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