Visitors Guide:

LINCOLN'S GHOSTWALK: LEGENDS & LORE--  (From  March 8-Nov. 1)  Downtown Springfield.

This 90-minute, 10-block walking tour uses Lincoln sites as the backdrop for the strange and bizarre history surrounding Lincoln's life and death.  Admission

LINCOLN PRESIDENTIAL HALF MARATHON--  Old State Capitol.  (April 2)  Run where Lincoln walked past Springfield's major Lincoln sites, including his home and tomb.  Admission

SUVCW DEATH DAY PROGRAM--  (April 9)  Lincoln Tomb  A ceremony commemorating the 151st anniversary of President Lincoln's death.  The ceremony starts with a military parade, followed by several speeches, the laying of wreaths and culminates with taps.  Free

SUVCW--  Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War

More.

10 Fascinating Facts About Lee and Grant-- Part 1: Of Bluebloods and Names

From the April 9, 2016, Yahoo! News "10 fascinating facts about Robert E. Lee and Ulysses S. Grant" by NCC Staff.

1.  Robert E. Lee was among the "bluest of Virginia bluebloods."  The Lee name is important in colonial and early Virginia history.  His father was "Light Horse" Harry Lee, who fought with George Washington and gave the eulogy at Washington's funeral.

2. U.S. grant was not a blueblood.  He grew up in Ohio and his father was not rich.  Grant, however, said, his grandfather fought at Bunker Hill.

3.  The family of Lee's future wife did not think Lee was good enough to marry their daughter.  When Lee announced his intention of marrying Mary Anne Cistis, her father objected because "Light Horse" Harry Lee had fallen on hard times financially.  Mary Ann Custis was Martha Washington's great granddaughter.

4.  Ulysses wasn't Grant's first name.  He was born Hiram Ulysses Grant in Point Pleasant, Ohio.  A mistake made on his application to West Point by the Congressman who nominated him resulted him being listed as Ulysses S. Grant.

--Old Secesh

The Confederacy Under Attack-- Part 242: Coshocton to Honor Confederate Soldier Despite Protest

From the April 14, 16, 2016, Google Alerts for Confederate.

**  Bill to block removal of Confederate monuments fails in House panel; now what?  (Louisiana)  (Loss)  This would be the only way to prevent removal of monuments anywhere that has a majority black city council and/or mayor.

**  County will honor Confederate soldier, despite complaint.  (Coshocton) (Win)  Finally, politicians not afraid to face black wrath.  Of course, it was a black who complained.

The man complained about the grave of a Civil War Confederate soldier, William Webb, Co. B, 1st Tennessee Cavalry.  He was a POW being transported to an exchange when he fell and died.

You Just Can't Please Some Folks.  --Old Secesh

Springfield, Illinois' Camp Butler: Union Training Camp, Confederate POW Camp

From the Springfield 2016 Visitors Guide.

CAMP BUTLER NATIONAL CEMETERY

Camp Butler was once the site of a Union Army training camp for regiments raised in Illinois.  It later became a Confederate prison.  Now, it is a national cemetery for veterans and their descendants.

It was named for Illinois treasurer at the time, William Butler, not Benjamin Butler as I had thought at one time. William T. Sherman helped pick the site.  It was the second-largest training camp in Illinois, after Chicago's Camp Douglas.  By the end of the war, some 200,000 Union troops had passed through it.

More than 25,000 individuals are buried here, including over 1,700 Union and Confederate soldiers.  As many as 700 prisoners died there during 1862 as an epidemic of smallpox and other diseases ran rampant. There are 866 Confederate graves with a marker placed in their midst in the early 2000s by the Illinois Division Sons of Confederate Veterans.

5063 Camp Butler Road

The Confederacy Under Attack-- Part 241: Confederate Flag Flap

From the April 14, 2016, Google Alerts for Confederate.

**  Confederate Flag flap costs Meredith man 510 dollars (Win)  He tore down a Confederate flag and pleaded guilty to criminal mischief.  It is too bad that it has come down to this.

**  UM NAACP celebrates Confederate History month their own way.  (Univ. Mississippi) (Win)  Good idea.  I'm sure the Confederacy was not shown in a goof light, but at least they didn't protest against having it at all.

**  Hemming Park Nonprofit Says No Plans To Remove Confederate Statue.  (Jacksonville, Fla.)  (Win).  It's there, has been for a long time.  Learn to live with it or ignore it.

Confederaste Flag Flap (A Great Headline)  --Old Secesh

North Carolina and Ohio Sites for Park Day 2016

This is an annual event held earlier this month where volunteers were invited out to the sites to do work.  I sure wish one was closer to me as I sure would like to get out and do some good.  It is sponsored by the Civil War Trust.

NORTH CAROLINA

First Battle of Kinston Battlefield Park
Fort Fisher State Historic Site
Bentonville Battlefield State Historic Site
Bennett Place State Historic Site
Asheville History Center at Smith-McDowell House
Fort Branch
Brunswick Town/Fort Anderson State Historic Site
Guilford Courthouse National Military Park

OHIO

Berlin Heights Battlefield
Johnson's Isle Civil War Prison Site

--Old Secesh

Civil War Bell Rings for GAR's 150th Anniversary

From the April 7, 2016, Rochester (NY) Democrat & Chronicle "Civil War-era bell to ring on Saturday."

It was first rung before the Civil War at the Webster Baptist Church.  It will again be rung 15 times Saturday for the 150th anniversary of the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR).  It is a part of the Bells Across New York event.

The commemoration will be conducted   by the local chapters of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War and Daughters of Union Veterans.

The bell was installed in 1857 when the church was built.  When Lee surrendered at Appomattox in 1865 it was rung so hard that it cracked and that crack is still there.

A Real Piece of History.  --Old Secesh

Lincoln and Seward-- Part 6: Dealing With France and Mexico and Accomplishments After Lincoln's Death.

From the  McHenry County Civil War Round Table.

The British, for their part, would stop construction of any "suspicious ship."  It slowed up construction on the ram "Stonewall" to the point that it arrived into Confederate service too late.  The other Laird ram was sold to Egypt.

Then there was the diplomatic problem of the French, with Emperor Maximillian in Mexico.  This was clearly a flouting of the Monroe Doctrine figuring the United States would be too busy with the Civil War to do much about it.

Lincoln and Seward determined that it would fall apart of its own accord and determined to just sit it out and not send troops or put pressure on it.

Their efforts in foreign policy paid off.  No foreign country intervened or ever recognized the Confederacy.

William Seward continued to serve the country after Lincoln's death.  He bought Alaska from the Russians, negotiated a treaty with Nicaragua to build the canal connecting the Pacific and Atlantic oceans.  He also established an Open Door policy with China and worked on making Midway Island and Hawaii U.S. territories in the Pacific.

Our speaker had mentioned that Seward was wealthy and even had three slaves before he went to Washington.  I asked what became of the slaves and found out that after New York freed slaves they became house servants.

--Old Secesh

Lincoln and Seward-- Part 5: Foreign Involvement

From the March8, 2016, McHenry County Civil War Round Table.

Seward wanted Lincoln to only make his Emancipation Proclamation after a major Union victory.  There was big fear as to its impact on the border states which still had slaves..  Plus, most Northerners did nor like slaves  There was also a fear of a possible and bloody slave insurrection.

The Russian fleet visiting New York in 1863, was also a political move.  Britain and France were calling for mediation between the Confederacy and the Union.  Mediation might be construed as recognition of the Confederacy.  The Russian fleet signaled their support of the Union.

Another issue between the United States and England were the British-built Confederate commerce raiders of which there were six, the most famous being the CSS Alabama, Florida and Shenandoah.

Seward got a bill to authorize U.S. privateers to stop Confederate ships and even British and French commerce.

--Old Secesh

Chicago's Shootings and Murders Since January 1st

From Hey Jackass!:  Illustrating Chicago Values for April 19, 2016

WEEK IN PROGRESS 4/17 to 4/23

Shot and Killed: 2
Shot and wounded:  30
Total shot:  32
Total homicides:  2

APRIL TO DATE

Shot and killed:  20
Shot and wounded:  149
Total Shot: 169
Total homicides:  22

YEAR TO DATE

Shot and killed:  152
Shot and wounded:  834
Total shot:  986
Homicides:  172

Most of these statistics involve blacks.  These are the same people who are so against everything Confederate and the police.

Perhaps They Need to Get Their Priorities Straight?  Even Sadder, These Are Just for Chicago.  This To Me Is the Much Bigger Issue.   --Old Secesh

Here's Your Chance to Weigh In On the Confederate Monument Question

From the April 14, 2016, Google Alerts for Confederate.

**  Should Confederate Monuments Stay or Go?  Share Your Thoughts.  Washington Post.

Here you have the opportunity to give your take on this pressing issue.

Go to the site and vote and give your opinion.

--Old Secesh

Lincoln and Seward-- Part 4: A Question of Aristocracy, Cotton and Slavery

Mason Slidell was a strong advocate of slavery and an author of the Fugitive Slave Law.  England was anti-slavery at the time.

However, England viewed the Confederacy as an aristocracy since the rich plantation owners ran most of it.  Pl;us, the U.S. was fast becoming a serious threat to British power and a challenge in democracy.  British commoners generally, however, supported the North.

The Confederacy considered cotton as a vital aspect of getting England's recognition and even put an embargo on it to force its hand.  However, cotton was found from other sources and England textile mills continued operating.

Slavery was the main reason England never recognized the Confederacy.  It had been abolished in the country in 1772 and in the Empire it became illegal in 1833.

--Old Secesh

The Confederacy Under Attack-- Part 240: Not Much Chance for Us in Mississippi Lawsuit

From the April 12, 2016, Google Alerts for Confederate.

**  Confederate emblem 'anti-American,' judge in flag case says.  (Loss)  Federal District Judge Carlton Reeves in Jackson, Mississippi, says that the flag represents those who fought to leave the United States.  Carlos Moore, a black Mississippi lawyer filed a lawsuit against the state asking to declare the Mississippi flag an unconstitutional relic of slavery.  The judge is also black.  Sure not much of a chance of this not going through.  A fair judge makes a statement like that and it isn't going to be very fair.

Mississippi has had the flag since 1894.  A 2001 referendum voted to keep the flag.

**  Dixie State to reveal new, non-Rebel mascot Monday.  (Dixie State University in Utah)  (Loss)  They have "retired" the old moniker Rebels and their symbol.  They will now be known as the Trailblazers and represented by Brooks the Bison.

--Old Secesh