Petersburg Earthworks

August 31, 2016, Shorpy  "Part 2-1865."

Earthwork fortification and bomb-proofs in front of Petersburg, Va.."

The picture shows a very, very barren landscape.  There is nothing but dirt and small stacks of wooden planks set up as palisades, an occasional cannonball and holes in the ground.

I wouldn't want to vacation there, Southern weather regardless.

Think I'll Stay Home.  --Old Secesh

William M. Beckman

From Find-A-Grave.

This was Augustus Beckman's brother.

Born 1840 in Germany.  Died July 16, 1914, in Quitman, Mississippi.  Clark County.

Married Sarah Elizabeth Harris Burt Beckman, born Feb. 4, 1838.  She was first married to Gilbert Burt on October 25, 1853 in Clark County.  She became a widow when he was killed in the Civil War.  She had two daughters and one son with him.

She later married William M. Buckman.

They are both buried in Elim Cemetery.

--Old Secesh

Private Augustus Beckman-- Part 2: A Case of Mistaken Identity

His brother William Augustus was sent to Louisville where his wound healed and he was released to the provost marshal and taken to Camp Chase in Ohio.

Augustus was sent to Camp Dennison and hospitalized, but died May 9, 1862.  He was buried at Waldschmidt Cemetery in Grave #72 and listed as Augustus Bergmann.

The State of Ohio decided that all Confederate dead in the state should be placed at two locations:  Johnson's Island and Camp Chase.  In May 1869, 31 Confederates who had died at Camp Dennison were dug up and reburied at Camp Chase.

Augustus Bergmann (Beckman) is buried there at Plot Grave #214o.

--Old Secesh

Private Augustus Beckman-- Part 1

From Find-A-Grave.  Biography by Dennis Brake.

Augustus Beckman arrived in Galveston, Texas, on the ship "Gessner" from Germany in 1860 with their destination reported as being San Antonio.

He and his brother William enlisted in Company F, 2nd Texas Infantry, Moore's Regiment, on September 5, 1861, at Galveston.

Both brothers made it through the first day at the Battle of Shiloh, but on the second day, when Confederate forces were pushed back, both were wounded and both captured.  Both were taken to Union field hospitals on board transports rented by the U.S. Sanitary Commission.

--Old Secesh

Heritage Attacks Somewhat Waning?

I have noticed that there has been fewer attacks on my heritage of late.  Perhaps it has something to do with the Charleston murderer being found guilty (and hopefully being executed).

That is good news as I would much rather concentrate on the original Civil War as opposed to so much effort devoted to these senseless attacks.

Let's hope it continues.

The last time the Confederacy was attacked as hard as it has been in this last year was 1861-1865.

More History, Less Confederacy Under Attack!!  --Old secesh

The New York Times Reports Fort Wagner Casualties of the 48th NY-- Part 3

For the rest of the companies I just did officers and NCOs.

COMPANY D

Wounded  Captain Jas. O. Paxton, dangerously
1st Sgt. Patterson
Sgt.  J.G. Abbott

COMPANY E

Killed--  Lt. Joseph Taylor in the fort.

COMPANY H

Wounded--  Captain William S. Lockwood-- arm and shoulder
Lt. James A. Barrett-- thigh

COMPANY K

Killed--  Captain Fred Hurst--  large shot through his beast
Wounded--  Lt. A.F. Miller--  bullet and bayonet wound in leg
1st Sgt. Umbleby--  badly.

With all these officer and sergeant casualties, they were in a real hard fight.

--Old Secesh

The New York Times Reports Fort Wagner Casualties-- Part 2

The known casualties for the rest of the 48th New York.

COMPANY A

Killed--  none
10 privates missing, one of whom, Frank Brady supposedly killed
Wounded or in camp or hospital--  Sgt. Robert McKellar and 12 privates

COMPANY B

Captain Nere Ellfering wound in leg
Missing--  1 sergt., 5 corps, 13 privates
Wounded, in camp or hospital--  1 serg., 1 corp, 9 privates

Of Course, since they lost the battle and the Confederates held the field, many of the missing no doubt were dead or captured.

--Old Secesh

Death of 1st Lt. Robert S, Edwards, 48th N.Y. at Fort Wagner

From Manuscripts of the American Civil War:  Robert S. Edwards Papers.

Taken from letters written by witnesses at Lt. Edwards' death on July 8, 1863, at Fort Wagner, S.C..

The letters showed the "heroic nature of Robert's death, and indicating that he gained Wagner's parapet and took up the fallen national flag after the regiment's color sergeant was wounded."

"Robert was shot in the chest after scaling the parapet, and immediately toppled back into the flooded ditch."

Another letter reported seeing "Robert's body lying near the top of the rampart, head-down on the slope, with his left side torn away (probably by a canister round).  The same witness reported that moments earlier, he had seen "Lieut. Edwards rushing up the slope of the fort near the parapet, wavering the glorious Stars and Stripes over his head -- speaking out in a cool & determined tone -- 'Come on Company C -- follow this Flag -- the Fort must be ours."

The Death of a Hero.  --Old secesh

48th New York Infantry Officers Killed or Mortally Wounded in Attack on Fort Wagner

The 48th New York Infantry assaulted Fort Wagner on July 18, 1863.

Besides Lt. Col. James M. Green:

Captain James Farrell, died July 18, 1863

Captain James O. Paxon, died July 31, 1863, of wounds received at Fort Wagner.

Captain Frederick Hurst, died July 31, 1863, of wounds received at Fort Wagner

1st Lieutenant Robert S. Edwards, died July 18, 1863

2nd Lieutenant Charles E. Fox, died August 11, 1861, of wounds received at Fort Wagner..

Also, since I am a Fort Fisher guy, Captain James W. Dunn was killed January 15, 1865, at the second Battle of Fort Fisher.

--Old Secesh

48th New York's Casualties at the Battle of Fort Wagner

From the July 28, 1863, New York Times "The Repulse at Fort Wagner, Partial Lists of Killd and Wounded in the New York and New England Regiments."

48th New York.

Colonel W.B. Barton, severely wounded in hip.

Lt. Col. James M. Green Killed.

COMPANY A

Missing:  Lt. Charles E. Fox, supposed to have been wounded and has since died.

Sergt. T.B. Carman, supposed killed, two corporals and ten more privates missing.  OneFrank Brady, supposed killed

Wounded, in camp or hospital --  Sergt. Robert McKellar and 12 privates.

Continued on the blog entry for December 12, 2016.

--Old Secesh

Lt.-Colonel James M. Green's Sword Comes to Long Island-- Part 2

James Green re-enlisted in the 48th New York Infantry and became the captain of Company F in August 1861.  Promoted to major in June 1861, when he was presented with the sword, and then later that year became the regiment's lieutenant-colonel.

On July 18, 1863, the 48th New York and 54th Massachusetts and other units assaulted Confederate defenses at Fort/Battery Wagner on Morris Island in which Lt.-Col. James M. Green was killed.

His remains were buried in a mass grave and never recovered.

In 1932, his niece Georgiana Ring green donated his possessions, including his shoulder straps, field saber and this presentation sword to the Smithsonian.  After they were taken off display the Long Island Museum asked for the sword's loan and received it.

--Old Secesh

Lt. Colonel Green's Sword Comes to Long Island-- Part 1

This is the man who Fort Green on Folly Island was named after he died at Fort Wagner.

From the October 27, 2014, Smithsonian "A Civil War treasure returns to Long Island" by Joshua Ruff of the Long Island Museum of American Arts, History and Carriages.

The sword is three feet long with a silver grip and a gilt decorated blade.  The inscription reads: "Presented to Major James M. Green, 48th Reg. N.Y.S.V. by the members of Company F.  The sword and scabbard were loaned by the Smithsonian to the Long island museum.

More than 36,000 Long Islanders served in the Union Army during the Civil War.

Green was a 32-year-old Brooklyn resident when he enlisted in the 71st New York Infantry Regiment as a private and fought at the Battle of First Bull Run.

--Old Secesh

48th New York Infantry-- Part 3: On to Goldsboro and Bennett House

From Wilmington, the 48th New York was involved in Sherman's Carolina Campaign March 1 to April 26.

First they were in the advance to Kinston and Goldsboro March 6-21. the advance on Raleigh April 9-14 and the Confederate surrender at the Bennett House in Durham, N.C., on April 26, 1865.

During the war, the 48th lost 369 men to death.  Eighteen officers and 218 were killed or mortally wounded.  Another 2 officers and 131 enlisted died from disease.

Corporal Joseph C. Hinson received a Medal of Honor for action at Fort Wagner on July 18, 1863.

--Old Secesh

48th New York Infantry-- Part 2: Coastal Operations and Fort Fisher

Continued from December 5, 2016.

The 48th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment was organized in Brooklyn, New York, on September 10, 1861 under Col. James H. Perry.

They were primarily engaged in coastal operations.

First, they were in the Port Royal, S.C., expedition and then in the siege of Fort Pulaski and capture of Tybee Island in Georgia.  In 1863, they took part in the attack on Fort Wagner on Morris Island and later were at the Battle of Olustee in Florida.

Then, the went inland and were at the Siege of Petersburg and Battle of Drewry's Bluff in Virginia.

Though they were not at Fort Fisher, N.C., during the first attack, they were in one the second one in January 1865.  They then took part in the Cape Fear River operations leading to the capture of Wilmington: Sugar Loaf on Feb 11, Fort Anderson Feb. 18-20, Fort Strong on Feb. 21 and capture of Wilmington on Feb. 22.

--Old Secesh

A Very Good Account of the Confederate Flag Controversy in the Yeshiva University Commentator

From the November 27, 2016, Yeshiva University Commentator "The Confederate Flag You Never Knew" by Uri Seligman.

This was a well-researched article that explains both sides of the issues and is well worth reading, regardless of which side you are on in this controversy.

Granted, readers of this blog know which side I'm on in this.

The majority of the comments were negative about Mr. Seligman's words.

I also had never heard of this school, so looked it up and Yeshiva University is a Jewish college founded in New York City in 1886.

Well Worth a Read.  --Old Secesh

So, What Really Is the Confederate Flag?

From the November 27, 2016, Yeshiva University Commentator "The Confederate Flag You Never Knew" by Uri Seligman.

What most people call the Confederate Flag (the rectangular one most often seen) is actually the Second Confederate Naval Jack (1863-1865).  This would have been officially flown on Confederate ships.  The square version is actually the battle flag of Lee's Army of Northern Virginia.

It consists of a blue St. Andrew's Cross on a red field.

--Old secesh

Now That He's Been Found Guilty On With the Sentencing

That was good news this past week when the jury found the Charleston, S.C., murderer guilty.

Here's hoping that he is sentenced to death.  To do that in such a cold-blooded manner is unfathomable.  Plus, the huge black anti-Confederate attacks that have resulted makes payment necessary.

He did no favors for my heritage.

Who's Name Will Not Be Mentioned in This Blog. --Old Secesh

Pearl Harbor's 75th Anniversary Reminded Me of the Battle of Gettysburg 75th in 1938

From Wikipedia.

Twenty-five veterans of the battle attended, along with 1,359 Union and 486 Confederate veterans still living.  This was out of an estimated 8,000 still living.

President Franklin D. Roosevelt spoke at the event which lasted from July 1-4, 1938.

The average age of attendees was 94.

Real History There As Is the Pearl Harbor 75th.

--Old Secesh

New York Times Reports Partial List of Fort Wagner Casualties of the 48th New York

From the July 28,1863, New York Times "REPULSE AT FORT WAGNER.; Partial Lists of Killed and Wounded in the New-York and New-England Regiments."

I will start with just Lieutenant Robert S. Edwards Company C of the 48th New York:

COMPANY C

Killed:  Captain James Farrell, Lt. Robert S. Edwards and Private Daniel Kane.

Missing:  11 privates.

Wounded: Sgt. F. Frankenburg, severely, Sgt. Schutz, Corp. J. O'Brien, Corp. Warner and 11 privates.

The Times gave the names of the privates.

--Old Secesh

Merritt Simonds Post No. 283 GAR, DeKalb, Illinois-- Part 2

From SUV c63

Merritt Simonds joined Company K of the 42nd Illinois Infantry Regiment on August 4, 1862.  He was a new recruit among battle-hardened veterans.  His first combat was at the Battle of Stone's River where the 42nd lost 161 of 350 engaged.

At the Battle of Chickamauga, they entered action late on September 19 and attacked through the Vinyard Field, but were repulsed with heavy losses.  About noon on September 20, the 42nd and the rest of Sheridan's Division were moving northeast past the Widow Glenn house when they were attacked by Hindman's Division and driven from the field.  The 42nd was driven from the field losing 143 of the 305 troops they had.

Merritt Simonds was one of them.  He was wounded and captured after suffering tremendously and not taken off the field until September 26.

He died on October 29, 1863 and is buried at Chattanooga.

--Old Secesh

It Was 75 Years Ago: Pearl Harbor "Almost on the USS Arizona"

A date I commemorate in all of my blogs, regardless of what they are about.

From the Youngstown Ohio Pearl Harbor Survivors Profiles.

ANTONE T. "CAL' CALDERONE  Jackson Township near Massillon.

Played tuba and string bass on the USS West Virginia.  In combat he was on communications and damage control.

"I almost got killed on the Arizona. On December 6, there was a battle of the bands but the USS West Virginia did not participate because we were on guard duty.  But the Tennessee band played, and they picked me up.  After playing, the Tennessee band officer asked me to say and my officer said no.

"The Arizona band took me to the West Virginia and as they pulled alongside I wished them a merry Christmas.  If my officer had not denied me permission to stay, I would have been in the Arizona band compartment on December 7.   It took a direct hit and they lost everybody.  To this day, I can't forget it."

Not Forgetting One Bit.

Merritt Simonds Post No. 283, GAR in DeKalb, Illinois-- Part 1

The Merritt Simonds Post No. 283, Grand Army of the Republic, DeKalb was organized in 1883 with 22 charter members.  Merritt Simonds of DeKalb fought and died from his wounds at the Battle of Chickamauga, Georgia, in 1863.

Henry B. Gurler served as its first commander.  Charles F. Beaufire was adjutant and George H. Gurler was quartermaster.

The post disbanded in 1965.  The flagpole must have come from funds left over.

--Old Secesh

Looking Back to 1966: New Flagpole Dedicated at the DeKalb, Illinois, Library by Women's Relief Corps

From the November 16, 2016, MidWeek (DeKalb,Illinois) "Looking Back."

"In a ceremony by the DeKalb Post of the American Legion, the new flag and flagpole of the DeKalb Library was dedicated.  The flagpole was given by the Merritt Simonds Women's Relief Corps No. 60 Auxiliary of Grand Army of the Republic and the flag provided by the DeKalb Elks Lodge No. 765."

Still Around Back Then, Evidently.  --Old Secesh

48th New York Infantry-- Part 1: A Fort Fisher Connection

From Wikipedia.

Lt.-Col. James Martin Green was an officer in the 48th New York when he was killed in the assault on Fort/Battery Wagner on Morris Island, guarding South Carolina on July 18, 1863, an attack made famous by the 54th Massachusetts, an all-black regiment, in the movie "Glory!"

I have been writing about James Green and the fort named after him on Folly Island, so decided to do some research into his regiment.

I found out that this regiment primarily operated along the Southern coasts and was at the Second Battle of Fort Fisher.  At the war was ending, the regiment was in my hometown of Goldsboro, N.C..

I'll have to make mention of the 48th New York in my Civil War Naval Blog.

--Old Secesh

Folly Island, S.C., in the Civil War-- Part 8: Fort Green

The fort's name:  "By order of Gen. Gilmore, an important battery on Folly Island has been named Fort Green, in honor of the memory of the late Lieut.-Col. James M. Green, of this city (Troy, New York)."

Troy Daily Times, November 7, 1863.

James Martin Green of the 48th New York Infantry, was killed July 18, 1863 in the Union assault on Fort Wagner, guarding Charleston Harbor, South Carolina.  Lt.-Col Green was last seen alive astride a rebel cannon sabering the men who were serving it.  He had entered the service as a private.

--Old Secesh

Folly Island, S.C., in the Civil War-- Part 7: OK, What Is "Pluff Mud?"

In the last post I mentioned "Pluff Mud."  Not having an idea exactly how that might differ from regular mud, I had to look it up.

Pluff Mud, also spelled Plough Mud, is a Carolina Low Country term for a slippery, shiny brown-gray, sucking mud with a distinctive smell, like none other, of the tidal flats and spartina grass salt marshes.

It doesn't sound like something I'd like to go tramping  around in or being sucked into in that case.

There are several things in Charleston by the name of Pluff Mud, including an offering by the Holy City Brewing of Charleston called a Pluff Mud Porter.

I Might take a Pass On That.  --Old Secesh

Folly Island, S.C., in the Civil War-- Part 6: Fort Green

From wdma.ny.gov/kist/

While researching Folly Island, I came across the name of a Fort Green and did some more research.

In fall of 1863, Fort Green was constructed on Little Folly Island with its guns aimed at Charleston.  There is no known record of the Union dismantling it, though they probably did and at least they took the fort's artillery.  But, for the most part, the site was simply abandoned.

At the end of the war, the north end of Folly island was abandoned (probably those cannonballs discovered in the wake of Hurricane Matthew in October were a remnant of that).  The fort and rifle pits were filled with used and broken equipment described as "later buried in sand and preserved in pluff mud, these materials were forgotten until exposed by Hurricane Hugo in 1989."

--Old Secesh

Some More on the (l)ouisville Confederate Monument's Time Capsule

From the Nov. 22, USA Today.

Along with the cigar smoked by Jefferson Davis, the time capsule included a scarf worn by one of his secretaries, a likeness of General Lee. a Bible, fabrics and Confederate money.

The time capsule was buried six inches below the base of the monument.

Believe it or  not, the financially strapped city spent $400,000 to remove it, though I guess we should be thankful that they didn't just bulldoze it down.

I looked at photos of them taking it down, one of the saddest things I've ever seen.  To think that a city would do something like that to destroy history.

Again, the Shame of louisville.  --Old Secesh

The Confederate Time Capsule in (l)ouisville

From the Nov. 22, 2016, Gizmodo "Confederate Time Capsule Opened, Is Filled With Soggy Garbage" by Mike Novak.

(l)ouisville will continue in lower case in my blog because of its shame.

When the Confederate Monument in louisville was built, the people put in time capsule under it and put items associated with the effort of independence, some of them rare.  One was a cigar smoked by President Jefferson Davis and Confederate currency.

Unfortunately, the contents had become waterlogged.  But, efforts will be made to dry them out to see what can be saved.

Mike Novak is anti-Confederate and I would think that had the water not gotten into the capsule he still would have considered its contents "Garbage."

He closed with the words "Good riddance, traitors."

It is very unfortunate that the contents were waterlogged.

--Old Secesh

Folly Island, S.C. in the Civil War-- Part 5: One or Two Islands?

Folly Island is sometimes two islands called Big Folly and Little Folly (today it is just one island).  Even when it is two islands, you could cross between them on foot at low tide.

The name Folly might come from an old English word for clump of trees.

During the 1700s and 1800s, ships passing the northern tip of Folly Island would drop off their sick and dying there to avoid quarantine.  As such, it was sometimes referred to as Coffin Island.

A photo accompanies the article of the remains of the blockade-runner Ruby which ran aground at Folly Island June 10-11, 1863.

--Old Secesh

Folly Island, S.C., in the Civil War-- Part 4: Fort Green

A photo accompanies the article taken from the northern tip of Folly Island looking toward the southern tip of Morris Island with the lighthouse standing in the water.

Fort Green (1863-1865), was a Union fort on Folly island's east end at Lighthouse Inlet.  Nothing remains of it.  Back in the war, it consisted of ten separate, unnamed, batteries mounting 44 guns.

I've also seen it spelled Fort Greene.

--Old secesh

Folly Island, S.C. in the Civil War-- Part 3: Battle of Morris Island and Fort Wagner

Continued from October 25, 2016.

Folly Island was a base for housing troops and equipment, but there was an artillery battery at the northern end of the island that served as a staging base for the Battle of Morris Island to the north from July to September 1863.  The famous Fort Wagner was on Morris Island.

Fort Wagner was shelled from the battery on Folly Island and troops deployed from it, including the 54th Massachusetts (movie "Glory"), for the unsuccessful attack.  When Fort Wagner was finally captured, artillery was moved to it and it was renamed Battery Meade.  They then began firing on Fort Sumter from there.

--Old Secesh

Stone Mountain Carver Dies at Age 84: Roy Faulkner

From the AL.com, Alabama  "Roy Faulkner, who finished the Stone Mountain Confederate carvings, dies at 84.

This would be the famous huge carvings of Confederates Lee, Jackson and Davis on the side of Georgia's Stone Mountain, near Atlanta.

He was a welder by trade and was initially hired at Stone Mountain to build an elevator to help workers move up and down it to accomplish their work.  Later, he took over as chief carver and it was the only piece of artwork he ever did, even though he was not a trained sculptor artist.

--Old secesh

The Confederacy Under Attack-- Part 392: That Confederate Monument in (l)ouisville

From the November 15 and 19, 2016, Google Alerts for Confederate.

**  A Michigan police officer suspended for driving with a Confederate Flag at 'Love Trumps Hate' rally.  (Traverse City)  He has since resigned.

**  There are many articles referring to the removal of the controversial Confederate monument in (l)ouisville.  For its shame, the city is now relegated to lower case in my blog.  Why should it be controversial.  If you  don't like it, don't look at it.

But, one good thing coming out of the removal is the recovery of the time capsule under it, even though much of the contents were destroyed by water.

But, my hat is off to the wonderful town of Brandenburg, Kentucky, which is taking the monument and will put it back up.

Even worse, louisville has financial problems and I read that they spent $400,000 for the monument's removal.

All for the PC of It.  --Old Secesh

The Confederacy Under Attack-- Part 391: 78 Confederate Flags Replaced at Cemetery

From the November 23, 2016, Google Alerts for Confederate.

**  Sons of Confederate Veterans replace 78 flags taken from graves in Brunswick cemetery.  (Brunswick, Georgia)  The flags were taken in August from Confederate graves at Oak Grove Cemetery and replaced by members of the Thomas Marsh Forman Camp 485 SCV.

At first this was thought to be something done by Confederate-haters, but turned out to be the Oak Grove Cemetery Society who claimed that the flags, placed there in April, had been the victims of vandals and the elements.

--Old Secesh

The Confederacy Under Attack-- Part 390: Flag Situation in South Carolina

From the November 16, 2016, Google Alerts for Confederatw.

**  Restaurant owner opposed in bid to lower Confederate Flag.  (Orangeburg, S.C.)  (Split Decision)  Tommy Daras wanted to take the flag down from land by his restaurant, the Edisto River Creamery and Kitchen, saying it was bad for business.

But, the SCV say they own the small plot of land the flag is on.  They received the deed to it back in 2005 from the former restaurant owner.  It was formerly part of a bbq chain called Maurice's, owned by Maurice Bessinger, who had a dozen restaurants serving the local mustard-based yellow bbq sauce.  He was very pro-Confederate and flew the flag at his stores and had Confederate literature.

In this case, the SCV should give or sell the land back to the new owner.

--Old Secesh

The Confederacy Under Attack-- Part 389: Recommendations on Virginia Statues

From the November 11-14, 2016, Google Alerts for Confederate.

**  Charlottesville panel reports on Confederate statues.  (Virginia)  (Split Decision).  They recommend that the Lee and Jackson statues remain, but want the parks around them renamed and redesigned.  Well, at least they want the statues to remain.

--Old secesh

The Confederacy Under Attack-- Part 388: Illinois, Virginia and New York

From the November 10-11, 2016, Google Alerts for Confederate.

**  Prairie Ridge High School suspends student for wearing Confederate Flag to school.  (Crystal Lake, Illinois)  (Well).  He wore it evidently as a cape.  That is a bit much.  There should be no problems with the flag on a tee shirt, but a cape is overdoing it.

**  Confederate monument defaced with anti-Trump Graffiti in Richmond.  (Virginia)  (Loss)  Well, at least it isn't BLM or something such.

**  Pro-Trump protesters fly Confederate Flag at Le Moyne College, ant-Trump march held.  (Syracuse, New York)  (Loss)  that is as bad as the KKK or any racist group flying it.

--Old Secesh

Red River Campaign Conclusion

From Wikipedia.

Strength and casualties:

Union--   30,000 with 5,500 casualties
Confederate--  6,000-15,000 with 4,300 casualties.

**  A Union failure and the campaign did not have a major impact on the war.

**  It might have prolonged the war, though because it diverted the Union effort to capture the much more important Mobile, Alabama.

**  It effectively ended Union General Nathaniel Banks' military career.

**  The presence of cotton speculators and use of military boats to remove the cotton plagued his political career in later years.

**  Admiral Porter and the Navy seized a whole lot of cotton and made a lot of money.

**  The Confederacy lost two very able generals in Green and Mouton.

**  The Confederacy suffered casualties it could afford to lose.

**  It really wasn't a pressing military objective because with the fall of Vicksburg and Union control of the Mississippi River, the area was already cut off.

--Old Secesh

The Red River Campaign's Objectives

From Wikipedia.

1.  Destroy Richard Taylor's Confederate Army.

2.  Capture Shreveport, Louisiana, Confederate headquarters of the Trans-Mississippi Department.

3.  Control of the Red River.

4.  The occupation of East Texas.

5.  Confiscate as many as 100,000 bales of cotton from plantations and warehouses along the Red River.

6.  Organize a pro-Union government in the region.

There are some historians who also believe the presence of 25,000 French troops in Mexico and Emperor Maximillian also had something to do with it.

--Old Secesh

The Confederacy Under Attack-- Part 387: The Shame of louisville

From the November 20, 2016, Google Alerts for Confederate.

The Confederate Memorial in louisville was taken down over the weekend and now will be given to the town of Brandenbury.  It stood to honor those from the Louisville area who risked their lives fighting for the Confederacy and was 70 feet tall and stood there for 121 years.

Some want a statue to Muhammed Ali put up there in its place.  As we all know, he certainly risked his life for the country that enabled him to become so famous and rich.

And, I was thinking of going to louisville for the Kentucky Derby.  I think not.  For its shame, louisville now will be relegated to lower case.

And, the city and college did not even pay the required million dollars to remove a Confederate monument.

Like Rodney Dangerfield Said, "I Tell You, I Can't Get Any ...." --Old Secesh

And, In the Meantime, Shootings and Killings Mount

WXRT in Chicago reports this morning that in Chicago over the weekend, that police are investigating 30 shootings and 9 fatalities.  Most are black.

In other news, one policeman was executed in San Antonio and three others in other states were wounded.  Wonder who was involved in these?

I also read that since the beginning of the year, 58 police officers across the United States have been killed in line of duty.

Looks Like Someone Has declared War.  Wonder Who?  --Old Secesh

Bailey's Dam at Alexandria, Louisiana

From Wikipedia.

In the last post I wrote about Bailey's Dam which resulted in the saving of Admiral Porter's fleet during the Red River Campaign when it raised the river's water level high enough for the ships to pass through some very shallow water.

The site was listed on the NRHP in 1976.  Remnants of it could be seen at low water until 1987 when the United States Corps of Engineers completed the John Overton Lock and Dam downstream which flooded the site.

Before flooding it, however, the Corps sponsored archaeological excavations of it.

--Old Secesh

MCCWRT Meeting-- Part 8: Red River Campaign-- Bailey and the Dam

On April 23, 1864, there was an engagement at Monett's Ferry and banks was able to get away to safety.

In the meantime, Admiral Porter's Union fleet was in dire straits at Alexandria as the Red River was too low for his ships to pass there.  It was six feet lower than usual and the gunboats were stranded.  The Union faced the serious possibility of having to destroy its entire fleet.

Enter Joseph Bailey who suggested temporary dams to raise the water level and enable the ships to pass over the shallows.  The first dam broke, but the USS Lexington and some ships did manage to get through to safety before the river got too shallow again.

It was rebuilt, along with wing dams upriver.  It was opened May 13 and all of Porter's ships got through this time.

Then on May 20th, the Union Army was unable to cross the Atchafalaya River because of high water.  It was Bailey to the rescue again when he had steamers line up, placed planks across them and a temporary bridge made.

For his efforts, Bailey was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor.

Some Kind of Engineer, That Joseph Bailey.  --Old Secesh

Nov. MCCWRT Meeting, the Red River Campaign-- Part 7: Confederate General Green Loses His Head

The shallowness of the Red River had become a major problem for Porter's gunboats and in addition, Confederate troops and artillery began attacking the Union ships from the river banks.  Porter began going back down the river.

One of the best generals on the Confederate side, Thomas Green, was decapitated by a shot from the USS Osage that was directed by a periscope, one of the first time this devise was used in battle.  His loss hurt the Confederate side badly.

The USS Eastport hit a torpedo and eventually the Union force had to blow it up to prevent its capture.

At this time, Richard Taylor lost many of his troops who were taken to fight the Union advance from Little Rock.On April 23rd, there was an engagement at Monett's Ferry, but Banks was getting away.

--Old Secesh

Nov. MCCWRT Meeting-- Part 6: The Red River Campaign Union Wins Battle of Pleasant Hill, Porter Continues Up the River

On April 5, 1864, the Battle of Pleasant Hill was fought.  It was not really a hill, but more of a small rise.  The Union forces won this battle even though they had possibly one of the sorriest defensive positions ever during the war.

Even with the win, Banks did not go on the offensive.

In the meantime, Union Admiral Porter was continuing up the Red River, despite the low water level.  He was still expecting to rendezvous with Banks upriver.  The Confederates had sunk the steamer New Falls City across the channel to impede his progress.Near Shreveport, the Confederates had also blown up a dam and further diverted some 75% of the Red River's flow into a nearby bayou.

--Old Secesh

The Confederacy Under Attack-- Part 386: Trump's Election, Perhaps the Beginning of a Backlash?

From the November 8-10, 2016, Google Alerts for Confederate.

**  Drivers wave Confederate Flags, Donald Trump signs at Florida polls.  (Not Sure)  Perhaps the long-awaited backlash against the Confederate bashers is under way.  Donald Trump's surprising election win might just signal it.  But, please don't wave Confederate Flags at blacks.  It is like waving the red flag in front of a bull.  By the way, I voted for Clinton.

**  **  Authorities investigate arson at Confederate Memorial Hall Museum.  (New Orleans)  (Loss)  Just imagine if pro-Confederate folk vandalized a black memorial or museum.  That would be racism.  Not so when it's the other way around.

--Old Secesh

Nov. MCCWRT-- Part 6: Red River Campaign-- The Battle of Mansfield

The Union forces now veered inland to follow a road at Grand Ecore, about half way between Alexandria and Shreveport.

In the meantime, Confederate General Richard Taylor had been reinforced and now had enough men to fight Smith.  In addition, he also now had cavalry to serve as his eyes on Union movements.

The Union forces were heading toward Mansfield, but Taylor set up a defensive position at Sabine's Crossroads and a battle took place there on April 4, 1864.  It goes by two names, the Battle of Mansfield and the Battle of Sabine's Crossroads.

The Confederates had a numerical advantage at this battle, 8,000 to 4,400.  Confederate officers rode their horses into battle and many were killed or wounded, but the Union line was forced back.  Banks lost 2200 men and Confederates 1,000.

--Old Secesh

The Confederacy Under Attack-- Part 385: White Driver Beaten By Black Men in Chicago

This happened recently after the election of Donald Trump.  A white man was driving in a mostly-black area of Chicago when he was stopped, pulled from his vehicle and badly beaten by a group of blacks.  It was recorded on a cell phone and the scene has been replaying a lot on local media.

Remarkably, Black Lives Matter, the NAACP and Jesse Jackson and others have not said anything about this.  Just imagine had it been a black person beaten by a group of whites.  I imagine we might have heard something from them.

If this is not a racially tinged hate crime, I don't know what is.

--Old Secesh

Nov. MCCWRT Meeting-- Part 5: Red River Campaign, CSA-USN and Low Water

Cotton was a major factor in the drive to Shreveport.  The U.S. Navy got to Alexandria, Louisiana, first and immediately set about "procuring" as much cotton as they could get their hands on.  This was cotton money that would go to the Navy, not the Army..

They even went so far as to stamp CSA on the cotton to make it o.k. to take.  The Army had a put-down joke concerning such bales as this that they came across, stamped with both CSA and USN.  The letters, they said, stood for Cotton Stealing Association of the United States Navy.

A major problem, other than the rivalry to get the cotton, but one more of a threat to mission success was the low level of the Red River.  The expedition was planned during the spring to take advantage of high water, but 1864, the spring flooding that might be expected did not come.  There were some major shallows at Alexandria that proved to be time-consuming and hard work to get over.

The largest Union warship, the USS Eastport really got stuck and took an extreme lot of effort to get it refloated and past the shallows.  After more effort, the Navy managed to get 13 gunboats over it.

--Old Secesh

Nov. MCCWRT Meeting: The Red River Campaign-- Part 4: A Two-Pronged Assault

Union General Banks had 25,000 troops overall, but his main general, Andrew J. Smith, and he didn't get along well.  The Confederates opposing them were under the overall command of Edmund Kirby Smith, but his subordinate, Gen. Richard Taylor was in tactical command.

Taylor had some 7,000 men and no cavalry to screen his movements or scout the enemy.

The Union plan called for a two-pronged movement against Shreveport.  The main one was to go up the Red River while a smaller one would approach from Little Rock, Arkansas.

Union forces captured Fort DeRussy and the overwhelmed Taylor began falling back up the Red River.

--Old Secesh

Nov. MCCWRT Meeting-- Part 3: The Red River Campaign

In early 1864, the Red River Expedition was launched with Shreveport, Louisiana, as its objective.  The overall Union general in charge, Nathaniel Banks, was a political general who had been moved out west after being embarrassed and thoroughly trounced by Stonewall Jackson in the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia.

He was a powerful Massachusetts politician and had been moved in 1863 and made head of the Department of the Gulf.

For the campaign, Banks had a total of 25,000 troops overall along with the Mississippi Squadron under Admiral David D. Porter which consisted of 30 gunboats, many transports and the Marine Brigade.

One of Banks' generals was Andrew W. Smith, who accompanied Porter's fleet up the Red River.  Smith and Banks did not like each other at all.

--Old Secesh

The Confederacy Under Attack-- Part 384: A Different Kind of Confederate Flag

From the November 4 and 7, 2016, Google Alerts for Confederate.

**  Evidence:  Officer was wearing Confederate Flag T-shirt.  (Cincinnati, Ohio)  (Loss)  A University of Cincinnati police officer was wearing it when he fatally shot and unarmed black man last year.  I figure he must have been off-duty as that definitely is not part of the uniform.

**  Alberta politicians condemn Confederate-style flag at Red Deer protest.  (Canada)  It was a protest against a carbon tax and someone had a Confederate Flag where the stars had been substituted for Canadian maple leafs.

--Old Secesh

November MCCWRT Meeting-- Part 2: The Red River Campaign

Pat McCormick was this evening's keynote speaker and talked about the Union's ill-fated Red River Campaign, summing it up as a textbook example of how not to conduct a campaign and one that was really not necessary.

Overall, it took place because of Texas, even though it took place in Louisiana.    It was hoped that it would get the cotton-raising non-slave-owning Germans there as well as many pro-Unionists to break away from the Confederacy.

And, another big reason was for cotton and cotton speculation..  Politicians in New England were putting pressure on Lincoln to get Texas because of the cotton needed for their textile factories.

Another reason to worry about Texas was because of the increasing French presence in Mexico as well as Confederate supplies coming across the Rio Grande River between Matamoras and Brownsville, Texas.

An earlier attempt to invade Texas had been stopped by Dick Dowling and his force at Fort Griffin at the Battle of Sabine Pass.

--Old Secesh

The Confederacy Under Attack-- Part 383: Last Mississippi University Takes Down State Flag

From the Google Alerts of  November 3- 4, 2016, for Confederate.

**  Iowa Cop Shooting Suspect Had Been Ejected From High School Football Game For Confederate Flag.  (Des Moines, Iowa)  (Loss)  News like this certainly doesn't help our cause.

**  Last university furls  Mississippi's Confederate-themed flag.  (Delta State University)  (Loss)  Again, I sure do not know why the state's government continues to fund these schools.

No Fly, No Pay.  --Old Secesh

November MCCWRT Meeting-- Part 1: Elections and Christmas Party

Yesterday, November 8, 2016, the McHenry County Civil War Round Table (Illinois) met at the Woodstock Public Library.

Before that, several of us had dinner at Papa G's on the historic Woodstock Square, so famously featured in the movie "Groundhog Day."  Always good conversation and eating.  And, not always on the Civil War.

We had elections and everyone was voted in to their current offices.  Like most organizations, it is hard to get folks like me involved.

December 4th, we are having our annual Christmas Party at Grand Old Mill in Wonder Lake, built in 1866, the year after the war.  Mary Todd Lincoln will be featured doing a presentation on her spiritualism.

The discussion group will meet Saturday, November 26, at Panera Bread in Crystal Lake.  Topic will be U.S. Grant from Fort Donelson.

The December Discussion Group meeting is moved up to the third Saturday, December 17, as the fourth Saturday is Christmas Eve.

--Old Secesh

The Confederacy Under Attack-- Part 382: Let's Trade Parade Dates in Virginia

From the November 3, 2016, Google Alerts for Confederate.

**  Confederate Flag group seeks permit for parade on MLK Day in Lexington.  (Virginia)  (Win)  The Virginia Flaggers actually want to trade dates for the one the black group got to have a parade on the day that the local SCV group has a parade for Lee-Jackson Day.

Well, if they can parade on our day, we can parade on their day.  But a trade would be in the best interest of the two sides.

--Old Secesh

The Confederacy Under Attack-- Part 381: New Orleans Monument Vandalized

From the November 1, 2016, Google Alerts for Confederate.

**  New Orleans Confederate monument vandalized.  (Loss)  Well, it actually is not a Confederate monument.  "Take 'Em All Down Now" spray-painted on the Liberty Place monument.

Again, of the four monuments, this is the one that has the least to do with the Confederacy and it would be alright with me if they moved it.  But vandalizing is never the answer.  Imagine if someone vandalized one of "their" monuments like that.

--Old Secesh

And, Meanwhile, the Murders Continue in Chicago

From Hey Jackass Murders and Mayhem in Chicago site.

For the week of October 30 to November 5, 2016:

MURDERS:  29

WOUNDED:  112

For the year 2016 to date:

MURDERS:  606

WOUNDED:  3803

The vast majority of these murders and people wounded are blacks shooting other blacks.  Yep, Black Lives Matter.

And the NAACP is all hot and bothered about some Confederate Flags and people honoring their ancestors.

Looks Like They Would Have Something Better to Do.  --Old Secesh

The Confederacy Under Attack-- Part 380: NAACP Gets Its Way...Again

From the November 1, 2016, Google Alerts for Confederate.

**  Confederate Flags banned at upcoming conference.  (York Technical College, South Carolina)  (Loss)  The South Carolina Division of the Sons of Confederate Veterans is having their annual conference there next May.  The NAACP protested it and the school banned flags and is looking for ways to get out of the contract.

Personally, if I were the S.C. SCV, I'd cancel the contract.  However, if the SCV can't use the facilities, neither should the NAACP or any other black racist or divisive group.

Fair's Fair.  --Old Secesh

The Confederacy Under Attack-- Part 379: About Those Gay Flags and Confederate Flags

From the October 31, 2016, Google Alerts for Confederate.

**  Is the Confederate Flag Constitutionally Protected?  Not at this high school.  (Christian Science Monitor) (Bloomington North High School.  This is the one where students protesting the presence of Gay flags were disciplined because they wore tee-shirts and capes with Confederate Flags.

The principal says the Confederate Flags are too disruptive.  (And, of course, Gay flags aren't.)

--Old Secesh

Ten Fascinating War Artifacts From Tennessee-- Part 2:Button and a Spy Map

3.  UNION BUTTON--  Tony Guin holds a collection of Union buttons discovered at a construction site off the Charlotte Pike.  Almost 200 buttons found in what had been a Civil War burn pile which was part of a field hospital for small pox victims.  No doubt they were from burned uniforms,

4.  SPY MAP OF NASHVILLE--  A hand-drawn Confederate map made in pencil showing downtown Nashville, gun positions along the Cumberland River, fortifications around the State Capitol building, a military graveyard and Fort Negley.

It also recommends approaches to the city.  A lot of spying going on around Middle Tennessee.

--Old Secesh

Ten Fascinating War Artifacts From Tennessee-- Part 1: A Half Boot and a Drum

From the Nashville Tennesseean.

The Looking Back Project in Tennessee, sponsored by the State Library and Archives has sent teams of archivists and conservators across the state to document artifacts in the possession of every day Tennesseeans.

Some 4,000 of them have been documented over the last four years.

1.  HALF BOOT--  Customized by a Union cobbler for injured and hospitalized a Confederate soldier named David Dotson, who was wounded at the Battle of Franklin in Tennessee.

2.  UNION DRUM--    Union bass drum with writing on it around the drumhead with the names of the battles of Shiloh, Chickamauga and Stone's River.

--Old Secesh

The Confederacy Under Attack-- Part 378: Gay Flags OK, Confederate Flags Not in Indiana

From the October 28-29, 2016, Google Alerts for Confederate.

*  National Cathedral faces calls to remove windows with Confederate generals.  (Washington, D.C.)  (Loss)  Hope someone is prepared to come up with two million dollars, $1 million for each.  Remember, remove some Confederate, pay $1 million.

**  School flies an LGBTQ Flags.  Students wear Confederate Flags.  Guess Which One Gets Banned?  (Bloomington, Indiana)  (Loss)  Students were protesting the presence of Gay flags, one in the library, the other in a teacher's room.

Of course, the Confederate Flags got banned.  Gay ok, Confederate not.

Something Mighty Wrong Here.  --Old Secesh

The Confederacy Under Attack-- Part 377: Get the Parade Permit Early

From the October 28, 2016, Google Alerts for Confederate.

**  Anti-racism group to displace Confederate parade in Lexington.  (Virginia) (Loss)  For the last 15 years the parade has been held January 14, for the Lee-Jackson birthdays.  There were lots of re-enactors dressed as Confederate soldiers and flags.  The anti-racism group got the permit first.

Just because you are proud of your heritage, that does not make you a racist.  I don't do anything against their heritage, don't mess with mine.

Solution to the problem would be to have the parade on a different day.  And, next year, get there early for the permit.

--Old Secesh

The Confederacy Under Attack-- Part 376: What About Those D.C. Confederate Memorials?

**  There are still six Confederate Memorials around Washington, D.C.  How's that possible?

They are:

1.  The Mary Surratt House  (But I always thought that was more involved with the assassination.)

2.  Rebel graves at Arlington National Cemetery.  (Which is on the grounds of Robert E. lee's former house.)

3.  Lee's Arlington House (at the National Cemetery)

4.  Confederate statues in the U.S. Capitol's National Statuary Hall.

5.  Rockville's Thing Gray Line (honoring Confederate soldiers from that town).

6.  Lee-Jackson windows at  the National Cathedral.

The author obviously wants all removed.  Let's see, at a million bucks apiece, the author will have to come up with some serious dough.  Remember, since we can't possibly win in the courts or with politicians, any Confederate memorial eliminated or moved should cost the offenders a million dollars each.

--Old Secesh

The Confederacy Under Attack-- Part 375: Banning That Flag

From the October 24 and 27, 2016, Google Alerts for Confederate.

**  Confederate Flag ban at Natchez Cemetery creating controversy.  (Mississippi)  (Loss)  The fact there is a ban is a loss.

**  Bloomington school bars Confederate Flag after complaints.  (Indiana) (Loss)  Bloomington North High School.  Some students wore Confederate Flag tee-shirts and hats with the flag.  There was a complaint, maybe two, and as a result the banning.

I sure wish my complaint about something would carry as much weight as those of people of a certain race.  I could sure think of a few things I'd like to complain about and then have them banned.  But that is not likely to happen.

Little Old Me, No Voice.  --Old Secesh

And, Speaking of Idiots...That Charleston Murderer's Trial Begins

It was the unbelievable murders of the nine innocents at the Charleston church that really kicked all this anti-Confederate hatred into high gear.  It was bad before, but now it has grown way out of control.

I'm hoping the murderer, whose name is not to be mentioned, is found guilty and executed.

Meanwhile, Back in Chicago

According to Chicago's WXRT, Chicago police are investigating the murders of 18 people in the city over this past weekend.  One of the deadliest yet.

Most of them were black, even though they didn't say.  One has to wonder how long it will be before they realize that this is a MUCH BIGGER problem than Confederate flags, statues and memorials.

One Has to Really Wonder.  --Old Secesh

The Confederacy Under Attack-- Part 374: Lynching Memorial in South Carolina

From the October 15 and 21, 2016, Google Alerts for Confederate.

**  Group sues University of Mississippi to remove contextualization plaque in front of Confederate monument.  (SCV)  The group is the Mississippi Division of the Sons of Confederate Veterans.

Personally, if the contextualization gets the racist groups off our backs, I'm ok with the revised plaque. Anybody that doesn't know that the slavery question was definitely involved in the formation of the Confederacy sure doesn't know much.

**  Lynching memorial rises near revered Confederate sites.  (Abbeville, South Carolina)  (Win)  The lynching of blacks in the postwar South never should have happened.  It is a sad part of our history and I think it is only right that there should also be a monument to it.

You Can't Erase History, Good or Bad.  --Old Secesh

The Confederacy Under Attack-- Part 373: Efforts to Remove Confederate Emblem from Mississippi Flag Failing

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

**  Effort to strip Confederate emblem off state flag failing.  (Mississippi)  (Win)  I still say this should be something put to a vote again.  If the majority say it goes, I'd abide by that decision.  What we can't have are politicians and members of the justice system giving in to those special and racist groups so much against the flag.

And, I am most surprised that the state still sends money to the universities after they have refused to fly the flag.

No Fly, No Pay.  --Old Secesh

The Confederacy Under Attack-- Part 372: Tennessee Historical Commission Rejects Memphis Bid to Relocate Confederate Statue

From the October 22, 2016, Google Alerts for Confederate.

**  Commission rejects plan to relocate Confederate statue.  (Memphis, Tennessee) (Win)  The Tennessee Historical Commission rejected the move by the Memphis City Council to relocate the Nathan Bedford Forrest statue.

And, besides, they haven't offered to pay the $1 million relocation fee.

--Old Secesh

The Confederacy Under Attack-- Part 371: How About That NAACP?

From October 8 and 11, 2016, Google Alerts for Confederate.

**  Virginia Supreme Court won't rehear Confederate Flag Appeal.  (Danville) (Loss)

**  Rock Hill NAACP denounces York Tech decision to host SC Sons of Confederate Veterans.  (South Carolina)  The SCV is to hold its state convention there.  What if the SCV decides to denounce any place having the NAACP state convention?  But that sure would be a racist thing for the SCV to do.

Of Course, Anything the NAACP Does Is definitely Not Racist.  Are We Talking About the Same Group?  --Old Secesh

The Confederacy Under Attack-- Part 370: Facing the Expenses of Moving Those Heritage Statues

From the October 5 and 8, 2016, Google Alerts for Confederate.

**  Confederate statue will stay put for now.  (Gainesville, Florida)  (Win)  They can't afford the cost to move the statue of "Old Joe."  And, that is not even including the $1 million they should have to pay to move it to the people whose heritage they are trampling upon.

**  Removing Two Confederate statues may cost Virginia city $700 K.  (Charlottesville)  (Win)  Awwww!!  I'm so sad.  And that does not even count the $1 million they need to pay the SCV and UDC.

--Old Secesh

The Confederacy Under Attack-- Part 369: Rise in Black Tourism in S.C. Because of Flag Removal.

Google Alerts from October 1 and 4, 2016, for Confederate.

**  Texas State Quietly Removes Confederate Monument.  (Loss)  It was of Jefferson Davis and had been on campus for 85-years.  Hey, doesn't the school owe a million bucks to the USC and SCV?

Remove a Confederate Monument and you should pay for destroying our heritage.  Million bucks a pop.

**  Rise in S.C. tourism among African-Americans following Confederate Flag removal.  That would be the flag taken down last year.

I'd have been just as happy if they stayed away.  Remember, the state was the first to secede and did have you-know-whats.  If the flag offended them so much, surely these things should as well.

--Old Secesh

The Confederacy Under Attack-- Part 368: Confederate Flags

From the September 29, 2016, Google Alerts for Confederate.

**  Confederate Flag images quietly removed from National cathedral.  (Washington, D.C.)  (Loss)  Well, next the name of the city will have to be changed because, after all, he owned you-know-what.

**  Confederate Flag confiscated during Manatee High School Spirit Week.  (Florida)  (Loss)

--Old Secesh

The Confederacy Under Attack-- Part 367: Future of New Orleans Monuments

From the September 27-28, 2016, Google Alerts for Confederate.

**  Petition calls for BYU to remove Confederate Flag from student's dorm window.  (Utah)  (Loss)  Brigham Young University.  Of course, that would then remove anything in any student's dorm window that anyone finds offensive must then be removed.

**  Future of New Orleans Confederate Monuments argued in Court.  I thought that was already done.  New Orleans remains upper case until they remove the monuments.

There are four monuments to be removed.  I'm ok with the Liberty Square one being removed, but the other three should cost a million dollars apiece to remove.

--Old Secesh

The Confederacy Under Attack-- Part 367: Statue to Remain At Least For Awhile in Alexandria, Va.

From the September 26, 2016, Google Alerts for Confederate.

**  Despite Alexandria council vote, little chance 'Appomattox' statue will be moved.  (Virginia)  (Win)  The council wants to move it to the adjacent historical museum.  On September 17, the council voted to move it.

I still say, anyone wanting a Confederate monument or name removed should pay a million dollars to do so.

--Old Secesh

The Confederacy Under Attack-- Part 366: Dueling Protests in New Orleans

From the September 25, 2016, Google Alerts for Confederate.

**   New Orleans:  Hundreds Protest Jackson, Confederate Monuments.  (Loss)

**  Dueling protests over Confederate monuments.  (New Orleans)  Well, at least we had some people there protesting the protest.

**  Confederate Flag sticker found on Ohio daycare bus.  (Oh, the horror, the horror.)

--Old Secesh

Folly Island, S.C. in the Civil War-- Part 2: Forts and Batteries

The Union forces constructed batteries and forts at both the northern and southern ends of Folly island.  A large commissary depot, known as Pawnee Landing was built more toward the middle of the island to load and unload troops and supplies.  This is probably where the cannonballs discovered after Hurricane Matthew were discovered.

The only actual fighting on Folly island took place May 10, 1863, when Confederates attacked Union pickets on the left side of Little Folly island.  It was a light action, more of a skirmish as the Southerners were mostly on a reconnaissance mission to gather information and take prisoners.

--Old Secesh

The Confederacy Under Attack-- Part 365: Flag Flaps All Over

From the September 23, 2016, Google Alerts for Confederate.

**  East Tennessee's largest Confederate Flag to be unveiled Saturday in Blountville.  (Win)

**  Rural Montgomery County In Confederate Flag Flap.  (North Carolina)  The Confederate Flag is on the N.C. state flag flies below the U.S. flag at the fire department in Troy, which is also a polling place.  Reports having it being flown there for a long time, but this is the first people have been upset over it.

**  People boycotting BBB due to Confederate Flags.  (Fayetteville, Arkansas)  (Their right to do it.)  This is the Bikes, Blues & BBQ.

Old Secesh

The Confederacy Under Attack-- Part 364: Monuments to Slave Owners and White Supremacists

From the September 22, 2016, Google Alerts for Confederate.

**  Schools named after slave owners are the new Confederate Flag.  (From Grio- opinion).  Yes, that would mean any president who owned slaves like Washington, Jefferson, Madison and Monroe.  Such bad, bad men should be erased according to some.

**  Confederate monuments are Shrines to White Supremacy.  (From the Afro-American).  (Loss)  Just as monuments to MLK are monuments to riots.

--Old Secesh

Folly Island, South Carolina, in the Civil War-- Part 1: 13,000 Union Troops There At One Time

A couple weeks ago, I wrote about the Civil War cannonballs found on Folly Island in the wake of Hurricane Matthew and I got to wondering about the role the island played during the war.

From the Civil War Album.

Federal troops occupied the island in 1863.  At one point, there were over 13,000 Union troops stationed there, including the 7th Connecticut, which regiment I am writing about right now in my Civil War Navy blog, Running the Blockade.  (And research on that regiment started because of research on General Amos Hall from the War of 1812 in my Not So Forgotten blog on that war. I had found out he had served in the 7th Connecticut during the American Revolution)

At the time of Union occupation, it was relatively uninhabited and the federal soldiers constructed the first system of roads to allow ambulances to transport the wounded and for communications.

--Old Secesh

And Meanwhile, in Chicago

As the Confederate Flag comes under increasing attack across the United States because of its slavery connection, what are blacks up to in Chicago?

I heard on WXRT that last weekend, there were 50 people wounded in Chicago and 8 killed.  Most of these were black people.

Then, there was that huge black man who pummeled the white and much-smaller female police officer in Chicago recently.  She did not shoot him, as she should have, because of fear of black repercussion.  As a result, she is in a hospital and beaten badly.

Black Lives Matter, You Know.  And, That Confederate Flag, You Know.  --Old Secesh

The Confederacy Under Attack-- Part 363: Outrage in St. Cloud

From the September 20-21, 2016, Google Alerts for Confederate.

**  Somalis report Confederate Flag waving, threats after St. Cloud stabbings.  (St. Cloud, Minnesota)  (Loss)  A 20-year-old Somali injured ten with a knife and was killed.  The people Somalis were complaining about also flew U.S. flags.  This was a horrible event but should have nothing to do with the Confederate Flag.

**  Clay teen faces off with School District over Confederate Flag.  (Clay County, Florida)  (Loss)  he was asked to remove the flag from his truck.  His friends put Confederate Flags on their trucks in show of support.

--Old Secesh

Hainesville Civil War Re-enactment-- Part 6: 17th Corps Field Hospital

The skirmish/battle re-enactment revealed that the soldiers were in much more compact units units when fighting as compared to today where they are much more spread out.  Casualties were high because of this with the improved accuracy of rifles and artillery.

Of much interest was a re-enactment of the 17th Corps (Union) Field Hospital.  This one had a contract surgeon, one who was not in the military but hired to do surgery and operations.  He used his finger to probe for the bullet in a wounded soldier.

Amputations would not be done unless the bone was found to be shattered, which often happened in wounds.

Ninety-five percent of the soldiers were farmers and taking their leg was like taking their livelihood.

General Grant had a tent, but I didn't talk to him.

Sorry, Bub, Wrong Army.  --Old Secesh

Hainesville Civil War Re-enactment-- Part 5: No Confederate Flag on Battlefield

I always enjoy the battle re-enactments at these things.  Although there weren't more than about 30 re-enactors ion both sides in total, they sure did give observers a good idea of what a battle would look like back then.  The addition of a pa system also was very helpful and the person doing the announcing explained why things happened as they did.

The Union won this day and either forced Confederate off the field or captured them.

The only drawback was that the Union forces had flags, but there was no Confederate flag.

That PC Stuff Strikes on the Battlefield.  --Old Secesh

The Confederacy Under Attack-- Part 362: Another High School Bans the Flag

From the Google Alerts for September 19, 2016, for Confederate.

**  New Prairie officials ban display of Confederate flags.  (South Bend, Indiana)  (Loss)  Another high school banning freedom of expression.  Big surprise there.  And, this should also be on any flag anyone finds offensive.  I can think of some of them that offend me.

**  Ideas for monuments percolate from community members.  (Charlottesville, Virginia)  (Loss)  This regards the statues of Lee and Jackson.  Leave them.

--Old Secesh

The Confederacy Under Attack-- Part 361: A New Confederate Monument

From the September 17, 2016, Google Alerts for Confederate.

**  Locals gather to honor newly built Confederate monument.  (Campbell County, Virginia)  (Win)  In your face pcers.

**  Armed with ropes, activist group plans to pull down New Orleans Andrew Jackson monument.  That would be a shame as it is a highlight of that wonderful Jackson Square.  Jest a carry-over from all this anti-Confederate stuff.

--Old Secesh

Hainesville's Civil War Encampment-- Part 4: Elijah Haines

SEPTEMBER 10, 2016

I also saw a person portraying the founder of Hainesville (and namesake), Elijah Haines.  Born 1822 died 1889.  Elijah Haines came to Lake County in 1838.  Much of the village's land once belonged to him and Hainesville might have become even a bigger town, except nearby Round Lake got the train station when the railroads came through.

I was unable to find out what Mr. Haines did during the Civil War, but he likely was too old to serve as he would have been 39 years old when it started.

When the actor spoke, I knew I had heard that voice before.  But, wearing a beard, as Elijah had, the face wasn't too clear until I got closer.  It was my good friend and fellow teacher Bob who used to teach U.S. History to 8th graders at Magee Middle School.

I had a nice time visiting with him as we have lost touch.  He is also retired and big-time into acting.  Every year he plays the role of the king in exile at the nearby Renaissance Faire just over the border in Wisconsin.

We've agreed to get together for a Civil War Round Table meeting as some future date.

--Old Secesh

The Confederacy Under Attack-- Part 360: Changing Richard Dowling Street in Houston

From the September 17, 2016, Google Alerts for Confederate.

**  Dropping Confederate street name in Third Ward starts revamp of city renaming rules.  (Houston, Texas)  (Loss)  The street currently named  for Confederate hero Richard Dowling, but want it changed to Emancipation Avenue.  Evidently, the name has not been changed yet.

Houston really seems in the mood for Confederate erasure as their school system has already changed the names of all schools with Confederate ties.

Of course, I still propose a $1 million to the SCV or UDC for any Confederate name or memorial changes or removals.  If you have to be pc, then pay for it.

--Old Secesh

7th Connecticut Infantry: American Revolution and Civil War Regiment

I have been doing research into the 7th Connecticut Infantry in my Not So Forgotten War of 1812 blog.   This was a regiment that fought in the American Revolution.

 This started as I was looking for the service of the War of 1812's Major General Amos Hall who was in it as was his father, Stephen Hall, who commanded a company.  I also found out that Nathan Hale was an officer in the unit before he became George Washington's spy and you're probably familiar with what happened to him.

While researching it, I found that Wikipedia also had a 7th Connecticut fighting during the Civil War.  And, it was at the second Battle of Fort Fisher, which is right up my line of interest.

I'll write more about this unit in my Running the Blockade Civil War Naval blog.

--Old Secesh

The Confederacy Under Attack-- Part 359: While You're At It, Alexandria

From the September 17, 2016, Google Alerts for Confederate.

**  Alexandria will seek to move Confederate statue and rename Jefferson Davis Highway.  (Virginia)  (Loss)  And it was a Southern town.  But, perhaps they should go even a step further if they are so concerned with any and all things Confederate.

Since people in that town owned slaves all the way to the end of the war (remember, only slaves in Confederate-occupied land were freed in the Emancipation Proclamation and Alexandria was under Union control almost from the get-go of the war), I think that they should seriously consider changing their town's name.

Perhaps rename it P.C. City or Black lives Matter.

And, remember.  You should be paying the UDC or SCV $1 million for every Confederate memorial removed or whose name is changed.  That would be $2 million.

Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is.  --Old Secesh

Hainesville, Illinois, Civil War Encampment-- Part 4: "Hurry Up, We've Got a War to Get To"

The lady who drove in who was wearing a hoop skirt said she played a civilian, no one in particular, just an average woman of the war.  While waiting for the bus to pick us up I suggested that with that hoop skirt and parasol she had, she could perhaps Mary Poppins it to the encampment site.

The bus seemed to take a real long time to come back to get us.  "Hurry up, we've got a war to get to!!"

It finally came and we were on out way over a road that would have been right at home during the war.  It was a very bumpy ride.

We saw General Grant, Mr. and Mrs. Lincoln and Elijah Haines for whom the Village of Hainesville was named.  Mr. and Mrs Lincoln were Max and Donna Daniel, probably the best Abraham and Mary Lincoln actors anywhere in the Midwest.  Sadly, they have already announced that they will be "retiring" from performing them after this year.  I've seen then on several occasions and they sure do a great job.  He even has quite the sense of comedy as did the real Lincoln.

--OldSeceshAbe

The Confederacy Under Attack-- Part 358: Do Confederate Symbols Mess You Up?

From Google Alerts for September 16-17, 2016, for Confederate.

**  JSU Research:  Confederate Symbols Could Disrupt Heart Rate, Physiology.  (Jackson State University in Louisiana)  (Loss)  Not a real big surprise that a black college would come up with something like this.  Sounds a bit racist that a black college would come up with something like this to me.  Are colleges supposed to be racist?  I guess me saying this makes me a racist.

I have to wonder what all of these black riots over police shootings is doing to my heart rate and physiology?  Probably not good.  And, then, there is what happens when I hear rap music and even worse, see white kids getting into it.

--Old Secesh

The Confederacy Under Attack-- Part 357: What To Do With the Baltimore Monuments

From the September 16, 2016, Google Alerts for Confederate.

**  No more-foot-dragging on Confederate monuments.  (Baltimore Sun)  (Loss)  I couldn't quite tell if this was an editorial or not, but the writer/paper definitely are not our friends.  A Baltimore Commission has suggested removing the Lee-Jackson statue and the one honoring Supreme Court Chief Justice Roger B. Taney, but keeping the Confederate Soldier and Sailor's Monument and the one honoring Confederate women.

The article seemed to want all of them gone.  But it did give a history of each one.

--Old Secesh

Hurricane Matthew May Dish Up Some More Historic Objects

I have been hearing a lot about all the flooding in eastern  North Carolina.  I know that the Neuse River, by where my brother lives in Goldsboro, N.C. had a new high crest level and there were several skirmishes fought near it.  As such, there is the possibility that at least something good will come of the hurricane.

Perhaps some Civil War or other historical things will be found.

One Can Only Hope That Some Good Comes of This Event.  --Old Secesh

McHenry County Civil War Round Table Meeting Tonight: Battle of Monocacy

Tonight's meeting will be at the Woodstock, Illinois, Public Library at 7 p.m. and will feature a presentation by Charlie Banks on the Battle of Monocacy.

I do not know much about this battle other than it was fought during Confederate General Jubal Early's thrust toward Washington, D.C. in 1864.

The library is located at 414 Judd Street.

I Will Now Know Much More About It.  --Old Secesh

Hurricane Matthew Washes Up Civil War Cannonballs in S.C.-- Part 5: What Type of Projectile and How'd They Get There?

Members of the United states Air Force Explosive Ordnance Team, Folly Beach Fire Department, Emergency Medical Services and Charleston County's Sheriff's Office responded to the call.

The Daily Mail of the United Kingdom said that Folly Beach is about eight miles south of Fort Sumter.

I have to wonder if they washed up on shore or were uncovered?  What kind of cannonballs were they (what type of cannon would have fire them)?    Were they intentionally left during the Civil War?  What was the name of the fort or fortification (likely a supply depot because of its distance from Morris Island and Charleston Harbor.)?

--Old Secesh

Hurricane Matthew Washes Up Civil War Cannonballs in S.C.-- Part 4: Fuses

Former Folly Beach Mayor Richard Beck discovered them and said:  "I knew they were cannonballs.  One of them had a very distinct hole in it that went directly into it, just knowing a little bit about the Civil War, I knew they put fuses in cannonballs for them to explode when they desired them to."

Beck said there were around fifteen cannonballs, most of which were welded together by rust.

--Old Secesh

Hurricane Matthew Washes Civil War Cannonballs Up in S.C.-- Part 3

From RayCom News Network.

A beach walker found them.  (Video accompanies the article).

The tip of the island at this point had lots of fortifications during the war.

By Sunday night, a number of them had been detonated by the Air Force and a small number of them transported to the Naval base.

The cannonballs were located several yards on the beach portion of East Ashley Avenue.

Witnesses reported hearing at least two loud booms and seeing smoke in the area.

--Old Secesh

Hurricane Matthew Washes Up Civil War Cannonballs in South Carolina-- Part 2

October 9, 2016.

"Civil War cannonballs found on South Carolina beach in Matthew's wake."

The cannonballs were rusted together in a pile.  A picture accompanied the article.  The bomb squad was called and the cannonballs were in the sand.

These were found at Folly Beach, South Carolina,Sunday afternoon, but the bomb experts had to wait until the rising tide receded.

Once the water goes down, technicians will render the cannonballs safe.  Local residents were warned that they might hear a small boom.

Folly Island was the site of much action during the Civil War. The first shots of the Civil War were fired from here at nearby Fort Sumter.

--OldCannonball

Hurricane Matthew Washes Up Civil War Cannonballs in South Carolina-- Part 1

"Hurricane Matthew Leaves Three Dead in South Carolina, Washes Up Civil War Cannonballs; Thousands Remain Without Power."

At Folly Beach, South Carolina, near Charleston.

The Charleston County Sheriff's Department called out a bomb squad to examine several Civil War cannonballs left in the wake of Hurricane Matthew.

The bomb squad had to wait until high tide receded to do it before checking them.

--Old SeceshWash

The Confederacy Under Attack-- Part 356: Banning the Flag

From the September 9 and 13, 2016, Google Alerts for Confederate.

**  Confederate Flag banned from New Prairie High School, sparks protest.  (South Bend, Indiana) (Loss)  At first it was believed this ban was against the flying of any flag, now it appears to be just the Confederate Flag.

**  Utah family protests Confederate Flag that flew in demolition derby.  (Loss)  Big deal.  If it offends you, don't go anymore.

--Old Secesh

North Carolina in the Civil War-- Part 3: "Put It On Your Heels To Make You Stick Better in the Next Fight"

After finding out that Jeff Davis had bought up all the tar, the other regiment then asked, "How's that, what's he going to do with it?"

The Carolinians replied,  "He's gonna put it on your heels on the next fight."

When General Lee heard the story, he remarked,  "God bless the Tar Heel boys."

The nickname stuck.

Old Sectar

The Civil War in North Carolina-- Part 2: Several Legends As to ow the Name "Tarheels" Came Into Being

There are several legends relating to the citizens of the land of tar, turpentine and pitch.  These have been major products of the state in the past (after all, with all those pine trees, you know).

One of these legends comes from the Civil War.

During one of the fiercest battles of the war, North Carolina troops felt they had been let down by another state's regiment.

Members of that other state's regiment taunted the Carolina boys, "Any more tar down in the Old North State, boys?"

The battle weary North Carolinians replied, "Not a bit.  Jeff Davis brought it all up."

And ....  --Old Secesh

The Civil War in North Carolina-- Part 1: "God Bless theTar Heel Boys"

From "The Civil War In North Carolina: Visit Our Historic Sites" brochure.

ORIGIN OF THE NAME TAR HEELS

Many of you know that one of the nicknames of North Carolina is Tar Heel.  Hey even the main state school, the University of North Carolina- Chapel Hill, is nicknamed the "Tar Heels."

But, where did the name come from?

Next Blog for Answer.  --Old Tarsesh

The Confederacy Under Attack-- Part 355: Houston Schools Spend $1.2 Million to Change Confederate Names

From the September 8, 2016, Google Alerts for Confederate.

**  San Francisco school board president calls for renaming schools tied to slavery.  That would be George Washington and Thomas Jefferson.  Really??  Get real.  No United States without these two.

**  Councilors mull  Jefferson Davis Highway change.  (Alexandria, Virginia)  (Loss)

**  People are upset that Houston spent money to change the names of schools named after Confederates.  (Texas)  I would be upset too.  They are spending $1.2 million to change the names.  That money surely could have been spent better.

--Old Secesh

The Confederacy Under Attack-- Part 354: Street Name Debate in Florida

From the September 8, 2016, Google Alerts for Confederate.

**  Confederate Flags absent Tuesday at Lake Arrowhead high school.  (California)  (Loss)

**   Confederate Flags Still Found At New York Fairs, But Meaning Is Up For Debate.  (Win)  If you don't like the flag, don't buy it.  Don't even look at them.  Go to another booth.

**  Confederate street sign debate in Hollywood.  (Florida)  They've had the names for a lot of years and some people are just realizing it?

--Old Secesh

Hainesville Civil War Encampment & Battle-- Part 3: Strange Driving Attire

Prairieview School serves elementary students in Hainesville and Grayslake and is a pretty one, done up with Frank Lloyd Wright Prairie architecture.  Sadly, when I got there, I counted only about ten cars in the parking lot, but some Police Explorers eagerly directing traffic.

I was directed, parked and then walked over to an area where a sign said there was shuttle bus pickup and drop off.  I had a 15 minute wait.  How far away was the encampment, anyway.  One reason I am glad we moved farther out when we left Round Lake Beach and moved to Spring Grove is traffic.  The whole time I was waiting there was a continuous line of cars driving west and mostly stopped on Illinois Highway 120.

And this was on a Saturday, not even a weekday rush hour.

A few more cars pulled in while I was waiting.  One of them had a lady driving with all sorts of pink material all over her body, bunched up and looking mighty strange.  I was wondering about her and then saw why.  She was wearing one of those hoop skirts.  She walked over by me and I inquired if it was hard to drive a car in a hoop skirt.  She assured me that it was.

--Old Secesh

Hainesville's Civil War Encampment and Battle-- Part 2: To Go Or Not To Go

Events consisted of talks by the presenters, a parade, drill, assembly, narrated battles on both days and hospital surgery.

It was a full docket, but unfortunately, the weather did not cooperate.  We had heavy rains in the early morning and then plenty of threatening clouds all morning and forecasts of more downpours.

Since Hainesville is about twenty miles from home, I was debating as to whether to go or not.  I would hate to drive all the way there and find it had been canceled, as happened once at the Lake Villa Civil War encampment.

However, at noon, I decided to chance it and drove there.

--Old Secesh

--

Hainesville's Civil War Encampment & Battle-- Part 1: Mr. and Mrs. Lincoln Were There

This was a first time for it in the Village of Hainesville in Lake County, Illinois.  And held September 10-11, 2016, hosted by the Northbrook Sports Club.

They had free admission and parking at nearby Prairieview School with a shuttle bus.

I had only found out about it just the Thursday before it.

They had perhaps 20 re-enactors on each side as well as many presenters including President and Mrs. Lincoln, Jefferson Davis, General Grant and Elijah Haines.  Elijah Haines was the founder of Hainesville. President Lincoln and wife were portrayed by Max and Donna Daniel.  They are quite popular for their portrayal of the famous couple in this area (northeast Illinois), but sadly I have heard that they will be "retiring" at the end of this year.

--Old Secesh

2nd Texas Infantry, the Beckmann Brothers-- Part 3: Augustus Not So Lucky

Augustus Beckmann was wounded the same day that his brother William was, April 7, 1861, at the second day of fighting at the Battle of Shiloh.  He was wounded in the knee and then taken prisoner.

He was taken to Camp Dennison in Cincinnati where he died on May 9, 1862.  All he had with him at the time was his German Testament.  Years after the war, his body was disinterred and moved to Camp Chase in Columbus where he was reburied and had the incorrect name and company on his gravestone.

I have no doubt that part of the problem with his misidentification was because of his inability to speak English very well or his accent.

Of interest, his brother William Beckmann had been a prisoner at Camp Chase during the war.

--Old Secesh

2nd Texas Infantry Beckmann Brothers-- Part 2: Both Wounded and Captured at Shiloh

William and Augustus Beckmann's (the column also lists a brother Charles) first and only battle was at Shiloh.  Both brothers came through the first day's action, April 6, 1862, unscathed.  But, the next day proved not as fortunate as both were wounded and taken prisoner.  At this time, they were also separated.

William was shot in the calf and sent to a Union hospital in Louisville and then to Camp Chase in Columbus.  Six months later he was heading home as part of a prisoner exchange.  After the war, he settled in Mississippi, married, farmed and had a family.

He died in 1914.

2nd Texas Infantry, the Beckmann Brothers-- Part 1: They Join Company F, A German-Speaking Unit

From the August 23, 2016, Columbus (Ohio) Dispatch  "Theodore Decker Commentary:  After 154 years, family finally learn fate of fallen Civil War soldier" by Theodore Decker.

The brothers, Augustus and William Beckmann  came to America from the Grand Duchy of Sachsen-Weimar-Eisenach, Germany, to find a better life.  They came for land and settled in Galveston, Texas.

Then, war came and they went to fight for their new country.  They enlisted in the 2nd Texas Infantry and became part of Company F, an all-German unit.  I imagine they felt comfortable with former countrymen.  Company F was also called the Mounted riflemen.

Unfortunately, I have not been able to find out any more about Company F, but imagine they had an interesting history.

--Old Secesh

2nd Texas Infantry, Company C, Bayland Guards-- Part 3: Sam Houston, Jr.

Colonel Ashbel Smith was wounded.  Sam Houston, Jr., 19, went missing in the action when he was wounded, but the bullet struck his metal-covered New Testament his mother had given him.

A Union chaplain found him and noted the inscription on the New Testament and, knowing his importance, gave him special care.

Sam Houston, Jr., was sent to Camp Douglas in Illinois, survived and returned home in September 1862.

The people who write this application are asking for the marker to the Bayland Guards and they did get it in 2010.

--Old Secesh

Second Texas Infantry, Company C, Bayland Guards-- Part 2: Half Killed or Wounded at the Battle of Shiloh

From the Application for Official Texas Historical Marker for Bayland Guards.

On April 27, 1861, a Harris County group from Baytown and Cedar Bayou and others from Barbers Hill in western Chambers County organized as the Bayland Guards.  Fifty-year-old Dr. Ashbel Smith trained and outfitted them at his Evergreen Plantation.

Sam Houston's son, Sam, Jr. was a member as were Samuel E. Jones and Charles Elliott Jones, sons of Anson Jones, the last President of the Republic of Texas.

The company and regiment arrived at Pittsburg Landing, Tennessee on April 3, 1861, and soon afterwards took part in the Battle of Shiloh, where the Bayland Guards led the Confederate advance into a Union camp with two other companies.  Half of Company C were killed or wounded in the assault.

--Old Secesh

Second Texas Infantry, Company C, Bayland Guards-- Part 1

Continued from September 9, 2016.

The incorrect grave marker for Augustus Beckmann also listed him as being in Company C of the 2nd Texas, as I found out, which was also incorrect.  But after finding out about this company, it had an interesting history and some somewhat famous members.

This outfit sounds to me like they were somewhat of an upper class group.  Plus, they were organized outside of Galveston.  I doubt that fairly recent immigrants like Augustus and William Beckmann would have had enough money to belong to an elite group.

--Old Secesh

The Confederacy Under Attack-- Part 353: A Mixed Bag on This Decision

From the September 8, 2016, Google Alerts for Confederate.

**  Judge hits out at Confederate emblem as he dismisses flag lawsuit.  (Mississippi)  (Win, well Loss, kinda)  The headline made me think it was a judicial decision against us, as usual.  Probably someone having an issue with the flag being somewhere.

Someone having a lawsuit against the Mississippi state flag which, of course, has that Confederate emblem on it.  The person wanted to have the flag declared unconstitutional because it was a relic of slavery.  The judge throwing the lawsuit out was definitely a win for us, but then what he said gave time for a pause in our gratitude:  "Mississippi was so devoted to the subjugation of African-Americans that it sought to have a new nation predicated upon white supremacy."

Kind of Lets Us Know Where He Stands, But At Least He Was Fair Enough to Throw the Lawsuit Out.  --Old Secesh

The Confederacy Under Attack-- Part 352: High Schools Leading the Fight

From the September 3, 2016, Google Alerts for Confederate.

**  Confederate Flags fly on vehicles at Lake Arrowhead high school.  (California)  (Win)  Took place at Rim of the World High School.  One person complained about it so officials are looking into it.  Of course.

**  Confederate Flag controversy erupts at Des Moines high school.  (Iowa)  There shouldn't be controversy over the flag.

--Old Secesh

What It Is ... Is Aggression

Just as Abraham Lincoln's Union government waged a war of aggression to subjugate the former Southern states in their attempt to start a new county, we have another war of aggression transpiring against us now.  And the saddest part is that there are so many Southerners supporting Blacklash against us.

This is a war we can't win, just as our forefathers fought.  But, we will continue to do all in our power to resist it.

Hell, No!  Not Giving Up.  --Old Secesh

The Confederacy Under Attack-- Part 351: Flags Fly and Don't

From the September 7, 2016, Google Alerts for Confederate.

**  Confederate Flags Sold at Wayne County Fair Despite Controversy.  (Ohio)  (Win)  It is always good when someone has the nerve to stand up against Blacklash.

**  Confederate Flags absent Tuesday at Lake Arrowhead high school.  (California, Rim of the World High School)  (Loss)

**  Neo-Confederate protester on campus riles up passing students.  (University of North Texas)  (Loss)  Even though he was taking a stand, verbally assaulting students and waving the Confederate Flag isn't going to win any converts.

Neo-Confederate (But Don't Do that) and Proud of It, Though.  --Old Secesh

McHenry County Civil War Round Table Meeting Tonight: The Palmyra Massacre

Tonight, the McHenry County Civil War Round Table will meet at the Woodstock Public Library at 414 Judd Street in Woodstock, Illinois, from 7 to 9 p.m., CDST.

Tonight's topic will be the Palmyra Massacre and will be presented by Frank Crawford.

--Old Secesh

The Confederacy Under Attack-- Part 350: Beware the Blacklash

From the September 1, 2016, Google Alerts for Confederate.

**  Students playing cornhole with Confederate Flag (the article headline had Confederate spelled with a small letter "c') board facing backlash.  (Trophy Club, Texas)  (Loss)  Byron Nelson High School.  Or is the correct term "blacklash?"  Ridiculous.

**  East High School student asked to remove Confederate Flag from car.  (Des Moines, Iowa)  (Loss)  And so it goes.

Blacklash Would Seem to Be a Good Term for This Anti-Confederate Movement.  --Old Secesh

And, Meanwhile, Back in Chicago: Chicago Breaks Last Year's Total of Shootings and Killings

I heard on WXRT this morning that the number of people shot in Chicago passed 3,000 yesterday.  Just this past weekend, 35 were wounded and 8 killed in these shootings.  Again, the media does not say what race those wounded and killed were, but judging from the locations, they would be mostly black.  And, we also know that the shooters were black as well.

That 3,000 makes more people shot in Chicago than in all of last year.  Over Labor Day weekend, Chicago also "broke" its total of murders for all of 2015.  And, we still have three and a half months to go in 2016.

Not a single incident of shooting or murder is attributed to a Confederate Flag, statue or memorial. None of them were done by anyone even waving a Confederate Flag.

I can not understand the black obsession with erasing my heritage because of the Charleston murders.  Not in light of them killing and shooting each other as they are doing in Chicago.

It is really a sad state of affairs.

Concentrate On WHAT Is REALLY Important.  --Old Secesh

The Confederacy Under Attack-- Part 349: What About Confederates Buried in National Cemeteries?

From the August 30, 2016, Google Alerts for Confederate.

**  VA Announces Plan to restrict Display of Confederate Flag 'At Any Time' in National Cemeteries.  (Loss)  Twenty-nine of the cemeteries have Confederate soldiers buried in them.  Actually, this headline is misleading.  It still means that no Confederate Flag can be flown from any permanently fixed flagpole.

But private organizations can display the flag on Confederate graves on certain days.

Personally I would like to see all Confederate soldiers buried in National Cemeteries moved to one cemetery at a cost to be paid by the NAACP and other racist black organizations.and their white pcers.

Then I would make it where no black organization could visit the Confederate cemeteries (not that I would think they would anyway).  After all, those Confederate soldiers were racists and wanted to keep blacks sold into slavery by other blacks in Africa as slaves.  There could be no other reason for them to fight.  Well, at least what blacks seem to think.

--Old Secesh

15 Years Ago

From the September 11, 2016, Dogs of C-Kennel comic strip.

1.  Picture of a dog and the words:  "This is Bretagne the service dog, along with her handler.
2.  9-11 ruins:  "She searched the rubble for two weeks..."
3.  9-11 ruins:  "sadly, they were not able to find anyone."
4.  Being petted:  "She then became a therapy dog comforting those who had lost loved ones."
5.  "She was the last living service dog who had served on 9-11."
6.  The dogs of C-Kennel:  "We thank our first responders..."
7.  Dogs of C-Kennel:  "Both two-legged and four."

McHenry County (Illinois) Civil War Deaths-- Part 18: Powers to Rogers

Again, the number of deaths suffered by one small county was rather astonishing.

J.W. Powers
C. Preston
R. Prouse
N.E. Randall
C. Rapp
C. Reardon
T. Rees
G. Reiman
J.S. Reynolds
T. Rhodes
L.A. Rice
W.D. Robb
W. Roberts
E. Robinson
J. Rogers

--Old Secesh

McHenry County (Illinois) Civil War Deaths-- Part 17: Parker to Porter

W. Parker
G.W. Parson
M. Pease
F. Pecar
I.M. Pierce
W. Pierce
O.B. Perkins
M. Perry
B.B. Pettibone
J. Phillips
O. Pickett
G.W. Petit
O.E. Pomeroy
E. Porter

--Old Secesh

2nd Texas Infantry-- Part 3: At Battle of Shiloh

The Order of Battle for the 2nd Texas Infantry at the Battle of Shiloh"

2nd Army Corps under Major General Braxton Bragg.

Second Division under Brigadier General Jones M. Withers.

Third Brigade under Brigadier General John K. Jackson

Also in the Third Brigade:

17th Alabama
18th Alabama
19th Alabama
Georgia Battery under Capt. Isadore P. Girardey

At Shiloh, the 2nd Texas was led by Colonel John C. Moore
Lt. Colonel was William P. Rodgers.  (During the Mexican War he had gotten into a quarrel with Jefferson Davis which almost led to a duel.)  He was later killed at the Battle of Corinth on October 4, 1862.  A famous photograph was taken of his body and others in his command who died there.

Of 6.482 men at the Battle of Shiloh, the 2nd Division had 1,918 killed and wounded.

Jackson's 3rd Brigade had 86 killed, 365 wounded and 213 missing.

Heavy Fighting Indeed.  --Old Secesh

Second Texas Infantry-- Part 2: Fighting At the Hornet's Nest at the Battle of Shiloh

Continued from September 8, 2016.

The unit was at the Battle of Shiloh April 6-7, 1862, and cited for bravery as it fought on the right wing of the Confederate Army.  It helped capture the headquarters of three Union brigades and encircled Gen. Benjamin M. Prentiss' division at what became known as the Hornet's Nest.

By nightfall of April 6th, they had penetrated to within a very short distance of the steamboat landing, having pushed through the Union Army that far.

Both Augustus and William Beckmann came through the first day's fighting unscathed.  They were both wounded the next day.

--Old secesh

The Confederacy Under Attack-- Part 348: Here's An Idea About Erasing the Confederacy-- Make 'Em Pay For It

It would appear certain groups of people who are so wanting to erase all vestiges of the Confederacy from everything are being very successful in their attempts.

They have most of the politicians and definitely the pc whites as well as courts supporting them.  If the Confederacy was outnumbered in its attempt to form their own country back in 1861-1865, they are even more outnumbered now.

Taking the payment of to the UDC at Vanderbilt to remove the name Confederate from Confederate Memorial Hall dormitory, I would propose that anytime there is someone desirous of the elimination of anything Confederate or banning the sale of Confederate items, they be made to pay to get their wishes in effect.

I propose at least $1 million for the removal or moving of any Confederate statue, name on a building or memorial already in place.  Anyone wanting to ban the wearing of or flying of any Confederate images at least $10,000 per incident.  (Perhaps we can have a cut-off date of fifty years, with anything to be removed after 1955 costing just $500,000.)

Payments can be made to Confederate organizations like the SCV or UDC.

I Mean, If It Is Going to Happen Anyway, Let's Be Fair About It.

Pay to Play.  --Old Secesh

The Confederacy Under Attack-- Part 347: No Flag, No Money

From the August 29-30, 2016, Google Alerts for Confederate.

**  VA to nix Confederate Flags at cemetery flagpoles.  (National Cemeteries)  Sort of a Loss)  We already knew this, but that headline sure makes it sound like those American soldiers, as they are classified, can still have small Confederate Flags at their graves on certain days.  The flag just can't fly from a flagpole.

**  Another university furls Confederate-themed Mississippi Flag.  (Mississippi) (Loss)  Mississippi State became the sixth of the state's eight universities to do so.  However, the state flag will remain displayed at the 50-state flag display in the cafeteria.  Also, the Mississippi University for Women will no longer fly the flag.

The Way I See It, If a State School Refuses to Fly the State Flag, They Are Cut Off From State Aid Until They Do.  No Flaggee, No Money!  --Old Secesh

And, Meanwhile Back in Chicago, Blacks Keep Killing and Shooting Other Blacks

Even as all these attacks on Confederate heritage continues, mostly by blacks as well as all this BLM stuff, over the Labor Day weekend, 65 people, mostly black, were shot in Chicago and 13, mostly black, were killed.

And, these shootings and killings were not done by Confederate Flags, statues, memorials or even white racists.  They were done by other blacks.

I heard this morning on WXRT that Chicago's murder number for 2016 is now at 512, mostly blacks killed by other blacks.  The total for all of 2015 was 491, again, mostly blacks killing other blacks.

Makes You Wonder Where the Priorities in the Black Community Are?  --Old Secesh

The Confederacy Under Attack-- Part 346: Mims Park in Atlanta Assailed

From the Google Alerts for August 26, 2016, for Confederate.

**  Critics assail Atlanta park named for Confederate soldier.  (Loss)  The park in question is Mims Park.  It was named for Livingston Mims, mayor of Atlanta in 1900, who was also a major in the Confederate Army.  His descendants donated some of the land for the park which is now overgrown and in bad shape.

Atlanta's current mayor, Kasim Reed, a black man, says the park will be rehabilitated and likely will get a new name.

Perhaps Name It BLM Park or the Reed Parl?  --Old Secesh

The Confederacy Under Attack-- Part 345: Welcome to Our World BLM

From the August 26, 2016, Google Alerts for Confederate.

**  Arizona High School Allowed Confederate Flag Shirts but Banned Teen from wearing Black Lives Matter Shirt.    (Buckeye High School)  (Win)  This took place on August 23

This occurred after the administration received an anonymous complaint about the BLM shirt.  That sure sounds familiar.  Supposedly students had earlier worn Confederate Flag and White Power tee-shirts.  Now, they are also banned.

Welcome to Our World.  --Old Secesh

The Confederacy Under Attack-- Part 344: Should You Wear a Confederate Flag Shirt to Jury Duty?

From the Google Alerts for August 26, 2016, for Confederate.

**  Texas Judge Allows Re-Branding of Confederate-Named Schools to Proceed.  (Houston)   (Loss)  No big surprise there.  We can't win in court.

**  Is it illegal to wear a Confederate Flag shirt for jury duty in SC?  Apparently yes.  I would however, say any tee shirt with advertising on it shouldn't be worn into a court room for jury duty.  However, it would sure get you out of jury duty because then you'd be branded a racist.

--Old No-Shirt Secesh

The Confederacy Under Attack-- Part 343: "Faded and Worn" Confederate Flags Removed From Ga. Cemetery

From the August 25, 2016, Google Alerts for Confederate.

**  70 Confederate Flags Stolen from Georgia Cemetery.  (Brunswick, Georgia) (Loss)  Oak Grove Cemetery.   Reported missing August 18.  Had been on graves since April.

Had a follow up on it several days later the Florida Times-Union reported that they had become faded and worn and removed by the Oak Grove Cemetery Association.  perhaps this wasn't a racially motivated thing by certain people.

**    UT removes Confederate inscription that it had  said would stay.  (University of Texas) (Loss)  Perhaps it is time for a lawsuit.

How Could Flags Get "Faded and Worn" That Badly In Just Over Two Months?  --Old Secesh

Second Texas Infantry-- Part 1: Raised to Defend Texas Coast

This is regards my blog entry of September 1 on Augustus Beckmann who was mortally wounded at the Battle of Shiloh, buried at Camp Dennison in Cincinnati under the wrong name and later moved to Camp Chase in Columbus.

He served in the 2nd Texas Infantry.

From the Texas State Historical Association.

The 2nd Texas Infantry was organized at Galveston, Texas, in September 1861 to protect the Texas coast.  The regiment moved to Camp Bee in Houston that September to complete its training.  It had ten companies.

By March 1862, it moved to Corinth, Mississippi, where it became part of the Army of the Mississippi, under General Albert Sidney Johnston.

--Old Secesh

The Confederacy Under Attack-- Part 342: White Lives Matter

From the August 23, 2016, Google Alerts for Confederate.

**  White Lives Matter Protester Armed and Waving Confederate Flags Protest at Houston NAACP. (From the Inqistr)   (Win and Loss)  I like the protesting, but not if they are armed.

**  Confederate Flag sales prompt boycott at Lorain County Fair (Ohio)  (Actually a Win)  It was decided to allow the sale of the flag, but the Lorain County Democratic Party has decided to boycott it.

Going for the Black Vote I Guess.  --Old Secesh

The Confederacy Under Attack-- Part 341: A Confederate Eyesore?

From the August 20, 2016, Google Alerts for Confederate.

**  Students greeted by Confederate eyesore.  (Univ. of Louisville Cardinal newspaper)  (Loss)  Really, after a hundred years it becomes an eyesore?  What was it before that?  Wonder if this writer is anti-Confederate or something?

**  Ole Miss to stop performing Confederate anthem Dixie.  (Univ. of Mississippi)  (Loss)  One of the great fight songs.  Gone because of pc.  Of course the school won't fly the state flag either.  Might as well move the place to Massachusetts.

--Old Secesh